PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON well remembers the 2002 US Open and the raucous atmosphere circulating around Bethpage Black as America’s national championship reached out to the masses on a public course for the first time in its history.

Nick Dougherty has turned to three-time champion Nick Faldo for an expert opinion in the countdown to his Masters debut at Augusta National this week.

Nick Faldo made a slow start but was soon into his stride on his debut at the Senior British Open this morning.

For Seve Ballesteros, the golf course, in competition, is where he is meant to be. Simon Lewis found him loving his new challenge.

Tiger Woods was on the wrong end of a whitewash today in the annual match between the stars of the Isleworth and Lake Nona clubs in Orlando.

IT’S becoming increasingly difficult to leave the word “choke” out of the sporting lexicon these days.

If Colin Montgomerie’s start is anything to go by he is in for another sparkling Ryder Cup.

Great though the last two weeks have been for Irish golf, Graeme McDowell reckons it could be just the start of something even better.

As past tournaments have proved, The Ryder Cup seems to bring out something special in Irish golfers, writes Charlie Mulqueen, Oakland Hills.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE tests himself with his 37 times tables prior to every important round of golf.

When it comes to the Ryder Cup Paul McGinley has been there, won that.

THERE has been nothing like the Ryder Cup in recent years to bring out the best in Colin Montgomerie.

Former world number one and 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples is out of next week’s Open because of a recurrence of back trouble.

Tom Watson will not be making a return next week to the Royal Troon course on which he won the fourth of his five Open titles.

Tom Watson will not be making a return next week to the Royal Troon course on which he won the fourth of his five Open titles.

Tom Watson will not be making a return next week to the Royal Troon course on which he won the fourth of his five Open titles.

David Duval today began the US Open – his first tournament since last November - in terrific style with a birdie.

After the dream start of an opening birdie, David Duval had back-to-back double bogeys today at the United States Open – his first tournament since last November.

Tee-off times in the second round of the United States Open golf championship at Shinnecock Hills, New York, on Friday.

David Duval today began the US Open – his first tournament since last November - in terrific style with a birdie.

Tee-off times in the first two rounds of the United States Open golf championship at Shinnecock Hills, New York, on June 17-18 (USA unless stated, all times Irish time):

David Duval, out of golf since last November and currently ranked 437th in the world, goes back in at the deep end this week after deciding to enter the United States Open.

Tee-off times in the first two rounds of the United States Open golf championship at Shinnecock Hills, New York, on June 17-18 (USA unless stated, all times Irish time):

Stewart Cink recorded the greatest final-round PGA Tour comeback on American soil when erasing a nine-stroke deficit before breaking Ted Purdy’s heart in a five-hole play-off at the Heritage.

Colin Montgomerie hopes he is on his way back to the top – and is determined to appreciate it much more the second time around.

YOU can never tell in matchplay, but Ireland’s two representatives, Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, appear to be favoured by the draw for tomorrow’s first round of the Accenture World Matchplay Championship at La Costa, Carlsbad, California.

Former champion Darren Clarke, who won the title in 2000 by beating David Duval in the semi-finals and then Tiger Woods in the 36-hole final, begins his Accenture Match Play Championship campaign against Argentinian veteran Eduardo Romero.

Kapalua Leaderboard

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke is one shot off the lead after the first round of the PGA Tour’s season-opening Mercedes Championship.

Padraig Harrington has single-handedly since April kept Europe representation in the top 10, golf’s end-of-year world rankings released today reveal.

The United States retained the UBS Cup after a dramatic 12-12 tie with the Rest of the World at Sea Island.

The United States tonight retained the UBS Cup after a dramatic 12-12 tie with the Rest of the World at Sea Island.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE and Bernhard Langer reproduced their Ryder Cup form to inspire the Rest of the World to a slender 3½ to 2½ lead over the United States after the opening day of the UBS Cup.

Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer reproduced their Ryder Cup form to inspire the Rest of the World to a slender 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 lead over the United States after the opening day of the UBS Cup.

Colin Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer today carried on where they left off in last year’s Ryder Cup on the opening day of the UBS Cup in Georgia.

Official World Rankings:

Official World rankings

US Open Scores

Tee-off times in the second round of the United States Open golf championship at Olympia Fields, Illinois, on Thursday and Friday (USA unless stated, all times Irish time).

Tee-off times in the second round of the United States Open golf championship at Olympia Fields, Illinois, on Thursday and Friday (USA unless stated, all times Irish time):

Tiger Woods and Ernie Els – and the thousands of golf fans who want to watch every blow – will have to be up early for their first round clash in the US Open next Thursday.

Official World Rankings

The Ryder Cup is proudly displayed on this side of the Atlantic, but for the first time since the world golf rankings were launched in 1986 Europe could soon be without a single player in the world’s top 10.

Len Mattiace will try to put his emotions and a stunning near-miss behind him this week at The Heritage.