The US Open is set to return to Oakmont Country Club, Pennsylvania, in 2016 for a record ninth time, the United States Golf Association announced last night.

Padraig Harrington goes for an incredible three majors in a row next week rating Augusta National as the ultimate test for a golfer.

IT WAS Sunday night at Doneraile Golf Club, the affable Peter Hogan’s President’s prize-giving ceremony done and dusted (The Griff had picked up his usual piece of glass, Denis ‘Dinny’ Cole in the winner’s enclosure once again), and Donie Cotter, a magnificent one-man rock orchestra, was giving it Galtee.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON now lies joint 10th on the European list of major winners.

Padraig Harrington cannot wait for next year’s Masters after winning his second major in a month at Oakland Hills on Sunday.

Padraig Harrington has won the 90th US PGA Championship, to add to his Open title - catapulting his name alongside the legends in the history of world golf.

Robert Karlsson and Jeev Milka Singh made the early running at Oakland Hills with opening rounds of two-under-par 68 at the 90th US PGA Championship.

Another day of strong winds sent scoring soaring early in the final round at the Players Championship.

A CERTAIN Steve Banky became something of a household name in American golfing circles at the weekend.

The incomparable Tiger Woods gave yet another golfing masterclass in Chicago today, leaving Luke Donald and the rest trailing in his wake as he claimed his 12th major title.

Tiger Woods left Luke Donald and the rest trailing in his wake as he closed in on another piece of history in Chicago today.

If Luke Donald is to win his first major title tomorrow it will be achieved the hard way – he has to go head-to-head with Tiger Woods at the US PGA Championship in Chicago.

Luke Donald said in March that he thought the only way for him to catch up with world number one Tiger Woods was to “start believing I’m as good as him“.

A last-hole double bogey sent Lee Westwood crashing off the leaderboard when the US Tour’s Zurich Classic began in the hurricane-recovering city of New Orleans.

AS temperatures soared to almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit at Baltusrol yesterday, Phil Mickelson was back in his comfortable, air-conditioned room with his feet up and a satisfied smile on his face.

IF a happy attitude to life is essential for success in sport, then somebody should tell Sergio Garcia.

Darren Clarke has had no difficulty finding somebody to thank after his brilliant opening 65 in the United States PGA Championship.

DARREN Clarke and Padraig Harrington began yesterday’s first round in the US PGA Championship at precisely the same time - but from different tees.

IF there’s a golfing God up there, he will see to it that Ernie Els wins the US PGA Championship starting at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, this morning.

Tiger Woods today predicted David Duval will become a force again.

BILLY FOSTER is back on the bag, he’s been on holiday for a fortnight and Darren Clarke is all set to cope with the demands of two of the biggest weeks of his season, the last major of the year at Whistling Straits and the defence of his WGC-NEC title in Akron, Ohio, next week.

Tee-off times in the second round of the United States Open golf championship at Olympia Fields, Illinois, on Thursday and Friday (USA unless stated, all times Irish time).

US Open Scores

Tee-off times in the second round of the United States Open golf championship at Olympia Fields, Illinois, on Thursday and Friday (USA unless stated, all times Irish time):

DARREN CLARKE is the US Tour’s best driver of a golf ball this year. That is a fact, not an opinion.

Tiger Woods and Ernie Els – and the thousands of golf fans who want to watch every blow – will have to be up early for their first round clash in the US Open next Thursday.

Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia both had desperately disappointing finishes as the United States PGA championship began in Minnesota today.

The strongest field ever assembled in golf tees off in the United States PGA championship in Minnesota tomorrow.

Jeff Sluman fired a flawless eight-under-par 63 to claim a two-shot lead after three rounds of the Greater Milwaukee Open.

Tiger Woods shrugged off a knee injury to make a fine start in the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach.