IRELAND’S Des Smyth blew his chance to lead the field near the end of a long wind-wrecked opening day in the British Open seniors championship over Royal Aberdeen Golf Club’s Balgownie Links yesterday.

Ireland's Des Smyth blew his chance to lead the field near the end of a long wind-wrecked opening day in the British Open seniors championship over Royal Aberdeen Golf Club’s Balgownie Links this evening.

FIFTEEN YEAR-OLD West of Ireland champion Rory McIlroy has been selected to compete in the Nissan Irish Open Championship at Carton House Golf Club next month.

Scotland’s Sam Torrance triumphed for the first time in the senior game when he won the Travis Perkins Senior Masters at Wentworth Club after equalling the lowest round shot on the European Seniors Tour.

EAMONN DARCY makes his first appearance of the season on the European Seniors Tour today at the Bosch Italian Seniors Open.

IN spite of his disappointing weekend in the final Benson & Hedges International at The Belfry, Padraig Harrington is back up from 10th to 9th in the world rankings and up to third in the European Tour order of merit.

Golf's two ruling bodies are meeting at the US Open this week to discuss the controversy over banned clubs.