Matteo Manassero

"After the year I've had and the close misses, it wouldn't make up for all of it..."

Rory McIlroy confessed it would be “amazing” to claim his second Amgen Irish Open title and ease the pain of a year of near misses after he overcame winds gusting to 50 kmph and shot a joint best of the day 69 to take a one-shot lead into the final round at Royal County Down.

"After the year I've had and the close misses, it wouldn't make up for all of it..."

McKibbin looking to pass McIlroy as Irish golf’s youngest two-time winner

Holywood’s Tom McKibbin can beat Rory McIlroy and become the youngest Irish golfer to win twice on the DP World Tour after an eight-under 64 left him just two shots behind clubhouse leader Matteo Manassero in the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa.

McKibbin looking to pass McIlroy as Irish golf’s youngest two-time winner

McKibbin back in the money as Nolan wins Brabazon

Rookie Tom McKibbin ended a run of three straight missed cuts with his seventh top-25 finish of the season in the KLM Open as former Irish teammate Liam Nolan claimed the Brabazon Trophy at Sunningdale.

McKibbin back in the money as Nolan wins Brabazon

McIlroy wonder-shot sets up blistering back nine

Rory McIlroy might have made a slow start to 2015 but after going out in level par with one birdie and one bogey on his card, the world No 1 was inspired by a back nine wonder-shot as he stormed home in 31 to match pal Rickie Fowler in the  Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

McIlroy wonder-shot sets up blistering back nine

Mega Irish Open set for Fota Island - driveable 6th a feature

Irish golf’s biggest stars will be to the fore when the 2014 Irish Open takes place at Fota Island Resort from 19th – 22nd June, in front of an expected attendance of over 100,000 in what promises to be an unforgettable festival of golf, writes the European Tour. 

Mega Irish Open set for Fota Island - driveable 6th a feature

Butch and Rory consistently inconsistent

Rory McIlroy bunkers his tee shot at the eighth - his lone bogey so far in the second round. Padraig Harrington might be right. Consistency is overrated. Just ask Butch Harmon, Rory McIlroy, Peter Lawrie or even Australia’s Andrew Dodt.

Lawrie load of ambition

Peter Lawrie tees off on the first in the third round of the UBS Hong Kong Open. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.iePeter Lawrie entered the week comparing himself to the Gingerbread Man as he prepared to fend off the challengers to his position as the man in the Race to Dubai hotseat.

McIlroy No 1 as Manassero triumphs in Singapore

Matteo Manassero kisses the Singapore Open trophy. Picture by Getty ImagesRory McIlroy finished third to clinch the Race to Dubai title as Matteo Manassero defied heat, humidity and fatigue to win the Barclays Singapore Open after a play-off with South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen.

McGrane and Hoey in the mix as Murphy digs deep in Morocco

Michael Hoey leads in the clubhouse after a superb 65 but Damien McGrane remains the man to catch entering the final day of the Hassan Trophy.

Omens are good for Damien in Morocco

Damien McGrane chats to Sky Sports’ Sarah Stirk. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ieDamien McGrane will be hoping to build on his spectacular star to the Trophee Hassan II and end his four-year victory drought in sunny Morocco.

McIlroy victorious in defeat as Manassero takes the silverware

Matteo Manassero has now won twice in just 25 starts as a professional. Photo: Eoin Clarke/golffile.ie. So the fresh-faced youngster with the Irish caddie won again. No, not Rory McIlroy, who had to settle for third place for the ninth time in his European Tour career, but the 17-year old Italian Matteo Manassero (and Coleraine-born bagman Ryan McGuigan).

McIlroy playing for high stakes in Kuala Lumpur

Rory McIlroy has done his reputation no end of good in Kuala Lumpur this week by bouncing back from the bitter disappointment of a final round major championship disaster with an impressive display of mental fortitude. Unfortunately, he’s in a no-win situation.

Donald and Casey aren't The Young Ones any more

Harrington and Noh Seung-yul at the 2010 Iskandar Johor Open.Padraig Harrington knows talent when he sees it but while he’s a huge admirer of Martin Kaymer, Rory McIlroy and Korea’s Noh Seung-Yul Noh, he’s looking to a group of ageing young ones to make their mark at last.

Manassero following in famous footsteps

From the greens of Augusta to the green of the Emerald Isle and on to golfing glory? Why not?

Italy’s Matteo Manassero will make his professional debut in the BMW Italian Open in Turin in three weeks’ time and it appears certain that the 16-year old Italian superstar will be invited by the European Tour to take part in the 3 Irish Open at Killarney from July 29 to August 1.