It is extremely rare for Rory McIlroy’s caddy to walk into the scorer’s hut on the first day of any tournament enquiring of the cut-off mark.

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

ONE of the first aspects on the agenda of Horizon Sports Conor Ridge in managing the affairs of Rory McIlroy has been to curb the ‘madness’ of his client’s heavy end-of-season schedule.

THREE-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington revealed more delight in the efforts of Gareth Maybin than co-leader Rory McIlroy on the opening round of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

IN ANY other season Padraig Harrington could be pleased with third place in his defence of the shortened Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia.

Graeme McDowell has no special game plan in place to hold off the in-form Ian Poulter and claim a morale-boosting victory in the Race to Dubai by lifting the UBS Hong Kong Open trophy tomorrow.

Graeme McDowell is confident he is well placed to mount a successful challenge for the UBS Hong Kong Open title after the US Open champion shot a five-under 65 to sit three shots behind leader Ian Poulter at the halfway stage of the tournament.

Rory McIlroy found his form to power up the UBS Hong Kong Open leaderboard in the closing stages of the second round today.

GRAEME McDOWELL was left ruing a Barclays Singapore Open final-hole three-putt that cost him taking an additional €130,000 slice out of Martin Kaymer’s Race to Dubai lead.

Next season’s European Tour – starting in South Africa on Thursday – will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments, including six new ones, and will once again culminate in the Dubai World Championship.

Race to Dubai contenders Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy headline the field at the Hong Kong Open but smaller battles will also unfold in Fanling this week.

This November’s Hong Kong Open, the final qualifying event for the Dubai World Championship, will be the last with banking group UBS as sponsors.

Miguel Angel Jimenez claimed a second Hong Kong Open title in three years after overnight leader Robert Karlsson imploded on the final green to hand the Spaniard a thrilling one-shot victory.

Welshman Garry Houston trails leader KJ Choi by just one stroke after the first round of the Hong Kong Open following a hard-fought seven-under-par 63 at Fanling.

Colin Montgomerie is keen to record his first victory for a year when he begins the defence of his UBS Hong Kong Open tomorrow.

Former US Open champion Michael Campbell admits taking part in tournaments in the Far East can often hold more appeal than always playing on the PGA Tour.

Golfer Michael Campbell believes the readiness of major players to participate in Asian tournaments is proof that the sport's growing global appeal.

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

Sweden’s Christopher Hanell emerged as the new leader of the Omega Hong Kong Open on eight-under-par after a dramatic third day in Fanling.

Fredrik Jacobson can at last call himself a winner after his two-shot victory at the Omega Hong Kong Open ended the Swede’s run of near-misses.

WORLD number three Ernie Els admitted his decision to stop chasing world number one Tiger Woods had played a major part in his success in 2002.

Former British Amateur champion Stephen Dodd is within sight of his first European Tour victory after finishing day three of the Omega Hong Kong Open at Fanling in a three-way tie for the lead.

ERNIE ELS eagled the par-four 17th and moved into the outright lead with a superb 65 on the second day of the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.

Peter Lawrie shot up the leaderboard in the space of an extraordinary two holes during the second round of the Omega Hong Kong Open at Fanling.

NICK FALDO admitted he was ‘aching all over’ but still hopes to spring a surprise when the second European Tour event of the season opens in Hong Kong today.

Jose Maria Olazabal claimed his 20th European Tour title in sensational fashion in the Hong Kong Open at Fanling.

Norway's Henrik Bjornstad will take a one-shot lead into the final day of the Omega Hong Kong Open after a brilliant third round at Fanling.

Norway’s Henrik Bjornstad has stormed into the lead at the Omega Hong Kong Open after carding a course-record 61 in Fanling today.

Irishman Paul McGinley, Jose Maria Olazabal, and Hong Kong’s James Stewart now share second place in the Hong Kong Open in Fanling.

Jose Maria Olazabal continued where he left off last week with a superb display on the opening day of the Omega Hong Kong Open in Fanling.

Australia’s Adam Scott has taken the lead at the Omega Hong Kong Open after carding a seven-under-par opening round in Fanling today.

Jose Maria Olazabal’s brilliant form continued this morning with a vintage display in the Omega Hong Kong Open at Fanling.