Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell agrees with Lee Westwood's assessment that Rory McIlroy would have been a more worthy recipient than Rickie Fowler of the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award.

THE PGA Tour of America has defended its decision to overlook Rory McIlroy for its prestigious Rookie of the Year award.

Rory McIlroy’s pursuit of a first UBS Hong Kong Open title at the third attempt got off to a strong start as the Northern Irishman shot a seven-under 63 in today’s opening round to finish one stroke behind leader Mark Brown.

Rory McIlroy feels his stint on the US PGA Tour has made him stronger as both a person and a player but is determined to kick-start a return to winning ways in Europe at this week’s UBS Hong Kong Open.

World number nine Rory McIlroy will not join the US PGA Tour next year and will instead return to the European circuit.

IT may be one of the lesser perks of becoming a major champion, but, by anyone’s standards, a couple of days’ golf in Bermuda is nice reward for a life-changing year.

IF it boils down to a battle of the rookies at Celtic Manor this weekend, then the Ryder Cup will be safely back in European hands. There are 11 debutants between the two teams with six in the home side – with three straight into action this morning.

RORY McILROY is feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready to go for next week’s Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

The week in which his marriage officially ended could also be the one in which Tiger Woods finally loses his position as the world’s number one golfer.

Tiger Woods believes his game is slowly coming together as he prepares to start the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron today which could end with him being dethroned as world number one.

Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood go head to head with the world number one spot at stake when the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational starts in Akron, Ohio, on Thursday.

THE Dubai Desert Classic and the Quail Hollow Championship are two of the most prestigious tournaments on the European and US PGA Tours. Both have been won by Rory McIlroy and yet he considers a victory in this week’s 3 Irish Open would rank even higher on his list of golfing achievements.

WHEN the Irish Open tees off at Killarney on Thursday, one man knows more than most that the standard and strength in depth of golf on the European Tour has never been higher.

IT seems inconceivable that a man could walk off the Old Course at St Andrews after shooting a nine under par 63 in the first round of the 150th Open Championship and feel just a little disappointed.

ST ANDREW’S and the Open Championship. It certainly has a very special ring to it.

Tiger Woods was talking about the Old Course at St Andrews when he said: “It’s been different the last three times I’ve played here.”

AFTER Graeme McDowell’s magnificent achievement at Pebble Beach the other week, much of the attention has switched on to the man from Portrush, thereby allowing Pádraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy to fly into St Andrews for next week’s Open Championship just a little under the radar.

Tom Watson may be 21 years older than the combined ages of his US Open playing partners today but Rory McIlroy believes the veteran American still has the game to be a contender at Pebble Beach this week.

TIGER WOODS will head into this week’s US Open believing his career is finally returning to normal after a turbulent seven months in his personal life.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON headed for Pebble Beach lastnight insisting that he is not in panic mode about his form or his fitness ahead of the US Open.

Tiger Woods has been paired with in-form Englishman Lee Westwood for next week's US Open at Pebble Beach.

World number one Tiger Woods has confirmed he will make his first appearance outside of the United States this year at next month’s JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am tournament in Limerick.

Irish golfer Rory McIlroy credits Jack Nicklaus with helping him secure his breakthrough win in America, so would love nothing more than winning Nicklaus' own tournament this week.

RYDER Cup talk will dominate all else this week when the players assemble for the Wales Open over the 2010 course at Celtic Manor, the venue for the clash of Europe and the US on October 1-3 next.

YOU get used to certain things in golf. Ian Poulter’s clothes, Rory McIlroy’s hair, Monty’s mood swings, Sergio Garcia’s missed putts and Phil Mickelson being behind Tiger Woods in the world rankings.

Rory McIlroy has been confirmed to take part in the 3 Irish Open at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club from July 29 - August 1.

THE YOUNG man who came to Wentworth as one of the favourites to collect the first prize of €750,000 at the BMW Championship instead faces a mighty battle if he is to survive until the weekend.

ERNIE Els, Pádraig Harrington, both three times major championship winners, are here. So, too, Lee Westwood, the European number one and three other members of the world’s top 10 including Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.

IRISH golfers have won tournaments – including majors – in almost every corner of the globe.

Struggling Tiger Woods pulled out of The Players Championship, golf’s richest event, on the seventh hole of his final round at Sawgrass today.

THE Irish trio of Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell struggled to keep in touch with the top of the leader board in yesterday’s opening round of the Players Championship at Sawgrass, Jacksonville, Florida.

Phil Mickelson’s bid to become world number one for the first time – at the expense of Tiger Woods – began with a birdie at Sawgrass today, but it was not the start of something special.

After spending 244 weeks in his career as world number two Phil Mickelson is excited by the thought that he might finally make it to the top this Sunday.

BIRTHDAY boy Rory McIlroy, still “floating” after his US Tour victory on Sunday, revealed yesterday part of the motivation for his spectacular return to form came from looking at the Ryder Cup table.

NINE holes of practice had seen five balls disappear into water, but when Tiger Woods spoke to reporters in Florida yesterday it was clear that the state of his game is not his major worry right now.

Anthony Kim and Steve Stricker, two of America’s biggest stars, are out of this week’s Players Championship in Florida.

YOU can measure a sporting victory by financial prize, but that is the superficial way.

SUDDENLY after a remarkable Sunday of golfing achievement, capped by Rory McIlroy’s Quail Hollow Championship success, Tiger Woods at 34 years of age seems very, very old.

Rory McIlroy is back in the world’s top 10 and Phil Mickelson can topple Tiger Woods at the top of the rankings this week.

RORY MCILROY answered his critics in emphatic fashion by winning the Quail Hollow Championship by four shots from Phil Mickelson last night.

Rory McIlroy set a new course record en route to winning the Quail Hollow Championship, his first PGA title as he became the youngest winner on the Tour since Tiger Woods in 1996.

Billy Mayfair remains on course for his first PGA Tour victory since 1998 heading into the final round of the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was delighted to rediscover his form with a third-round 66 in the Quail Hollow Championship today.

Tiger Woods has never in his life missed two halfway cuts in a row, but even he must be fearing it will happen in Florida on Friday.