Golfing traditionalists would consider the suggestion to be downright heresy but more and more people are wondering whether the Old Course at St Andrews has outlived its usefulness as an Open Championship venue.

Waterford man Kevin Phelan finished joint second behind England’s Andy Sullivan in the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club yesterday.

Shane Lowry dusted off an old putter, regained his touch around the greens and shot his lowest score of the year to put himself within two shots of Thomas Bjorn’s first-round lead at the 60th BMW PGA Championship yesterday.

England’s Chris Wood made a shaky start in the final round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha today.

Ricardo Santos, who last year became Portugal’s first European Tour winner for 20 years, made a flying start to the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha today.

Former US Open champion Michael Campbell took more steps on the comeback trail today by moving into a share of the early lead at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.

It is extremely rare for Rory McIlroy’s caddy to walk into the scorer’s hut on the first day of any tournament enquiring of the cut-off mark.

Unseen footage of The Beatles' captures the "fabulous world" of the band "perfectly".

EVEN 2012 Irish Open champion Jamie Donaldson described his victory as “surreal” last night but such was the success of the tournament’s return to Royal Portrush, it would not have mattered if a polar bear had sunk the final putt.

A week that meant so much to Northern Ireland turned out to mean even more for Welshman Jamie Donaldson tonight.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson finally landed his first European Tour title at the 255th attempt today.

Open champion Darren Clarke shot 71 for four under at the Irish Open today, but compatriots Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy had their best days of the week.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson, winless in 244 European Tour starts, takes a one-stroke lead over England’s Anthony Wall, winless in his last 364, into the final round of the Irish Open at Royal Portrush tomorrow.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson, without a European Tour win in 244 starts, led the Irish Open midway through his third round at wet and windy Royal Portrush.

Northern Ireland’s “Big Three” were battling through heavy rain to try to stay in touch with the leaders of the Irish Open at Royal Portrush today.

Damien McGrane confessed he felt bound to advise Jose Manuel Lara he had caught his caddy trying to hide an illegal 15th club in bushes during Thursday’s first round of the BMW International Open.

Bernd Wiesberger cruised to his first career European Tour title as he won the Ballantine’s Championship in Icheon, South Korea by five shots from Scotland’s Richie Ramsay.

Shane Lowry produced the perfect response to yesterday’s disappointing 74 at the Sicilian Open today and was seven under for the day through 15 – two shots off the pace in third.

Three of the world’s top four golfers are at the Dubai Desert Classic this week, but it was two players outside the top 200 setting the pace at the start.

The longest barren spell of Sergio Garcia’s career looks certain to end in front of his home fans in Castellon tomorrow.

Graeme Storm returned to the scene of his one European Tour victory today and shared the early first-round lead.

English duo Robert Rock and Chris Wood made the early running at the Italian Open today with eight-under-par opening rounds giving them hope of a maiden European Tour title.

Australian Richard Green almost certainly kissed goodbye to playing in The Masters in two weeks after a second successive 71 at the Andalucian Open in Malaga today.

FRANCE’S Raphael Jacquelin held off the challenge of Britain’s Anthony Wall to claim his third European Tour title with a one-shot victory at the weather-delayed Sicilian Open yesterday.

WITH a fortnight to the Masters, several stellar names bid to sharpen their game for Augusta in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Bay Hill Classic in Orlando this week.

France’s Raphael Jacquelin ended a four-year wait for his third European Tour title today.

Anthony Wall maintained his place at the top of the leaderboard at the inaugural Sicilian Open today but is set to come under increasing pressure from the chasing pack as the third round plays out.

ANTHONY WALL hailed the influence of an unusual piece of golfing technology after surging to the lead at the Sicilian Open.

WELSHMAN Stephen Dodd shared the first-round lead with Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara after carding six-under 65’s at the Sicilian Open yesterday.

Peter Lawrie was in top spot at the Czech Open in Celadna today after Ryder Cup-chasing Swede Peter Hanson threw away a four-shot overnight advantage

Italian teenager Matteo Manassero produced three birdies in the first six holes of his third round at the 3 Irish Open in Killarney this morning to fire himself up the leaderboard.

Scottish Open champion Edoardo Molinari made a great start to the Nordea Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm today – and that was bad news for England’s Luke Donald.

Irish golfer Rory McIlroy is back amongst the top 10 golfers in the world today following the publication of updated rankings.

There was bad news for Irish golfers when the official golf world rankings were released today.

Irish golfer Darren Clarke, is back into the world's top 100 at 95th after finishing joint runner-up in The South African Open.

Scot Martin Laird is up to 84th in the world after his fourth-placed finish at the US Tour-opening SBS Championship in Hawaii.

RORY MCILROY has reached a higher position on the world rankings than any other 20-year-old before him.

Rory McIlroy has reached a higher position on the world rankings than any other 20-year-old before him.

Jim Furyk’s victory at the Chevron World Challenge has moved him from 11th to sixth in the world rankings pushing 20-year-old Rory McIlroy out of the top 10 after he withdrew ill from the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.

Lee Westwood is back as Europe’s number one – and €1.77m richer as well - after becoming the inaugural winner of the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

Europe’s leading money winner Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter are both at career-high places in the world rankings as they enter the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

There are now more Europeans than Americans in the world’s top 20 after tournament victories for Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher took them to 15th and 17th respectively – both personal bests.

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon is living proof that in golf it takes just one week to make it a great year.

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon, with one European Tour win in 290 starts and fighting for his future, leads the Castello Masters in Spain with a round to play.