Rory the Story back in Ireland this week...Close look at player pairings

   DP World Tour: Amgen Irish Open  Tee Times Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy will begin his title defence at the Amgen Irish Open alongside Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre and fellow Major champion Brooks Koepka.

With the PGA Tour finished, guys like #1 Scott Scheffler on holiday until January 2027 (except Presidents Cup in Chicago) the world of golf continues it's rich tradition on the DP World Tour.

The World Number Two, who is targeting a third national open title on the island of Ireland, is the headline act this week as the Back 9 continues with the DP World Tour making a first visit to Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Ireland, Doonbeg.

Alongside MacIntyre and tournament invite Koepka, the star trio will tee off the first on Thursday at 13:35pm before beginning their second round off the same hole at 09:30 on Friday.

Ten minutes later, another home hero in Shane Lowry, a winner of this event as an amateur in 2009, is joined by two-time champion Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed, who leads the Race to Dubai Rankings.

With one of the strongest fields assembled in the tournament's recent history there are a number of eye-catching groups over the opening two day's scheduled play on the west coast of Ireland.

Sepp Straka, one of seven European Ryder Cup players from 2025 in action, is in a three-ball with Ireland's Seamus Power and Joaquin Niemann of Chile at 09:30am on day one.

In the immediate group after, Pádraig Harrington will start his 31st consecutive appearance at his national open, the longest uninterrupted streak since the event began in 1975, in the company of Tyrrell Hatton and Eugenio Chacarra, a two-time winner this season.

The tournament marks the third event in Team Europe's qualification process for next year's Ryder Cup at Adare Manor and Captain Luke Donald is grouped with Alex Fitzpatrick and Tom McKibbin as they begin their challenge at 13:15.

Rasmus Højgaard, champion at this event at Royal County Down in 2024, will start his week alongside Haotong Li and Thomas Detry at 2pm, while his twin brother Nicolai is also among the afternoon wave on Thursday alongside last week's winner Thriston Lawrence and Masters champion Sergio Garcia at 1:25pm.

For a full list of tee times, click here.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

TEE TIMES/ Weather forecast Amgen Irish Open

  DP World Tour: Amgen Irish Open  Tee Times Leaderboard

The Back 9 continues this week as Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, hosts an impressive field at the Amgen Irish Open for the first time. 

BBC WEATHER

Considering the gales that can lash this coast, Mother Nature is co-operating this week except for Saturday with very moderate SW breezes, light rain and sunny breaks as well. 

Locals will remind foreign visitors that the breeze tends to get up with the incoming tide, and subside as it ebbs.

Thursday:  Light rain, a moderate breeze 15km/h SW 12/17*c

Friday:  Light clouds, Sunny intervals, a gentle breeze 6/11km/h W 13/16*c

Saturday: Heavy rain especially early 6-10am, moderate breeze 13/18km/h WSW 13/18*c

Sunday: Light cloud, gentle breeze 6/8km/ SW  14/18*c

New Venue

Formerly known as Doonbeg Golf Club,Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg hosts the Amgen Irish Open for the first time this week, becoming the 19th different venue in the event’s 52 editions on the DP World Tour.

It is in County Clare, SW Ireland along Doughmore Bay on the Atlantic Ocean, opened in 2002, designed originally by Greg Norman, a spectacular seaside links course with towering sand dunes, a 45 minute drive from Shannon Airport.

McIlroy returns this week as defending champion, looking to build on a year that has already seen him become a six‑time Major winner after triumphing at the Masters. 

(The big boys are out late on Thursday, early on Friday)

Group 37 13.35hrs  Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Brooks Koepka 

Group 38  13.45hrs Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm

Golfs rich tradition in Ireland has gotten a lot more expensive over the last 35 years. Driven by surging International demand, many of the big courses asking an all time high of 450 - 500+ euros per round in the peak summer season,  thats $802 Canadian dollars !!.

more to follow...

Bryan Angus

Solheim Cup 2026, September 11-13, Bernardus Golf, Cromvoirt, Netherlands...Teams, Scoriing

 Solheim Cup :  

Image source,Getty Images

Image caption,

Five of Europe's seven Solheim Cup victories have arrived on home soil

Its time for one of the golfing world's most exciting events, the Solheim Cup this week in (Holland) the Netherlands at Bernardus GC.

FORMAT

Played with the same format as the Ryder Cup, 2 matches, 8 foursomes, 8 fourballs then 12 singles on Sunday, its Europe vs USA for the 20th time, first staged in Florida in 1990 named after club manufacturer Karl Solheim along with his wife Louise, the founder and driving force behind the event.

LAST 5 EVENTS

2024  USA 15.5  Europe 12.5 Robert Trent GC, Virginia (Defends)

2023  Europe 14  USA 14 (Europe retained) Finca, Cortesin, Spain

2021  Europe 15  USA 13  Inverness GC, Ohio

2019  Europe 14.5  USA 13.5  Gleneagles, Scotland

2017  USA 15.5  Europe 11.5  Des Moines, Iowa

Europe

Anna Nordqvist captain,  Caroline Hedwall, Mel Reid, Ann Van Dam Vice Captains

Top 2 players LET,  Top 6 players owgr, 4 players Captain's picks

Charley Hull (Eng) Esther Henseleit (Ger) Lottie Woad (Eng) Maja Stark (Swe) 

Celine Boutier (Fr) Carlota Ciganda (Sp), Linn Grant (Swe) Nanna Koerstz Marsden (Den)

Leona MaGuire (Ire)  Julia Lopez Ramirez (Sp)  Nastasia Nadaud (Fr)  Mimi Rhodes (Eng)

USA

Angela Stanford captain,  Kristy McPherson, Paula Creamer, Brittany Lang Vice Captains

7 players LPGA points list, 2 players owgr, 3 players Captain's picks

Nelly Korda, Angel Yin, Jennifer Kupcho, Yealimi Noh 

Auston Kim, Lauren Coughlin, Allisen Corpuz, Andrea Lee

Alison Lee, Lindy Duncan. Megan Khang, Rose Zhang

Bryan Angus

Rory returns, inside the Amgen Irish Open....Entry List

 DP World Tour: Amgen Irish Open Entry List

The Back 9 continues this week as Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, hosts an impressive field at the Amgen Irish Open for the first time. 

With the PGA Tour done and dusted, the way is clear this week for the Solheim Cup in Holland, along with this Irish Open.

New Venue

Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg hosts the Amgen Irish Open for the first time this week, becoming the 19th different venue in the event’s 52 editions on the DP World Tour.

Formerly known as Doonbeg Golf Club, the Greg Norman‑designed links opened in 2002 with an exhibition match between Norman and Pádraig Harrington, won 2&1 by the Australian. The course was more recently purchased by The Trump Organisation in 2014 and underwent a significant redesign by Dr Martin Hawtree two years later, creating a traditional links test for this week’s field in County Clare.

Measuring 6,838 yards, the par-70 features a single loop of nine holes out and nine back.

Ahead of staging the Irish Open, Hawtree oversaw revisions last winter, including both the first and 18th holes. While the tee box on the opening hole has been moved to transform the once straightaway par five into a sweeping dogleg left, the 18th has been entirely redesigned, playing as an uphill par four to an elevated and undulating green that guarantees a dramatic finish.

History of the event

First held in 1927, the Amgen Irish Open has formed a continuous part of the DP World Tour schedule since 1975 and this year celebrates its 71st edition. Across that span it has travelled the length and breadth of Ireland, featured as a Rolex Series event between 2017 and 2020, and produced an enviable roll of honour featuring many of Europe’s greatest players.

Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie all claimed three titles, while last year’s victory saw Rory McIlroy join the group of two‑time champions that includes Ian Woosnam, Sam Torrance, Mark James and Jon Rahm. McIlroy’s dramatic play‑off win in 2025 at The K Club will be remembered as one of the championship’s finest finishes, while Shane Lowry famously triumphed as an amateur in 2009.

McIlroy defends

McIlroy returns this week as defending champion, looking to build on a year that has already seen him become a six‑time Major winner after triumphing at the Masters. 

His victory at The K Club last season was one of the most dramatic finishes in tournament history, defeating Joakim Lagergren in a play‑off after the Swede emerged from a five‑way tie for the lead with a superb closing 66, capped by a brilliant 266‑yard approach to five feet for eagle at the 16th.

 McIlroy forced extra holes with a 28‑foot eagle putt of his own on the 18th, and the pair traded birdies on the first two play‑off holes. On the third, McIlroy’s approach only just cleared the water but held the green, while Lagergren found the hazard, allowing the home favourite to two‑putt for the win and emulate his 2016 success at the same venue.

The World Number Two now arrives fresh off back‑to‑back top‑five finishes in the final two events of the PGA Tour season, adding further momentum to his title defence.

Inside the field

McIlroy headlines a field packed with past champions, Major winners, Ryder Cup stars and DP World Tour winners, combining to form one of the strongest line‑ups in the tournament’s recent history. 

Joining the World Number Two and career Grand Slam winner are six of his Ryder Cup team‑mates from Bethpage, with fellow former champions Rahm, Lowry and Rasmus Højgaard adding further star quality. They sit alongside Adrian Meronk, John Catlin, Harrington, Ross Fisher and Sergio Garcia as past winners returning this week.

McIlroy and Rahm both have the chance to join the exclusive group of three‑time Irish Open champions, while Lowry, Højgaard and fellow 2025 Ryder Cup heroes Tyrrell Hatton, Robert MacIntyre, Sepp Straka, Captain Luke Donald and Vice Captain Francesco Molinari all tee it up at Doonbeg.

Race to Dubai Rankings leader Patrick Reed is joined by fellow multiple 2026 winners Jayden Schaper, Casey Jarvis and Eugenio Chacarra, while Alex Fitzpatrick makes his first regular DP World Tour start since winning the Hero Indian Open following a standout run on the PGA Tour.

Multiple Major Champion Brooks Koepka also returns and last year’s runner‑up Lagergren is back too, arriving with confidence after securing his second top ten of the season at the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.

Harrington extends remarkable national open run

Harrington will extend a remarkable record this week as he makes his 31st consecutive appearance at the Amgen Irish Open, the longest uninterrupted streak since the event began in 1975. 

His run, now three more than the 28 achieved by Eamonn Darcy and Des Smyth, is highlighted by victory at Adare Manor in 2007 and runner‑up finishes at Fota Island Resort in 2001, Co Louth Golf Club in 2004, and Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in 2010. 

The three‑time Major champion has made the cut 17 times across his 30 previous appearances, and this week will be aiming to halt a run of three consecutive missed cuts as he returns once again to one of the defining stages of his career.

Who is part of the commentary team?

Dom Holyer will lead the live commentary team alongside Andrew Coltart, with Paul McGinley and David Howell providing further expert analysis.

Wayne Riley and Anthony Wall will provide on-course coverage, with Gabbie Partington and Josh Antmann conducting in and post-round interviews.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

A most dramatic record tying win for Thirston Lawrence... Final results

     DP World Tour : Omega European Masters. Results

Thriston Lawrence joined Seve Ballesteros as a three-time winner of the Omega European Masters after edging Paul Casey in a thrilling play-off following a sensational final round in Crans Montana.

The South African led at the halfway stage at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, but dropped down the leaderboard on Moving Day following a three-over 73.

He began Sunday's round six shots behind Casey, but a sparkling 62 saw him set the clubhouse target at 18 under which no one could better.

Casey slipped two behind Lawrence at one stage, but four birdies on the back nine saw him lead by one with the 72nd hole to play, only to drop a shot and endure a play-off.

It took four extra holes to decide a winner, but Lawrence came out on top with a birdie after his rival had missed his lengthy effort from the fringe.

Thriston Lawrence of South Africa poses with the trophy following his victory on day four of the 2025 Omega European Masters. Stuart Franklin / Getty Images.

As a result, Lawrence joined an exclusive group with the great Ballesteros as the only players to triumph three times in the Swiss event since 1972 following his successes in 2022 and 2025.

"It's crazy, it's probably the most emotion I've ever shown like in a happy way, normally I cry," Lawrence said after successfully defending his crown in the Alps.

"I can't believe it, I fought so hard today and just gave it my everything. I feel for Paul, he played great and it looked like it was his even in the play-off.

"It's just the best feeling in the world, honestly the best feeling in the world.

"Honestly I did (think I had a chance), I was playing nicely and after the first two rounds, I thought I could shoot eight or nine under and finish well.

"I knew there would be a low-60 in there and I just had to believe and give it my all.

"It's amazing, to play in a golf tournament that I think is the longest ever that's hosted at the same golf course, and to share three with Seve, I never met him but I've always seen clips of him, and it's unbelievable to share that with him."

Casey had made a clutch par putt at the 16th keeping him one ahead and he only needed to par the last, which he had birdied on each of the first three days, to seal his 16th DP World Tour title, but Casey lipped out his putt and it went to a play-off.

This was the 11th play-off in the last 19 editions of this event and both players parred the three extra holes before the South African drained the winning 23-foot birdie putt for his place in history alongside Ballesteros. Casey had missed winning putts inside 10' on two successive holes.

• His sixth DP World Tour title in his 143rd start, and first since the 2025 edition of the Omega European Masters one year and six days prior

• His third Omega European Masters victory in his fifth appearance at the tournament, following success last year and in 2022

• Moves to 21st on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World on 1,188.56 points

• Moves to 111th on the Official World Golf Ranking, up from 183rd

• The eighth Omega European Masters win by a player from South Africa

Harry Hall carded an eagle and five birdies in his blemish-free 63 for 3rd at -17, while Spanish trio Hidalgo, Ayora and Eugenio Chacarra were one shot further back at -16 alongside Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and Italy's Laporta.

Joel Girrbach, the only home player to make the weekend, finished at -15, with Englishman Matt Wallace to wrap up the top ten.

Casey revealed he will donate all of his prize money to the Fondation Beloved charity connected to the tragic New Year's Day fire at a bar in Crans Montana, with 354,734 euros being pledged for his runner-up finish.

Next week Rory returns to Ireland with some of his Ryder Cup pals to lead a star studded field at the Amgen Irish Open.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Sunday at Crans-sur-Sierre...Thirsten Lawrence wins 4th playoff hole to win Omega European Masters

  DP World Tour : Omega European Masters..Tee Times  

• Leaderboard

On Saturday, Paul Casey produced a stunning front nine to catapult himself into a three-shot lead after the third round of the 2026 Omega European Masters.

After opening with two pars, Casey went on to birdie six of the next seven holes to reach the turn in 29 and surge into a two-shot advantage at -15.

His scoring stalled on the back nine as he traded shots at the 14th and 15th before finishing with a closing birdie for a total of -16 to begin Sunday with a 3 shot lead.

Sunday Playoff

Casey began at 6.25am EST with a 3 shot lead which would prove to be a saviour, after he posted 2 bogey's and a double on his front nine, offset by 3 birdies +1 36.

However coming in he posted 4 birdies and all pars until the 18th, where his drive found the right rough, his wedge landed in the rough beside the green, and he took 3 to get down for bogey 5 and -18 total

Thirsten Lawrence vying to tie Seve Ballesteros with 3 wins, was in great form, with a bogey free,8 birdie 62 -18, he was in the clubhouse watching as Casey made bogey at the 18th to allow a playoff.

Harry Hall 63, finished 3rd at -17. Then there were sixT4 at -16. Hidalgo 64, Wiesberger 64, LaPorta 65, Ayora 66, Chacarra 67.

PLAYOFF

#1 Both players were right with their drives, Casey in the bunker, Lawrence intermediate rough. Casey found the front edge of the green 39' away while Lawrence was long, left 59' away with his approach.

Both made 2 putts, par 4.

#2. Casey's drive long and straight down the middle, Lawrence right rough again. Casey's approach lands 10 feet away, Lawrence was to 26' he two putts for par.

Casey misses the 10 footer for the title, par 4.

#3. Both players found the fairway with their drives. Lawrence 22' away with approach, Casey 8'... Lawrence 2 putt par...Casey misses 8' for the title !

#4. Thirsten Lawrence makes birdie 3 to win his record tying 3rd Omega European Masters.

more to follow....

Bryan Angus

Where has Paul Casey been ? He leads Omega European Masters after 54 holes...Full results

      DP World Tour : Omega European Masters..Tee Times  

• Leaderboard

An emotional Paul Casey produced a stunning front nine to catapult himself into a three-shot lead after the third round of the 2026 Omega European Masters.

The Englishman, who has 15 DP World Tour titles to his name, improved his chances of bettering his best result here when finishing third 21 years ago thanks to his blistering start at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

After opening with two pars, Casey went on to birdie six of the next seven holes to reach the turn in 29 and surge into a two-shot advantage at -15.

His scoring stalled on the back nine as he traded shots at the 14th and 15th before finishing with a closing birdie for a total of -16.

Casey now 49, lives in Switzerland and revealed he will donate all of his prize money to the Fondation Beloved charity, which helps those affected by the tragic New Year's Day fire in Crans Montana.

"There was so much (to enjoy), maybe saving some of them pars coming in late, but birdie on 18 though, that was the highlight of the day with the great Swiss crowd. I love this place, I really do, so it's a wonderful day," the 49-year-old said.

"I honestly feel really good and I feel somewhat fresh, probably because I haven't played that much golf because I've missed a bit.

"This is now home. I now live in Switzerland, so it would mean an awful lot. It feels like a home week for me.

"And tomorrow, whatever happens, I hope I win, and I'll be playing really hard, but I'll make sure that all my prize money as well is going to the charity and the victims of the fire here in Crans Montana, so I've got a lot to play for tomorrow."

STATUS

Casey has been invited to play on a sponsors exemption. He quit the DP World Tour in 2022 to play full times LIV which he still does.

He will be able to keep the $637,500 if he wins, and will give it all to the Charity before returning  to LIV. He can only return to DP World Tour if he applies for re-instatment and pays any conflicting event fines for 2027.

With the LIV future uncertain, Casey who was living in the USA would face a 1 year ban to join the PGA Tour, however he will become eligible for the PGA Tour Champions when he turns 50.

He will get owgr points but no Race to Dubai points this week.

THE REST

Overnight leader Thriston Lawrence teed off with a two-shot lead, but after difficulty at the first he found himself with a lengthy par putt.

Nacho Elvira had birdied the opening hole to halve the deficit and when Lawrence could not drain his par effort, he joined the Spaniard at -12.

That was the South African's first dropped shot in 52 holes, however, Lawrence bounced back immediately to regain the solo lead at the second.

His rollercoaster round continued with a bogey at the third as he sat alongside Elvira and Maximilian Steinlechner, who had rolled in his sixth birdie of the day at the 14th to climb up to -12.

Steinlechner added another birdie at the 17th and set the clubhouse target at -13 with Erik van Rooyen joining him at that mark.

Cards of 63 were the order of the day with Steinlechner flawless in his -7 round, while Van Rooyen mixed nine birdies with two dropped shots to sit in a share of second at -13.

They were joined at -13 by Spanish pair Eugenio Chacarra and Elvira, who registered respective third rounds of 65 and 68.

Another Spaniard, Angel Ayora, is one shot further back in 6th -12, while Italy's Francesco Laporta, Englishman Todd Clements and Japan's Keita Nakajima are all at -11.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)