Even though he has won two of the last three Masters Phil Mickelson admits he is “a little nervous” about the start of his title defence at Augusta tomorrow.

Arjun Atwal, the first Indian player to win on the European Tour, finds himself at the centre of police investigations following the death of a man in what police say appears to be a high-speed street race.

Darron Stiles carded a six-under-par 64 to take a two-shot lead after the second round of the St Jude Classic in Memphis.

Chris Smith fired a bogey-free six-under-par 64 to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the St Jude Classic in Memphis.

Colin Montgomerie was left to rue a last-hole blunder in the first round of the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson returned to the fore after a series of tournament disappointments by setting the early pace in the BMW Asian Open.

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam is hoping to ‘Tiger-proof’ the K Club for the Ryder Cup, according to vice-captain Des Smyth.

PHIL MICKELSON’S face broke into a broad smile when he saw the draw for Sunday’s final round of the Masters.

Three issues were destined to dominate the final countdown to this year’s Masters – and they have.

Phil Mickelson’s 13-stroke triumph at the BellSouth Classic – the third biggest US Tour win in over 50 years – has failed to move him up a single place in the world rankings.

Phil Mickelson coasted to one of the biggest wins in US Tour history at the BellSouth Classic – and very much did it his own way.

A closing double bogey cost Phil Mickelson the chance to pull off a feat achieved on the US Tour just once in over 50 years.

Phil Mickelson needed only three holes today to turn a six-stroke halfway lead into an eight-shot gulf between himself and the rest of the BellSouth Classic field in Atlanta.

A measure of how well Phil Mickelson had played in the first two rounds of the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta came today from Swede Richard Johnson.

Not since Sandy Lyle in 1988 has anybody won the last tournament before the Masters and then won at Augusta as well.

Phil Mickelson was in a league of his own in Atlanta as he produced the lowest 36-hole score of his 15-year US Tour career.

Phil Mickelson was in a league of his own in Atlanta today as he produced the lowest 36-hole score of his 15-year US Tour career.

Phil Mickelson swept into a four-stroke lead with three birdies in the first four holes of his second round at the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta today.

Phil Mickelson may have failed to hang on to two of his titles so far this season, but he made a sparkling start to his defence of the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta yesterday.

Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald began the final warm-up event for the Masters in impressive style today.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has played down his chances in today’s BellSouth Classic in Atlanta after making changes to his clubs.

Jose Maria Olazabal claims every time he sets foot inside the grounds of Augusta National he feels “blessed”.

Colin Montgomerie has pulled out of this week’s US PGA Tour event in an effort to bring his game back together in time for the Masters.

David Howell, the European tour’s current number one and conqueror of Tiger Woods last November, could not be more excited about next week’s Masters.

For Sergio Garcia, next week’s Masters becomes even more important after what happened at the Players Championship this weekend.

Just 32 days after being hammered by Tiger Woods, former European Tour player Stephen Ames was heading for the biggest win of his career in Florida.

Greg Owen, like Jean Van de Velde more famous for losing a tournament than winning one, and Ian Poulter saw their dreams of playing in this year’s Masters fade away today.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON will not be tempted to play a practice round at Augusta National despite missing the halfway cut for a first time in the Players Championship in Florida.

Tiger Woods beat Jose Maria Olazabal at the second hole of a play-off to grab a record fourth Buick Invitational victory today.

Even without the neck injury which he feared would rule him out of contention, Padraig Harrington is playing down his chances of becoming the first home winner of the Irish Open since 1982.

Irish Ryder Cup stars Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley will all be trying to bridge a 23-year gap this week.

RYDER CUP players Paul Casey, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Lee Westwood, double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal and Angel Cabrera, Graeme McDowell and Nick O’Hern are the latest players to confirm their participation in the Nissan Irish Open at Carton House Golf Club, Maynooth, from May 19-22.

Arjun Atwal carded a four-under-par 68 to lead JJ Henry by one stroke after the second round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Chris DiMarco fired a seven-under-par 65 to finish tied with India’s Arjun Atwal after the opening round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

England’s David Howell went on a spectacular second-round charge to share the lead on his Masters debut at Augusta National today.

Luke Donald picked up where he left off to stay right in the thick of things on his Masters debut today.

Thunder and lightning delayed the start of the Masters today – and threatened to wipe out the entire first day’s play for the second time in three years.

Sergio Garcia believes fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal is playing his best golf in years as he bids for a third Masters title.

Jose Maria Olazabal has warned against expecting too much too soon of some of Europe’s rising stars.

Padraig Harrington will be chasing an unprecedented hat-trick at Augusta tomorrow – even if some people are wishing he would be find something else to do.

Vijay Singh may be top of the world rankings, but he is listed as only fourth favourite for the Masters by bookmakers Ladbroke’s.