For a second competitive round in succession, Rory McIlroy was looking and sounding despondent in not being able squeeze more out of his golf on the opening day of the Players Championship.

A revitalised Lee Westwood shrugged off an unusually early start to lead the European challenge for a rare victory in the Players Championship today.

There is a strong possibility Royal Portrush will be awarded the 2019 British Open — 68 years after being the only club outside Scotland and England to host golf’s oldest Major.

Europe remained on course for victory in the inaugural EurAsia Cup despite a spirited fightback from Asia on the second day in Kuala Lumpur.

European Ryder Cup vice-captain Des Smyth will get an early chance to reacquaint himself with the rigours of the role when he teams up with Miguel Angel Jimenez for the inaugural EurAsia Cup in Malaysia in two weeks.

It was like a final insult in what was Rory McIlroy’s final event as the defending European No. 1 — being asked to tape a TV piece congratulating Henrik Stenson on succeeding him in winning the Race to Dubai.

A last-hole gamble backfired on Rory McIlroy as Dustin Johnson stormed into a commanding lead in the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions on Friday.

Graeme McDowell is intent on finishing this season as Europe’s number one golfer.

Rory McIlroy backed up his pre-tournament prediction in brilliant fashion with a flawless 65 as Open champion Phil Mickelson suffered an astonishing collapse in the first round of the WGC-HSBC Champions.

Rory McIlroy has ruled out any off-course socialising with Tiger Woods after his disappointing showing in the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

Paul McGinley will resist any move at this week’s Players Committee meeting in Portugal to make it compulsory for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell to compete in the Seve Trophy.

Great Britain and Ireland’s Simon Khan had to pull out of the Seve Trophy on Sunday with a back injury, with Thomas Bjorn volunteering to step aside for the Continental Europe team at St Nom La Breteche.

Reigning Irish Open champion Paul Casey continues to stake his claim for a return to Ryder Cup action next year after another impressive display on day two of the Seve Trophy in France.

Paul McGinley declared he would be taking a backseat role but there was no hiding the enthusiasm of the European Ryder Cup captain on the opening day of the Seve Trophy near Versailles.

Former Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will attempt to bring some Medinah magic to the Seve Trophy and lead another European side to a team triumph.

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano has received a late call-up to Continental Europe's team for this week's Seve Trophy after Peter Hanson pulled out with a back injury.

The halfway cut fell at eight over par, but Ian Poulter was still predicting a “fun weekend” as the weather-delayed US Open looked to get back on track at Merion today.

England’s Justin Rose, twice a runner-up in the BMW PGA Championship, today wasted little time in getting to the top of the leaderboard as the European Tour’s flagship event got under way at Wentworth.

There have been some statements from either side of the Atlantic in recent days that have been giving pause for thought regarding the relative status of the European Tour and its bold and brash American cousin, the PGA Tour.

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano wasted no time in moving into a share of the lead when the Spanish Open resumed at El Saler today.

The Masters does not usually need any help when it comes to creating drama, as was the case with the thrilling finish on Sunday, but it certainly had some assistance last week.

Graeme McDowell could have been speaking for the entire European contingent when he summed up his efforts at this year’s Masters.

Hopes for a first European green jacket since Jose Maria Olazabal donned his second in 1999 do not look likely to rest on his compatriots as Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño failed to repeat their opening-round success yesterday at the Masters.

After giving up 33 rounds under par yesterday, Augusta National hit back with the aid of some wind and rain on the second day of the 77th Masters.

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano today made light of tricky conditions to move within one shot of the lead as the second round of the 77th Masters got under way at Augusta.

A year after claiming he was not good enough to win a Major and needed to "play for second or third place", Sergio Garcia claimed a share of the lead on the opening day of the 77th Masters.

Rory McIlroy’s Masters bid was off to a solid start at Augusta National last night as he continued his newfound form into the opening major of the year.

Shane Lowry's giant-killing run in Arizona is at an end after he fell to a 3&2 loss to fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell at the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Shane Lowry will face Rory McIlroy in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona on Wednesday.

Phil Mickelson is back in the world’s top 10 for the first time since last May after his wire-to-wire victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Justin Rose overcame a shaky start to justify taking over the favourite’s tag at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship today.

It did not take long for Justin Rose to lose the lead when he resumed the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship today – but it was a surprise who took top spot off him.

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

Graeme McDowell’s victory at the World Challenge in California – his first title since the same event two years ago – has lifted him from 24th to 14th in the world.

Sergio Garcia charged through the field in Dubai today in only his second tournament round since post-Ryder Cup eye surgery.

Luke Donald, a winner in Japan last Sunday, became the man to catch again today after a sparkling start to the £6m (€7.46m) DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry has moved up from 128th to 74th in the world after his victory at the Portugal Masters yesterday.

European Team captain, Jose Maria Olazabal produced his lowest score in three years on the final day of the BMW Italian Open and assured the world there would not be a repeat of mindless Nick Faldo Ryder Cup ‘Opening Speech’ of four years ago.

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano picked up his sixth European Tour victory after he beat off the challenge of Garth Mulroy to win the BMW Italian Open by two shots.

Shane Lowry is four shots off the lead after his third round in the Italian Open.

Germany’s Martin Kaymer set about silencing any lingering Ryder Cup critics with a timely return to form on day two of the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

Shane Lowry will join a number of fellow European Tour members in taking advantage before the advent of new changes and enter this year’s PGA Tour Qualifying School.

Peter Hanson warmed up for the Ryder Cup in fine style by claiming victory at the KLM Open in Hilversum today.

Graeme Storm let a five-shot advantage leak away and will embark on tomorrow's final round of the KLM Open in a four-man tie at the top of the leaderboard.