Rory McIlroy sensationally roared back to form with a brilliant 65 in The Players and insisted he had "karma" on his side after two penalty drops were disputed by playing partner Jordan Spieth.

Rory McIlroy put two balls in the water and endured some tense interactions with playing partner Jordan Spieth over his drops but still made 10 birdies in a blistering seven-under 65 to share the early lead in The Players at a defenceless TPC Sawgrass.

Golfers make up 10 of the world's top 100 best-paid athletes, with Masters champion Jon Rahm now the second biggest earner behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

Shane Lowry admits he wasn't surprised to see Jon Rahm defect to LIV Golf, but he refuses to follow Viktor Hovland's tack and slam the PGA TOUR leadership for "arrogance" in their handling of the civil war with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Rory McIlroy produced an escapology performance worthy of Houdini and fired a bogey-free 68 to keep alive his hopes of winning back his world number on ranking at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

Scottie Scheffler put himself in position to snatch back the world number one ranking from Rory McIlroy at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

RORY MCILROY faces a weekend duel with Viktor Hovland after he suffered a back-nine wobble and fell two behind the rising Norwegian star in the Arnold Palmer Invitational on rock hard greens at Bay Hill.

Pádraig Harrington and Seamus Power are feeling upbeat about the week ahead after clinching top 12 finishes on opposite sides of the pond.

Seamus Power hasn’t given up hope of notching his second PGA TOUR win of the year and reckons “a little bit of magic” could still do the trick in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.

LEONA MAGUIRE is looking forward to a break after clinching her career-best finish in a Major with a tie for 15th in the KPMG Women’s PGA at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Sam Burns gave his PGA Tour career the gloss finish it lacked when he captured the Valspar Championship and his maiden PGA Tour win at Innisbrook.

GRAEME MCDOWELL hailed fellow Red Devils fan, Matt Wallace, as a Ryder Cup star in waiting as they opened with a six-under 66 in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

COLLIN MORIKAWA joined Tiger Woods in an exclusive club when he claimed the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession and his fourth PGA Tour win in 19 months.

Rory McIlroy saw his early spark snuffed out in soggy conditions as he lost faith in his putter and failed to take advantage of the easier North Course in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

Lee Westwood claimed the Race to Dubai for the third time and insisted he would give his all for Pádraig Harrington if he qualifies for an 11th Ryder Cup cap at Whistling Straits next year.

Norway’s Viktor Hovland continued his meteoric climb in world golf when he birdied the 72nd hole at the Mayakoba Golf Classic to win his second PGA Tour title this year and join Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff in the world’s top 15.