Rory McIlroy has cut down on the distractions as he attempts to complete the career grand slam at Augusta this week.

It has been a long time since I have so eagerly anticipated the start of a major championship — especially the US Open.

Renowned for his short-game prowess, Phil Mickelson sometimes does his best scoring with his biting perspective and cunning wit.

Graeme McDowell can already picture the celebrations if he wins another US Open title to maintain Europe’s recent dominance of the year’s second major championship.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is staring at a hefty fine after hurling a four-iron into the water in disgust on the second day of the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral.

The eyes of the golfing world, not to mention a dedicated TV channel, will be on Tiger Woods in the opening round of the 143rd Open Championship on Thursday.

Martin Kaymer was crowned US Open champion on Sunday as he pulled away from the field to complete a dominant wire-to-wire, eight-shot victory at Pinehurst No.2.

Graeme McDowell headed for Europe last night determined to turn a corner with his driving and putting as he targets a Ryder Cup spot.

Rory McIlroy will start today’s second round at the US Open confident he can cope with any adversity Pinehurst No 2 throws at him, deal with it and stay on an even keel.

They call it the toughest test in golf, the US Open, and the class of 2014 are going to find in Pinehurst No 2 one of the most exacting examinations of their credentials as the second Major of the year gets under way in North Carolina today.

If Justin Rose gets to Saturday night and finds himself still on track for a first successful US Open title defence in 25 years, you may just see the Englishman skipping his country’s World Cup opener with Italy.

There are two sets of names that will bear down on Phil Mickelson at Pinehurst No. 2 tomorrow as he tees off in a US Open for the 24th time.

Phil Mickelson was back on a PGA Tour leaderboard as last year's runner-up made a positive start to the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis.

It was almost a year ago that Adam Scott, fresh from his dramatic Masters victory, responded to a congratulatory text message from his friend Justin Rose.

Rory McIlroy believes almost three-quarters of the 97-strong field can win the US Masters, while Justin Rose neatly summed up an unpredictable season so far.

You know you are in a good place heading into the Masters when all you have to worry about is whether the Augusta National chefs will get your mum’s pavlova recipe right for the Champions’ Dinner.

European Tour rookie Kevin Phelan could not have asked for a more disruptive introduction to his New Year.

Graeme McDowell might have disappointed in the 2013 majors but three wins worldwide is a pretty good return in anyone’s book and if you’re wondering what the future holds, just ask his caddie Ken Comboy.

Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan hit what he described as “the shot of my life” to birdie the last and secure his European Tour card with a stroke to spare at the final stage of the Qualifying School in Spain.

Graeme McDowell’s Major fortunes have gone from bittersweet to bitter over the last two seasons, but the Portrush man will approach the last shot at glory this year happy that his dark horse status could bring a simply sweet conclusion.

Five weeks after suffering the heartache of a record sixth runners-up finish in the US Open, Phil Mickelson today won the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield in thrilling fashion.

Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia insists a line has been drawn under his row with world number one Tiger Woods and both players have moved on.

Graeme McDowell, one of the favourites, will go into the British Open tomorrow determined to keep his own “dangerous” expectations in check.

Graeme McDowell hopes the storm over his recent Scottish Open comments can now been forgotten and he can thrive at Muirfield this week.

Tiger Woods today made light of being prevented from making his usual early start to his Open preparations at Muirfield.

Rory McIlroy’s British Open Championship hopes — and his flagging season — have received a timely boost with the news that he’s found a new Nike driver that he says could be “the one”.

Tiger Woods is “very confident” his recent elbow injury will not hinder his chances of a 15th major title in next week’s Open Championship at Muirfield.

For fans of Rory McIlroy, it was difficult to know what to make of the mixed messages coming from the world number two during his unfortunately brief appearance at the Irish Open.

Graeme McDowell emerged from an hour-long fog delay to also end a run of two missed cuts and remain in contention at the French Open on the outskirts of Versailles.

Luke Donald hopes it will be soon be his turn to win a major championship after watching from close quarters as Justin Rose did so in the US Open last month.

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell will avoid reaching for the panic button when he competes in this week’s Alstom Open de France.

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell will avoid reaching for the panic button when he competes in this week’s Alstom Open de France.

Paul Casey today claimed the 12th European Tour title of his career in dramatic fashion after overturning a four-shot deficit in the final round of the Irish Open.

It was 10 minutes before 8am yesterday when Rory McIlroy glanced warily at Kildare’s greying skies, stepped forward onto the 10th tee and smacked his dimpled Nike straight down the throat of his first hole of the day.

Rory McIlroy admitted to feeling “a little lost” as he struggled to a first round of 74 in the Irish Open that left him eight shots off the lead and battling to make the cut.

Rory McIlroy’s bid for a first win of the season looked like being washed away on a miserable morning for the former world number one in the Irish Open.

Rory McIlroy’s bid for a first win of the season got off to a slow start today as light rain greeted the early starters in the first round of the Irish Open.

FROM elation to frustration.

Deep thinkers are in short supply among the golfing elite but Graeme McDowell could never be accused of failing to think outside the box when it comes to the fate of the beleaguered European Tour.

But Pádraig Harrington and Paul McGinley believe the world No. 2 may have to accept his infuriating inconsistency as part of his golfing DNA and embrace his “erratic genius” as he seeks a confidence -boosting return to form in the Irish Open at Carton House this week.

Waterford Castle amateur Kevin Phelan is ready to give a US Open encore in this week’s Irish Open in Kildare.

Simon Thornton is floating on air right now but Ireland’s latest European Tour winner revealed yesterday that he was contemplating quitting the tour grind for good just two weeks before his breakthrough victory on father’s day.

Writing off Pádraig Harrington is a bit like writing off Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky — an exercise that’s likely to blow up in your face as the hero takes yet another horrific pummelling but somehow manages to haul himself off the canvas.

Ernie Els busted out of last week’s Merion ‘torture chamber’ and singled out Irish-born caddy Colin Byrne for helping produce his lowest score in seven months on the opening day of the 25th anniversary BMW International Open in Munich .