US Open champion Graeme McDowell was upstaged by world number 317 John Parry, who carded a second-round 67 to take the lead at the Austrian Open in Atzenbrugg.

IT is often said that the theories of economists go awry because they live in a cosy world of figures and fail to take account of the most unpredictable factor – human nature.

A SPECTACULAR eagle two at the ninth proved crucial as Waterville’s David Higgins yesterday made it through to next week’s Open Championship at Turnberry with a splendid performance over the Glasgow Gailes links in the final local qualifying round.

Scotland’s Lloyd and Elliot Saltman today became the first brothers to qualify for The Open since Seve and Manuel Ballesteros 26 years ago – both of them by the skin of their teeth.

Sweden’s Christian Nilsson carded three birdies in his first six holes to overtake compatriot Fredrik Andersson Hed in the second round of the Saint-Omer Open in northern France.

Danish Ryder Cup player Soren Hansen broke the PGA Catalunya course record with a nine-under-par 63 in the Spanish Open began today - after starting with a double bogey.

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.

Fourteen years after he first started trying to qualify for the Open Championship, England’s Phillip Archer has finally made it.

England's Ross McGowan equalled the lowest round of his brief European Tour career today and shares the lead after the first round of the Italian Open in Milan.

Teenage rookie Rory McIlroy produced a three-under-par second round to take a share of third place, four shots off the lead, in the Mastercard Masters in Melbourne.

WHAT a difference a week makes. Seven days ago, 28-year-old Colm Moriarty from Athlone was relying on invitations to Challenge Tour events as he attempted to get his career back on track after a dismal 2006 season.

Three players with quite brilliant records will spearhead Europe’s bid to inflict more Ryder Cup misery on America next year.

Australian Simon Nash moved into a share of second place with three early second round birdies at the Madeira Islands Open today.

Four times a winner on the US Tour, American Notah Begay knows he might never have a better chance to win on the European Tour than this weekend in Madeira.

Former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker gave himself the chance to re-ignite his career with a five-under-par 67 when the Madeira Islands Open began today.

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey likes a good argument when he hears it, and he’s got strong views of his own. Today, and every Tuesday, he will be acting as referee on your opinions on the Premiership. Let him know what you think and he’ll argue the toss with you. We’ll be offering a free sports prize to the star contribution each week.

Colin Montgomerie began the KLM Open today as a hot favourite to take advantage of a weakened field and win his first tournament of the year.

Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam today revealed he had already earmarked one of his wild cards, but hopes good friend Paul Broadhurst does not get the other one.

There was no sign of weakness from Colin Montgomerie over the front nine at Gleneagles today.

THE European Tour School is an annual end of season exercise that tries the hearts and minds of young and old alike.

Tom Whitehouse’s decision to compete in this week’s European Tour qualifying school reaped its rewards at San Roque in Spain.

Jarmo Sandelin set about rebuilding his career in the European Tour’s qualifying school final in Spain today after spending more than a decade employing a do-it-yourself approach to the game.

England’s Shaun Webster made a purposeful opening to his bid for a European Tour card as he set the early pace in the first round of the qualifying school final at San Roque.

Raymond Russell is looking to take encouragement from the resurgence of former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst and make a swift return to the European Tour this week.

Left-hander Stuart Little moved closer to a first European tour title at the Abama Canaries Open in Tenerife today.

Six years after he thought his European Tour career was over, England’s Stuart Little has the chance this weekend to put the icing on easily the best season of his golfing life.

David Howell’s remarkable return from injury continued today when he took a share of the first round lead in the Dunhill Links championship.

Peter McEvoy, the former Great Britain and Ireland captain, believes this year’s Walker Cup side is one of the strongest ever assembled.

Veteran Roger Chapman is hoping he can cash in on some good omens and regain his European Tour card at the Cadillac Russian Open by following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Gary Emerson.

THE YEAR was 1976 and two young golfers had set out from far-flung places to make their fortune. They hoped to qualify for a few tournaments and move on to the next stop.

Ian Woosnam today named Ireland’s Des Smyth and England’s Peter Baker as his two vice-captains for next year's Ryder Cup match at the K Club near Dublin.

JUSTIN ROSE and Bernhard Langer both failed to make it through the British Open championship qualifier in America.

When Ian Woosnam returns to the British Open Championship at St Andrews in two weeks’ time it is a good bet that Peter Baker will be one of his practice round partners.

THE Smurfit European Open could hardly have scripted things better for their €3.4m championship beginning over the original Palmer North Course at The K Club on Thursday.

SEVERAL Irish golfers, notably Belfast man Michael Hoey, are disappointed at being passed over for invitations into this week’s Smurfit European Open at The K Club.

The star group did not quite live up to their billing when the Jazztel Spanish Open began at windy San Roque today.

Scotland’s Andrew Coltart, who has failed to make a halfway cut this season, made a stunning start to the Madeira Island Open today.

After an eventful start to the Dubai Desert Classic Sandy Lyle spoke today about the disappointment of missing out on the Ryder Cup captaincy again.

FOR the first time since that memorable week at Oakland Hills last month, the 12-man European Ryder Cup team comes together for the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama on Thursday.

A month after becoming a father for the fourth time Paul Broadhurst is hoping to have something else to celebrate tomorrow night – his first European Tour victory since 1995.

FORMER Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst is in the hunt for his first European tour victory for nine years after adding a 65 to his opening 67 in the Madrid Open yesterday.