Three of the world’s top four golfers are at the Dubai Desert Classic this week, but it was two players outside the top 200 setting the pace at the start.

Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy were still struggling to make an impact as the KLM Open resumed at Hilversum in the Netherlands today.

Tiger Woods has dropped another three places to 36th in the latest world rankings.

Tiger Woods, expected to announce later this week that he is returning to action at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Thursday week, is out of the world’s top 20 for the first time since January 1997.

Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has climbed to third in the golf world rankings after his runaway victory at the US Open last week.

Back in major action for the first time since his Masters meltdown, Rory McIlroy needed only nine holes today to lead the US Open at Congressional.

World number one Luke Donald turned a brilliant start into a bitterly disappointing opening round of 74 in the US Open at Congressional near Washington today.

England’s Robert Rock is seemingly all set to make his US Open debut tomorrow - albeit without time for a practice round at Congressional after encountering American visa problems.

Graeme McDowell has the bragging rights over fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy again as he starts his defence of the US Open at Congressional near Washington this week.

Just three weeks after meeting in a play-off to decide not only the BMW PGA Championship but also the world number one spot, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood will clash again in the first two rounds of the US Open at Congressional this coming week.

Graeme McDowell’s 30th place at the Saab Wales Open has cost him three spots on the world rankings.

THE body language seemed to suggest Rory McIlroy was disinterested after recording a shock 76 on the opening day of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Luke Donald was paid a huge compliment by Colin Montgomerie today after a masterful 64 at windy Wentworth left England’s world number two feeling “a little bit invincible”.

Graeme McDowell beat Rory McIlroy 3&2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain today – and there was no hiding how annoyed the 22-year-old was.

IRELAND’S top two, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, clash at Finca Cortesin this morning in the plum match of the first knock-out round of the €3. 4 million Volvo World Match Play Championship.

Ian Poulter qualified for the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain today without winning a game.

Defending champion Ross Fisher staged a remarkable fightback to make the last 16 of the Volvo World Match Play at Finca Cortesin in Spain today.

PHIL MICKELSON must be beginning to think that he is cursed in his bid to overtake Tiger Woods in the world rankings for the first time since April 1997.

Paul Lawrie achieved his first European Tour win for nine years today – the first leg of what he hoped would be a notable double for Scottish golf.

Robert Rock is closing in on 200 European Tour events without a win, but maybe a change of caddie is about to bring a change of luck.

Irish golfer Darren Clarke is just one shot behind the leaders after finishing the third round of the Volvo Golf Champions today.

Peter Hanson became the man to catch after a sparkling burst around the turn at the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain today.

Edoardo Molinari birdied his first six holes to grab the second round lead away from his brother Francesco at the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain today.

GIVEN the desert wasteland nature of this week’s Bahrain course, the European Tour issued a special rules notice to all Volvo Champions event competitors declaring – “There is no bunkers on this course”.

Martin Kaymer returned to a happy hunting ground today and quickly found it to his liking again, while Padraig Harrington wasn't far behind the German at the Abu Dhabi course.

The opening day of the Royal Trophy ended honours even as defending champions Europe drew 2-2 with Asia in today’s foursomes.

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen claimed the clubhouse lead at the Portugal Masters today after a second-round 68.

ROBERT KARLSSON and Johan Edfors led a strong Swedish challenge on the opening day of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura.

Robert Karlsson and Johan Edfors led a strong Swedish challenge on the opening day of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura today.

Robert Karlsson and Johan Edfors led a strong Swedish challenge on the opening day of the Portugal Masters today.

Padraig Harrington had a spring in his step again as he moved on from France to Wales for the Ryder Cup.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON delivered the European Ryder Cup team a timely boost in producing an impressive eight under par 64 on the final day of the Vivendi Cup in Chambourcy.

England’s John Parry – a team-mate of Rory McIlroy in the 2007 Walker Cup - today became the third rookie to win on this season’s European Tour.

Padraig Harrington’s final competitive outing before the Ryder Cup saw him equal his lowest round of the year – an eight under par 64 – in Paris today.

England’s John Parry will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Vivendi Cup in Paris.

Padraig Harrington faced a long wait to discover if he had survived the halfway cut after a bad morning’s work at the Vivendi Cup in Paris.

An early double-bogey set Padraig Harrington right back in his attempt to make up lost ground at the Vivendi Cup in Paris today.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON is convinced the next three days of the Vivendi Cup will do him “no end of good” as he finalises his preparations for the Ryder Cup in Celtic Manor.

Padraig Harrington grabbed seven birdies and yet still found himself seven shots off the lead after the opening day of the Vivendi Cup in Paris.

England’s Ross Fisher burst into the lead at the 3 Irish Open with a dazzling six successive birdies in Killarney today.

Ireland's Darren Clarke was joined on the top of the leaderboard by compatriot Damien McGrane as the Scottish Open resumed this morning at a wet Loch Lomond.

More than 200 European Tour events and seven years on from his only victory, England’s Mark Foster takes a three-stroke lead into the final day of the Spanish Open in Seville.

SWEDEN’S Johan Edfors remembers all too clearly the moment in last year’s US Open final round when he left a putt eight feet short and a New York fan yelled out: “Looks like Jesus, putts like Mary.”

Australia’s Marcus Fraser remained on course for a wire-to-wire victory at the weather-affected Ballantine’s Championship after securing a one shot advantage over defending champion Thongchai Jaidee, Gareth Maybin and Tano Goya heading into tomorrow’s third and final round.