Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed set the early clubhouse target as the third round of the 117th US Open turned into a shootout at a rain-softened Erin Hills.

A rain-softened course was protected by some fearsome pin positions as the third round of the US Open got under way at Erin Hills today.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy moved ominously up the leaderboard to give runaway leader Jordan Spieth more to think about in the 79th Masters today.

When eight-time major champion Tom Watson was picked to captain the US Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles, it was considered a masterstroke by the US PGA.

Players aside, this week’s Ryder Cup is expected to be the most commercially successful ever.

Steve Stricker’s slim chance of making the United States Ryder Cup team is gone after the 47-year-old confirmed he will not play again until December due to injury.

United States captain Tom Watson has confirmed that Steve Stricker is being considered for a Ryder Cup wild card, despite already being chosen as a vice-captain.

European captain Paul McGinley today named Sam Torrance and Des Smyth as his first two vice-captains for September’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

The composition of Paul McGinley’s Ryder Cup backroom team for Gleneagles in September should become a little clearer today when the Dubliner hosts a European Tour press conference in his home town.

THE 1997 Masters was the eighth — and most memorable — of my 20 visits to Augusta.

The Ryder Cup has a reputation for bringing emotions to the surface, a reputation this week’s contest in Chicago already looks certain to enhance.

The Ryder Cup scoreboard shows America 6-4 ahead overnight, but Europe were the ones with the clear momentum when play ended at Celtic Manor tonight.

Phil Mickelson equalled a Ryder Cup record at Celtic Manor today – but not one he wanted.

Phil Mickelson has a dreadful Ryder Cup record.

Colin Montgomerie is thrilled Tiger Woods is coming to Celtic Manor in three weeks' time.

COREY PAVIN yesterday handed Tiger Woods the chance to go into the Ryder Cup record books – as the American with more defeats than any other.

Corey Pavin today handed Tiger Woods the chance to go into the Ryder Cup record books – as the American with more defeats than any other.

FRED COUPLES has teed up his golf ball 23 times in the Masters and has played the weekend at Augusta National each and every year.

American Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger teased opposite number Nick Faldo today over the resignation of his assistant Paul McGinley.

AMERICAN Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger teased opposite number Nick Faldo yesterday over the resignation of his assistant Paul McGinley.

American Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger teased opposite number Nick Faldo today over the resignation of his assistant Paul McGinley.

Padraig Harrington goes for a third win in five years at Augusta today – and the rest of the Masters field are perfectly happy for him to do it.

Tiger Woods has thrown down the gauntlet exactly a month before the start of the Masters at Augusta.

TIGER WOODS made it three wins in five starts this year - but only after a late scare last night.

Tiger Woods tonight made it three wins in five starts this year – but only after a late scare at Doral in Miami.

Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington was still in touch at eight under on the second day of the Ford Championship at Doral in Florida.

Phil Mickelson refused to be overshadowed by his great rival Tiger Woods on the second day of the Ford Championship at Doral in Florida today.

The Blue Monster course at Doral in Florida appears to hold no fears for world number one Tiger Woods.

Allen Doyle overcame a nine-shot deficit to fire an eight-under-par 63 and clinch the US Senior Open.

Only two closing birdies from Thomas Bjorn – to go with two earlier eagles - prevented American Chris DiMarco from grabbing the biggest halfway lead in Masters history today.

Craig Parry returns to defend his Ford Championships title after last year’s dramatic play-off victory.

Darren Clarke let his golf do the talking at the USPGA championship this afternoon with his best-ever start to a major.

The longest course in major history – 7,514 yards, no less – has been prepared for this week’s USPGA Championship. It is called Whistling Straits and it should have John Daly licking his lips.

Scot Sam Torrance shares the lead after the first round of the Kinko’s Classic.

The United States retained the UBS Cup after a dramatic 12-12 tie with the Rest of the World at Sea Island.

The United States tonight retained the UBS Cup after a dramatic 12-12 tie with the Rest of the World at Sea Island.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE and Bernhard Langer reproduced their Ryder Cup form to inspire the Rest of the World to a slender 3½ to 2½ lead over the United States after the opening day of the UBS Cup.

Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer reproduced their Ryder Cup form to inspire the Rest of the World to a slender 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 lead over the United States after the opening day of the UBS Cup.

Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer today carried on where they left off in last year’s Ryder Cup on the opening day of the UBS Cup in Georgia.

Tony Jacklin will put his famed captaincy skills to the test once again when the Rest of the World take on the United States in the third UBS Cup.

WORLD number one Tiger Woods may have thought he had achieved all he could in golf, but the authors of a new book have given the great one a fresh challenge.

IF not Tiger, who? Woods is almost unbackable but favourites can be beaten.

MIND GAMES or exasperation? Who knows why South Africa’s Retief Goosen chose the Madrid Open to label his Irish rival for the Order of Merit, Padraig Harrington “the slowest player on the European Tour.”

IT WAS just a round of golf. Not life or death, not world-changing, not important in the grand scheme of things.