Their worst fears have been confirmed, the old boys at the R&A who reluctantly prized their doors slightly ajar to ‘ladies’ last year.

Telecommunications company eir has bought Setanta Sports Channel Ireland Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Padraig Harrington isn’t currently in the field for the second major of the year in June but reckons a top-five finish in one of four upcoming tour events will be enough to secure him a spot in the US Open for the 14th consecutive year.

Sunday night telly tips for a night on the couch.

The Masters. It thrills Rory McIlroy each time he gets the invitation to compete from Augusta, it excites him every year he returns and in 2011 it made him cry over golf for the only time in his life.

His game is dominant, and with five victories in 12 starts this year as well as two major top-10 finishes, the success rate is phenomenal.

Rory McIlroy has set up his own foundation to help children’s charities around the world.

More than four years on from his last European Tour win Padraig Harrington charged into a share of the early second round lead at the Portugal Masters today.

Jose Maria Olazabal does not believe he has gambled by picking uncapped Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts rather than three-time major winner Padraig Harrington for next month’s Ryder Cup.

Ian Poulter birdied six of the first seven holes, but still had four strokes to make up on Rory McIlroy as the USPGA Championship headed towards its climax at Kiawah Island.

Rory McIlroy charged to the top of the leaderboard and Tiger Woods tumbled right off it before play had to be suspended in the USPGA Championship third round at Kiawah Island today.

Tiger Woods has not had back-to-back top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour since the start of 2010, but that is the least that will be expected of him at this week’s Greenbrier Classic.

With the British Open Championship only two weeks away and another win under his belt, Tiger Woods can achieve yet another milestone this Sunday.

Padraig Harrington thinks major golf titles are like buses – “when you get one a few more arrive very quickly”.

Michael Hoey is determined to gain from his upsurge in form and join Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell on the lucrative PGA Tour next year.

One practice round today was enough to tell Padraig Harrington that it is no ordinary Irish Open this week.

Graeme McDowell will just have to imagine what next week's Irish Open at Royal Portrush would have been like if he had been parading the US Open trophy again.

Next month's Irish Open golf championship at Royal Portrush is set to become a near sell-out.

The world number one spot could change for the sixth time in 11 weeks on Sunday — but the Players Championship at Sawgrass is about far more than just that.

Rory McIlroy will hope to be inspired by his return to the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow this weekend, the scene of his first victory in America two years ago — achieved with a magical course record of 62 in the final round, after he had almost missed the halfway cut.

South African players continued to dominate the Malaysian Open before play was suspended due to bad weather.

Hugh O’Keeffe is the Irishman who added a touch of gold to the green of The Masters at Augusta last week.

Bubba Watson moved all the way from 16th to a career-high fourth in the world rankings.

Bubba Watson moved all the way from 16th to a career-high fourth in the world rankings thanks to his play-off victory over Louis Oosthuizen in The Masters.

Luke Donald tried to pick himself up and fight for his world number one spot in the final round of The Masters at Augusta today.

Rory McIlroy fell all the way from third to 19th with a terrible start to his third round in The Masters at Augusta today.

Luke Donald counted himself out of The Masters after a disappointing third round 75 at Augusta today – and it could well cost him the world number one spot as well.

Tiger Woods still gives himself a chance in The Masters, but admits his hopes are hanging by a thread.

Tiger Woods and Luke Donald both made fast starts in the third round of The Masters at Augusta today, but then found it tougher going again.

Fred Couples today became the oldest player to lead at the halfway stage of The Masters.

Rory McIlroy is now just two shots behind the leaders after holing two birdies in his opening five holes in The Masters at Augusta today.

Two double bogeys in the first group on the first hole gave an early warning that the second round of The Masters was going to be another tough test today.

Lee Westwood aimed to make his actions speak louder than his words again as he took a one-stroke lead into the second round of The Masters.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both talked about needing to improve their driving after giving Lee Westwood a head start at The Masters.

Lee Westwood found himself leading The Masters again after Henrik Stenson crashed from six under par to one under in almost a blink of the eye on his 36th birthday at Augusta National today.

Paul Lawrie made his first round in The Masters since 2004 one to remember at Augusta National today.

An eagle on a hole where he once took nine gave Padraig Harrington a superb start to The Masters at Augusta today.

Padraig Harrington today became the first player to win a hat-trick of par three titles at The Masters – but just like his first victory in 2003 he had to share the honour.

Darren Clarke was still being troubled by a groin injury on the eve of The Masters today.

Darren Clarke was busy trying to make up for lost time on the eve of The Masters today.

Phil Mickelson believes the secret to his success in The Masters comes down most of all to a change of thinking on one hole.

Rory McIlroy finds himself back with Argentina’s Angel Cabrera for the first two rounds of The Masters on Thursday and Friday.

LUKE DONALD, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood fill the top three spots on the world rankings going into The Masters – and any one of them could be number one at the end of the week.

Gary Player becomes an official starter for The Masters this week — and he is tipping Rory McIlroy to end the week as winner.