Millions who had never watched a golf tournament tuned in every time Woods was on the course, says Paul Newberry.

A clash of egos can sometimes be a beautiful thing, in politics, perhaps. But in a stylish endeavour such as golf, it produces ugly theatre.

Four-time Augusta National champion Arnold Palmer confidently expects to be welcoming Rory McIlroy to next year’s Masters Champions dinner.

You know you are in a good place heading into the Masters when all you have to worry about is whether the Augusta National chefs will get your mum’s pavlova recipe right for the Champions’ Dinner.

Preparation is everything at elite level but if you’re wondering why Rory McIlroy is not firing on all cylinders heading into his defence of the US PGA at Oak Hill, just ask his putting coach, Dave Stockton.

AS IF he didn’t deliver enough of a shock to the old suits with his Loudmouth blazer at Tuesday night’s Champions Dinner, John Daly added another in yesterday’s opening round.

GETTING quickly back into the groove didn’t prove to be a problem for Darren Clarke last year when he shot the lights out and finished second to Retief Goosen in the Africa Open.

Tiger Woods and a tearful Jim Furyk have joined the long list of tributes to Byron Nelson following the death of the American legend yesterday at the age of 94.

Ernie Els is at the Masters, but not where he would really love to be tonight. Nor is Sergio Garcia. Nor Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie nor Darren Clarke.