Paul Casey is one decent round away from completing his comeback from a slump so bad that it had people concerned for his future.

Thomas Bjorn’s defence of the British Masters title was in severe danger of ending early after a wretched start to his second round at The Belfry today.

Four years on from sinking the putt that won the Ryder Cup Paul McGinley is delighted to be back at The Belfry this week for the Quinn Direct British Masters.

After a month out of action with a back problem David Howell not only talked today about how injury prone he is, but demonstrated it.

The Smurfit European Open was an event Darren Clarke was going to miss in the run-up to the Open Championship. But tomorrow he could well win it.

DARREN CLARKE hopes the old adage that you should beware the injured golfer comes true here this weekend.

LEVEL PAR round a course as difficult as The K Club, especially when the wind is blowing strongly and the rough is at its most intimidating, is very respectable indeed.

Encouraged by his wife Heather to return to golf this week, Darren Clarke overcame a sore left knee to begin the Smurfit European Open with a fine three-under-par 69 today.

Paul Casey might appear like a lamb to the slaughter entering the US Open at Pinehurst today.

Gary Evans was today told he did not need to apologise for his controversial comments over the rules row involving Colin Montgomerie.

DEVELOPMENTS at Wentworth over the weekend cruelly demonstrated that regardless of wealth or success you can still be living in a very harsh, unforgiving world.

It may have taken Stephen Dodd 166 events to taste victory on the European tour, but he has needed only eight more to show he is no one-win wonder.

David Howell put the latest in a long line of near misses behind him today to get right into the thick of things again at the Nissan Irish Open.

England’s Simon Khan took the lead in the Nissan Irish Open at Carton House today – and then was given a whopping £8,000 (€11,600) fine for slow play.

Steve Webster, one of the European Tour’s most in-form players, was a non-starter at the Nissan Irish Open today – because of severely blistered feet.

NOT since Carnoustie dominated the headlines before, during and after the 1999 British Open has a tournament venue generated such debate as Colin Montgomerie's Carton House in the build-up to this year's Nissan Irish Open.

Darren Clarke confidently predicted the halfway cut at this week’s Nissan Irish Open will be the highest of the European Tour year so far.

Even without the neck injury which he feared would rule him out of contention, Padraig Harrington is playing down his chances of becoming the first home winner of the Irish Open since 1982.

IT has to happen sometime. That’s invariably the answer any time you query whether an Irishman will ever again capture his native Open Championship.

Charlie Mulqueen

WITH so many of their top players turning their sights towards the US Tour with all its wealth and perks, the European Tour is finding it increasingly difficult to put fields together that will attract serious public interest.

A proud moment arrives for Colin Montgomerie on Thursday when, for the first time, a course he designed hosts a European tour event.

Thomas Bjorn never had any doubt that he was doing the right thing in turning down a place on the US tour this year.

AFTER a couple of years of near mental collapse, Thomas Bjorn bounced back to the top in the glorious sunshine at the Forest of Arden, Warwickshire, yesterday.

Dane Thomas Bjorn won the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters at the Forest of Arden today, beating England’s David Howell and Brian Davis in a play-off.

New Zealander Michael Campbell, who five years ago set a European Tour record at the Forest of Arden which has still to be broken, found it a happy hunting ground yet again today.

Buoyed by the best round of the week so far, Thomas Bjorn needed only three more holes to take the lead in the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters at the Forest of Arden today.

Ian Poulter, joint course record-holder at the Forest of Arden with Colin Montgomerie, failed to break par for the third day running today.

IT'S fascinating to note how off-course issues so frequently impact for better or worse on touring professionals.

Thomas Bjorn has been through some tough times since seeing the 2003 Open slip from his grasp.

Paul Casey brought his poor run of form in America to the Forest of Arden today, crashing to an outward 42 in the second round of the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters.

FOUR Englishmen share the lead after the first round of the €2.5m Daily Telegraph-Dunlop Masters at the Forest of Arden.

Colin Montgomerie let it be known what he thought of the pace of play as he tumbled spectacularly off the first-round leaderboard in the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters at the Forest of Arden today.

Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Martin was disqualified from the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters at the Forest of Arden today – after an opening 71 had put him in contention for the first prize.

Colin Montgomerie put controversy behind him to take the lead in the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters at the Forest of Arden today.

After a Union Jack at the Open and Stars and Stripes at the US PGA Ian Poulter came up with another eye-catching outfit for the start of the Daily Telegraph British Masters at the Forest of Arden today.

Brian Davis returned to the European tour today with plenty of reasons to be cheerful – not just because of how things have been going on the course in America, but off it too.

HAVING cavorted around the world since early January, the European Tour finally returns to its roots this week with the €2.5m British Masters getting under way at the Forest of Arden this morning.

RORY McILROY may be only 16 but already he is being hailed by Ryder Cup heroes Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood as a star of the future.

Seven of last year’s Ryder Cup heroes are in action this week at the first European tour event of the season on British soil.

RYDER CUP star Paul Casey has revealed an ambition to become an ace driver, not on the golf course but around a motor racing track.

Colin Montgomerie plays his first tournament in Britain for seven months next week having just given all his prize money from a recent event to charity - because of a controversial incident.

Former world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is talking of giving up snooker for a year but his decision does not go for golf as well.

Darren Clarke has secured an invitation for one of his Golf Foundation graduates to play in the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters at the Forest of Arden next week.