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Live: French Open

England’s Steve Webster moved into contention for the French Open in Paris today - one week after spending five hours in hospital because of an eye injury.

The 34-year-old, hit by a loft door as he helped his father, fired a six-under-par 65 at Le Golf National to reach halfway on the eight-under-par total of 134.

Nick keeps up momentum

Shaw Hill's Nick Dougherty was right in contention as the French Open began at Le Golf National near Paris today.

Dougherty, riding high after his victory at the BMW International Open in Munich, was on five under, just four shots behind the leader, Germany's Martin Kaymer.

Cheetham shares top prize

JON Cheetham ended one of the leanest spells of his playing career when he shared top prize in one of the events he organises on the Players' Tour at Hopwood yesterday.

The Gatley professional, a former Manchester Open and Leeds Cup winner, signed for a three-under-par 68 matched by Hillsborough's Oliver Whitley.

Dougherty wins in Munich

HE’S BACK! Nick Dougherty delivered what he’s been promising all season when he edged to a one-shot victory in the BMW International Open in Munich.

And as the champagne corks popped at his club Shaw Hill, equal measures of relief and joy were etched over his face as he spoke of the “tough times”following the sudden death of his mum Ennis 14 months ago.

Champ Bedford finishes in style

MICHAEL Bedford staged a grandstand finish to win the Cheshire County Championship at his home club Prestbury where he grabbed seven birdies in a six-under-par 65 and missed equalling the amateur course record by a shot.

Lancs ladies in Roses win

LANCASHIRE overwhelmed Yorkshire 7-2 to clinch the Northern Counties Women's Championship for the first time since 2002 to qualify for the English Finals at Pleasington in September.

Captain Linda Wilson, a member of Bolton's Lostock Park, guided her charges through the week-long tournament at Heswall with a 100 per cent record intact. And they did not give their Roses rivals, winners for the last five years, an inch.

Goosen's BMW boost

RETIEF Goosen added a 68 to his opening 64 to head the field in the BMW International Open at in Munich.

The South African, who has a new putter in the bag, leads by two from Scotland's David Drysdale who shot a second round 64.

Robbo makes up for signing error

IT was Groundhog day for Barry Taylor in the Open Championship regional qualifier at Pleasington - and a day of atonement for James Robinson at Mere.

Taylor, assistant professional at Houghwood, led the way for the second year running with a three-under-par 68.

Race To Dubai: The Top 20

Check out the Top 20 in the European Tour's Race To Dubai money list.

Shacklady in the swing

DAVID Shacklady clocked up his third pro-am victory of the season with a flawless six-under-par 64 at Ashton-in-Makerfield, the Mossock Hall maestro rolling in three birdies on each loop to finish two ahead of Bolton's Steve Parry.

The pair both played in the Open at Carnoustie two years ago and the result will have served as a confidence booster for Parry who is pegging up in today's regional qualifier at Pleasington, his adversary being exempt into the next stage.

Golf academy competition

WE'VE teamed up with The Co-operative to offer four youngsters the chance to attend the Lee Westwood Golf Academy, which develops children's golf skills while having fun and enjoyment at the same time, at High Legh Park on July 22-24.

Fisher salutes US Open winner Glover

ROSS Fisher hailed surprise US Open champion Lucas Glover as a worthy winner after the American held off the world's best players at Bethpage Black.

England's Fisher landed his best finish in a major when he placed fifth, three shots behind Glover as the rain-drenched 2009 US Open finally came to a conclusion in dramatic fashion on its fifth day.

July diary

CHECK out all the key golfing dates in July.

Pike Fold's grass is always greener

PIKE Fold are turning many of the region's clubs green with envy.

And if Ross Fisher had been putting on the verdant, slick surfaces at the Unsworth course he might well have taken fewer strokes he used during the US Open at Bethpage Black!

Young Tigers get golf off to a tee

MANCHESTER is spearheading the country's first project to encourage children to take up golf coupled with lessons in life skills.

And it's proving so popular that more than 500 pupils from 27 primary schools turned up at Heaton Park yesterday for the official launch.

Hastie in a hurry

GARETH Hastie faces a frantic dash to from Pleasington to Old Links on Wednesday if he reaches the final of the Bolton Championship.

The 30-year-old Dunscar player has a late morning start in the Open Championship regional qualifier at the Blackburn course.

Barnes looks to hold nerve

US Open co-leader Ricky Barnes will resume his bid for major success today confident he can keep his nerves in check over the most important 16 and a half holes of his golfing life.

The American, looking to record his first tournament victory as a professional in the second major of the year, is tied for the lead at seven under with compatriot Lucas Glover, five shots clear of a gathering pack including Phil Mickelson, David Duval and England’s Ross Fisher, and with Tiger Woods looming in the distance at level par.

US Open set for Monday finish

THE 109th US Open was heading for a first Monday finish since 1983 after more heavy rain fell on the Bethpage Black course overnight.

The downpour, which began at around 7:10pm on Saturday, quickly saw the greens flood after a week-long barrage of rainfall on Long Island.

Westwood stays in touch

Lee Westwood defied the rain and a bad draw to climb into the top 10 at the US Open today as PGA Tour rookie Ricky Barnes took a one-shot halfway lead into the third round at Bethpage Black.

Tiger Woods was able to make the cut but there was less luck for a sizeable section of the European contingent as Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey and Luke Donald were among those sent packing with the cut line established at four over par.

Heavy rain halts US Open

Padraig Harrington is set to resume his rain-delayed first round at the US Open today looking to play catch-up on one half of the 156-man field and envying the other half that could not get started last night.

The opening round at Bethpage Black on New York’s Long Island was called to a halt after just three hours and 15 minutes when heavy rains made the 7,426-yard par-70 course unplayable.

I'm still in Nicklaus shadow - Woods

Tiger Woods has proclaimed Jack Nicklaus as the best golfer of all time - for now.

The 33-year-old world number one will tomorrow begin his bid for a 15th major success when the 109th US Open gets under way at Bethpage Black.

Ricoh academy diary: part three

M.E.N. Sport's Paul Handler is taking part in a golf academy in the build-up to the Ricoh Women's British Open, and his latest session involved a lesson in links golf.

Young eyes Mitsushiba hat-trick

LANCASHIRE champion Mark Young hoisted himself into contention for an unprecedented third successive Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit title with his victory in the Frank Stableford Open at Wallasey.

And the 27-year-old Longridge player would have been justified if he'd pulled out of the event because he only realised three days earlier that he was competing in this week's Amateur Championship at Formby and West Lancs.

Exile Marcus wins by a shot

MANCHESTER exile Marcus Armitage continued his dominance of the Players' Tour with a one shot victory over Wrexham's Tim Dykes at Wychwood Park.

The former Lancashire County player, who left Marriott Worsley Park three years ago and joined Yorkshire club Howley Hall before turning professional, fired 68 and 74 for a level par total.

Horsey has an eye on the Tiger

COOL dude David Horsey is unlikely to be fazed by the prospect of playing with Tiger Woods in the US Open which starts at Bethpage Black on Thursday.

"If we're paired together I suppose I might feel a little nervous but I would just try to concentrate on my own game. I'd use the opportunity to try to learn from him," he said as he flew to New York for his first tournament on American soil.

Squires in form for hat-trick bid

ALAN Squires warmed up for next week's Lancashire Seniors' Championship at Denton when he chalked up his third victory in four years in the Rut Niblick at Pleasington.

But the Oldham evergreen revealed that he is taking a break this season from international matches.

Lancashire woe at Seascale

LANCASHIRE were dramatically bundled out of the Northern Counties Championship at Seascale after one of their players was disqualified for signing for a wrong score.

The six-man Red Rose side, who won the title last year then went on to claim the English crown, were closing in on leaders Cumbria when the mistake was spotted.

Open and out for region's golfers

THE region's big guns were shot down in the Open Championship international qualifier at Sunningdale.

Not even Nick Dougherty managed to book his spot at Turnberry next month as he failed by three shots on the Berkshire course he knows so well.

Unlucky Nick needs to rally

NICK Dougherty must clear his mind of all negative thoughts today in his bid to secure his place in the Open Championship when he pegs up in the international final qualifier at Sunningdale.

From sharing overnight lead, he stumbled from one disaster to another in the final round of the Celtic Manor Wales Open in which he leaked nine shots, three of them in a treble bogey seven at the 16th, on his way to a 79 and 37th place.

Woods wins Memorial

TIGER Woods hit a pair of closing birdies to clinch a stunning victory at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

The world number one was in scintillating form throughout a final-round 65 at Muirfield Village Golf Club - a seven-under-par tally which left Woods at 12-under 276 overall.

Tom tries Pa for the course

TOM Murray pulled out of a tournament after his game had gone off the boil only to change his mind a few days later after some fatherly advice.

"I'd been playing well but could not put any decent scores together," explained the 19-year-old who is attached to Lymm where he was a junior captain.

Ricoh academy diary part two

M.E.N. Sport's Paul Handler is taking part in a golf academy in the build-up to the Ricoh Women's British Open, and his latest lesson involved a round of golf at Lytham with Ladies European Tour player Becky Brewerton.

Monty stays in contention

Colin Montgomerie stayed in the hunt for the Wales Open with a second successive 69 at Celtic Manor - but American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin looked likely to miss the halfway cut.

On four under par at halfway Montgomerie was three behind fellow Scot Richie Ramsay, the former US Amateur champion adding a 67 to his opening 68.

Nick targets Welsh success

NICK Dougherty has another reason for wanting to win the Celtic Manor Welsh Open apart from ending an 18-month title drought.

Nothing would please him more than to dedicate the prize to his Wales-born mum Ennis who died suddenly last year.

Sparkling start for Luke

Luke Donald shot a sparkling eight-under-par 64 on the first day of the Memorial tournament to take a three-shot lead.

The Briton started his round with a bogey at the first but a run of six birdies in seven holes on the back nine propelled him up the leaderboard ahead of Americans Jim Furyk and Ted Purdy, Australia’s Jason Day and South Africa’s Thomas Aiken, who all carded opening rounds of 67.

McGinley calls for shake-up

Paul McGinley today called on the powers-that-be in golf to “wake up” and change the world ranking system.

McGinley spoke after kicking off his bid for a first win in four years with a three under par 68 in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor, an event featuring only three of the game’s top 50.

Monty's lord of the Manor

Colin Montgomerie has already made an open and shut case for his success as Ryder Cup captain.

The Scot's attention to detail has gone as far as asking for a change to the doors into the team rooms at Celtic Manor.

Home win for Amelia

BURY schoolgirl Amelia Taylor has turned down a dream trip to next month's US Kids World Championship at Pinehurst because it clashes with two major events at home.

The 11-handicapper, who plays at Harwood and St Annes Old Links, has decided competing in the English Girls and Scottish Under-21 Open is more important in her burgeoning amateur career.

Mickelson's 'yes' to US Open

World number two Phil Mickelson has decided to play in the US Open later this month.

Mickelson’s participation in the second major of the year had been in doubt after he announced he was taking a break from golf to support his wife, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

What's on in June

David Birtill looks at what's on in the world of golf in June.

Latest world rankings

Check out the latest world golf rankings.

Ryder rivals try out course

Two golfers ranked 187th and 281st in the world would not normally find themselves the centre of attention going into a tournament.

But it is different this week. Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin are the players concerned and at the Wales Open starting on Thursday their minds will not just be on trying to achieve their first top-10 finishes since last June.

Cevaer seals surprise win

Christian Cevaer, 449th in the world and without a top-30 finish in his last 15 tournaments, overcame a star-studded field and one of the toughest holes in golf to be the shock winner of the European Open today.

After an amazing weekend which saw no fewer than 45 changes of the lead, the 39-year-old, whose only previous Tour victory was the 2004 Spanish Open, beat England’s Steve Webster, Scot Gary Orr and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros by a shot.

Lancs put up a fight

LANCASHIRE, with seven key players missing, put up a spirited fight before losing 10-8 to Yorkshire at West Lancs and virtually end their hopes of retaining the Northern Counties League title.

Crucial in the final analyses was a pitch-in birdie from the rough on the last hole in the foursomes by Sam Haywood against Jon Hurst and Steve Hindle which enabled the Tykes to go into lunch level instead of 4-2 down.

Stricker makes Clark pay

Steve Stricker triumphed at the second extra hole to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial after a three-way play-off tonight.

The American came up with a birdie at the crucial moment to pip Steve Marino and Tim Clark, who led by two shots with five holes of his final round to play.

Wild on way to St Andrews

CHARLOTTE Wild has taken her game to another level this week after storming to victory with a 10-birdie spree in the Critchley Salver at gale-lashed Sunningdale then lining for England in the Nations Cup at St Andrews today.

The Mere player, who will also represent her country in the Irish Open next month in Cork, forced her way into international reckoning when she reached the quarter-finals of the English Amateur Championship at Lindrick two weeks ago.

Ricoh academy diary

M.E.N. Sport's Paul Handler is taking part in a golf academy in the build-up to the Ricoh Women's British Open - follow his progress here.

Lancs bank on boys brigade

LANCASHIRE will have seven of their top 12 players missing when they go into battle again the old enemy Yorkshire in the Northern Counties League at West Lancs tomorrow.

Skipper Bill Bromilow has drafted in several of members of the boys’ squad including Ashton-in-Makerfield’s Adam Andrews, whose clubmate Garry Lacy has also been recalled after a four-year absence.

Hanson's sparkling start

Sweden’s Peter Hanson followed up his dramatic play-off hole-in-one on Monday with a sparkling start to the European Open at the London Club in Kent today.

The 31-year-old, who grabbed a place in next month’s US Open with his ace in the qualifying tournament at Walton Heath, returned a six-under-par 66 to share the early lead with in-form South African Thomas Aiken.

Horsey seals US Open spot

LIFE has been full of ups and downs for David Horsey in the last few days.

After grabbing the headlines when he shared the first round lead in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth before tumbling out of contention, his spirits have been lifted again by winning a place in next month's US Open.

Young takes it slow

MARK Young admitted no-one was more surprised than he was when he won the Lancashire Amateur Championship at Southport and Ainsdale.

"I'd been struggling for weeks and I could not put my finger on the problem," said the 27-year-old Longridge player.

Casey wins at Wentworth

BRITAIN now has the world number three in both tennis and golf after Paul Casey grabbed his third win of the year in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

It needed three birdies in the last four holes, however, for the 31-year-old Ryder Cup star to hold off the challenge of fellow Englishman Ross Fisher, whose best-of-the-week 64 was only one outside the West Course record.

Mickelson quits tour

Phil Mickelson’s golf career has been put on hold after the news that his wife Amy has breast cancer.

The couple, who married in 1996, have children aged nine, seven and six and Mickelson, as he always has, is putting family first and has suspended playing “indefinitely”.

Top honour for Harrington

Ireland’s three-time major champion Padraig Harrington has been named by his fellow professionals as the inaugural winner of the European Tour Players’ Player of the Year award for 2008.

Harrington was honoured at the tour’s annual awards dinner at Wentworth - but then departed because he is not playing this week’s BMW PGA Championship.

Horsey shares the lead

Styal’s David Horsey, whose mother is battling breast cancer, opened his BMW PGA Championship debut with a five-under-par 67 at Wentworth today.

The morning after it was announced that world number two Phil Mickelson is suspending his career because his wife has the same disease, Horsey wore a pink bracelet to help raise awareness.

Hesketh joy for Harrison

ZAC Harrison, who has never had a lesson in his life, overcame gale-force conditions to storm to victory in the Henriques Trophy at Hesketh.

And he's hoping the Lancashire selectors will take note of his maiden win in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit.

Lowry to make pro call

SCHOCK Irish Open champion Shane Lowry woke up this morning with a huge decision facing him.

It was, without doubt, the biggest of his life - whether to make the six-inch putt he holed to an almighty roar at County Louth on Sunday night the last shot of his amateur career.

Luke looks to end drought

Luke Donald plays his first tournament in Europe for a year this week looking to end a barren spell that stretches all the way back to March 2006.

The 31-year-old, who missed the second half of last season with a wrist injury that eventually needed surgery, is back from America for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Junior Open blow

THE Greater Manchester Junior Open has become a victim of the recession.

The tournament, held at Sale since 1997 and run in association with the MEN, has attracted hundreds of youngsters with many progressing to county and professional level.

Wie to play British Open

MICHELLE Wie is the latest star to confirm her entry into the Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes on July 30 to August 2.

Meanwhile, Cheshire stunned Northern Counties League champions Lancashire by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat at Sandiway.

Smith pipped at the post

OLLIE Smith was deprived of his maiden win in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit by Walker Cup prospect Charlie Ford.

The Cheshire player from Ashton-on-Mersey looked to have clinched the Pines Trophy at Hillside after carding the top score of the day of four-under-par 68 in the afternoon, nine shots better than his first round.

Daly storms to second

ANYBODY who thought John Daly was finished as a golfer will be thinking again after he stormed into a share of second place at the BMW Italian Open in Turin.

Argentina’s Daniel Vancsik took the title by a runaway six strokes, closing with a joint best-of-the-day 65, but from the depths of 794th in the world and a week after his 43rd birthday Daly lit up the event with more than just his trousers.

Players' Tour revived

AMATEUR golfers get the chance to pitch up alongside professionals in the Lancashire, Cheshire and North Wales PGA Players' Tour which has been revived after a two-year absence.

"We have decided to open it up to those playing off four handicap or better and they will have their own prize category," said regional secretary Graham Maly.

Harrington looks to improve

Padraig Harrington is hoping his quest for improvement can pay dividends at the US Open next month.

The three-time major winner is in Florida for this week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass and returns home to Ireland next week for the 3 Irish Open at Baltray, continuing his build-up for June’s US Open at Bethpage Black in New York.

Muirfield to host 2013 Open

Muirfield in Scotland will host the 2013 Open, it was announced today.

On its last staging of the championship in 2002 four players - Ernie Els, Thomas Levet, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington - went into a play-off for the first time.

Maly in world record bid

WHEN push comes to shove Graham Maly will do anything to raise money for a good cause.

And when he heard about the Wishes 4 Kids charity he decided not only to support it but aim for a world record.

Ramsay takes charge in Italy

Richie Ramsay, who three years ago became the first Scot for 108 years to win the American amateur title, made a flying start to the BMW Italian Open in Turin today.

Yet to register a top-20 finish on the European Tour, the 25-year-old from Aberdeen raced to the turn in just 31, but then slipped back to post a four under par 67 and led by one.

Robinson eyes Cup spot

JAMES Robinson was today celebrating the biggest win of his burgeoning career after becoming the first Lancastrian to capture the Lytham Trophy, one of amateur golf's four majors, for nearly a quarter of a century.

And the 20-year-old, from Billinge, who held off an international field to claim the title by a shot after a nerve-wracking finish, is hoping the watching Walker Cup selectors will have marked his card.