LEE WESTWOOD has strengthened his place at the top of the world rankings and re-ignited his bid to retain the European Tour’s Race to Dubai order of merit by finishing a stroke behind Francesco Molinari in the HSBC World Championship in Shanghai.

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN never let the silver Claret Jug out of his sight as he celebrated into the morning hours at the Jigger Inn across from the 17th fairway at St Andrews.

TWO years after crashing out of the British Open at Royal Birkdale with rounds of 80 and 89 John Daly lit up St Andrews yesterday with more than just his trousers.

Peter Lawrie gave himself the chance of the first Spanish and French Open double for 24 years with an amazing opening round at Le Golf National near Paris today.

Thomas Levet has claimed victory at the Andalucian Open.

Lee Westwood needed a wildcard to make the last Ryder Cup team – and the former European number one is not expecting an easier ride this time around.

Unbeaten as Ryder Cup partners last year and inseparable on tour for years, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke went their separate ways on the leaderboard in the first round of the Austrian Open today.

England’s John Bickerton survived a late wobble to win the £458,000 (€662,000) first prize at the French Open after holding off New Zealand’s Michael Campbell and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington.

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.