50p...dinner plate...50p...dinner plate. The race to Medinah is on

In exactly six months' time we will know the make-up of the European team to take on the US at the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah, a course well-versed in staging major tournaments (the US PGAs of 1999 and 2006 most recent in the memory). Following the conclusion of the WGC Matchplay, the first real opportunity to see who might suit the matchplay conditions of the Ryder Cup, here is a look at who is leading the race to make the team, who is knocking on the door and, perhaps controversially, who should be concerned about missing out on this great event.

Right, I make that crack-on-o'clock chaps...

Amid the euphoria, high-fives and putting drama that concluded the Northern Trust Open on Sunday, two issues took the gloss off the occasion of Bill Haas' fantastic play-off win against Lefty and Keegan Bradley. One of these was the spitting, where the spotlight fell on young Bradley (though he's certainly not the only player on the pro circuit who is guilty of this less-than-pleasant habit). The second, more important, concern is the debate around the pace of play & Mr Bradley is, unfortunately, under the microscope for this as well.

Dem's da rules

The unfortunate incident of Peter Whiteford being 'escorted from the course' after his disqualification at the Avantha Masters sparked a storm on social media outlets, the general target for the vitriol being the armchair referee who called in the infringement and the unfairness of the situation around the DQ. There are clearly a number of issues with this turn of events, all of which served to overshadow what was a superb maiden European Tour win for Jbe Kruger.