South African Branden Grace today became the first player since Fred Couples in 1995 to follow his first European Tour win with another.

Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, 596th in the world and without a win for seven years, shared the lead after starting his final round of the volvo Golf Champions with two birdies at Fancourt in South Africa today.

European captain Jose Maria Olazabal still has a chance to kick off Ryder Cup year with his first win for seven years - from the depths of 596th in the world.

For the second day of the Volvo Golf Champions at Fancourt in South Africa, Pádraig Harrington finished with a double-bogey seven and, having also dropped shots on the previous two holes, the Dubliner’s 73 left him, and Open Champion Darren Clarke (68), with eight shots to make up to leader Branden Grace.

BELGIUM’S Nicolas Colsaerts leads the Volvo Golf Champions by four strokes after surging clear of the field with a course-record 64 at Fancourt in South Africa today.

DESPITE a 15-month win drought and a fall to 89th in the world rankings, Pádraig Harrington says he “expects’’ rather than hopes to win more majors.

Darren Clarke is a changed man – a “Lean Mean Fighting Machine” according to his own website – as he kicks off his season in South Africa tomorrow.

HE has turned 40, fallen to 89th in the world rankings and lost his most benevolent sponsor.

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.

EUROPEAN TOUR chief George O’Grady wasn’t exaggerating when he claimed on Sunday that 2011 has been the greatest year in his organisation’s history.

South African Ernie Els became a popular joint leader of the SAA Open at Humewood GC in Port Elizabeth with a round of 67 but is sure to face some tough competition from a number of compatriots.

Retief Goosen insisted he was not satisfied with his form this season despite a thrilling victory in the South African Airways Open.

RETIEF GOOSEN claimed his second South African Airways Open title after a thrilling final-day duel with Ernie Els at Fancourt.

Retief Goosen held off a determined challenge from compatriot Ernie Els to win the South African Airways Open at Fancourt.

England’s Ross Fisher surged into a five-shot lead on the second day of the South African Airways Open at Fancourt today.

Home favourite Tim Clark made the perfect start to his bid to retain his South African Airways Open title at Fancourt today.

Defending champion Tim Clark has fond memories of the Fancourt Estate, where he defends his South African Airways Open title this week.

A NERVOUS Ernie Els makes his long-awaited comeback from a five-month injury lay-off at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City today.

Three tournaments in China and two in South Africa will kick off next season’s European tour schedule in November and December.

Former President Nelson Mandela welcomed stars including actor Will Smith and rock band Queen to South Africa today for his second concert to raise awareness of the Aids pandemic ravaging the continent.

PJ Browne talks to a determined Ernie Els about his 2005 Tour strategy and schedule

Justin Rose is keen to secure some Ryder Cup points at this weekend's Dunhill Challenge before he launches an attempt to conquer the US Tour.

TIGER Woods said yesterday he was betrayed by the founder of a South African game reserve who revealed the world's top golfer was engaged.

Tiger Woods said today he was betrayed by the founder of a South African game reserve who revealed that the world’s top golfer was engaged.

Tiger Woods and his Swedish girlfriend Elin Nordegren became engaged during a South African safari, it was reported today.

IF this is team golf, then we can’t get enough of it! We refer, of course, to the epic President’s Cup at the weekend which rivalled anything the Ryder Cup has come up with in its much longer history.

THE Internationals and the Americans shared the President’s Cup yesterday for the first time in history after bad light prevented the match from being completed in Fancourt, South Africa.

THE American side hit top form in the morning session to storm into a 9½ to 6½ lead against the International team on the second day of the Presidents Cup at Fancourt.

The American side flexed its muscles in the morning session to storm into a 9 1/2 to 6 1/2 lead against the International team on the second day of the Presidents Cup at Fancourt.

AT one stage on the back nine it looked like Jack Nicklaus’s US team might end the day with a comfortable 5-1 lead after the opening foursomes yesterday in the fifth edition of the Presidents Cup.

JEFF SLUMAN found out quickly that being the assistant captain for the US team at the Presidents Cup was hardly an honorary position.

Paul Eales confessed he feels like a cheat after moving within three shots of the lead at the halfway stage of the Omega European Masters.

The Ryder Cup qualifying process may have started this week, but three players who definitely will not be there lead the way in the Omega European Masters.