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.

Thomas Bjorn believes there is no need to rush into naming his successor as Ryder Cup captain, even if Padraig Harrington appears certain to be handed the role.

EXCLUSIVE: Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood are such certainties to be the next two Ryder Cup captains that consideration will be given to making a joint announcement.

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.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Jacklin should have been knighted years ago for his immense contribution to British sporting life. He is the architect of the modern Ryder Cup.

Teeing it up for the first time since the Ryder Cup, Reed showed no signs of rust and made four birdies to turn in 32 before gains on the first three holes ensured he steered clear of the chasing pack.

It would have to be Tommy Fleetwood standing in his way, wouldn’t it?  Seven weeks on from their bromance at the Ryder Cup, the skinny Scouser is the only man who can stop Francesco Molinari.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher came back from the dead three times after he suffered a cardiac arrest following a day of golf. Now, he's paying his good fortune forward to help others.

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.

Stricker, who lives just over two hours away from the host venue of Whistling Straits, has made three appearances in the biennial contest as a player, most recently at Medinah in 2012.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Like the start of the cricket season, the moment the European Tour touches down in Britain is usually the cue for the sun to disappear.

Europe's Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington will have just three wild cards at his disposal for next year's trophy defence in America — at his own request.

United States Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker has no intention of following opposite number Padraig Harrington and changing his number of wild cards.

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.

AMITAI WINEHOUSE: Ahead of the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox clash this weekend, Sportsmail looks and put together a top 10 for the biggest rivalries on the planet.

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.

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.

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.

The Irish government and European Tour organisers are understood to have agreed a deal for the biennial clash between Europe and the USA to be staged in Limerick.

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.

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.

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.

The Telegraph reported that Ryder Cup would likely follow a similar fate and would be postponed until 2021 as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the world.

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

Pregnant Millie Mackintosh has penned an emotional Instagram post revealing her anxiety about being pregnant and giving birth amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday morning, the Made In Chelsea star, 30, shared a video tour of her stylish abode, complete with chic white decor and a wildlife themed nursery

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.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, took to Instagram on Thursday to post the clip as she admitted that she has been 'in a bit of a weird mood the last few days' amid the UK coronavirus lockdown.

The Made In Chelsea star, 25, explained that her dog can't walk on the floor as he's not had his second lot of vet jabs due to the UK coronavirus lockdown.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, who is 33 weeks pregnant with a baby girl, showed off her bump on Instagram Stories as she shared a glimpse of the supplies for her hospital bag.

Emily Blackwell and Miles Nazaire's potential romance has been the hot topic of the 19th series of Made In Chelsea, as it returned to screens last week.