Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal has withdrawn from the Open Championship final qualifying competition at Littlestone in Kent tomorrow.

Former major winners Jose Maria Olazabal and Michael Campbell will be among 288 players trying for just 12 places in The Open at the final qualifying competition next Tuesday.

Less than two weeks away from his defence of the US Open title Graeme McDowell suffered the potentially devastating shock of an 81 – the joint worst round of his entire European Tour career – at Celtic Manor today.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell was one of the biggest casualties today as Celtic Manor – scene of so much glory for him last year – turned into a course of carnage.

THE atmosphere was never going to compare to last October’s Ryder Cup, but Graeme McDowell and Peter Hanson found Celtic Manor a happy hunting ground again yesterday.

JUST because you’ve been there, done that and bought the tee shirt, doesn’t mean you have any right to cruise through the six-day “prison sentence” they call the European Tour Qualifying School final stage.

MICHAEL COLLINS shares a name with one of Ireland’s most iconic figures but now the Cork native is desperate to be remembered for achievements of his own.

Rory McIlroy today equalled the lowest round ever in a Major championship with a stunning nine-under-par 63 in the first round of the 139th Open Championship at St Andrews.

Seventeen-year-old Matteo Manassero, one of the stars of last year’s Open, made a brilliant start today to his bid to be part of the action at St Andrews next month.

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon, with one European Tour win in 290 starts and fighting for his future, leads the Castello Masters in Spain with a round to play.

Martin Kaymer has given himself the chance to regain the European Tour number one spot in his first event back from breaking toes in a go-kart crash.

Just as he did when he took third place two years ago – in only his second professional event – Rory McIlroy tamed one of the toughest holes in golf today.

Padraig Harrington’s fourth place finish in the US Tour’s Deutsche Bank Championship puts him third on the European Ryder Cup table.

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 138th Open Championship at Turnberry – but few were taking full advantage.

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.

Paul Broadhurst does not expect Tiger Woods or anybody else to remove his name from the record books at next month’s Open Championship.

Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey came from five shots back and then won a three-hole play-off to capture his first European Tour title today.

Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst moved into position today for a tilt at a third Portuguese Open title in five years.

Charl Schwartzel fired a flawless seven-under-par 64 to take a share of the lead at the Madrid Masters, but revealed afterwards he was struggling with injury and illness and had considered withdrawing.

Marcus Fraser made a stunning start to the second day of the Madrid Masters, firing three birdies in his opening four holes to take the outright lead.

It may have been three months since Jose Maria Olazabal played a competitive round of golf, but he showed no signs of losing his touch as an opening-round one-under-par 70 at the Madrid Masters left him three shots off the lead.

Jose Maria Olazabal’s third career comeback appeared to be going to plan at the Madrid Masters to be three off the lead after his first round.

Lee Westwood’s grandfather told him years ago that if he had nothing good to say then say nothing.

Peter Hanson defied cold, wet and windy conditions to give Sweden their first home winner of the SAS Masters for 10 years in Stockholm today.

Ryder Cup hopeful Nick Dougherty produced a sparkling finish to regain a share of the lead at the SAS Masters in Stockholm on Friday.

Nick Dougherty has re-ignited his challenge to be part of Nick Faldo’s Ryder Cup team next month.

Paul McGinley gave hope to all the chasing pack with a double-bogey start to his third round in the BMW PGA Championship at a windy Wentworth.

South African Hennie Otto finally landed his first European Tour today – but only after he had lost a five-shot lead for the second time in four tournaments.

Less than two months after losing a five-stroke lead on the final day in Madeira, South African Hennie Otto has another great chance to win his first European Tour title tomorrow.

Paul Broadhurst’s 500th European Tour appearance could still be one to remember after a 67 in the third round of the Italian Open in Milan today.

Welshman Bradley Dredge and England’s Paul Broadhurst fed off each other and led the pursuit of Swede Christian Nilsson when the Italian Open began in Milan today.

England’s Oliver Wilson continued his recent good form to card a four-under-par 68 and take a share of the clubhouse lead midway through the opening round of the BMW Asian Open.

Johnnie Walker Classic champion Anton Haig held a one-stroke lead over Englishmen Sam Walker and Paul Broadhurst as the big-hitting South African set the early pace in the opening round of the Qatar Masters this morning.

Mikko Ilonen and Martin Kaymer were locked together at the top of the leaderboard midway through today’s final round of the Scandinavian Masters.

Paul Broadhurst’s season may be coming to a premature end but it could yet do so with victory in the Scandinavian Masters.

England’s Paul Broadhurst, playing possibly his last event of the season, carded a brilliant 64 to storm into contention for a seventh European Tour victory in the Scandinavian Masters.

England’s Paul Broadhurst, who birdied three of the last four holes yesterday just to make the cut, carried on where he left off with a superb 64 in the Scandinavian Masters today.

Sergio Garcia is 18 holes away from completing a dream return to Carnoustie - scene of his biggest golfing nightmare eight years ago.

Ernie Els and Paul Broadhurst took 15 shots between them on just one hole – but were still in contention for the Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Marc Farry was back making golfing headlines on Thursday and, unlike last time, he was perfectly happy about it.

It may be stretching it a little to compare him to Tiger Woods, but Markus Brier now understands at least some of what the world number one has to cope with.

Bradley Dredge's quest to become the first home winner of the Wales Open sees him go into the final round tied for the lead at Celtic Manor tomorrow.