Six players will go into the weekend tied for the lead at the Sicilian Open after an extremely tight second round at the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort.

Graeme McDowell beat Rory McIlroy 3&2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain today – and there was no hiding how annoyed the 22-year-old was.

Ian Poulter qualified for the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain today without winning a game.

England’s Ian Poulter led Scot Paul Lawrie by one after four holes of their Volvo World Match Play clash in Spain today.

A POOR putt for par on the final hole robbed Peter Lawrie of finishing second on his own at the close of the Volvo China Open in Chenghu.

WITHOUT a European Tour win since 2008, Pádraig Harrington’s long wait for a title may be extended after a modest opening 71 left him seven shots off the pace on a day of low scoring at the Volvo China Open.

Nine of the 24 qualifiers for next May’s Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain are now known.

Europe’s Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell will break into the top 10 in tomorrow’s world golf rankings after clinching the Andalucia Valderrama Masters today.

An early double-bogey set Padraig Harrington right back in his attempt to make up lost ground at the Vivendi Cup in Paris today.

Tiger Woods emerged from the fog – in the air and perhaps in his head too – to make the perfect start to the final major of the season today.

PEBBLE BEACH looked like the clear winner on day one of the US Open as the game’s greatest player struggled to come to terms with fast, hard-running conditions.

Former English amateur champion Paul Waring lapped up the perfect early conditions when the Spanish Open began in Seville today.

After taking more than a month off – and being criticised by Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie for not playing for Britain and Ireland – Ian Poulter is set to return to action the week after next.

Chris Wood had luck on his side as he made it three wins out of three for Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe at the Vivendi Trophy in Paris today.

GRAEME McDOWELL teamed up with Rory McIlroy yesterday to help fellow Irishman Paul McGinley’s Great Britain and Ireland side to a 3-2 lead over Continental Europe after the opening fourballs.

Irish pair Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy helped Great Britain and Ireland to a 3-2 lead over Continental Europe by beating Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros 4&3 after the opening fourballs of the Vivendi Trophy in Paris today.

Graeme McDowell and Anthony Wall both kicked off the Vivendi Trophy with birdie putts for Britain and Ireland in Paris today.

GERMAN Martin Kaymer won the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond yesterday to complete a brilliant eight-day double worth more than €1.16million.

Colin Montgomerie had a hole-in-one from 156 yards and Retief Goosen missed from barely a foot, but the South African was still the one heading for victory in Munich today.

Colin Montgomerie extended his record number of European Tour holes-in-one to nine in Munich this morning – but it still looked like being a whole year without a top 10 finish for the Ryder Cup captain.

Nick Dougherty put his “shocking” finish to the Wales Open behind him and moved into contention for the BMW International Open in Munich today.

Three players outside the world’s top 250 outshone the big names in the early stages of the BMW International Open in Munich today, which was suspended at 10.40am Irish time after a particularly heavy downpour.

Colin Montgomerie might have been disappointed about the shortage of star names at Celtic Manor this week, but he was taking the chance to shine himself.

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

PAUL CASEY grabbed his third win of the year yesterday in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Paul Casey’s lead was down from three to one with 10 holes to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth today.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, who had a hole-in-one in the final round en route to winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last year, today recorded only the third albatross of the European Tour season.

Paul Casey is on course to become the first golfer in a decade to complete a double in top European tournaments at Wentworth.

Paul Casey set himself some lofty goals for this year – but although he is keeping them secret reaching number-three in the world was almost certainly not among them.

PAUL CASEY, who was told on Wednesday that the world number three spot was there for him to grab this week, is bang on course for it halfway through the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Paul Casey, told on Wednesday that the world number three spot was there for him to grab this week, is bang on course for it halfway through the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Oliver Wilson defied the rain, the cold and a couple of injuries today to keep alive his hopes of finally registering his first European Tour victory.

AFTER only one win in his first 309 European Tour events, Dane Soren Kjeldsen made it two in his last nine in Seville yesterday.

After only one win in his first 309 European Tour events, Dane Soren Kjeldsen made it two in his last nine in Seville today.

Scotland’s David Drysdale, chasing his first European Tour victory in 166 starts, shared the lead with Dane Soren Kjeldsen after five holes of the final round at the Andalucian Open in Seville.

Colin Montgomerie was just where he wanted to be today on his 500th European Tour appearance as a professional – right at the top of the leaderboard.

The morning after the night before and Robert Karlsson is already setting about the task of defending his European Order of Merit crown.

Swede Robert Karlsson won Europe's Order of Merit today when Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez all fell short of their targets.

Lee Westwood still hopes to have something to shout about before he has his tonsils out on Monday – a second European Order of Merit title.

Rising to the challenge of playing in front of his home fans, Swede Peter Hanson takes a two-stroke lead into the final round of the SAS Masters in Stockholm.

Ryder Cup hopeful Nick Dougherty produced a sparkling finish to regain a share of the lead at the SAS Masters in Stockholm on Friday.

After two of the best days of his career Paul McGinley slumped to his worst score of the year - a seven-over-par 79 - in blustery conditions at Wentworth.

The race for one of European golf's biggest titles was thrown wide open at windy Wentworth today - all because Paul McGinley made an error-ridden start.

Paul McGinley gave hope to all the chasing pack with a double-bogey start to his third round in the BMW PGA Championship at a windy Wentworth.