The man who turned Jonny Wilkinson into the best kicker in world rugby could prove to be a key factor in Luke Donald's quest to end his major drought this summer. Donald woke up Monday as the world's top-ranked player having overtaken Rory McIlroy after his four-stroke win at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday.

Phil Mickelson wants to be more than just a fan of the San Diego Padres. He wants to help buy the team. Mickelson said Monday he has a joined one of the five groups trying to buy the team from John Moores, the Padres' majority owner for the last 18 years.

Alex Noren of Sweden qualified for the U.S. Open for the second straight year, while past and present European Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal failed to do so. Noren shot rounds of 67 and 68 in the 36-hole, qualifying tournament Monday.

Alex Noren of Sweden qualified for the U.S. Open for the second straight year, while past and present European Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal failed to do so. Noren shot rounds of 67 and 68 in the 36-hole tournament Monday.

British Open champion Darren Clarke has withdrawn from next month's U.S. Open in San Francisco because of a groin injury. The 43-year-old Clarke told United States Golf Association officials on Monday that the problem that had bothered him for several weeks is still troubling him.

Roger Chapman admits he may have underachieved at times during his career. That's part of the reason this last week was so special. Chapman cruised to a 1-over 72 in the final round Sunday to win the Senior PGA Championship by two strokes over John Cook.

Zach Johnson had already shared celebratory hugs and kisses with his two young sons and talked about his Colonial victory on television. Then caddie Damon Green, prompted by a rules official, asked Johnson if he had properly remarked his ball before his final putt Sunday.

After taking a nine-stroke lead early in the final round of the Senior PGA Championship, Roger Chapman needed only to play out the remaining holes and savor the greatest moment of his professional life. That's when he began to think about his mentor, George Will, who died two years ago after doing so much to help Chapman's career.

Zach Johnson was so caught up in the emotion of another Colonial title and a victory in honor of his caddie's late father that he forgot to properly remark his ball before his final putt. Even with a two-stroke penalty, Johnson won by one over Jason Dufner and got to slip on the plaid jacket Sunday for his first victory since also winning at Hogan's Alley two years ago.

Luke Donald replaced Rory McIlroy at No. 1 in the rankings for the third time in 10 weeks, successfully defending his title in the BMW PGA Championship. It also lifted his hopes of finally capturing a major at the U.S. Open next month.

Luke Donald held off Justin Rose to win the BMW PGA Championship for the second straight year Sunday and overtake Rory McIlroy for the No. 1 ranking. Donald won by four strokes after starting the fourth round at Wentworth with a two-stroke lead.

Ernie Els has apologized for his expletive-laced outburst about the condition of the greens at Wentworth at the BMW PGA Championship. The South African said after his third round Saturday that officials had failed to water the putting surfaces heavily enough, making it nearly impossible to hold approach shots on some greens.

Roger Chapman arrived at Harbor Shores this week a virtual unknown. The highlight of his career was probably a victory in Brazil — a dozen years ago. Even overseas, Chapman is hardly a star. The Englishman plays on the European Senior Tour, which has held only one tournament this year and is pressed for sponsors.

Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson have set up what will basically be a match-play final round for the winner's plaid jacket at the Colonial. It will be Dufner, whose only two PGA Tour victories came in the last four weeks, against the 2007 Masters champion who got the last of his seven wins two years ago at Hogan's Alley.

Luke Donald moved to the brink of a second successive BMW PGA Championship title and reclaiming the top ranking by shooting a 3-under 69 to take a two-stroke lead after the third round on Saturday. Donald overcame tough, windy conditions at Wentworth to be one of only three players to break 70 on a day of high scoring that led course designer Ernie Els to criticize European Tour officials for the state of the greens.

Luke Donald put himself in position to regain the world's No. 1 ranking, shooting a 3-under 69 to take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the BMW PGA Championship on Saturday. On a day of high scoring that led course designer Ernie Els to fiercely criticize European Tour officials for the state of the greens, Donald overcame tough, windy conditions as one of only three players to break 70.

Ernie Els has launched an expletive-laced attack on European Tour officials and greenkeepers at the BMW PGA Championship for failing to water the putting surfaces enough for the third round at Wentworth. Els was criticized for tough changes he made to the West Course when he helped redesign it in 2010, but he dished out the disapproval after numerous high scores on Saturday.

Alabama won its first women's golf title Friday, holding off two-time champ Southern California by a stroke on the 72nd hole in the NCAA Division I championship. Oklahoma's Chirapat Jao-Javanil won the individual title by four strokes, closing with a 2-under 70 to finish at 6-under 282.

Hale Irwin shot his age — and was so frustrated afterward he might switch putters before playing again. Just over a week before his 67th birthday, Irwin shot a 5-under 66 on Friday in the second round of the Senior PGA Championship.

Jason Dufner lists Ben Hogan as his hero. At Hogan's Alley, Dufner had the lead halfway through the Colonial with a chance for a Texas two-step that only Hogan has accomplished. Dufner had a bogey-free 6-under 64 on another windy day Friday to reach 11-under 129.

Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday after his game disintegrated in spectacular fashion in a second straight errant round at Wentworth, leaving his grip on the No. 1 ranking under serious threat from Luke Donald.

Things are starting to take shape before the first doubleheader of U.S. opens. In just over two years, Pinehurst's renowned No. 2 course will play host to the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open on consecutive weeks — the first time the USGA has attempted such a feat.

Top-ranked Rory McIlroy will miss the cut for the second straight tournament after a spectacular second-round implosion at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday. McIlroy made seven bogeys and two double bogeys in a 7-over 79 at Wentworth to finish 9 over.

Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, Europe's past and present Ryder Cup captains, headline the field contesting the 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Walton Heath on Monday. A total of 104 players are challenging for 12 spots available for the year's second major, which will be held at the Olympic Club in San Francisco on June 14.

Harris English had never played all 18 holes at Colonial before teeing off for the opening round. He had never even been in a PGA Tour event before this season. No problem for the 22-year-old rookie who is making it look all too easy.