Rory McIlroy was left to rue poor putting and a terrible negotiation of Augusta National’s par-five holes as Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson duelled for Masters supremacy during a tension-filled final round.

By Simon Lewis

Rory McIlroy believes almost three-quarters of the 97-strong field can win the US Masters, while Justin Rose neatly summed up an unpredictable season so far.

Lee Westwood believes he is finally approaching the form which saw him become world number one, despite arriving at the year’s first major championship 37th in the rankings.

Sergio Garcia was today trying to focus on the first round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth after his public row with Tiger Woods took an unwelcome turn.

Sergio Garcia has escaped punishment for what could be construed as a racist remark about Tiger Woods after offering an unreserved apology for his “stupid and out of place” comments at the European Tour’s annual awards ceremony.

Tiger Woods has labelled a remark made about him by Sergio Garcia as “wrong and hurtful,” but believes there is “real regret” that it was made.

Sergio Garcia has apologised for what could be construed as a racist remark about Tiger Woods at the European Tour’s annual awards ceremony.

Ernie Els, Nick Watney and Bo van Pelt went into the first round of the 77th US Masters today with their hopes of claiming a first Green Jacket very much alive.

It is 50 years since Jack Nicklaus won the first of his six Masters titles, but the 18-time major winner will have a major influence on how rookie Nicolas Colsaerts performs this week.

1. Has he played well in the Masters before?

Rory McIlroy revealed last night he had received a message from US Open champion Graeme McDowell after establishing a four-shot lead at The Masters – saying he loved him.

Rory McIlroy insists he is ready to win his first major – but a month after saying Tiger Woods was playing “like an ordinary golfer” he will now have to fight him off to land The Masters.

RICKIE FOWLER was given a gentle introduction to the way things are done differently at Augusta National last night but it is history, not conformity, that is the young American’s chief obstacle as he bids to break the rookies’ curse at the Masters this week.

Chad Campbell was the man to catch as The Masters went into the second round at Augusta National today.

NINETEEN year-old Rory McIlroy and Japanese Ryo Ishikawa, almost two years his junior, have been drawn in the last match in tomorrow’s first round of the Masters.

Trevor Immelman insisted today that Rory McIlroy has a chance to succeed him as Masters champion next month – if he can show he possesses the X-factor.

COULD this US Open have been any better, any more exciting or any more suspenseful?

Nick Dougherty has turned to three-time champion Nick Faldo for an expert opinion in the countdown to his Masters debut at Augusta National this week.

THE only Irishman ever to win the British Open Golf Championship was Fred Daly from Portrush in 1947. That was 60 years ago, so it certainly is time for another Irish winner.

The first golfing mMajor of the year gets underway in the US today, with Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke flying the flag for Ireland.

TIGER WOODS has broken his silence about the terrifying racist attacks he suffered as a youngster.

Gusty winds got the best of every player at the Legends of Golf except Irishman Des Smyth.

Luke Donald knew he had done something pretty special with his third-place finish in his first Masters – yet he probably had no idea just how special.

Luke Donald saw his hopes of Masters glory nosedive horribly oday when he fell from joint leader to 11 behind.

Luke Donald took less than 15 minutes to move into a share of the lead when the Masters resumed at Augusta today.

Jose Maria Olazabal has warned against expecting too much too soon of some of Europe’s rising stars.

Darren Clarke has been paired with Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood with Vijay Singh for the first two rounds of the Masters on Thursday and Friday.

GRAEME McDOWELL had little reason to stroll around in the glorious sunshine at Augusta National yesterday with the confidence of a man attempting to win the Masters green jacket at the first attempt.

Tom Watson took a look at his scorecard and was very happy. Watson fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 – one shot off the event record - and opened a two-stroke lead after the first round of the MasterCard Championship in Hawaii.

With an 18-foot birdie putt and a leap into the air almost as high, Phil Mickelson rid himself of the tag as “best player never to win a major” today - and with it created golfing history.

Bernhard Langer’s bid to become the oldest-ever winner of the Masters had a thrilling start today when he birdied the first two holes to move only a stroke behind Americans Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco.

Tiger Woods still gave himself a chance of winning his fourth Masters with a round to go at Augusta National today.

With the eyes of the golfing world on him Justin Rose totally crumbled under the pressure of the Masters.

YOU write off Tiger Woods at your peril.

AS the last person to win a major Shaun Micheel deserves to be heard. Especially as, come Sunday night, he thinks he could have won the last two.

As the last person to win a major Shaun Micheel deserves to be heard. Especially as, come Sunday night, he thinks he could have won the last two.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON could well have one of the biggest galleries in the first two rounds after the US Masters draw paired him with world number two Vijay Singh and John Daly.

America’s Tom Watson revived memories of his famous Duel in the Sun when he closed with a six-under-par 64 and then defeated England’s Carl Mason on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at the Senior British Open at Tunberry.

TOM WATSON extended his love affair with the Ailsa course at Turnberry when he carded a four-under-par 66 to claim a share of the lead alongside compatriot Tom Kite after the first round of the Senior British Open.

JACK NICKLAUS and Tom Watson will relive 1977’s famous “Duel in the Sun” when they tee up in the Mastercard Senior British Open at Turnberry today.

Dana Quigley edged Larry Nelson at the Champions Tour’s season-opening event using a strong finish to the claim the Mastercard Championship.

On the course where a golf fan was killed by lightning during the 1991 United States Open, play was suspended after less than 90 minutes of the USPGA championship.