Liang Wen-Chong parred the first extra hole of a play-off to defeat Iain Steel of Malaysia at Laguna National Golf and Country Club today to win the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters.

Lee Westwood expressed his love for playing in Asia today and hopes that good feeling will help lift him to his first European Tour victory in four years at this week’s Clariden Leu Singapore Masters.

Jose Manuel Lara topped the leaderboard with a 10 under 130 after the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open on Friday.

Retief Goosen’s International team will take a 2.5-1.5 lead into the singles at the inaugural Goodwill Trophy at Mission Hills after a series of impressive displays against Colin Montgomerie’s Ryder Cup select side.

Defending champion David Howell is relishing the opportunity to defend his HSBC Champions title when the inaugural tournament gets under way in Shanghai on Thursday.

Thongchai Jaidee, the first Thai golfer to win a European tour event, has been given a special invitation to next week’s Masters.

Henrik Stenson proved the hero for Europe as they saw off a spirited fightback from Asia to claim the inaugural Royal Trophy 9-7 at Amata Spring Country Club, near Bangkok.

Europe powered into a convincing 6-2 lead over Asia and need only two and a half points from tomorrow’s eight singles matches to win the inaugural Royal Trophy at a blustery Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok.

Europe’s golfers made a strong start in their bid to claim the inaugural Royal Trophy but were faced with the prospect of a fightback from Asia this morning.

SEVE BALLESTEROS is determined to make it a hat-trick of wins as captain when he leads Europe against Asia in the Royal Trophy in Thailand.

THE CYNICS have already dismissed next weekend's inaugural $1.5 million (€1.2 million) Royal Trophy contest between Asia and Europe as nothing more than another glorified exhibition match.

A first prize of more than £475,000 (€703,427) and the presence of Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh gives the new European Tour season a flying start in Shanghai this week.

Even from a distance Paul Casey could see Colin Montgomerie “smiling and strutting” at St Andrews today. And with every reason.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE’S dream of playing in a 14th successive Masters is doomed after officials at Augusta failed to offer him a special invitation for the first major of the year.

Colin Montgomerie begins the defence of his Caltex Masters in Singapore tomorrow but he has set his sights this year on making a bigger impact around the world.

The growth of golf in the world's most populated country takes another big step today when the Volvo China Open becomes part of the European tour.

Ernie Els easily saw off the challenge of one European Ryder Cup hero today - but now faces an attack from three of them in the final round of the American Express world championship.

Gary Player would love to see Michelle Wie playing in the Masters one day.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON could well have one of the biggest galleries in the first two rounds after the US Masters draw paired him with world number two Vijay Singh and John Daly.

An eagle and birdie in his last three holes could not save John Daly from a round of 80 at the Players Championship. And it looked likely to cost him a place in the Masters.

Paul McGinley, seeking his first win since he holed the winning putt in the Ryder Cup two years ago, chipped in at the last to regain a share of the lead with a round to go in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley was sitting two shots off the lead when play in the third round of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open was suspended as the heavens opened above Kuala Lumpur.

Jamie Elson defied heat and treacherous greens to charge into a share of the lead at the Carlsberg Malaysian Open with an opening round of six-under-par.

Virtually unknown Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen pulled off an amazing golfing upset today when he beat world number two Ernie Els to the Dubai Desert Classic today.

AS a storm brewed overhead, Ernie Els completed another electric display at the Johnnie Walker Classic to land his fourth title in five incredible weeks.

Greg Norman fears his beloved Royal Melbourne course has been rendered “a little defenceless” by the march of technology.