Shane Lowry maintained his excellent form from the BMW PGA Championship as he booked his spot at next month's US Open by winning the 36-hole qualifying event last night.

Brilliantly led from the front by Kevin Phelan, Munster got their Interprovincial Championship campaign off to the best possible start when beating holders Connacht with two matches to spare at Royal Co Down yesterday.

Ryder Cup captains past and present Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal are part of a 96-strong field at Sunningdale tomorrow battling for 10 places in next month’s Open Championship.

Ireland’s Peter Lawrie kept his cool to take a share of the first-round lead at the BMW PGA Championship as Rory McIlroy momentarily lost his in the Wentworth heat.

Peter Lawrie would have been an unlikely choice to become the first Irishman to win the European Tour’s PGA Championship since 1958 but he goes into today’s second round feeling bullish about his chances.

Pádraig Harrington burst back into form with his lowest-ever career round with a 10-under par 61 on the opening day of the Transitions Championship in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Thomas Levet, the Ryder Cup player who broke a leg jumping in a lake to celebrate his French Open victory last July, is out of golf again with a broken rib.

Jose Maria Olazabal today found himself one of the beneficiaries of a decision to increase the field for this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from 126 to 129.

Paul McGinley has the chance tomorrow to end nearly six years without a win - right on the eve of being a non-playing captain again for Britain and Ireland in the Vivendi Seve Trophy.

Thorbjorn Olesen was nine under through 16 holes on the final day at the Italian Open as he stormed into a two-shot lead in Turin.

Robert Rock sits two shots clear at the top of the Italian Open leaderboard, but today belonged to Niclas Fasth who shot a blistering eight-under par 64 to claim a share of a second.

Niclas Fasth climbed to the top of the leaderboard with an eight-under par 64 as play continued in the third round of the Italian Open in Turin.

Jamie Donaldson was inspired playing alongside defending champion and Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell on the European Tour’s return to Celtic Manor today.

World number two Martin Kaymer went from the sublime to the ridiculous on a day of strong winds in Doha today.

For the second time in his career Padraig Harrington has been disqualified from an event he had a good chance of winning.

PÁDRAIG Harrington’s decision to tinker with some 20 changes to his game over the past six weeks paid immediate dividends yesterday with his lowest ever New Year starting score on day one of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Charl Schwartzel has been tipped for super-stardom ever since he won a European Tour card just after his 18th birthday in 2002 – and maybe now it is about to happen.

Ireland's Graeme McDowell saw his two-stroke overnight advantage over compatriot Gareth Maybin evaporate over the first nine holes of his third round at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters today.

The Irish have an uncanny knack of playing pivotal roles in European success at the biennial spectacular, says Simon Lewis

A 30-yard chip-in for eagle helped to make former Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley one of the early pacesetters at the Madrid Masters today.

Australia’s Marcus Fraser won the Ballantine’s Championship today by four shots as a battling three-under-par 69 final round secured a wire-to-wire win and first victory in seven years.

Robert Karlsson produced a bogey-free final round seven-under-par 65 to win the Commercialbank Qatar Masters by three strokes in Doha today.

European number one Lee Westwood and former caddie Oliver Wilson are ideally placed heading into the weekend at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters with just a two-shot deficit to second-round leader Brett Rumford.

Former European number one Robert Karlsson led a muted challenge to second-round clubhouse leader Brett Rumford at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters today.

Australia’s Brett Rumford moved into a one-shot lead on the second morning of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters after taking advantage of calm morning conditions in Doha.

Oliver Wilson and Marcel Siem joined clubhouse leader Robert Karlsson in a tie for the lead on the opening day of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

An ambitious Ian Poulter saw his five-stroke halfway lead at the Barclays Singapore Open disappear after just six holes of his third round today as Thomas Levet and Japan’s Kodai Ichihara took full advantage before play was suspended.

England's Ross McGowan went to the turn in a brilliant 30 strokes to take over the Madrid Masters lead.

Bernhard Langer’s 16th attempt to become the oldest winner in European Tour history might just be the one when he finally does it.

Retief Goosen would not be his first choice as somebody to try to catch, but Bernhard Langer has another chance this weekend to become the oldest champion in European Tour history.

Jeppe Huldahl, a 26-year-old Dane without a single European Tour top 10 finish to his name, forced himself into the limelight by winning the Celtic Manor Wales Open today.

Former Ryder Cup Swede Niclas Fasth holed a pitch shot for an eagle three on the long 11th to join Dane Jeppe Huldahl in the lead at the Celtic Manor Wales Open.

Whatever happens to Swedish golfer Peter Hanson in next month’s US Open he will always remember the shot last night which got him there.

Colin Montgomerie tees off at 8.20am at Walton Heath tomorrow to try to secure a place in next month’s United States Open.

The 54-year-old history of Europe’s flagship PGA Championship has seen only two players retain the title – but Miguel Angel Jimenez is out to make that three at Wentworth this weekend.

Asia were on the brink of a memorable victory over Europe in The Royal Trophy midway through the final day at Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok.

Jose Maria Olazabal has called for a “special” performance as his European team seek to overturn a five-point deficit to defeat Asia and extend their 100% record in The Royal Trophy.

Europe faced an uphill task on the second afternoon of The Royal Trophy as Asia seemed set to extend their advantage in the four-balls today.

Asia were in the ascendancy midway through the opening day’s foursomes at The Royal Trophy as Europe squandered early advantages.

IRELAND’S Paul McGinley says there is an underlying desire within the European team to win The Royal Trophy this week in honour of the absent Seve Ballesteros.

Nineteen-year-old Rory McIlroy has still made it into the world’s top 50 for the first time despite his play-off defeat in the Hong Kong Open today.

Indian Jeev Milkha Singh is up from 60th to 46th in the world after pushing Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els into joint second place at the Barclays Singapore Open.

Soren Kjeldsen’s victory at the Volvo Masters has not only clinched him a place in next year’s US Open – it has also put him on course for a debut in The Masters next April.

Robert Karlsson has made it into the world’s top 10 for the first time at the age of 39.