GOLF: Sign of the Times

Hours after GMac's historic US Open triumph at Pebble Beach, California, BBC Radio Ulster DJ and fellow Portrush resident, Alan Simpson, mocked up a welcome sign (pictured right) with the aid of Photoshop.

It read: 'Welcome to Portrush, Home of US Open Champion Golfer Graeme McDowell'. Alan then posted the photograph on Facebook to see the response and the rest, as they say, is history.

Alan explained: "I was watching the events unfold last week and was just so incredibly proud of Graeme, so I decided to do something as a wee tribute to him.

"Myself and a friend mocked up a photograph of the 'Welcome to Portrush' sign on the way into the town to include the words 'Home of US Open Champion Golfer Graeme McDowell.'

"We put it on Facebook for a laugh and people started posting, saying we should push Coleraine Council to do something about it.

"But I never actually thought anything would come of it. Everyone has been very positive about it and thrown their weight behind it and I think it would be a very fitting tribute to Graeme.

"Local MLA David McClarty rang up to say he thought it was a great idea and then Coleraine Borough Council got on the ball.

"Even Jimmy Nesbitt is supporting it. So it looks like our wee sign could become the real deal."

The photo was so realistic it even fooled a BBC News team who arrived on the North Coast to film it!

"It's true, a TV crew came down to film the sign and someone had to tell them it hadn't actually been made yet," laughed Alan.

"But as I said it's only a small tribute to what is an unbelievable achievement by Graeme. I'm sure there are tributes to the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Ernie Els in their home towns. It's only fitting that we do this for Graeme.

"People have told me that there have already been tourists in the area enquiring where Graeme comes from and where he plays golf and we should be shouting it from the rooftops.

"He is very proud to be from Portrush and Portrush is very proud of him!"

Paul Gallagher, of Coleraine Borough Council's tourism events team, said: "The Council is very proud of Graeme and is planning to do something to mark the occasion, so this sign could be just what we're looking for.

"It will be decided at a meeting of senior management this week but it's very likely that it could go ahead.

"The Council is very aware of the public's support for Alan's mock-up sign.

"What started out as a joke could become a reality for Portrush."

* Meanwhile, BBC Sport NI goes behind the scenes to document the homecoming of US Open winner Graeme McDowell in a fly-on-the-wall documentary on Tuesday night.

'McDowell's Major Moment' will be shown at 10.35pm on BBC One Northern Ireland.