A jet-lagged Colin Montgomerie (pictured) breathed a sigh of relief after remaining in contention for his first strokeplay title on American soil in the €6.1m American Express Championship.

Colin Montgomerie was battling to hold on to the lead in the American Express Championship as Tiger Woods made an explosive move up the leaderboard.

David Howell wants to make an instant transformation from Ryder Cup rookie to European stalwart at the K Club next year.

Tiger Woods has declared himself fully fit for his return to action in the American Express Championship in San Francisco this week.

Colin Montgomerie will lead the European challenge for a first victory in the American Express Championship this week following his triumph in the Dunhill Links Championship.

England’s David Howell has been named European Tour Golfer of the Month for August following his victory in the BMW International Open.

ENGLAND'S Anthony Wall fired a superb 62 to claim a share of the halfway lead with Jose Maria Olazabal as Pádraig Harrington missed the cut in the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

England’s Anthony Wall fired a superb 62 to claim a share of the halfway lead with Jose Maria Olazabal at the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

RYDER CUP star Paul Casey provided further proof he has overcome the worst slump in his career by impressing in the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

Ryder Cup star Paul Casey provided further proof he has overcome the worst slump in his career by impressing in the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

Luke Donald will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the BMW International Open in Munich.

LUKE DONALD carded an “easy-going” 65 to share the lead at the halfway stage of the BMW International Open in Munich.

Luke Donald carded an “easy-going” 65 to share the lead at the halfway stage of the BMW International Open in Munich.

WITH former Formula One boss Eddie Jordan acting as his caddy, Paul McGinley made an appropriately fast start with four birdies in his first five holes in the BMW International Open in Munich.

IRELAND’S Paul McGinley will not be treating the BMW International Open as “a jaunt”, despite having former Formula One boss Eddie Jordan as his caddie.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley will not be treating the BMW International Open as “a jaunt”, despite having Formula One boss Eddie Jordan as his caddie.

When Nick Dougherty was fearing for his European tour future a year ago, mixing it with Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh seemed a long way off.

A CLOSING bogey denied England's Nick Dougherty a share of the lead with Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh - the top two players in golf - at the NEC world championship in Ohio yesterday.

Phil Mickelson was the star of the show on the second morning of the USPGA championship at Baltusrol, but an eagle on the last brought a big smile to the face of England’s Greg Owen and kept him among the chasing pack.

Two months after a health scare prompted him to take immediate action Nick Price has the chance to return to the golfing spotlight tomorrow.

Darren Clarke, hoping to complete a full set of World Golf Championship solo victories, did not look like a player ready to do it at Mount Juliet today.

TODD HAMILTON may have been the unlikeliest of Open champion winners and left many unconvinced of his real ability, most notably Hal Sutton.

Sergio Garcia is confident Europe can hold onto the Ryder Cup in just over a fortnight despite the USA being favourites for victory on home soil.

Stewart Cink leads the NEC Invitational World Golf Championships as he nears the end of the third round.

Tiger Woods finds himself playing tomorrow in a world championship with a golfer whose last tournament was five months ago.

European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer insists he has not yet made up his mind on either of his wild cards – bad news for Colin Montgomerie on a day when he ran up a nine on one hole.

Luke Donald, not even eligible for the Ryder Cup five weeks ago, was today significantly closer to a place in the team following his maiden European Tour victory in the Scandinavian Masters.

Darren Clarke has finally got his body in good shape, now he needs to do the same with his golf game.

CLAIRE COUGHLAN (ladies), Darren Clarke (professional), Noel Fox (amateur) and Garth McGimpsey (distinguished services) were voted the 2003 award winners by the Irish Golf Writers Association.

Tiger Woods ignored the form of playing partner Vijay Singh as he kept his hopes of an unprecedented fifth straight money list title alive on the opening day of the US Tour Championship.

Ireland's Darren Clarke got off to a slow start in the first round of the US Tour championship in Houston tonight.

Tiger Woods could take his winnings from 15 World Golf Championship events to an incredible $10m (€8.55m) tomorrow – more than Jack Nicklaus’ total earnings from a 41-year playing career.

Holder Tiger Woods turned on the style to take command of the American Express World Championship in Atlanta today – while Darren Clarke was in danger of his worst-ever score as a professional.

Sergio Garcia, a lowly 103rd on the US Tour money list this season, gave a flawless display to lead the American Express world championship in Atlanta today.

DARREN CLARKE tees off today in pursuit of something only Tiger Woods has achieved and something which every other golfer can currently only dream of – a full set of World Golf Championship individual titles.

Darren Clarke tees off tomorrow in pursuit of something only Tiger Woods has achieved and something which every other golfer can currently only dream of – a full set of World Golf Championship individual titles.

Darren Clarke has hired a personal trainer to whip him into shape – and hopes he will have the same effect on him as he did on Andrew Flintoff.

Retief Goosen has all but given up his title of European number one, with fellow South African Ernie Els set to replace him.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has not given up hope of becoming European number one for the first time despite the “welcome distraction” of his new-born son.

The Ryder Cup qualifying process may have started this week, but three players who definitely will not be there lead the way in the Omega European Masters.

Lee Westwood continued his quest for a first victory in almost three years today with a glowing tribute from coach David Leadbetter.

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn recovered from a sluggish start to find top gear in the defence of his BMW International Open title in Munich.