Hiroyuki Fujita held off a final-day charge from Toru Taniguchi to land the Nippon Series JT Cup.

Shigeru Nonaka claimed the first Japan Golf Tour title of his career with a three-stroke victory at the Kansai Open Golf Championship today.

The new US Open champion Graeme McDowell will have to wait until just before 2pm on Thursday when he tees off with two former winners of that title, Jim Furyk and Geoff Ogilvy at the Open in St Andrews.

Asia were on the brink of a memorable victory over Europe in The Royal Trophy midway through the final day at Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok.

Jose Maria Olazabal has called for a “special” performance as his European team seek to overturn a five-point deficit to defeat Asia and extend their 100% record in The Royal Trophy.

Europe faced an uphill task on the second afternoon of The Royal Trophy as Asia seemed set to extend their advantage in the four-balls today.

Asia were in the ascendancy midway through the opening day’s foursomes at The Royal Trophy as Europe squandered early advantages.

IRELAND’S Paul McGinley says there is an underlying desire within the European team to win The Royal Trophy this week in honour of the absent Seve Ballesteros.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington battled foul weather and a wrist injury in defence of his Open title at Royal Birkdale today, but former champion Sandy Lyle quit after just 10 holes.

Justin Rose nearly won The Masters a year ago and now he feels his is fit and ready enough to finish the job this time around.

The withdrawal of American Brett Wetterich has prevented a first round clash between Colin Montgomerie and Justin Rose at the Accenture World Match Play Championship in Arizona next week.

Open champion Padraig Harrington is in line for a first round clash with Swede Peter Hanson at the Accenture World Match Play Championship in Arizona next week.

Europe retained the Royal Trophy as Paul McGinley put himself in an unbeatable position in his match-u with Asia’s Thaworn Wiratchant as the Irishman took an unassailable three hole lead with only three left to play at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Seve Ballesteros was refusing to prematurely celebrate defending the Royal Trophy after his European side extended their lead over Asia on the second day of the annual match-play tournament.

Europe’s overwhelming dominance over their Asian counterparts continued on the second day of the Royal Trophy as Seve Ballesteros’ team moved even further ahead following the fourballs at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Europe continued to dominate the Royal Trophy midway through the second day’s play as Seve Ballesteros’ team led Joe Ozaki’s Asian side in two of the four fourball pairings at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Seve Ballesteros’ European team gained the upper hand over the Asian counterparts in the early exchanges of the Royal Trophy at Amata Springs Country Club.

Half of Europe’s Ryder Cup team will be competing in golf’s World Cup in Barbados in December – but there are a huge number of big name absentees again.

Nine of the world’s top 10 golfers and 18 of the leading 40 have now turned down the chance to win nearly £400,000 (€580,000) at the World Cup in Portugal on November 17-20.

Lee Westwood overcame a broken driver today to keep alive his hopes of victory in the Dubai Desert Classic.

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).

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):

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.

Britain’s Luke Donald has missed out on this week’s Accenture world match play championship in California.

AN injury to Vijay Singh has given Swede Carl Pettersson the chance to claim the biggest scalp in golf tomorrow — Tiger Woods, of course.

An injury to Vijay Singh has given Swede Carl Pettersson the chance to claim the biggest scalp in golf on Wednesday – Tiger Woods, of course.

Official World Golf Rankings:

World Golf Ranking:

21 October 2002

Official World Golf Rankings

Open Championship winner Ernie Els lies third in the official golf world rankings.

Tee-off times in the final round of the 131st Open Championship at Muirfield on Sunday (Gbr and Ire unless stated):

British Open Leaderboard - third round scores

Muirfield bit back on day three of the Open Championship with driving rain and a fierce wind sending players tumbling off the leaderboard

Tee-off times for the second round on Friday of the Open Championship, Muirfield, July 18-21.

Veteran Irish golfer Des Smyth has been drawn in the first match of this year's Open Championship at Muirfield.

Tee-off times for first and second rounds on Thursday and Friday of Open Championship, Muirfield.

Len Mattiace claimed his first victory on the PGA Tour after getting the better of Scott McCarron at the final hole of the Nissan Open in California.

Scott McCarron holed a 50-foot eagle putt from just off the 17th green to take a one-shot lead in the Nissan Open.

Toru Taniguchi, known as the ‘Japanese Tiger’, emerged as the surprise leader midway through the Nissan Open in Pacific Palisades, California.

Jesper Parnevik shot a six-under-par 65 to take the lead in the suspended first round of the Nissan Open in Pacific Palisades.

American Steve Stricker beat Swede Pierre Fulke two and one to become the million-dollar winner of the Accenture World Matchplay Championship in Melbourne.

American Steve Stricker will be Pierre Fulke's opponent in the 36-hole World Matchplay final.