FOR the second year running Seve Ballesteros has pulled out of the Open championship.

For the second year running Seve Ballesteros has pulled out of the British Open.

ENGLAND’S Paul Casey and Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson, both multiple winners on The 2003 European Tour, have confirmed their participation in the first Nissan-sponsored Irish Open which returns to Portmarnock for the first time in 13 years from July 24-27 July.

A BIRDIE-BIRDIE finish allowed Darren Clarke to retain the lead in the PGA Championship at Wentworth yesterday.

Both Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo have expressed their surprise at Padraig Harrington’s decision not to contest this week’s Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth.

Padraig Harrington has no need to worry about Tiger Woods as he tries for the win tomorrow which will take him top of Europe’s Order of Merit.

Padraig Harrington was not taking anything for granted going into the third round of the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Hamburg today.

RETIEF GOOSEN and Pádraig Harrington, first and second on the European Order of Merit for the past two seasons, share the lead after the opening round of the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Hamburg.

Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington, first and second on the European Order of Merit for the past two seasons, share the lead after the opening round of the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Hamburg.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington leads the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open TPC of Europe, with Darren Clarke lying in second.

PÁDRAIG Harrington has defended his decision to give next week’s Volvo PGA at Wentworth a miss.

Paul Casey is setting his sights high – really high – after taking his biggest step yet up the golfing ladder.

ENGLAND’S Paul Casey condemned Pádraig Harrington to the 19th runners-up finish of his career today by winning the last-ever Benson and Hedges International Open.

Padraig Harrington is the outright leader of the Benson and Hedges International Open after five holes of his final round today.

Sweden’s Richard Johnson broke The Belfry course record with a 64 on the last-ever day of the Benson and Hedges International Open today.

Padraig Harrington has it in his power this weekend to ensure that Europe’s record of always having at least one player in the world’s top 10 is maintained.

IT is not difficult to spot which Ryder Cup star has been enjoying himself most back at The Belfry so far this week.

It is not difficult to spot which Ryder Cup star has been enjoying himself most back at The Belfry so far this week.

Padraig Harrington stumbled just at the moment he had The Belfry course record back in his sights today.

Record prize money of nearly £2.5m (€3.48m) has not changed Padraig Harrington’s mind about missing the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth in two weeks’ time.

IRELAND’S Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley has criticised Seve Ballesteros for his weekend outburst about the European tour.

One month after a major championship which promised so much and then delivered nothing, Darren Clarke is back in action this week determined to show that his game is moving to a new level.

Sam Torrance and 10 members of his victorious European Ryder Cup side return to The Belfry this week for the 33rd and final Benson and Hedges International Open.

Peter O’Malley leads the Murphy’s Irish Open at the halfway stage after a second round 67 at Fota Island took him to nine under par 133, one clear of the chasing pack that includes the defending champion Colin Montgomerie.

Padraig Harrington has finished tied in third place with Colin Montgomerie and Michael Campbell, two shots behind winner Angel Cabrera.

Padraig Harrington is sharing the lead with Barry Lane, Angel Cabrera and Michael Campbell on nine under.

Padraig Harrington is tied in second with Angel Cabrera and Colin Montgomerie just one shot behind Barry Lane at ten under.

Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie are one shot behind leaders Barry Lane and Angel Cabrera at the Belfry.

Padraig Harrington is one behind joint leaders Barry Lane and Angel Cabrera after a birdy at the 11th hole.

Angel Cabrera is at nine under, only one shot behind leader Barry Lane, at the B&H Open at the Belfry.

Barry Lane has moved a further shot ahead of the field - he now leads by three - after a birdie at the fourth put him at 11 under par.

Barry Lane now leads the final round of the B&H Open at the Belfry by two shots after a birdie at the third hole.

Padraig Harrington has stormed into joint fourth at the B&H Open after birdying two of his first three holes.

Colin Montgomerie has birdied his first hole in the final round of the B&H Open to move to six under, four behind the leader Barry Lane.

Jose Maria Olazabal, who seven years ago had to crawl around on the floor and feared his future would be in a wheelchair, presented a very different picture at The Belfry today.

Phillip Price fired caddie Andy Prodger on the spot today, after finding out he was losing him to Ryder Cup team-mate Colin Montgomerie.

Barry Lane broke the course record at the new-look Belfry today to give himself the chance of his first win since New Year’s Eve seven years ago.

Barry Lane drops to eight under par but still maintains his two-shot lead in the Benson and Hedges International Open at the Belfry.

England's Barry Lane has taken a two-shot lead at nine under in the B&H International Open at the Belfry.

Anthony Wall shares the lead of the Benson and Hedges International Open with Roger Wessels and Barry Lane.

John Daly and Londoner Anthony Wall wasted no time climbing into a share of the lead in the third round of the Benson and Hedges International Open at The Belfry today.

Padraig Harrington has moved to four under par after two holes of his second round at the B&H International Open at the Belfry.

Bernhard Langer has moved up to three under par, three behind the leaders,Montgomerie, Owen and Wessels in the B&H International Open.

Jose Maria Olazabal did not look this morning like the player who has already won well over £1million already this season.