Rory McIlroy’s nightmare start to 2013 has gone from bad to worse after he was dumped out of the world match play championships by close friend Shane Lowry.

The Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s only world heritage site, so it is only to be expected that a few eyebrows would be raised at the proposed development of a golf course a mere mile and a half from the famous tourist attraction. Despite strong opposition to the idea by the British National Trust, High Court judge, Mr Justice Weatherup, gave the go-ahead for the construction of the £100 million golf course yesterday.

After a rough start today at the Honda Classic, Rory Mcllroy called it quits on the 18th hole (the ninth hole of his round) after hitting his 3rd ball into the water. 

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has rapped Rory McIlroy across the knuckles – and told the Irishman he shouldn’t have walked off the course at the Honda Classic last Friday.

Rory McIlroy felt the weight of a poor season start lift off his shoulders as his increasing comfort became clear during the final round at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. McIlroy  managed to finished in the top ten on Sunday, catapulting 22 spots, shooting an eagle and no bogeys. 

Arnold Palmer is the latest golf legend to criticise Rory McIlroy’s behaviour – after the world number one snubbed his tournament in Orlando.

Budding Irish golfer Shane Lowry will hope to breach the world’s top 50 with a strong performance in the upcoming Shell Houston Open in order to secure a spot in the year's first Major event, the Masters. 

Rory McIlroy will fine tune his Masters plan in Texas next week – after just making the cut at the Houston Open by one shot.

Rory McIlroy has done a Masters u-turn and opted to play the week before Augusta after all – with a charity trip to Haiti put on the long finger.

Padraig Harrington upstaged Rory McIlroy in Texas a week ahead of the Masters – but the Ulsterman is still dreaming of that green jacket.

Rory McIlroy has issued a pre-Masters battle cry as he bids to win the Valero Texas Open ahead of his return to Augusta.

Rory McIlroy arrived on golf’s largest stage yesterday and proclaimed his fitness for the task ahead - winning his first Masters.

Rory McIlroy has revealed he is determined to be crowned Masters champion this year and that a victory would be everything to him.

Rory McIlroy found his groove ahead of the Masters with a second place finish at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio on Sunday, which he says justified his late decision to enter the tournament.

Caroline Wozniacki ended up caddying for Rory McIlroy at the par 3 tournament held at the Masters on Wednesday.

Rory McIlroy is daring to dream of the green jacket again – after a freakishly good Friday recovery at Augusta put him right back in the mix.

Rory McIlroy’s hopes of the Green Jacket are over for another year – after a nightmare Saturday at Augusta.

Rory McIlroy finally found his Masters mojo on Sunday – three days too late as Adam Scott made history as the first Australian to win the coveted green jacket.

Ulsterman Graeme McDowell got back to winning ways at Hilton Head on Sunday as he battled to a play-off win over fellow US Open champion Webb Simpson in the RBC Heritage tournament.

Rory McIlroy, a native of Holywood in Co Down, Northern Ireland, may not have to choose between Ireland and Great Britain for which nation he wants to represent in the upcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Guardian reports that Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said that McIlroy may not be forced into choosing, rather that a regulation will make the decision for him.

Today's top Irish news stories:

Rory McIlroy has again said that the choice is his as to whether he will play for Ireland or Great Britain in the upcoming 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.

The Score reports that McIlroy made these comments while at press conference in North Carolina just ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship in which he’ll be participating.

Caroline Wozniacki has sent a romantic birthday greeting to boyfriend Rory McIlroy on Twitter – as he makes a move for a first win of the season at Quail Hollow.

Golfer Rory McIlroy has secured three major sponsorships in just the last four months with Nike, Bose and the latest addition, Omega.  Rory is winless thus far in 2013, but had a 2012 season that established the 24-year-old as golfing elite and skyrocketed his corporate appeal. 

Officials from both Ireland and Britain have spoke out about Rory McIlroy’s awaited Olympic choice and explained the young golfer has total freedom in his decision.   

Graeme McDowell is happy to commit to Ireland by playing at golf’s World Cup in Australia this winter – and wants Rory McIlroy to do likewise.

Rory McIlroy, native of Co Down in Northern Ireland, was ranked the third most marketable athlete in SoccerPro’s annual 50 Most Marketable List.

Rory McIlroy has sacked his agent – just months after Dublin-based Conor Ridge made him a multi-millionaire  with the biggest Nike sponsorship deal in the history of sport.