It was if Dickens himself had strolled down Meols Drive and meandered into Royal Liverpool Golf Club to witness the 143rd Open Championship.

Graeme McDowell might be considered a certainty to win his fourth Ryder Cup cap this year but the Portrush man has work to do and this week could be a small step in the right direction.

Henrik Stenson hailed a “dream season” as he claimed an historic double in fitting fashion by storming to victory in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Rory McIlroy has made a promising start to the defence of his US PGA title.

Tiger Woods today turned his attention to his quest for an elusive 15th major title after cruising to an eighth WGC Bridgestone Invitational and 79th PGA Tour victory of his career.

A subdued Tiger Woods tonight cruised to an eighth WGC Bridgestone Invitational title and 79th PGA Tour victory of his career just four days before the final major of the year, the US PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods today came up short in his bid for a magical 59, but still opened up a commanding lead in his quest for an incredible eighth WGC Bridgestone Invitational title.

Tiger Woods today made a stunning start to the second round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational to boost his hopes of an amazing eighth victory in the event.

At the press conference to announce his multi-million pound deal with Nike in January, Rory McIlroy was keen to stress major titles mattered more to him than money.

Former US Open champion Webb Simpson set the clubhouse target in the first round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, but Tiger Woods was ominously poised at one of his favourite venues.

Louis Oosthuizen has been ruled out of the US PGA Championship due to injury.

A second Irish Open and the first as a professional was not to be for Shane Lowry but he is convinced that only good can come from the experiences he encountered from four up-and-down days over his home course in Co Kildare.

IT’S ALL but certain that Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will be living in the same state next year but they went in opposite directions on the opening day of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at a hot and sticky Firestone Country Club.

RORY McILROY could never have imagined that a throwaway remark about Tiger Woods last month would come back to haunt him during one of the biggest weeks of his career.

Europe’s vice-captain Paul McGinley believes ongoing concerns over the fitness of Lee Westwood have boosted America’s hopes of retaining the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor next month.

A WIN apiece for Europe and the USA gave cheer to both captains with just three weeks to go until the 38th Ryder Cup matches at Celtic Manor.

US RYDER CUP captain Corey Pavin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after surveying the leaderboard at the end of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron.

England’s Ross Fisher resisted a thrilling challenge from home hero Padraig Harrington to win the 3 Irish Open at Killarney today – and with his fourth European Tour victory moves from 13th to sixth in the Ryder Cup race.

GOLF’s Irish Open could be poised for a return to Killarney Golf Club, it is understood. Negotiations between mobile phone company and Open sponsors 3, the European Tour and four potential venues for next year’s Open are underway with a new date around the August bank holiday weekend on the table.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON’S bank manager and his many commercial sponsors are all smiling broadly again.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON returned to the world’s top ten as a result of tying for 2nd in the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at the weekend but the picture isn’t quite so bright for most of the other leading Irishmen.

HAVING acquired the services of a new caddie, Dermot Byrne, and with two months on theprofessional circuit behind him, the serious business begins for 3 Irish Open champion Shane Lowry over the coming weeks.

Paul McGinley is the best-placed of the Irish competitors following the second round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in the US state of Ohio last night.

JUSTIN ROSE was a late learner where the significance of winning the European Tour order of merit was concerned.

Although British Open champion Padraig Harrington admits he is currently nowhere near the level that saw him raise the Claret Jug at Carnoustie, he concedes the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio has provided him with excellent preparation for next week’s US PGA Championship.

Rory Sabbatini won his battle with Firestone Country Club's South Course to take a two-shot lead into the weekend at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio tonight.

Rory Sabbatini set a target for the rest of the field to chase at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational with a blistering finish to his second round in Akron, Ohio.

Paul Casey climbed the leaderboard to grab a share of the overnight lead at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio tonight.

Colin Montgomerie was left feeling confused following a “telephone number” back nine that still left him within striking distance of the first-round lead at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Tiger Woods cannot explain why Firestone Country Club has been so good for him but five wins from eight starts means he will feel right at home when the WGC Bridgestone Invitational gets under way today in Akron.

TIGER WOODS insists he has no worries about breaking his habit of not playing a tournament in the week before a major.

Seven days after almost pulling off a shock Open victory, Andres Romero today went some way to making amends by winning the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship in Hamburg.

Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley is determined to keep “chiselling away” at the points necessary to ensure a place in what he believes will be the strongest European team ever.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley was continuing his battle to cement a place in the Ryder Cup team in the delayed KLM Open in Holland today.