South Africa’s Branden Grace admitted it was a dream come true after becoming the first player to successfully defend the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters on Saturday.

A British former soldier who tried to smuggle a four-year-old Afghan girl into Britain at her father’s request has been cleared of all charges related to aiding illegal immigration.

A British aid worker has avoided jail after admitting trying to smuggle an Afghan girl into Britain from France.

Their worst fears have been confirmed, the old boys at the R&A who reluctantly prized their doors slightly ajar to ‘ladies’ last year.

Having led the Irish challenge at the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort outside Girona, Simon Thornton is in a real battle to make the cut heading into today’s fourth round.

Simon Thornton is best of the Irish after the opening two rounds of the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort in north-east Spain.

It is a case of ‘Last Chance Saloon’ for all but two of the seven Irish golfers contesting this week’s Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.

Kingsbarns

Paul Dunne is hoping history can repeat itself with the rookie pro looking to follow in the footsteps of Rory McIlroy by securing his European Tour card at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Peter Lawrie kept alive hopes of regaining his Tour card after a bizarre start to his Porsche European Open campaign at Bad Griesbach in Germany.

Peter Lawrie is facing five weeks of uncertainty as his goal of wrapping-up his card for next season fell short at the Italian Open in Monza.

Given the summer he’s had, this seems like a quiet week for Paul Dunne.

Irish golfers have won The Open five times, the US Open twice and the US PGA three times, not to mention nine British Amateur Championships.

Tiger Woods was in contention for his first PGA Tour win in two years as he lay in joint third after his second round of the Quicken Loans National.

Darren Clarke felt sorry for Tiger Woods after the former world No 1 crashed to a four over 76.

A week spent playing golf with two former Northern Ireland soccer players along with the acquisition of a very expensive putter has put Michael Hoey in contention at the BMW International Open in Munich.

Irish round-up Shane Lowry missed his target score for the day but was not unduly concerned with a one-over-par 72 Royal County Down as he began his bid to win a second Irish Open title.

Shane Lowry secured his place in next month’s US Open with another superb display at the BMW PGA Championship.

Peter Lawrie did not know he would be playing at Wentworth until Monday afternoon but he had plenty of reasons to thank European Tour chief executive George O’Grady for the tournament invitation that could help him regain his Tour card for next season.

Golf returns to the Olympic Games next year after more than a century in the wilderness but a ceremony conducted on the fifth tee at Ballybunion over the weekend served as a reminder that the game has made a small contribution to Irish sporting success on the world’s biggest stage.

It is a mark of how far his come in six short years when World No. 1 Rory McIlroy says he now expects to shoot a score of 66 as he did on the first day of the Dubai Desert Classic.

There was no hiding Peter Lawrie’s delight after moving inside the top-10 on day two of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.

TODAY 

It was a day of agony and missed chances for the four Irish golfers in the final Qualifying stage for next year’s European Tour at the PGA Catalunya resort in Girona yesterday.

Peter Lawrie is the best-placed Irishman heading into today’s final round of Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya resort in Girona.

Four of the five Irish are still in contention for European Tour cards next year after a remarkable day at the Qualifying School Final Stage at the PGA Catalunya resort in north-east Spain.

Waterford’s Kevin Phelan doesn’t seem to know what all the fuss is about this week.

Five Irish are among the 156-man field who will tee off at PGA Catalunya this morning, hoping to secure a European Tour card for the next 12 months.

Maybe it’s Michael McGeady being unable to afford a caddy, or maybe it’s Matt Southgate bemoaning the price of the buffet lunch, or perhaps the row of economy class rental cars in the driveway gives it away. But whatever way you slice it, European Tour Q-School at PGA Catalunya is no ordinary golf tournament.

Your guide to tonight's TV.

Graeme Storm won a sports car worth in the region of £100,000 (€126,000) for a hole-in-one and moved into pole position to earn the £300,000 (€378,000) first prize in the Omega European Masters today.

The third round of play is under way at the Irish Open in Fota Island.

Peter the crowd worrier

Play is underway at Day Two of the Irish Open in Fota Island.

As with all great sporting events, the anticipation often surpasses the reality.

It’s torture and in a way he’s tortured, but Pádraig Harrington has the good grace and awareness to realise he’s still one of the lucky ones.

Damien McGrane has played in two British Opens, but he could be on course to make his third appearance at Royal Liverpool in July after opening with a five under 66 in the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington in South Africa.

The blisters on Peter Lawrie’s left hand reveal just how determined one of the nicest guys on the European Tour is to break free of a continuing downturn in form.

Paul McGinley has vowed not to cash in on his stint as Ryder Cup captain by writing a book detailing what goes on behind the scenes at Gleneagles.

Paul McGinley has vowed not to cash in on his stint as Ryder Cup captain by writing a book detailing what goes on behind the scenes at Gleneagles.

Shane Lowry paid a heavy price for a bout of anger at the Turkish Airlines Open yesterday.