The tournament is billed as the Return of the Giants but Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were both cut down to size by missing the weekend rounds of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Tiger Woods was hit with a controversial two-stroke penalty today and is now poised to join world number one Rory McIlroy in missing the halfway cut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Rory McIlroy may have signed a multi-million dollar deal with Nike but somebody forgot to put a cover on his bag yesterday, revealing what equipment he would be using next season.

Rory McIlroy is as adaptable with golf clubs as Floyd Mayweather is with boxing gloves. Both have the greatest technique in the world, the equipment just facilitates it.

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.

THE final Major of the year begins at the Atlanta Athletic Club on Thursday with Luke Donald and Lee Westwood still clinging to the top two places in the world rankings and Rory McIlroy the bookmaker’s favourite at 10/1.

IS Tiger Woods back in business?

TIGER WOODS announced yesterday that he has separated – from the putter with which he has won 13 of his 14 majors.

IT WAS triple Major-winning Padraig Harrington who made the effort to break from his practice and congratulate Shane Lowry on last month’s 3 Irish Open success yesterday.

RORY McILROY has revealed comparisons with world number one Tiger Woods are making him ‘more motivated’.

Tiger Woods admits he has no idea how he will perform in next week’s US Open on his return to action.

Two weeks ago there was no doubt in Ian Poulter’s mind. “I will be in Augusta,” he said.

DARREN CLARKE wasn’t back to his old moody ways at Shinnecock Hills yesterday but he wasn’t far off it.