The joke doing the rounds here is that Atlanta Athletic Club members use the par-three 15th for the nearest the pin competition and the longest drive competition.

Westwood plans to play as if he doesn't care while Donald will whistle while he works as pair try to break their major duck

Two professional gentlemen are patiently waiting for me to break 100 in a medal.

Tiger Woods is back on the straight and narrow. He may not be winning this WGC Bridgestone Invitational, but the former world No 1 provided enough evidence here that this comeback will be rather more productive than the last.

First competitive round since April produces a 68 while Westwood has best day on greens in two years

The good news for Tiger Woods as he counts down to his return to golf tomorrow is that he cannot be as bad as he was in the same event last year.

When Darren Clarke stages his reunion with Tiger Woods here in the first two rounds of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, he would like to hear the cheers ring out for his friend and long-time rival. And his reasons are based on the personal as well as the professional.

Factory Yamaha rider Eugene Laverty will attempt to add to Northern Ireland's blossoming year of sporting successes at the British round of the World Superbike Championship at Silverstone this weekend.

Three Emerald Isle treasures – Clarke, McIlroy and McDowell – will be cheered round the Irish Open which starts today after their recent triumphs

Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy have both been made honorary life members of the European Tour after their incredible US Open-Open double this summer.

Today

A bid to bring a professional golf tournament back to Northern Ireland following the region's stunning success in the world game has been backed with a financial commitment from the Stormont government.

The new Open champion Darren Clarke has reiterated his belief that Royal Portrush would be able to host the event. With Northern Ireland having produced three major winners in the last 13 months – Clarke joined Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy – the 42-year-old feels his home course would be the ideal venue if the Royal and Ancient were to look to capitalise on the current enthusiasm for the game in the country.