Harry Diamond

Lowry: “People criticising Rory and Harry, it really makes my blood boil”

Shane Lowry wants his second Claret Jug at Royal Troon this week but he’s also pulling for Rory McIlroy and his caddie after admitting the criticism they received after last month’s US Open heartbreak “made my blood boil.”

Lowry: “People criticising Rory and Harry, it really makes my blood boil”

McIlroy struts his stuff: "I can't play defensive. Defensive isn't my style"

The Rory bounce is back — and with good reason.

After firing a bogey free 68 — the second best score of the day — to take a three stroke lead into the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, 26 year old McIlroy can take a big step forward on the road to Masters glory.

McIlroy struts his stuff: "I can't play defensive. Defensive isn't my style"

McNamara best on a mixed day for the Irish in Sotogrande

Headfort’s Rory McNamara is just two shots off the lead after the first qualifying round for the Spanish International Amateur Open at La Reserva in Sotogrande.

McNamara best on a mixed day for the Irish in Sotogrande

Dawson and McBride the sole survivors in Portugal

Faithlegg's Robin Dawson and The Island's Paul McBride will carry Irish hopes into the final round after making the cut on the mark in the Portuguese Amateur Open in Lisbon.

Dawson and McBride the sole survivors in Portugal

Dawson best of the Irish in Portugal

Faithlegg's Robin Dawson birdied three of his last four holes to lead the Irish challenge at the halfway stage of the Portuguese Amateur Open.

Dawson best of the Irish in Portugal

McBride and O'Donovan forced to regroup in Portugal

The Island's Paul McBride recovered from a horror start to lead the Irish hopefuls after the first round of the Portuguese Amateur Open Strokeplay at Montado near Lisbon.

McBride and O'Donovan forced to regroup in Portugal

Breakfast of champions - Selfridge v Hurley in North final

Gary Hurley. Picture: Pat CashmanDouble major winner Chris Selfridge will bid to put his early summer struggles behind him when he takes on West Waterford and NUI Maynooth star Gary Hurley in dawn duel for the North of Ireland Amateur Open at Royal Portrush.

Dunne hangs on for thrilling East win

Paul Dunne (Greystones) winner of the East of Ireland Championship at County Louth Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman He might have had just five hours sleep and suffered a nervy speed wobble coming down the stretch, but no-one could deny that Greystones’ Paul Dunne deserved his one-shot victory in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at sun-splashed County Louth.

Record cut-off for "East"

East of Ireand champion Chris Selfridge during last year’s three hole play-off with Nicky Grant. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieThe handicap cut off for the East of Ireland Championship fell at a record low of 0.2.

Cannon trains sights on Mullingar

Brian Casey will defend the Mullingar Scratch Cup next weekend. Picture - Pat CashmanIrish Amateur Open winner Robbie Cannon has set his sights on another big strokeplay win in next month’s East of Ireland at Baltray.

Impressive Hume denied in Lytham playoff

Rathsallagh’s Jack Hume came up just short despite a brilliant final day in the Lytham Trophy. Picture Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieRathsallagh’s Jack Hume fell to Finland’s Albert Eckhardt at the final hole of a three-hole aggregate play-off for the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

O'Donovan lurking at Lytham

Lucan’s Richard O’Donovan is just three shots off the lead with 36 holes to play in the Lytham Trophy.Lucan’s Richie O’Donovan carded one of the rounds of the day to go into the final 36-holes of the Lytham Trophy just three shots behind Woodhall Spa’s Nathan Kimsey.

Hume heads Irish at Lytham

Jack Hume was the best of the Irish on day one of the 2013 Lytham Trophy Rathsallagh’s Jack Hume headed the Irish challenge on a day when just two players broke par in the opening round of the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

McNamara shows killer instinct in wild West win

Rory McNamara rolls in the winning putt on the 14th in the final of the West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieThe killer instinct is crucial in matchplay and Headfort’s Rory McNamara showed that he has it in spades when he put Muskerry’s Niall Gorey to the sword en route to an emphatic 5 and 4 victory in the final of the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open at Rosses Point.

Gorey refuses to surrender

Niall Gorey drives on the eighth in the quarterfinal win over Gary McDermott. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieYou know you’re doing something right when you impress such an august triumvirate as former West of Ireland champions Des Smyth, Barry Reddan and Declan Branigan with your play in freezing, 30mph gales.

McDermott remains on course at Rosses Point

Gary McDermott hits his tee shot to the 16th in the third round of the West of Ireland Championship. Picture Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieGary McDermott remained on course to end County Sligo’s 63-year wait for a home-grown winner when he beat Knock’s Nicky Grant 3 and 2 to reach the quarter-finals of the West of Ireland Amateur Open at a bitterly cold Rosses Point.

McDermott in his element in icy West

Gary McDermottGary McDermott made just one bogey in the second round, here at the 14th, in an otherwise faultless display. Picture courtesy www.countysligogolfclub.ieYouth had its fling on the opening day of matchplay combat in the West of Ireland Championship. But while there were plaudits for the likes of teenagers Gareth Lappin, Paul McBride and former boy wonder Jack Hume, it was local hero Gary McDermott who made the biggest impression in Artic-like conditions at Rosses Point.

Carnage on the links as scores soar at Rosses Point

The 17th at Rosses Point took its toll in the first round of the West of Ireland Championship.Rosses Point bared its teeth in no uncertain terms as a tough course set up, exacerbated by an Arctic-like east wind and a sub-zero windchill factor, allowed just 42 players in the 123-strong to break 80 in the opening qualifying round of the West of Ireland Amateur Open.