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

However much relief Padraig Harrington is feeling at keeping his Ryder Cup place – thanks to captain and former partner Colin Montgomerie – he knows the hardest work lies ahead.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON is desperate to end a nightmare run of Ryder Cup form that has seen him contribute just two halves from his last nine encounters.

TOM WATSON bounced back from his British Open Championship play-off heartache with an opening-round 67 yesterday at The Senior Open Championship.

Jeff Sluman fired a dazzling eight-under-par 64 on Sunday to win the Bank of America Championship by two strokes – his first victory on the Champions Tour.

NICK FALDO hopes to find inspiration but admits he has “no idea” how he will fare on his Senior British Open debut this week at Muirfield in Scotland.

Nick Faldo hopes to find inspiration but admits he has “no idea” how he will fare on his Senior British Open debut this week at Muirfield.

For Seve Ballesteros, the golf course, in competition, is where he is meant to be. Simon Lewis found him loving his new challenge.

Tom Lehman today handed Ryder Cup wild cards to Scott Verplank and Stewart Cink – and then added that he will “go crazy” if anybody questions how much Tiger Woods wants to be part of his team next month.

Tom Lehman today named Stewart Cink and Scott Verplank as his two wild cards for the Ryder Cup.

John Harris claimed his first professional tournament victory when winning the Commerce Bank Championship on the first play-off hole in New York.

Limerickman Cian McNamara has put himself in contention for American collegiate golf’s highest prize heading into Thursday’s second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship in Oregon.

Gil Morgan fired a five-under-par 66 to lead by a shot rom Peter Jacobsen after the opening round of the Senior PGA Championship, the first Major of the year on the Champions Tour.

Former Ryder Cup player Jay Haas will be competing against both of his sons when the Wachovia Championship starts at Quail Hollow in North Carolina tomorrow.

Loren Roberts carded a brilliant 11-under-par 61 in the final round to win the Mastercard Championship in Hawaii.

BRAD FAXON won the biggest award of his career yesterday without being able to hit a golf shot.

TOM WATSON overcame a six-shot deficit to record a one-stroke victory at the Charles Schwab Championship in California.

Ireland’s Des Smyth grabbed a share of the lead after the first round of the Champions Tour Administaff Small Business Classic in Texas.

Jay Haas got hot at the right time and picked up his first Champions Tour victory.

ASKED to compare the atmosphere between the Ryder Cup and the President’s Cup over the weekend, at least two Americans made no secret of their views.

Allen Doyle overcame a nine-shot deficit to fire an eight-under-par 63 and clinch the US Senior Open.

Darren Clarke may have had a good week coming into the Open but he remains circumspect about his chances at St Andrews.

Padraig Harrington was fully expected to pull out of the Open Championship today following the death of his father last night from cancer of the oesophagus.

Bernhard Langer, last year’s European Ryder Cup captain, and Fredrik Jacobson, the player he left out of his team, were both called into the British Open championship today.

Gusty winds got the best of every player at the Legends of Golf except Irishman Des Smyth.

Darren Clarke’s double-bogey on the par-four 18th hole allowed Peter Lonard to capture the MCI Heritage in South Carolina – the Australian’s first career victory on the PGA Tour.

Darren Clarke has been paired with Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood with Vijay Singh for the first two rounds of the Masters on Thursday and Friday.

Ian Poulter has stuck up for the eight players who today contested the quarter-finals of the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California - himself included.

PÁDRAIG Harrington, seeded seventh, was a major casualty – going down three and one to South African Rory Sabbatini in the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California.

Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods, the top two seeds, were both sent tumbling out of the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California today.

Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods, the top two seeds, were both sent tumbling out of the Accenture World Match Play Championship in California today.

Davis Love today gave a dazzling display to send Lee Westwood out of the Accenture world match play championship at La Costa in California.

Ernie Els has been confirmed as the only one of golf’s top 64 players missing the Accenture World Match Play Championship at La Costa near San Diego this week.

As things stand in the world rankings, Darren Clarke will play his compatriot Graeme McDowell in the opening round of the Accenture World Match Play Championship at La Costa near San Diego next Wednesday.

Justin Leonard has won out over Joe Ogilvie to register his first victory in nearly two years.

Padraig Harrington is hoping to make his mark on the American tour next year as he spends more time across the Atlantic.

Colin Montgomerie fired a four-under-par 67 to take a two-shot lead from Tiger Woods and two other Americans at the Target World Challenge in California.

Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods, the host of the Target World Challenge since its inception in 1999, and Jim Furyk were tied for the lead after the first round of this year’s event.

IT would be a tough old station except they travel in luxury, are treated like royalty and then play four days of competitive golf on beautifully manicured courses for a great deal of money.

Lee Westwood made it easy for Retief Goosen to pick up the €940,000 top prize at the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City.

Lee Westwood’s bid to end his 15-month title drought ended in triple-bogey disaster at Sun City today as he fell away from the lead as home favourite Retief Goosen won the Nedbank Challenge.

Five years after falling off the European tour and nine years after being a Ryder Cup match-winner Philip Walton finally made it back today.

PHILIP WALTON remains Ireland’s best bet to produce another player for the European Tour in 2005.

Hank Kuehne and Jeff Sluman carded a final-round 11-under-par 61 to retain the Franklin Templeton Shootout title in Florida.