Colin Montgomerie, runner-up in the Open in July, has no objections to the possibility of Michelle Wie or any other woman appearing alongside him in next year’s championship at Hoylake.

SEVE BALLESTEROS admitted that nerves got the better of him yesterday at the start of his first European Tour event for almost two years.

Seve Ballesteros admitted today that nerves got the better of him at the start of his first European Tour event for almost two years.

Seve Ballesteros managed only a six-over-par 77 today in his first appearance on the European tour for almost two years.

Colin Montgomerie, back as Europe’s number one for the first time in six years, knows it might surprise some people that he is at this week’s Madrid Open.

Six years after he thought his European Tour career was over, England’s Stuart Little has the chance this weekend to put the icing on easily the best season of his golfing life.

England’s Mark Roe and Spaniard Santiago Luna found themselves paired together as both reached 500 European tour events in Tenerife today – and Roe marked the special occasion in real style.

Paul McGinley had to battle to the very last hole of the very last round of the very last tournament for a spot in Europe’s Ryder Cup team last year.

Thomas Bjorn is to miss this week’s Dunhill Links championship in Scotland after being taken to hospital on his return home from the Seve Trophy.

RETIEF GOOSEN admitted he had ridden his luck after surviving a last hole stumble to claim his second victory in the space of a week in the Linde German Masters.

Retief Goosen admitted he had ridden his luck after surviving a last hole stumble to claim his second victory in the space of a week in the Linde German Masters.

Welshman Stephen Dodd began the new European tour season today by ending a 15-year wait for his first title.

Stephen Dodd paid a heavy price for one shot in his third round of the Volvo China Open in Shanghai today – but at the end of it the 38-year-old Welshman was still on course for his first European Tour victory.

Vijay Singh had better enjoy being world number one now - because Ernie Els is hell-bent on making his stay there a brief one.

It was Padraig Harrington who arrived last week talking about trying to kill two birds with one stone – win a world title and win in Ireland.

Ernie Els held off Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn to win the American Express world championship by one at a wet and windy Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny today.

Ernie Els easily saw off the challenge of one European Ryder Cup hero today - but now faces an attack from three of them in the final round of the American Express world championship.

A bad weather forecast has officials re-thinking the schedule for the final round of the American Express world championship at Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny tomorrow.

This could well have been a great year for Ernie Els. A really special year.

Ernie Els finally looks to be over the massive disappointment of this year’s major championships.

British Open champion Todd Hamilton was not surprised to see Tiger Woods only two strokes behind him going into today’s second round of the American Express world championship at Mount Juliet in County Kilkenny – even knowing he was in pain every step of the way.

Luke Donald did not face Tiger Woods on his Ryder Cup debut but he will on his first appearance in the American Express world championship at Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny on Thursday.

Hurricane Jeanne has led to world number one Vijay Singh pulling out of this week’s American Express world championship at Mount Juliet in County Kilkenny.

The bizarre situation arising from Colin Montgomerie’s decision not to play in golf’s World Cup in November has been resolved.

Ryder Cup hero Colin Montgomerie looked certain to crash out of The Heritage tournament today after slumping to a second-round 77.

A birdie-eagle finish had Colin Montgomerie smiling yet again today when he returned to the European tour after his Ryder Cup heroics.

One of Britain’s brightest golfing prospects spoke today about the damage he had done to his career enjoying the good life.

Tiger Woods finds himself playing tomorrow in a world championship with a golfer whose last tournament was five months ago.

Former Open and US Masters champion Sandy Lyle has just two weeks left to safeguard his European Tour future.

DARREN CLARKE, winner of the NEC world title in Ohio, made a solid start to the American Express world championship in Atlanta yesterday, finishing with a one under par 69, following a topsy-turvy final few holes.

Back-to-form Lee Westwood made a spectacular albatross to crown one of the finest rounds of his life at Kingsbarns in Scotland today.

The race for a first prize of nearly £500,000 (€722,000) in the Dunhill Links Championship hotted up in Scotland today – and most of the big names were involved in it.

Retief Goosen will concentrate on gaining a place in the US Tour championships rather than defending his title of European number one.

IT isn’t always easy to feel sorry for a man who has made many millions of pounds from his sporting exploits at the age of 34 and is guaranteed to live in luxury for the rest of his life.

Padraig Harrington, runner-up to Retief Goosen on the European Order of Merit for the second season running, is already considering his plan of attack for next year.

South African Retief Goosen today clinched his second successive European Order of Merit title – with an admission that he has not played well for all but one week of the last six months.

Tiger Woods served up another treat for Irish golf fans today, equalling a course record he had set only 24 hours earlier.

Canadian Mike Weir, without a single top 10 finish all season, began his defence of the American Express world championship with a five under par 67 at Mount Juliet today.

Tiger Woods today insisted that he is unconcerned by his dismal Ryder Cup record.

Tiger Woods set off today in a bid to win one of the few big titles to have eluded him so far.

Colin Montgomerie can understand any sportsman who wants to stay close to his family amid fears of more terrorist outrages.

Ireland's Paul McGinley fears retaliation by the US over the terrorist attacks this week will place the Ryder Cup in even greater jeopardy.

Lee Westwood has held off the challenge of the European Solheim Cup team to win the Golf Writers' Trophy for 2000.