Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell will avoid reaching for the panic button when he competes in this week’s Alstom Open de France.

Deep thinkers are in short supply among the golfing elite but Graeme McDowell could never be accused of failing to think outside the box when it comes to the fate of the beleaguered European Tour.

There is a billboard on either side of the Wentworth Estate entrance gates with a photograph of last year’s victorious European Ryder Cup team and the caption — ‘Luke who’s back’.

Luke Donald suffered one of the biggest defeats of his career today as the giant-killing continued at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson.

Shane Lowry intends drawing on management stablemate Rory McIlroy’s enormous popularity to compete more in the States should he break into the world’s top 50.

Two armchair viewing experiences crystallise the story of Nicolas Colsaerts’ journey to a Ryder Cup debut this weekend in Chicago.

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.

Padraig Harrington has won three majors and been part of every Ryder Cup since his 1999 debut, while Nicolas Colsaerts has made the cut in only two majors and never played in the Ryder Cup.

David Lynn now admits he made a mistake by not staying on in America after his spectacular runner-up finish at the USPGA Championship – a decision he knows could cost him a Ryder Cup debut.

Sergio Garcia’s good form in the US this weekend means Pádraig Harrington will need a FedEx Cup play-off victory at The Barclays next Sunday if he is to realise his ambition of a Ryder Cup wild card next month at Medinah.

Rory McIlroy bashed one spectator’s head and turned plenty more at Royal Lytham & St Annes as he safely negotiated the worst of the opening day’s conditions for a 67 that puts him right in the hunt alongside Graeme McDowell heading into today’s Open Championship second round.

Paul Casey has been forced to withdraw from the US Open through injury, with 14-year-old Andy Zhang taking his place in San Francisco.

Graeme McDowell is moving quickly on from his missed cut at Wentworth by looking forward to a golfing summer to savour.

Ryder Cup hopeful Simon Dyson is out of this week's BMW PGA Championship - the European Tour's flagship event as he tries to shake off a stressed hip injury.

Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts became Volvo World Match Play champion today, beating Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell in the final at a windsept Finca Cortesin in Spain.

Graeme McDowell is playing Nicolas Colsaerts for the Volvo World Match Play title at Finca Cortesin in Spain this afternoon after Paul Lawrie lost a four-hole lead in his semi-final.

Tom Lewis beat Australian John Senden on his Volvo World Match Play debut in Spain today - and as a result put himself and defending champion Ian Poulter into the last 16.

Darren Clarke, an outstanding back-row forward at Royal School, Dungannon, believes his native Ulster face a massive challenge against Leinster in Saturday’s Heineken Cup final.

Rory McIlroy’s third reign as world number one could last just a week after another missed cut in the Players Championship.

TIGER WOODS is not the only top golfer who has been battling a knee issue lately.

Tiger Woods is not the only top golfer who has been battling a knee issue lately.

Colin Montgomerie was only in joint 28th place after a level-par first round of 72 in the fog-delayed US Open qualifying event at Walton Heath today.

Defending champion Ross Fisher staged a remarkable fightback to make the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play at Finca Cortesin in Spain today.

Even if his leg is getting better, things are about to get a whole lot worse for Tiger Woods as far as his world ranking goes.

GRAEME McDOWELL and Rory McIlroy, Ireland’s two representatives in an impressive 24-man field, have been handed difficult draws in the pool stages of the €3.4m Volvo World Match Play which starts at Finca Cortesin, Spain, on Thursday.

It was not a repeat of Rory McIlroy’s complete nightmare at The Masters, but it was perilously close to it for Graeme McDowell as golf’s richest event turned sour on him at Sawgrass tonight.

Do not worry about Rory McIlroy, there are major titles coming his way - so says South African Charl Schwartzel, the player who last month took the Masters title many thought was destined for the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland.

Graeme McDowell was two-up after four on Ryder Cup team-mate Ross Fisher as he tried to reach the last 16 of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship for the first time in Tucson today.

RORY McILROY and Padraig Harrington will continue their single-minded chase for major glory by doing things their own special way next season.

Ross Fisher and Francesco Molinari go head-to-head in the final group of the 3 Irish Open in Killarney today with far more at stake than “just” a title and a first prize of nearly £416,000.

England's Ross Fisher erupted into life again with a 61 in Killarney today - and he needed nobody to tell him it could have been an historic 59.

England’s Ross Fisher missed a golden chance to score the European Tour’s first-ever 59 in the 3 Irish Open at Killarney today.

England’s Ross Fisher burst into the lead at the 3 Irish Open with a dazzling six successive birdies in Killarney today.

Bradley Dredge moved a step closer to keeping his Ryder Cup dream alive in Munich today.

Sponsors have confirmed the Volvo World Match Play Championship will "definitely" return to the European Tour schedule.

RORY McILROY’S back problem is just a slight nerve impingement and will not prevent him taking his place in next week’s line-up for the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

NEXT season’s European Tour – starting in South Africa on Thursday – will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments, including six new ones, and will once again culminate in the Dubai World Championship.

Next season’s European Tour – starting in South Africa on Thursday – will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments, including six new ones, and will once again culminate in the Dubai World Championship.

Rory McIlroy said today he had decided to join the US Tour next year because he chose to “listen to my own heart” – and to Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh.

HOWEVER much Ross Fisher enjoyed his Volvo World Match Play win, it was matched by Sweden’s Peter Hanson.

ROSS FISHER hammered Anthony Kim to take the Volvo World Match Play crown in Spain and another step on the road to major glory.

England's Ross Fisher completed a memorable marathon effort by beating American Ryder Cup player Anthony Kim to become Volvo World Match Play champion in Spain today.

AMERICAN Anthony Kim, who was caught up in controversy over alleged drinking at the Presidents Cup three weeks ago, said yesterday he fully understands his responsibilities.