STUART APPLEBY understands the scrutiny that might come with shooting a 59 on a par-70 course.

England's Ross Fisher erupted into life again with a 61 in Killarney today - and he needed nobody to tell him it could have been an historic 59.

STEVE STRICKER shot his highest round of the week and still won by two strokes to successfully defend his John Deere Classic title in Illinois.

Defending champion Steve Stricker and opening-day hero Paul Goydos were matching each other shot for shot as the leaders made the turn in the third round of the John Deere Classic in Illinois today.

CALLED “Sunshine” by his friends – an ironic reference to his often pessimistic view of his game – Paul Goydos is now also “Mr 59” after shooting a sub-60 round yesterday at the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Illinois.

Jack Fleck has three significant memories of his epic 1955 US Open victory over Ben Hogan.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was delighted to rediscover his form with a third-round 66 in the Quail Hollow Championship today.

Tiger Woods posted a two-over-par 74 and found himself nine shots off the pace set by fellow American Bo van Pelt after the first round of the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.

TIGER WOODS endured a disappointing start to the Quail Hollow Championship yesterday with four bogeys and a double-bogey in a two-over-par opening round of 74.

DUSTIN JOHNSON stood onthe 18th tee as powerful wavescrashed along the sea wall along the left side of the famous 18th hole at Pebble Beach. Then he turned to face what he considers the toughest drive on the golf course.

Dustin Johnson’s defence of his AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am title remains on track as he entered the final round tied for the lead and four strokes clear of the field alongside Paul Goydos.

COLIN Montgomerie may surprise us but it is difficult to believe he would include two people among his assistants at Celtic Manor next October who have never played in the Ryder Cup.

RORY McILROY scored full marks on two counts in carding a four under par 68 on a sand-whipped opening day defence of his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title and then his knowledge of Corey Pavin’s USA Ryder Cup vice-captains.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will not announce his vice-captains until after July’s Open Championship at St Andrews at the earliest.

Ryan Palmer sneaked in with a four-under-par round of 66 late in the day to take the halfway lead at the Sony Open in Honolulu.

RORY MCILROY has reached a higher position on the world rankings than any other 20-year-old before him.

Heath Slocum saved par in dramatic fashion at the final hole to clinch a one-shot victory in The Barclays at Liberty National.

Padraig Harrington was in contention going into the final day at The Barclays at Liberty National in New Jersey, hitting a third-day 67 to sit at four under, five shots clear of Paul Goydos and Steve Marino at the top of the leaderboard.

PGA Tour rookie Webb Simpson defied difficult conditions in the second round of The Barclays at Liberty National to take a two-shot lead at the halfway stage.

Padraig Harrington has made a good start at the Barclay's Championship in New Jersey.

Rory McIlroy got his USPGA Championship debut off to a strong start at Hazeltine National as Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods renewed their duel on the first morning of the final major of the year.

Steve Lowery took the opening-round lead at the Buick Open in Michigan this morning as Tiger Woods made a slow start to his first tournament since the missing the cut at the Open Championship.

Tiger Woods’ bid to win a third title of the year suffered a setback at Congressional Country Club today as he bogeyed the opening hole of his third round at the AT&T National in Maryland.

Memories of relinquishing his Masters lead over the final holes two months ago spurred Kenny Perry to victory at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut yesterday.

Paul Goydos stormed into the lead at TPC River Highlands as bad weather once again delayed play at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

Kenny Perry shot a course record-equalling 61 at TPC River Highlands to take the lead in the Travelers Championship at the end of the first round in Connecticut last night.

Graeme McDowell shot the lowest score of the day in Memphis but no-one was able to reel in runaway winner Brian Gay at the St Jude Classic.

Brian Gay gave up a shot at the final hole to leave him with a slender lead as he chased a second PGA Tour victory of the year at the St Jude Classic today.

Zach Johnson admitted he had got lucky after he shot a third-round 60 but still needed a play-off to successfully defend his title at the Valero Texas Open yesterday.

Mathias Gronberg led a Swedish charge at La Cantera as Justin Leonard maintained a share of his overnight lead in the Valero Texas Open today.

England’s Brian Davis and Greg Owen lie two shots behind first-round co-leaders Paul Goydos and Justin Leonard at the Valero Texas Open following a day of low scoring on Thursday at La Cantera near San Antonio.

Defending champion Sergio Garcia made a strong start as The Players Championship got under way at TPC Sawgrass today.

Luke Donald is tied for fourth after the third round of the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.

Reigning British Open and PGA champion Padraig Harrington bogeyed two of his first four holes and never got on track after the second round of the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Play has been suspended on day two of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney after heavy rain rendered the Rose Bay layout unplayable.

Kevin Sutherland has a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Frys.com Open.

Arron Oberholser carded eight birdies and two bogeys in his second-round 64 to lead the Frys.com Open by a stroke on 11-under from Steve Allan.

Chris Stroud moved to the top of the leaderboard at the Texas Open on day two, shooting a six-under-par 64 for a two stroke lead at the halfway mark.

COULD this US Open have been any better, any more exciting or any more suspenseful?

Sergio Garcia has been named European Tour golfer of the month for May after becoming only the second European to win the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Sergio Garcia became just the second European to win the Players Championship when he beat American Paul Goydos at the first extra hole.

Another day of strong winds sent scoring soaring early in the final round at the Players Championship.

Luke Donald surrendered any faint chance of winning the Players Championship when he suffered a nightmare finish to his third round on Saturday.

Relatively gentle conditions greeted the early starters in the third round at the Players Championship.