DEREK LAWRENSON IN ORLANDO: As a media scrum assembled around Rory McIlroy on Friday night, his playing partner Justin Rose made a dejected exit. These are tough times for him.

DEREK LAWRENSON IN ORLANDO: In only his second tournament back after three months out, the 28-year-old from Marlow has given himself the chance of a first victory on the PGA Tour.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT BAY HILL: It really doesn't get much better than winning in America for the first time at the home of the man every golfer knows as the King.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: The first time Tyrrell Hatton played pro golf in Orlando he was sharing a room each night with several fellow wannabes,

Rory McIlroy was still a teenager when he marked his first appearance at the Players Championship in 2009 by getting thrown out of bars along Jacksonville Beach for carrying a fake ID.

Tyrrell Hatton revealed he is still feeling the effects of his victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational as he aims to improve his record at another iconic Florida venue.

Now it is Reed’s turn to run the gauntlet, the arch-villain in so many golfing eyes following his actions in improving his lie while attempting a shot from the sand at the Hero Challenge in December. 

The PGA Tour will continue for the next four weeks without spectators, beginning at the Players Championship today, and begging the question: will the Masters follow suit next month?

DEREK LAWRENSON AT SAWGRASS: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka took their cue from a subdued audience reeling from the news that this was the last action they will witness.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: When it came to the Ryder Cup, Paul Azinger was as sure-footed as they come; the feisty competitor who wasn't afraid to get in the face of Seve Ballesteros.

The European Tour are ready to hold events on every day of the week and are prepared to have tournaments running concurrently in a desperate bid to save the season.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: No wonder there is a doom-laden feeling that the Ryder Cup should be postponed for 12 months and we write off a lost year for sport.

The world number one is currently inactive, with the golfing calendar suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. But McIlroy spoke to Sportsmail's Redknapp about all things golf.

If you were wondering why Rory McIlroy is sporting a leaner look these days, a memorable video posted on social media on Tuesday rather gave the game away.

The US Open is set to become the third American major to be postponed and will now be played in early September, according to a report in the New York Post.

Tommy Fleetwood hopes the Ryder Cup can act as an 'amazing torch' after the coronavirus pandemic. The flagship contest between Europe and the United States remains in doubt.

The legendary 49-year-old revealed on Twitter that talks with the 15-time major champion are underway over a high-profile shootout, despite virtually all sports being dragged to a halt.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Sir Nick Faldo believes Rory McIlroy and other leading lights will have a real opportunity to rewrite golf history if the majors are packed into a tight window.

Northern Irishman Rory Mcilroy showed off a few of his trademark moves including keepy-ups on his club before smashing the ball into the trees.

EXCLUSIVE BY DEREK LAWRENSON: Europe's captain Padraig Harrington could hardly be any clearer when it comes to the two schools of thought regarding this year's Ryder Cup.

MY SPORTING HERO BY CALUM CROWE: Growing up in Ayrshire, I was raised on a diet of Junior football and links golf. Both were in my blood from an early age and have stuck with me.

INTERVIEW BY DEREK LAWRENSON: Westwood thought he'd be playing lnear the site of the Battle of the Alamo, not at home in Newcastle doing a jigsaw re-enacting the Battle of Waterloo.

EXC INTERVIEW BY DEREK LAWRENSON: If you had to rank Sir Nick Faldo's six major championship wins, his successful defence of his Masters title 30 years ago might well finish bottom.

DEREK LAWRENSON: In 1995, Woods felt he'd stepped inside 'Disneyland, fantasyland, all rolled into one', when he cast his eye over Augusta National ahead of playing it for the first time.

Few Europeans were even allowed a glimpse of Augusta National in 1980. That all changed when Seve Ballesteros had the looks, the charisma, the game and then the priceless green jacket.

When a 19-year-old Tiger Woods stood over his first-ever putt at the Masters on his debut in 1995, it is fair to say the American prodigy was in for a rude awakening.

The most important day in the Christian calendar has often coincided with a joyous one for golf followers. This year, they should've been enjoying the 18th Masters staged on Easter Sunday.

Tiger Woods revealed that his traditional Masters Champions Dinner with his family ended in a food fight. The reigning champion had a version of the traditional meal under quarantine with his family.

Augusta announced last month that the 2020 tournament, scheduled for April 9-12, had been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament is now set to be held November 12-15. 

Count the previously buoyant European Tour as another branch of sport staring into a financial black hole owing to the effects of coronavirus.

The rigorous testing procedures put forward by the PGA Tour will involve players, caddies and officials being sent testing kits - already on mass order - to their homes.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: you are loath to argue with a 20-strong selection committee containing players like Nick Price, Curtis Strange and Annika Sorenstam.

Tiger Woods' arrogance on the course may have made him come across as a 'p****', but it is also what sets him apart as a true champion, according to his former coach.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: There is still a window before the Ryder Cup organisers make a final decision on whether it will go ahead as planned. But it's fair to say the mood has changed.

World No 1 Rory McIlroy insists he will never take winning for granted as he waits to make a return to the game after the coronavirus lockdown.

The Europe captain is determined to lead his side out at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin in September but accepts that the decision over whether the event should go ahead is 'above my pay grade'.

Bjorn is taking some time away from the fairway during coronavirus lockdown and he decided to help others looking to improve their skills by filming a video on how to hit a chip shot.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: It was the hardest piece that I've ever had to write - and the lively aftermath was far, far worse. Seve Ballesteros tore into me in front of my peers.

EXCLUSIVE BY DEREK LAWRENSON: As he goes on his six-mile lockdown walks, wearing a 50lb fitness coat, the straight-talking Irishman has a weight on his shoulders and a lo on his mind.

During an interview, Harrington revealed who he'd been in contact with recently before accidentally mentioning 'Luke', referencing Luke Donald, as one of his vice-captains for the event.

'Air' Jordan is now back on sports fans' lips following the airing of ESPN's docu-series The Last Dance, which focuses on his championship-winning season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997-1998.

JACI STEPHEN: Playing mummies and daddies is at the heart of soap; the miracle is how anyone ever works out who belongs to whom.

Now halfway through the second series of Keeping Faith, these are just some of the questions that continue to niggle following the return of the lawyer's missing husband, Evan (Bradley Freegard)

Despite trying to direct her passion towards Cain, Moira (Natalie J Robb) finds herself with Nate (Jurell Carter) back at Butlers Barn (pictured), sinking into the hay on Emmerdale.

In this week's EastEnders, Louise plans to throw Bex a surprise party in the Vic. Meanwhile in Coronation Street, Chesney orders Bernie to pack her bags after a scam victim shows up.

They really push Mikey North, who plays Gary, to the limits in his character transformations, but he continues to impress, even though Gary finds someone new to attack on a daily basis

In this week's Coronation Street, Sinead publicly announces that she has just weeks to live. Meanwhile in EastEnders, Sonia accuses Martin of not being there for his daughter.

EastEnders fans are in for a treat this Halloween as they watch Honey engage in a major snogfest with Walford's Adam Bateman (pictured).

Coronation Street viewers will be left wondering if there will be another wedding, while in EastEnders Mel bangs on about moving to Portugal and in Emmerdale a couple fails to make up.

The Great British Bake Off is a reminder of the pleasures of this simplest of human activities, albeit an often salutary lesson in how hard it is to get right, as the three finalists discovered