Jet-lagged Graeme McDowell is hoping a good night’s sleep will help him mount a charge in pursuit of overnight leader Mikko Ilonen as the second round of the Irish Open gets under way at Fota Island Resort today.

Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy blamed a “sloppy” short game for an opening round of 74 which left him facing a battle to avoid another early exit from the Irish Open.

Home favourite George Coetzee produced a closing 66 to claim the Joburg Open by three shots.

Darren Clarke will have to wait to make his 500th European Tour appearance after pulling out of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters through injury.

Rory McIlroy has revealed how the unlikely combination of Andre Agassi, Alex Ferguson and twice-daily gym sessions allowed him to begin 2014 as he finished 2013 in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

It seemed appropriate Rory McIlroy was fitted with a gold-lined Arabic robe soon after an impressive driving display on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Sergio Garcia labelled the rough as “dangerous” after struggling to a four-over-par 76 in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

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.

Ernie Els busted out of last week’s Merion ‘torture chamber’ and singled out Irish-born caddy Colin Byrne for helping produce his lowest score in seven months on the opening day of the 25th anniversary BMW International Open in Munich .

Phil Mickelson needed a special round on his 42nd birthday to have any chance of being a contender at the US Open in San Francisco – but it did not begin as he hoped.

Phil Mickelson took the long walk back to the tee after losing a ball with his opening drive at the US Open in San Francisco today.

Magnus Carlsson produced a stunning round of 65 to open up a two-shot lead on day one of the Nordea Masters in Stockholm today.

Scotland’s Marc Warren has won a World Cup with Colin Montgomerie, two European Tour titles and over £2m, but remarkably has never played in a major.

Peter Lawrie has continued his superb Surrey form in qualifying for next month’s US Open in San Francisco.

England’s Matthew Baldwin claimed the clubhouse lead on the first day of the Volvo China Open after opening with an assured seven-under-par 65.

Chris Wood, the 20-year-old English amateur who finished a brilliant joint fifth at The Open eight days ago, has decided to turn professional.

Rory McIlroy had a nightmare finish as Scotland's Lloyd Saltman captured the prestigious Lytham Trophy by three shots.

GARY WOLSTENHOLME, the only Britain and Ireland amateur to feature on four winning Walker Cup teams, has been named in a provisional 29-strong squad for next August’s defence of the trophy in Chicago.

R&A selection chairman Peter McEvoy has named an initial squad of 29 players for next August's 40th Walker Cup, to be held at the Chicago Golf Club, Illinois.