99 of the world’s top 100 were today among the field contesting the US PGA Championship, but world number two Phil Mickelson was almost not among them.

Nine months after blowing a four-shot lead with four holes to play in the Open, Adam Scott has the chance to gain redemption by claiming a first major title in the Masters.

Pádraig Harrington’s omission from the European Ryder Cup team ends a run which began in 1999 with his debut in the infamous Battle of Brookline.

Sergio Garcia produced a brilliant performance yesterday to clinch a sixth Ryder Cup cap — and leave Ian Poulter needing a ‘wild card’ for the second time in three matches.

Sergio Garcia produced a brilliant performance today to clinch a sixth Ryder Cup cap and leave Ian Poulter needing a wild card for the second time in three matches.

Pádraig Harrington’s bid for a third British Open Championship victory will get off to a late start on Thursday following yesterday’s draw at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

There was a soggy end to Rory McIlroy’s bid for victory in Memphis but the US Open champion will begin his title defence on Thursday with confidence restored after ending a run of three missed cuts.

Second-round leader Rory McIlroy faltered on day three of the St Jude Classic in Memphis as Nick O’Hern, Davis Love III and John Merrick moved to the head of the leaderboard on six under.

Colt Knost was the halfway leader after shooting a five-under-par 66 on the second day of the RBC Heritage in South Carolina.

Chad Campbell and Michael Thompson led at the half-way stage of the RBC Canadian Open as low scoring again proved difficult on a unyielding Shaughnessy G&CC course in Vancouver.

DARREN CLARKE spent the build-up to this week’s British Open deflecting questions about his protegé Rory McIlroy.

Darren Clarke, as proud as anyone about what is already a golden era for Irish golf, has the chance this weekend to add another chapter to the remarkable story.

England’s Brian Davis topped the qualifiers for the Open Championship after a six under par round of 64 at the Gleneagles Club in Plano, Texas as Sergio Garcia was forced out with an infected fingernail.

THERE was a lot on Angel Cabrera’s mind coming into this week’s Masters.

The second round of the United States PGA Championship was spared a third fog delay and was able to resume on time at 7am at Whistling Straits today.

Tiger Woods' 270-week reign as world number one is well and truly under threat after he produced a miserable opening round on one of his favourite courses.

Phil Mickelson recovered from a poor start in his latest bid to depose Tiger Woods as world number one by shooting a four-under-par 66 in the opening round of the Bridgestone Invitational.

Steve Stricker’s superb recent form continued today as he made an excellent start to the Bridgestone Invitational.

Scott McCarron, playing at his home course, will carry a one-shot lead into the final round of the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Justin Rose placed the blame for his final-round collapse at the Travelers Championship squarely on his putting as Bubba Watson claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory in Connecticut.

Paul Casey fired a six-under-par 65 at Harbour Town to give himself a chance of making the cut at the Verizon Heritage as Jim Furyk moved to the top of the early second-round leaderboard.

ANYONE who thinks they’ve had a tough life should take time out to read up on Angel Cabrera.

The sporting world will have to wait until 1.42pm on Thursday – 6.42pm Irish time – to see the first shot that Tiger Woods has hit in competition for 144 days.

Tiger Woods will play with fellow American Matt Kuchar and Korean KJ Choi in the first two rounds of The Masters on Thursday and Friday.

THE certainty that there will be a fierce battle for places in the European Ryder Cup this year is good news for the ‘3’ Irish Open Championship at Killarney over the August Bank Holiday, less than a month before Colin Montgomerie’s team to face the USA at Celtic Manor is finalised.

Europe provides seven of the top 10 seeds in this week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship after Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both decided not to play.

The wait for Tiger Woods’ return to golf goes on. He will definitely not be playing next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Ryan Palmer sneaked in with a four-under-par round of 66 late in the day to take the halfway lead at the Sony Open in Honolulu.

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

Scotland’s Martin Laird prevailed in a three-way play-off to claim his first ever PGA Tour win at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.

Troy Matteson maintained joint leadership of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas after posting a second-round 67 at TPC Summerlin.

Prayad Marksaeng was setting the early pace at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational as play got under way at Firestone Country Club in Ohio.

Memories of relinquishing his Masters lead over the final holes two months ago spurred Kenny Perry to victory at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut yesterday.

Padraig Harrington will tee-off with defending champion Tiger Woods and 2007 champion Angel Cabrera at this week's US Open at Bethpage, New York.

Steve Stricker completed a two-round course record at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in Texas today but it was only good enough to secure the American a one-stroke lead at the top of the leaderboard.

England’s Brian Davis and Greg Owen lie two shots behind first-round co-leaders Paul Goydos and Justin Leonard at the Valero Texas Open following a day of low scoring on Thursday at La Cantera near San Antonio.

Germany’s Alex Cejka held a commanding clubhouse lead at TPC Sawgrass today as the second round of The Players Championship took shape and some big names flirted with the cut.

After more than a year without a top five finish anywhere in the world Argentina’s Angel Cabrera is back – with a bang.

Argentina’s Angel Cabrera tonight added a Masters green jacket to his 2007 US Open victory – and stopped 48-year-old American Kenny Perry becoming the oldest major champion in history.

Following a nightmare nine on one hole in his third-round 73, Padraig Harrington has accepted he will not win his third successive Major when The Masters finishes at Augusta National today.

The Masters was able to resume on time today despite a tornado passing through the Augusta area during the night.

If Padraig Harrington misses out on a third successive major by a single shot tomorrow there is one moment that will be shown over and over again.

Rory McIlroy was cleared to continue in The Masters only after returning to Augusta National at around 8.40pm last night to meet with officials.

Just when it seemed he was coping with all that windy Augusta National could throw at him Rory McIlroy dropped a crushing five shots in two holes today and tumbled off The Masters leaderboard.