Rory McIlroy bashed one spectator’s head and turned plenty more at Royal Lytham & St Annes as he safely negotiated the worst of the opening day’s conditions for a 67 that puts him right in the hunt alongside Graeme McDowell heading into today’s Open Championship second round.

Is there any wonder Rory McIlroy is ready to embrace his tournament favouritism at Royal Portrush as the 2012 Irish Open gets underway today?

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both talked about needing to improve their driving after giving Lee Westwood a head start at The Masters.

Lee Westwood made the perfect start to his 56th attempt to win a major title today.

Pádraig Harrington is having none of that statistic that winning the Par 3 Contest on the eve of the Masters precludes a golfer from winning the main event.

Lee Westwood found himself leading The Masters again after Henrik Stenson crashed from six under par to one under in almost a blink of the eye on his 36th birthday at Augusta National today.

Paul Lawrie made his first round in The Masters since 2004 one to remember at Augusta National today.

Rory McIlroy finds himself back with Argentina’s Angel Cabrera for the first two rounds of The Masters on Thursday and Friday.

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood still have a chance to go to world number one this weekend – and they do not have to beat Tiger Woods to get there.

Shane Lowry is just three off the lead on day one of the Dubai World Championships while Peter Lawrie is one over after 13 and Rory McIlroy tees off latter.

Graeme McDowell now refers to Rory McIlroy as “The Man” – but his own talent was there for all to see again at Castle Stuart near Inverness today.

There is still no word on whether Tiger Woods will be in next month's Open or not, but Sergio Garcia is now a certain starter at Sandwich.

Sergio Garcia took another big step on the comeback trail with a 64 in Munich today – and now hopes to rescue a place in next month’s Open at Sandwich.

Henrik Stenson gave encouragement to the chasing pack with a slow start to his second round at the BMW International Open in Munich today.

Back-to-form Swede Henrik Stenson set the first-day pace at the BMW International Open in Munich today – and even managed to finish with a full set of clubs.

Ireland's Darren Clarke is just two shots off the clubhouse leader as he finished his first round in the Iberdrola Open in Majorca today.

An astonishing European Tour record-equalling round of 60 has put England’s Kenneth Ferrie just one behind Scotland’s Paul Lawrie with a day to go at the Andalucian Open in Malaga.

Paul Lawrie revived memories of his greatest year in golf with a second-round 66 at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha today.

WHEN he arrived at St Andrews on Sunday and took a tour of the Old Course, 45-mile-per-hour winds were out of the west, meaning you could just about reach the par four 18th green with a hybrid or even a long iron.

Jean Van de Velde, playing just his second European Tour event of the year, shared the early lead after an opening five under par 66 in the Alstom French Open at Le Golf National near Paris today.

IRISH golf is set for a second week of success after Simon Thornton put himself in position for a first Tour victory by moving to 10-under par after two rounds of the BMW International Open in Munich.

Welshman Bradley Dredge leads the BMW International Open in Munich at the halfway stage as star attractions Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia crashed out of the event.

England’s Benn Barham equalled the lowest round of his career today to lead the Austrian Open in Vienna.

Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst moved into position today for a tilt at a third Portuguese Open title in five years.

Ireland’s John Kelly opened made a purposeful start to stage two with a 67 at the European Tour’s qualifying school in Spain today.

Fist-pumping Stuart Manley had Order of Merit number one Robert Karlsson breathing down his neck the moment he resumed the Portugal Masters with a one-stroke lead in Vilamoura today.

Stuart Manley, a schoolboy soccer starlet who had a trial with Manchester United, is about to find out how good a golfer he is.

Welshman Stuart Manley remained the man to catch at the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura today – as Colin Montgomerie missed yet another cut.

Calmer conditions greeted the early starters in the second round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale today.

JEAN VAN DE VELDE has waited a long time for this week — the week when drug-testing become part and parcel of life on the European Tour.

Jean Van de Velde has waited a long time for this week – the week when drug-testing become part and parcel of life on the European Tour.

Zane Scotland’s debut in one of the biggest events of his career turned into something of a nightmare today.

Trevor Immelman survived a late scare to win The Masters at Augusta National tonight, but less than four months ago he would have been happy just to play in it.

Nick Dougherty has vowed to go all out for victory in the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship after moving into a three-stroke lead.

Irish teenager Rory McIlroy will make his professional debut in the company of 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie at The Belfry on Thursday.

Darren Clarke and Jean Van de Velde will be playing partners for the 36-hole US Open qualifying event at Walton Heath in Surrey on Monday.

Ten weeks to go to the Open and it looks like Carnoustie will not be quite so nasty as it was in 1999.

Zach Johnson, without a single top-10 finish in 11 previous majors and with nothing better than ninth place in a tournament all year, produced the round of his life today to win an extraordinary Masters.

Padraig Harrington today returned from a trip to the dentist to talk about the one great thing in his favour if he finds himself battling Tiger Woods for the Masters at Augusta on Sunday.

The Portuguese Open could produce the first amateur winner in European Tour history tomorrow – and if it happens it should not come as a complete surprise.

England’s John Bickerton has revealed that a flash of inspiration on the putting green contributed to his holding the lead after the first round of the French Open.

Colin Montgomerie moved into the lead, had “Happy Birthday” sung to him, was presented with a cake and was made to laugh by a youngster answering him back.

Colin Montgomerie moved into the lead, had “Happy Birthday” sung to him, was presented with a cake and was made to laugh by a youngster answering him back.

Padraig Harrington believes it would be unwise to rule Tiger Woods out of contention for next week's US Open even though it is over two months since he played competitive golf.