The walk from the ninth green to the 10th tee at Augusta National takes less than a minute, but the significance of that brief period of time on April 10, 1997, cannot be underestimated.

An ex-footballer who plays golf is nothing new, but former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe takes the game more seriously than most.

Tiger Woods could be set to make his return to The K Club for next year’s Irish Open — 10 years after the USA’s crushing Ryder Cup defeat and Darren Clarke’s tears of joy.

Very few gave Tiger Woods a chance before the Masters began and he himself and just everyone else fully acknowledges he will leave Augusta tomorrow night without a fifth green jacket.

Pádraig Harrington was proving absence makes the heart grow fonder as he made a welcome return to the Masters last night.

In spite of his previous attempts to quell the public obsession with his ailing golf career, Tiger Woods is truly the only spark that ignites the interest of the general US public.

Rory McIlroy will get his bid for a career grand slam under way in the company of Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore as the draw for opening two rounds of the year’s first major was announced.

Tiger Woods declared himself ready to compete for a fifth Masters title after completing 11 holes of practice at Augusta National yesterday.

You might have won a major before but following it up with a green jacket elevates your status to another level.

As the golf world waits on Tiger Woods’ next move, there appears to be no limit to the number of players both current and former who have advice to offer the 14-time major champion.

One of the jewels of Irish tourism, the Adare Manor and Golf Resort, is being put up for sale tomorrow.

Setanta Sports is in the final stages of selling its Australian broadcasting division to an international conglomerate owned by an affiliate of Middle East media giant, Al Jazeera.

An official team jersey signed by the conquering Munster team which defeated the All-Blacks at Thomond Park in 1978 is among the treasures at Fonsie Mealy’s rare books and collectors’ sale at the Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin on July 1.

If the intention was to make a statement without actually saying anything, then William Payne succeeded in an emphatic fashion yesterday at Augusta National Golf Club.

Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg holds a two-shot lead after carding a second-round 68 in the M2M Russian Open at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club near Moscow.

Former European number one Colin Montgomerie believes the introduction of a shot clock would instantly solve the problem of slow play on the course.

In the world of professional golf, there is a saying “there are no pictures on your scorecard”.

The Open Championship may lack a prominent Irish contender, but there are a host of significant others at the top of the leaderboard heading into a testing second day at sun-baked Muirfield to suggest class will out yet again at this venerable links.

Former Masters champion Zach Johnson today began the 142nd Open Championship in the same imperious style as he did the 141st, but there was no let up in the misery for world number two Rory McIlroy.

Veteran Mark O’Meara hit out at younger players who “whine a lot” after the older generation shone on day one at the Open Championship.

The question to Conor Mallaghan, owner/director of Carton House was simple and straightforward.

THE Aviva Stadium is the focal point of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign as they host both England and France, in Dublin 4, over the next few weeks, but Carton House, 30 kilometres west of Lansdowne Road, is the players’ home for the championship.

Six-time Major winner Nick Faldo fears Rory McIlroy’s decision to change equipment could prove to be the costliest move of his career.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods arrived in Antalya yesterday to be presented each with Turkish Airlines model airplanes bearing their names.

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.

Luke Donald described the atmosphere at Royal Lytham so far this week as “eerily quiet,” but all that will change if he or Lee Westwood can become the first English winner of an Open Championship on English soil in 43 years.

When the world rankings came out this week 19-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero found himself third reserve for the Open Championship.

For the second time in five years the Open Championship will not have the reigning US Open champion playing in it.

Irish golf fans are keeping a close eye on our links courses this week to see if any of the game’s finest pay a visit ahead of next week’s British Open.

Chez Reavie and Martin Laird toured the Augusta course yesterday in a little over four hours when most rounds are taking around five. How?

Lee Westwood found himself leading The Masters again after Henrik Stenson crashed from six under par to one under in almost a blink of the eye on his 36th birthday at Augusta National today.

1. Has he played well in the Masters before?

Pádraig Harrington arrived at Augusta National clearly in an upbeat mood and boasting the best record in the Majors of any player in the past five years.

For Tiger Woods, self-absorption may not be a hindrance, it may be just the thing to restore his winning mentality

When Rory McIlroy threw his arms into the air at the last hole it was more in frustration than delight despite holing a birdie putt at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Thomas Bjorn issued a timely reminder of what happened five months ago after joining Rory McIlroy in the halfway lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic today.

The European Tour has still to see its first round of 59 after yet another chance went begging at the Dubai Desert Classic today.

Dubai’s Desert Classic and the superb Emirates course will always hold a special place in Rory McIlroy’s heart.

THE MONTGOMERIE course at Carton House near Maynooth, Kildare is set to be confirmed today as the venue for next year’s Irish Open.

PEOPLE should cast their minds back a year before declaring that Tiger Woods is on his way back to the top.

The hug said it all today as Tiger Woods yet again clinched another Presidents Cup victory for the United States.

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.

NON-RESIDENT, or so-called “country members”, of the prestigious Waterville Golf Links in south Kerry have begun legal proceedings against the American owners of the club, in search of what they claim is “fair play” after new rules which have seen their fees rise to almost double that of locals.