TOUR NEWS:RORY McILROY had that bounce back in his step as he left St Andrews on Sunday evening. No regrets. In fact, the 21-year-old Ulsterman – who has returned to seventh in the latest world rankings on the back of his third-place finish behind Louis Oosthuizen – ticked so many boxes in the British Open that, increasingly, it would seem to be merely a matter of time before, well, his time comes in a major.

The one box, of course, which was left empty was in achieving the actual win.

All in its own good time, you feel.

And McIlroy has enough on his plate coming up to keep him very busy, starting with tomorrow’s “Duel on the Lough” where he will team-up with Darren Clarke for a fourball match against Pádraig Harrington and Shane Lowry in a North versus South encounter to claim some bragging rights in the locker-room.

That duel, though, is very much an aperitif for what lies ahead, not only for McIlroy but for all of the leading Irish tour players.

Next week, the 3 Irish Open at Killarney holds centre stage on the European Tour and, the following week, McIlroy – along with Harrington and US Open champion Graeme McDowell – will take part in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron.

Then, the trio will be joined in the US PGA at Whistling Straits by Lowry, whose upward momentum in the world rankings has brought him to a career-high 79th and earned him a ticket into the season’s final major.

Apart from playing in Lough Erne tomorrow – where he is the touring professional – McIlroy intends to “kind of chill” for much of this week as he gets ready for a run of tournaments that takes him up to the PGA.

“It’s a big summer of golf (ahead),” said McIlroy, although he could be forgiven if his eyes were allowed to wander slightly forward to the challenge at Whistling Straits. “Yeah, on a sort of links-style golf course again. I’m looking forward to that. I’m sure the Europeans and British and Irish guys will certainly challenge for that one, as well.”

By then, McIlroy could well have a new piece of Titleist armoury in his bag. “I’ve got a new driver I have to test out. I didn’t have it in the bag this week.”

A look at his driving stats from St Andrews, though, would indicate there is very little wrong with his current driver: he was ranked 12th in driving distance, averaging 317 yards (Alvaro Quiros topped the list with 331 yards), while he was second in greens-in-regulation.

Still, the quest to continually improve is one which occupies the minds of all leading players, and it was also interesting to note that Harrington – despite missing the cut in the Open – was one of those most visible on the range, working in tandem with coach Bob Torrance, at St Andrews over the weekend.

Harrington’s upcoming schedule is identical to that of McIlroy’s, although the Dubliner’s precarious Ryder Cup position – he has slipped to ninth in the world points list – puts a degree of pressure heading into that stretch from the Irish Open to the PGA.

Of all the players due a break, McDowell is the one most looking forward to recharging the batteries.

Not involved in the Lough Erne Challenge, McDowell remarked: “I’m not going to do anything this week. I’m just going to lay low, maybe hit the odd ball at Portrush but generally just lay low and get ready for a big three weeks. I’ve got a lot of rest planned this week, just really trying to recharge the batteries.

“It’s been a busy five weeks and I’m looking forward to some time off but also looking forward to the Irish Open. I think Killarney is going to be a fantastic venue and 3 have done a great job of reviving the Irish Open.”

Lowry, for his part, intends to take an advance trip down to see the Killeen course, possibly on Friday, as he seeks to kick-on from a recent run of good form which has led to an invite to the PGA.

“I think it’s been waiting to come. I have been waiting to play well most of the year but I just haven’t been getting the results I think I deserve,” he said.

For Colm Moriarty, appearing in his first major at St Andrews has given him further incentive to kick on with his quest for a full tour card.

One immediate upshot from his play in the British Open was an invite to the Irish Open next week. Having battled away on the Challenge Tour for the past few years – citing 2008 and 2009 as “stagnant years, but I learned a lot in those two years” – Moriarty has shown good form so far this season and attributes working with Neil Manchip and Bob Torrance as being constructive.

“I think the combination is really good and has given me that bit extra swing thoughts,” he said.

Moriarty returns to the Challenge Tour for the English Challenge in Stoke this week, before moving on to Killarney. “The atmosphere will be a little different (on the Challenge Tour), but it’s all a challenge. You’ve got to get yourself up for it,” said Moriarty.

There are five Irish players competing in the Scandinavian Masters this week: Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane, Michael, Hoey, Simon Thornton and Gary Murphy.