The R&A, which organises the Open, said it will carefully plan viewing areas at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland to try to maximise spectator safety. after a woman was hit by a ball at the Ryder Cup.

Three of captain Thomas Bjorn's predecessors in the role, Brian Huggett, Sam Torrance and Jose Maria Olazabal, delivered a series of messages designed to fire up the Europeans.

JOHN GREECHAN AT ST ANDREWS: Brooks Koepka insists he didn't fight with Ryder Cup team-mate Dustin Johnson - but is curious who would win a scrap between the two pair.

Reed has taken another swipe at the decision to split his partnership with Jordan Spieth at the Ryder Cup, by comparing them with Europe's dream team of Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Everyone loses the ball on a golf course. Aside from shouting ‘fore’ each time a shot is hit, irrespective of where it is heading, what is there to do?

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail 's Ian Ladyman reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week.

Jim Furyk's side were humbled in Paris, defeated by a margin of 17½-10½, and it was Mickelson's tugged tee shot into the water at the 16th which ensured Europe's lead became unassailable.

From Ryder Cup glory in Paris one Sunday to an extraordinary collapse at St Andrews, Tyrrell Hatton knows all about the contrasting emotions this fickle game can generate.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: There could be no more appropriate venue than Walton Heath as the Ryder Cup golfers keep their celebratory vibe going at the British Masters.

USA Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk insists that the team's pairings were finalised 'weeks in advance' of last month's tournament, as the bitter fallout from their defeat continues.

Tommy Fleetwood admits he is beginning to feel the effects of his Ryder Cup heroics as he tries to catch Paris partner Francesco Molinari and win the Race to Dubai for a second year in succession.

Westwood had previously expressed a desire to captain Europe at Whistling Straits in 2020, but now says he will 'wait until Rome' hosts the biennial contest in 2022 to make his bid for the role.

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.

Francesco Molinari has revealed he had to overcome a back injury to produce his record-breaking Ryder Cup heroics. The back problem left him unable to tie his shoes the day after.

The Englishman, playing during the first round at the British Masters - which is being hosted by Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose - enjoyed a moment he won't ever forget by sinking a hole-in-one.

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 AT WALTON HEATH: It's hard to believe there is a real danger the British Masters taking place at Walton Heath will be the last. So much for a post Ryder Cup lift.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed played to the cameras as they attempted to publicly put any animosity behind them during the Farmers Insurance Open.

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: Here in the tourist capital of America they're fond of telling you it's the place where dreams come true. For Frankie Molinari, it has proved the place where the dream goes on.

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.

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.

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.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF SPECIAL: America's leading golfers have the chance to complete a clean sweep of all four majors at the Open at Royal Portrush in July.

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.

On a perfect day for scoring, Donaldson took full advantage with a fine 64 on Thursday to lie just one shot off the first-round lead held by American Matt Kuchar and three continentals.

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.