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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Brooks Koepka finished the opening round of the USPGA with a staggering round of 63 to finish -7 and give him the outright lead. The American posted seven birdies and no bogies.

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

Brooks Koepka made a mockery of Bethpage Black's fearsome reputation in the first round, but there is still all to play for with three rounds to go. Follow all the action right here.

They say there's no such thing as the perfect golfer but over three rounds of complete domination at the USPGA Championship, Brooks Koepka has given a pretty good impression.

Brooks Koepka won the 101st USPGA Championship on Sunday to join the legends of the game with his successful defence of the Wanamaker Trophy.

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.

Former Ryder Cup golfer Gordon Brand Jr has died aged 60. The Scot starred in the 1987 and 1989 Ryder Cups and commentated as Shane Lowry won The Open just two weeks ago.

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.

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.

Golfer appeared at Isleworth Crown Court to deny sexual touching and assault after police arrested him at Heathrow Airport. He attended court with a woman who is believed to be his partner.

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.

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

The former Made In Chelsea star shared a refreshingly honest post about the reality of being in her final weeks of pregnancy on Instagram on Thursday.

The former Love Island star, 23, revealed she is only just 'starting to love' her body as she posed in her underwear for a series of Instagram snaps on Monday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 25, nailed summer chic in a pretty pale pink sundress as she enjoyed the walk with her adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

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 meeting of Sam Thompson's ex-girlfriend Tiffany Watson and new love Zara McDermott has been the cause of much strife during the current series of Made In Chelsea.

She moved in with boyfriend Sam Thompson and his fitness fanatic sister last year.

The Made In Chelsea star, 23, showcased her toned, slimmed down figure as she posed in lingerie for racy Instagram snaps shared on Tuesday.

The former Countdown host, 59, announced to listeners that she was stuck in the tiny elevator in Cardiff's Angel Hotel with six people - including Welsh rugby legend Ian Gough, on Saturday.

Sam Underhill has lived and played on both sides of the Anglo-Welsh rugby divide and the England flanker believes it is vital to shut out the emotion as the neighbours prepare to renew their rivalry.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: It has been a disjointed Six Nations full of bad weather and postponed matches. England have spluttered a little but, I'm hoping and expecting to see an all-court performance,

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.

Free agent striker Nicky Ajose is weighing up a number of offers after attracting interest from Blackpool, Exeter City and Lincoln City following his release by Charlton.

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.

Wycombe have paid tribute to supporter Mark Bird, who has died after suffering a heart attack before Tuesday's home game against Blackpool.

JACK GAUGHAN AT THE HIGHBURY STADIUM: Neil Critchley started coaching at Crewe's academy in his teens but taking charge of his first Blackpool fixture did not figure in the grand plan.

Logic turned the VMAs stage into a protest against Trump's immigration policy on Monday, including dozens of families wearing 'We Are All Human Beings' shirts in his performance.

She released her fourth studio album - Queen - on August 10. And 10 days later, Nicki Minaj commanded attention on the carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards while dressed in a thong look.

US actor George Clooney believes the fight for better treatment for women is a 'constant battle'. In the wake of MeToo he said he told Paramount: 'It's all guys, we have to be part of the solution'.

We tested five home colour kits. Because, as JAN MOIR points out, it is 'no surrender' time when it comes to grey hairs. Writer Fran Lebowitz once said: 'You are only as good as your last haircut.'

Britain is braced to break its 35.6C (96F) June temperature record tomorrow as the country basks in June sunshine. But forecasters warn the weather could turn to thunderstorms on Sunday.

The band, who were scheduled to perform at the music extravaganza on Friday, have been forced to cancel their set as guitarist Johnny, 42, requires immediate neck surgery.

Sam Fender has been forced to pull out of Glastonbury Festival 2019 over health reasons just hours after Snow Patrol cancelled their slot. 

On Wednesday, Carrie Underwood was just one show away from wrapping the UK leg of her tour, with the UK's best-selling country act of all time, The Shires, as special guest.

Carrie Underwood has wrapped up the UK leg of her Cry Pretty tour with an epic performance at The SSE Arena, Wembley in London.