Any other PGA Tour rookie might be rattled to see Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood surrounding him on the leaderboard. Scott Gardiner was delighted, which speaks more of how he got there than where it might lead.

New father Ricky Barnes birdied six of the last eight holes at rain-softened TPC Louisiana yesterday to take a one-stroke lead in the Zurich Classic.

World No 1 amateur Lydia Ko was happy enough with her solid start to her third major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship on the LPGA Tour in California yesterday.

World golf's new year gets into full swing in Abu Dhabi this week with the two top-ranking players - Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods - opening their accounts.