For a man who threatened not to play the Ryder Cup because of its five rounds in three days, Colin Montgomerie faces something even more physically daunting this week.

For the second successive year the European Order of Merit looks like ending with Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington occupying the top two spots.

Ernie Els withdrew from the Dunhill Links Championship before his final round after his wife Liezl went into labour.

Spain’s Ignacio Garrido took over the lead midway through the opening round of the Dunhill Links Championship as Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes struggled to make an impression.

Padraig Harrington struck a quick blow for Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup side with an eagle two at the third hole at Carnoustie today.

Open champion Ernie Els has warned Europe to expect a fired-up Tiger Woods at The Belfry later this month.

Ernie Els expects to be celebrating at Wentworth next month – whether he wins the Cisco World Match Play title for a fourth time or not.

ERNIE ElS, the man they call the Big Easy because of his laid back manner, coped with pressure he never really knew existed before emerging as the 131st Open champion at Muirfield last evening.