Years ago in what seems like another lifetime, one of the more enjoyable projects I completed at university was on the possibility of bringing a European Tour golf event to Northern Ireland.

Memories of working on the idea in House 54 at Jordanstown came flooding back to me this week when Darren Clarke stated that Royal Portrush would be a perfect venue to stage The Open.

Those positive comments about the superb links course on the north coast follow suggestions emanating from Fermanagh earlier this year that the sparkling Lough Erne resort could host a tournament on the European Tour.

Rory McIlroy is the touring professional at Lough Erne and like Clarke rarely misses an opportunity to speak fondly of his homeland.

Ditto Graeme McDowell, who this week took time out of his preparations for this year’s Open to fly back to Ulster to cheer on his brother Gary at the North of Ireland tournament at Royal Portrush.

To use an Ulster phrase: “these boys don’t forget where they came from”.

They aren’t just a credit to their profession, they are a credit to our wee country.

All three will receive plenty of support from Ulster’s travelling golf fans at Turnberry over the next four days — I’m backing them to make the cut — and hopefully come Sunday one, maybe two or, better still, all three will be in contention to take home the claret jug.

Imagine Darren, Graeme and Rory battling with Tiger Woods at the top of the leaderboard on the back nine.

Only Colin Montgomerie and Sandy Lyle fighting it out (maybe even literally) in a play-off would be more dramatic!

That sorry tale certainly livened up proceedings at Turnberry ahead of the first tee shots this morning.

Incredibly, in the build-up McIlroy was billed as third favourite by some bookmakers.

That shows just how fearful they are of taking a trouncing from backers of Holywood’s finest and how far Rory has come in a short space of time.

Remember this is only his second Open Championship — in his first in 2007 he won the Silver Medal for being top amateur — and his fourth major overall, having finished 20th in the Masters and 10th in the US Open earlier this year.

We don’t have many sporting superstars in Northern Ireland, but McIlroy, just a few years out of school, is that and more.

He’s a hero to our heroes. Many a time David Healy, a keen golfer, has told me about his admiration for McIlroy.

I remember the great Dame Mary Peters waxing lyrical about Rory at an awards dinner.

David Humphreys is another big fan.

Confident in his extraordinary ability, McIlroy has got that special something that makes everyone sit up and take notice. Call it the Rory-Factor.

I have no doubt that he will win The Open one day. If it’s not this Sunday, it will be a Sunday in the future.

McIlroy’s emergence and the fascination with him has put countrymen Clarke and McDowell somewhat in the shade, but they genuinely seem happy for their young buddy to capture all the headlines. That tells you much about their character.

I know a few egotistical sportsmen who would be put out by a young whipper shapper taking away their glory.

But not Darren or Graeme.

Clarke has had ups and downs on the golf course in recent years.

Hardly surprising given the sad passing of his wife and while well aware that shooting a 78 isn’t the worst thing that could happen to him, he would still love to win The Open. I feel he has at least one good crack at a Major left in him.

McDowell should have many opportunities. I enjoy watching Graeme. He’s a wonderfully attacking golfer and as he showed at the Ryder Cup improves when the pressure is on.

The last Ulsterman to win The Open was Fred Daly in 1947. Much too long.

Here’s to one of our golfing heroes bridging that gap this weekend.

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It's all happening at Manchester City or Madchester City, as they should be known during transfer windows.

In between writing this and you reading it, they will probably have signed 10 more strikers, so I’ll not list all the new recruits, though the most impressive to date has been Carlos Tevez.

He endeared himself to City fans straight away by slagging off Sir Alex Ferguson.

When he waved to the Old Trafford crowd against Arsenal in May, cheers echoed around the stadium.

“Fergie, Fergie sign him up,” the Red Devil faithful roared.

I would expect a different song when he returns on September 20 wearing blue.

Iconic players come and go at United, but Fergie remains the main man regardless.

If Mark Hughes can enjoy the same persona amongst all the superstars at Eastlands, City will have a chance of doing something this season.

I still get the feeling though, that it will all end in tears.

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So, Freddie Flintoff is retiring from Test cricket. Fun to watch, but let’s face facts here, he was no Ian Botham, was he?

Last week my top 10 was on Australian cricketers. Today it is the turn of the top England players in my lifetime.

Unlike the Aussies, there have been few true English greats in the last 30 years. I’d class only the top three in my list in that category, though Pietersen has the potential to join them.

Just missing out on the top 10 were Michael Atherton, Michael Vaughan, Mike Gatting and John Emburey, all good cricketers, but not greats in my book.

1. Sir Ian Botham

2. David Gower

3. Geoffrey Boycott

4. Graham Gooch

5. Alan Lamb

6. Bob Willis

7. Alec Stewart

8. Andrew Flintoff

9. Darren Gough

10. Kevin Pietersen