Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello is not going to forget his first European Tour victory, however many more follow.

The decision on who takes over from Nick Faldo as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain seems unlikely to be made before May.

Teenager Rory McIlroy produced easily the lowest round of his professional career today – a dazzling 63 to lead the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

Nineteen-year-old Rory McIlroy shot easily the lowest round of his professional life today, an eight-under-par 63 that gave him the first round lead in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

Nick Faldo’s Britain and Ireland team, stung into action by television pundits predicting doom and gloom, ran away with the Seve Trophy at The Heritage near Dublin.

The Portuguese Open could produce the first amateur winner in European Tour history tomorrow – and if it happens it should not come as a complete surprise.

Ireland’s Gary Murphy can seal his European Tour card for next season and beyond in emphatic fashion in the final round of the Mallorca Classic tomorrow.

England's Jamie Spence today gave himself a fighting chance of keeping his European Tour card for 2007 with a third-round 66 in the Mallorca Classic.

Ireland’s Gary Murphy had one eye on the upper reaches of the Order of Merit rather than the bottom in the third round of the Mallorca Classic.

Padraig Harrington failed to close the gap to Paul Casey at the top of the Order of Merit after crashing out of the Mallorca Classic.

Padraig Harrington’s worst round of the year dealt a potentially fatal blow to his bid to become European number one at the Mallorca Classic.

Alan Pardew insists West Ham, one of England’s most traditional clubs, must keep up with the times if they are to become one of Europe’s leading forces.

After leading for much of the day, Ireland’s Darren Clarke was overtaken by Scot David Drysdale and Sweden’s Johan Edfors at the Barclays Scottish Open today.

Two golfers with one European Tour victory between them in over 380 events lead the star-studded field after a horribly wet third round at the Smurfit Kappa European Open in Dublin.

Irish golfer Graeme McDowell qualified today for next week’s US Open at Winged Foot.

THOMAS BJORN believes it will be a case of “money talks” when it comes to the issue of women playing in European Tour events.

Thomas Bjorn believes it will be a case of “money talks” when it comes to the issue of women playing in European Tour events.

Shaven-headed Swede Johan Skold set the pace at the start of the Abama Canaries Open in Tenerife.

A 40-yard chip-in for an eagle three helped rocket Scotland’s Peter Whiteford into contention in the third round of the Cadillac Russian Open.

SEVERAL Irish golfers, notably Belfast man Michael Hoey, are disappointed at being passed over for invitations into this week’s Smurfit European Open at The K Club.

Gary Emerson may have missed out on only his second European Tour title after losing the KLM Open in Holland to Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano but he was able to console himself with the knowledge his playing privileges are safe for next season.

Cool and breezy conditions greeted the early starters for the third round of the KLM Open in Holland and that meant low scores were going to be at a premium.

Phil Casey

Gary Evans was today told he did not need to apologise for his controversial comments over the rules row involving Colin Montgomerie.

IN THIS trade, you usually have to chase your stories. They don’t just land in your lap.

European tour officials hope they have now heard the last of Colin Montgomerie’s “Jakarta affair” following a players’ meeting at Wentworth last night.

Welshman Stephen Dodd continued what is already the best season of his golfing career today by taking the half-way lead in the Nissan Irish Open at Carton House.

David Howell put the latest in a long line of near misses behind him today to get right into the thick of things again at the Nissan Irish Open.

CONSIDERING he had just run up a triple bogey at the ninth, his 18th, Colin Montgomerie was in uncommonly good humour after yesterday’s opening round in the British Masters.

TEN years on from beating Tiger Woods and becoming top amateur at the British Open, England’s Steve Webster finally lifted his first European Tour title yesterday.

Ten years on from beating Tiger Woods and becoming top amateur at the Open, England’s Steve Webster finally lifted his first European Tour title today.

Welshman Bradley Dredge and England’s Steve Webster were tied for the lead after the opening four holes of the Telecom Italian Open final round in Milan today.

Steve Webster hopes to crack his European Tour duck at the 247th attempt tomorrow – and if he does a lot of the credit will go to a “mind magician”.

The star group did not quite live up to their billing when the Jazztel Spanish Open began at windy San Roque today.

Ian Woosnam is this morning expected to celebrate his 47th birthday by being confirmed as Europe's next Ryder Cup captain for when the event is staged at the K-Club near Dublin in September 2006.

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher believes Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo should be named as Europe’s next two skippers.

BERNHARD LANGER’S decision to opt out of the captaincy of the European Ryder Cup at The K-Club next year is acutely disappointing.

Bernhard Langer on Tuesday announced he does not want to continue as European Ryder Cup captain.

FOR the first time since that memorable week at Oakland Hills last month, the 12-man European Ryder Cup team comes together for the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama on Thursday.

A first win on the European Tour – any tour, in fact – is a notable feat in any golfer’s career - but the one by South African Richard Sterne in the Madrid Open yesterday deserves special mention.

A controversial incident on the 18th hole could cost Swede Johan Edfors his European tour career tomorrow.

A month after becoming a father for the fourth time Paul Broadhurst is hoping to have something else to celebrate tomorrow night – his first European Tour victory since 1995.

Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst is in the hunt for his first European tour victory for nine years after adding a 65 to his opening 67 in the Madrid Open today.