Miguel Angel Jimenez has hopes of becoming the European Tour's oldest-ever winner this weekend - thanks to the circuit's youngest-ever winner throwing the Andalucian Open wide open.

Pádraig Harrington burst back into form with his lowest-ever career round with a 10-under par 61 on the opening day of the Transitions Championship in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Matteo Manassero was off to a good start today in his bid to grab a second trip to the Masters before his 19th birthday.

Miguel Angel Jimenez admits that staging the Andalucian Open this week will cost him money because of a struggle for sponsorship.

When Rory McIlroy threw his arms into the air at the last hole it was more in frustration than delight despite holing a birdie putt at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Next year’s European Tour will again include just one event Ireland, two in England, one in Wales and three in Scotland.

Next year’s European Tour has been confirmed with the Irish Open switching from late July to the end of June, but with a venue yet to be announced.

England’s Ian Poulter led Scot Paul Lawrie by one after four holes of their Volvo World Match Play clash in Spain today.

PHIL MICKELSON must be beginning to think that he is cursed in his bid to overtake Tiger Woods in the world rankings for the first time since April 1997.

Paul Lawrie achieved his first European Tour win for nine years today – the first leg of what he hoped would be a notable double for Scottish golf.

Paul Lawrie went from one ahead to three behind in the first two holes of the Andalucian Open in Malaga today.

An astonishing European Tour record-equalling round of 60 has put England’s Kenneth Ferrie just one behind Scotland’s Paul Lawrie with a day to go at the Andalucian Open in Malaga.

Former European Open champion Kenneth Ferrie put himself into contention for the Andalucian Open in Malaga with a brilliant third-round run today.

Australian Richard Green almost certainly kissed goodbye to playing in The Masters in two weeks after a second successive 71 at the Andalucian Open in Malaga today.

Robert Rock is closing in on 200 European Tour events without a win, but maybe a change of caddie is about to bring a change of luck.

RORY McILROY’S worst fears were realised in the cruellest fashion at St Andrews last night when his prospects of a first major title at the tender age of 21 were almost certainly blown away by the gale force winds that swept over the Old Course and turned the British Open into nothing short of a lottery.

Louis Oosthuizen’s bid to end a Masters jinx got off to a good start at Augusta today when he birdied the long second and 350-yard third to set the early pace.

Ernie Els admitted yesterday's victory at a testing Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill was a real confidence boost ahead of The Masters.

ERNIE ELS completed a second successive victory yesterday and is unquestionably the hottest player in golf with The Masters now only 10 days away.

Ernie Els completed a second successive victory today and is unquestionably the hottest player in golf with The Masters now only 10 days away.

Much has been made of England having eight players in next week’s Masters, but the South African contingent is arguably even stronger.

South African Louis Oosthuizen put four runners-up finishes behind him to land his first European Tour title today.

South African Louis Oosthuizen has given himself yet another chance to win his first European Tour title – and with it a place in The Masters.

Thomas Levet was left wishing he was playing at The Masters rather than commentating on it after bursting into contention at the Andalucian Open in Malaga today.

PAUL McGINLEY eased much of the pain of a five-month lay-off from competition by moving into contention after two rounds of the Andalucian Open in Spain.

Little Sam Hutsby took a giant step forward in his European Tour career today with a brilliant seven under par 63 at the Andalucian Open in Malaga.

Paul McGinley could not live with the pace set by Welshman Rhys Davies last week but it was a different story for both of them when the Andalucian Open resumed in Malaga today.

Paul McGinley could not live with Welshman Rhys Davies on his return from knee surgery in Morocco last week, but it was a different story for both of them in Malaga today.

Four days after Rhys Davies won in Morocco, the Welsh flag was flying high again in Malaga this morning – thanks this time to Bradley Dredge.

Former Ryder Cup star David Howell, down from ninth in the world four years ago to his current 408th, gave flashes of his old brilliance when the European Tour finally hit European soil today.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen has been added to the European team for next month’s Royal Trophy.

Next season’s European Tour – starting in South Africa on Thursday – will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments, including six new ones, and will once again culminate in the Dubai World Championship.

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

Danish Ryder Cup player Soren Hansen broke the PGA Catalunya course record with a nine-under-par 63 in the Spanish Open began today - after starting with a double bogey.

Rory McIlroy has won the European Tour Shot-of-the-Month award for the second time this year.

A two-over-par round of 73 was good enough for England’s Ross McGowan to retain the lead at the Estoril Portuguese Open in windy Cascais today.

AFTER only one win in his first 309 European Tour events, Dane Soren Kjeldsen made it two in his last nine in Seville yesterday.

After only one win in his first 309 European Tour events, Dane Soren Kjeldsen made it two in his last nine in Seville today.

Colin Montgomerie said today he has to stop making mental errors if he wants to end nearly two years without a win.

Scotland’s David Drysdale, chasing his first European Tour victory in 166 starts, shared the lead with Dane Soren Kjeldsen after five holes of the final round at the Andalucian Open in Seville.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen warmed up for his Masters debut at Augusta – one he earned after an amazing last-day drama in December – with a dazzling 62 in Seville today.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen produced a dazzling run of seven successive birdies to turn a five-stroke deficit into a four-shot lead at the Andalucian Open in Seville today.

Swede Peter Hanson managed only a third round 74 at the Andalucian Open in Seville today and knew instantly what it meant – no Masters debut again.

Marcel Siem thinks he should have been a boxer or a footballer. That way he believes he could have let off steam as much as he wanted.