Golf fans will need to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to arrive in good time at Fota Island to watch the marquee draw in the first round of the Irish Open Championship.

Rory McIlroy's dramatic victory in the BMW PGA Championship has lifted him four places in the latest world rankings.

Graeme McDowell will get Ireland’s challenge at the 2014 Masters up and running tomorrow at Augusta National when he tees off in the opening round of the year’s first major championship at 2.35pm Irish time.

Paul McGinley’s love/hate relationship with the PGA Centenary course continued with Europe’s Ryder Cup captain delighted to make the cut in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Chelsea 3 FC Basel 1

Zenit St Petersburg secured a narrow advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie against Benfica as Roman Shirokov’s brace helped the hosts to a hard-fought win at a frigid Stadion Petrovskiy last night.

Graeme McDowell will have to finish in the top three of the Dubai World Championship this week just to have a chance of denying Ryder Cup team-mate Martin Kaymer the European Tour number one spot.

US Open champion Graeme McDowell was upstaged by world number 317 John Parry, who carded a second-round 67 to take the lead at the Austrian Open in Atzenbrugg.

The second round of the United States PGA Championship was spared a third fog delay and was able to resume on time at 7am at Whistling Straits today.

Ireland’s Robert Heffernan today set a new national record as he finished fourth for the second time in four days in the European Championships in Barcelona.

England’s Ross Fisher burst into the lead at the 3 Irish Open with a dazzling six successive birdies in Killarney today.

The new US Open champion Graeme McDowell will have to wait until just before 2pm on Thursday when he tees off with two former winners of that title, Jim Furyk and Geoff Ogilvy at the Open in St Andrews.

GARETH MAYBIN has wrapped up his Tour card early for a second year running after finishing joint second in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

Italy’s Giuliano Razzoli took the lead in the men’s slalom following the first run at Whistler Creekside on Saturday.

Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg was stunned by her surprise gold in the women’s giant slalom gold medal at a foggy Whistler Creekside.

It has been a mixed start for two of Ireland's top golfers in the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship so far today.

RORY MCILROY has reached a higher position on the world rankings than any other 20-year-old before him.

Lee Westwood is back as Europe’s number one – and €1.77m richer as well - after becoming the inaugural winner of the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

Rory McIlroy is back into second place on the European money list with two weeks left and has cut Lee Westwood’s lead to just over €50,000

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon is living proof that in golf it takes just one week to make it a great year.

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon, with one European Tour win in 290 starts and fighting for his future, leads the Castello Masters in Spain with a round to play.

Martin Kaymer has given himself the chance to regain the European Tour number one spot in his first event back from breaking toes in a go-kart crash.

Just as he did when he took third place two years ago – in only his second professional event – Rory McIlroy tamed one of the toughest holes in golf today.

Paul Casey’s injury withdrawal from his last two events has cost him top spot on the European Tour’s ’Race To Dubai’ money list.

Padraig Harrington will tee-off with defending champion Tiger Woods and 2007 champion Angel Cabrera at this week's US Open at Bethpage, New York.

Rising Australian star Katherine Hull surged into a three-stroke lead on the third day of the ANZ Ladies Masters at Royal Pines in Australia today.

Tottenham and Bolton will be among the second seeds in today’s draw for the group stage of the UEFA Cup but Everton are in the group of third seeds.

Sweden's Magnus A Carlsson took a giant step towards European Tour promotion thanks to his one-stroke win in the Challenge of Ireland at the Glasson Hotel and Country Club near Athlone.

Swede Magnus A Carlsson opened up a two shot lead as Birr’s Justin Kehoe and Antrim’s Gareth Maybin fell off the pace in the €150,000 Challenge of Ireland at Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club today.

Padraig Harrington has reached his highest-ever position in the world rankings after winning the Open Championship at Carnoustie yesterday.

Adam Scott's victory in the Houston Open has moved the Australian back to third in the official world rankings.

Tiger Woods completed an outstanding year by firing a six-under-par 66 in Sunday’s final round to win the Target World Challenge in California, the tournament that benefits his own foundation.

Cork's Claire Coughlan added a level par 72 to her opening 71 to lie four shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the LET Final Qualifying School at La Cala Resort in Spain.

Swede Mathias Gronberg moved into contention for a first US Tour victory when he produced a third-round 65 at the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, today.

Irish golfer Graeme McDowell qualified today for next week’s US Open at Winged Foot.

Munster’s Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz cost Darren Clarke a share of the lead going into the final round of the Nissan Irish Open.

Irish players Pádraig Harrington and Michael Hoey shared the lead at one under par with Ian Poulter and Holland’s Robert-Jan Derksen at the Nissan Irish Open today.

Darren Clarke, who threw away a chance to win the event on the 72nd hole last year, had a terrible opening day of the Verizon Heritage at Hilton Head Island yesterday, closing at five over par.

Phil Mickelson coasted to one of the biggest wins in US Tour history at the BellSouth Classic – and very much did it his own way.

Defending champion Nick Dougherty shot a five-under-par 67 to clamber back up the leaderboard at the OSIM Singapore Masters – but Singapore’s Mardan Mamat led the way for the third day in a row.

Overnight European Tour Qualifying School finals leader Wakefield maintained his place at the top with a second successive 69.

Ernie Els leads the European Tour Volvo Order of Merit with earnings of more than €4m to date. Padraig Harrington is best of the Irish at €1.8m.

Former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst is in the hunt for his first European tour victory for nine years after adding a 65 to his opening 67 in the Madrid Open today.

Latest leading positions in the European Tour Volvo Order of Merit: