Sergio Garcia insisted he would have enjoyed a beautiful life with or without a major championship victory but the new Masters championship was mighty glad to be wearing a green jacket at Augusta National on Sunday night.

Kevin Markham gives an A-Z to get you in the mood for the excitement of the Ryder Cup.

Rivalries are nothing new in sport. They are on every corner but few have the importance or the commercial impact of the three-day match play tournament which biennially pits the best players from both the US and Europe against each other: the Ryder Cup.

Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has led the tributes to the "father" of Irish golf, Christy O'Connor Sr, who has died at the age of 91.

Confidence is key. Just ask Pádraig Harrington, who shot four sub-par rounds in Italy last week and still finished a modest 33rd in the Italian Open.

Jason Day’s tears on the 18th green said it all. He had finally come of age, realising a career ambition in winning his first professional major, the USPGA Championship.

The walk from the Gleneagles practice area to the packed arena of the first tee of the PGA Centenary Course is a long one for the players, and not just in terms of distance.

His hands had been back on the Wanamaker Trophy barely two hours, but Rory McIlroy was already keenly aware of his place in golfing history and, more importantly, the next landmarks he wanted to reach in the game.

34-year-old now beside an illustrious winners’ list

The European Tour has admitted launching the EurAsia Cup was a “mistake” and are seeking to end the row with the organisers of the rival Royal Trophy that will not see them “lose too much face”.

Pádraig Harrington’s Valero Texas Open performance is now absolutely crucial with now just eight rounds remaining if he’s to qualify for the Masters next month.

The family of Seve Ballesteros has accused the European Tour of being “disrespectful” to the late five-time major winner over its plans to host an inaugural EurAsia Cup event in Malaysia in March.

The family of Seve Ballesteros has accused the European Tour of being “disrespecful” to the late five-times major winner over its plans to host an inaugural EurAsia Cup event in Malaysia in March.

Party time never seems to end for Cork Golf Club these days. Just as calm returns to Little Island after their successful 125th year celebrations, they are now turning their attentions to next week’s Irish Cups and Shields finals at Royal Tara for which they have qualified in the Barton Shield and Irish Senior Cup.

Graeme McDowell has dispelled fears of complacency heading to next month’s US Open after his historic victory in the Volvo World Match-Play Championship in Bulgaria.

You can never say never in golf.

Rory McIlroy is officially a free agent when it comes to golf equipment.

Belief is a valuable asset in any walk of life and golf more than most.

Europe may have taken 8 1/2 points from 12 singles matches to win the Ryder Cup, but captain Jose Maria Olazabal believes the seeds were sown the previous afternoon.

Europe’s Ryder Cup team staged a remarkable comeback to retain the Ryder Cup last night, battling from 10-6 down overnight – having trailed 10-4 – to beat the United States 14 1/2-13 1/2 at Medinah Country Club in Chicago.

Europe’s triumphant players had Seve Ballesteros on their minds after their remarkable Ryder Cup victory in Medinah.

Martin Kaymer proved the unlikely hero for Europe last night as Jose Maria Olazabal’s side staged a remarkable and record comeback from 10-6 down overnight to retain the Ryder Cup on a dramatic night in Chicago.

When Ian Poulter was picked for this Ryder Cup – he did not qualify remember — he said he was going to “pour some passion over the holes at Medinah”.

Dressed in the colours of the late Seve Ballesteros, Europe tonight pulled off one of his trademark great escapes in what will go down as the “Miracle of Medinah”.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods will not face each other for the second Ryder Cup in a row.

The man who secured the winning point in the last Ryder Cup was today aiming to claim the first in defence of the trophy, alongside “the greatest player on the planet”.

Every time a European player reaches for a club this weekend at Medinah, it’s almost as if Seve Ballesteros were still looking on.

Justin Rose last night revealed what having an image of Seve Ballesteros on the bag will mean for Europe’s players — and himself in particular — at this week’s Ryder Cup in Chicago.

The Ryder Cup has a reputation for bringing emotions to the surface, a reputation this week’s contest in Chicago already looks certain to enhance.

It will not only be Pádraig Harrington and Hunter Mahan kicking their heels this weekend when the Ryder Cup begins without them at Medinah.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is to become Europe’s fourth assistant captain at next month’s Ryder Cup.

Shane Lowry has never played Augusta National but believes it would be easier to play a round of golf on next month’s Masters venue than to tee up on this week’s host Hassan II Trophy course at Agadir.

Tiger Woods does not deny that appearance money is one of the factors in determining where he plays.

Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald are centre stage in Dubai this week as they do battle for the European Tour's money list crown, but Sergio Garcia is going for something special too.

HIS name is Ballesteros.

MICHAEL HOEY returned to competition for the first time since his stunning Alfred Dunhill Links triumph and immediately ignited hopes of a second successive Tour victory in the Castellon Masters in Spain.

JOSE-MARIA OLAZABAL has mixed feelings this week.

TO compete in and win the British Open Championship, you must not only beat the best golfers in the world but also be able remain in full control of your emotions.

All the players at this week’s Open Championship in Sandwich have signed a book of remembrance for the late Seve Ballesteros.

Among the many spin-offs from Rory McIlroy’s amazing US Open victory is a five-year exemption onto the PGA Tour in America.