Jet-lagged Graeme McDowell is hoping a good night’s sleep will help him mount a charge in pursuit of overnight leader Mikko Ilonen as the second round of the Irish Open gets under way at Fota Island Resort today.

England’s Ross Fisher has his sights set on a first European Tour title in almost four years after claiming a one-shot lead at the midway point of the Tshwane Open in South Africa.

Thomas Aiken kept the Africa Open in South African hands – and his temporary caddie very happy – by defeating England’s Oliver Fisher in a play-off to claim his third European Tour title yesterday.

The sounding of a siren to halt play due to poor light probably did Pádraig Harrington a favour on the opening day of the thunderstorm affected Turkish Airlines Open at Belek.

Darren Clarke didn’t drop a shot despite describing as “brutal” this week’s Tshwane Open course — one of the longest on the 2013 Race to Dubai schedule.

South African Darren Fichardt survived a late wobble to claim a two-shot win on home soil at the Africa Open in East London.

Adrian Morrow flew home from Austria yesterday on cloud nine after conquering a top class field to clinch the European Seniors Amateur Championship.

Joint-overnight leader Sihwan Kim moved clear at the top after a second-round 69 put him a shot clear at the Saint-Omer Open.

Martin Kaymer suddenly found top form again at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters today – but probably too late to take him to world number one tomorrow.

World number two Martin Kaymer went from the sublime to the ridiculous on a day of strong winds in Doha today.

Jamie Moul, playing only his second European Tour event, is just one shot off the lead going into tomorrow's final round of the Inteco Russian Open.

Ryder Cup heroes Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley both failed to make it through US Open qualifying at Walton Heath in Surrey today.

South African young gun Charl Schwartzel has set his sights firmly on claiming the inaugural Joburg Open title to begin his year on a positive note.

Home favourite Ernie Els took his fourth SAA Open title in style, carding a final-round 65 to end on 24 under and set a new scoring record for the tournament at the Humewood Golf Club in Port Elizabeth.

World number eight Ernie Els was heading for his first victory of the year as he took control of the final round of the SAA Open at Humewood Golf Club in Port Elizabeth.

South Africans Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman were turning the SAA Open into a duel in the third round at the Humewood Golf Club in Port Elizabeth.

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.

New Zealander Michael Campbell closed the two-shot gap between himself and long-time French Open leader John Bickerton to leave the pair locked together at 10 under with seven holes to play of the third round.

England’s Simon Dyson earned himself a place in next month’s British Open at Hoylake after a marathon eight-hole play-off.

Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who came through a qualifying tournament for the US Open earlier this month, sank a 12-foot birdie putt to make into the British Open today.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley, the lowest placed of four big names in the BA-CA Austrian Open, failed to advance his score on the third day at the Fontana Golf Club just outside Vienna.

HENRIK STENSON talks as straight as he drives and he made his ambition for the year clear – to end it as Europe’s number one.

Henrik Stenson held his nerve in challenging conditions to win the Commercialbank Qatar Masters by three strokes – but he was pushed all the way by a resolute Paul Broadhurst.

England’s Nick Dougherty has made headway on the early leaderboard on the second day of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha.

Danny Denison made light of his amateur status to leave his mark on day one of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha.

RETIEF GOOSEN claimed his second South African Airways Open title after a thrilling final-day duel with Ernie Els at Fancourt.

Retief Goosen held off a determined challenge from compatriot Ernie Els to win the South African Airways Open at Fancourt.

What looked on paper an unfair fight – world number six against a player ranked 433rd – turned out to be anything but in the Swiss sunshine today.

TIME was when the Irish Open was dominated by the superstars of the game ... Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Jose-Maria Olazabal, all major championship winners, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia, two of the game’s finest ever players.

Ernie Els finds himself probably the hottest-ever favourite for a European tour event this week.

SOUTH African golfer Richard Sterne rescued his European tour career in brilliant fashion yesterday by winning the Madrid Open with a closing 65.

No fewer than nine players held at least a share of the lead during the early stages of the Madrid Open final round at Club de Campo today.

A controversial incident on the 18th hole could cost Swede Johan Edfors his European tour career tomorrow.

A month after becoming a father for the fourth time Paul Broadhurst is hoping to have something else to celebrate tomorrow night – his first European Tour victory since 1995.

FORMER Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst is in the hunt for his first European tour victory for nine years after adding a 65 to his opening 67 in the Madrid Open yesterday.

Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst is in the hunt for his first European tour victory for nine years after adding a 65 to his opening 67 in the Madrid Open today.

Simon Khan quickly made amends for a poor finish to his first round in the delayed Mallorca Classic this morning.

Ernie Els easily saw off the challenge of one European Ryder Cup hero today - but now faces an attack from three of them in the final round of the American Express world championship.

Darren Clarke, hoping to complete a full set of World Golf Championship solo victories, did not look like a player ready to do it at Mount Juliet today.

The 174-yard third hole at Mount Juliet was proving a little beast in the second round of the American Express world championship today.

Sergio Garcia had gained the upper hand over Miguel Angel Jimenez in the battle of the Spaniards on the third day of the Omega European Masters in the stunning Swiss mountains today.

An outward 34 was not enough to keep Ian Woosnam in a share for the lead when the French Open went into its third round at Le Golf National near Paris today.