Ireland's Damien McGrane set about chasing down first round clubhouse leaders Pablo Larrazabal and Liang Wenchong at the Volvo China Open today.

Ernie Els is without a major win since the 2002 Open and without a single Tour win in his last 54 events stretching back more than two years.

TROUBLED times for Pádraig Harrington.

France’s Thomas Levet has a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the Spanish Open in Girona.

Thomas Levet took over at the top from Soren Hansen in the Spanish Open today - but then went off for treatment on a back problem suffered while commentating on The Masters last month.

France’s Thomas Levet needed only five holes this morning to take the lead away from Dane Soren Hansen at the Spanish Open.

Soren Kjeldsen shot a seven-under-par 64 to lead by one shot after the first day of the Castellon Masters.

France’s Thomas Levet set the pace early on the first day of the Castellon Masters in Spain, completing his front nine in 31, five under par, to lead by two shots.

Ernie Els is one of the main contenders for the Open Championship at Carnoustie this week – but the ’Big Easy’ will not be enjoying it.

The player seen as the European most likely to end the eight-year drought in the Majors this week does not believe he has to change his “nice guy” image to do it.

Phil Mickelson was today back up to second in the world rankings just in time for the British Open Championship – but not quite in the manner he wanted.

Former Ryder Cup star Thomas Levet, who feared for his career at the start of the season, could tomorrow celebrate his first victory for three years.

Ernie Els today told his fellow professionals to relax – there will be no more toughening up of the West Course at Wentworth.

Even when he had kissed his wife, hugged his son and been congratulated all round Padraig Harrington still wanted the evidence on a piece of paper in front of him.

Just as he did in the Masters last year Phil Mickelson birdied the final hole to win the US PGA title at Baltusrol today.

ONLY 44 minutes’ play was possible on the second day of golf’s richest event, the £4.5 million Players Championship, at Sawgrass yesterday.

Only 44 minutes’ play was possible on the second day of golf’s richest event, the Players Championship, at Sawgrass today before play was suspended until tomorrow.

Gary Evans and Ernie Els today made the most of their stunning starts to the 133rd British Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Gary Evans today made a spectacular start to the first round of 133rd British Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell claimed the second European Tour victory of his short professional career with a play-off triumph over Thomas Levet in the Italian Open and immediately targeted another win to bolster his Ryder Cup hopes.

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

IRELAND’S Peter Lawrie, European Tour rookie of the year in 2003, was among an eight-strong group on four under at Laguna National, just a shot off the clubhouse leaders in Singapore yesterday.

England’s Gary Evans is desperate to end his 12-year wait for a first European Tour victory in the Dutch Open.

THEY still remember him in Chicago. In truth, I suspect they’ll never forget him.

England’s Paul Casey survived everything the notorious Melbourne weather could throw at him to shoot a seven-under-par round of 65 and hold the overnight lead at the Heineken Classic.