I signed on for the 2010 Writers Cup at Doonbeg Resort in Ireland ready to fight for good ole red, white and blue in an international competition of epic proportions.

So I was a bit disappointed -- at least at first -- to find out I had been traded to team Ireland for an undisclosed amount of cash and a player to be named later. This year's Writers Cup, a biannual tradition at Doonbeg, has been transformed into an international competition between golf writers from continental Europe and Ireland. Come to find out the Americans have been getting trounced at the competition for so long, it was probably time for a change.

I had hoped to build upon fond memories of visiting Ireland to trounce blokes (just kidding, guys!) from the U.K. in golf. I joined a group of crooked-hitting American golf writers for a stirring defeat of our European counterparts at a competition at the K Club outside Dublin prior to the 2006 Ryder Cup. The Americans who use pens for a living fared much better than their club-wielding PGA Tour counterparts.

My match was a memorable one against a long-hitting German and a crafty Swede.

The wind was whipping so hard at one point, I blasted a shot out of a bunker only to witness the flapping flag knock it down like Shaq in his prime. My partner, Danny Freels, rolled in a critical putt on the 18th hole to tie our match, earning a half-point that aided the team victory. The U.S. team was honored at a banquet that night with a photo of the American flag draped across my lap.

In 2007, I witnessed some more dramatic golf by the Americans as our U.S. Walker Cup team blitzed the favored GB&I team, featuring Rory McIlroy, for a rare overseas win at the legendary Royal County Down.

Truth be told, though, I can't wait to be Irish. Deep down I think I've always wanted to be. After all, Deegan is a traditional Irish name. Now's my chance to keep those Irish eyes a'smiling.

I love links golf. And there's no better place in the world than at Greg Norman's stunning Doonbeg design in the southwest of Ireland. If nothing else, my team is virtually guaranteed a victory in the 19th hole. Slainte.

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