A month after insisting it remained “some distance” from being able to stage the Open in the North for the first time since 1951, the R&A is set to announce Royal Portrush will host the championship in 2019.

The R&A insists it remains "some distance" from being able to stage the British Open in Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951.

There is not a week goes by when someone isn’t bemoaning the state of golf.

Royal Portrush officials were as flabbergasted as Graeme McDowell when they heard PGA of America president Ted Bishop suggest the Dunluce Links could become the first course outside the States to host the US PGA Championship.

Royal Portrush has emerged as a surprise contender to stage the US PGA Championship if the PGA of America goes ahead with plans to stage the event outside the United States.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson admits he does have concerns about possible legal action against the ban on anchored strokes, but believes any law suits would “not be on particularly strong grounds”.

Tom Watson’s amazing return as American Ryder Cup captain — he will be 65 at Gleneagles in 2014 and the oldest skipper in history — was not a knee-jerk reaction to their latest defeat.

Three-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington has re-signed with Wilson Golf in a multi-year deal that will see him continue to play Wilson Staff clubs on both tours from January.