Graeme McDowell continued to set the pace on the second day of the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai on Friday.

Patrick Reed gained a small measure of revenge for last month’s Ryder Cup defeat by knocking European hero Jamie Donaldson out of the Volvo World Match Play Championship yesterday.

Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson was the only player certain of a place in the quarter-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship ahead of Friday's final group matches at The London Club.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell suffered just his third ever defeat in the Volvo World Match Play Championship yesterday, as Ryder Cup team-mate Stephen Gallacher’s singles losing streak reached double figures.

Graeme McDowell outlined a renewed commitment and some ambitious career targets after making an ideal start to the defence of his Volvo World Match Play Championship title.

Five members of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team will feature in the World Matchplay Championship at the London Golf Club tomorrow.

For a moment there, Paul McGinley had the cream of European golf within arm’s reach as the European Tour staged its flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, on home turf at Wentworth.

Shane Lowry’s love affair with Wentworth has been unrequited up to now but the Offaly man heads into today’s third round of the BMW PGA Championship in the best possible position to seal victory.

Shane Lowry dusted off an old putter, regained his touch around the greens and shot his lowest score of the year to put himself within two shots of Thomas Bjorn’s first-round lead at the 60th BMW PGA Championship yesterday.

It may have escaped your notice in the midst of Rory McIlroy’s romantic problems but there is a golf tournament about to get under way at Wentworth today.

Defending BMW PGA Championship champion Matteo Manassero believes making this year’s European Ryder Cup team would be an amazing achievement and is hoping the Irish Open will help him achieve the feat.

For a second competitive round in succession, Rory McIlroy was looking and sounding despondent in not being able squeeze more out of his golf on the opening day of the Players Championship.

There was plenty of comfort for Rory McIlroy, but not for Darren Clarke, on the opening day of the Wells Fargo Championship in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina.

It was a loaded question and Rory McIlroy delivered the correct answer when asked what would be the perfect 25th birthday gift this coming Sunday, which is also the final day of the Wells Fargo Championship.

Forget the small town boy schtick and dismiss that Forrest Gump’s younger brother act.

Bubba Watson was quick to play down his achievement of winning a second Masters title in three years as Jordan Spieth declared himself ready to taste major success.

American Bubba Watson claimed his second Masters title in three years on Sunday as the weight of history finally proved too much for Jordan Spieth.

Bubba Watson outduelled rookie Jordan Spieth at Augusta National to deny the young Texan a place in the record books and earn himself a second Masters victory in three years.

Rory McIlroy was left to rue poor putting and a terrible negotiation of Augusta National’s par-five holes as Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson duelled for Masters supremacy during a tension-filled final round.

By Simon Lewis

Bubba Golf returned to Augusta National last night as 2012 Masters winner Watson, unburdened by the pressures of being defending champion, jumped out into a clear lead at the halfway stage as Rory McIlroy struggled to stay in touch.

Free from the pressure of being defending champion, Bubba Watson stressed his desire to claim a second Masters title in three years on Friday as Thomas Bjorn and Jonas Blixt raised hopes of a first European win since 1999.

Rory McIlroy intends to treat the next 54 holes at Augusta National like a game of chess as he patiently tries to become a grand Masters champion.

Rory McIlroy intends to treat the next 54 holes at Augusta National like a game of chess as he patiently tries to become a grand Masters champion.

Graeme McDowell produced another superb fightback, but Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose went out at extra holes at WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship last night.

Rory McIlroy failed to dodge a bullet and got gunned down American sharpshooter Harris English at the 19th the second round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play.

The age old adage that you should be careful what you wish for is certainly holding true for Darren Clarke, just eight months after what was described as an “unseemly” politicking for the Ryder Cup captaincy.

American Jason Dufner tonight claimed his first Major title after surviving a nervous finish in the 95th US PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

American Jason Dufner tonight claimed his first major title after surviving a nervous finish in the 95th US PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

Rory McIlroy saw his hopes of a successful PGA Championship title defence hit the rocks last night as Jason Dufner was attempting to protect a two-shot lead down the stretch at Oak Hill.

Phil Mickelson is back in the world’s top 10 for the first time since last May after his wire-to-wire victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia end the year 14th and 16th in the world respectively after their weekend wins in South Africa and Malaysia.

Graeme McDowell’s victory at the World Challenge in California – his first title since the same event two years ago – has lifted him from 24th to 14th in the world.

PGA Tour rookie Jonas Blixt claimed his first title as a fourth straight sub-70 round saw him win the Frys.com Open by a stroke.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry has moved up from 128th to 74th in the world after his victory at the Portugal Masters yesterday.

American John Mallinger could not repeat his day-two fireworks but did enough to hold a two-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Frys.com Open in California.

John Daly slumped to a wretched 15-over-par 86 to tumble out of contention at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.

Davis Love III returned to the day job and found an American who failed to make his Ryder Cup team just too hot to keep pace with at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Rory McIlroy scorched to an incredible eight under par 65 to share the first round lead in the European Amateur Individual Championship in Italy.

England lead the European Youths Team Championship after day two at The Island Golf Club in Dublin.

European Youths Team Championship, day one

Dubliner Paul McDonald cruised into the semi-finals of the West of Ireland Championship with a one hole win over international Johnny Foster at Rosses Point today.