World number three Jim Furyk defended his Canadian Open title in a one stroke victory over Vijay Singh.

LIKE most everyone else here in Kildare and throughout the country, the weather was top of the agenda yesterday for Ryder Cup team captains Tom Lehman and Ian Woosnam.

Brandt Jobe fired a five-under-par 67 to maintain his lead after the second round of the Buick Invitational.

A record prize fund of €3.3million – up €145,000 on last year – will be on offer at the Smurfit European Open at The K Club this summer.

A record prize fund of €3.336,288 – up €145,000 on last year – will be on offer at the Smurfit European Open at The K Club in Ireland this summer.

Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods get all the headlines, but Tom Lehman was the one who played like one of the best golfers in the world in California.

Tiger Woods draws a huge crowd wherever he goes – on the golf course or off it.

TALK about being thrown in at the deep end! Ireland's Pádraig Harrington, the European team's highest-ranked player, and Ryder Cup hero Colin Montgomerie, have been handed one of the most unenviable tasks in golf.

ONE of the most valuable lessons of the unfortunate incidents during the 1999 match at Brookline is that no alcohol will be allowed on the South Course during this week’s Ryder Cup match at Oakland Hills.

RETIEF GOOSEN is threatening to turn the Smurfit European Open Championship at The K-Club into a one-horse race.

DARREN CLARKE and Pádraig Harrington were at odds at The K-Club yesterday but only about the likely winning score in the €3.3m Smurfit European Open that gets underway over the splendid new South Course today.

WORK has begun to enhance the North Course at the K Club for the Ryder Cup in 2006. The first phase of the programme has focused on the par three third hole and the par five, seventh hole, one of the signature holes.

THE ADMISSION prices for two of the major golfing events to be held in Ireland in 2004 have been announced — and make very interesting reading.

THE new South Course at the K Club will officially open today, with some of the biggest names on the European Tour participating in a gala Pro Am with the proceeds going to the Special Olympics.

THE PRIDE and sense of expectation in the two men was palpable as they cast their gaze over terrain that up to a couple of years ago was dull pasture land but is now rapidly developing into one of Ireland's great golf courses.