From Patrick Reed hitting out at Jim Furyk for not playing with him with Jordan Spieth, to Phil Mickelson bemoaning the state of the rough in Paris, it's not been a fortnight to remember for team USA.

Francesco Molinari has revealed he had to overcome a back injury to produce his record-breaking Ryder Cup heroics. The back problem left him unable to tie his shoes the day after.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT WALTON HEATH: It's hard to believe there is a real danger the British Masters taking place at Walton Heath will be the last. So much for a post Ryder Cup lift.

Willett carded five birdies and two bogeys in an opening 69 at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island in South Korea, with the USA's Chez Reavie setting the pace on four under thanks to five birdies.

McIlroy remained defiant on Thursday amid the gathering tide of criticism over his threat to quit the European Tour. ‘I’d cause all the stirs in the world if I can get back to winning majors,’ he said.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF SPECIAL: From New York to Paris and plenty of less exotic stops in between, this was a year to savour. This was the year of the nice guy — and girl.

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.

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.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: For all its reputation as a pampered man’s sport, golf has been a rich source for tales of success that go way beyond the territory of the unexpected.

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: After reaching the age of 35 in the summer of 2015, Rose sat down with his inner circle and devised a five-year plan. Three years in, it's going well.

Former Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters took advantage of benign morning conditions to lead a world-class field in the inaugural Saudi International.

Planning and discussions with several countries and governments remain in the early stages following the success of last year's Ryder Cup in Paris, where Europe beat the USA 17½-10½.

Thomas Pieters will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Maybank Championship as he bids to end his two-and-a-half-year wait for a regular European Tour title.

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.

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.

One of the Duke's flunkies last week contacted the exclusive Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande, one of the best-known golf clubs in Europe, to make arrangements.

WORLD OF GOLD EXCLUSIVE BY DEREK LAWRENSON: Nathaniel, 57, arrives with a clutch of great stories about his father and the natural bonhomie that was the preserve of his old man.

Matt Fitzpatrick will be among the spectators this weekend when his brother Alex follows in his footsteps and represents Britain and Ireland against America in the Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool.

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.

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.

USA captain Stricker insisted there would be 'no real tricks' in 2020, when his team will be out to make the most of home advantage having been out-played in Paris.

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.

Made In Chelsea fans were left delighted when Binky Felstead announced she was returning to the show for its imminent 19th season.

Ahead of his return to Made In Chelsea on Monday night, Ollie Locke has shared with MailOnline what fans can expect from him in the show's 19th season.

YouTuber Jack Maynard has recorded a track to help his followers get through the dire days of self-isolation.

The Made In Chelsea star has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his late mum who passed away last April following a 'brief battle' with brain cancer.

Millie Mackintosh has revealed she feels 'proud' of her body and accepts that it will never 'quite be the same' as she prepares to welcome her first child.

Georgia, also known as Toff, also explained her sadness at not being able to grieve with her family amid the coronavorus lockdown, writing: 'There's too much sadness at the moment.'

Tiffany Watson is the latest former-Made In Chelsea star to make a comeback to the show.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, displayed her growing bump in a pretty pink frilled bikini as she enjoyed the sunshine in her garden during the coronavirus lockdown.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 25, looked summery as she soaked up the spring sunshine in a white cropped crochet cardigan.

Sam and Louise Thompson break the news to a VERY unimpressed Zara McDermott that Tiff Watson is back on the scene in a clip from Monday's Made In Chelsea.

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 former Made In Chelsea star, 30, gave fans a tour of her nursery on Instagram on Wednesday as she and husband Hugo Taylor prepare for the arrival of their daughter.

Their wedding day was pushed back amid the coronavirus pandemic.  Yet Proudlock and Emma ensured they marked the occasion as they held a romantic picnic in their garden.

Louise Thompson has admitted she's 'working on her relationship' with fiancé Ryan Libbey and they still haven't made plans for their wedding.

Louise Thompson has ruled out a permanent return to Made in Chelsea after admitting filming for the current series left her 'deflated.'

The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, is quickly approaching her May due date and showed viewers a host of items she has packed.

The sweet moment was captured by the reality star, 29, who is currently isolating away from her mum Jane, otherwise known as 'mummy Felstead', like many of us during lockdown  

The series finale of Made In Chelsea gave fans a glimpse into what the stars of the show are up to in lockdown, with filming being cut short.

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'.

The ex-Made In Chelsea star, 33, expressed his gratitude towards his fans for their support on Instagram on Wednesday, after he and his wife Millie, 30, welcomed their 'darling girl' into the world.

Les Bleus boss Fabien Galthie responded by saying: 'It's a lack of respect towards our scrum, towards our team, towards French rugby, towards our nation.'

Manu Tuilagi and Ben Youngs are set to return to England's starting XV for Sunday's pivotal Six Nations showdown with Ireland at Twickenham. Jonathan Joseph and Willi Heinz will make way.