McGinley's Colt '29

Paul McGinley. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePaul McGinley donned his course designer’s hat and warned the R&A - Don’t mess with Harry Colt.

The Dubliner wants to see the Open played at Royal Portrush some day but he’s insisting they remain true to the English course designer’s original 1929 lay-out.

Looking at the changes needed to the Dunluce Links for a potential Open Championship, McGinley said: “I think the golf course probably needs a few more bunkers and more length. It needs to be upgraded.

“But it is very important that any of those upgrades are in keeping with what Harry Colt designed because he has a masterpiece here.

“It’s probably his best ever course when you consider the courses he has done.

“So any upgrades that are done must be done very much in keeping with his philosophy.”

Murphy keen to come home

A love split has left Big Break Ireland winner Mark Murphy free to achieve his European Tour dream.

The Waterville swinger finished on one over after a final round 74 but after breaking up with his long time American girlfriend, he’s keen to come home to Europe and win his card.

Murphy said: “I have been living in America and used to date a girl over there but that’s all over so I’ve nothing to really go back for any more.

“That was really something that held me over there as much as anything so if I got any sort of a status over here in Europe I’m ready to come home.”

He could be playing in the world’s biggest tournament in two weeks’ tim because next up for the Kerryman is Local Final Qualifying for the Open tomorrow.

O’Sullivan’s travels

Galway’s Mark O’Sullivan has been bitten by the tour bug thanks to his Irish Open experience.

The Ashbourne assistant closed with a 72 to finish on two over and confessed that he’d love to make another bid for his tour card.

Shrugging off a 78 in the worst of the weather on Saturday, O’Sullivan said: “I wondered how I’d handle it but I had no problems. I loved every minutes of it, no nerves, no problems.

“Q-School? We’ll see how we get on but this obviously gives me loads of encouragement.

“They’re very good but you always think they’re much better than what they are. They’re just very solid, so I played quite solidly this week too.”

Sad day for Shane

Shane Lowry played under a cloud on Sunday following the death of a close pal.

The Offaly star finished in the pack on two under after a 70 but immediately tweeted about the death of Ian Ryan at Beaumont Hospital on Saturday.

Lowry wrote: “Golf lost one of its big hitters and one of my biggest fans today. Only 28 years old. RIP Ian Ryan.”

Harrington’s killer instinct

Padraig Harrington showed on Sunday that he wouldn’t kill a fly - or in this case at butterfly.

The fluttering insect settled in the cup on the sixth but even after trying to coax it out of the cup, the Dubliner resisted the urge to turn into a killer.

Harrington said: “It was in the cup and the rules say we can’t touch the cup until we’re picking our ball out of the hole.

“Once it went down into the bottom of the cup and stopped moving, it wasn’t a distraction.

“I hit a glorious five iron there. Best shot of the day. I can’t believe it ended up where it did.”