IN his first action on the PGA Tour since missing the cut at The Players Championship in May, Pádraig Harrington fired a bogey-free 65 in the first round of the St Jude Classic at TPC Southwind, Memphis yesterday.

Irish golfer Damien McGrane hit a bogey-free round to earn a share of the lead after the first round of the Estoril Open today.

A MYSTERY virus has forced Michael Hoey out of his defence of this week’s Estoril Open title in Portugal.

World number one Roger Federer survived a few moments of concern against Arnaud Clement to progress through to the semi-finals of the Estoril Open today.

Shane LOWRY, 22, certainly helped to raise the spirit of the nation yesterday with his magnificent performance in winning the Irish Open Golf Championship at Baltray.

YASIN ALI admitted he let an opportunity to take a first-round lead in the Volvo China Open slip out of his grasp. But the young Englishman was not too downbeat about an opening effort of 70 which kept him well in contention at the Shanghai Silport Golf Club.

British number one Andy Murray has given this week’s Estoril Open a miss after picking up a back injury.

Raymond Russell is looking to take encouragement from the resurgence of former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst and make a swift return to the European Tour this week.

The chance to become the first home winner of the French Open since 1969 simply inspired Jean-Francois Remesy today.

Tim Henman will today meet Spanish qualifier Felix Mantilla in the second round of the Estoril Open after comfortably passing his first-round test yesterday.