Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington, Europe’s top two performers at the recent US Open, had to contend with heavy rain as Royal Portrush staged the first Irish Open north of the border since 1953 today.

Graeme McDowell knew he was already through to the knock-out stages of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin yesterday ever before taking on South African Jbe Kruger.

Justin Rose piled on the agony for Darren Clarke with a 6&4 drubbing at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain today.

Tom Lewis beat Australian John Senden on his Volvo World Match Play debut in Spain today - and as a result put himself and defending champion Ian Poulter into the last 16.

Open champion Darren Clarke has been drawn alongside England’s Justin Rose and Robert Rock in the group stages of this week’s Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin near Marbella this week.

Home player Kim Do-hoon was setting the on-course pace at four-under-par on day one of the Ballantine's Championship in Icheon, South Korea.

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

South African Jbe Kruger carded a six-under-par 66 at the Avantha Masters today to put himself in position for a maiden European Tour title.

England’s Richard Finch chipped in for an eagle three on the eighth hole as he maintained his challenge on a rain-shortened third day in the Joburg Open.

ENGLISHMAN Robert Rock beat the weather to take the lead at the Joburg Open yesterday.

Damien McGrane is four shots off the lead on seven-under after three holes of his second round at the Joburg Open in South Africa.

Eleven months after crashing to an 88 and joint last place in the South African Open, Lyle Rowe had the thrill of leading the event at Serengeti today.

Retief Goosen made a superb burst around the turn to share the early lead in the South African Open at Serengeti today.

Scotland’s George Murray needed only six holes of his third round to wipe out a four-shot deficit at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa today.

Pablo Martin’s hopes of an Alfred Dunhill Championship hat-trick lay in ruins in South Africa tonight.

Edoardo Molinari set the early mark on nine under par at the Singapore Open with a brilliant opening round of 62.

Back-to-form Swede Henrik Stenson set the first-day pace at the BMW International Open in Munich today – and even managed to finish with a full set of clubs.

Robert Rock sits two shots clear at the top of the Italian Open leaderboard, but today belonged to Niclas Fasth who shot a blistering eight-under par 64 to claim a share of a second.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar saved his best performance for when it mattered most, shooting a course-record eight-under-par 64 to win the season-opening Asian Tour International today.

DARREN CLARKE yesterday missed an opportunity to move into a share of second going into today’s third round of the Joburg Open.

Ireland's Darren Clarke is just two off the lead as he heads into the third round of the Joburg Open tomorrow.

England’s David Lynn, with only one win in over 300 European Tour starts, set the clubhouse target at the Joburg Open today.

South African Keith Horne, who missed out by three shots at the European Tour qualifying school in November, charged to the top of the leaderboard when the Joburg Open resumed today.

DARREN CLARKE’S lowest European Tour round since 1999 was still not quite enough to give him the first round lead in the Joburg Open yesterday.

Darren Clarke’s lowest European Tour round since 1999 was still not quite enough to give him the first round lead in the Joburg Open today.