Hopefully Harrington can relax enough to enjoy his return to the Masters at Augusta next month and get back to his best.

Rory McIlroy’s bid for a first FedEx Cup title – and with it a bonus of £6m – got off to an eventful start in the Tour Championship in Atlanta yesterday.

US peace envoy Richard Haass has ruled out returning to the North to broker a deal on parades, flags and the toxic legacy of the Troubles.

Bubba Golf returned to Augusta National last night as 2012 Masters winner Watson, unburdened by the pressures of being defending champion, jumped out into a clear lead at the halfway stage as Rory McIlroy struggled to stay in touch.

Rory McIlroy intends to treat the next 54 holes at Augusta National like a game of chess as he patiently tries to become a grand Masters champion.

Rory McIlroy intends to treat the next 54 holes at Augusta National like a game of chess as he patiently tries to become a grand Masters champion.

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington was left to rue missed opportunities despite keeping his faint hopes of qualifying for next week's US Masters alive.

Conservatory

The United States opened up a five-point lead on the third day of the Presidents Cup as play was once again disrupted by rain at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

The United States opened up a potentially decisive four-point lead on day three of the Presidents Cup at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

Tomas Berdych served notice of his intent to Andy Murray and all the title favourites with a demolition of Julien Benneteau to reach the fourth round of the US Open.

In the face of a UN Security Council deadlocked on Syria, the US and its allies could seek other means of legitimising any retaliatory strike they launch against Syria’s government for last week’s alleged gas attack on civilians.

Stalling development of a peace centre at the former paramilitary prison is a mistake that could jeopardise jobs and the peace process, Martin McGuinness claimed tonight.

Police came under attack for a fifth successive night in Belfast, with around 35 petrol bombs thrown at officers by loyalists.

World number one Novak Djokovic got the job done with the minimum of fuss on Centre Court today as he kicked off his Wimbledon championship with a straight-sets win over Florian Mayer.

Matt Kuchar will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Memorial Tournament on a testing day of golf which saw defending champion Tiger Woods card the worst nine-hole score of his professional career.

DA Points found form out of nowhere to claim victory at the Shell Houston Open by a shot and book his place at the Masters.

Local boy John Merrick sealed his first PGA Tour win as he edged out Charlie Beljan in a play-off for the Northern Trust Open in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.

Defending Northern Trust Open champion Bill Haas stormed to the head of the leaderboard going into the final round with a seven-under-par 64 in California.

Serbia needed a champions tie-break in the deciding mixed doubles rubber to beat Australia after Novak Djokovic suffered a surprise defeat to Bernard Tomic in the Hopman Cup in Perth.

Tommy Haas upset Roger Federer’s Wimbledon preparations by winning the Gerry Weber Open in Germany.

Venus Williams marked her return to competitive action for the first time in over six months with a straight-sets win over Kimiko Date-Krumm in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Bill Haas landed a 45-foot birdie putt to win a three-man play-off for the Northern Trust Open in California.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer eased into the the last 32 of the Australian Open, but Mardy Fish has become the highest seed to exit the tournament.

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.

A FRENETIC, wildly unpredictable final day at the Tour Championship ultimately ended with Bill Haas winning both the tournament and FedExCup honours, though it took a while for his double success to sink in.

Australian Adam Scott and American Hunter Haas shared the lead after the first round of the AT&T National at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

Pat Perez produced an impressive second round to take a two-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard in the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte.

Only a storm delay could slow Phil Mickelson after he shot his way up the leaderboard on the second day of the the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte.

Bill Haas fired an eight-under 64 to claim a two-shot lead at the end of day one of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte.

John Haas, the former chairman of global chemical company Rohm & Haas and a son of the co-founder, has died at 92.

Tiger Woods admitted he could not force his way into contention for the Farmers Insurance Open title as Phil Mickelson grabbed a share of the lead with Bill Haas at Torrey Pines.

The Vatican’s new ruling on condom use is being questioned by conservative elements of the Catholic church.

Heath Slocum fired a third straight 66 to establish a one-shot lead at the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island, Georgia.

The Irish have an uncanny knack of playing pivotal roles in European success at the biennial spectacular, says Simon Lewis

Top seed Andy Roddick ended his losing streak against fellow American James Blake at the ATP Morgan Keegan Championships but third seed Radek Stepanek and fourth seed Tommy Haas crashed out in Memphis on Wednesday.

There was bad news for Irish golfers when the official golf world rankings were released today.

Novak Djokovic believes this year’s race for the Australian Open crown is as unpredictable as it has been in years.

BARACK OBAMA defended his criticism of police officers in the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr as law enforcement groups and Republicans called the president’s remarks out of place.

ANDY RODDICK produced one of the best performances of his life yesterday to triumph over hot favourite and home hope Andy Murray and set up another final showdown with Roger Federer tomorrow.

Roger Federer was all class as he made history by becoming the first man to reach seven consecutive Wimbledon finals.

Tommy Haas is determined to end his role as the ’nearly man’ and finally reach the final of a Grand Slam at the expense of tournament favourite Roger Federer.