Golf in the Olympics...your views

Golf and rugby sevens have been approved as Olympic sports after the International Olympic Committee voted for their inclusion on the programme for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Each sport received majority support after leading athletes and officials from both camps gave presentations - including a video message from Tiger Woods.

But will winning gold be the greatest day of Woods' glittering career? I think not. I doubt the world number one will even bother to pack his clubs.

The Olympics should be the pinnacle of a sport. The ultimate goal in track and field is to win an Olympic gold medal. Athletes train for four years to achieve that feat. Does Rory McIlroy lies awake at night dreaming of winning a medal or a major?

In fact, if the Olympics started tomorrow, McIlroy wouldn't even be on the plane.

Based on the Olympic format, only the top 15, regardless of nationality, will be in the field of 60. After that the remaining 45 will be selected on rankings, but only players from different nations who do not already have two representatives will be added to the roster.

This means Paul Casey and Lee Westwood would represent Team GB and despite being ranked 19th in the world, McIlroy would miss out, with players outside of the top 300 putting on the Rio greens instead.
 
Other sports which lost out included squash and karate - both far more deserving of a permanent Olympic spot.

Do you think golf should be included in the Olympic programme or have the IOC made a mistake? Send in your comments by filling in the boxes below.

USPGA Championship - who will win?

The stage is set for a thrilling 91st USPGA Championship which begins on Thursday at the prestigious Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.

As usual, Tiger Woods starts as favourite, fresh from his record seventh WGC-Bridgestone Invitational victory at Firestone Country Club - the 70th title of his illustrious PGA Tour career.

Woods came out on top of an epic head-to-head battle with Padraig Harrington in Ohio but the Irishman will have the chance to exact revenge when he pairs up with the world number one in the first two rounds of the final major of 2009.

Defending champion Harrington has struggled for form this year, but is back in the swing of things after an encouraging display catapulted the three-time major winner into the world's top 10.  

Lee Westwood, who tied for third at last month's Open, heads the British challenge. The Englishman signed off with a five-under-par 65 at Firestone, while 2005 winner Phil Mickelson is back after a two-month absence.

Others to watch out for include Open champion Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker who has enjoyed a solid season after wins at the Colonial and John Deere Classic.

Who do you think will triumph at Hazeltine? Can Tiger win his fifth USPGA Championship? Will Pod hold on to his crown? Or can Westy finally claim that elusive first major?

Check out the latest odds here and send in your thoughts and predictions using the boxes below.

Brits bottle it at The Open

As two Americans slugged it out in a play-off for The Open title, Brits bottled it in the final round in depressingly familiar style.

The USA's Stewart Cink beat compatriot 59-year-old Tom Watson in a play-off after a thrilling Sunday at Turnberry, which saw Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher blow their title chances as only Brits can.

Westwood, leading by one shot with four holes to go, three-putted the 18th, blowing it big time as he picked up three bogeys in the final four holes.

Fellow Brit Ross Fisher's final-round challenge fell to pieces at the 5th, when he cobbled together an horrendous quadruple bogey to chuck his chances out the window.

He may have been liked by few, but the British game needs more steel of the likes of Nick Faldo, with six majors including three Open Championships to his name. Westwood and co simply aren't up to seeing the job through when the going gets tough.

Can you see a Brit winning a major in the next few years? Do they lack bottle? What do you think of Cink's win, and Watson's outstanding campaign? Send in your views below.

Who will win The Open?

The 138th Open Championship really is open this year with a number of absentees and big name players far from peak form.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington, seeking a third successive Open title, has suffered a demoralising loss in form, missing six cuts in a row.

Phil Mickelson sadly misses out as he cares for his ill wife and mother and Tiger Woods, twice a winner on the PGA Tour since returning from injury, is nonetheless not back to his best.

Lefty's withdrawal is the biggest of seven pull-outs in the days leading up to Thursday's tee-off. Trevor Immelman, Robert Karlsson and Jeev Milkha Singh are three others who will be missed in Scotland.

Woods remains the favourite, but good outside bets could be Martin Kaymer, who won back-to-back titles on the European Tour, and Steve Stricker. Lee Westwood and Paul Casey are probably England's best bet for a first home victory since Nick Faldo in 1992.

Who do you think will win the Open Championship? Check out the odds here and then send in your views using the boxes below.

Transfer window slams shut...your views

The transfer window has passed and, as usual, managers, agents and players were dashing around in the snow in an attempt to beat the 5pm deadline.

Quite why they leave it until the very last minute when they have had over a month to complete their deals remains a mystery, but it did result in a feast of transfer activity.

Robbie Keane secured his return to Spurs which leaves Liverpool lacking depth in attack. If Fernando Torres picks up an injury then it could be curtains for barking Rafa Benitez and his title-hunting Reds.

Elsewhere, Andrei Arshavin looks set to finally complete his move to Arsenal in a saga that has been rammed down our throats more than a series of Big Brother.

Which deals surprised you during the window? Has Benitez lost the plot? Who will prove to be a success and who will be sent packing in July? Leave your comments in the boxes below.

Monty named Ryder Cup captain

Colin Montgomerie has been named European Ryder Cup captain for 2010, but is he the right man to help Europe reclaim the trophy at Celtic Manor?

Jose Maria Olazabal may not be happy at being overlooked but the Spaniard will be more suitable in 2012. Another candidate, Ian Woosnam, may have been the obvious choice to lead Europe in his native Wales, but he had his day three years ago. And Sandy Lyle's cause will not have been helped by his age nor his controversial decision to pull out of the Open last summer.

Despite his position as Europe's second all-time Ryder Cup points scorer behind Nick Faldo, Montgomerie will relish the chance to be captain instead of playing. He is motivated, experienced and will instil a winning mentality in his team.

The Scot is hugely respected by the players and knows them better than most and, unlike Faldo, has a good working relationship with them. He is without doubt the right man for the job.

Do you agree with the decision? Will Monty be able to galvanise his team unlike Faldo? Send in your views using the boxes below.

Ryder Cup... Your view

The domination simply couldn't last. For the first time this century, America have won the Ryder Cup, perhaps the most captivating in recent history.

But how have Europe lost? On paper, their team looked stronger. America were lacking their greatest player, Tiger Woods, and carried the baggage of two consecutive thrashings and three defeats on the spin.

Paul Azinger, though, revamped the selection system, altered the structure of the tournament, whipped up the crowd into a frenzy and managed to bond previously disparate, bordering on selfish, golfers.

What of Nick Faldo then? Embarrassing, arrogant and bungled in press conferences, he then baffled many onlookers with his selections. The choice of Ian Poulter undoubtedly paid off, however. Can one of Britain's greatest golfers be blamed?

Perhaps more should be made of the average displays of the current big names. Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia failed to win a match and Padraig Harrington was awful when it mattered.

Europe were favourites, but the inspired performances of Anthony Kim, Boo Weekley et al was simply too much for them to handle.

Is anyone to blame for Europe's defeat or were America simply too good in a brilliant weekend of golf?

The Masters...Your highlights

Trevor Immelman has won his first major title after holding his nerve to triumph at the US Masters.

After taking a share of the lead following the first round, the South African remained in front for the duration of the tournament despite late pressure from Tiger Woods.

Immelman may not be a household name but he is certainly a worthy champion after holding off the world number one.

As for the Brits, despite promising starts from Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, all three dropped off the pace when it came to the crunch, piling more misery on British sports fans.

What were your highlights of the event? Was it Poulter’s memorable hole-in-one on the 16th? Is Trevor Immelman a worthy champion? Despite finishing runner-up, what happened to Tiger Woods who was the pre-tournament favourite? Add all your comments in the boxes below and don’t forget to check out our picture gallery from Augusta.

Dude, where's my par?

Paul Azinger was recently named captain of the American Ryder Cup team and, at the press conference, revealed his secret weapon to stop the rot against the Europeans.

His trick to halt a fourth consecutive defeat against Nick Faldo’s line-up is pretty simple: “I’m hoping to get guys on my team who say ‘dude!’”

Apparently Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and the rest of the European Ryder Cup hopefuls are quaking in their boots...

Matt Majendie