An "ecstatic" Rory McIlroy had no need for a pep talk after one of his best Open Championship rounds kept him firmly in contention for a fifth major title at a wet and windy Royal Birkdale.

Jordan Spieth would understand why the bookmakers are finding it hard to name an outright favourite for this week’s 146th Open Championship.

Jordan Spieth needed an extra hole, a little bit of luck and an amazing final shot to finish off a wire-to-wire victory in the Travelers Championship.

Rickie Fowler isn’t sponsored by an Italian tyre manufacturer but their slogan summed up the Californian’s stunning 65 in the opening round of the US Open to perfection.

Jordan Spieth had a year to replay the moment his Masters title defence sank without trace. Last night, he buried the demons that had followed him since, yet contrived to create some new ones.

Michael Greller, the caddie who carried Jordan Spieth’s bag in his historic performance at the 2015 Masters, is 16 years older than his boss but even less experienced.

Charley Hoffman started his day hunting for autographs and ended it as a headline act at the Masters. Hoffman is a guy who jokes his Masters experience comes as “a TV watcher”.

Jordan Spieth birdied the last at Augusta National to post a superb opening-round 64 at the Masters and throw down the gauntlet to Rory McIlroy and the rest of the field.

Ernie Els has always been a rugby player at heart, a big and bruising heavyweight champion in a sport, golf, that doesn’t fancy itself for that weight class.

‘When we arrive at the 2015 Masters, it will not be about Woods halting his losing ways; it will be about McIlroy starting his winning habit.’

He’s in Sydney to defend his Australian Open crown, but Rory McIlroy admits not a day goes by when he’s not thinking about the bigger picture.

Graeme McDowell led the praise for "the curly-haired kid" at Hoylake last night as Rory McIlroy got his hands on the Claret Jug and brought Irish golf its eighth major in as many years.