Rory McIlroy got the partner and the match-up he wanted as opposing captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson served up a fascinating opening session to the 2014 Ryder Cup this morning.

Rory McIlroy has the chance to let his golf do the talking against Phil Mickelson in the opening session of the Ryder Cup, in a match US captain Tom Watson predicted should be a “barn-burner”.

If Graeme McDowell had his way this week’s PGA Tour’s flagship Players Championship would return to being an event on the ‘Florida Swing’.

Graeme McDowell has returned to Orlando from Malaysia to begin his Masters preparations at a little known private golf course that has remained relatively hidden for 100 years.

Pádraig Harrington’s Masters aspirations look more distant after he slumped to an equal worst PGA Tour round in shooting 80 on the final day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.

Graeme McDowell turned on the Orlando magic, holing the longest-ever putt of his PGA Tour career on the opening day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Graeme McDowell’s Ryder Cup experience proved crucial as he came back from the dead to beat big-hitting pal Gary Woodland with a birdie at the 19th in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play last night.

Graeme McDowell is hoping that tactics and putting will count for more than length when he faces long-hitting pal Gary Woodland in the first round of the WCG-Accenture Match Play in Tucson today.

It was like a final insult in what was Rory McIlroy’s final event as the defending European No. 1 — being asked to tape a TV piece congratulating Henrik Stenson on succeeding him in winning the Race to Dubai.

Just as we near the winner’s post in the Race to Dubai, Tiger Woods could easily throw an untimely spanner into the works of crowning this year’s eventual European Tour No. 1.

With two Race to Dubai events remaining, the goal of being crowned European No 1 has turned into a shoot-out between neighbours.

Graeme McDowell hopes to extend his marriage celebrations by capturing the European number one crown.

Despite admitting to feeling physically drained Graeme McDowell managed to play his way into the final two rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.

Graeme McDowell loves nothing better than to close out a long year with a win, and there’s no better place for him to do that than Sherwood Country Club and the World Challenge.

He has a stunning new fiancée, a newly built lakeside mansion in Orlando, another million in the bank and 10 weeks off the golf course to look forward to.

Partisan, loud, raucous and fun.

Ian Poulter has spoken of his excitement at playing this week's Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin near Marbella.

“THE RETURN” was the talk of Akron last night as scribes dashed to their laptops to bear the good tidings to the world.

THE atmosphere was never going to compare to last October’s Ryder Cup, but Graeme McDowell and Peter Hanson found Celtic Manor a happy hunting ground again yesterday.

The atmosphere was never going to compare to last October’s Ryder Cup, but Graeme McDowell and Peter Hanson found Celtic Manor a happy hunting ground again today.

GRAEME MCDOWELL crashed to an eight over 80 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and confessed that it might be just the “kick in the ass” he needs to get his game in shape for the Masters.

WITH a fortnight to the Masters, several stellar names bid to sharpen their game for Augusta in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Bay Hill Classic in Orlando this week.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON got bitten by the Blue Monster in the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship as Tiger Woods finally showed signs of life with the Masters just over three weeks away.

THE HONOURS keep coming for Graeme McDowell.

A REMARKABLE year could get even better this weekend as Graeme McDowell bids to claim the Race to Dubai and become the European Tour’s number one player.

IT may be one of the lesser perks of becoming a major champion, but, by anyone’s standards, a couple of days’ golf in Bermuda is nice reward for a life-changing year.

WITH mounting speculation Tiger Woods could be only two weeks away from his comeback, England’s Paul Casey said yesterday he would like to be right up close when it happens.

THEY used to call Raymond Floyd “The Stare” but after this Ryder Cup the copyright on steely-eyed gazes well and truly belongs to Ian Poulter.

Nick Faldo put his personal stamp on Europe's Ryder Cup side again today before a ball had even been struck in practice at Valhalla.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON last night became the fourth Irishman to receive the Golf Writers’ Trophy presented annually by the Association of Golf Writers.

Ian Poulter is hoping he and England partner Justin Rose can continue their recent success and demonstrate a potential Ryder Cup pairing at the inaugural Omega Mission Hills World Cup this week.

SIMON HOLMES, golf coach to the stars, believes former client Seve Ballesteros will never again be a major force on the professional circuits of the world.

LUKE DONALD was clearly not ready when he was thrown in with Tiger Woods at the 2003 British Open championship. But this week looks different.

European Tour golfer Barry Lane today spoke about the experience of Hurricane Charley in Florida.

NICK FALDO birdied his final hole at Lake Nona in Florida to book a place in next week's US Open.

Nick Faldo birdied his final hole at Lake Nona in Florida to book a place a place in next week’s US Open.

Charlie Mulqueen

IT’S one thing to have a caddy who will shoulder a golf bag over four miles and for around five hours, but it’s special when you have a guy who can also knock your head into shape!

Nick Faldo will fully appreciate what Colin Montgomerie is going through when they play together in the first round of the British Masters at the Forest of Arden tomorrow.

Swede Fredrick Jacobson and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber have increased the number of Europeans competing in next week’s US Open at Olympia Fields near Chicago to 16.