Denmark’s Mads Vibe-Hastrup today claimed his first European Tour title with a near-flawless final round in the Madrid Open.

Rory McIlroy remains in contention to become the youngest winner in European Tour history in just his third event as a professional.

Jean Van de Velde became the latest member of the Rory McIlroy fan club after moving into contention for a third European Tour title in the Madrid Open.

Ireland's Rory McIlroy has climbed up the leaderboard at the Madrid Open in Spain today.

Rory McIlroy's bid for a first European Tour title suffered an early blow in the second round of the Madrid Open today.

Irish teenage prodigy Rory McIlroy is today hoping the rub of the green would get his bid for a first European Tour title back on track in the Madrid Open.

It is not often a golfer has successive rounds of 66, 65 and 66 and then tosses away his putter. But not many golfers are like Colin Montgomerie.

Darren Clarke was given a glimmer of hope today as he tried to prevent France’s Raphael Jacquelin running away with the Madrid Open.

France’s Raphael Jacquelin stretched his lead to five strokes with two early birdies in the third round of the Madrid Open today.

Family will continue to come first for Darren Clarke next year – even if it means missing the first-ever Ryder Cup on Irish soil.

SEVE BALLESTEROS admitted that nerves got the better of him yesterday at the start of his first European Tour event for almost two years.

The day Seve Ballesteros feared might never come – the day he returns to the European Tour – arrives tomorrow at the Madrid Open.

WITH Seve Ballesteros playing his first stroke play tournament in two years and Colin Montgomerie bidding to improve his number one position in the European Tour, this week’s Madrid Open assumes more interest.

Colin Montgomerie will continue his worldwide odyssey this week within sight of an eighth Order of Merit title.

ENGLAND'S John Bickerton saved his European Tour career in the best possible fashion yesterday, winning his first title at the 287th attempt.

No fewer than nine players held at least a share of the lead during the early stages of the Madrid Open final round at Club de Campo today.

A month after becoming a father for the fourth time Paul Broadhurst is hoping to have something else to celebrate tomorrow night – his first European Tour victory since 1995.

FORMER Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst is in the hunt for his first European tour victory for nine years after adding a 65 to his opening 67 in the Madrid Open yesterday.

Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst is in the hunt for his first European tour victory for nine years after adding a 65 to his opening 67 in the Madrid Open today.

Padraig Harrington has now finished second 20 times in his career after yet another near-miss in the Madrid Open yesterday.

THE big-hitting Argentinian golfer known as “The Bull” charged to his second European tour title yesterday.

Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, fourth and fifth on this year’s European Order of Merit, both pulled out on the final day of the Telefonica Madrid Open.

STEPHEN GALLACHER missed equalling the lowest round of his European Tour career by incurring a bizarre one-shot penalty for hitting the ball when he did not mean to.

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher missed equalling the lowest round of his European tour career today after incurring a one-shot penalty for hitting the ball when he did not mean to.

Paul Lawrie could be getting a call from former Ryder Cup partner Colin Montgomerie following a second round 64 in the Telefonica Madrid Open at Club de Campo today.

PAUL CASEY is on the verge of breaking into the world’s top 20 for the first time after a brilliant eight under par 63 in the Telefonica Madrid Open yesterday.

Colin Powell and Kofi Annan do not usually interfere with what Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley is trying to do – but they did today.

Nick Faldo has told Colin Montgomerie he is unavailable for the Seve Trophy match in Spain in two weeks' time.

ERNIE ELS may have to hit only one more shot to win the European Order of Merit title.

Darren Clarke thought it was all over. But it’s not yet.

MIND GAMES or exasperation? Who knows why South Africa’s Retief Goosen chose the Madrid Open to label his Irish rival for the Order of Merit, Padraig Harrington “the slowest player on the European Tour.”

Strange though it might sound, Padraig Harrington is both one ahead and five ahead with a round to play in the Telefonica Madrid Open.

Padraig Harrington has not stopped surprising himself since the day he became a professional golfer.

Maarten Lafeber took the lead away from Padraig Harrington and Trevor Immelman when the Telefonica Madrid Open resumed at Club de Campo.

EUROPEAN order of merit leader Retief Goosen, locked in a rankings battle with Padraig Harrington, stormed from the Club de Campo course yesterday after the Madrid Open first round, furious at being given a slow-play warning.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON last night revealed that he will leave nothing to chance in his all-out bid to lead the European PGA Tour order of merit this year.

Retief Goosen beat Steve Webster of England at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off to capture the Telefonica Open de Madrid

With his European Tour future hanging in the balance, Ireland’s David Higgins came up with the round of his life in the Telefonica Madrid Open today.

Des Smyth is undergoing something of a revival in fortunes after a first-round 65 at the Madrid Open.

Padraig Harrington’s fondness for the Club de Campo course was apparent again today when he opened his defence of the Telefonica Madrid Open title with a record-equalling 63.

Losing the Cisco World Match Play final two weeks ago gave Padraig Harrington plenty of food for thought.