This may not be Pádraig Harrington’s last shot at glory but the triple major champion knows age is catching up with him and his blistering 63 at Lahinch yesterday was a sign he is not inclined to waste a minute of the time he has left in elite golf.

How do you take the pulse of a golf tournament?

Padraig Harrington shot a superb opening day seven-under 63 to shoot to the summit of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open leaderboard on Thursday evening and if it looked easy then it was.

Michael Hoey threatened to record the first 59 in European Tour history before having to settle for a share of the lead on a low-scoring first day of the Rocco Forte Open in Sicily.

Pre-tournament favourite Charl Schwartzel cruised to victory in the Tshwane Open to claim his 11th European Tour title and an eighth on home soil, despite admitting to some “iffy” moments.

South Africa’s Haydn Porteous carded a final round 69 to win his first European Tour title at the Joburg Open yesterday.

Amateur Championship: Bradley Neil yesterday became the first Scot for a decade to win the Amateur Championship and immediately started to look forward to the rewards the coveted title would bring.