From winning smiles to anger management, Rory McIlroy’s amazing run of form hit a speed bump at Wentworth yesterday, but not so bad as to send his BMW PGA Championship title defence off course.

The teeth have been ungritted, the mind opened to fresh thoughts and the mood modified to optimistic but whatever Graeme McDowell tries to get the better of Wentworth’s West Course, the Irishman admits he has something of a Marmite relationship with the place.

Luke Donald returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs this week with a lot more at stake than when he was ruling the roost four years ago.

From demolishing the field at Quail Hollow to wowing crowds during a London store appearance, there has been little in the last 72 hours to suggest Rory McIlroy is anything other than the master of all he surveys.

Tiger Woods has confessed he’s not slept since breaking up with Lindsey Vonn on the same day as the anniversary of his father’s passing.

Shane Lowry’s love affair with Wentworth has been unrequited up to now but the Offaly man heads into today’s third round of the BMW PGA Championship in the best possible position to seal victory.

Pádraig Harrington was aboard the first stagecoach out of town after missing the halfway cut in the Wells Fargo Championship in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina.

Damien McGrane has played in two British Opens, but he could be on course to make his third appearance at Royal Liverpool in July after opening with a five under 66 in the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington in South Africa.

The K Club’s Ryder Cup course has been voted the country’s top parkland course for 2014 by readers of Golfing Weekly. Its sister course at the Straffan estate, the Smurfit Course, came in at No 15.

“I’d love to be back here. I think it would be a great tournament on the O’Meara.

When Jack Nicklaus said that Merion “acre for acre may be the best test of golf in the world”, he certainly wasn’t considering the course from the point of view of tournament logistics.

USGA executive director Mike Davis today said he is already keen to bring the US Open back to Merion – if the club and local residents were willing to host the tournament again.

Graeme McDowell is a poster boy for the power of positive thinking, a master of psychology, a cerebral Grand Slam candidate.

If Rory McIlroy could bottle Pádraig Harrington’s, well, bottle, then his quest to be golf’s greatest could well be on the fast track.

Ireland’s hopes of ending a 54-year BMW PGA Championship drought will not rest on its quartet of major champions, who all suffered early exits at Wentworth.

Had life taken a different turn, James Morrison may well have been occupying the crease at Trent Bridge today.

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood made poor starts to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth today – but at least they were not in last place like Padraig Harrington.

Graeme McDowell will put his Volvo World Matchplay final disappointment behind him at Wentworth tomorrow as he kick-starts a summer of big-time tournaments at the BMW PGA Championship.

Pádraig Harrington will bid to build on encouraging form in the United States this week by finally getting to grips with Wentworth’s West Course at the BMW PGA Championship.

South African’s Branden Grace carded a level-par 72 in his final round to win the Joburg Open today and deny Jamie Elson what would have been a remarkable triumph.

England’s Jamie Elson gave himself a chance of winning the Joburg Open after firing a brilliant nine-under-par 63 in his final round today on Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s East Course.

A “FUMING” Ian Poulter is by no means a certain starter at Wentworth next year after another painful experience in the European Tour’s flagship event.

England’s Simon Khan, ranked 471st in the world and not even in the event until Monday, was in dreamland at Wentworth tonight when he came from seven behind to win the second most important title in European golf.

The dream scenario for Wentworth owner Richard Caring at the BMW PGA Championship tomorrow is for someone to eagle the controversial final hole and win by one.

RORY McILROY has wisely stayed well away from all the criticism being levelled at Wentworth’s new-look West Course at the BMW PGA Championship. He was happy yesterday, having done just enough to scrape into the weekend thanks to a two under par 69 although he made no secret of his distaste for the drastically altered par five 18th.

Luke Donald may be called “Plod” by his brother, but the Ryder Cup star’s precision rather than power game could bring him the biggest title of his career at the new-look Wentworth on Sunday.

THE YOUNG man who came to Wentworth as one of the favourites to collect the first prize of €750,000 at the BMW Championship instead faces a mighty battle if he is to survive until the weekend.

Padraig Harrington celebrated his return to the European Tour’s flagship event by taking a share of the early lead at Wentworth today.

ERNIE Els, Pádraig Harrington, both three times major championship winners, are here. So, too, Lee Westwood, the European number one and three other members of the world’s top 10 including Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.

IRISH golfers have won tournaments – including majors – in almost every corner of the globe.

IAN POULTER has followed Pádraig Harrington in ending his boycott of the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Ian Poulter has followed Padraig Harrington in ending his boycott of the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON will make his first appearance in the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship for three years at Wentworth from May 20-23.

Padraig Harrington will make his first appearance in the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship for three years at Wentworth from May 20-23.

Dane Soren Hansen and Angelo Que headed a seven-way tie at the top of the Maybank Malaysian Open leaderboard when play was suspended during today’s second round due to lightning.

Consistent Dane Soren Hansen joined Angelo Que in a share of the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

South African Charl Schwartzel has a second successive victory in his sights after another flawless display in the Joburg Open today.

Darren Clarke’s lowest European Tour round since 1999 was still not quite enough to give him the first round lead in the Joburg Open today.

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has sounded a reminder to Pádraig Harrington that Celtic Manor team selection could very well hinge on a commitment to key European Tour tournaments.

PAUL CASEY grabbed his third win of the year yesterday in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Paul Casey grabbed his third win of the year today in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Miguel Angel Jimenez grabbed a share of the lead at Wentworth today as he continued his bid for a successful defence of the BMW PGA Championship.

Henrik Stenson and Rory McIlroy were two of the big names struggling when the BMW PGA Championship began at Wentworth today.

Several of the big names got off to shaky starts in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.