Branden Grace set the early pace at the Joburg Open after a blistering eight-under-par 63 in the opening round.

Five years after beating Tiger Woods down the stretch to become US Open champion New Zealand’s Michael Campbell finds himself in a very different battle in Scotland tomorrow.

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon, with one European Tour win in 290 starts and fighting for his future, leads the Castello Masters in Spain with a round to play.

Estanislao Goya put himself in a commanding position to clinch the Madeira Island Open BPI-Portugal after a third-round two-under-par 69 gave him a three-shot lead heading into the final day tomorrow.

Estanislao Goya led by one shot at the halfway point of the third round at the Madeira Island Open BPI-Portugal at Porto Santo today.

Scotsman Callum Macaulay was an early mover on the Madeira Islands Open BPI-Portugal leaderboard with four birdies and an eagle after 16 holes of the third round.

These are good times for Irish golf, with Padraig Harrington winning the last two Majors and Rory McIlroy proving himself perhaps the most exciting new talent in the game.

A new “chilled out” attitude helped Ireland’s Michael Hoey continue his bid for a first European Tour title today.

A new “chilled out” attitude helped Ireland’s Michael Hoey continue his bid for a first European Tour title today.

Former British amateur champion Michael Hoey, joint second behind Retief Goosen at the Africa Open in January, was setting the pace at the Madeira Island Open BPI-Portugal on Porto Santo today.

Former British amateur champion Michael Hoey birdied four of his first six holes to take over the lead in the Madeira Island Open BPI-Portugal on Porto Santo today.

Damien McGrane was 17 years into his professional golf career when his first European Tour title finally came last April. Now a second is firmly in his sights.

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.

Richard Sterne’s attempts to win a third consecutive European Tour at the Joburg Open looked to be quickly waning after a sluggish start to the final round today.

Charl Schwartzel, Andrew McLardy and David Drysdale share the lead going into the final round of the Joburg Open after the trio finished a rain-affected day three on 11-under par.

Four Irish golfers will find out later today if they have secured a place on next year's European Tour.

Bernhard Langer believes Europe deserve to be favourites to win a fourth straight Ryder Cup – despite missing six members of their record-equalling side from two years ago.

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer believes Nick Faldo is “making a mistake” by not having more helping hands at Valhalla.

Andrew Coltart equalled the lowest nine holes in European Tour history as Stefan Langer posted one of the highest scores ever in the first round of the KLM Open.

Swedish golfer Pelle Edberg had almost as much to celebrate as Colin Montgomerie at the K Club.

Colin Montgomerie birdied three of the first six holes to climb back into contention for the European Open at the K Club near Dublin today.

Joakim Haeggman survived an attack from an angry goose to lie just two shots off the lead after the first round of the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia.

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.

First-round leader John Bickerton maintained his position at the head of the French Open field but he came under pressure from Scotsman Gary Orr who made a superb charge earlier in the day.

THE Irish Open at Carton House on May 18-21 is likely to be the last sponsored by Nissan Ireland, but chief executive Gerard O’Toole is unlikely to declare his intentions until at least the final day of the tournament.

Reigning US Open Champion Michael Campbell, Colin Montgomerie and Ireland’s Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley will all assemble at Carton House, Maynooth, from May 18-21 for the 2006 Nissan Irish Open.

David Howell maintained the red-hot pace at the top of the TCL Classic leaderboard as a 63 moved him to 17-under-par 127 after two rounds.

David Howell was relishing life among the pacesetters after firing himself into early contention following the first round of the TCL Classic in the Chinese resort of Hainan.

David Howell was relishing life among the pacesetters after firing himself into early contention following the first round of the TCL Classic in the Chinese resort of Hainan.

Ireland's Stephen Browne made a blistering start to the TCL Classic iin China with a first-round 65 to lie just thee shots off the pace .

Defending champion Nick Dougherty shot a five-under-par 67 to clamber back up the leaderboard at the OSIM Singapore Masters – but Singapore’s Mardan Mamat led the way for the third day in a row.

SIMON HOLMES, golf coach to the stars, believes former client Seve Ballesteros will never again be a major force on the professional circuits of the world.

England’s Nick Dougherty has made headway on the early leaderboard on the second day of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha.

BESIDES the lions, elephants and the other African wildlife, the big attraction this weekend at the Dunhill championship in Mpumalanga, South Africa, will undoubtedly be the appearance of world number five Ernie Els.

Besides the lions, elephants and the other African wildlife, the big attraction this weekend at the dunhill championship in Mpumalanga, South Africa, will undoubtedly be the appearance of world number five player, Ernie Els.

Australian Adam Scott expects to win a second Scandinavian Masters title in Stockholm this week.

NICK DOUGHERTY yesterday vowed to play golf with a smile on his face in this week’s Scandinavian Masters – after receiving a ticking off from his father.

England’s David Howell set the early clubhouse target wen the second round of the Masters resumed at Augusta National today – but not quite with the score he hoped for.

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.

Phil Mickelson did not plan to be playing golf today, but now that he is he believes it can only help his defence of the Masters later this week.

Phil Mickelson did not plan to be playing golf today, but now that he is he believes it can only help his defence of the Masters later this week.

After two complete days lost to rain, the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta was suspended after little more than three hours on day three – by hail, sleet and even snow.

THE risk of aggravating a problem shoulder on the eve of his Masters debut prompted Luke Donald to pull out of the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta yesterday, as torrential rain washed out the first day’s play.

Torrential rain delayed the start of the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta today - the eighth US Tour event out of 14 this season to be affected by the weather.