Masters week is a time for the stars of golf to shine. But for some, the real fun begins after dark.

Pádraig Harrington kicked off his 2020 Ryder Cup captaincy by stating his total confidence that Rory McIlroy would be fully committed to the European cause at Whistling Straits.

Anyone who has followed the illustrious playing career of Pádraig Harrington and listened to his intense desire to get things right these past 15 years, or so, will have no doubt he is the right man to lead Europe into the next Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin 20 months from now.

Pádraig Harrington is today expected to be named as Europe’s captain for the 2020 Ryder Cup.

It’s the worst secret in golf and even Pádraig Harrington, one of the most affable men in golf, is tiring of being asked if he’s going to be the next captain of the European Ryder Cup team.

Justin Rose has backed Pádraig Harrington to be Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain.

If Pádraig Harrington does get the nod to lead Europe into the 2020 Ryder Cup, as many expect he will, then he could not be happier with the course that the PGA of America has chosen to host the biennial team event.

Ryder Cup vice-captain Graeme McDowell admits he wants the main job in the future but accepts there is a log-jam of players queuing up ahead of him.

When Thomas Bjorn arrived at Le Golf National at the start of last week, Europe’s captain could not have dreamed he would be reflecting on a landslide victory, nor imagined what a pain in the backside it could become.

Rory McIlroy praised Team Europe’s character and compatibility as he soaked in the moment of a fourth Ryder Cup success at Le Golf National last night.

Ryder Cup veterans Ian Poulter and Justin Rose saluted team captain Thomas Bjorn’s calm under pressure and attention to detail after the Dane delivered a landslide victory for Europe over the United States at Le Golf National.

Heading into yesterday’s singles matches, Europe held a number of decisive advantages, writes John McHenry

Brookline and Medinah loomed large in the minds of 2018 captains Thomas Bjorn and Jim Furyk on Saturday night as they considered the 10-6 lead Europe hold over the United States going into Sunday’s singles session at Le Golf National.

Well you can rip up the record books, the 42nd Ryder Cup matches will get underway at Le Golf National this morning with a completely new roster of partnerships.

Henrik Stenson has stressed the importance of a strong European start to the Ryder Cup in this morning’s opening fourballs session at Le Golf National.

As a sporting spectacle, the Ryder Cup has the capacity to reach the dramatic pitch of All-Ireland finals, a World Cup, the Six Nations Championship, the Super Bowl, and the NBA finals.

Irish impressionist Conor Moore took no prisoners when he took off Europe’s Ryder Cup team in a specially commissioned video.

Judging by the comments of rival captains Thomas Bjorn and Jim Furyk during their joint press conference at Le Golf National yesterday, the knockout punch Tiger Woods delivered to Rory McIlroy in Sunday’s Tour Championship must never have happened.

Captain Jim Furyk is not expecting a hostile reception when the United States attempt to retain the Ryder Cup with a first victory on European soil for 25 years.

Europe captain Thomas Bjorn insists he and his team do not fear a revitalised Tiger Woods despite the 14-time major winner’s spectacular return to form.

Sergio Garcia dedicated an encouraging start in his Ryder Cup warm-up event to Celia Barquin Arozamena, the promising young Spanish golfer who was murdered on a golf course in the United States on Monday.

Sergio Garcia’s inclusion as one of Thomas Bjorn’s four captain’s picks for Europe later this month could come to define the success or failure of the Dane’s bid to regain the Ryder Cup from the United States.

Any keen follower of professional golf could have automatically selected two of Thomas Bjorn’s Ryder Cup picks yesterday, writes John McHenry.

Thomas Bjorn faces the first tough decision of his Ryder Cup captaincy as he prepares to name his four wild cards for the contest with the United States.

In-form Bryson DeChambeau left Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk in no doubt he will be a valuable wildcard after a second successive victory in the FedEx Cup series.

Italy’s Andrea Pavan celebrated the imminent arrival of his second child by winning his first European Tour title after coming out on top in a final-round duel with three-time major winner Padraig Harrington.

Scott Jamieson and Paul Waring share the halfway lead in the Nordea Masters as Thorbjorn Olesen maintained his challenge for a Ryder Cup qualifying place in Gothenburg.

The roars were unlike anything Brooks Koepka had ever heard, and he knew exactly what they meant.

Even with ample reason to think about what might have been, Paul Azinger prefers to wonder what’s next.

Rory McIlroy is nothing if not bold. He’s a Manchester United fan who hopes Liverpool win the Champions League final on Saturday, admits he enjoyed his round of golf with Donald Trump, and he’s back at Wentworth, where he has missed the cut four times in his previous eight outings at the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour’s flagship event.

Pádraig Harrington accepted a European Ryder Cup vice-captaincy for a third time and thanked his friend and skipper Thomas Bjorn for keeping him involved in the biennial duel with the United States 19 years after his playing debut.

"You only need to look at the record books to see that their Ryder Cup pedigree speaks for itself."

Pádraig Harrington wouldn't like to risk waiting to possibly perform the role on home soil in 2026.

Hazeltine hosted the last Ryder Cup in 2016 when the United States lifted the trophy for the first time since 2008.

Paul McGinley foresees more of golf’s young elite like Rory McIlroy suffering injuries because of the stress they are putting on their bodies.

Paul Dunne may be starting his 2018 campaign on Thomas Bjorn’s European team at this weekend’s EurAsia Cup in Malaysia but the Irish star will not be fooled that he has one foot in the door for this year’s Ryder Cup.

Paul Dunne rounded off a stellar breakthrough year on tour last night when he was named “Professional of the Year” by the Irish Golf Writers’ Association.

Pádraig Harrington believes he is capable of making a Ryder Cup return at the age of 47 after making a superb start to the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.

Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter already have one eye on a Ryder Cup return after making strong starts to the Turkish Airlines Open.

Shane Lowry is first of the Irish into action this morning at the Turkish Airlines Open

Captain Jim Furyk believes the United States have “25 years of scars” to overcome to retain the Ryder Cup in Paris next year.

With another US victory in the Presidents Cup, the Ryder Cup is officially on the clock. September 28, Day One of the competition next year, can’t come soon enough. But in the meantime, Team Europe’s captain Thomas Bjorn should be afraid. He should be very afraid. Just ask International Team captain Nick Price.

Miguel Angel Jimenez has his own record as the oldest winner in European Tour history in his sights after making a flying start to the Omega European Masters.

Kevin Markham reflects on the Open at Royal Birkdale.