South African Charl Schwartzel completed his fantastic finish to 2012 with an astonishing 12-stroke victory on home soil at the Alfred Dunhill Championship today.

Tiger Woods holed out from a greenside bunker at the 18th hole last night to change the entire complexion of this Open Championship heading into the weekend’s decisive rounds at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The first appearance by Tiger Woods in America this year has inevitably dominated the build-up to the AT&T National pro-am at Pebble Beach this week.

Dubai’s Desert Classic and the superb Emirates course will always hold a special place in Rory McIlroy’s heart.

Sergio Garcia ended nearly three years without a victory in astonishing fashion today, winning his home Castellon Masters by 11 shots with a 27-under-par total.

IT is becoming all so easy for Rory McIlroy at this US Open that the 22-year-old golfer has reminded himself to stay focused heading into the biggest weekend of his career at Congressional Country Club.

Tiger Woods blamed mental errors for costing him a fourth US Open title after he finished three shots behind Graeme McDowell in a tie for fourth.

Graeme McDowell saw Dustin Johnson snatch the US Open lead from his grasp last night as Tiger Woods entered the championship fray.

Tiger Woods will be happy to be an early starter at today’s US Open second round after experiencing a bumpy ride on the Pebble Beach greens last night.

TIGER WOODS will head into this week’s US Open believing his career is finally returning to normal after a turbulent seven months in his personal life.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON believes he’s a “different animal” to the headless chicken who managed to finish fifth behind a rampant Tiger Woods in the US Open here 10 years ago.

YOU get used to certain things in golf. Ian Poulter’s clothes, Rory McIlroy’s hair, Monty’s mood swings, Sergio Garcia’s missed putts and Phil Mickelson being behind Tiger Woods in the world rankings.

After spending 244 weeks in his career as world number two Phil Mickelson is excited by the thought that he might finally make it to the top this Sunday.

PADRAIG Harrington spent the last few weeks enjoying a break from the professional tour. During a relaxing few days in Co Limerick, where he helped launch the JP McManus Invitational pro-am, he discussed several aspects of his life, times and game with golf correspondent Charlie Mulqueen.

JACK NICKLAUS believes world number one Tiger Woods will find it harder to break his record of 18 majors if he does not compete this year.

Miguel Angel Jimenez equalled the lowest first round in Open Championship history with a six under par 64 today – but Tom Watson was still the talk of Turnberry.

Tiger Woods comfortably claimed his fourth consecutive Buick Invitational title by eight shots at Torrey Pines but was still left feeling slightly disappointed by his final-round one-under-par effort of 71.

American Cristie Kerr claimed her first major title when she shot a final round 70 to win the US Women’s Open at Pine Needles in North Carolina today.

Wales’ Bradley Dredge today cruised to his second European Tour title with an eight-shot victory in the Omega European Masters.

A closing double bogey cost Phil Mickelson the chance to pull off a feat achieved on the US Tour just once in over 50 years.

As the only man to have held all four majors at the same time, Tiger Woods does not need anybody to tell him how best to go about trying to win a Grand Slam.

WORLD number three Ernie Els fired a flawless seven-under-par 65 to cruise to a 13-stroke victory at the storm-affected BMW Asian Open yesterday.

RYDER CUP star Miguel Angel Jimenez, 279th in the world only 20 months ago and now 16th, continued his remarkable return to form yesterday.

PHIL MICKELSON ended his magical year with golf's magic number. The Masters champion shot a 13-under 59 to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, a two-day competition for the year's four major winners.

Defending champion Andy Roddick powered down the fastest serve in US Open history – 152 miles per hour – as he cruised past 17-year-old Scoville Jenkins 6-0 6-2 6-2.

Padraig Harrington will go into this week’s Masters as the leading player in the world rankings without a major.

Marat Safin’s wholehearted battle to become the first unseeded Australian Open champion since 1976 finally ended today as the ebullient Russian admitted: “I just ran out of gas”.

FORMER world number one Marat Safin of Russia ended Andre Agassi’s five-year winning streak at the Australian Open with a pulsating semi-final upset of the reigning champion.

ANDRE AGASSI, Andy Roddick and Lindsay Davenport kept the stars and stripes flying high above Melbourne Park yesterday with a trio of sizzling performances in the Australian Open fourth round.

Tiger Woods could take his winnings from 15 World Golf Championship events to an incredible $10m (€8.55m) tomorrow – more than Jack Nicklaus’ total earnings from a 41-year playing career.

HOLDER Tiger Woods turned on the style to take command of the American Express World Championship in Atlanta – while Darren Clarke was in danger of posting his worst-ever pro score.

Holder Tiger Woods turned on the style to take command of the American Express World Championship in Atlanta today – while Darren Clarke was in danger of his worst-ever score as a professional.

FINAL-HOLE agony struck once again for Pádraig Harrington at Muirfield yesterday when a bogey at the 18th cost him a place in the Open Championship play-off by a single shot.

THE Grand Slam dream may be over for another year but Tiger Woods left Muirfield last night with his head high.

Men’s Singles Semi-finals: (11) Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spa) bt (2) Marat Safin (Rus) 6-3 6-2 6-4

Thomas Johansson will draw on his inspirational memories of Swedish success as he bids to claim the Australian Open title.

Russian Marat Safin has dumped US star Pete Sampras out of the Australian Open.

Tommy Haas made hard work of reaching the last 16 in the Australian Open today.

Marat Safin buried the nightmare of his performance at last year's Australian Open to move confidently into the third round in Melbourne.

Virtual tennis unknown Barry Cowan was set to face the most daunting game of his career today when he faced reigning Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras.