Brian Keogh takes a closer look at the world of caddies, the few who’ve made millions and the vast majority who live the jet-set lifestyle without the money, or the jet. 

Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, is halfway to Chambers Bay, but when Jim Furyk spoke on June 7, he sounded as if he were a continent away. That’s because he told of family plans and a commitment to attend a wedding so he wouldn’t be getting a look at the US Open venue for another two weeks.

Renowned for his short-game prowess, Phil Mickelson sometimes does his best scoring with his biting perspective and cunning wit.

Hometown golfer Michael Putnam is expecting a lot of noise from the Chambers Bay galleries this week if the decibel levels at Seattle Seahawks NFL games are any guide.

The advice has been passed along for decades on the PGA Tour, and Matt Kuchar believes it has merit. He just doesn’t like it.

There are two sets of names that will bear down on Phil Mickelson at Pinehurst No. 2 tomorrow as he tees off in a US Open for the 24th time.

Paul McGinley continues to make it clear that he will be his own man when attempting to mastermind Europe’s Ryder Cup defence at Gleneagles next year.

Jack Nicklaus is backing Rory McIlroy to bounce back in time for the Masters but insisted the world number one must “move on” and forget about his problems with his Nike clubs.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy today pulled out of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens after making a wretched start to his second round - and then blamed a toothache on his poor performance.

World number three Luke Donald put himself firmly in contention as Bae Sang-moon and Fredrik Jacobson shared the lead at the halfway stage of the Northern Trust Open in California.

It took some of golf’s cogniscenti a while to digest the depth of Rory McIlroy’s quality. No one is doubting the torch has passed now. By Jim McCabe.

Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia end the year 14th and 16th in the world respectively after their weekend wins in South Africa and Malaysia.

One of the many thankless tasks at live sporting events is held by the lonely soul singing the anthem.

Darren Clarke fought his own version of War On The Shore during the opening round of the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

Graeme McDowell has joined a growing groundswell calling for organisers to abandon the thought of staging a 72-hole strokeplay tournament when golf returns to the Olympics in 2016.

So it was only an 18-hole British Open this year.

Less than a year after hiring golf's most successful caddie in a bid to end his long wait for a first major title, Australian Adam Scott hopes he is just 18 holes from achieving his dream at Royal Lytham tomorrow.

Graeme McDowell believes the “minimal” shortcomings of Royal Portrush can be overcome in order for the course to stage the Open Championship.

American James Driscoll made the perfect start to the 141st Open Championship when play got under way in calm, overcast conditions at Royal Lytham this morning.

Luke Donald has sought out Nick Faldo for advice as he attempts to claim his first major title at the Open this week.

All-American nice guy Matt Kuchar playfully told the media to “suck it” after clinching the US PGA Players Championship and its $1.7 million (€1.3m) winner’s cheque.

Returning to the controversy of the week at the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club’s lack of female members, a lobbying group called change.org entered the fray yesterday, looking to further increase the pressure on the private club to review its membership policy.

1. Has he played well in the Masters before?

Rory McIlroy embarks on a quest to banish his Masters demons today, confident he is better equipped, both mentally and technically, to hold off Tiger Woods and a host of other likely rivals and conquer Augusta National.

Luke Donald is set to start his Accenture Match Play title defence against former world number one Ernie Els in Tucson on Wednesday.

England’s Paul Casey is out of next week’s Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona, but hopes to have recovered from his dislocated shoulder in time for the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami on March 8-11.

IAN POULTER secured a three-shot victory at the JBWere Masters in Melbourne yesterday.

Local favourite Geoff Ogilvy produced a brilliant eight-under-par third round of 63 to replace Ian Poulter at the top of the JBWere Australian Masters leaderboard.

Marcus Fraser holds a two-stroke lead at the Australian PGA Championship following a second-round 65 but a host of big names, including Bubba Watson, Robert Allenby and Adam Scott, remain in contention at Coolum.

Darren Clarke will be trying to end what he calls an “incredibly frustrating” spell in this week’s Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.

The hug said it all today as Tiger Woods yet again clinched another Presidents Cup victory for the United States.

Tiger Woods still has to prove he was worth a wild card for this week’s Presidents Cup – but America still lead by two points.

Tiger Woods suffered the biggest match play defeat of his life today - but it was still the Americans who began the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne much the better.

The highly-anticipated match-up between Tiger Woods and Adam Scott will happen on the opening day of the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

Greg Chalmers has won the Australian Open after holding his nerve to finish 13 under par at The Lakes in Sydney.

Rory McIlroy fired a third round 65 today to open up a three-stroke lead over American Anthony Kim at the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters.

Hunter Mahan tore up the leaderboard on day three of the Tour Championship in Atlanta, wrestling the lead from Australian Adam Scott.

JUSTIN ROSE paid tribute to former European Tour professional Mark Roe after claiming his third PGA Tour title at the BMW Championship in Illinois.

AS curiosities go, there are many when we concern ourselves with the level of golf that is on display here at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON will tee it up with Tiger Woods and Davis Love III in the first two rounds of next week’s US PGA at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Graeme McDowell said in Ireland last week he felt close to his best form and today in Akron he looked closer still, going to the turn in a three-under-par 32 when the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational began.

Golf Australia boss Stephen Pitt is confident Tiger Woods’ decision to play in this year’s Australian Open will guarantee the strongest field in the tournament’s history.