England’s Ian Poulter flew the flag for the Europeans in the opening round of the £3m Verizon Heritage Classic at Hilton Head Island as a number of others struggled to get going.

The controversial 17th hole at Sawgrass claimed American Bob Tway as one of its victims yet again today when the £5m (€7.2m) Players Championship began.

Design guru Adrian Newey began his new career with Red Bull Racing today and set himself an initial task of learning how the Milton Keynes-based team do business.

THE former school caretaker accused of murdering schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman left hospital yesterday after being treated for a drugs overdose.