Rory McIlroy may have enhanced his chances of completing the career grand slam by opting out of the par-three contest, but the world No 3 still faces a tough task to end Europe’s surprising Masters drought.

Arnold Palmer was watching him. Tiger Woods was texting him.

I have to admit the announcement of Christy O’Connor Jnr’s death in Tenerife yesterday hit me hard. 

One of the biggest stars of Irish golf, Christy O’Connor Jnr, has been remembered as a gentleman and sporting inspiration after he died on holiday in Tenerife.

The death yesterday of Christy O’Connor Junior, one our most beloved golfers, brought to mind the shot heard round the world — but the Galway man was about much more than a two-iron at The Belfry. Junior carried his talents lightly and charmed everyone he met, writes Charlie Mulqueen.

Hopefully Harrington can relax enough to enjoy his return to the Masters at Augusta next month and get back to his best.

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington has questioned the decision to appoint Davis Love as American Ryder Cup captain for a second time.

Paul Azinger has welcomed reports Davis Love will captain the US Ryder Cup team for the second time at Hazeltine in 2016. 

Former Open champion Darren Clarke remains a strong favourite to be named European Ryder Cup captain for 2016 on Wednesday.

Davis Love will captain the United States Ryder Cup team for the second time in 2016, according to a report by the Golf Channel.

After an eighth Ryder Cup loss in 10 meetings, the American media were divided over what was behind their latest defeat and split over whether Phil Mickelson was right to publicly question the leadership of captain Tom Watson.

At 66 and with his sights firmly trained on a top 10 finish in this week’s British Seniors Open at Royal Porthcawl, Cork’s Denis O’Sullivan is focused.

Tiger Woods described his recovery from back surgery as a "very slow process" that offered him no timetable on when he can return for a summer filled with big championships.

Bubba Golf returned to Augusta National last night as 2012 Masters winner Watson, unburdened by the pressures of being defending champion, jumped out into a clear lead at the halfway stage as Rory McIlroy struggled to stay in touch.

Free from the pressure of being defending champion, Bubba Watson stressed his desire to claim a second Masters title in three years on Friday as Thomas Bjorn and Jonas Blixt raised hopes of a first European win since 1999.

Whether you love or loathe the game of golf, it’s hard not to enjoy the Masters, at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy overcome a stomach complaint to retain his lead entering the final two rounds of the 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic.

Tiger Woods won the deciding match for a third straight time and the United States lifted the Presidents Cup for a fifth straight time as they beat the International team 18.5 to 15.5 in Dublin, Ohio.

Former European number one Colin Montgomerie believes the introduction of a shot clock would instantly solve the problem of slow play on the course.

Matthew Fitzpatrick did not get his wish to meet Tiger Woods during the 142nd Open Championship trophy ceremony, not that the Sheffield teenager failed to keep up his end of the bargain.

World number 267 Roberto Castro took a three-shot lead into the second round of the prestigious Players Championship, but a quick glance at the leaderboard put his chances of a first PGA Tour title on Sunday into stark perspective.

Rory McIlroy had never made the cut or finished under par in any of his three previous appearances in the Players Championship over the TPC course at Sawgrass, but he never put a foot wrong in yesterday’s opening round of the 2013 tournament.

Nine months after blowing a four-shot lead in the Open, Adam Scott tonight gained sweet redemption with a dramatic Masters triumph at a rain-soaked Augusta.

You can never say never in golf.

Tiger Woods quickly went about trying to repair the damage caused by a two-shot penalty as an incident-packed Masters continued today at Augusta National.

Rory McIlory overcame a nightmare start to his second round to put himself back on track for a big push for Masters glory this weekend as Tiger Woods was making his charge up the leaderboard at Augusta National.

Just a couple of evenings ago, we were given the rare opportunity to listen to Jack Nicklaus’s thoughts on how best to play Augusta National.

Fred Couples today claimed the clubhouse lead in the Masters at the age of 53 as Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson both plummeted down the leaderboard.

A year after claiming he was not good enough to win a Major and needed to "play for second or third place", Sergio Garcia claimed a share of the lead on the opening day of the 77th Masters.

Rory McIlroy’s Masters bid was off to a solid start at Augusta National last night as he continued his newfound form into the opening major of the year.

Tom Watson’s amazing return as American Ryder Cup captain — he will be 65 at Gleneagles in 2014 and the oldest skipper in history — was not a knee-jerk reaction to their latest defeat.

Days after that fateful Sunday in Chicago, Davis Love III is still wondering and second-guessing himself on the ‘Miracle of Medinah’.

Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, two of Jose Maria Olazabal’s assistants as Europe amazingly retained the Ryder Cup from 10-4 down, are seen as the two leading candidates to take over from the Spaniard for the 2014 match at Gleneagles.

Every time a European player reaches for a club this weekend at Medinah, it’s almost as if Seve Ballesteros were still looking on.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is to become Europe’s fourth assistant captain at next month’s Ryder Cup.

American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love would love to see Tiger Woods taking on Rory McIlroy in the Ryder Cup singles in Chicago next month.

A three-under-par 67 earned Fred Couples a two-shot victory at the British Senior Open Championship at Turnberry.

Rory McIlroy will hope to be inspired by his return to the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow this weekend, the scene of his first victory in America two years ago — achieved with a magical course record of 62 in the final round, after he had almost missed the halfway cut.

Graeme McDowell last night backed Rory McIlroy to bounce back from another Masters disappointment, saying his fellow Irishman was “tailor-made” for Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy fell all the way from third to 19th with a terrible start to his third round in The Masters at Augusta today.

Luke Donald counted himself out of The Masters after a disappointing third round 75 at Augusta today – and it could well cost him the world number one spot as well.

Tiger Woods and Luke Donald both made fast starts in the third round of The Masters at Augusta today, but then found it tougher going again.

The conditions were certainly right for Luke Donald to try to make a move through the field in The Masters at Augusta today – and he found a spectacular way to start doing precisely that.

Lee Westwood tossed away the Masters lead with a closing double bogey at Augusta today – as Rory McIlroy came right back into the thick of things and Tiger Woods struggled badly.