English duo Aaron Rai and Paul Waring carded matching rounds of 65 before bad weather forced play to be suspended in the first round of the Joburg Open.

South Africa’s Haydn Porteous carded a final round 69 to win his first European Tour title at the Joburg Open yesterday.

Damien McGrane has played in two British Opens, but he could be on course to make his third appearance at Royal Liverpool in July after opening with a five under 66 in the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington in South Africa.

Rory McIlroy may have been pleased to see the dark clouds gather over Oak Hill last night, just as a bright start to his PGA Championship defence was getting a little gloomy in upstate New York.

His game is dominant, and with five victories in 12 starts this year as well as two major top-10 finishes, the success rate is phenomenal.

When Jack Nicklaus said that Merion “acre for acre may be the best test of golf in the world”, he certainly wasn’t considering the course from the point of view of tournament logistics.

USGA executive director Mike Davis today said he is already keen to bring the US Open back to Merion – if the club and local residents were willing to host the tournament again.

Brendan Jones’ closing round of 66 helped the 35-year-old Australian claim the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open by one shot from Ryuichi Oda.

Padraig Harrington kept alive his hopes of a €1m bonus at Wentworth today - after refusing to let his golf go from bag to worse.

Ernie Els has been a supporter of the European tour ever since he signed up as a member back in 1992 aged just 22.