RORY McILROY still has plenty to prove before he can be placed alongside Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, says Irish Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley, who believes the new US Open champion is currently being “over-hyped”.

MICK McCARTHY is happy to offer an insight into the work that goes on behind the scenes as Wolves begin pre-season training but first a golf story that will ultimately make sense.

Tiger Woods was two shots off the pace in a share of third place after the first round of the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan.

Irish Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke’s wife Heather passed away peacefully at 2.15am this morning in London’s Royal Marsden Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

Paul McGinley, runner-up in last year’s BMW Championship at Wentworth, has been forced to sit out this week’s event after failing a late fitness test.

Paul McGinley has reluctantly pulled out of the BMW Championship at Wentworth, the event in which he finished runner-up to Argentina’s Angel Cabrera last year.

BUOYED by his 15th place in the British Open championship last week, John Daly is targeting a Ryder Cup debut in Ireland next year.

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

The star group did not quite live up to their billing when the Jazztel Spanish Open began at windy San Roque today.

PAUL McGINLEY will look to make some amends for failing to qualify for the Masters at one of the oldest events on the European tour this week.

Ireland’s hopes of a home Ryder Cup captain have already been dashed, but Bjorn admits the appointment of an Irish vice-captain or assistant is a real possibility.

Padraig Harrington has picked up two places in golf's world rankings, which are still being led by Vijay Singh. Sixth place marks a career-high for the Irish Ryder Cup hero.

THE sun shone but the wind swirled and Europe's finest once again found Valderrama a pretty difficult course to overcome in yesterday's first round of the Volvo Masters.

Padraig Harrington is three down to Ernie Els at lunch in their HSBC World Match Play semi-final and the Irish Ryder Cup player was is up against it.

As if taking on world number two and defending champion Ernie Els was not enough, Padraig Harrington was having to contend with a bruised and battered thumb at Wentworth today.

Much though he would love to see an Irish captain when the K Club near Dublin hosts the 2006 Ryder Cup, Paul McGinley now accepts there is a very slim chance of it happening.

Defending champion Tiger Woods has confirmed his participation in next week’s World Golf Championships – American Express Championship at Mount Juliet Conrad in County Kilkenny.

David Lynn attributed the lowest round of his professional career to his success on the greens after an opening 63 gave him a one-stroke lead in the KLM Open in Holland.

Colin Montgomerie let it be known what he thought today just before a ferocious thunderstorm forced players and spectators to run for cover at Gleneagles in Scotland.

SIX years on from his last big win, 47-year-old American Mark O'Meara came, saw and conquered in Dubai yesterday.

After taking nine at one hole yesterday Scotland’s Gary Orr was back in the hunt for the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles today while Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen leads.

Imagine starting the Masters by racing to six under par after 11 holes while nobody else was better than three under.

DARREN FICHARDT, persuaded by his wife to compete in the Qatar Masters in Doha, was glad he did after winning the title and £156,054 first prize.

Padraig Harrington, runner-up to Retief Goosen on the European Order of Merit for the second season running, is already considering his plan of attack for next year.

IRISH Ryder Cup star Padraig Harrington will not discover the results of tests on his ankle and neck until the weekend.

Philip Walton's hopes of regaining a European Tour card look to be slipping away at the qualifying school in San Roque, Spain.