Jessica Ross will take a one stroke lead into tomorrow's final round of the Flogas Irish Women's Amateur Open Championship at Newlands Golf Club. 

The Clandeboye golfer carded a second round 72 (-1) in testing conditions to end the day on three-under par after yesterday's opening 71.

Ross got off to a rocky start, bogeying the Par 5 2nd, before reeling off three birdies in a row and then holing out for a sensational eagle on the Par 4 8th, to make the turn in 33. 

Speaking afterwards, the 2025 European Mid-Amateur Champion appeared relaxed ahead of tomorrow's final round.

"I'll just try do the same as I did the last couple of days and see where that takes me"

Ross also gave an insight into the part the weather played on a windy day in Dublin, that has resulted in just three players being under par for the tournament.

"It was very testing, first five or six holes fairly heavy rain, and then dried up but it was quite gusty, so it was hard to club yourself and get around"

Ross will be out in the final group alongside defending champion Louise Landgraf, who produced a superb front nine to thrust herself into contention.

The French star recorded five birdies on the front nine to go out in 31, and only for a bogey on the last, would have been tied at the top. 

On the prospect of winning back-to-back championships, the 2025 Champion shared her excitement at the opportunity, but is remaining focused on the job at hand.

"It would be amazing, honestly, but my main focus is just to have fun, especially in this weather, it can definitely be a bit more difficult. It would be amazing to win again but I think most importantly just to play my game".

Ross & Landgraf will be joined by England's Ella Butteriss tomorrow after the Beaconsfield golfer recorded a level par round to remain on one-under, two strokes back, keeping herself very much in contention. 

The 36-hole cut came in at +19, with top 50 and ties advancing to the final round. 

The final round action gets underway tomorrow morning at 8.19am, with the final group of Ross, Landgraf and Butteriss teeing off at 11.15am.

Follow scoring here

Watch live coverage of Sunday's final round here

Dylan Keating showed nerves of steel to claim the North of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship with a dramatic one-shot victory at Royal Portrush.

The Seapoint golfer secured the first Irish men’s championship of his career just one month after winning the Ian Bamford Scratch Trophy at the same venue.

View the final round scores here

“To do it here is incredible,” said Keating.

“It’s the best course in the world. The condition of it and the scenery. I feel like it’s nearly home here after my couple of wins. I just love it here”

Keating opened with a one-under-par 71 on Wednesday before a superb second round 69 gave the 23-year-old the overnight lead at four-under-par after carding the only under-par round of day two.

With conditions improving for the closing day, the chasing pack began to close in during Friday morning’s third round. Keating carded a one-over 73, opening the door for the leading contenders.

Patrick Curran (Edmondstown) was one of those to take advantage. Six birdies helped him to a superb three-under 69, moving him to within two shots of the lead heading into the final round.

Playing in the penultimate two-ball alongside James Hewitt (Tandragee), Curran made a blistering start to the afternoon. An eagle on the Par 5 second applied early pressure to the leader. With Keating opening with a bogey in the group behind, Curran quickly moved into the lead as he followed up with a birdie on 3.

Keating’s challenge suffered a further setback with a triple bogey at 4 and a double at 7, while Curran continued to look composed at the top of the leaderboard.

“I put it in the Dunluce Lodge off seven and then hit my next one left and then missed a short one,” said Keating.

“I just had to stay patient. I knew there was going to be some chances coming up.”

The Seapoint golfer took those chances with birdies at 9, 11 and 12 helping him battle back into contention as he closed the gap on Curran.

The pair were tied at two-under thru 15 holes, having separated themselves from the chasing pack as the championship headed towards a dramatic finish.

Calamity Corner once again lived up to its name when Curran bogeyed the Par 3 16th to drop back to one-under. Moments later, Keating produced the decisive moment of the championship, driving the green at 17 before converting his birdie putt to retake the outright lead.

A closing par at the 18th would see Keating finish at two-under-par to secure the biggest victory of his amateur career, completing a remarkable turnaround having suffered two heavy blows early in the final round.

“I remembered how I was down the stretch in the scratch cup here to birdie the last and win,” said Keating.

“I trusted myself and my coach Shane reminded me that I won a lot of Boys’ tournaments and I was great down the stretch. I leaned on that and reminded myself that going down the stretch I can make a couple of birdies and clutch up to get the win. I’ve done that today and I’m really proud of myself.”

Arnotts will sponsor the East of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship for the next three years.

This partnership marks the official launch of Golf at Arnotts.

With a heritage deeply rooted in Irish retail since 1843, Arnotts has long held a connection with golf.

In the 1990s, the store was home to one of Dublin city’s largest golf departments, serving as a destination for golfers from across Ireland.

The Golf at Arnotts campaign will extend beyond the course, featuring a dedicated in-store golf destination, a curated selection of leading golf apparel brands including Peter Millar and RLX Ralph Lauren Golf, and, from June, the addition of McGuirks Golf, further enhancing Arnotts as a leading golf retail destination. 

Commenting on the partnership and the championship, which will be played from at County Louth Golf Club from 29–31 May, Captain Mark Briscoe said: “As Captain of County Louth Golf Club it is my distinct pleasure to announce Arnotts as our new East of Ireland sponsor for the next three years.  

“Arnotts is an iconic retail brand first opening in 1843. As Ireland’s oldest department store it is a perfect partner to one of Ireland’s oldest championships."

Alma Hanley, General Manager, Arnotts, added: “Golf has long been an important part of the Arnotts heritage. Alongside our leading golf fashion brands, we are delighted to be opening  a new dedicated golf shop this July in partnership with McGuirks Golf, as we continue to enhance our offering for customers and golf enthusiasts alike.

“Our headline sponsorship of the East of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship reflects Arnotts’ long-standing commitment to Irish sport and our association with one of the country’s most respected amateur tournaments. We are proud to support this year’s championship and to play a part in celebrating the sport and its enduring appeal.”

Balbriggan’s Robbie Cannon fired a four under 68 on the Valley Course to take the first round lead in the North of Ireland Amateur Open at Royal Portrush.

He made an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys to lead by one stroke from Malone’s Matt McClean and recently crowned West of Ireland champion Mark Cadden from Roganstown.

North of Ireland Amateur Open, Royal Portrush

Rd 1 (Valley Course)

68: Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan)

69: Mark Cadden (Roganstown), Matthew McClean (Malone)

70: Patrick Curran (Edmondstown)

71: Dylan Harbourne (Grange), Cian Harkin (The Island), Simon Ward (Belvoir Park), Dylan Keating (Seapoint)

72: Ryan Griffin (The Royal Dublin), Harry Gillivan (Portmarnock), James Hewitt (Tandragee), Matthew Kane (Larne), Max Berrisford (Ilkley), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth), Liam Abom (Edmondstown), Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint), Thomas Abom (Edmondstown), Alexander Brand (Bern), Conor Hickey (Dooks)

73: Tom van Balen (Rosendaelsche), Rían Carvill (Warrenpoint), Benjamin Oberholzer (Clandeboye), Ian Lynch (Rosslare), David Reddan (Castleknock), Daryl Callister (Castletown), Alex Kerins (Carton House), Finn Jolly (Dun Laoghaire), John William Burke (Ballyhaunis)

74: Thomas Beaumont (Bangor), Oscar Murphy (Royal Portrush), Marcus Wahlund (Losby Golfklubb), Mark Muldoon (Royal Dublin), James McMaster (Holywood), Cormac Ó Muirithe (Belmullet), Tommy Mangan (Apawamis), Jamie Anderson (Greystones), Dylan Holmes (Greystones)

75: Paul Coughlan (Castleknock), James Marriott (West Surrey), Luke Kelly (Dunfanaghy), Sean Downes (The Royal Dublin), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock), Patrick Tuffy (Strandhill), Aaron Marshall (Lisburn), Odhrán McBride (Ballybofey & Stranorlar), Luke Cunningham (Galway Bay), David O’Malley (Black Bush), Patrick Keeling (Roganstown), James Fox (Portmarnock), Ollie Marsh (Wanneroo), Bence Bertenyi (Zala Springs)

76: Shea Dorman (Bangor), Adam Christie (Castlerock), Rafael Poli (Holywood), William Walshe (Delgany), Harris Fleming (Galgorm Castle), Jack McKenna (County Louth), Jordan Boles (Carton House), Eoin Sullivan (Portmarnock)

77: Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Conor Byers (Langley Park), Max Carson (Royal Belfast), Mikie Grealy (Galway Bay), Samuel Gammell (Naas), Gary Collins (Rosslare), Cormac Pearson (Faithlegg), Graham Donohoe (Enniscorthy), William O’Riordan (Greystones), Jack McIlhatton (Massereene), Charlie McDonnell (Concra Wood), Dylan Beirne (Carrick on Shannon), Eoin Magill (East Clare), Mark Greenwood (Carton House), Matt Murphy (Clandeboye), Noah Bickerstaff (Hilton Templepatrick), Rory McConnell (Belvoir Park), Padraig O’Dochartaigh (Gweedore), Richard Sykes (Dun Laoghaire), David Joyce (Powerscourt), Lorcan O’Connor (Edmondstown)

78: Henry Croft (Ilkley), Jay McWilliams (Tandragee), Ben Best (Rathmore), Gavin Duffy (Edenderry), D A Shaw (Belvoir Park), Harley Phipps (Co. Louth), Jamie Doyle (Rosslare), Ciaran Murphy (Grange), Conor Clarke (Balmoral), Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire), Conor McCarthy (Headfort)

79: Jack Moffett (Fortwilliam), Max Thallon (Bangor), Lewis Gowdy (Bangor), Sean Murphy (Grange), Adam Barr (Ballymena), Patrick Greene (Holywood), Ryan Symington (Lisburn), Stuart Nesbitt (Royal Portrush), Eric West (Mid Ocean Club), Ellis Kinnaird (Mississippi), David Shiel (Enniscrone)

80: Sam Allister (Belvoir Park), Scott Jones (Belvoir Park), Éanna Mulhare (Birr), Ross Healion (Newforest), Evan Hogg (Belvoir Park), Sean Keeling (Roganstown), James Park (County Sligo)

81: Morgan O’Sullivan (Ballyneety), Michael McBride (Gweedore), Conor Toner (Mourne), Matthew Carolan (Royal Belfast), William Beatty (Royal Portrush), Conor McErlane (Hilton Templepatrick), Valter Andersson (Woodbrook), Noe Kappeler (Bern), Adam Allahbachani (Powerscourt), Ruairi O’Connor (Co. Sligo)

82: Kyle Holmes (Portstewart), Conor Madigan (Kanturk), Nathan Sproule (Cliftonville), Tadhg Burns (Headfort), Kosei Kirwan (Knightsbrook), Paddy Quill (Cork)

83: Christopher Caulfield (Carton House), Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock), Andrew Gavin (Black Bush)

84: Jonny Hall (Galgorm Castle), Kevin Robinson (Castlewarden)

91: Ben Murray (Naas)

NR: Stephen Evans (Harleyford)

The Women in Golf Awards WPGA Pro-Am, in association with Titleist & FootJoy, is set to return to Ireland’s stunning north west coast.

The event will take place on Monday, 18th, and Tuesday, 19th May at Donegal Golf Club, Murvagh—a links course widely regarded as one of Ireland’s finest.

A strong international field of women’s golf professionals has already registered.

Notable names include Scotland’s former European and LPGA Tour player Cathy Panton Lewis (Berkshire GC), alongside Marie Martindale, Ainee O’Connor, Nikki McLeish, Heidi Eileen Badcock, Holly Morgan, Elle Gamble, Brandy Brook, Taylor White, Ali Gray, Heather Stirling, and Heather McRae. Representing the United States is Dawn Mercer from Innisbrook, Florida.

Ireland will be well represented by former European Tour players Hazel Kavanagh (Impact Golf at Leopardstown) and Lynn McCool (Donegal Golf Club), who also serves as the club’s General Manager.

Other Irish participants include Marian Riordan, Maura Morrin, Clodagh Jones, Niamh Cunningham, Tara Delaney, Jan Browne, and Emily Murray.

The Pro-Am on 18th May will feature a golf clinic hosted by the professionals prior to the round, followed by an 18-hole team event. The day also includes pre-round tea, coffee, croissants and scones, a post-round buffet dinner, and a Q&A session with the professionals. A Pro Only event will follow on Tuesday, 19th May.

Matthew Johnson, General Manager at Acushnet UK (home to Titleist & FootJoy), said: “We’re proud to support the Women in Golf Awards WPGA Pro-Am. At Titleist and FootJoy, we remain committed to helping the women’s game continue to grow. As signatories of the R&A’s Women in Golf Charter, we look forward to working on similar initiatives in the future.”

Nicole Wheatley, CEO of Medi8 Golf and founder of the Women in Golf Awards, added: “Our mission is to celebrate all of the talented women working in the golf industry. The more opportunities we have to see women excelling, the better.”

Lynn McCool, General Manager of Donegal Golf Club, expressed her delight at hosting the event for what is now its fourth year. “After the success of the inaugural event in 2023, we had to continue. I love the format we have put together,” she said. McCool extended thanks to event partners Women in Golf Awards, Titleist & FootJoy, the Wild Atlantic Way, Revo, and AK Golf.

The Murvagh Peninsula links course, recently redesigned by former European Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley, offers sweeping views of Donegal Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Bluestack Mountains. Former Open champion Darren Clarke has called County Donegal “one of my favourite golf courses in the world.”

Rory McIlroy was more concerned about straightening out a left miss than nursing a blister on his little toe after closing with 67 in the Truist Championship in Charlotte.

The Masters champion finished in the pack on five under par, and after struggling to a third-round 75, he was pleased to see an improvement at Quail Hollow last night, where Kristoffer Reitan shot 69 to win by two shots from Rickie Fowler and Nicolas Hojgaard on 15-under.

“Yeah, much better,” said the Holywood star, who planned to head home to Florida to practice before going to Aronimink on Tuesday for the US PGA after finishing tied 19th on five-under.

“I started to hit it left yesterday with everything. I spent a good bit of time on the range last night just trying to straighten it out. 

“The range this week, the wind has predominantly been off the left, so I think when you hit a lot of balls in a left-to-right wind, you start to aim a little bit left, your club face can get a little bit closed at impact just to try to counteract that wind. 

“So I was trying to figure it out a little bit on the range last night, which I felt like I did, and I hit the ball much better today.”

McIlroy saw Aronimink last week for some practice and while he was limping at Quail Hollow yesterday due to a blister, he doesn't see the injury as a problem.

“I've got a blister on my pinky toe on my right foot,” he revealed. “But it's underneath my nail. So I can't really get to it, or so it's a little sore, but I'll be all right. Started to feel it like Friday afternoon.”

It certainly wasn't to blame for his play on Saturday.

“I wish that was an excuse, but absolutely not,” he joked.

Believing he's straightened out his ball flight, he added: “I'm going to go home tonight, which will be nice, spend a night in my own bed and practice at home tomorrow. 

“Try to continue that feel and bring that up to Philadelphia for the rest of the week.

“I think just trying to find a right-to-left wind at the Bear's Club and hit a few balls, and that usually straightens it out for me.”

While he played multiple practice rounds af Augusta National before the Masters, he felt one visit to Aronimink was enough.

“No, I lived there for a week,” he teased. “Just played it every day. No, I went up and back in the same day. 

“We played the BMW there in 2018, but the course played a lot differently. 

“It was wet in 2018 and the greens didn't play as fast or as severe as what I felt like they played last week when I played. 

“So it's not a long golf course, but the big defence is the greens, and they can tuck the pins away if they want to. 

“But it was nice to get an early look at it. It just means that the week of the tournament, you're not under pressure to play a lot of holes.

“Historically, the practice rounds at the PGA can be excruciatingly long, so it's probably going to just be nine holes Tuesday, nine holes Wednesday.”

Brandt Snedeker will also be heading for Aronimink after winning the OneFlight Myrtle Beach Classic by a stroke from Mark Hubbard at Dunes Golf and Beach Club, where Seamus Power tied for 60th on three under after closing with a two-under 69.

The 2026 Presidents Cup Captain (45) earned his 10th PGA Tour win and his first start at the PGA since 2020.

“I knew I was playing well,” Snedeker said as he broke into tears following a final round 66 at Dunes Golf and Beach Club. “I just hadn’t been able to put it all together. Hopefully, it shows my family, my kids, something. Just, you know, ten wins out here is an accomplishment. Something I’m very proud of.”

In Barcelona, Yurav Premlall stormed to a maiden DP World Tour title with a remarkable 14-shot victory at the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship.

The South African threatened Tiger Woods' record-breaking 15-shot winning margin at the 2000 US Open but finished one shot shy after a closing 63.

In Italy, Chris Wood birdied the 72nd hole to seal his maiden HotelPlanner Tour victory at the Italian Challenge Open at Golf Nazionale.

A closing 66 gave him a one-shot win over Portugal’s Tomás Gouveia on 22 under.

Ronan Mullarney finished on 11-under and James Sugrue eight under after both closed with 70s.

In New Jersey, Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul successfully defended the Mizuho Americas Open.

On the PGA Tour Champions, Boo Weekley won the Insperity Invitational by three shots from Ernie Els at the Woodlands in Texas.

Darren Clarke was tied third, four behind after a 68, while PGA-bound Pádraig Harrington shot 76 to slip to 27th on four-under.

Roganstown golfer Patrick Keeling said “it was the best week ever” as he sunk a 12-foot putt to claim the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship at Seapoint.

Having already broken the course record with a sublime 62 on Friday, the 21-year-old came into the final round with the narrowest of leads from Darragh Flynn (Carton House) and Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) after a battling third round 73 on Saturday.

“That just set the tone for the week, got into a rhythm, got into a flow,” said Keeling.

“The wind yesterday put that off a little bit, thankfully today when things didn’t go my way the peace helped me to stay one shot at a time.”

The morning began much as it had done the previous day for the Louisville collegiate golfer, bogeys on 4 and 8 dropping Keeling back to eight-under, leaving the chasing pack with an opportunity to make ground.

John Doyle (Fota Island) and then Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) made the initial moves early on Sunday, but they were just too far back to mount a real challenge on the leaders.

Flynn and Keeling continued their own battle, however it was East of Ireland champion David Howard (Fota Island) who pushed on as he moved to five-under for his day thru nine holes. He had four birdies on the front nine, before another birdie on ten saw him draw level with Flynn and Keeling on the summit before the Roganstown man bogeyed.

Flynn dropped a shot too, but when Howard bogeyed the Par 4 12th there was a five-way tie for the lead. The lead changed hands again until Keeling regained the ascendency with birdies on 10 and 11, to move two shots clear.

Another birdie would drop for Keeling on 14 as he looked to tighten his grip on the title but, as was the theme of the week, more drama would ensue. Trouble off the tee on 17 resulted in a bogey meaning one final push would be needed down the last.

Howard finished with a brilliant birdie for a final round 66 and ten-under total while Dunne had got within one, but he needed birdies as the holes began to run out.

With a massive local crowd following him in, Dunne would card a par on the last seeing him finish with a final round 70 and a share of third place with clubmate and defending champion Stuart Grehan (Co Louth).

Keeling teed up on 18 knowing a final birdie would be needed to seal victory. Despite going over the green with his second and leaving a tricky putt for the win, the Dublin native held his nerve.

As the final putt rolled in Keeling looked to the heavens before celebrating with his brother Sean and his parents Catriona and David.

“Never really was close to winning any other big championships so just to have the opportunity coming out today I was so excited for it and to be able to capitalise was really special,” said Keeling.

“I don’t even know what I did after the putt went in to be honest. Total relief, satisfaction and gratitude. I’m just ecstatic about it.”

“It affirms to me that my game is there. I kind of always knew it but I didn’t really have a lot to show it. I just want to win as many championships as I can, go on and win as many tournaments as I can and put my name on as many trophies as I can.”

Flogas Irish Amateur Open, Seapoint Golf Links (Par 72)

Final

Detailed scores

277 Patrick Keeling (Roganstown) 72 62 73 70

278 David Howard (Fota Island) 70 69 73 66

279 Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 69 67 73 70, Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth) 67 71 74 67

280 Greg Holmes (Royal Birkdale) 75 68 69 68, Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) 69 64 75 72

281 Ryan Griffin (The Royal Dublin) 71 70 71 69, Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 71 67 70 73

282 Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 72 69 75 66, Conor Stapleton (Westport) 70 69 73 70, John Doyle (Fota Island) 69 75 72 66, Liam Abom (Edmondstown) 65 71 76 70

284 Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock) 73 69 71 71

285 Adam Fahey (Portmarnock) 71 74 70 70, Cian Harkin (The Island) 70 71 72 72, Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint) 64 70 75 76

286 Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield) 72 66 74 74, Tom Hughes (Formby) 69 69 74 74

287 Dylan Keating (Seapoint) 74 67 73 73, William O’Riordan (Greystones) 73 70 72 72, Alex Kerins (Carton House) 71 73 74 69, Isaac Oliver (Glasson) 71 70 72 74, David Reddan (Castleknock) 71 67 74 75, Jack McDonnell (Royal Dublin) 70 75 73 69

288 Patrick Curran (Edmondstown) 75 68 75 70, Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley) 73 71 75 69, Dylan Holmes (Greystones) 71 73 72 72

289 Conor Hickey (Dooks) 75 71 72 71, Aodhagan Brady (Co Sligo) 73 72 72 72, Quentin Carew (The Heritage) 73 67 77 72, Alexander Brand (Bern) 72 72 73 72, Oscar Murphy (Royal Portrush) 72 71 76 70, Ethan Roos (Thorndon Park) 72 68 74 75, John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) 70 75 73 71

290 Joe O’Neill (Berehaven) 74 70 75 71, Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) 72 70 76 72, Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) 72 70 72 76, Padraig O Dochartaigh (Gweedore) 71 74 72 73, Bryn Thomas (Cardigan) 71 72 75 72, Matthew McClean (Malone) 70 74 73 73

291 Patrick Martin (Carrick-On-Shannon) 75 71 71 74, Ian Lynch (Rosslare) 73 71 73 74, Gary Collins (Rosslare) 72 72 69 78, Lewis Gowdy (Bangor) 71 70 73 77

292 Tadhg Murphy (Millicent) 74 70 73 75, Eoin Sullivan (Portmarnock) 73 73 70 76, Ewen Farquhar (New St Andrews) 73 72 74 73, Mark Cadden (Roganstown) 72 75 70 75, Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye) 72 70 72 78, Chris Somers (Murcar Links) 70 70 73 79

294 Sean Keeling (Roganstown) 71 74 73 76

295 Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) 75 73 71 76

Rory McIlroy endured a rare bad day on and around the greens and shot his highest round at Quail Hollow for eight years to fall 13 shots behind Alex Fitzpatrick in the Truist Championship.

As the English rookie continued his hot run of form and carded a seven under 64 to lead by a shot from Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan and by two from the in-form Cameron Young (63) on 14-under, McIlroy lost more than five shots to the field on and around the greens.

He made six bogeys - including four in a row from the 10th - and carded a four over 75 to slip to 37th on one under at a venue where he's won four times.

It was his second-highest score in 48 rounds at the Charlotte venue and his highest since he signed for a second-round 76 in 2018.

In contrast, Fitzpatrick, who only earned his PGA Tour card two weeks ago when he teamed with his brother Matt to win the Zurich Classic, credited being around his sibling for his seamless transition to the PGA Tour

“I feel like he’s been and done everything that I want to do in the game — whether that’s Ryder Cup and win majors,” said Alex, who tied for ninth last week at Doral, where Young won the Cadillac Championship by six shots to add to his win in the Players at Sawgrass. 

“So having him being around and me being there for all of that, I felt like I got a really good sense of what it takes and what the atmosphere is like.”

Young might be two shots off the lead, but he's the man to beat.

He needed to play the final two holes in two under to break McIlroy's 11-year-old course record of 10-under 61, but parred the 17th and bogeyed the last.

“I’m playing great,” Young said. “There is not a ton going on in my head, which is, I think, a very good thing. There is all kinds of stuff, but it’s nothing complicated. 

“I’m thinking about shots, and I’m thinking about my execution, and that’s mainly where my head is at.”

At the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, Mark Hubbard (36) holds a one-shot lead over Aaron Rai as he seeks his first PGA Tour win.

Five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka is also showing form ahead of the US PGA at Aronimink next week after he shot a seven under 64 - his lowest round since returning to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January - to share seventh on 11 under, just five shots off the lead.

“Like I said, the main focus is putting,” Koepka said. “I'll go right back to that putting green and try to make sure that I guess whatever I might have found today hopefully can bleed over and kind of continue into next week and then just build that momentum, because I think the one thing that's really been lacking is just confidence.”

Seamus Power, meanwhile, hit just three fairways in a one-over 72 to share 70th on one under.

On the LPGA Tour, Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul shot a two-under 70 to lead the Mizuho Americas Open by two shots from France’s Celine Boutier on ten under at Mountain Ridge Country Club in New Jersey.

On the PGA Tour Champions, Padraig Harrington showed form ahead of next week’s US PGA, carding a bogey-free, six-under 66 in the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands in Texas.

At eight under, he was up to joint fifth, just four shots behind Boo Weekley, who also shot 66 to head Ernie Els by a shot on 12 under.

Darren Clarke was joint 12th in seven under after a 69.

Patrick Keeling overcame a stiff north wind that transformed Seapoint Golf Links to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open. 

Scores were sent soaring after two days of low scoring.

But Roganstown talent Keeling, who shot a course-record 62 on Friday, overcame the club selection guessing game to card a one over 73 and lead by a shot from Carton House’s Darragh Flynn (70) and Edmondstown’s Thomas Abom (75) on nine under.

“I had a nine iron from 115 yards that ballooned up in the air,” Keeling said. “There’s no number anymore – total feel, and trying to get the ball flight right.” 

He was three over through nine holes for the second time in three days, but birdied the short 17th and got up‑and‑down at the 18th to save par and shoot 73.

“Just had fun with my caddy, Tom,” he said. “Even when it wasn’t going well, we were cracking jokes.”

Flynn, who shot 70, simply tried to play careful golf.

“You don’t have to go low when it’s as windy as this,” he said. “Just be cautious with tee shots, keep your pace on putts.” 

He made three straight birdies from the 10th, including a four iron from 200 yards to 12 feet at the 12th.

Gerard Dunne sits two shots behind in a tie for fourth with Warrenpoint’s Stephen Coulter (75) on seven under after a hard-fought 73 despite taking two drops after driving into unplayable lies. 

“I didn’t have my driver at all – I was coming down (the stretch) into the breeze just thinking, get it down the fairway somehow,” Dunne said. “It felt like a winter league at Baltray. I held a few good putts coming in.”

The cut fell at three over 219, with 52 players advancing.

Defending champion Stuart Grehan was in a nine-man tie for sixth on four under, five shots off the pace, after a 74.

Keeling admitted nerves will be a factor in the final round, but he feels ready to try and notch his first amateur Major.

“Same mission,” he said. “One shot at a time, get a rhythm earlier, and see what happens.”

On the DP World Tour, Yurav Premlall took a stranglehold on the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship as a stunning third-round 63 earned him a five-shot lead - and potentially a significant bonus.

The South African's ten birdies, with just a solitary bogey, took him clear of the field on 19 under par and left him in position to scoop the $50,000 prize on offer for the Course Record presented by Nexo.

Playing partner and 36-hole co-leader Stefano Mazzoli was his nearest challenger at 14 under.

On the HotelPlanner Tour, Chris Wood and Barclay Brown share a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Italian Challenge Open at Golf Nazionale.

Brown shot a five under 67 to Wood’s 68 to leave them tied in 16 under,  one stroke clear of Portugal’s Tomás Gouveia.

Galway’s Ronan Mularney was joint 23rd on nine under after a 69, while Mallow’s James Sugrue was 50th on six under after a 70.

Flogas Irish Amateur Open, Seapoint Golf Links (Par 72)

After 54 holes

Detailed scores

207 Patrick Keeling (Roganstown) 72 62 73

208 Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 71 67 70, Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) 69 64 75

209 Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 69 67 73, Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint) 64 70 75

212 Greg Holmes (Royal Birkdale) 75 68 69, Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield) 72 66 74, Ryan Griffin (The Royal Dublin) 71 70 71, David Reddan (Castleknock) 71 67 74, David Howard (Fota Island) 70 69 73, Conor Stapleton (Westport) 70 69 73, Tom Hughes (Formby) 69 69 74, Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth) 67 71 74, Liam Abom (Edmondstown) 65 71 76

213 Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock) 73 69 71, Gary Collins (Rosslare) 72 72 69, Isaac Oliver (Glasson) 71 70 72, Cian Harkin (The Island) 70 71 72, Chris Somers (Murcar Links) 70 70 73

214 Dylan Keating (Seapoint) 74 67 73, Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye) 72 70 72, Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) 72 70 72, Ethan Roos (Thorndon Park) 72 68 74, Lewis Gowdy (Bangor) 71 70 73

215 William O’Riordan (Greystones) 73 70 72, Adam Fahey (Portmarnock) 71 74 70

216 Eoin Sullivan (Portmarnock) 73 73 70, Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 72 69 75, Dylan Holmes (Greystones) 71 73 72, John Doyle (Fota Island) 69 75 72

217 Patrick Martin (Carrick-On-Shannon) 75 71 71, Tadhg Murphy (Millicent) 74 70 73, Aodhagan Brady (Co. Sligo) 73 72 72, Ian Lynch (Rosslare) 73 71 73, Quentin Carew (The Heritage) 73 67 77, Mark Cadden (Roganstown) 72 75 70, Alexander Brand (Bern) 72 72 73, Padraig O Dochartaigh (Gweedore) 71 74 72, Matthew McClean (Malone) 70 74 73

218 Conor Hickey (Dooks) 75 71 72, Patrick Curran (Edmondstown) 75 68 75, Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) 72 70 76, Sean Keeling (Roganstown) 71 74 73, Alex Kerins (Carton House) 71 73 74, Bryn Thomas (Cardigan) 71 72 75, Jack McDonnell (Royal Dublin) 70 75 73, John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) 70 75 73

219 Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) 75 73 71, Joe O’Neill (Berehaven) 74 70 75, Ewen Farquhar (New St Andrews) 73 72 74, Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley) 73 71 75, Oscar Murphy (Royal Portrush) 72 71 76

Missed the cut

220 John Moran (Portmarnock) 78 74 68, William Walshe (Delgany) 75 72 73, Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) 74 70 76, Kai Laing (Broomieknowe) 72 75 73, Conor Clarke (Balmoral) 70 73 77

221 Brian Doran (Millicent) 75 71 75, Harry Gillivan (Portmarnock) 74 71 76, Jordan Boles (Carton House) 72 73 76, Paul O Hanlon (Carton House) 72 72 77, Finlay Galloway (The St Andrews) 72 70 79

222 Sean David (Pyle and Kenfig) 77 73 72, Ciaran Murphy (Grange) 77 73 72, Kiron Gribble (Dunbar) 76 73 73, Kyle McCarron (North West) 74 76 72, Ellis Kinnaird (Mississippi) 74 72 76, Bruce MacDonald (Lisburn) 74 70 78, Barry O’Connell (Douglas) 70 74 78, Mark Muldoon (Royal Dublin) 69 75 78

223 Luke Furlong (Wexford) 79 72 72, Keith Egan (Carton House) 77 71 75, Luke Kelly (Dunfanaghy) 75 66 82, James Fox (Portmarnock) 74 75 74, James Walsh (Douglas) 74 70 79, Jamie Anderson (Greystones) 72 79 72

224 Seán McLoughlin (Co. Sligo) 80 70 74, David Shiel (Enniscrone) 77 74 73, Fergal Coyle (Athenry) 76 74 74, Louis Goodman (Co. Louth) 76 73 75, James O’Rourke (Naas) 75 70 79, Ben Cahill (Dundalk) 74 77 73, Thomas Beaumont (Bangor) 74 73 77, Aaron Ryan (Thurles) 73 75 76, Harris Fleming (Galgorm Castle) 73 73 78, Ryan Murray (Balmoral) 72 74 78

225 Lorcan O'Connor (Edmondstown) 78 77 70, David Kitt (Athenry) 78 73 74, Shane McDermott (PGA National Slieve Russell) 78 72 75, Paddy Quill (Cork) 75 76 74, William Beatty (Royal Portrush) 75 75 75, Charlie McDonnell (Concra Wood) 70 75 80

226 Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock) 78 75 73, George Holland (Southport & Ainsdale) 77 76 73, Patrick Tuffy (Strandhill) 76 76 74, Neil Patterson (Baltinglass) 76 75 75, James Hewitt (Tandragee) 76 74 76

227 Finn Jolly (Dun Laoghaire) 81 70 76, Ross Latimer (Knock) 80 73 74, Aaron Naughton (Hermitage) 79 71 77, Conor McCarthy (Headfort) 77 77 73, Michael Roche (Harpenden Common) 75 73 79, Rory Gallagher (Galway Bay) 75 71 81

228 Caelan Coleman (Galway Bay) 79 73 76, Edward Reed (Royal Birkdale) 78 76 74, Lorenzo Fior (Asiago) 78 76 74, Luke Cunningham (Galway Bay) 76 77 75

229 Anthony Nadal (Biarritz Le Phare) 77 74 78, Evan Farrell (Co. Louth) 76 74 79, Daniel O'Brien (Co. Louth) 74 76 79

230 Harry Watkins (Royal Porthcawl) 81 73 76

231 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) 79 74 78

232 Stephen Barker (Mourne) 82 69 81

233 Cian Poland (Elm Park) 82 75 76, Robert Walsh (Douglas) 80 79 74, James Maginn (Mourne) 74 80 79

234 Cole Henderson (Galgorm Castle) 80 73 81, Harry Thomas (Eaton) 75 75 84

235 Matthew Dodd (St. Anne’s) 81 78 76, Harley Phipps (Co. Louth) 79 77 79, Sean Reddy (Douglas) 76 81 78

237 Kevin Robinson (Castlewarden) 79 78 80, Conor Crudden (Newbridge) 77 80 80

243 Mikie Grealy (Galway Bay) 79 77 87

246 Eoin Magill (East Clare) 85 81 80

249 David O'Malley (Black Bush) 80 84 85

WD / DNF / DQ Sean Barry (Fota Island) 75 77 WD; Danny Lyne (Lahinch) 75 82 WD; Michael Green (Greenore) 78 81 WD; James Everard (Kilkenny) 81 76 DNF; Mikkel Bergum Johansen (Drøbak) 78 75 DQ; James Temple (Portmarnock) DNF WD

Rory McIlroy delivered a devastating put-down of LIV Golf stars who rule out a return to the PGA Tour under any circumstances.

Speaking after carding a four under 67 that catapulted him into contention in the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, the Masters champion initially tried not to rub salt into LIV’s wounds following the news that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will pull the financial plug at the end of this season.

With players like Thomas Detry and Anirbhan Lahiri publicly ruling out a PGA Tour return and Bryson DeChambeau saying he might focus on YouTube golf if LIV Golf folds, McIlroy did not hold back.

“Again, I think I've said at the start, I was probably too judgmental with the guys that went because I was seeing it from my point of view and maybe not seeing it from other points of view,” McIlroy said after carding a four under 67 that left him tied for eighth on five under par, just four shots behind halfway leader Sungjae Im.

“But again, I'm not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour

“Does that mean that they go play DP World Tour maybe; if that's a pathway, that would make the DP World Tour stronger, and I would be delighted with that, because that's my home tour, at the end of the day.

“But if you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, this is the place to be. And if you don't want to play here, I think that says something about you.”

On what the return pathway might look like for LIV stars should they be forced to seek a way back, he said: “It's a question of whether they do want to come back.

“Obviously, we have seen the quotes over the last few days. Again, it all depends on what happens to LIV. 

“But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that. That's just good business practice.

“But again I think there's going to be a lot of sort of bridges to cross to get there, just because obviously the guys over there are under contract and if they are able to keep it going and get a schedule together next year, it seems like those guys are still going to play the majority of their golf on LIV, in whatever form it takes.”

Several players such as world number one Tom Lehman, do not want the rebels back and believes a return to Q-School is in order.

But McIlroy has serious doubts that LIV can continue without PIF backing.

“Yeah, look, I think everyone sort of knows my views on LIV and where it stands in the game of golf,” McIlroy said. 

“I don't think I need to rehash any of that. It's never been for me, and look, it doesn't mean LIV is going to go away.

“They're going to go and try and find alternative investment, whatever that may look like. 

“But when one of the wealthiest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks that you're too expensive for them, that sort of says something (laughing).”

As for his golf, McIlroy’s 67 left him tied for eighth on five under, just four shots behind Im, who shot a 69 to lead by a shot from Tommy Fleetwood (67) on nine under.

“I hit my irons better,” said McIlroy, who turned in level par, then made five birdies in seven holes on the back nine before dropping a shot at the last.

“Holed a couple extra putts, which always helps. But, yeah, it was a solid day. 

“I wouldn't say I played a lot better than yesterday, but I scored a little bit better, and maybe a little bit more efficient with some things.

“But overall it was a good day, and it was a good day to get myself back in the hunt and feel like I have a real chance going into the weekend.”

At the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, Seamus Power’s one over 72 left him tied for 38th on two under, eight shots behind leader Aaron Rai.

Meanwhile, Leona Maguire missed her fifth cut in her last six starts at the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey.

A five over 77 left her on nine over at Mountain Ridge Country Club, six shots outside the cut mark on nine over.

Jeeno Thitikul shot 69 to lead by three from Jennifer Kupcho on eight under.

Edmondstown’s Thomas Abom made the first hole-in-one of his career and fired an eight-under 64 and take a one-stroke halfway lead in the Flogas Irish Amateur Open at Seapoint.

The 2024 Irish Close champion was four under for his round when he came to the 17th, his eighth, and promptly holed out from 168 yards.

“I was playing with Conor Stapleton, and he said, ‘Go in’ as I hit the green and it stopped, then trickled on in the hole, and I completely lost it,” said Abom, who got to nine under with three holes to go but dropped a shot coming in.

“I started running around, crazy, screaming. So yeah, that's probably the highlight of my golfing career today, that hole-in-one, unbelievable.”

After winning a strokeplay edition of the Irish Close at Dun Laoghaire two years ago, Abom enjoys contending.

"Obviously, I can draw back on that experience from a few years ago, but I'm just happy to keep putting myself in these positions,” he said. “This is where you want to be, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

He leads by a shot on 11-under par from first round leader Stephen Coulter from Warrenpoint, who shot 70, and Roganstown’s Patrick Keeling, who fired a blistering, course record 62 in the morning.

The University of Louisville star birdied the 13th, 14th and 16th before making an eagle three at the 18th to turn in five-under 31.

He went on to make five birdies on the back nine—at the second, third, sixth, eighth and ninth—in a sensational 10-under par effort and credited  psychologist Séan McGonigle

“I’ve been working with him for years, and he's been just brilliant, getting me out of technical thoughts and more into playing, reacting to shots,” Keeling said. “I feel like I just really got into that today and just trusted in my processes, stayed in rhythm and didn't get too far ahead of myself.”

County Louth’s Gerard Dunne and Abom’s brother Liam were three shots off the pace on eight-under, while defending champion Stuart Grehan was five shots off the pace in a tie for sixth after making an eagle, five birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey in a rollercoaster 71.

At El Prat in Barcelona, Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard and Italy’s Stefano Mazzoli shot five-under 67s to lead the DP World Tour’s Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship by one stroke from South Africa’s Yurav Premlall on 11 under at halfway.

But the scoring was even hotter in the Italian Challenge Open on the HotelPlanner Tour, where American Jhared Hack added a 66 to his opening 62 to lead by four shots from former Ryder Cup player Chris Wood (64) on 16 under.

Just two of the nine-strong Irish contingent made the four under par cut at Golf Nazionale in Viterbo.

Galway’s Ronan Mullarney shot 69 to share 27th on six under as Mallow’s James Sugrue birdied the last to qualify on the mark, also after a 69.

At the PGA Tour’s ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, Seamus Power carded a one-over 72 to sit inside the projected cut line on two-under par.

Flogas Irish Amateur Open, Seapoint

After 36 holes

Detailed scores

133 Thomas Abom (Edmondstown) 69 64

134 Patrick Keeling (Roganstown) 72 62, Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint) 64 70

136 Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 69 67, Liam Abom (Edmondstown) 65 71

138 Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield GC) 72 66, Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 71 67, David Reddan (Castleknock) 71 67, Tom Hughes (Formby Golf Club) 69 69, Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth) 67 71

139 Conor Stapleton (Westport) 70 69, David Howard (Fota Island) 70 69

140 Quentin Carew (The Heritage) 73 67, Ethan Roos (Thorndon Park) 72 68, Chris Somers (Murcar Links Golf Club) 70 70

141 Luke Kelly (Dunfanaghy) 75 66, Dylan Keating (Seapoint) 74 67, Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 72 69, Ryan Griffin (The Royal Dublin) 71 70, Lewis Gowdy (Bangor) 71 70, Isaac Oliver (Glasson Golf Club) 71 70, Cian Harkin (The Island) 70 71

142 Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock golf club) 73 69, Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) 72 70, Finlay Galloway (The St Andrews Golf Club) 72 70, Harry O Hara (Clandeboye) 72 70, Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) 72 70

143 Greg Holmes (Royal Birkdale) 75 68, Patrick Curran (Edmondstown) 75 68, William O’Riordan (Greystones Golf Club) 73 70, Oscar Murphy (Royal Portrush) 72 71, Bryn Thomas (Cardigan Golf club) 71 72, Conor Clarke (Balmoral) 70 73

144 Tadhg murphy (Millicent Golf Club) 74 70, James Walsh (Douglas) 74 70, Joe O Neill (Berehaven) 74 70, Bruce MacDonald (Lisburn) 74 70, Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) 74 70, Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley Golf Club) 73 71, Ian Lynch (Rosslare) 73 71, Gary Collins (Rosslare) 72 72, Alexander Brand (Golf Club Bern) 72 72, Paul O Hanlon (Carton House) 72 72, Dylan Holmes (Greystones) 71 73, Alex Kerins (Carton House) 71 73, Matthew McClean (Malone) 70 74, Barry O’Connell (Douglas) 70 74, Mark Muldoon (Royal Dublin) 69 75, John Doyle (Fota Island) 69 75

145 James O’Rourke (Naas) 75 70, Harry Gillivan (Portmarnock) 74 71, Aodhagan Brady (Co Sligo) 73 72, Ewen Farquhar (New St Andrews) 73 72, Jordan Boles (Carton House) 72 73, Padraig O Dochartaigh (Gweedore Golf Club) 71 74, Sean Keeling (Roganstown) 71 74, Adam Fahey (Portmarnock) 71 74, Jack McDonnell (Royal Dublin) 70 75, Charlie McDonnell (Concra Wood) 70 75, John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) 70 75

146 Rory Gallagher (Galway Bay) 75 71, Conor Hickey (Dooks) 75 71, Patrick Martin (Carrick-On-Shannon) 75 71, Brian Doran (Millicent) 75 71, Ellis Kinnaird (Mississippi Golf Club) 74 72, Harris Fleming (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 73 73, Eoin Sullivan (Portmarnock) 73 73, Ryan Murray (Balmoral Golf Club) 72 74

147 William Walshe (Delgany) 75 72, Thomas Beaumont (Bangor Golf Club) 74 73, Mark Cadden (Roganstown Golf Club) 72 75, Kai Laing (Broomieknowe Golf Club) 72 75

148 Keith Egan (Carton House) 77 71, Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) 75 73, Michael Roche (Harpenden Common Golf Club) 75 73, Aaron Ryan (Thurles) 73 75

149 Kiron Gribble (Dunbar) 76 73, Louis Goodman (Co. Louth) 76 73, James Fox (Portmarnock) 74 75

150 Seán McLoughlin (County Sligo) 80 70, Aaron Naughton (Hermitage GC) 79 71, Shane Mcdermott (PGA National Slieve Russell) 78 72, Ciaran Murphy (Grange golf club) 77 73, Sean David (Pyle and kenfig) 77 73, Evan Farrell (Co. Louth GC) 76 74, Fergal Coyle (Athenry) 76 74, James Hewitt (Tandragee Golf Club) 76 74, William Beatty (Royal Portrush Golf Club) 75 75, Harry Thomas (Eaton) 75 75, Daniel O'Brien (County Louth) 74 76, Kyle McCarron (North West Golf Club) 74 76

151 Stephen Barker (Mourne) 82 69, Finn Jolly (Dun Laoghaire) 81 70, Luke Furlong (Wexford Golf Club) 79 72, David Kitt (Athenry) 78 73, David Shiel (Enniscrone) 77 74, Anthony Nadal (Golf de Biarritz Le Phare) 77 74, Neil patterson (Baltinglass) 76 75, Paddy Quill (Cork golf club) 75 76, Ben Cahill (Dundalk) 74 77, Jamie Anderson (Greystones) 72 79

152 Caelan Coleman (Galway bay golf resort) 79 73, John Moran (Portmarnock Golf Club) 78 74, Patrick Tuffy (Strandhill) 76 76, Sean Barry (Fota Island) 75 77

153 Ross Latimer (Knock) 80 73, Cole Henderson (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 80 73, Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) 79 74, Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock) 78 75, Mikkel Bergum Johansen (Drøbak GK) 78 75, George Holland (Southport and Ainsdale) 77 76, Luke Cunningham (Galway Bay) 76 77

154 Harry Watkins (Royal Porthcawl) 81 73, Edward Reed (Royal Birkdale Golf Club) 78 76, lorenzo fior (Golf club Asiago) 78 76, Conor McCarthy (Headfort) 77 77, James Maginn (Mourne) 74 80

155 Lorcan O'Connor (Edmondstown Golf Club) 78 77

156 Mikie Grealy (Galway Bay) 79 77, Harley Phipps (Co. Louth) 79 77

157 Cian Poland (Elm Park) 82 75, James Everard (Kilkenny) 81 76, Kevin Robinson (Castlewarden Golf Club) 79 78, Conor Crudden (Newbridge golf club) 77 80, Sean Reddy (Douglas) 76 81, Danny Lyne (Lahinch) 75 82

159 Matthew Dodd (St.Anne’s Golf Club) 81 78, Robert Walsh (Douglas Golf Club) 80 79, Michael Green (Greenore) 78 81

164 David O'Malley (Black Bush Golf Club) 80 84

166 Eoin Magill (East Clare) 85 81

DNF James Temple (Portmarnock)

Rory McIlroy was more concerned about holing a putt than "doing a Nick Faldo" when he birdied his final hole in the Truist Championship in Charlotte.

The world number two holed little on the greens at Quail Hollow until he rolled in a 15-footer at the ninth to follow 17 pars with a birdie at the ninth and open with a one under 70 that left him seven shots behind clubhouse leader Matt McCarthy.

"I didn't," McIlroy said with a smile when asked if he wanted to emulate Faldo's memorable 18 successive pars in the final round of the 1987 Open Championship at Muirfield. 

"Yeah, I was thinking more like I knew that I made so many pars, but I was thinking I can't remember the last time I played a round of golf and didn't have a birdie. 

"I think I was like just 'try to make one'. I didn't make birdie at seven, didn't make birdie at eight, so then I thought my chance had passed me by, but nice to see one putt go in there at the last."

McIlroy raised his arms above his head in mock triumph but insisted he was not frustrated by his 30-putt round.

"I wasn't frustrated, I was hitting good putts," said the  Masters champion, who had to hoist a 190-yard nine over a tree to find the green at the ninth.

"Some days they just don't want to go in. No, I wasn't. I was just trying to stay patient because I felt like I was hitting good putts. I overread a couple on the front side. 

"Then I under-read a couple as a reaction to the over-reads. I was just sort of trying to -- it was more of a read thing than -- I was starting the ball on my line and hitting good putts. 

"I just needed to figure out the reads a little bit better. But sort of felt like I got into it by the end of the round."

As for his celebration, he said: "It was just more, it was just nice to see one go in at the end, something to build off."

McCarthy shot an eight-under 63 to lead by a shot in the clubhouse from Sunjae Im, who was on the 18th fairway when play was suspended at the end of a weather-disrupted day.

Kristoffer Reitan, Nick Taylor, Harry Hall, Nicolai Højgaad and defending champion Sepp Straka were on five-under,

At the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, Seamus Power was tied for 17th, four shots behind Scotland's Martin. Laird, after opening with a three under 68 at Dunes and Beach Golf Club.

Meanwhile, at LIV Virginia, Graeme McDowell's five under 67 left him tied for sixth, three shots behind Lucas Herbert, at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, DC.

An eight under 64 gave Herbert a one-shot lead over Marc Leishman, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton and Sebastián Muñoz as Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm shot 69s  to share 11th.

DeChambeau was returning to action after missing the final round of the previous LIV Golf tournament in Mexico with a wrist injury and bogeyed two of his first three holes.

"The wrist is feeling better," said DeChambeau, who won in Singapore and South Africa on back-to-back weeks. 

"I've had some shoulder stuff since the Ryder Cup. I don't know what happened. It's been trained. It's been treated. 

"We've worked on it. We've done a bunch of stuff, MRIs. It's all been fine. It's been eking at me for quite a while.

"When I won those two events, I was waking up every day, uh-oh, is it going to hurt today? It's a bit overused. 

"I'm grinding to figure it out. … I'm proud of the way I fought out there, not hitting it my best."

Tom McKibbin, who makes his sixth Major start in next week's US PGA, was 16th after an opening 70.

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire’s rollercoaster season continued in the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey.

The Co Cavan star, who has missed four of her last five cuts but sits 26th in the ranking thanks mainly to her runner-up finish in the Aramco Championship, opened with a four-over 76 at Mountain Ridge Country Club.

She was ten strokes behind Andrea Lee, who made eight birdies in a six-under 66 to lead by a shot from Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko.

On the DP World Tour, Shaun Norris eagled his final hole to take the first round lead in the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship as many players dressed in navy blue and white to mark the 15th anniversary of the death of the great Seve Ballesteros

The South African carded an eight-under 64 to lead by a shot from France’s Alex Levy and Scots David Law and Ewen Ferguson at Real Club de Golf El Prat.

“Today is a special day, for better or for worse, because it’s been many years since he passed away,” said Ballesteros’ son, Javier. “Obviously, with the Ryder Cup and the way he played and how he walked the courses, it is nice to see some of the young players dress in his colours to remember him in a little way.”

On the HotelPlanner Tour, John Ross Galbraith and Gary Hurley were the best of the Irish after the opening round of the Italian Challenge Open.

Four-under-par 68s left them tied for 18th, six shots behind American Jhared Hack, who fired a bogey-free 10-under 62 to open up a four-stroke lead at Golf Nazionale.

Galway’s Ronan Mullarney was joint 30th after a 69, but the other six Irish hopefuls were outside the top 60 who will make the cut.

James Sugrue and Robert Moran were a shot outside the mark after 71s as Liam Nolan shot 72, Mark Power a 73, Max Kennedy a 77 and Conor Purcell an 82 that included a quadruple bogey nine at his seventh hole

Warrenpoint’s Stephen Coulter made nine birdies in an eight-under 64 to lead the Flogas Irish Amateur Open at Seapoint.

He was a shot clear of Edmondstown’s Liam Abom with defending champion Stuart Grehan just three behind after a 67

The top 50 and ties after three rounds will make the cut.

Flogas Irish Amateur Open, Seapoint Golf Links (Par 72)

First round

Detailed scores

64 Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint)

65 Liam Abom (Edmondstown)

67 Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth)

69 Mark Muldoon (Royal Dublin), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth), Thomas Abom (Edmondstown), John Doyle (Fota Island), Tom Hughes (Formby)

70 Charlie McDonnell (Concra Wood), Jack McDonnell (Royal Dublin), Barry O’Connell (Douglas), Chris Somers (Murcar Links), Conor Stapleton (Westport), Conor Clarke (Balmoral), Matthew McClean (Malone), David Howard (Fota Island), Cian Harkin (The Island), John William Burke (Ballyhaunis)

71 Bryn Thomas (Cardigan), Lewis Gowdy (Bangor), Darragh Flynn (Carton House), Ryan Griffin (The Royal Dublin), Isaac Oliver (Glasson), David Reddan (Castleknock), Padraig O Dochartaigh (Gweedore), Alex Kerins (Carton House), Sean Keeling (Roganstown), Adam Fahey (Portmarnock), Dylan Holmes (Greystones)

72 Ryan Murray (Balmoral), Patrick Keeling (Roganstown), Jordan Boles (Carton House), Jamie Anderson (Greystones), Gary Collins (Rosslare), Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), Oscar Murphy (Royal Portrush), Alexander Brand (Bern), Paul Coughlan (Castleknock), Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield), Ethan Roos (Thorndon Park), Mark Cadden (Roganstown), Kai Laing (Broomieknowe), Finlay Galloway (The St Andrews), Paul O’Hanlon (Carton House), Harry O Hara (Clandeboye), Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire)

73 Aaron Ryan (Thurles), Harris Fleming (Galgorm Castle), Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock), Ewen Farquhar (New St Andrews), William O’Riordan (Greystones), Quentin Carew (The Heritage), Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley), Ian Lynch (Rosslare), Eoin Sullivan (Portmarnock), Aodhagan Brady (Co Sligo)

74 James Fox (Portmarnock), Kyle McCarron (North West), James Maginn (Mourne), Tadhg Murphy (Millicent), Joe O’Neill (Berehaven), Ellis Kinnaird (Mississippi), Harry Gillivan (Portmarnock), Thomas Beaumont (Bangor), Daniel O'Brien (County Louth), Dylan Keating (Seapoint), Bruce MacDonald (Lisburn), James Walsh (Douglas), Jonathan Keane (Lahinch), Ben Cahill (Dundalk)

75 Danny Lyne (Lahinch), Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan), Patrick Martin (Carrick-On-Shannon), Luke Kelly (Dunfanaghy), Brian Doran (Millicent), Michael Roche (Harpenden Common), William Walshe (Delgany), James O’Rourke (Naas), William Beatty (Royal Portrush), Rory Gallagher (Galway Bay), Harry Thomas (Eaton), Patrick Curran (Edmondstown), Conor Hickey (Dooks), Greg Holmes (Royal Birkdale), Sean Barry (Fota Island), Paddy Quill (Cork)

76 Neil Patterson (Baltinglass), Sean Reddy (Douglas), Evan Farrell (Co. Louth), Louis Goodman (Co. Louth), Patrick Tuffy (Strandhill), Fergal Coyle (Athenry), James Hewitt (Tandragee), Luke Cunningham (Galway Bay), Kiron Gribble (Dunbar)

77 Sean David (Pyle and Kenfig), Conor McCarthy (Headfort), Anthony Nadal (Biarritz Le Phare), David Shiel (Enniscrone), Ciaran Murphy (Grange), George Holland (Southport and Ainsdale), Keith Egan (Carton House), Conor Crudden (Newbridge)

78 Michael Green (Greenore), Edward Reed (Royal Birkdale), Mikkel Bergum Johansen (Drøbak), Shane McDermott (PGA National Slieve Russell), Lorenzo Fior (Asiago), Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock), David Kitt (Athenry), Lorcan O'Connor (Edmondstown), John Moran (Portmarnock)

79 Kevin Robinson (Castlewarden), Aaron Naughton (Hermitage), Mikie Grealy (Galway Bay), Caelan Coleman (Galway Bay), Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Luke Furlong (Wexford), Harley Phipps (Co. Louth)

80 Ross Latimer (Knock), Seán McLoughlin (County Sligo), David O'Malley (Black Bush), Cole Henderson (Galgorm Castle), Robert Walsh (Douglas)

81 Harry Watkins (Royal Porthcawl), Finn Jolly (Dun Laoghaire), James Everard (Kilkenny), Matthew Dodd (St. Anne’s)

82 Stephen Barker (Mourne), Cian Poland (Elm Park)

85 Eoin Magill (East Clare)

DNF James Temple (Portmarnock)

Rory McIlroy was pleased to see Jon Rahm end his standoff with the DP World Tour and remain eligible for next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

The Basque star announced earlier this week that he'd settled his unpaid fines and can now play the required events he needs to retain his membership and remain eligible for selection by Luke Donald.

“I think it's good that we have it all behind us,” McIlroy told Golf Channel ahead of the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow this week. 

“I think as a European Ryder Cup player, we all know that having Jon on the team is better than not having him on the team.

“So look, I'm glad that they came to an agreement. It took him a little longer to get there than some of the other guys, but he got there in the end, thankfully.

“It's good that we can put that behind us and move forward.”

McIlroy will tee off at 4:33 pm Irish time, later than initially planned due to an early morning storm, alongside English duo Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose.

His big goal this week is to drive the ball straighter than he did at the Masters, so he arrives at bunker-strewn Aronimink for next week’s PGA Championship with a chance to win his seventh Major and third Wanamaker Trophy.

“Diving accuracy,” he said of the area he's focused on this week. “I didn't drive the ball as well as I would like to at Augusta, but I felt like every other aspect of the game was really good, and I managed my game well, which you need to do most weeks

“The big thing that I'm proudest of was, I struggled so much on the Saturday at Augusta, and then to go and spend that time with Harry on the range and figure a couple of things out, and then go into Sunday and have it stick and trust it, and go on to win, that was something I was really proud of. 

“But, yeah, I just need to get the ball in the fairway more.”

The Holywood star gained in confidence at the Masters by winning without his best stuff and by gaining clarity on his career goals.

“I feel like the last decade of my career was all about, you know, can I win the Masters, and can I complete the slam?” he said. 

“And when I did that, I never really thought about what was on the other side of that. And it took me a while. 

“When we were here (at Quail Hollow) for the PGA last year, I was still in a bit of a weird place where I didn't know what the other side of that looked like.

“But we went on a few months, and you start to get more comfortable with where you're at and where your place in the game is, and then you start to think about the future, and you start to think about what you would like to achieve.

“And I think this year's Masters was almost like the start of a new chapter. It was like validation for winning last year.

“It’s like, this is me starting a new chapter and not leaving the last 10 years behind, but really just thinking about the future, and I feel even more motivated than I have before, because it's given me the belief that, okay, I can win the Masters, playing like that at certain times. 

“And that to me gives me a lot of confidence going forward.”

Ireland’s Claire Dowling will make history in September when she drives in as the first woman to captain The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in its 272-year history.

The five-time Irish Women’s Close champion and former Curtis Cup player will serve as Captain in 2026/27, having been nominated by the Past Captains of the Club. 

She will begin her year in office after the traditional Driving-in ceremony on the first tee of the Old Course on Friday, 25 September 2026.

She represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup on four occasions, including the 1986 team, which secured the first GB&I victory over the USA on American soil with a 13-5 win at Prairie Dunes.

Born and educated in Dublin, she attended Dublin College of Catering and graduated from Trinity College in 1979 with a BSc (Mgt) in Hotel and Catering Management.

She represented Ireland in the Home Internationals from 1979 to 1992, playing in six European Team Championships during that time. 

She also played for GB&I in the Espirito Santo Trophy on two occasions and in the Vagliano Trophy six times.

As Claire Hourihane, she won the first of her Irish Women’s Close titles in 1983 and went on to win the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1986 and the Spanish Amateur Championship in 1987. 

She reached the semi-final of what is now the Women’s Amateur Championship in 1981 and 1988.

She went on to captain the GB&I Curtis Cup team in a narrow 10-8 defeat to the USA at Ganton in 2000 and also captained the Vagliano Trophy team and the Irish team.

Off the course, she has been heavily involved in golf administration, chairing England Golf’s Handicap and Course Rating Committee following the EGU/EWGA merger in 2012. 

She sat on the CONGU board from 2012 – 2015 and was an advisory member of The R&A Amateur Status Committee from 1997-2001.

Claire was one of the first women to become a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 2015 and served on the Rules Committee from 2015 to 2019, becoming Deputy Chair in 2017.  

She was elected to the General Committee in 2019 and became Deputy Chair in 2022.  She is currently serving on the Membership Committee.

She has acted as a referee at The Open on seven occasions, including at Royal St George’s in 2021 when, with her husband Peter, a retired District Judge, they were the first married couple to referee at the same Championship.

She is an honorary life member of the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union and holds the same distinction at several golf clubs, including Portmarnock, Copt Heath, Woodbrook (which celebrates its centenary this year) and Cork. 

She is also a member of East Devon, where she lives, and her current Handicap Index is 7.6.

Rory McIlroy returns to the site of his first PGA Tour win this week feeling more motivated than he's ever been after claiming back-to-back Masters titles.

The world number two burst on the scene at Quail Hollow 16 years ago when he held off Phil Mickelson to win the first of his 30 PGA Tour wins in what’s now the Truist Championship.

It will be McIlroy's first start since he claimed his sixth Major win at Augusta National more than three weeks ago.

But with the US PGA Championship coming up next week, he's eager to get back to business and chase what would be his fifth win at the Charlotte venue, where he is the top-ranked player in the field for the $20 million signature event in the absence of world number one Scottie Scheffler.

"It feels a lot different," McIlroy said when comparing his first Masters win to his second.

“Even winning felt different. I felt like winning the Grand Slam was going to be this life-changing thing, and in some ways it was.

"But in other ways, I had to remember like, no, I still have a lot of my career left, and I want to keep playing and keep competing.

“So this year, I think winning was validation for all the work that I've put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I'm winning Majors.

"I'm excited for the road ahead. I'm excited for this week, I'm excited for Aronimink next week, Shinnecock, Birkdale.

"I feel like, if anything, I'm more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I've ever been."

The Holywood star gave himself ten days off to decompress after his Masters win, but he's been working on his game too and put new irons and a new three-wood in the bag this week.

“It was nice to just get a little bit of downtime and chill," he said. "Did some fun stuff. Erica and I took a trip to New York, which was nice. Then did the State Dinner at the White House last Tuesday night, which was an amazing evening. So fit in some fun stuff.

“But I gave myself a good 10 days to enjoy myself and then thought I needed to get back on the range and start to practice and get ready for this stretch coming up."

Seamus Power, meanwhile, plays the PGA Tour's opposite field, $4m ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic at Dunes Golf and Beach Club as Jayden Schaper heads the field in the $2.75 million Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona.

There are no Irishmen in action in Catalonia, but there are nine champing at the bit 35 miles northwest of Rome for the HotelPlanner Tour's first event for more than six weeks.

Max Kennedy, who is 12th in the Road to Mallorca race for 20 DP World Tour cards, is joined in the Italian Challenge Open at Golf Nazionale by Gary Hurley (ranked 31st), Liam Nolan (48th), Conor Purcell (55th), Mark Power (71st), John-Ross Galbraith, James Sugrue, Ronan Mullarney and Robert Moran.

Former Ryder Cup star Chris Wood is one of the favourites to win in Italy after winning back Hotel Planner Tour privileges by topping the MENA Tour's Order of Merit.

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire returns to action for the $3.2 million Mizuho Americas Open at Mountain Ridge Country Club in New Jersey.

While world number one Nelly Korda takes a break after clinching her 18th LPGA win in Mexico on Sunday, Maguire faces stiff competition from seven of the world's top 10 in Jeeno Thitikul, Charley Hull, Hannah Green, Miyu Yamashita, Ruoning Yin, Lydia Ko and Lottie Woad.

In amateur golf, Stuart Grehan tees it up at Seapoint looking to become the first man since Keith Nolan in 1997 to win back-to-back Flogas Irish Men's Amateur Open titles and bolster his chances of winning another Walker Cup cap at Lahinch in September.

After finishing tied for tenth in the European Nations Championship in Sotogrande and sixth at last week's Lytham Trophy, he feels good about his chances at a course in his adopted home town of Termonfeckin.

“To come into this week, being at home, it'll have its own pressures, but I'm feeling good and just want to put the head down now from Thursday onwards," said the Tullamore native, who plays alongside Fota Island's John Doyle and Huddersfield's Dylan Shaw-Radford.

"We all want to play a home Walker Cup in Lahinch. I've done well there in the past, so it would be silly for me to say it doesn't come into the head, of course it does.

"I'm pretty happy with my start, but I still need to keep the head down and put in some good work now over the next three months or so."

Stuart Grehan will look to become only the first player since Keith Nolan in 1997 to win back-to-back Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championships when he tees up at Seapoint.

Returning to the amateur game in 2025, Grehan produced a standout season, claiming both the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open and AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championships before going on to represent Ireland at the European Amateur Team Championships in Killarney and earn selection on the GB&I Walker Cup team that competed at Cypress Point in September.

The County Louth golfer’s remarkable return was sparked by his victory at Seapoint 12 months ago, when he came from four shots behind to seal the win on the third hole of a dramatic playoff against England’s Lewy Hayward.

It was a moment he fondly remembers, made all the sweeter by it being so close to home.

“It was just a sense of relief, to be honest. I didn't feel too much pressure. It was just the relief of winning and getting it done. It's something I always wanted to do ever since the event was announced there,” said Grehan.

“Having my son there winning it was pretty cool. It was the first time he was on the golf course really. That was one thing that will always stick in my head, it was a special moment for me and my family.”

The Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship will once again draw some of the best talent from around the world, as competitors from the UK, Switzerland, Italy, France, Norway and the United States join over 100 Irish players in the field. Four rounds of stroke play lie ahead over the next four days, with the top 50 plus ties making it through to the final round on Sunday.

The Tullamore native, who now lives in nearby Termonfeckin, has carried his rich vein of form into the early part of this season. A T10 finish at the European Nations Championship in Sotogrande followed by a sixth-place finish at the Lytham Trophy last week, has set Grehan up nicely as he aims to retain his crown on the east coast links.

“The game is definitely trending nicely, and those two golf courses Sotogrande and Lytham would definitely be two of the hardest tracks we play all year,” said Grehan.

“To come into this week, being at home, it'll have its own pressures, but I'm feeling good and just want to put the head down now from Thursday onwards.”

Grehan will get the defence of his title underway from 8.44am tomorrow morning as he tees up alongside Irish International teammate John Doyle (Fota Island) and Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield Golf Club).

With a home Walker Cup on the horizon at Lahinch later this year, a strong performance this week could go a long way towards getting on GB&I captain Dean Robertson’s radar once again.

“We all want to play a home Walker Cup in Lahinch. I’ve done well there in the past, so it would be silly for me to say it doesn't come into the head, of course it does. I'm pretty happy with my start, but I still need to keep the head down and put in some good work now over the next three months or so.”

“It'd be nice to have everyone there this year, and to be able to do it again, would be really cool, but there’s a long way between now and Sunday, so I just need to put the head down and see how we get on, but it would be incredibly special.”

The Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship tees up from 8:00am tomorrow under a two-tee start, as Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Alexander Brand (Golf Club Bern) and Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) get proceedings underway from the first tee, while Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock), Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) and Oscar Murphy (Royal Portrush) begin on the 10th.

View first round tee times and scoring here

Jon Rahm is all but certain to tee it up in September’s Amgen Irish Open at Doonbeg after ending his standoff with the DP World Tour.

The Spaniard admitted ahead of LIV Virginia that the stalemate with the DP World Tour that would have threatened his membership status and made him ineligible for the Ryder Cup in Adare next year is now over.

“There's no longer a standoff,” Rahm said at Trump National DC. “We were able to reach an agreement.

“There was some concessions on both sides. I offered some; they extended an olive branch. Obviously, we've reached an agreement. That will not be a stress anymore.”

The DP World Tour issued a statement shortly after Rahm’s remarks.

“The DP World Tour and Jon Rahm have come to an agreement on conditional releases to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the remainder of its 2026 season,” it said.

“This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the Majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season.”

It’s understood that Rahm’s release

conditions were similar to those previously accepted by eight other LIV Golf players, including his Legion XIII teammate Tom McKibbin, who was confirmed in the field for next week’s US PGA today.

Rahm has agreed to pay fines— believed to be around $3m — incurred for breaches of the DP World Tour’s rules and additional fines for playing in three conflicting tournaments so far this season.

As a result he has received a pro-rata reduction in his obligations and will only have to play five events to keep his membership rather than six.

In March, Rahm withdrew his appeal against sanctions imposed by the DP World Tour but initially refused to accept the conditions accepted by eight LIV Golf members to play six extra events, two of which are nominated by the DP World Tour, in exchange for a conditions release.

He accused the DP World Tour of “extorting” players with their conditions, but said at the Masters that he was confident that he could reach an agreement with the DP World Tour, answering “yes” when asked if he felt confident he would be eligible for the 2027 Ryder Cup.

"I was never worried about that," Rahm said when asked about his Ryder Cup eligibility today.

"There was some things I believed in that I wanted them to agree with me, and I knew it was a matter of time. I also understand they have their bylaws and their way to go about things and they have to follow certainly procedures, and things are never as easy or as fast as you would think they would be, or at least I would have liked, but I was never worried.

"The Ryder Cup is still really, really far away, but I'm happy that hopefully I won't have to think about any worries or any predicaments come to Adare Manor then or hopefully ever.”

Rahm’s only concern when it comes to his potential DP World Tour schedule is that he and his wife, Kelley, are expecting their fourth child.

“ I want to support the DP World Tour,” he said. “There's a lot of events I want to play.

"My only concern right now, when it comes to those events in October, is the due date that we have.

“That’s the only issue I have that would make me not be at the Spanish Open. Besides that, I think they can count on my participation."

Providing he fulfils the terms of his conditional release arrangement, Rahm can reapply for membership of the DP World Tour for the 2027 season before November’s deadline.

Non-members of the DP World Tour, including those currently playing LIV Golf, also have the same option.

The agreement between the DP World Tour and Rahm comes hot on the heels of the news that Saudi Arabia’s PIF will stop funding LIV Golf at the end of this season.

Asked about his contract with LIV Golf, Rahm said: “As of right now, I have several years on my contract left, and I'm pretty sure they did a pretty good job when they drafted that. So I don't see many ways out.

"And as of right now, I'm not really thinking about it since we still have a season to play and majors to compete for.

"So it's not something I want to think about just yet.”

What lies ahead for LIV remains unknown though it seems likely that it will have to reduced purses next year.

“Was I surprised? I don’t know, it’s hard to even think about that moment,” O’Neil said about when he learned PIF would cease funding after 2026.

“So I’d rather not comment on how I actually felt, my emotion. I can tell you that it was very clear 18 months ago that for this to be a growing concern, we were going to have to make significant and substantive changes in terms of the way we do business.

“Guys, remember, when my phone rings, it never is the case that everything is going well. I am not a status quo manager. I never have been.

“Like this is what I do … so, it would be naive to be surprised, and it would be irresponsible to be thinking anything else other than how far we have to go to make sure that we can continue to grow this game around the world.”

As for the purses - currently $20 million for the individual tournament purse and $10 million for the team - he said little.

“I definitely will not be talking through specifics of the plan, but it’s a pretty—it’s a playbook that won’t surprise too many people once you see it,” O’Neil said.

“We have a good runway through this season fortunately, and it’s for next year that we’re going to be making some pretty significant, substantive changes.

“If you can piece together what I’ve said over the last six months, there won’t be too much surprise in terms of what you find.”

As for the future of top draw Bryson DeChambeau, who will soon be out of contract, he said: “You want to talk about a business partner, we’re literally talking about the future of LIV Golf, I’m talking with him about how does he see, not just the golf, but the business.

“He’s smart, he’s driven, he’s committed, and he’s a heck of a partner.”

Tom McKibbin is looking forward to making his sixth Major appearance in next week's US PGA after being named in the field by the PGA of America.

With the world's top 100 traditionally invited, the Newtownabbey star (23) made it in 100th place after dropping one spot in the world rankings following his missed cut in last week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

As a result, he joins defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Irish golf's Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and 2008 champion Padraig Harrington in the field at Aronimink just outside Philadelphia.

"Yeah, it's pretty cool," said McKibbin, who tied for 50th on his US PGA debut at Quail Hollow last year.

"I played last year as well, and I think to do it two years in a row with not having the availability of many world ranking points and to stay around that 100 number has been pretty good.

"I think the consistency of the golf that I've played has been nice, sort of being in a spot to be able to qualify for some of those events.

"Yeah, it's always nice to get to play another major. They're definitely the events that you want to be playing, and every time you can tick one off, it's a great learning experience.

"I always sort of leave learning more and more about my game and what I need to get better for the future. So, yeah, looking forward to playing again next week.

The PGA of America released the names of 154 players who will play next week, with two spots reserved for this week's winners of the Truist Championship and the Myrtle Beach Classic, if not already exempt.

Former PGA champion Phil Mickelson, who has played just once this year and is not competing in LIV Virginia this week, was listed in the field, but withdrew due to an undisclosed personal issue in his family and replaced by Max Homa

LIV's Dustin Johnson, who has slipped to 468th in the world, is also among the 154 players invited.

McKibbin qualified for the Masters and the Open by winning in the Hong Kong Open last year, but he admitted he'd likely have to qualify for next month's US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

The top three leading players in LIV Golf’s rankings, not including the already exempt former winners Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, will earn spots in the field.

"I mean, I'd probably have to win to get into that spot, so not really been thinking about that," said McKibbin, who is 25th in LIV Golf’s season standings.

"To move up that far, I'd have to play pretty good. No, I haven't really thought about that plan, just to go and play the qualifier, 36 holes, and give that a shot.

2026 PGA Championship field

154 of 156 players

Åberg, Ludvig - SWEDEN
Ayora, Angel - SPAIN
Berg, Derek - Duvall, WA*
Berger, Daniel - Jupiter, FL
Bezuidenhout, Christiaan - SOUTH AFRICA
Bhatia, Akshay - Jupiter, FL
Bide, Francisco - ARGENTINA*
Blanchet, Chandler - Jacksonville, FL
Block, Michael - Mission Viejo, CA*
Bradley, Keegan - Woodstock, VT
Brennan, Michael - Leesburg, VA
Bridgeman, Jacob - Simpsonville, SC
Brown, Daniel - ENGLAND
Burns, Sam - Shreveport, LA
Campbell, Brian - Irvine, CA
Cantlay, Patrick - Jupiter, FL
Castillo, Ricky - Yorba Linda, CA
Cauley, Bud - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Cink, Stewart - Atlanta, GA
Clark, Wyndham - Denver, CO
Collet, Tyler - Vero Beach, FL*
Conners, Corey - CANADA
Coody, Pierceson - Plano, TX
Day, Jason - AUSTRALIA
DeChambeau, Bryson - Dallas, TX
Detry, Thomas - BELGIUM
Donald, Luke - ENGLAND
Droemer, Jesse - Houston, TX*
Dufner, Jason - Auburn, AL
Echavarria, Nico - COLOMBIA
English, Harris - Sea Island, GA
Fisher, Bryce - Oregon City, OR*
Fisk, Steven - Sea Island, FL
Fitzpatrick, Alex - ENGLAND
Fitzpatrick, Matthew - ENGLAND
Fleetwood, Tommy - ENGLAND
Fox, Ryan - NEW ZEALAND
Fowler, Rickie - Murrieta, CA
Gabriele, Chris - Huntington, NY*
Geddes, Mark - ENGLAND*
Gerard, Ryan - Raleigh, NC
Glover, Lucas - Jupiter, FL
Gotterup, Chris - Little Silver, NJ
Griffin, Ben - Chapel Hill, NC
Grillo, Emiliano - ARGENTINA
Greyserman, Max - Short Hills, NJ
Gumberg, Jordan - Delray Beach, FL
Hall, Harry - ENGLAND
Harman, Brian - Sea Island, GA
Harrington, Pádraig - IRELAND
Hatton, Tyrrell - ENGLAND
Haynes, Zach - Bowling Green, KY*
Henley, Russell - Columbus, GA
Higa, Kazuki - JAPAN
Higgo, Garrick - SOUTH AFRICA
Highsmith, Joe - Lakewood, WA
Hillier, Daniel - NEW ZEALAND
Hisatsune, Ryo - JAPAN
Hoey, Rico - PHILIPPINES
Højgaard, Nicolai - DENMARK
Højgaard, Rasmus - DENMARK
Holt, Ian - Stow, OH
Horschel, Billy - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Hovland, Viktor - NORWAY
Hurt, Austin - Bainbridge Island, WA*
Im, Sungjae - REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Jaeger, Stephan - GERMANY
Jarvis, Casey - SOUTH AFRICA
Johnson, Dustin - Jupiter, FL
Jones, Jared - Dublin, OH*
Kaneko, Kota - JAPAN
Katrude, Michael - West Palm Beach, FL*
Kaymer, Martin - GERMANY
Keefer, John - San Antonio, TX
Kern, Ben - Grove City, OH*
Kim, Michael - Dallas, TX
Kim, Si Woo - REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Kirk, Chris - Watkinsville, GA
Kitayama, Kurt - Chico, CA
Knapp, Jake - Scottsdale, AZ
Koepka, Brooks - West Palm Beach, FL
Lee, Min Woo - AUSTRALIA
Lenahan, Ryan - New Hudson, MI*
Li, Haotong - PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Lindberg, Mikael - SWEDEN
Lipsky, David - Las Vegas, NV
Lowry, Shane - IRELAND
MacIntyre, Robert - SCOTLAND
Matsuyama, Hideki - JAPAN
McCarthy, Denny - Jupiter, FL
McCarty, Matt - Scottsdale, AZ
McClure, Paul - Mobile, AL*
McGreevy, Max - Edmond, OK
McIlroy, Rory - NORTHERN IRELAND
McKibbin, Tom - NORTHERN IRELAND
McNealy, Maverick - Las Vegas, NV
Micheel, Shaun - Collierville, TN
Mickelson, Phil - Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Mitchell, Keith - Sea Island, GA
Morikawa, Collin - La Canada, CA
Mouw, William - Chino Hills, CA
Neergaard-Petersen, Rasmus - DENMARK
Niemann, Joaquin - CHILE
Noren, Alex - SWEDEN
Novak, Andrew - Sea Island, GA
Parry, John - ENGLAND
Pendrith, Taylor - CANADA
Penge, Marco - ENGLAND
Polland, Ben - Wilson, WY*
Poston, J.T. - Sea Island, GA
Potgieter, Aldrich - SOUTH AFRICA
Puig, David - SPAIN
Putnam, Andrew - Lakewood, WA
Rahm, Jon - SPAIN
Rai, Aaron - ENGLAND
Reed, Patrick - The Woodlands, TX
Reitan, Kristoffer - NORWAY
Rodgers, Patrick - Avon, IN
Rose, Justin - ENGLAND
Riley, Davis - Hattiesburg, MS
Saddier, Adrien - FRANCE
Sapp, Garrett - Cypress, CA*
Schaper, Jayden - SOUTH AFRICA
Schauffele, Xander - San Diego, CA
Scheffler, Scottie - Dallas, TX
Schenk, Adam - Vincennes, IN
Schmid, Matti - GERMANY
Scott, Adam - AUSTRALIA
Shattuck, Braden - Aston, PA*
Smalley, Alex - Greensboro, NC
Smith, Cameron - AUSTRALIA
Smith, Jordan - ENGLAND
Smotherman, Austin - Dallas, TX
Smylie, Elvis - AUSTRALIA
Smyth, Travis - AUSTRALIA
Spaun, J.J. - Los Angeles, CA
Spieth, Jordan - Dallas, TX
Stevens, Sam -Wichita, KS
Straka, Sepp - AUSTRIA
Sullivan, Andy - ENGLAND
Taylor, Nick - CANADA
Theegala, Sahith - Chino Hills, CA
Thomas, Justin - Jupiter, FL
Thorbjornsen, Michael - Wellesley, MA
Valimaki, Sami - FINLAND
Vegas, Jhonattan - VENEZUELA
Vermeer, Ryan - Elkhorn, NE*
Walker, Jimmy - San Antonio, TX
Wallace, Matt - ENGLAND
Wiesberger, Bernd - AUSTRIA
Wiseman, Timothy - New Albany, IN*
Woodland, Gary - Topeka, KS
Yang, Y.E. - REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Young, Cameron - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

* - PGA of America club professional

ALTERNATES

Homa, Max - California IN

1. Yellamaraju, Sudarshan - CANADA

2. Hoge, Tom - Fargo, ND

3. Yu, Kevin - CHINESE TAIPEI

4. Meissner, Mac - Dallas, TX

5. Finau, Tony - Lehi, UT

6. Roy, Kevin - Lakewood Ranch, FL

7. Thompson, Davis - Sea Island, GA

He turned the page on his new A4 notepad, put pen to paper and started to write. It was January 2023, and John Doyle began to chart his journey to the top.

Three years later, the 18-year-old is on the precipice of his most important season ye he recently mastered a breakthrough year and will look to back that up and make further progress in the men’s ranks.

It will be difficult to maintain his sharp rise - he played in the Amgen Irish Open, a Junior Ryder Cup, and represented Ireland at the European Team Championships in Killarney.

But the platform is there, and it starts this weekend at the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship in Seapoint, where he will write the latest chapter.

“I have my reflections from every event in the last three years in it, which is a cool thing to look at,” said Doyle.

“It’s easy to forget how you felt in a certain tournament after a couple of months, but I can look back and see. I plan out practice sessions in it too; it’s quite beneficial.

 “I set it up because I like writing down my thoughts. It’s more beneficial to write down what you’re thinking than just saying it.”

This year does have its own significance, with a Walker Cup in Lahinch to the forefront for all of the men operating in the Golf Ireland High Performance environs.

But before Doyle can even begin to think of what that opportunity might look like, he has his own domestic campaign to look after, along with a Leaving Cert.

The CBS Mitchelstown teenager studies six subjects and, having negotiated the French and Irish Orals over Easter, his attention turned to the papers he will sit this summer.

“When I finish school, I have after-school study at 6 pm, go to the gym until 7 pm, and then home and probably do more homework,” said Doyle.

“The odd night I’ll skip study and just go to a golf course as the evenings are getting brighter. It’s pretty hectic but it’s good. I’d much rather finish school than having dropped out.”

And while he zones in on his exams, he has time to compartmentalise and remember that there is potentially a golfing career awaiting on the other end.

Doyle will go to Louisiana State University, following in the footsteps of Áine Donegan, among others, no doubt hoping for a similar route to the professional ranks in the years to come.

Gym work has become a non-negotiable in recent years and after a tough campaign, where he lost six kilogrammes golfing his way through his last season in the boys game, he is even better prepared to last the long weekends.

“It’s a huge focus. If you’re not doing strength and conditioning, you’re losing out because everyone’s getting faster and stronger,” said Doyle.

“The stronger and better I feel about my body, the better I swing the club, as well as speed. Last summer, I lost weight just from playing 36 hole days a lot, and not eating as much.

“I felt my swing got worse as the year went on. I think losing weight was a pretty big contributor. (Adding muscle) makes it better. It means I can hold my positions and my swing easier, and be stronger in general.

“You need to be flexible too. You can’t just be a block of disco muscles, which I’m not really trying to be. I’m trying to be flexible and strong.”

Doyle started strong last year, when he claimed back-to-back titles with the Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Championship and Munster Men’s Stroke Play Amateur Open Championship, both in Cork.

This year he needs to pick and choose his events as he gives preference to these exams, but also needs to stay fresh and mentally available for the highlights in his calendar.

“It’s difficult because there’s probably more pressure on you to play well when you do play,” said Doyle.

“This year, I’ve been going from no golf to playing a tournament, then back to no golf and then play another tournament, which is not ideal. It’s nice to be even just messing around in the summertime when you’re not playing.

“At least when you’re not playing competitions, you’re still playing at home, and you don’t have your days filled up at school. That’s certainly one thing I’m looking forward to about the summer. I can cut loose from school and go fully on golf.

“It was a good season last year and I had good progression into playing in a nice bit of men’s golf, which is what my goal was at the start of the year, to play golf with the men’s team, I love being around the team.

“The atmosphere on the trips is always great and that’s one thing I really, really enjoyed. I’d say the Europeans in Killarney was my favourite week of last year. So much good craic and good golf as well.”

The highlight of that experience was likely the 35-footer he sank against Denmark in the semi-finals, before Ireland suffered heartbreak later that day.

“That week in Killarney was so cool,” said Doyle.

“That putt was unbelievable, because the day before with Matt McClean in the foursomes, we needed a two-putt on 17 to keep the match going and I blew one 10 feet by, and we lost the match there.

“Then I was hoping I wouldn’t do that again against Denmark, which wouldn’t have been good. But it was such a cool moment to make that putt, especially being young on the team.

“It’s is nice to do something like that to let people know that maybe you should be there.”

Doyle has worked even more on his putting in the off-season, and that helped him secure the Lee Valley Scratch Cup in April, before a fifth-place finish in Lytham last week.

He is in strong form heading back to Seapoint, but even with a home Walker Cup on the horizon, he refuses to get carried away.

“You just need really, really consistent golf and good decision making, which I’m always working on,” said Doyle.

“Just making fewer mistakes in my course management. That’s a big thing when it comes to longer four-round events.

“It’s just how you can minimise your silly mistakes, and that’s what I'll be trying to do.”

Flogas Irish Amateur Open, Seapoint Golf Links

Tee-times - Thursday 7 May/Friday 8 May

1st tee / 10th tee

(08:00 / 1:00) Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Alexander Brand (Bern), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth)

(08:11 / 1:11) William O’Riordan (Greystones), Paul Coughlan (Castleknock), Isaac Oliver (Glasson)

(08:22 / 1:22) Thomas Abom (Edmondstown), Conor Stapleton (Westport), Luke Furlong (Wexford)

(08:33 / 1:33) David Kitt (Athenry), Charlie Rusbridge (Colne Valley), James Walsh (Douglas)

(08:44 / 1:44) John Doyle (Fota Island), Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth), Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield)

(08:55 / 1:55) Mark Cadden (Roganstown), Jonathan Keane (Lahinch), Alex Kerins (Carton House)

(09:06 / 2:06) Matthew McClean (Malone), Greg Holmes (Royal Birkdale), Keith Egan (Carton House)

(09:17 / 2:17) Kai Laing (Broomieknowe), Aodhagan Brady (Co Sligo), Sean Keeling (Roganstown)

(09:28 / 2:28) David Howard (Fota Island), Finlay Galloway (The St Andrews), Dylan Holmes (Greystones)

(09:39 / 2:39) John Moran (Portmarnock), Paddy Quill (Cork), Cian Harkin (The Island)

(09:50 / 2:50) John William Burke (Ballyhaunis), Robert Walsh (Douglas), Stephen Coulter (Warrenpoint)

(08:00 / 1:00) Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock), Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), Oscar Murphy (Royal Portrush)

(08:11 / 1:11) Dylan Keating (Seapoint), George Holland (Southport and Ainsdale), Ryan Griffin (The Royal Dublin)

(08:22 / 1:22) Harry Thomas (Eaton), Quentin Carew (The Heritage), Patrick Curran (Edmondstown)

(08:33 / 1:33) Liam Abom (Edmondstown), Luke Cunningham (Galway Bay), Bruce MacDonald (Lisburn)

(08:44 / 1:44) David Reddan (Castleknock), Conor Hickey (Dooks), Conor Clarke (Balmoral)

(08:55 / 1:55) Ethan Roos (Thorndon Park), Padraig O Dochartaigh (Gweedore), Barry Howlin (The Heritage)

(09:06 / 2:06) Ian Lynch (Rosslare), Tom Hughes (Formby), Eoin Sullivan (Portmarnock)

(09:17 / 2:17) James Temple (Portmarnock), Matthew Dodd (St.Anne’s), Lorcan O'Connor (Edmondstown)

(09:28 / 2:28) Kiron Gribble (Dunbar), Conor Crudden (Newbridge), Adam Fahey (Portmarnock)

(09:39 / 2:39) Paul O Hanlon (Carton House), Ben Cahill (Dundalk), Sean Barry (Fota Island)

(09:50 / 2:50) Harry O Hara (Clandeboye), Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire), Harley Phipps (Co. Louth)

10th tee / 1st tee

(08:00 / 1:00) Shane McGlynn (Portmarnock), Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), Oscar Murphy (Royal Portrush)

(08:11 / 1:11) Dylan Keating (Seapoint), George Holland (Southport and Ainsdale), Ryan Griffin (The Royal Dublin)

(08:22 / 1:22) Harry Thomas (Eaton), Quentin Carew (The Heritage), Patrick Curran (Edmondstown)

(08:33 / 1:33) Liam Abom (Edmondstown), Luke Cunningham (Galway Bay), Bruce MacDonald (Lisburn)

(08:44 / 1:44) David Reddan (Castleknock), Conor Hickey (Dooks), Conor Clarke (Balmoral)

(08:55 / 1:55) Ethan Roos (Thorndon Park), Padraig O Dochartaigh (Gweedore), Barry Howlin (The Heritage)

(09:06 / 2:06) Ian Lynch (Rosslare), Tom Hughes (Formby), Eoin Sullivan (Portmarnock)

(09:17 / 2:17) James Temple (Portmarnock), Matthew Dodd (St.Anne’s), Lorcan O'Connor (Edmondstown)

(09:28 / 2:28) Kiron Gribble (Dunbar), Conor Crudden (Newbridge), Adam Fahey (Portmarnock)

(09:39 / 2:39) Paul O Hanlon (Carton House), Ben Cahill (Dundalk), Sean Barry (Fota Island)

(09:50 / 2:50) Harry O Hara (Clandeboye), Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire), Harley Phipps (Co. Louth)

(1:00 / 08:00) Danny Lyne (Lahinch), Michael Green (Greenore), James Fox (Portmarnock)

1st tee/10th tee

(1:00 / 08:00) Ross Latimer (Knock), Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan), Aaron Ryan (Thurles)

(1:11 / 08:11) Neil Patterson (Baltinglass), Luke Kelly (Dunfanaghy), Kyle McCarron (North West)

(1:22 / 08:22) Charlie McDonnell (Concra Wood), Jack McDonnell (Royal Dublin), Patrick Keeling (Roganstown)

(1:33 / 08:33) Edward Reed (Royal Birkdale), Jordan Boles (Carton House), Evan Farrell (Co. Louth)

(1:44 / 08:44) Bryn Thomas (Cardigan), Finn Jolly (Dun Laoghaire), Aaron Naughton (Hermitage)

(1:55 / 08:55) Sean David (Pyle & Kenfig), Stephen Barker (Mourne), Seán McLoughlin (County Sligo)

(2:06 / 09:06) William Walshe (Delgany), David O'Malley (Black Bush), James O’Rourke (Naas)

(2:17 / 09:17) Chris Somers (Murcar Links), William Beatty (Royal Portrush), Tadhg Murphy (Millicent)

(2:28 / 09:28) Joe O Neill (Berehaven), Ewen Farquhar (New St Andrews), Lewis Gowdy (Bangor)

(2:39 / 09:39) Eoin Magill (East Clare), Shane McDermott (PGA National Slieve Russell), Rory Gallagher (Galway Bay)

(2:50 / 09:50) Darragh Flynn (Carton House), Thomas Beaumont (Bangor), Daniel O'Brien (County Louth)

10th tee/1st tee

(1:11 / 08:11) Patrick Martin (Carrick-On-Shannon), Kevin Robinson (Castlewarden), Ryan Murray (Balmoral)

(1:22 / 08:22) Brian Doran (Millicent), Michael Roche (Harpenden Common), James Maginn (Mourne)

(1:33 / 08:33) Barry O’Connell (Douglas), Harris Fleming (Galgorm Castle), Sean Reddy (Douglas)

(1:44 / 08:44) Jamie Anderson (Greystones), Harry Watkins (Royal Porthcawl), Louis Goodman (Co. Louth)

(1:55 / 08:55) Patrick Tuffy (Strandhill), Mark Muldoon (Royal Dublin), Fergal Coyle (Athenry)

(2:06 / 09:06) Mikkel Bergum Johansen (Drøbak), Conor McCarthy (Headfort), Mikie Grealy (Galway Bay)

(2:17 / 09:17) Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock), Anthony Nadal (Golf de Biarritz Le Phare), David Shiel (Enniscrone)

(2:28 / 09:28) James Everard (Kilkenny), Cian Poland (Elm Park), James Hewitt (Tandragee)

(2:39 / 09:39) Ellis Kinnaird (Mississippi), Gary Collins (Rosslare), Caelan Coleman (Galway Bay)

(2:50 / 09:50) Harry Gillivan (Portmarnock), Ciaran Murphy (Grange), Lorenzo Fior (Asiago)