A round of 65 helped American Brandt Snedeker take a three-shot lead into the weekend at the Safeway Open while Phil Mickelson was back among the birdies after a disastrous Ryder Cup.

Talk has already turned to who will take charge when Europe defend their crown at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin in 2020. Rose believes Irishman Harrington is an ideal candidate

Westwood had previously expressed a desire to captain Europe at Whistling Straits in 2020, but now says he will 'wait until Rome' hosts the biennial contest in 2022 to make his bid for the role.

The Englishman, playing during the first round at the British Masters - which is being hosted by Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose - enjoyed a moment he won't ever forget by sinking a hole-in-one.

Tommy Fleetwood blamed a 'nightmare' day on the greens after seeing his chances of victory blown off course on day two of the British Masters.

McIlroy raised eyebrows when he said he would focus primarily on tournaments in the United States next year and that he might not meet the European Tour's minimum event requirement.

Francesco Molinari is European Tour’s Golfer of the Year following his historic season that saw him become the first Italian to win the Open and first European to win a full five points at the Ryder Cup.

Thomas Bjorn fulfilled a promise to get a tattoo after leading Europe to a 17½-10½ Ryder Cup victory over USA in September. The Dane finally underwent the procedure.

The three-time major winner is the clear favourite to succeed Thomas Bjorn at Whistling Straits, where Europe will be bidding to defend the trophy won in Paris last year.

The three-time major winner succeeds Thomas Bjorn, as Europe bid to defend the trophy. He was announced as captain at a press conference at the European Tour's Wentworth headquarters.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: The idea McIlroy needs to show greater loyalty to the game on this side of the Atlantic, or risk forfeiting his place in the Ryder Cup team, is just nonsense.

Lee Westwood all but removed any doubt that he will be Europe’s Ryder Cup captain in 2022 on Tuesday when he declared the timing ‘ideal’ for him to take the reins in Italy.

Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed played to the cameras as they attempted to publicly put any animosity behind them during the Farmers Insurance Open.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF SPECIAL: America's leading golfers have the chance to complete a clean sweep of all four majors at the Open at Royal Portrush in July.

The European Tour has hired former Premier League executive chairman Scudamore to help boost revenue from the Ryder Cup, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Three months ago, Chris Wood was feeling so addled by golf he walked off a course mid-round for the first time in his life and out of the Morocco Open.

One day after ridiculing the idea that odds of 100-1 represented any sort of value on him winning the Irish Open, Padraig Harrington opened with a marvellous 63 for a one-stroke lead.

On a perfect day for scoring, Donaldson took full advantage with a fine 64 on Thursday to lie just one shot off the first-round lead held by American Matt Kuchar and three continentals.

Tommy Fleetwood is determined to keep a sense of perspective as he looks to end the major season on a high at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT ROYAL PORTRUSH: Less than two hours after setting foot in Northern Ireland for the first time, Tiger Woods had checked into his rental home, and was on the first tee.

INTERVIEW: After a few years of the weird and wonderful, you won't be too surprised to learn that the Claret Jug has been on a rather more sedate journey in the safe hands of Francesco Molinari.

Paul McGinley believes 'something must be amiss' with Tiger Woods for him to play just ten competitive rounds of golf between the Masters three months ago and the Open.

IAN LADYMAN AT PORTRUSH: Outgoing champion Francesco Molinari admitted he hadn't particularly enjoyed the experience of defending his title this week.

Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington wants Shane Lowry to build on his Open success and lead out the Europe team at Whistling Straits next year. Harrington is a close friend of Lowry's.

Ryder Cup winner Thorbjorn Olesen has been suspended from the European Tour after being charged with sexual assault, being drunk on an aircraft and common assault.

American Danielle Kang has stirred the pot nicely with some provocative remarks about wanting to 'crush' the Europeans and make the home supporters cry at Gleneagles.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT GLENAGLES: They used to say that the Solheim Cup was like the 'Ryder Cup with lipstick.' These days, 'with stilettos' might be a better fit.

Karlsson, who played twice for Europe as a player, performed the same role under Thomas Bjorn when Europe regained the trophy at Le Golf National in Paris last year.

WORLD OF GOLF: I blame Colin Montgomerie. It's a decade since the Scot marked the start of Ryder Cup qualifying by writing down the 12 players who he thought would make his team.

Zara McDermott is set to give an 'emotional and raw' account of her experience of revenge porn in a new BBC documentary.

The Irish beauty, who is currently five-and-a-half months pregnant, admitted that while the couple are 'excited' to expand their family, they 'had a few bumps in the road this time round'.

Vogue Williams was feeling nostalgic on Sunday, after she and husband Spencer Matthews revealed they are expecting a second child.

The reality star, 28, has hit back at 'rude' people who have criticised her for taking a trip from London to Henley amid the coronavirus pandemic in an Instagram post shared on Wednesday.

Ashley James tried her hand at acting in a hilarious video to mark her 33rd birthday on Thursday.

New York society art dealer Kenny Schachter, 58, had told Tatler how he was duped into a multi-million dollar art scam by his former friend and disappeared dealer Inigo Philbrick, 32.

Singer and former-reality star Julius Cowdrey has described his recent battle with coronavirus as 'awful' and has warned that 'the virus spreads like wildfire'.

The Made In Chelsea star, 26, also shared a racy snap of herself wearing a pair of jeans for the first time in lockdown.

Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson says cruel comments from vile online trolls inspired her 'ripped' new body.

The Made In Chelsea star, 30, displayed her toned figure as she posed for a series of sporty underwear shots while relaxing in her London home on Sunday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, wrote an impassioned post about how she previously felt very insecure with her body while working as a lingerie model due to 'diet culture'.

Tiffany Watson and Sophie Piper set pulses racing as they posed in lingerie for a new campaign with Boux Avenue this week.

England's head coach was forced to apologise to a reporter for saying 'maybe all half-Asian people look the same to you'. His remark came after he had been asked about meditating.

Whittingham died as a result of the head injuries he suffered after falling down the stairs at a pub in Barry on March 7 having watched Wales' Six Nations clash with England.

Heartfelt tributes have been paid to Cardiff City legend Peter Whittingham after he tragically passed away at the age of 35.

Without the state-of-the-art medical equipment he is used to at Leicester Tigers and the England camp, Jonny May has installed a hyperbaric chamber at his home to help him bounce back from injury.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT PEBBLE BEACH: With eight top five finishes in the majors but no victories, it's hardly surprising that Rickie Fowler is considered the best player under the age of 40.

Tyrrell Hatton is hoping to rekindle an old flame in the 148th Open Championship after admitting he has struggled for motivation since his successful Ryder Cup debut.

JONATHAN MCEVOY AT PORTRUSH: Rickie Fowler, a nearly man of the majors, will wave aside the chequered history of Northern Ireland by wearing his trademark orange shirt on Sunday.

Mansfield have suspended midfielders Dion Donohue and Jacob Mellis following an alleged serious breach of club discipline.Neither player was included in the matchday squad in Saturday's win at Carlisle.

A shocking video has shown the moment a football fan was punched in the face by an 'aggressive' and 'out of control' steward during Blackpool's EFL Trophy clash with Scunthorpe.