Twenty golfers became millionaires on the European tour this year – in this season alone.

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.

SOUTH African golfer Richard Sterne rescued his European tour career in brilliant fashion yesterday by winning the Madrid Open with a closing 65.

South African Richard Sterne won the Madrid Open with a brilliant closing 65 today – and with it saved his European tour career.

Trevor Immelman began the Madrid Open with a birdie 24 hours after one of the most terrifying experiences of his life.

Nick Dougherty and Zane Scotland, two 22-year-olds with high hopes of earning fame and fortune in golf, had vastly different tales to tell in the €1.9m Heritage tournament at Woburn today.

2003 rookie of the year Peter Lawrie is five from the top att he Celtic Manor Wales Open on nine under par.

Paul Casey can take a massive step towards securing his place in the Ryder Cup team in the Celtic Manor Wales Open this weekend.

Colin Montgomerie remains in contention for the Celtic Manor Wales Open despite suffering more problems off the course.

England’s Simon Khan had to ’settle’ for a course record 61 after threatening to shoot the first ever sub-60 round on the European Tour in the Celtic Manor Wales Open.

Ernie Els instantly reaped the benefits of a new approach to the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth today, equalling the course record with an eight-under-par 64.

Seven years on from his last Ryder Cup appearance and eight weeks on from his last tournament Nick Faldo made just the start to 2004 he was hoping for today.

European Order of Merit after the dunhill South African Open.

Peter Lonard fired a final round 69 to claim the Australian Open title at Moonah Links.

Greg Norman and Lleyton Hewitt take centre stage on Thursday for the first round of the Australian PGA Championship.

LOCAL hero Robert Allenby kept his unbeaten record in play-offs to claim the first Australian Mastercard Masters of his long career yesterday.

Local hero Robert Allenby kept his unbeaten record in play-offs intact to claim the first Australian Mastercard Masters of his lengthy career on Sunday.

Colin Montgomerie was today battling back from a disappointing start to his first round of the Linde German Masters.

England’s David Howell remains on course to secure his place in next week’s Open championship at the halfway stage of the Scottish Open.

Collated final totals in the French Open at Le Golf National, Paris

England’s Philip Golding, the 40-year-old who has made a record 16 visits to the European tour qualifying school, has a chance to be remembered for something more than that tomorrow.

Thomas Bjorn today spoke of his determination not only to get back among golf’s elite, but also to get back to beating them.

England’s Greg Owen won the Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters at the Forest of Arden today – after no fewer than 21 top-10 finishes on the European tour without a victory.

IAN POULTER, sporting red streaks in his hair to celebrate Arsenal’s FA Cup win and to match his Ferrari, drove off with the £250,000 first prize after a three-shot victory in the £1.5 million Wales Open.

Phillip Price has moved to within one shot of Ian Poulter at the top of the Wales Open leaderboard today.

Ian Poulter continues to lead the Wales Open at the Celtic Manor resort today and has now moved into a six shot lead.

Darren Clarke birdied both closing holes in the second round to regain the pole position he held after his opening 66.

European tour players reacted with fury today after a decision that put no fewer than 35 of them out of the Qatar Masters in Doha.

GARY EVANS produced a magnificent display to reach halfway at the ANZ Championship only one point off the lead.

Leading final round positions.

Latest leading positions in the final round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.

Latest leading positions in the final round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland (Gbr and Irl unless stated):

Latest leading positions in the final round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland (Gbr and Irl unless stated):

Paul Lawrie cruised to his fifth European Tour victory in the weather-disrupted Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open today.

Latest leading positions in final round of Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie takes a five-shot lead into today’s final round of the weather-delayed Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open.

GRAEME McDOWELL, playing only his fourth European Tour event, claimed a remarkable victory in the Volvo Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm.

Tobias Dier is just three holes from victory in the final round of the Dutch Open.

Padraig Harrington is now just two shots behind in the Dutch Open.

Padraig Harrington remains three shots behind leader Tobias Dier in the final round of the Dutch Open.

Dutch Open leaderboard.

Padraig Harrington lies just one shot off the pace after his third round in the Dutch Open.

Tobias Dier remains three shots ahead in the third round of the Dutch Open.