Golf

Scottish No 1 Bob MacIntyre had no problems with his hand in his first competitive round in eight months as he made his debut in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Bryson DeChambeau has shot down claims that he's at loggerheads with world No 1 Brooks Koepka, saying: "I've got nothing but respect for him."

Rory McIlroy may be more than 8000 miles away playing on the PGA Tour in California, but it seems his comments late last year about European Tour courses needing to be toughened up has had the desired effect.

Jack Nicklaus turned 80 yesterday, no closer to retirement than when he was at the peak of his golf career. Never mind that he rarely competes, and when he does play the occasional round of golf, he doesn’t always finish the hole. His shoulder is sore, but that’s more from tennis.

Bob MacIntyre, the Scottish No 1, is "optimistic" about playing in this week's Omega Dubai Desert Classic after feeling no pain as he tested out his troublesome hand injury today at Emirates Golf Club.

Lee Westwood, who is still going strong at 46, reckons it is too early for budding golf stars to be picking up a club at the age of five.

Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance is hoping to make a full recovery after suffering a stroke.

Much more analytical and less emotional on the golf course. That was the winning formula for Lee Westwood in the victory that has made an 11th Ryder Cup playing appearance a possibility before he inevitably has a stint as Europe’s captain in the biennial event.

Spaniard Alexandra Armas has been given the green light to steer the Ladies European Tour at the start of an exciting new era. It follows confirmation that she has been appointed as the circuit’s permanent CEO after filling the post in an acting role since early October.

Martin Kaymer, who won the 2010 US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, believes Scot Craig Connelly can help him secure a sensational return to the Wisconsin venue for this year’s Ryder Cup.

It worked. The first event held under the European Tour’s new protocols on pace of play was played quicker than it had been in similar conditions a year ago. Now, one of the circuit’s most influential voices wants the foot kept to the pedal so that the tour can “send a signal to the world” in its attempt to tackle the game’s biggest problem once and for all.

Richie Ramsay leads the Scottish contingent heading into the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after fellow Aberdonian David Law was stopped in his tracks by a bad shot out of the blue.

Grant Forrest is developing a nice habit of producing some Friday fireworks in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, one of the European Tour's biggest events.

It was a five-star effort from a player from the Five Star Sports Agency.