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.

Low scoring remained the order of the day when the Johnnie Walker Championship resumed at an overcast Gleneagles today.

This country has produced many of the game’s finest but for reasons not always easy to fathom, their record at the Irish Open is a long way short of what might have been expected.

Even though the country’s four Major champions, Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy — along with 2009 champion Shane Lowry — are in the field, the Irish Open at Carton House on June 27 continues without a title sponsor this year.

South Africa’s Richard Sterne and Trevor Fisher Jnr are tied for the lead at the halfway stage of the Joburg Open, three shots clear of the chasing pack.

Sergio Garcia charged through the field in Dubai today in only his second tournament round since post-Ryder Cup eye surgery.

The European Tour’s £6m season-ending event began on time despite a torrential overnight storm in Dubai today – but it was over for Ireland’s Shane Lowry.

The Algarve has hosted many a rousing Irish party over the years but little could match the celebrations in Vilamoura on Sunday night to mark Shane Lowry’s victory in the Portugal Masters.

Peter Hanson warmed up for the Ryder Cup in fine style by claiming victory at the KLM Open in Hilversum today.

Jose Maria Olazabal sought to end a continuing Ryder Cup row by bluntly declaring suggestions of a rift between himself and triple Major winner Padraig Harrington as bullshit.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell has win through to face Sergio Garcia at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain today.

Graeme McDowell knew he was already through to the knock-out stages of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin yesterday ever before taking on South African Jbe Kruger.

Justin Rose piled on the agony for Darren Clarke with a 6&4 drubbing at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain today.

Tom Lewis beat Australian John Senden on his Volvo World Match Play debut in Spain today - and as a result put himself and defending champion Ian Poulter into the last 16.

Open champion Darren Clarke has been drawn alongside England’s Justin Rose and Robert Rock in the group stages of this week’s Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin near Marbella this week.

Branden Grace claimed the Volvo China Open title as a final-round 69 left him three shots clear of the rest of the field.

Branden Grace claimed the Volvo China Open title as a final-round 69 left him three shots clear of the rest of the field.

Paul McGinley fully acknowledges he is widely regarded as a red-hot favourite to become the first Irish captain of the 2014 European Ryder Cup team.

There was not even the proverbial man and his dog on hand to witness Damien McGrane move to a two-stroke lead with a 65 on the opening day of the Hassan II Trophy in Agadir.

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano overcame a desert storm to grab the lead away from American John Daly on the opening day of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha today.

Rory McIlroy promised never to make the same mistake again after a two-shot penalty cost him a share of the halfway lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship today.

Rory McIlroy claimed an opening round victory in his ‘Star Wars’ showdown with Tiger Woods at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

It was first blood to Rory McIlroy today as he, Tiger Woods and Luke Donald took their opening steps in a season which promises so much.

Rory McIlroy produced most of the early fireworks in his eagerly-awaited clash with Tiger Woods and Luke Donald in Abu Dhabi today.

South African’s Branden Grace carded a level-par 72 in his final round to win the Joburg Open today and deny Jamie Elson what would have been a remarkable triumph.

England’s Jamie Elson gave himself a chance of winning the Joburg Open after firing a brilliant nine-under-par 63 in his final round today on Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s East Course.

England’s Richard Finch chipped in for an eagle three on the eighth hole as he maintained his challenge on a rain-shortened third day in the Joburg Open.

Sergio Garcia made it two wins in a row today – but it was far tougher than the first of them.

THE bumper crowds expected for this week’s Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland will be spoiled for choice after the draw for the first two rounds was made yesterday.

SWEDEN’S Alexander Noren cruised to his third European Tour title despite a closing round of 77 in Stockholm yesterday.

Sweden’s Alexander Noren today cruised to his third European Tour title despite a closing round of 77 in Stockholm.

THREE major champions will be among the 27 home golfers taking part in the Irish Open Championship at Killarney from July 28 to 31.

Thomas O’Flynn pro golfer; Danny Nickless, Operations Manager, PGA EuroPro Tour and Kevin Morris Director of Golf, Fota Island Resort all set for Audi Cork Irish Masters today in Cork.

Henrik Stenson gave encouragement to the chasing pack with a slow start to his second round at the BMW International Open in Munich today.

FOTA ISLAND RESORT’S Seamus Leahy has welcomed next month’s return of championship golf to the Cork resort.

DAMIEN McGRANE claimed the first-day lead at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea with a six-under-par round of 66 yesterday.

Lee Westwood double-bogeyed the final hole of his first round at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea to end day one six shots behind leader Damien McGrane.

Ireland’s Damien McGrane claimed the early clubhouse lead at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea with a six-under-par round of 66 on the opening day at Blackstone GC.

Martin Kaymer suddenly found top form again at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters today – but probably too late to take him to world number one tomorrow.

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

Retief Goosen celebrated his 42nd birthday by setting the clubhouse target at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in windy Doha today.

It was a rough start for some of the big names at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha today.

A 20-foot eagle putt on the third gave Ryder Cup Swede Peter Hanson the advantage on the final day of the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain.

A FOUNDER member of 1980s band KC and the Sunshine Band has been jailed for seven years for sex offences involving teenage boys.