On a wall in the pro shop at Carnoustie Golf Club hangs the putter that Jean van de Velde used in the 1999 British Open.

Visitors to the UK often seek out the sites of tradition. Indeed it seems that British pomp and circumstance holds a special appeal – none more apparent than at the country’s leading sporting events, such as the Open Championship, which under the guidance of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has barely moved away from its traditions over the past century and a half.

The Open Championship will be held at Royal Birkdale in 2017 and Carnoustie the following year.

Graeme McDowell has firmed up as a favourite for next week’s British Open with a commanding victory in the French Open in Versailles.

The champagne had not even dried on the European team room walls before thoughts turned to the next Ryder Cup trophy defence and, more pertinently, who will succeed Jose Maria Olazabal as captain at Gleneagles in 2014.

Great Britain & Ireland captain Paul McGinley hailed the performance of his Vivendi Seve Trophy rookies after seeing his team fend off a spirited fightback by Continental Europe in Paris yesterday.

GREAT BRITAIN & Ireland held off a strong Continental Europe fightback to claim victory on the final day of the Vivendi Seve Trophy at St-Nom-La-Breteche in Paris.

Continental Europe came on strong in the final-day singles to mount a spirited comeback in the Vivendi Seve Trophy in Paris.

Great Britain and Ireland moved into a strong position against Continental Europe after winning the greensomes session 3½ to ½ and the foursomes 2½ to ½ at the Vivendi Seve Trophy today.

Ireland and Great Britain won the greensomes session 3 1/2 to 1/2 to regain the upper hand against Continental Europe at the Vivendi Seve Trophy this morning.

CONTINENTAL Europe captain Jean van de Velde praised his team as they fought back to trail Great Britain and Ireland by a single point after the second day of the Vivendi Seve Trophy at St-Nom-La-Breteche.

Continental Europe captain Jean van de Velde praised his team as they fought back to trail Great Britain and Ireland by a single point after the second day of the Vivendi Seve Trophy at St-Nom-La-Breteche.

GOLF is one of the most individualistic if not the most selfish of sporting activities.

Holders Britain and Ireland have been hit much harder by withdrawals than Continental Europe for next week’s Vivendi Seve Trophy in Paris.

JOSE-MARIA OLAZABAL has mixed feelings this week.

Paul McGinley has a chance to further his claims to the Ryder Cup captaincy in 2014 after being put in charge of the Great Britain and Ireland team again for the Vivendi Seve Trophy in Paris on September 15-18.

The bells are ringing for America’s new golf star Keegan Bradley – but they could also be sounding more bad news to come for struggling superstar Tiger Woods.

TIGER WOODS is not the only top golfer who has been battling a knee issue lately.

Tiger Woods is not the only top golfer who has been battling a knee issue lately.

Rory McIlroy admits he is going to find it hard to forget his Masters meltdown for a while – and new champion Charl Schwartzel was making it impossible today.

It was ecstasy for South African Charl Schwartzel in The Masters at Augusta today – and total unmitigated agony for Rory McIlroy.

Paul Casey, who only a week ago spoke of not wanting to be left behind as friend after friend won this year, might never have a better chance to grab the title they all crave.

There was double Dutch delight for Robert-Jan Derksen in Paris today as he maintained his bid for a first European Tour title in over five years.

Lee Westwood and Shane Lowry suffered big blows today to their hopes of being contenders for the Alstom French Open title in Paris this weekend.

RORY McILROY warmed-up for the British Open with a three-under par on day one of the French Open and then suggested Paul McGinley be considered a Ryder Cup Vice-Captain.

Jean Van de Velde, playing just his second European Tour event of the year, shared the early lead after an opening five under par 66 in the Alstom French Open at Le Golf National near Paris today.

England’s Benn Barham equalled the lowest round of his career today to lead the Austrian Open in Vienna.

PADRÁIG HARRINTON will never forget the day that YE Yang became the first Asian-born golfer to win a major with a supreme US PGA victory at Hazeltine National last night.

Scotland’s Lloyd and Elliot Saltman today became the first brothers to qualify for The Open since Seve and Manuel Ballesteros 26 years ago – both of them by the skin of their teeth.

Steve Webster, twice a runner-up this season, was looking to go one better after surging into contention at the French Open Alstom in Paris today.

Jean Van de Velde is still looking for a place in The Open with less than two weeks to go – but he has the chance to not leave it quite so late as last year.

Michael McGeady was tied for fifth as the first round of the Madeira Island Open BPI-Portugal was underway on Porto Santo today, two under after 14 behind Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman in the top spot.

Jean Van de Velde is quitting full-time golf and will only play a handful of events on the European Tour next season.

Stuart Manley, a schoolboy soccer starlet who had a trial with Manchester United, is about to find out how good a golfer he is.

Europe’s Ryder Cup team flew into Louisville tonight with captain Nick Faldo describing them as raring to go and well rested – especially star player Padraig Harrington.

The gracious way in which Harrington won has further added to his international stature.

Padraig Harrington has begun to struggle in the Open as wind caused carnage at Royal Birkdale.

Calmer conditions greeted the early starters in the second round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale today.

Padraig Harrington has spent his year as Open champion relieved that one word has not been constantly attached to his victory – lucky.

Philip Walton, Europe’s Ryder Cup match-winning hero in 1995, and 1999 runner-up Jean Van de Velde are among 12 players to have come through the 36-hole final qualifying for next week’s Open Championship.

Jean Van de Velde kept alive his hopes of returning to the Open Championship with a two-under-par 70 in final qualifying at Hillside today – and was then promised protection for the second round.

A week that began badly for Thomas Bjorn ended no better today when he withdrew from the final round of the European Open at The London Club.

For 212 assorted amateurs and professionals the dream of playing in The Open at Birkdale is still alive following yesterday’s 16 regional qualifying tournaments around Ireland and Britain.

JEAN VAN DE VELDE has waited a long time for this week — the week when drug-testing become part and parcel of life on the European Tour.