Tour honour for Irish duo

Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy have both been made honorary life members of the European Tour after their incredible US Open-Open double this summer.

The pair were presented with their badges at the Irish Open in Killarney on Wednesday by Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny - he was playing with McIlroy in the curtain-raising pro-am - and Tour chief executive George O'Grady.

Clarke won The Open earlier this month at his 20th attempt and at 43 is the oldest Claret Jug holder since 1967, while 22-year-old McIlroy last month became the youngest US Open champion since 1933 - and did it by a runaway eight-shot margin and with a record score.