Michael Schumacher’s family say they been “utterly overwhelmed” and moved to tears by the birthday vigil held by scores of fans and well-wishers outside the French hospital where he is being treated for serious head injuries following a skiing accident last weekend.

Pony-tailed Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez takes a three-stroke lead over Ryder Cup team-mate Edoardo Molinari into the final round of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

RORY McILROY evaded the hurricane threatening to hit America’s eastern seaboard and shot an encouraging first round of 64 in the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston last night.

Strong winds in western Austria swept a train off the tracks today, killing one person and seriously injuring several others, local media reported.