England’s Lee Westwood trails clubhouse leader Rafael Echenique by two shots at the TCL Classic in Hainan after carding an opening six-under-par 66 at the Yalong Bay Golf Club today.

Sweden’s Johan Edfors claimed his first European Tour title with victory in the TCL Classic on the Chinese resort island of Hainan as overnight leader David Howell’s bid fell apart in the final round.

IRELAND'S "big three" of Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley have suffered a noticeable drop in their world rankings since the beginning of 2006.

Miss Iceland, Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir, a part-time police officer who wants to be a lawyer, was crowned Miss World 2005 today.

EAMONN BRADY, a former West of Ireland champion and a nephew of the celebrated Arsenal and Ireland footballer Liam Brady, represents Ireland’s best chance of reaching the European Tour School at San Roque next week as the field goes into the final round of the second pre-qualifier at Costa Ballena near Cadiz today.

Two late birdies saw defending champion Colin Montgomerie grab a share of the lead at the TCL Classic in China after posting a third-round 68 to keep alive his hopes of re-entering the world’s top 50 come tomorrow evening.

Colin Montgomerie kept his hopes of qualifying for the US Masters alive with a superb second round at the TCL Classic in China this morning.

Irishman Paul McGinley is firmly in contention at the TCL Classic in China after firing a 69 to come in at 10 under.

Paul Casey’s first appearance outside America this season brought an instant reward as he stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the TCL Classic in China.

Colin Montgomerie’s bid to play in next month’s Masters has taken him to the Far East where he hopes a successful defence of his TCL Classic title will provide the necessary boost to qualify for the first major of the year.

FORMER Miss World Ireland’s Rosanna Davison, daughter of “Lady in Red” pop crooner Chris de Burgh, handed over her crown at the weekend to an aspiring schoolteacher from Peru.

Miss Peru, Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, was crowned Miss World today in the southern Chinese city of Sanya.

Irish fans will have to wait a little longer to catch a glimpse of their new Miss World after her homecoming was delayed today.

IRELAND’S Rosanna Davison remains the 4-1 hot favourite to triumph at tonight’s Miss World final in China.

Bookies have slashed the odds on an Irish winner of this year’s Miss World competition.