England’s Mark Foster birdied six of his first 10 holes to burst into an early three-stroke lead as the North staged its first Irish Open since 1953 today.

Australian Marcus Fraser led the way on a day of low scoring when the BMW International Open began in Cologne.

Martin Kaymer and last week’s winner Thomas Bjorn took over at the top with dazzling runs as the Omega European Masters tried to beat the weather in Switzerland today.

THE atmosphere was never going to compare to last October’s Ryder Cup, but Graeme McDowell and Peter Hanson found Celtic Manor a happy hunting ground again yesterday.

The atmosphere was never going to compare to last October’s Ryder Cup, but Graeme McDowell and Peter Hanson found Celtic Manor a happy hunting ground again today.

Graeme McDowell turned on the style at Celtic Manor yet again today, starting the Saab Wales Open with a four-under-par 67.

Jamie Donaldson was inspired playing alongside defending champion and Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell on the European Tour’s return to Celtic Manor today.

Frenchman Gregory Havret was among a group of four players at the head of the field in the second round of the China Open at Chengdu.

WITHOUT a European Tour win since 2008, Pádraig Harrington’s long wait for a title may be extended after a modest opening 71 left him seven shots off the pace on a day of low scoring at the Volvo China Open.

Graeme McDowell and Adam Scott both made good starts to their second rounds at the Singapore Open to share the lead on nine under par.

US Open champion Graeme McDowell was upstaged by world number 317 John Parry, who carded a second-round 67 to take the lead at the Austrian Open in Atzenbrugg.

IAN POULTER, forced to take time off recently after hurting his knee playing basketball, is having treatment for a neck strain on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Ian Poulter, forced to take time off recently after hurting his knee playing basketball, is having treatment for a neck strain on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

South African Retief Goosen, out of action since The Masters over a month ago after breaking a toe “running around” with his two children, has withdrawn from this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Sergio Garcia moved into a one-shot advantage over joint overnight leader Keith Horne and Rhys Davies on the second morning of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship today.

RORY McILROY needed little time to rekindle last seasons explosive form by moving straight into contention on day one of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Rory McIlroy was one of nine players sharing second spot on six under par following the opening day at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship .

Darren Clarke was denied in Johannesburg as South African Charl Schwartzel coasted to a second successive European Tour victory in his home city today.

Charl Schwartzel came under pressure from Darren Clarke at the start of the final round in 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.

Little-known Jbe’ Kruger held the clubhouse lead late on the third afternoon of the Africa Open in East London after his six under par round of 67 put him joint-top on 15 under par.

Jake Roos blazed through the first 15 holes of round three at the Africa Open with eight birdies to take the outright lead in East London today on 15 under par – one stroke clear of overnight leader Trevor Fisher Jr.

TREVOR FISHER JUNIOR held the lead at the halfway stage of the Africa Open after matching his opening-day effort with another 66 in East London to head into the weekend on 14-under-par.

Trevor Fisher Jr held the lead at the halfway stage of the Africa Open after matching his opening-day effort with another 66 in East London to head into the weekend on 14-under-par.

A storming finish to his round enabled Trevor Fisher Jnr to share a five-way tie at the top of a clustered leaderboard after day one of the Africa Open in East London today.

Fabrizio Zanotti carded an eight-under-par 64 to lead the South African Open after the first day of competition at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates.

Rory McIlroy has made an encouraging start at the South African Open as he continues his bid to remain in the world's top 50.

Darren Clarke was one of the few big-name players to suffer in the opening round of the South African Open in Paarl today after his five bogeys and three birdies through 15 holes left him at two over par.

Richard Sterne was the main benefactor on the final day of the Alfred Dunhill Championship clinching the tournament by one shot after both Thomas Aiken and Len Mattiace threw away their overnight advantages at the Leopard Creek Golf Club.

Ernie Els took over at the top of the leaderboard after finishing his first round at the Barclays Singapore Open this morning with two birdies in his final three holes.

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat produced a stunning opening-round 11-under-par 61 to open up a three-shot lead over Argentina’s Rafael Echenique at the TCL Classic in Hainan today.

England’s Lee Westwood trails clubhouse leader Rafael Echenique by two shots at the TCL Classic in Hainan after carding an opening six-under-par 66 at the Yalong Bay Golf Club today.

Pre-tournament favourite Vijay Singh and world number 11 Chris DiMarco led the big-name charge up the leaderboard as the conditions improved on the second day of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Chris DiMarco put his troubles with the conditions behind him to play himself back into contention at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

The second morning of the Abu Dhabi Gold Tournament saw an upturn in the fortunes for some of the bigger names at the event.

Unheralded South African Keith Horne led the field at the Abu Dhabi Championship as the big-name British challenge stuttered on the first day.

Colin Montgomerie’s hopes of starting 2006 with a win at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship were not helped by an unconvincing opening round.

Ernie Els failed to make the desired early impact in the third round of the Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek today.

CARNOUSTIE, widely regarded as one of the most difficult golf courses on the planet, didn’t really show its teeth on yesterday’s opening day of the €4m Dunhill Links Championship.

David Howell’s remarkable return from injury continued today when he took a share of the first round lead in the Dunhill Links championship.

Ireland’s Peter Lawrie laid down the gauntlet today by predicting his rivals will need to shoot 20 under par or better at Houghton Country Club in order to take the Dunhill Championship title.