If you hit the ball to a few inches, it's a great shot. If you hole it, it's dismissed as lucky. How does that work

Louis Oosthuizen produced the perfect response to his play-off defeat at the Masters by winning the Malaysian Open yesterday.

Luke Donald faces a battle to hold on to his world No 1 ranking after a poor first round in South Carolina. The Englishman needs a top-eight finish at the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head to stay above Rory McIlroy at the top of the standings.

Louis Oosthuizen shrugged off his Masters heartache to make a strong start at the Malaysian Open yesterday.

McIlroy's talent against Woods' experience: a classic showdown in store for the Masters showdown

You have to believe in your ability to win – not so easy against Tiger on the last day

The greatest doubted him and the other greatest pushed him. But Rory McIlroy became the world No 1 regardless what Jack said or Tiger did. If ever a coronation possessed validity, it was here at the Honda Classic in Florida yesterday.

England's Justin Rose shot another 66 to share the lead at the Honda Classic at Palm Beach, Florida yesterday – but three birdies in his last five holes brought Rory McIlroy right back into the thick of things.

Plans for an ambitious new golf course close to the Giant's Causeway have received a broad welcome in Northern Ireland - apart from environmentalists who describe it as "inherently and fundamentally wrong."

Rory McIlroy won the battle but lost the war. Having shot down Lee Westwood in yesterday's morning's World Match Play semi-final grudge match, McIlroy got held up and ambushed 2&1 in the desert by Hunter Mahan in the final.

Lee Westwood has made it through to Friday at the World Match Play for the first time in 12 attempts and probably headed to TGI Fridays for his dinner.

Luke Donald's nine-month reign as world No 1 is under threat. By losing to Ernie Els in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, a title he won last year, Donald has given Lee Westwood or Rory McIlroy a chance to claim golf's top spot. But victory on Sunday is required for all the numbers to add up. Westwood has cleared the first hurdle beating Nicolas Colsaerts 3&1. Meanwhile, McIlroy was doing his best to overtake South African George Coetze last night.

The world No 1 Luke Donald will play Ernie Els in the WGC-Accenture Match Play in Tucson tomorrow. Rory McIlroy, the world No 2, will take on South Africa's George Coetzee.

Sergio Garcia gave himself a timely boost for this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona with a scintillating finish to the Northern Trust Open yesterday.