Dustin Johnson returns to the major championship arena at St Andrews on Thursday resolved to leave behind his status as golf’s nearly man and in the process stop Jordan Spieth’s bid for Grand Slam glory.

Munster interprovincial Geoff Lenehan has no qualms about lifting what could cynically be termed an asterisk AIG Irish Amateur Close Championship at Seapoint Golf Links.

Rory McIlroy’s break-up with fiancee Caroline Wozniacki is just the latest incident in a long line to threaten the Irishman’s golf game.

The golfing gods haven’t always been particularly favourable to David Higgins but they certainly compensated over the past few days as the 40-year-old Waterville man’s fortunes went on a decidedly upward curve.

It may have been dubbed ’Car-nasty’ in 1999, but Carnoustie appeared to be holding no fears for Dunhill Links pace-setter Branden Grace today.

IRELAND’S Michael Hoey and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood stormed clear of a host of big names, sharing the second-round lead at the Dunhill Links Championship yesterday.

THE Louis Oosthuizen show just kept on rolling today after the new Open champion swapped St Andrews for Stockholm and starred again.

The Louis Oosthuizen show just kept on rolling today after the new Open champion swapped St Andrews for Stockholm and starred again.

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie today names his two vice captains for October’s renewal against the United States but is facing tougher selection problems over his three wild-card picks for Celtic Manor.

Tiger Woods switched putter for the second time in a week in a last-gasp bid to revive his Open campaign, but still found himself reduced to the status of an also-ran at St Andrews.

South African Louis Oosthuizen came under pressure from two of Europe’s finest as The Open continued in more windy conditions at St Andrews.

TIGER WOODS was left in an unfamiliar position at St Andrews yesterday after being joined by Rory McIlroy in golf’s “63 Club.”

Rory McIlroy, the kid many expect to be king one day, put himself into golf’s record books with a sensational start to The Open at St Andrews today.

TOM WATSON could spend the rest of his life going on trips down memory lane.

Tiger Woods was talking about the Old Course at St Andrews when he said: “It’s been different the last three times I’ve played here.”

DARREN CLARKE’S attempts to end a two-year winless drought finished with a St Andrews ‘consolation prize’ after letting slip victory in the Barclays Scottish Open.

NEW US Open champion Graeme McDowell has promised countryman Darren Clarke a contest despite trailing 10 shots behind Clarke heading to the closing two rounds of the Barclay’s Scottish Open.

Darren Clarke, no stranger to playing well in bad weather, did it again at Loch Lomond today and stood four clear of the field after a superb second-round 67 in the Barclays Scottish Open.

JUSTIN ROSE did not know for certain that he was in next week’s British Open until Sunday night – but now he is one of the favourites.

TIGER WOODS will tee off at Adare Manor today delighted to start his preparations for the British Open Championship at St Andrews in earnest.

“ON the tee, from Spain, Severiano Ballesteros.”

SHANE LOWRY scored a course record-equalling 62 on the Old Course, Sunningdale, to earn himself a place in next month’s British Open at St Andrews yesterday.

Seventeen-year-old Matteo Manassero, one of the stars of last year’s Open, made a brilliant start today to his bid to be part of the action at St Andrews next month.

STEWART CINK deserved his 2009 Open Championship victory and nobody can take anything away from the way he achieved it. He has improved from 33rd in the world rankings to ninth and is surely headed in the right direction.

After a year of almost undiluted misery on the course – all under the public gaze – Michelle Wie shared the early lead in the Ricoh Women’s British Open at St Andrews today.

Annika Sorenstam is being helped by none other than Tiger Woods as she tries to capture the first professional women’s event ever staged at the Home of Golf.

The Women’s British Open, which in August will become the first championship for women professionals ever to be played over the Old Course at St Andrews, has a new title sponsor.

Michael Campbell loves the British Open so much he wishes there were about 26 tournaments played on links courses during the year rather than just two or three.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE revealed only last week how he feared missing out on an eighth Ryder Cup cap.

“THE most important win of my career.” That was Colin Montgomerie’s verdict at St Andrews last night after he had captured the Dunhill Links Championship in a dramatic finish against Englishman Kenneth Ferrie.

Tiger Woods said tonight that he hopes his latest major victory – his 10th - provides yet another spur for his father Earl in his battle with cancer.

A wind of change came over St Andrews today. And while it was still Tiger Woods leading the Open championship, he was not having things all his own way. Far from it, in fact.

STUART LITTLE pushed some of the sport's biggest names into the shade yesterday. The 37-year-old English left-hander, ranked 369th in the world, took a share of the first-round lead in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

Stuart Little pushed some of the sport’s biggest names into the shade today.

Thomas Bjorn defied gusts of up to 30mph today to open up a four-stroke lead in the Smurfit European Open – and show Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam how well he plays on the course where Europe defend the trophy next year.

DUBLINER Peter Lawrie shot outstanding rounds of 65 and 67 over the New and Old courses at Sunningdale yesterday to become the sixth Irishman through to the British Open Championship at St Andrews next month.

THE way has been cleared for teenage sensation Michelle Wie to become the first female ever to play in the British Open - possibly even this July at St Andrews.

AFTER a brief spell on the continent from which it derives its name, the European Tour once again spreads its wings this week with the long trip to China.

An unexpected late lapse by Padraig Harrington opened up the race for the Dunhill Championship again at St Andrews today.