Golf is returning to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 and the International Golf Federation (IGF) has proposed a 72-hole stroke play tournament for the men’s and women’s events.

Rory McIlroy arrives at Royal Liverpool today for this week’s Open Championship with a flea in his ear from north of Hadrian’s Wall following his less than complimentary remarks about a regular Scottish Open venue.

Rory McIlroy has been urged to try Castle Stuart for himself after it was confirmed the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will return there in 2016.

Rory McIlroy admitted he was shell-shocked after another frightful Friday saw him tumble down the leaderboard in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open got under way at Royal Aberdeen on Thursday, with several of the world’s top players anticipating a tougher test than at next week’s Open at Hoylake.

To comprehend the inexplicable development that unfolded at Muirfield, one needs to start with this number when he or she talks about Phil Mickelson in the major championships: Four.

The emotion of the moment was all too clear in his face as Phil Mickelson sank the winning birdie putt, bowed his head, clenched his fists and raised his hands above his head to acknowledge the acclaim he just become Open champion.

Five weeks after suffering the heartache of a record sixth runners-up finish in the US Open, Phil Mickelson today won the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield in thrilling fashion.

Graeme McDowell hopes the storm over his recent Scottish Open comments can now been forgotten and he can thrive at Muirfield this week.

Phil Mickelson’s victory in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open yesterday has lifted him three places in the latest world rankings.

Rory McIlroy’s British Open Championship hopes — and his flagging season — have received a timely boost with the news that he’s found a new Nike driver that he says could be “the one”.

The first regular European Tour event being shown live on American television could have an ideal winner after Phil Mickelson moved into contention in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open today.

Despite his obvious disappointment, Pádraig Harrington could see a plus in missing the halfway cut in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

British Open champion Ernie Els today said he was glad to make an early exit from the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, just days before the defence of his title at Muirfield.

Shane Lowry produced his lowest score in three months despite hitting a female spectator on the head with an errant shot on the opening day of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

The US Open-winning duo of Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose have been familiarising themselves with next week’s British Open host venue at Muirfield.

It may be nearly five years since Pádraig Harrington last won a Major, but his reception yesterday in the local McDonald’s in Inverness indicated he had lost none of his popularity.

Paul Casey is now an horrendous 53 over par for his last five events in Europe after crashing out of The Open today.

Four days after winning a tournament to secure his place in the Open Championship, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh today continued where he left off in the first round at Royal Lytham.

Jeev Milkha Singh is back in The Open three years after pulling out injured two days before the start at Turnberry, unsure he would ever return.

Italian Francesco Molinari remained one ahead with nine holes to go in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart today.

Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen went to the turn in 29 shots to take over the lead in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart today.

Ross Fisher’s recent revival continued today in the third round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in Inverness.

When the world rankings came out this week 19-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero found himself third reserve for the Open Championship.

The Irish duo of Shane Lowry and Peter Lawrie are now fighting for one of the last remaining places into next week’s British Open after posting similar scores for similar second round totals in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

Paul Lawrie suffered a blow to his Ryder Cup hopes today by missing the cut in the Scottish Open, although he praised the work of his stand-in caddie - 16-year-old son Craig.

Phil Mickelson’s attempt to fight his way back into the Scottish Open was given a huge boost this morning when he holed a 60-yard shot on his very first hole.

Shane Lowry and Peter Lawrie boosted hopes of qualifying for next week’s British Open with sizzling 66s on the opening day of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

Seven Irish players contest this week’s Scottish Open but while Pádraig Harrington will tee up on the acclaimed Castle Stuart course to the east of Inverness with the comfort of a British Open tee time, it won’t be the same for six others.

Irish golf fans are keeping a close eye on our links courses this week to see if any of the game’s finest pay a visit ahead of next week’s British Open.

Pádraig Harrington is confident he will be fit, fresh and ready to go for the British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in a fortnight after making the most of a much-needed week off following the Irish Open.

Next year’s European Tour will again include just one event Ireland, two in England, one in Wales and three in Scotland.

Next year’s European Tour has been confirmed with the Irish Open switching from late July to the end of June, but with a venue yet to be announced.

Colin Montgomerie has pulled out of this week’s Irish Open with an Achilles problem.

ON A course he says is cruel to a golf buggy’s batteries, John Paramor may be inflicting considerable pain on his cart at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club this week.

WITH his US Open reign consigned to the record books, Graeme McDowell is enjoying his return to normality and quietly mounting a case for consideration at this week’s British Open.

HE MAY have been written off a few times in the last couple of seasons but Pádraig Harrington remains determined to prove he has the game to add to his haul of three major championships.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE will be watching rather than playing this week — and believes he could witness something that has not happened in the British Open since 1938.

TIME will tell whether Rory McIlroy was correct to take a three-week break between his US Open victory and the British Open, which starts at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, on Thursday.

WORLD number one Luke Donald warmed up for the British Open with his third victory of the year yesterday — and what a win it was.

World number one Luke Donald warmed up for The Open with his third victory of the year today – and what a win it was.

Colin Montgomerie was part of a seven-way tie for the lead after a sparkling start to his third – and final – round in the Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart near Inverness.

Sweden’s Ryder Cup player Peter Hanson birdied three of the closing seven holes to make it a four-way tie for the lead when the second round of the Barclays Scottish Open was finally able to continue at Castle Stuart near Inverness.

The Scottish Open has been cut from 72 to 54 holes for the first time in its history after torrential rain prevented any play before 3pm at the earliest at Castle Stuart near Inverness today.