STEVE Elkington returned to a happy hunting ground to head the Australian contingent after the opening round at the $A10.1 million Players Championship.

MASTERS champion Trevor Immelman has pulled out of the Players Championship because of illness, leaving the PGA Tour's flagship event without one of its drawcards.

AMERICAN Jeff Maggert pulled out of the Players Championship before the second round after the death of his brother in a plane crash.

SWEDE Robert Karlsson broke the Tolcinasco course record with an 11-under 61 to surge into the lead at the halfway stage of the Italian Open.

AMERICAN Kenny Perry took the second-round lead on a disappointing day for the Australian contingent at the $A10.1 million Players Championship.

ADAM Scott, eight shots from the halfway lead at the Players Championship, knows he must find a quick fix for his putting woes to have any chance of winning the $A10.1 million event.

AUSTRALIAN Stuart Appleby was just about ready to concede defeat, even though he'd moved within striking distance after the third round of the $10 million Players Championship in Florida.

FORMER world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam outclassed top-ranked Lorena Ochoa in a head-to-head duel to keeps a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the LPGA Michelob Ultra Open.

SWEDISH superstar Annika Sorenstam notched her second-straight round without a bogey to take a three-shot lead in the $A2.33 million LPGA Michelob Ultra Open.

SOUTH African Hennie Otto birdied the last three holes to snare a four-stroke lead after three rounds of the Italian Open.

AS IAN Poulter prepared for his late second-round tee-time at the Players Championship yesterday, most of his British compatriots appeared likely to make early exits from the

SCOTLAND'S Mhairi McKay fired a superb course record eight-under 63 to lead the Michelob ULTRA Open by a shot from Annika Sorenstam yesterday at the Kingsmill Resort in Vi

ELLIOT SALTMAN earned £330 and Andrew Oldcorn £240 for down-the-field finishes in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at The Shire Golf Club, London.

HER features vivid with enthusiasm, the bright light of a soft St Andrews morning sparkled on Carly Booth's cheeks.

BERNHARD LANGER is so hobbled with injuries that he barely made it to the starting line at the Players Championship.

ROBERT Karlsson set a new course record of 61 and equalled the lowest round of his 20-year Tour career in the Italian Open yesterday.

THERE have been odd winners of the Players Championship before now - the likes of Jodie Mudd and Craig Perks come to mind - but none would be as unlikely Paul Goydos. As the l

YOUR STARTER for 10: what do Willie Anderson, Tommy Armour, James Braid, Dorothy Campbell Hurd Howe, Alister Mackenzie, Tom Morris senior, Tom Morris junior, Willie Park seni

BY DEFINITION, early starters in the third round of any golf tournament haven't played to their potential over the first 36 holes. At least one part of their finely tuned