For the third time in 10 years, Padraig Harrington will have to beat an Augusta jinx to become Masters champion.

Seve Ballesteros, who is still recovering from a brain tumour, is among the golfing stars who have been invited to compete in the Champions Challenge on the eve of next July’s Open at St Andrews.

Tiger Woods only played the back nine at Kingston Heath this morning and, afterwards, wasn’t letting on whether that was all he needed or all he could cope with in conditions that were “hot as hell”.

LESS than two months ago Michael Campbell stood 417th in the world and it looked as if we might be witnessing the decline and fall of a once great player.

THIS week’s British Open will eventually be remembered for who wins it, rather than who is injured and misses it.

Mark O’Meara winning two majors in 1998 at the age of 41 came as a shock to most people – not least the man himself.

Padraig Harrington, five clear at one point, lost to US Open champion Angel Cabrera at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off in the four-man 36-hole PGA Grand Slam at Mid-Ocean in Bermuda today.

There will be the usual moans and groans, of course.

Any suspicion that David Duval might decide to withdraw from the British Open was removed today when he not only showed up at Troon but was out on the course practising.

Former world number one and 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples is out of next week’s Open because of a recurrence of back trouble.

Todd Woodbridge set a new world record with his 79th doubles title at the adidas International in his home town of Sydney.