Graeme McDowell believes representing Ireland at this week’s World Cup of Golf in Melbourne may mean he will “have to play” for the country at the Olympic Games in 2016.

Graeme McDowell expects the cream to rise to the top during the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne but is feeling confident about Ireland’s chances.

At face value, it may have appeared more than a little crass of the Asian Tour to go ahead with the Manila Masters last week in the wake of the devastation that visited other parts of the Philippines in the form of Typhoon Haiyan.

Shane Lowry has given himself a chance to move closer to his goal of a place in the top 50 of the world rankings after qualifying for this week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Shane Lowry’s plans for his Movember moustache may not be too ambitious but he has higher expectations for his golf as he heads into his final run of tournaments this year.

Consider a couple of scenes from the golf world this year, with emphasis on ‘world’.

Graeme McDowell (pictured) insists the debate over which country to represent at the Olympics will not stop him from playing in the World Cup.

American hopes of regaining the Ryder Cup at Medinah received a major boost with Brandt Snedeker’s victory in the FedEx Cup and Tour Championship while European pair Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood faded.

South Korean KT Kim fired a third-round 67 to take a one-shot lead over American Bubba Watson at the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.

PEOPLE should cast their minds back a year before declaring that Tiger Woods is on his way back to the top.

The hug said it all today as Tiger Woods yet again clinched another Presidents Cup victory for the United States.

Greg Norman needs his International side to win eight out of 12 singles at Royal Melbourne tomorrow if they are to avoid a fourth successive Presidents Cup defeat.

Tiger Woods still has to prove he was worth a wild card for this week’s Presidents Cup – but America still lead by two points.

Tiger Woods suffered the biggest match play defeat of his life today - but it was still the Americans who began the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne much the better.

The highly-anticipated match-up between Tiger Woods and Adam Scott will happen on the opening day of the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.

FOR Tiger Woods this week’s Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne is very different to his five previous appearances in the match – and his six Ryder Cup caps.

Captains Fred Couples and Greg Norman lavished praise on Royal Melbourne ahead of this week’s Presidents Cup, with the United States leader saying some of his players have already ranked it the best they have played.

STEVE WILLIAMS can now surely be described as the Teflon caddie after getting away with his latest regrettable outburst, this time concerning his former employer Tiger Woods.

A FRENETIC, wildly unpredictable final day at the Tour Championship ultimately ended with Bill Haas winning both the tournament and FedExCup honours, though it took a while for his double success to sink in.

THE size of the gallery yesterday at Kingston Heath, Melbourne, was nothing new for Tiger Woods, who also played before some 7,000 people a few days ago in China.

AGONY.

GRAEME McDOWELL is travelling across the Pacific Ocean to California for a first serious assault on the US Tour.

Australia’s Craig Parry today defeated compatriot Nick O’Hern in a thrilling play-off to win the Heineken Classic in Melbourne.

Ernie Els kept his hopes of a record-equalling fourth straight Heineken Classic alive today as Colin Montgomerie crashed out of contention.

Nick Faldo claims he has “no idea” whether he or Ian Woosnam will be picked to captain Europe’s Ryder Cup team in 2006.

Ernie Els’ bid for a record-equalling fourth straight Heineken Classic title got off to a faltering start today.

Former world number one Greg Norman will be wired for sound at this week’s Heineken Classic in Melbourne.

Ernie Els will skip the $7.5m (€5.8m) Accenture Match Play for the second year in succession as he dedicates himself to Major glory.

Ryder Cup hero Colin Montgomerie will be chasing his first win in almost a year when he lines up in the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne from February 3-6.

England’s Steve Webster had Ian Woosnam to thank for a remarkable change in fortunes after he stormed into the clubhouse lead at the halfway stage of the ANZ Championship.

ERNIE ELS admitted to not being quite sure how he managed to pull his third consecutive Heineken Classic victory out of the bag yesterday after an astonishing slump at Royal Melbourne.

Ernie Els could not believe how he managed to claim his third consecutive Heineken Classic victory after an astonishing collapse at Royal Melbourne.

Ernie Els dropped six shots in nine holes at the Heineken Classic to throw away his eight-shot overnight lead in astonishing fashion.

Ernie Els extended his commanding lead at the Heineken Classic to eight shots as he continued his stride towards a third consecutive title at Royal Melbourne.

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer will definitely not be attempting to play his way on to this year’s team, according to his manager and brother Erwin.

Ernie Els today shot a remarkable 12-under-par round of 60 to open the defence of his title at the Heineken Classic in superb fashion.

Defending champion Ernie Els was on course for a sensational opening round at the Heineken Classic in Melbourne today after scorching to 11 under par from just 13 holes.

Nick Faldo is concentrating on playing his way back into Europe’s Ryder Cup team despite the remote possibility the captaincy might become available again.

Ian Woosnam has become the latest entrant in February’s Heineken Classic in Australia, where he will take on the likes of Ernie Els and Greg Norman in a strong field.

ERNIE ELS may have banked more than £15 million from his exploits on the golf course, but it has not sated the hunger for major trophies felt by Europe’s new number one.

Ernie Els may says he is still hungry for more major trophies.

AUSTRALIAN golfer Stuart Appleby claims he is happy to play in this week’s ANZ Championship in favour of a US Tour event at Pebble Beach, describing the American course as a “boghole”.

Nick Faldo looked on the bright side after seeing his hopes of a first title in nearly six years dashed by Ernie Els in Melbourne.

England’s Nick Faldo shot a sensational seven-under par 65 in the third round of the Heineken Classic to surge into contention for his first title in nearly six years.