Graeme McDowell was happy to be a party pooper when he birdied the last to clinch a third-round date with Tiger Woods in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral’s TPC Blue Monster.

Shane Lowry can forget about his world ranking for a while after realising his ambition to qualify for the WGC-Accenture Match play Championship later this month but the Irish golfer knows he has work to do if he is to achieve his longer-term objectives.

RORY McILROY insists the presence of stunning girlfriend Carolina Wozniacki was not a distraction as he recorded four bogeys on the second day of the WGC–HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

AT least some of the speculation concerning foursomes and fourball pairings will end today when Europe’s first Ryder Cup practice rounds take place over the Jack Nicklaus designed Valhalla course in Louisville, Kentucky, (8am local, 1pm Irish).

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer believes Nick Faldo is “making a mistake” by not having more helping hands at Valhalla.

Of the 15 Europeans taking part in the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California this week none has a story to tell quite like that of Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman.

THE many who believe Europe will have an even stronger team in the 2006 Ryder Cup match at The K-Club had their view strengthened at Mount Juliet over the weekend when Thomas Bjorn made such a dramatic return to top form.

PAUL McGINLEY and Colin Montgomerie did precisely what they needed to yesterday on the opening day of the BMW International in Germany.

Jesper Parnevik has surprised Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer by pulling out of next week’s BMW International in Munich – his last chance to press his claims for a fourth successive Ryder Cup wild card.

EMBARRASSING. That's the best word to describe the failure of Europe's best to capture the Open Championship or indeed any major title since 1999.

Brian Davis was finally able to accept he had done the right thing in taking two months off at the end of last season after yesterday’s dramatic victory at the ANZ Championship boosted his Ryder Cup chances.

Brian Davis declared it an “amazing day” after ending a near four-year wait for his second European Tour title with a dramatic one-point victory over defending champion Paul Casey at the ANZ Championship.