It was on Monday evening that Paul McGinley bit the bullet, picked up the phone and put his friendship with Luke Donald on the line by telling him he would not be on Europe’s Ryder Cup team this month.

A CONFERENCE at London’s Royal Society next week will discuss ways to reduce emissions from gases blamed for causing rising temperatures.

DARREN CLARKE returns after a month away from the competitive arena for this week’s €4 million Dunhill Links Championship, starting over the great links of St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns on Thursday.

Darren Clarke knows what he can be like. He does not need anybody else to remind him.