PADRAIG Harrington is the only realistic hope of an Irish victory in the American Express World Championship after the conclusion of yesterday’s second round in wretched conditions at Mount Juliet.

Brazilian Vanderlei de Lima was tonight involved in the first high-profile security breach of the Olympic Games as a spectator watching the men’s marathon accosted the long-time race leader.

Mark O’Meara, the 47-year-old former Masters and Open champion, today achieved his first big victory since 1998.

Paul McGinley, seeking his first win since he holed the winning putt in the Ryder Cup two years ago, chipped in at the last to regain a share of the lead with a round to go in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Padraig Harrington has single-handedly since April kept Europe representation in the top 10, golf’s end-of-year world rankings released today reveal.

British Open Scores

England’s Philip Golding, the 40-year-old who has made a record 16 visits to the European tour qualifying school, has a chance to be remembered for something more than that tomorrow.

Results so far from Round 1 at Wimbledon.

England’s Greg Owen won the Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters at the Forest of Arden today – after no fewer than 21 top-10 finishes on the European tour without a victory.

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn has a two-shot lead going into the final round of the BMW International Open in Munich.

North West Ireland Open Scores

Paul Lawrie cruised to his fifth European Tour victory in the weather-disrupted Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open today.

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie takes a five-shot lead into today’s final round of the weather-delayed Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell is hoping to maintain the form that set the course alight at the Scandinavian Open in Stockholm. Today is the third round of play.

Today’s order of play at Wimbledon

Tiger Woods has stretched his lead at the top of the official world rankings.

South Africa’s Retief Goosen smashed a 28-year-old European Tour record in Perth today, opening up an incredible 13-stroke lead with a round to play in the Johnnie Walker Classic.

The opening match of the day at the Australian Open ended when Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues injured her knee in the seventh game against 10th seed Monica Seles.

The opening ceremony of the World Athletics Championships was followed by the men’s marathon which was won by Gezahenge Abera of Ethiopia in a time of two hours, 12 minutes and 42 seconds.