By David OwenJanuary 17 - The three rival candidates for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are adopting contrasting approaches to slotting the new sport of rugby sevens into the crowded Olympic schedule.

widely seen as the most likely winners of the 2020 race, have also taken contrasting approaches to golf

By David OwenJanuary 16 - Tokyo 2020 has switched its proposed Olympic golfing venue, in a move that would situate the battle for medals in one of the newest – and potentially most high-profile – Olympic sports well away from the zones where most Games venues would be located.

The Japanese bid now says its golf competitions would take place at the Kasumigaseki Country Club (pictured

the Olympic Village.At the applicant phase of the present contest, Tokyo had identified its proposed golf

venue as Wakasu Golf Links in the Tokyo Bay zone, close to several other proposed Tokyo 2020 venues.Explaining

inclusion in the 2016 programme, along with rugby sevens.Because of this, Tokyo 2016 did not require a golf

plan.Tokyo 2020 said its new venue had been approved by the International Golf Federation (IGF) and

By James CrookJanuary 15-  Irish golfer Paul McGinley has been named as Europe's Ryder Cup captain for the 2014 event at Gleneagles in Scotland.

He is a wonderful person and a great ambassador for the game of golf.

By Tom DegunJanuary 15 - After signing a record ten-year deal with Nike reported to be worth £150 million ($241 million/€180 million), Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has appeared in an advert with his new sponsors alongside Tiger Woods.

Woods has long been the face of Nike Golf but McIlroy's agreement has significantly eclipsed the American's

The new commercial is set to air this month from tomorrow until January 21 on ESPN and The Golf Channel

By Tom DegunJanuary 14 - Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has secured a major deal with Nike reported to be worth over £150 million ($241 million/€180 million) in a move that makes him one of the highest paid sports stars in the world.

The 23-year-old world golf number one from County Down was formally unveiled as Nike's newest brand ambassador

with his on-course performance while, at the same time, connecting with fans everywhere," said Nike Golf

By David OwenIt has been an exciting week. The Candidature files of the three cities vying to host the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games have landed. This means that, for the first time, it is possible to compare the detail of the three rival projects. If, that is, you are prepared to sift through nine dense, if showy, volumes.Don't worry: I've done it so you don't have to, and the first thing I would say, if my red-rimmed eyes do not deceive me, is that, though it is a short shortlist, it is a very varied one.

(And while we're at it, might I just observe that Tokyo 2020's golf venue appears to be 55 kilometres

By James CrookJanuary 11 - World number one golfer Rory McIlroy has set-up a foundation to help children's charities as his current sponsors Oakley reportedly prepare to take legal action against him over his new $200 million (£124 million/€152 million) sponsorship deal with Nike, which is expected to be announced on Monday (January 14). 

attention of the public or the media, though the launch of his Foundation may well help.Winner of six golf

at least one current Olympic sport will have to make way in Buenos Aires, given that the addition of golf

By James CrookJanuary 9 - Padraig Harrington has called for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to help world number one golfer Rory McIlroy decide which nation to represent at Rio 2016.

and Dublin-born Harrington believes that McIlroy's absence from the event could damage the future of golf

has called for the IOC to help McIlroy choose which country to represent"It's a very big deal because golf

We need our best players to play in the Olympics to show that golf is serious about the Games."

By Tom DegunJanuary 7 - Sport England has announced it will be investing £2 million ($3.2 million/€2.5 million) in the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) over the next two years in its latest bid to help make sport a practical lifestyle choice for disabled people.

as well as being funded to provide bespoke support for tennis, football, table tennis, equestrian, golf

By Duncan MackayJanuary 3 - Rory McIlroy, the world's top golfer, may be missing when the sport returns to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years at Rio 2016 because he wants to avoid a row over which country he represents

would be to represent Britain, which led to criticism in Ireland, where he played much of his early golf

McIlroy's absence from Rio would be a major blow to the creditability of the tournament when golf

By Tom DegunThe London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have already been hailed at the most sustainable in history but it was only this month that we essentially received the official confirmation.

During the 1990s he was director of the European Golf Association Ecology Unit where established the

first pan-European environmental management programme for golf courses.

players, Turkey also welcomed Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods as they competed at the Turkish Airlines World Golf

By Tom DegunDecember 13 - Britain's numerous triumphs at London 2012 have seen them receive five nominations for the 2013 Laureus World Sports Awards with Jessica Ennis (pictured left), Mo Farah (right), Andy Murray, David Weir and Bradley Wiggins all shortlisted for prizes.

have a strong chance in the Laureus World Team of the Year category after they beat the American golf

By Tom DegunDecember 13 - Former World Series of Boxing (WSB) chief executive Ivan Khodabakhsh has been unveiled as the new head of golf's Ladies European Tour (LET) and will take up the role next month.

growing the tour in a number of areas that will benefit the players, sponsors and engage fans of women's golf

There is huge potential for growth in women's golf, especially considering the inclusion of the sport