When the question was asked of Augusta National chairman Billy Payne, it wasn’t easy to stifle laugher.

Graeme McDowell said in Ireland last week he felt close to his best form and today in Akron he looked closer still, going to the turn in a three-under-par 32 when the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational began.

FOR an organisation that often times is to creative thinking what Lady Gaga is to civility and good taste, the US Golf Association (USGA) sure gets wild and crazy when it visits Congressional CC.

Luke Donald booked his place in the second round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship before Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood had even hit a shot in Tucson today.

Frost delayed the start of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship for 30 minutes in Tucson today.

Ian Poulter is set to start the defence of his WGC-Accenture Match Play title against 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink if all the world’s top 64 show up in Tucson next week.

The United States press have come out in support of Hunter Mahan after his defeat to Graeme McDowell ultimately decided the Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy today completed his transformation from Ryder Cup sceptic to convert after winning a crucial half point for Europe on a final-day thriller at Celtic Manor.

Rory McIlroy is currently down by one shot against America's Stewart Cink after eight holes of their singles match at the Ryder Cup in Celtic Manor.

Lee Westwood led from the front in trademark fashion as Europe set off on their quest to regain the Ryder Cup at a mist-shrouded Celtic Manor.

Rory McIlroy admitted he had experienced emotions from “opposite ends of the spectrum” after securing the first win of his Ryder Cup career at Celtic Manor.

Colin Montgomerie tonight revealed how he helped spark Europe’s thrilling Ryder Cup fightback – by staging a pep-talk with two of his struggling stars.

The Ryder Cup scoreboard shows America 6-4 ahead overnight, but Europe were the ones with the clear momentum when play ended at Celtic Manor tonight.

His last win was not quite as long ago as the moon landing, but Padraig Harrington finally took one small step for Europe and one giant leap for himself at the Ryder Cup today.

Irish pairing Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy lost to Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar 1 hole.

Europe went into the second session of the Ryder Cup needing to stage a fightback at Celtic Manor – and were helped by a blunder from Jim Furyk and rookie Rickie Fowler.

Europe today claimed the first point in the rain-delayed Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, more than 25 hours after the contest started, but the United States secured a one-point lead after the opening fourballs.

Northern Ireland duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are to play in the final foursomes game today against this morning's fourball opponents Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar at Celtic Manor.

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have halved their fourballs game with Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar in the Ryder Cup.

Europe today claimed the first point in the rain-delayed Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor – but the United States led in the remaining three fourball matches.

Luke Donald struck a potentially crucial first blow for Europe today as the rain-delayed Ryder Cup resumed at Celtic Manor.

THE predicted biblical rainstorm duly materialised at Celtic Manor yesterday, forcing the organising committee to implement emergency measures in the faint hope of getting the 38th Ryder Cup completed on schedule tomorrow evening.

GRAEME McDOWELL promised he and Rory McIlroy would go out all guns blazing this morning in an effort to turn around their fourballs encounter with Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar.

A Monday finish for the first time in the history of the Ryder Cup looms larger after heavy rain forced play to be suspended on the opening morning at Celtic Manor.

Nick Faldo’s advice for everyone to “bring your waterproofs” proved accurate, but that did not prevent an electric atmosphere as the Ryder Cup got under way at Celtic Manor.

Simon Lewis looks at the opening morning fourballs

USA captain Corey Pavin forgot to introduce 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink when he presented his team at the opening ceremony of the 38th Ryder Cup.

The captains have announced their first pairings for the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor in Wales.

Stewart Cink has given his fellow former Open champion Tiger Woods a ringing endorsement heading into the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

COREY PAVIN yesterday handed Tiger Woods the chance to go into the Ryder Cup record books – as the American with more defeats than any other.

Corey Pavin today handed Tiger Woods the chance to go into the Ryder Cup record books – as the American with more defeats than any other.

Tiger Woods is back in America’s side for their defence of the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor on October 1-3.

COREY PAVIN, the US Ryder Cup captain, today announces his four wild cards for Celtic Manor next month well satisfied with the form of most of those who have already qualified were performing in the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston over the weekend.

TOM WATSON is proud to include himself among the golden oldies capable of challenging for titles but insists actually winning one is a different matter.

TIGER WOODS has avoided rival Phil Mickelson in the draw for the opening two days of the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte as both men return to action for the first time since the Masters.

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.

Red-hot Ian Poulter gave Sergio Garcia a real hammering in Tucson today - but went to bed not knowing his final opponent at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Paul Casey made Open champion Stewart Cink his latest victim in Tucson today - and left America without a semi-finalist for the first time in the 12-year history of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Paul Casey looked like making Open champion Stewart Cink yet another victim in Tucson, Arizona today.

DOES anyone remember a calmer, more peaceful and respectful time in golf before fire hydrants became as hazardous on tour as the Island hole at TPC Sawgrass?

A late rally from the International team kept the United States’ Presidents Cup lead at just one point heading into the weekend after the fourball matches in San Francisco.

Tiger Woods moved into a narrow Tour Championship lead at East Lake Golf Club but admitted he could have been in a better position at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup finale.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON hung on grimly to finish just a shot behind Tiger Woods as the Tour Championship reached the halfway stage in Georgia last night.

Tiger Woods moved into a narrow Tour Championship lead at East Lake Golf Club midway through the second round of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup finale.