GolfThe phrase "cute Kerry hoor" might have been invented for James Lavery and believe us, we mean that as a compliment.

Twenty-two years ago Lavery didn't even play golf but, on the advice of his father, he shelled out £1,000 for life membership of Ballybunion.

The money was being taken in for work on the club's coastal erosion fund and to Lavery, who now plays off seven, it must seem like the bargain of a lifetime.

For good measure he fell in with a couple of former Ballybunion captains and they have since toured Scotland playing the likes of Troon, Turnberry, Carnoustie and even Muirfield.

Now, as anyone will tell you, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers do not welcome visitors willy-nilly but, as Lavery will tell you, when you're with a captain of Ballybunion anything is possible.

Watching the final round of the US Open last weekend must have been a great pleasure as well. In his back pocket Lavery had betting slips for Retief Goosen (20 each way at 40 to 1) and Jeff Maggert (20 each way at 100 to 1 to be top American).

For the first time ever we were offering the bonus of a €1,000 voucher for golf gear from McGuirk's golf shops to our weekly winner and Lavery, a Golf Masters rookie, scooped the jackpot with his Durango selection. He also gets the usual fourball at the Heritage.

Like all of the top-five teams this week, Lavery included Maggert and Phil Mickelson. It was the added contributions from Stephen Ames and Angel Cabrera that helped him to a 35,500 advantage over Gerard Haugh's unfortunately named "Invincibles".

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