Andy Murray’s preparations for the US Open suffered a blow as he crashed out of the Western & Southern Open following a straight-sets defeat against Tomas Berdych today.

Only a short few years ago, the chances of any player leading the orders of merit on both the PGA and European Tours were slim in the extreme.

As recession bites, enticing golf’s big names is a luxury Spain can no longer afford, says David Henry

It’s that time of year when European Tour golfers are perusing the rankings with greater interest.

Ireland’s US Open-winning duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will go out quickly looking to make up ground on the leaders heading to day two of the WGC — Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Lee Slattery followed one great performance with another at Celtic Manor today.

A day after shooting the lowest official score of his career, a 10-under-par 61 to set the course record, Pádraig Harrington slumped to a two- over 73 in the Transitions Championship in Florida, yesterday.

Miguel Angel Jimenez has hopes of becoming the European Tour's oldest-ever winner this weekend - thanks to the circuit's youngest-ever winner throwing the Andalucian Open wide open.

For the second day of the Volvo Golf Champions at Fancourt in South Africa, Pádraig Harrington finished with a double-bogey seven and, having also dropped shots on the previous two holes, the Dubliner’s 73 left him, and Open Champion Darren Clarke (68), with eight shots to make up to leader Branden Grace.

Next year’s European Tour will again include just one event Ireland, two in England, one in Wales and three in Scotland.

Next year’s European Tour has been confirmed with the Irish Open switching from late July to the end of June, but with a venue yet to be announced.

World number three and US Open champion Rory McIlroy has ended his association with management company International Sports Management, they announced today.

MICHAEL HOEY returned to competition for the first time since his stunning Alfred Dunhill Links triumph and immediately ignited hopes of a second successive Tour victory in the Castellon Masters in Spain.

England's Simon Khan will take a one-shot lead into the third round of the Portugal Masters after another day of low scoring in Vilamoura.

England’s Graeme Storm withdrew midway through the opening round of the Portugal Masters due to illness, the European Tour have confirmed.

LUKE DONALD faces a tough task to retain his Madrid Masters title after a poor finish to his second round at El Encin Golf Hotel yesterday.

Gareth Maybin heads the Irish challenge after day two of the Madrid Masters at El Encin Golf Hotel today.

PAUL CUTLER crashed out of the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying dream last night after a thoroughly disappointing few days at Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire.

Juan Martin Del Potro is a doubt for the French Open later this month after revealing he has a torn hip muscle.

The last match of the ATP Tour season will be a showdown between the two best players in the world after Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer reached the final of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in contrasting styles in London today.

Two years ago, Graeme McDowell made his Ryder Cup debut worrying about getting out on the course before Sunday’s singles matches.

Simon Dyson refused to let two late bogeys dampen his spirit in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today.

UNDER normal circumstances Paul Casey would not be paying close attention to what is happening at the Czech Open.

A CONTINUATION of the rain and howling wind that caused the cancellation of yesterday’s eagerly-awaited Champions Challenge celebrating 150 years of the Open Championship are predicted for the next four days.

Luke Donald has won the European Tour Shot of the Month award for May for his 252-yard fairway wood to 12 feet on the 16th hole of the final round as he won the Madrid Masters.

Graeme McDowell will begin his second round at the 110th US Open happy to have to recalibrate his scoring expectations for a challenge much stiffer than most weeks.

GRAEME McDOWELL has backed Europe to win the Ryder Cup in October.

Graeme McDowell has backed Europe to regain the Ryder Cup in October.

GRAEME McDOWELL sent out a loud and clear message to Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie yesterday with a simply brilliant victory in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

Irish golfer Graeme McDowell won the Celtic Manor Wales Open today after shooting a final round 63.

Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and local hope Rhys Davies both went to the turn in just 30 strokes at the Wales Open today – and were fighting for the title after overnight leader Marcel Siem had an early quadruple-bogey seven.

EIGHT putts on one hole is the sort of thing even a beginner at golf would hope never to do – but it happened to Britain’s last winner of a major title yesterday.

Eight putts on one hole is the sort of thing even a beginner at golf would hope never to do - but it happened to Britain's last winner of a Major title today.

CHRIS WOOD, last season’s Rookie of the Year on the European Tour, could be the next uncapped player to throw his hat into the Ryder Cup ring.

Chris Wood, last season’s Rookie of the Year on the European Tour, could be the next uncapped player to throw his hat into the Ryder Cup ring.

Chris Wood began the Wales Open with a sparkling six-under-par 65 at Celtic Manor today.

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie expects everybody still fighting for a Ryder Cup place to be in Scotland rather than America in the last week of qualifying.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON and Paul Casey both drop out of automatic qualifying positions in the European Ryder Cup table following yesterday’s Madrid Masters.

GRAEME McDOWELL made the perfect start to his bid for a world rankings and Ryder Cup charge when he closed with a stunning 65 to claim fourth place behind Luke Donald in the Madrid Masters.

Seven days after his agony at Wentworth it was ecstasy for Luke Donald today as he ended four years without a win at the Madrid Masters.

Roger Federer came through a mid-match wobble to wrap up a straight-sets win over Stanislas Wawrinka and move into the French Open quarter-finals today.

Luke Donald remains on course to make it an amazing four English golfers in the world’s top 10, nine years after they had only Lee Westwood in the top 100.

Luke Donald showed his experience to take a two-stroke lead over Welsh rookie Rhys Davies midway through the third round of the Madrid Masters today.

Welsh rookie Rhys Davies drew first blood against Ryder Cup ace Luke Donald in their Madrid Masters third round head-to-head today.