Bernhard Langer marked his first appearance in the World Cup for a decade by firing Germany into the early lead in the first round in Barbados.

Half of Europe’s Ryder Cup team will be competing in golf’s World Cup in Barbados in December – but there are a huge number of big name absentees again.

Australians Steve Elkington and Mark Hensby have taken the number of withdrawals from the US PGA Championship at Medinah to eight.

An intensive practice session with coach Bob Torrance helped Scotland’s Marc Warren into the early lead in the EnterCard Scandinavian Masters today.

Australian Mark Hensby has sought advice from Jose Maria Olazabal amid fears he has the same injury which almost ended the double US Masters champion's career.

England’s Greg Owen, controversially denied a place in the Open last year, today claimed the early lead in the first round at Hoylake.

It was a story of delays on the first morning of the 135th Open championship at Hoylake today.

Colin Montgomerie is sitting out the weekend for the sixth tournament running - this time all because American Chad Campbell sank a 15-foot putt.

Pádraig Harrington was the only Irishman still standing at the Accenture World Match Play championship as Tiger Woods broke another record at La Costa near San Diego today.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON was the only Irishman still standing on a day when there was no keeping Tiger Woods out of the headlines when the Accenture World Match Play championship began at La Costa near San Diego.

Stephen Ames admits he does not like match play much. But that did not stop him hastily changing plans after being giving the chance to take on Tiger Woods tomorrow in the Accenture World Championship in San Diego.

THE WITHDRAWAL of Sergio Garcia means that Ireland's Graeme McDowell will provide the first round opposition to Tiger Woods in the Accenture World Match Play Championship beginning in Carlsbad, California, on tomorrow week.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell faces a match against Tiger Woods after squeezing into the 64-man field for next week’s Accenture world match play championship at La Costa near San Diego.

Angel Cabrera and Ricardo Gonzalez demonstrated what a difference a day can make with an astonishing display at golf’s World Cup in Portugal today.

Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington made a good start in their attempt to climb back into contention at golf’s World Cup in Portugal today.

Four days after beating Tiger Woods in Shanghai David Howell today did something else he has never done before - sign for a round of 59.

AFTER David Howell’s admirable 20 under par, three-shot victory over Tiger Woods in Shanghai on Sunday, it is only reasonable that he and Luke Donald should be the bookmakers’ favourites for the World Cup of Golf at the Victoria Course at Vilamoura on Portugal’s Algarve on Thursday.

Ireland's Gary Murphy is tied in third place at the Mallorca Classic, at -3 after 15 holes.

Scotland’s David Drysdale suffered an early setback today in his last-ditch bid to stay on the European tour.

Jose Maria Olazabal hopes to take another step this week towards a Ryder Cup return at the age of 40 – seven years after he was a central figure in the event’s greatest controversy.

It is all to play for at the Presidents Cup as the United States and International teams enter the final day tied on 11 points each.

The International team retained a one-point lead over the United States after the second day of the Presidents Cup.

Injured Jim Furyk is a doubt for his fourball match today at the Presidents Cup, which may turn out to be good news for the American team.

TIGER WOODS and Fred Couples crashed to a 4 & 3 defeat against Retief Goosen and Adam Scott in the first match of the Presidents Cup yesterday.

TWO years after Tiger Woods and Ernie Els staged an unresolved tension-packed twilight play-off duel in South Africa, someone might finally take sole possession of the Presidents Cup this weekend.

A last-hole mistake left Paul McGinley one down to US Open champion Michael Campbell after the morning round of their HSBC World Match Play final at Wentworth.

Paul McGinley and Michael Campbell knocked the top two seeds out of the HSBC World Match Play championship at Wentworth to set up a Sunday showdown for golf’s biggest cheque.

After two crushing victories, Retief Goosen suddenly found life a lot tougher in the HSBC World Match Play semi-finals at Wentworth today.

After two crushing victories, Retief Goosen suddenly found life a lot tougher in the HSBC World Match Play semi-finals at Wentworth today.

Paul McGinley, two wins away from a £1m (€1.47m) bonanza, made the start he was looking for in the HSBC World Match Play semi-finals at Wentworth today.

THE man who stopped Paul McGinley winning nearly €680,000 in May now blocks his path to the £1 million (€1.48m) first prize at the HSBC World Match Play championship.

The man who stopped Paul McGinley winning nearly £460,000 (€679,000)) in May now blocks his path to the £1m (€1.46m) first prize at the HSBC World Match Play championship.

Retief Goosen equalled his own championship record when he demolished Australian Mark Hensby 12 and 11 to reach his first HSBC World Match Play semi-final at Wentworth today.

Mark Hensby’s words came back to haunt him as he made the worst-ever start in the 42-year history of the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.

Paul McGinley revelled in the role of underdog when he began his HSBC World Match Play quarter-final against Ryder Cup team-mate Luke Donald today.

Mark Hensby, who came from four down to beat Colin Montgomerie in the opening round, quickly found himself in need of another recovery at the HSBC world match play championship at Wentworth today.

PAUL MCGINLEY hopes destiny can take him all the way to a £1million jackpot at Wentworth this weekend.

Colin Montgomerie is still searching for his first tournament win since March last year after suffering a surprise first round defeat in the HSBC World Match Play championship at Wentworth today.

For the second year running, Retief Goosen raced into the second round of the HSBC World Match Play championship at Wentworth.

Colin Montgomerie found himself in a real battle with Australian Mark Hensby on the opening day of the HSBC World Match Play championship at a wet Wentworth today.

Colin Montgomerie went to lunch three up on Australian Mark Hensby when he began his bid for the £1m (€1.5m) jackpot – golf’s richest prize – at a wet Wentworth today.

Colin Montgomerie quickly marched into a handy lead when he began his bid for the £1m (€1.5m) jackpot – golf’s richest prize – at a wet Wentworth.

Much to his surprise, Colin Montgomerie found himself up against a familiar face when the HSBC World Match Play Championship began at a wet Wentworth today.

FORMER winner Colin Montgomerie and US Open champion Michael Campbell yesterday joined forces in bemoaning the absence of America’s leading golfers from the World Match Play Championship.