THE 1997 Masters was the eighth — and most memorable — of my 20 visits to Augusta.

The PGA Tour has said it will look into a report linking Vijay Singh with the use of a deer antler spray previously found to have contained a banned growth hormone.

Pádraig Harrington’s omission from the European Ryder Cup team ends a run which began in 1999 with his debut in the infamous Battle of Brookline.

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy is with 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen and reigning USPGA champion Keegan Bradley at the Open Championship.

SWEDEN’S Alexander Noren cruised to his third European Tour title despite a closing round of 77 in Stockholm yesterday.

SWEDE Alexander Noren produced the joint-best round of the Nordea Masters so far to take the outright lead at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm.

ON A raw and moist day along the English Channel, the lunchtime leaderboard at the British Open was a reflection of the current state of affairs in professional golf — a Dane, Spaniards, Englishmen, and a gentleman from Japan, but nary an American in sight.

Rory McIlroy today made a poor start to his bid to become the youngest Open champion since 1893, as veterans Thomas Bjorn and Mark Calcavecchia made the early headlines.

Rory McIlroy today began his bid to become the youngest Open champion since 1893, but it was veterans Mark Calcavecchia and Thomas Bjorn who were making the early headlines.

American Jerry Kelly slumped to four over par in the early stages of the 140th Open Championship today – but was still on course to better his previous trip to Sandwich.

His battling qualities are legendary, but the US Ryder Cup captain also has a reputation as a hothead and being thin-skinned. Simon Lewis wonders wether will he keep the latter emotions in check this weekend?

Paul Casey, who only a week ago spoke of not wanting to be left behind as friend after friend won this year, might never have a better chance to grab the title they all crave.

Paul Casey, who only a week ago spoke of not wanting to be left behind as friend after friend won this year, was the one piling the pressure on South African Louis Oosthuizen in The Open at St Andrews tonight.

South African Louis Oosthuizen came under pressure from two of Europe’s finest as The Open continued in more windy conditions at St Andrews.

Rory McIlroy was bouncing back superbly from the nightmare of his second round 80 at the third round of The Open in St Andrews today.

England’s Robert Rock gave hope to the pack chasing runaway leader Louis Oosthuizen in the third round of the Open Championship at St Andrews today.

RORY McILROY’S worst fears were realised in the cruellest fashion at St Andrews last night when his prospects of a first major title at the tender age of 21 were almost certainly blown away by the gale force winds that swept over the Old Course and turned the British Open into nothing short of a lottery.

Rory McIlroy’s dream of becoming the youngest Open champion for 117 years turned into a nightmare with an 80 at windswept St Andrews today.

Rory McIlroy’s dream of becoming the youngest Open champion for 117 years turned into a nightmare at windswept St Andrews today.

Rory McIlory was faced with a three-shot deficit and far tougher conditions when he began his second round of the 139th Open Championship at St Andrews today.

TWO years after crashing out of the British Open at Royal Birkdale with rounds of 80 and 89 John Daly lit up St Andrews yesterday with more than just his trousers.

The new US Open champion Graeme McDowell will have to wait until just before 2pm on Thursday when he tees off with two former winners of that title, Jim Furyk and Geoff Ogilvy at the Open in St Andrews.

Seve Ballesteros, who is still recovering from a brain tumour, is among the golfing stars who have been invited to compete in the Champions Challenge on the eve of next July’s Open at St Andrews.

RICH BEEM’S PGA Championship victory on the major’s last visit to Hazeltine National in 2002 may still seem unlikely, given his singular lack of success since, but the Beemer’s performance that week in Minnesota was definitely no fluke.

THE debate raged on in Turnberry bars and in national phone-ins long after Tom Watson had fled the scene of his flirtation with history.

No Tiger Woods in sight, no Padraig Harrington in contention – but what a last day is still in store at the Open Championship.

As Padraig Harrington’s bid for a third straight Open effectively ended, Tom Watson continued his attempt to become the oldest major winner in history at Turnberry today.

IN spite of his status as pre-championship favourite, there was never any certainty Tiger Woods would win his fourth Open and 15th major at Turnberry.

Turnberry turned from a pussycat into a beast today - but while Tiger Woods became its biggest victim, Tom Watson continued magically on his merry way.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy were set to see out the weekend at the Open Championship this evening after matching rounds of 74 left them three over.

THE ‘Duel in the Sun’, the amazing head-to-head in 1987 between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, underwent an unofficial and jovial reenactment late on Sunday night, but nobody is admitting who won this time around.

Five-time Open champion Tom Watson, the oldest man in the field, rolled back the years to claim the clubhouse lead at Turnberry today.

Tiger Woods got his bid for a 15th major title under way in the Open Championship at Turnberry today – but was being upstaged by the oldest Man in the field.

Tiger Woods got his bid for a 15th major title under way in the Open Championship at Turnberry today – but was in danger of being upstaged by the oldest man in the field.

Perfect conditions today greeted the early starters in the opening round of the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry.

Lee Westwood will go head-to-head with Tiger Woods in the first two rounds of The Open at Turnberry on Thursday and Friday – just as he did on the final day of the US Open last year.

ENGLAND’S Benn Barham and Scotland’s Marc Warren played their final round at the BMW Italian Open in Turin in a mere 141 minutes yesterday.

A fine birdie at the 15th helped YE Yang maintain his slender one-stroke lead at the Honda Classic after the Korean carded a solid third round of 70 in Florida.

Phil Mickelson held his nerve to retain the Northern Trust Open title today after edging out Steve Stricker by one stroke.

Retief Goosen shot a sizzling eight-under-par 64 today to surge to the top of the leaderboard after two rounds of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, seizing a two-shot advantage over Dustin Johnson.

Anthony Kim carded a stunning seven-under-par round of 64 to move into a share of the lead at the Canadian Open.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON last night became the fourth Irishman to receive the Golf Writers’ Trophy presented annually by the Association of Golf Writers.

Ian Poulter was forced to withdraw from the US Open during the second round after playing 15 holes with an apparent wrist injury.

John Daly still wants to be part of golf’s biggest events – but, as far as he is concerned, this week’s Players Championship in Florida is not one of them.