Four local politicians were said to be ‘slapping the heads off each other’ on Portstewart Strand after DUP member Myles Forsyth claimed there were more green flags than orange at the holes during the second round of the Irish Open.

Golfing officials moved quickly to deny the allegation, stating that they don’t often get the chance to use green flags as it normally blended in with the colour of the grass but, due to the high volume of yellowy sand dunes, they decided to roll with it.

Forsyth remained unconvinced:

“I’m not buying it. They’re trying to eat into east of the Bann with this stunt. It’s no coincidence that holes 1, 9 and 16 had green flags. 1916. The golfing fraternity appears to be riddled with republicans and, even worse, catholics.”

Officers had to be called to the Portstewart Strand beach after a scuffle between minor DUP and SF members resulted in bare knuckle boxing between four politicians over the flag colour affair. The fight reportedly began when a Sinn Fein member shouted ‘I’ll chucky this sand into yer face’.

Meanwhile, a rumour that all NI golfers who failed to make the cut did so in order to get drinks in before the 12th has been ridiculed by Rory McIlroy’s PA James Nesbitt.