Garry Houston paid tribute to Ryder Cup winner Thomas Bjorn for inspiring the Welshman’s seven-under-par 63 opening round at the Hong Kong Open.

Welshman Garry Houston trails leader KJ Choi by just one stroke after the first round of the Hong Kong Open following a hard-fought seven-under-par 63 at Fanling.

It was no doubt the last thing he felt like, but Darren Clarke somehow managed a wry smile after joining Colin Montgomerie in crashing out of the Austrian Open today.

Darren Clarke and Jean Van de Velde will be playing partners for the 36-hole US Open qualifying event at Walton Heath in Surrey on Monday.

Colin Montgomerie was satisfied with his opening effort in the BMW Asian Open after posting a three-under-par 69 at a windy Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

Graeme McDowell was satisfied with a steady day’s work after a third consecutive 70 put him firmly in contention at the Volvo China Open.

Damien McGrane and Graeme McDowell remain well in contention midway through their third rounds as the Volvo China Open leaderboard began to take on a more congested look at Shanghai Silport GC.

Swede Peter Hedblom raced into a three-shot lead at the BMW International Open in Munich today – as Lee Westwood wondered what was going to happen to him next.

Colin Montgomerie does not think United States captain Tom Lehman has put a foot wrong yet in the build-up to the Ryder Cup.

Lee Westwood climbed off his sick bed today and gave a performance that ought to make every European – not just Ian Woosnam – want him in the Ryder Cup next month.

Scotland’s David Drysdale produced a sparkling 10-under-par round of 62 to seize the first-round lead at the Russian Open.

England’s Simon Dyson today claimed his second European Tour title of the season in the KLM Open in Zandvoort.

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.

Irish golfer Graeme McDowell qualified today for next week’s US Open at Winged Foot.

Jean Van de Velde, back as a winner on the European Tour this year, burst through the field on the third day of the BMW Championship at Wentworth.

The one-shot penalty given to Darren Clarke on Thursday for dropping his ball on his ball-marker put him out of the BMW Championship at Wentworth today.

Scotland’s David Drysdale conquered his first-tee nerves in considerable style in the third round of the Italian Open today.

Low scoring continued to be the order of the day in the early stages of the third round of the Italian Open in Milan today.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen today set a blistering early pace in the first round of the Italian Open in Milan.

Jean Van de Velde raced into a three-shot lead in the Madeira Island Open after a confident start in the third round.

Garry Houston moved swiftly up the leaderboard in the third round of the Madeira Island Open.

Five-time European Tour winner Jarmo Sandelin expressed his relief at posting a 66 in the first round of the Madeira Island Open.

PRE-TOURNAMENT favourite Padraig Harrington, in his first start of the year, had a promising start the Maybank Malaysian Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday with three birdies - at the 12th, 17th and 18th.

Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jimenez’s birdie blitz was halted only by the fading light in the rain-delayed opening round of the Maybank Malaysian Open but the Spaniard is still in a strong position at eight under with one hole to play.

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant shot a course record-equalling seven-under-par 65 to lead the opening round of the Maybank Malaysian Open by one stroke before an afternoon thunderstorm suspended play.

BESIDES the lions, elephants and the other African wildlife, the big attraction this weekend at the Dunhill championship in Mpumalanga, South Africa, will undoubtedly be the appearance of world number five Ernie Els.

Besides the lions, elephants and the other African wildlife, the big attraction this weekend at the dunhill championship in Mpumalanga, South Africa, will undoubtedly be the appearance of world number five player, Ernie Els.

Sergio Garcia has spoken of the sadness behind his victory in the opening event of Europe’s Ryder Cup qualifying race.

SERGIO GARCIA put a smile on the face of Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam yesterday by winning the first qualifying event for next year’s match.

Sergio Garcia won the Omega European Masters – the first event of Europe’s Ryder Cup qualifying race – in Switzerland today.

Sergio Garcia remained on course to kick off the Ryder Cup qualifying campaign with a victory with 10 holes to play in Switzerland today.

Luke Donald came up with a scintillating finish today to re-ignite the defence of his Omega European Masters title in Switzerland.

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.

It will surprise nobody if Sergio Garcia starts the Ryder Cup points race with a victory in Switzerland tomorrow.

OF ALL the things Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam does not want to see or hear next year, one is certainly Sergio Garcia coming up to him and saying: “Don’t pick me.”

Of all the things Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam does not want to see or hear next year, one is certainly Sergio Garcia coming up to him and saying: “Don’t pick me.”

Of all the things Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam does not want to see or hear next year one is certainly Sergio Garcia coming up to him and saying: “Don’t pick me.”

Just when he thought it was safe to go back on the golf course Ryder Cup star Paul Casey ran into more problems today.

RYDER CUP captain Ian Woosnam is urging top players to compete more in Europe to improve their chances of making the 2006 team.

Sergio Garcia and his artful lodger Luke Donald both began the Ryder Cup qualifying campaign with five under par rounds of 66 in Switzerland today.

Ernie Els steered himself away from am embarrassing early exit by going to the turn in a three-under-par 33 on the second day of the Qatar Masters in Doha today.

Welshman Garry Houston was victorious in a thrilling four-hole sudden-death play-off against England's Gary Emerson to win the European Challenge Tour's Galeria Kaufhof Pokal Challenge event.

Sweden’s Christopher Hanell today won the Madeira Island Open after Australia’s Brad Kennedy twice cruelly fell victim to the 18th.