Rory McIlroy and his European teammates are bracing themselves for the mother all warnings against complacency from captain Paul McGinley ahead of tomorrow's pivotal Ryder Cup singles matches.

Martin Kaymer proved the unlikely hero for Europe last night as Jose Maria Olazabal’s side staged a remarkable and record comeback from 10-6 down overnight to retain the Ryder Cup on a dramatic night in Chicago.

As a player, José Maria Olazabal formed a dominant partnership with the late great Severiano Ballesteros that was second to none.

THE sing-song introductions have become as familiar as the wind and rain at British Opens since 1975, but there’s something a lot more warming and comfortable than the weather listening to veteran tournament starter Ivor Robson announce: “On the tee ...”

The sponsors of the match introduced in 2000 to mark the contribution Seve Ballesteros made to European golf have suggested a name change following the Spanish star’s death earlier this month.

FRANCE won the right to host the 2018 Ryder Cup after presenting a bid described by European Tour chief executive George O’Grady as both exceptional and risk-free.

The European Tour are still considering the best way to honour Severiano Ballesteros following his death earlier this month.

SEVERIANO BALLESTEROS passed away and in doing so the world lost of one of the sport’s true legends, a superstar who transcended his sport.

SEVERIANO Ballesteros knew as soon as he set foot in Ireland for the first time in 1976 that he would love the country and that the affection would be returned a thousand fold.

A minute’s silence and round of applause for Seve Ballesteros at a golf tournament is one thing, but when it comes before a tennis semi-final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal then you know the world of sport has lost a truly giant figure.

“ON the tee, from Spain, Severiano Ballesteros.”

Seve Ballesteros will not be making an emotional return to St Andrews next month after all, his doctors advising him against playing in the eve-of-Open four-hole Champions Challenge.

Seve Ballesteros has been discharged from hospital, after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour.

Severiano Ballesteros has left intensive care after his fourth operation, the Madrid hospital at which he is being treated have confirmed.

Severiano Ballesteros has been moved out of the intensive care unit at the Madrid hospital where he is being treated.

Seve Ballesteros could be moved out of intensive care as soon as next week, according to the hospital treating the five-time major winner.

Golfing great Seve Ballesteros is continuing to make good progress today following a third operation to remove a brain tumour.

Seve Ballesteros’ condition has improved as he remains in Madrid’s La Paz hospital recovering from brain surgery.

Seve Ballesteros remains in a “stable condition” following his latest operation, doctors at Madrid’s La Paz hospital announced today.

Seve Ballesteros remained “under observation” in Madrid’s La Paz hospital last night after undergoing a third brain operation.

Doctors at Madrid’s La Paz hospital have declared Seve Ballesteros’ third brain operation a success.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON last night became the fourth Irishman to receive the Golf Writers’ Trophy presented annually by the Association of Golf Writers.

Seve Ballesteros was due to give a press conference at the British Open Championship this afternoon where he will speak about recent reports of a suicide attempt - reports he strenuously denies.

DARREN Clarke accepted his eight at the 15th in yesterday’s third round with commendable equanimity, pointing out it’s just the kind of thing that happens at Augusta National. How right he was.

Annika Sorenstam has beaten stiff competition from Michael Campbell and Colin Montgomerie to create more golfing history.

TO INSURE or not to insure? That was the dilemma facing Gerard O'Toole, executive chairman of Nissan Ireland, once he decided to offer the new state-of-the-art Nissan Murano to the first golfer to hole the 15th in one at this week's Irish Open.

REMEMBER those halcyon days when Ben Crenshaw and Hubert Green, Severiano Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo, used to enthrall us all among the sandhills and the sunshine of those famous Co Dublin dunes?

IN the housing market, it’s all about location, location, location. In the professional golf world, make that date, date, date.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, the unchallenged master of motor sport, has been named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the second time.

AFTER 931 weeks it has finally happened — no European is in the top 10 of the world golf rankings.

After 931 weeks it has finally happened – no European is in the top 10 of the world golf rankings as Padraig Harrington slipped out a place.

The news that Jack Nicklaus is set to design his second course in Ireland — on the grounds of the Killeen Castle in Co Meath — has renewed the debate on just how many more new multi-million euro complexes this country can take.

THE news that Jack Nicklaus is set to design his second course in Ireland — on the grounds of Killeen Castle in County Meath — has renewed the debate on just how many more new multi-million euro complexes this country can take.

SEVERIANO BALLESTEROS has described Bernhard Langer’s reluctance to commit himself entirely to the captaincy of the 2004 European Ryder Cup team as “greedy”.

THE forthcoming Seve Trophy contest between Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland at the Campo de Golf Parador El Saler, Valencia, Spain, will now be played over four days in early November (6-9), rather than three.

OLIVER DOHERTY, aged 27, from Buncrana, Co Donegal, is poised to become Ireland’s first golf gold medallist in level 1 of the Special Olympics.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON appeared to be totally relaxed and unfazed last night after the first day of the 67th Masters was washed out by the torrential rains that have swept this region of Georgia for the best part of a week.

AS another European Tour season gets under way, it is interesting to note the exemption categories that comprise the tournament fields each week.

Padraig Harrington, runner-up to Retief Goosen on the European Order of Merit for the second season running, is already considering his plan of attack for next year.

South African Retief Goosen today clinched his second successive European Order of Merit title – with an admission that he has not played well for all but one week of the last six months.