Dustin Johnson has set his sights on becoming world number one as he heads into next week’s Open Championship at Troon seeking a third win in a row.

Shane Lowry has reset his goals and regained his hunger for the game as he looks to build on the biggest win of his career.

Mention has been made in these parts of Martin Kaymer’s irritation at his PGA Championship victory at Whistling Straits back in 2010 being framed as the major Dustin Johnson threw away, yet imagine how annoyed you’d be if you were Johnson?

Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke believes Shane Lowry has a tough decision to make over his WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title defence in 2016 but is in no doubt the European Tour made the right decision not to sanction next year’s prestigious tournament.

Ryder Cup hopefuls, including newly crowned champion Shane Lowry, will face a dilemma next season after the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was withdrawn from the European Tour schedule.

World number one Rory McIlroy will not defend his WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title next week as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

As thrilling as it was to watch Rory McIlroy dig deep into his well of determination to clinch the US PGA Championship, as exciting to see him resist the challenge of America’s old stager and latest bright young thing there was an unmistakable feeling that someone had been lost in the gathering gloom at Valhalla.

Tiger Woods missed just his fourth cut in 66 majors as a professional after suffering yet more back trouble before the second round of the US PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Lee Westwood matched his best round in a Major and gave Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley a boost as he took an early share of the first-round PGA Championship lead with American Kevin Chappell at Valhalla last night.

A rejuvenated Lee Westwood set the early clubhouse target as Tiger Woods failed to make an impression on the opening day of the 96th US PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods played a practice round at Valhalla on Wednesday and declared himself ready to play in Thursday's first round of the PGA Championship.

RORY McILROY may be the hottest golfer in the world right now but he is refusing to buy into the hype that he is a sure thing to win this week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Fitter, stronger, and longer off the tee, it has taken more than just the right equipment and the harnessing of his immense natural talent for Rory McIlroy to re-scale the heights of world golf.

He has won his last two events, is back on top of the world rankings and is rated a 5/1 favourite to make it three wins in succession with a second US PGA Championship title at Valhalla this week.

Rory McIlroy believes he is in the best form of his life as he seeks a third win in succession and second major title in the space of four weeks in the US PGA Championship.

Graeme McDowell returns to Valhalla this week knowing fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy will be the one to beat when the PGA Championship gets under way on Thursday but confident he also belongs on the list of contenders.

A fortnight after holding off Sergio Garcia to win the Open Championship, Rory McIlroy overhauled his Ryder Cup team-mate to claim his first World Golf Championship event on Sunday – and with it reclaimed top spot in the world rankings.

Tiger Woods withdrew from the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational during yesterday’s final round, sparking fears he had suffered further serious damage to his back.

A stunning round of 61 gave Sergio Garcia a three-shot lead over Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose at the halfway stage of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Friday.

Newly-crowned Open champion Rory McIlroy had to settle for an opening 69 on his return to action in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron today.

Triple Major champion Rory McIlroy has revealed that as a youngster he almost quit the game, but put it down to being a ‘grumpy teenager.’

It will be back to work for Open champion Rory McIlroy this week as he gets on with the business of being a multiple Major winner.

Shane Lowry sparkled on the final day of The Open to earn his highest finish in a major but fall agonisingly short of the world top-50 ranking he craved.

His game is dominant, and with five victories in 12 starts this year as well as two major top-10 finishes, the success rate is phenomenal.

Tiger Woods today turned his attention to his quest for an elusive 15th major title after cruising to an eighth WGC Bridgestone Invitational and 79th PGA Tour victory of his career.

A subdued Tiger Woods tonight cruised to an eighth WGC Bridgestone Invitational title and 79th PGA Tour victory of his career just four days before the final major of the year, the US PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods today came up short in his bid for a magical 59, but still opened up a commanding lead in his quest for an incredible eighth WGC Bridgestone Invitational title.

Tiger Woods today made a stunning start to the second round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational to boost his hopes of an amazing eighth victory in the event.

Former US Open champion Webb Simpson set the clubhouse target in the first round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, but Tiger Woods was ominously poised at one of his favourite venues.

Tiger Woods lamented his putting after finding himself seven shots off the lead following the opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

A little sooner than he would probably have preferred after his British Open meltdown, Adam Scott renews rivalry with Ernie Els in this week’s WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.

IF Darren Clarke’s British Open victory at Sandwich proved anything it was that the adage about horses for courses still holds firm when it comes to golf’s Major championships.

ADAM SCOTT has claimed the furore surrounding his caddie Steve Williams in the wake of his WGC-Bridgestone Invitational victory has been blown out of all proportion.

RORY McILROY could be without his close friend Graeme McDowell on the PGA Tour next season with the Portrush man confessing last night that he is not ruling out a return to Europe in 2012 to concentrate on making the Ryder Cup team.

FINDING your putting touch and a dollop of confidence is vital for anyone with major ambitions.

IT’S ALL but certain that Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will be living in the same state next year but they went in opposite directions on the opening day of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at a hot and sticky Firestone Country Club.

IF a change is as good as a rest, then Pádraig Harrington can expect to mount a challenge for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club exactly two years after he finished second to Tiger Woods in a thrilling finish.

ALL has changed in the world of Tiger Woods since he limped off the golf course after just nine holes of the Player Championship at Sawgrass 12 weeks ago. All and nothing.

IRELAND’S four golfing musketeers arrive in Akron, Ohio today ahead of Thursday’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club and for three of them at least, the week represents some new frontiers.

WHATEVER about major winners, the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland stayed true to form in Killarney as it produced another English winner after Simon Dyson edged home in a dramatic finale.

DARREN CLARKE will tee off for the first time as a Major champion today, fully aware that the rest of his professional career — and the way he approaches it — is in need of a rethink.

IT says much about Tiger Woods’ current form that his appearance on the early US PGA Championship leaderboard came as something of a surprise at Whistling Straits last night.

A NEW week, a new start.