The Celtic Manor Wales Open has suffered more drop-outs than the British government this week.

PAUL McGINLEY and Thomas Bjorn – high on Colin Montgomerie’s wanted list as Ryder Cup vice-captains – would love nothing more than to force him into finding someone else.

Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn - high on Colin Montgomerie's wanted list as Ryder Cup vice-captains - would love nothing more than to force him into finding someone else.

Paul McGinley, who might well be back at Celtic Manor next year as a Ryder Cup vice-captain under Colin Montgomerie, went from the ridiculous to the sublime at the start of the Wales Open today.

THIRTY-NINE year-old Frenchman Christian Cevaer held his head while all around were losing theirs to win the European Open by a shot from England’s Steve Webster, the Scot Gary Orr and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros at a sunny London Club yesterday.

France's Christian Cevaer, a lowly 449th in the world, was the shock winner of the European Open at the London Club in Kent today.

Rory McIlroy, golf’s most gifted 20-year-old, went off to watch the final of “Britain’s Got Talent” tonight after giving himself another chance for his second European Tour victory.

Ryder Cup Dane Soren Hansen moved into contention for the European Open at the London Club in Kent today – and also witnessed something he has never seen before.

Gareth Maybin did not leave Turin in the best of moods last May after missing the halfway cut in the Piemonte Open.

IRELAND’S Gareth Maybin, so close to winning just the seventh European Tour event of his career in December, was in a class of his own when the BMW Italian Open began in Turin yesterday.

Irish golfer Gareth Maybin, so close to winning just the seventh European Tour event of his career in December, was in a class of his own when the BMW Italian Open began in Turin today.

Nineteen-year-old Rory McIlroy totally outplayed defending champion Brett Rumford today and will take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

Lee Westwood’s grandfather told him years ago that if he had nothing good to say then say nothing.

France’s Gregory Bourdy today fired a flawless final round to claim his first European Tour title in the Mallorca Classic.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen today claimed his second European Tour victory of the year in the Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm.

Nick Dougherty admits he will be “gutted” if he is not part of the Open Championship at Carnoustie next month – especially after his brilliant showing in America last week.

Four months after surviving the European Tour’s qualifying school by the skin of his teeth, Argentina's Daniel Vancsik today became the circuit’s latest first-time winner.

It looks set to be the month of the first-time winners on the European Tour.

Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik remained one in front after five holes of the third round in the Madeira Islands Open today.

England’s Simon Dyson today claimed his second European Tour title of the season in the KLM Open in Zandvoort.

Spain’s Ignacio Garrido will take a one-shot lead into the delayed third round of the KLM Open in Zandvoort today.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley was continuing his battle to cement a place in the Ryder Cup team in the delayed KLM Open in Holland today.

The threat of thunder and lightning forced play to be suspended in the second round of the KLM Open in Zandvoort this morning.

New clubs, no practice round and a pain in the neck surprisingly added up to a share of the lead for Denmark’s Anders Hansen in the KLM Open in Zandvoort.

Scotland’s Marc Warren, winner of the Scandinavian Masters just four days ago, came down to earth with a bump in the KLM Open in Holland today.

After leading for much of the day, Ireland’s Darren Clarke was overtaken by Scot David Drysdale and Sweden’s Johan Edfors at the Barclays Scottish Open today.

Irish golfer Graeme McDowell qualified today for next week’s US Open at Winged Foot.

Munster’s Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz cost Darren Clarke a share of the lead going into the final round of the Nissan Irish Open.

Colin Montgomerie today missed his seventh halfway cut in nine events – on a course he designed.

The last time Thomas Bjorn played a tournament in Ireland he squandered a four-shot lead in the European Open with a final-round 86, including an 11 on the 17th hole.

Frenchman Christian Cevaer set the early pace at the Volvo China Open, firing a six-under-par 66 to grab a one-stroke lead at the Honghua International Golf Club in Beijing.

Frenchman Christian Cevaer fired a six-under-par 66 to grab the early lead in the Volvo China Open at the Honghua International Golf Club in Beijing.

Defending champion Paul Broadhurst was showing little sign of relinquishing his grip on the Portuguese Open title.

Robert Coles made headway in the third round of the Portuguese Open at Le Meridien Penina Golf and Resort.

Paul Lawrie kept himself firmly in contention in the Portuguese Open by reverting to the putting technique which helped him enter golf’s Hall of Fame.

Defending champion Miles Tunnicliff was one shot off the lead after the first round of the Mauritius Open at the Belle Mare Plage Legend course.

David Howell’s remarkable return from injury continued today when he took a share of the first round lead in the Dunhill Links championship.

England’s David Carter began the race for places in Europe’s Ryder Cup team with a sparkling six under par 65 in Switzerland today.

Denmark’s Soren Hansen closed in on overnight leader Jean Van de Velde when the French Open finally got back under way this morning.

Diego Borrego’s hopes of joining Seve Ballesteros and Sergio Garcia as the only home winners of the Spanish Open since 1972 suffered a big setback at San Roque today.

England’s Roger Chapman will tomorrow become just the third player in European Tour history to appear in 600 events.

There was a lot of damage to be repaired, but Darren Clarke did as good a job as he could reasonably have been expected to when he resumed the Volvo Masters at Valderrama today.

SERGIO GARCIA came dangerously close to disqualification in the tournament that he has dominated from the start here at Valderrama.

Brett Rumford needed only four holes this morning to make it a three-way tie involving three Australians in the Nissan Irish Open at County Louth.