Frenchman Francois Delamontagne and Lloyd Saltman of Scotland set the clubhouse target for the rest of the field at the Madeira Islands Open today.

US Open champion Graeme McDowell was upstaged by world number 317 John Parry, who carded a second-round 67 to take the lead at the Austrian Open in Atzenbrugg.

An eagle on the 18th gave England’s Kenneth Ferrie an opening round of six under par at the KLM Open in Hilversum, but it was playing partner Nicolas Colsaerts who claimed the early clubhouse lead.

NEW ZEALAND golfer Michael Campbell cut a forlorn figure as he left the 18th green yesterday.

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.

Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Chinese number one Liang Wenchong established a one-shot lead midway through the first round of the Volvo China Open after defying cold and windy conditions at Jinji Lakes International Golf Club to card six-under-par rounds of 66 today.

DARREN CLARKE’S lowest European Tour round since 1999 was still not quite enough to give him the first round lead in the Joburg Open yesterday.

Darren Clarke’s lowest European Tour round since 1999 was still not quite enough to give him the first round lead in the Joburg Open today.

THREE years after becoming the first Scot to win the US Amateur title in 108 years, Richie Ramsay now has his first European Tour title.

Three years after becoming the first Scot to win the US Amateur in 108 years, Richie Ramsay now has his first European Tour title.

Retief Goosen, unable to win a match at last week’s Presidents Cup, leads the Portugal Masters with a round to play in Vilamoura, while playing partner Padraig Harrington slipped from third to ninth and Rory McIlroy languished towards the bottom of the field.

Justin Rose, unsure what the future holds for him on the European Tour, took a big step towards easing his worries with a seven under par 65 in the Portugal Masters today.

It was another case of what might have been for Darren Clarke in Spain today.

The full list of 28 teams for golf’s World Cup in China on November 26-29 has now been confirmed.

THOMAS BJORN, chairman of the European Tour players’ committee, has heavily criticised Pádraig Harrington for his reaction to a possible tightening up of membership rules.

Just as he did when he took third place two years ago – in only his second professional event – Rory McIlroy tamed one of the toughest holes in golf today.

Tiger Woods got off to a shaky start in search of his 15th major as Y E Yang piled pressure on the overnight leader in the final round of the US PGA Championship.

Overnight rain softened the long Hazeltine National course as Tiger Woods prepared to defend a two-shot lead in the final round of the US PGA Championship.

Padraig Harrington was leading the charge to catch US PGA Championship leader Tiger Woods as the world number one defended a four-shot overnight lead at Hazeltine National.

Tiger Woods and his closest rivals were bracing themselves for another difficult day at Hazeltine National as they prepared for the third round of the US PGA Championship.

Vijay Singh and Ian Poulter were attempting to stop the US PGA Championship becoming a shoot-out between Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington as the second round got underway at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Just when he wanted to be at his healthiest, Lee Westwood sounded and looked anything but today – and it showed in his golf.

Shane Lowry made two mistakes he could ill afford as he battled today to become just the third amateur ever to win a European Tour event.

Amateur Shane Lowry, playing what Colin Montgomerie called “incredible” golf, continued to live in a dream world at The 3 Irish Open at County Louth today - and is joint leader with England’s Robert Rock heading into the final round.

Oliver Wilson defied the wet weather and cold to move into the lead today at The 3 Irish Open, an event he was not sure he would be able to play earlier in the week.

David Howell was left with some less happy memories of Oitavos Dunes today as he headed towards an early exit from the Estoril Portuguese Open.

SEVERE winds spoiled Pádraig Harrington’s early round efforts on day one of the Shell Houston Open in Texas last night.

England's Ross McGowan equalled the lowest score of his European Tour career today to lead the Estoril Portuguese Open after the opening round.

England’s Ross McGowan was the man to catch again when the Estoril Portuguese Open began today as Irish golfers maintained a close chase.

After only one win in his first 309 European Tour events, Dane Soren Kjeldsen made it two in his last nine in Seville today.

Scotland’s David Drysdale, chasing his first European Tour victory in 166 starts, shared the lead with Dane Soren Kjeldsen after five holes of the final round at the Andalucian Open in Seville.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen warmed up for his Masters debut at Augusta – one he earned after an amazing last-day drama in December – with a dazzling 62 in Seville today.

Henrik Stenson believes playing with Robert Karlsson at the Ryder Cup this year gave Sweden the edge over other countries as they combined to secure the Omega Mission Hills World Cup yesterday.

Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson combined to produce a scintillating performance in the final-round foursomes today to capture the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for Sweden.

Brendan Jones sank a birdie on the last to ensure Australia take a share of the lead alongside Spain into tomorrow’s final round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.

Miguel Angel Jimenez lavished praise upon compatriot Pablo Larrazabal after the duo shot Spain into the halfway lead at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup today.

Spain surged into a two-stroke lead at the top of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup leaderboard midway through second round foursomes today.

Martin Kaymer is keen to turn the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a Ryder Cup debut earlier this year into a positive by leading Germany to World Cup success at Mission Hills this week.

A disappointing double bogey on the last meant Ireland dropped from second to tied sixth at seven under at the end of the opening round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup today, with Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka of Germany at the top of the leaderboard with a one-stroke lead.

Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley were making a solid charge up the leaderboard midway through the opening round of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup today, and were seven under through 12.

Colin Montgomerie hopes he can carry last week’s good form into this week’s Omega Mission Hills World Cup as Scotland look to stage a successful defence of the trophy.

Ben Curtis, Open champion in 2003 and joint second behind Padraig Harrington at the US PGA in August, will make his World Cup debut for the United States in China next month.

Robert Karlsson has made it into the world’s top 10 for the first time at the age of 39.

Colombian Camilo Villegas is up 10 places to a career-high seventh in the world following his play-off victory over Sergio Garcia at the Tour Championship in Atlanta.