The chances of Tiger Woods losing a ball with his first shot in this year’s Open Championship – as he did the last time the event was at Sandwich – have been severely reduced.

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie today names his two vice captains for October’s renewal against the United States but is facing tougher selection problems over his three wild-card picks for Celtic Manor.

Now he has an injury on top of his personal woes there must be fresh doubt whether Tiger Woods will make the trips across the Atlantic for July’s Open Championship and October’s Ryder Cup.

SERGIO GARCIA produced a fine round of golf at Valderrama yesterday to stake a strong claim for the Volvo Masters.

Germany’s Sven Struver leads South African Hennie Otto by one after a six-under-par opening round of 66 in the Madeira Islands Open at Santo da Serra today.