There was more good news for Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam when Padraig Harrington took the lead in the Madrid Masters today.

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.

Luke Donald said in March that he thought the only way for him to catch up with world number one Tiger Woods was to “start believing I’m as good as him“.

Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald and Phil Mickelson were part of an amazing 10-way tie for the lead at the US PGA championship in Chicago today.

Phil Mickelson drew back level with Tiger Woods and Chris DiMarco got off to a flying start as well when the United States PGA championship resumed in Chicago today.

American Joey Sindelar recorded only the third albatross in the history of the United States PGA championship at Medinah in Chicago today.

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.

Ryder Cup-chasing pair Thomas Bjorn and Paul Casey were off to flying starts in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today.

Ryder Cup-chasing Thomas Bjorn made a brilliant start to the Johnnie Walker Championship at windy Gleneagles today – and then claimed: “After Winged Foot anything seems easy”.

ENGLAND’S Paul Casey lies four shots off the lead after a first round 68 in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth.

Paul Casey has put himself into the mix at the Johnnie Walker Classic at The Vines in Perth, shooting a four-under-par 68 to sit 11th, four strokes behind first-round leaders Kevin Stadler and Adam Scott on 64.

DARREN CLARKE’S 2005 campaign is over. For the second time this year, he has felt obliged to withdraw at the halfway stage of a major tournament.

“WHATEVER my personal view might be, the reason I’m not playing the Seve Trophy is because of my schedule.”

DARREN CLARKE has withdrawn from this week’s Booz Allen Classic in Maryland to spend time with his wife Heather, who is suffering from cancer.

European tour player Gary Evans has written a letter of apology for his comments about Colin Montgomerie at Wentworth nine days ago.

David Lynn warmed up for the defence of his maiden European Tour title with a superb start to the Wales Open at Celtic Manor today.

Phil Casey

Gary Evans was today told he did not need to apologise for his controversial comments over the rules row involving Colin Montgomerie.

DEVELOPMENTS at Wentworth over the weekend cruelly demonstrated that regardless of wealth or success you can still be living in a very harsh, unforgiving world.

EVER since his Ryder Cup heroics last September Colin Montgomerie’s entire golfing focus has been on trying to get back into the world’s top 50.

Ever since his Ryder Cup heroics last September, Colin Montgomerie’s entire golfing focus has been on trying to get back into the world’s top 50.

IN THIS trade, you usually have to chase your stories. They don’t just land in your lap.

FURIOUS would be a totally unsuitable adjective to describe Darren Clarke’s mindset after his staggering sextuplet bogey 11 at the infamous 17th hole.

Darren Clarke was today battling to keep his frustration in check in the second round of the 133rd British Open at Troon.

New Zealand’s Michael Campbell today wasted no time in moving into a share of the lead in the early stages of the second round of the British Open.

VETERAN caddie Pete Coleman held his hands up here last night and admitted it was his fault Darren Clarke fired his second shot to the 18th over the green and out of bounds in the first round of the Open Championship.

Ernie Els bagged a hole-in-one in a stunning start to the British Open championships at Royal Troon today.

Gary Evans and Ernie Els today made the most of their stunning starts to the 133rd British Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Gary Evans today made a spectacular start to the first round of 133rd British Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Lee Westwood has chosen to be “reclusive” in the build-up to this week’s British Open championship at Royal Troon. But that is bound to change once the event starts.

Retief Goosen had his first bogey in 28 holes when he resumed the Smurfit European Open with a two-stroke lead at the wet and windy K Club in Co Kildare today.

Ian Woosnam restored some of his battered pride after going back on his promise to return to a short putter in the first round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open today.

Ian Woosnam went back on his promise to return to a short putter in the first round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open today.

Mark Roe’s anger turned to relief in the second round of the weather-disrupted Italian Open in Milan today.

Italian Open Leaderboard

Italian Open Leaderboard

Gary Evans today made a solid start as he tested the shoulder injury he is hoping will not deny him another chance of Open championship glory.

Gary Evans is praying a shoulder injury will not deny him another chance of Open championship glory.

Mark O’Meara, the 47-year-old former Masters and Open champion, today achieved his first big victory since 1998.

Paul McGinley, seeking his first win since he holed the winning putt in the Ryder Cup two years ago, chipped in at the last to regain a share of the lead with a round to go in the Dubai Desert Classic.

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.