Less than two weeks away from his defence of the US Open title Graeme McDowell suffered the potentially devastating shock of an 81 – the joint worst round of his entire European Tour career – at Celtic Manor today.

Martin Maritz and Tyrone Mordt shared the lead after round one of the Joburg Open today with both carding faultless nine-under-par 62s, although they came on different sets of 18 holes at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Branden Grace set the early pace at the Joburg Open after a blistering eight-under-par 63 in the opening round.

THOMAS BJORN and Carlos Del Moral both shot rounds of 65 to share a two-shot lead at the top of the Estoril Open leaderboard at the end of the second day.

Thomas Bjorn and Carlos Del Moral both shot rounds of 65 to share a two-shot lead at the top of the Estoril Open leaderboard at the end of the second day.

Irish golfer Damien McGrane hit a bogey-free round to earn a share of the lead after the first round of the Estoril Open today.

SWEDEN’S Pelle Edberg was in a league of his own with a second-round 64 at the European Tour event in cold and windy Majorca. It brought him into the joint lead with South African James Kingston, who was able to add only a level-par 70 to his pacesetting opening 65.

Ireland’s Gary Murphy was on his way out of the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca after a poor second round today.

Order of Merit number one Robert Karlsson made a great up and down at the last hole this morning, but still lost a share of the lead going into the final round of the Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.

Red-hot Robert Karlsson has a third successive victory and the European Order of Merit title in his sights.

England’s Ross Fisher and Order of Merit leader Robert Karlsson were left battling for the lead at the Portugal Masters today as Welshman Stuart Manley and former Open champion Paul Lawrie did their own versions of the good, the bad and the ugly.

Fist-pumping Stuart Manley had Order of Merit number one Robert Karlsson breathing down his neck the moment he resumed the Portugal Masters with a one-stroke lead in Vilamoura today.

Former Ryder Cup player David Howell’s climb back up the rankings after a nightmare slump was continuing in Vilamoura today.

Stuart Manley, a schoolboy soccer starlet who had a trial with Manchester United, is about to find out how good a golfer he is.

Welshman Stuart Manley remained the man to catch at the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura today – as Colin Montgomerie missed yet another cut.

India’s Jyoti Randhawa should have plenty to talk about with his Bollywood actress wife at the moment.

Justin Rose has taken another step towards winning his first Ryder Cup cap - but only after a night when he wondered if he was ever going to get to sleep.

Ross Fisher had company from Graeme McDowell at the top before he had the chance to resume the European Open at The London Club in Kent today.

Overnight European Tour Qualifying School finals leader Wakefield maintained his place at the top with a second successive 69.

DARREN CLARKE claims it will take more than a change in captaincy to reverse a trend that has seen Europe win four of the last five Ryder Cups.

DARREN CLARKE claims it will take more than a change in captaincy to reverse a trend that has seen Europe win four of the last five Ryder Cups.

English duo Matthew Woods and Marcus Higley share the lead going into the final round of the European Tour qualifying school stage two at the El Bosque Country Club near Valencia.

CLAIRE COUGHLAN (ladies), Darren Clarke (professional), Noel Fox (amateur) and Garth McGimpsey (distinguished services) were voted the 2003 award winners by the Irish Golf Writers Association.

Britain and Ireland's amateurs snatched an historic third successive Walker Cup victory over the United States at Ganton.

BRITAIN and Ireland’s amateurs snatched a brilliant third successive Walker Cup victory over the United States at Ganton yesterday.

Britain and Ireland’s amateurs snatched a brilliant – and historic – third successive Walker Cup victory over the United States at Ganton today.

Britain and Ireland have retained the Walker Cup at Ganton.

GARY WOLSTENHOLME and Michael Skelton, the oldest and youngest members of the Britain and Ireland team, have been paired together for the opening game of the Walker Cup against America at Ganton in Yorkshire today.

BRITISH amateur champion Gary Wolstenholme appears to have fired up at least some of the American team against whom he will try for a slice of Walker Cup history at Ganton in Yorkshire this weekend.

AS Ireland’s two new Walker Cup stars basked in the adulation at Mullingar yesterday, where Colm Moriarty strode to an impressive victory in the prestigious 72 hole Scratch Cup to confirm his current well being, they became the 29th and 30th golfers from this country to be chosen on the British & Irish Walker Cup team.

Portmarnock's Noel Fox survived a dramatic back nine comeback to win the AIB Irish Amateur Open for the second time at Royal Dublin.

IRELAND’S hopes of winning their first Amateur Home International title for 11 years were scuppered in the sunshine at Royal St David’s Harlech yesterday when Wales overcame them 8.1/2 to 6.1/2 in a contest even closer than the scoreline suggests.