England’s Ian Poulter added a hole-in-one to his stunning opening 61 – but still found his lead cut to just one shot at the weather-disrupted Italian Open in Rome.

PATHFORK has been withdrawn from the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh today as he suffered a bit of a setback.

Ireland’s Paul Dunne is confident he can handle the pressure of being the pre-tournament favourite for the first time as he looks to go one better than last year in the Hassan Trophy.

WILLIE Mullins was handed a timely boost with the victory of Ballytrim in the Powers Ulster Grand National EBF Handicap Chase, part of a treble at Downpatrick yesterday.

DERMOT WELD, fresh from another profitable Galway, where he had seven winners, was on the mark at Cork yesterday when Reform Act turned in a game display to land the €45,000 plus to the winner Listed Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Give Thanks Stakes.

Liam Neeson has taken on the Russians in his latest movie, K-19: The Widowmaker.

RORY MCILROY answered his critics in emphatic fashion by winning the Quail Hollow Championship by four shots from Phil Mickelson last night.

Connacht, for a team which has won almost 45% of its matches in the Heineken Champions Cup, still has a lot to learn how to compete in Europe’s premier tournament.

THE largest collection of artefacts salvaged from the Titanic is to be put up for auction next year — the 100th anniversary of the world’s most famous shipwreck.

GRAEME MCDOWELL crashed to an eight over 80 in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and confessed that it might be just the “kick in the ass” he needs to get his game in shape for the Masters.

Tommy Barker says Heir Island property offers rare opportunity.

AFTER 19 top 10 finishes and not a win or second place amongst them, English golfer Greg Owen is a man on a mission this weekend.

Shane Lowry promised to give himself a slap in the face when his mind inevitably turns to celebrating a Masters win on Sunday evening.

It's not all ancient history at the Masters.

Irishman Shane Lowry today became only the second player to win on the European Tour as both an amateur and a professional.

Martin Kaymer continued his love affair with the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship as the former champion opened up a one shot third round lead over Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter.

England's Ross McGowan equalled the lowest score of his European Tour career today to lead the Estoril Portuguese Open after the opening round.