Justin Walters is the early leader of the 2014 Irish open which is underway at Fota Island Co Cork.

Australia’s Jason Day held off the challenge of Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and countryman Adam Scott to win the individual prize at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne as the antipodean duo also claimed the team prize.

Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen was victorious at the South African Open on Sunday as Charl Schwartzel squandered the lead to finish tied fourth in Ekurhuleni.

Scotland's Scott Jamieson came agonisingly close to recording the first ever 59 on the European Tour in the third round of the Portugal Masters today.

Defending champion Shane Lowry missed the cut, Paul McGinley will play over the weekend for the fifth tournament running, while struggling Peter Lawrie is staring at a 25,000km round trip to Australia in the hope of saving his Tour card.

England’s Paul Waring and South African Hennie Otto inspired each other to claim a share of the lead with David Lynn after the second round of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura.

Pádraig Harrington has a meeting on an Abu Dhabi practice range first thing today despite a superb start to his new season in finishing fourth in the Volvo Champions event in Durban.

Two birdies over the space of the first four holes helped Scotland`s Stephen Gallacher steal a march on his rivals and take a share of the lead at the Malaysian Open this morning.

South African players continued to dominate the Malaysian Open before play was suspended due to bad weather.

Four birdies in his last five holes gave 40-year-old Irishman Damien McGrane an early three-stroke lead at the Hassan Trophy in Morocco today.

Hennie Otto won his home South African Open by a stroke from Austrian Bernd Wiesberger today after a nerve-testing finish at Serengeti.

Hennie Otto leads the South African Open with a round to go after a day to forget for both five-time winner Ernie Els and overnight leader Steven O’Hara.

Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Portugal Masters after a superb third round of 64 today.

Sweden's Peter Hanson set the clubhouse target midway through the third round of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura today.

COLM MORIARTY will lead a seven-strong Irish challenge bidding for just 12 spots in the British Open at Sandwich when 36-hole Local Final Qualifying takes place at four venues in Kent today.

Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal has withdrawn from the Open Championship final qualifying competition at Littlestone in Kent tomorrow.

Former major winners Jose Maria Olazabal and Michael Campbell will be among 288 players trying for just 12 places in The Open at the final qualifying competition next Tuesday.

Gregory Havret, runner-up to Graeme McDowell in last year’s US Open, withdrew from the Saab Wales Open today following the death of his father.

AS intermittent drizzle and low clouds enveloped Killarney yesterday, the television commentators at the 3 Irish Open Golf Championship eased off a little on the superlatives.

THERE wasn’t a puff of wind on the first tee box as Hennie Otto, SSP Chowrasia and Thomas Aiken got the 3 Irish Open underway at 7am yesterday.

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson defied the weather to card a four-under-par opening round at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters today to open up a two-shot lead midway through a first windswept day in Doha.

South African Charl Schwartzel has a second successive victory in his sights after another flawless display in the Joburg Open today.

Richie Ramsay, who three years ago became the first Scot for 108 years to win the American amateur title, made a flying start at the Italian Open in Turin today.

Rory McIlroy is hoping his storming start to the Dubai Desert Classic will finally help him to a breakthrough win.

Richard Sterne’s attempts to win a third consecutive European Tour at the Joburg Open looked to be quickly waning after a sluggish start to the final round today.

England’s Oliver Wilson has suffered a blow to his Ryder Cup hopes, pulling out of the European Open at The London Club in Kent because of back trouble.

South African Hennie Otto finally landed his first European Tour today – but only after he had lost a five-shot lead for the second time in four tournaments.

Three birdies in his first five holes kept South African Hennie Otto on course for a European Tour record score at the Italian Open in Milan today.

Less than two months after losing a five-stroke lead on the final day in Madeira, South African Hennie Otto has another great chance to win his first European Tour title tomorrow.

Paul Broadhurst’s 500th European Tour appearance could still be one to remember after a 67 in the third round of the Italian Open in Milan today.

Robert Karlsson had his third eagle of the week the moment he resumed the Italian Open with a two-stroke lead in Milan today.

A crack of dawn start appeared to suit John Daly today when he resumed the Italian Open in Milan.

For a few magical moments today Robert Karlsson thought he could be just minutes away from becoming the first player ever to score 59 on the European Tour.

England's Ross McGowan equalled the lowest round of his brief European Tour career today and shares the lead after the first round of the Italian Open in Milan.

France’s Gregory Bourdy takes a commanding four-stroke lead into the final round of the Portuguese Open at Oitavos Dunes tomorrow.

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth came from five behind to beat South African Hennie Otto at the first hole of a play-off for the Madeira Islands Open today.

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth has won the Madeira Islands Open in a play-off against South Africa's Hennie Otto.

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth and Hennie Otto went into a play-off for the Madeira Islands Open today – after the South African lost a five-shot lead.

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth came from five behind South African Hennie Otto to be only one adrift with an outward 33 on the final day of the Madeira Islands Open.

South African Hennie Otto finished with a five-stroke lead with one round to play in the Madeira Islands Open today.

South African Hennie Otto remained four strokes clear after the completion of the second round in the Madeira Islands Open at Santo da Serra today.

South African Hennie Otto burst clear of the field at the Madeira Islands Open on Friday after a two-and-a-half-hour delay caused by gusts of up to 35mph.

Birdies at the 14th and 16th holes lifted Welshman Bradley Dredge into a share of third place after strong winds delayed the Madeira Islands Open for two and a half hours today.