Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus continued their role as honorary starters by each hitting a tee shot on the opening hole

Mickelson made the claim after being asked his opinion on the four-shot penalty incurred by Lexi Thompson in last week's ANA Inspiration.

Thompson was leading by three shots on 17 under.

McIlroy came in for criticism for accepting the invitation to play with the US President.

Woods had been due to speak to the media on Tuesday before a tournament which benefits his foundation.

The 14-time major winner last week pulled out of what was just his third event since August 2015.

Woods failed to card a single birdie as he slumped to an opening 77 at Emirates Golf Club, two shots worse than his previous highest score in the event.

"First round and tournament of the year and to birdie 10, 11, 12 was a special way to start."

The Ryder Cup star slipped back down the rankings last year after missing 13 cuts and is currently ranked 91st.

The real test will come over the next five weeks when he will play four full tournaments

The Wicklow man clocked up four birdies in a row on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th.

"My birdies were all very easy and I just had a lot of good luck and kept leaving it in the right spots."

"I feel that if we get conditions like that for the rest of the week I can definitely go lower."

The world number two is the headline name at the BMW SA Open at Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg.

"Twitter and the PGA TOUR have been working together on Twitter Amplify."

Play was suspended at 10.30am local time on Wednesday after the man, who was not identified, collapsed on the 13th fairway.

The 45-year-old was Montgomerie's vice-captain when Europe regained the Cup in at Celtic Manor in 2010.

The 45-year-old Dane has been a vice-captain for four previous matches.

The American has always been selective of which tournaments he has played in.

"I have always been pretty good at hitting the ball pin-high and I am concerned about that and whether my body will be feeling the energy."

“I’m so glad that somebody young was able to get it before an adult!”

"When you see someone do something you've done before and haven't quite achieved this year, of course you want to do it again."

"If Lee or one of the other guys who played well yesterday don't get to 10 under par I feel I still have a chance."

McIlroy has won the European Tour's season-finale twice.

"The Irish Open's been given a great date as well."

McDowell went into last year's event in Mexico without a top-10 finish since his opening event of the year.

"I've had a really good year behind me and it would be nice to finish it off with being Europe's number one."

Westwood missed a number of crucial putts as he lost all three of his matches in Europe's Ryder Cup defeat at Hazeltine.

"For those who worry about such things there is no safe place in the world."

"This is a pretty big week. It gives me a chance to either close that gap or hopefully leapfrog Henrik again."

"I've been able to come back from six behind with 18 to play, so over 36 holes a lot of things can happen."

"I haven't won yet this year, so I know the year is nearly done, it's always important to get a win every year."

McGinley led the European team to a resounding victory against the United States at Gleneagles in 2014.

"I was a captain's pick and I would have liked to have performed well for him."

The 40-year-old had planned to play in California this week and in the Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour in November, but said on Monday he was not ready to compete.

"I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey."

"At this point in my career, it is important to invest in my body and this time off is crucial for me to return to peak performance."

Half of Clarke's 12-man team will be making their debut in the biennial contest as Europe seek an unprecedented fourth straight win.

In terms of pairings, only time will tell if either captain avoids the type of blunder committed by Hal Sutton in 2004.

Team Europe were thrilled to see him come into form so close to the Ryder Cup.

A further 39 sports stars have had their medical information leaked by a group of Russian hackers.

"It's not that bad a thing, sometimes we over-practice and over-prepare."

The Belgian was stung during a challenge match on Monday.

The world number five overturned a six-shot deficit on the final day at TPC Boston.