WORLD CUP: The number of teams competing in golf's Omega World Cup in China on November 22nd-25th has been increased from 24 to 28.
No longer part of the World Golf Championships series, 18 countries will be exempt based on next week's world rankings and the other 10 will emerge from qualifying events in Asia and South America at the end of next month.
That qualifying number will come down to nine should hosts China require an invitation to play.
With British Open champion Pádraig Harrington giving the event a miss for the first time since 1995 - he and Paul McGinley won in 1997 - Ireland could be among the nations having to qualify.
Their second highest-ranked player in the world at the moment is Graeme McDowell at 126th, followed by Darren Clarke at 143rd and McGinley at 164th.
Meanwhile, Harrington has won the European Tour's shot of the month award for July.
The shot was his pitch to four feet on the 72nd hole at Carnoustie after he had twice been in the Barry Burn on the hole.
It enabled Harrington, one ahead at the time, to rescue a double bogey six and after Sergio Garcia had bogeyed the same hole to fall into a tie, the Irishman won the four-hole play-off.
Garcia took second place in the shot award too for his pitch from the rough over a bunker to save par on the first hole of his second round.
Third spot was Harrington again for his approach to six feet for a birdie on the first play-off hole.
CHALLENGE TOUR:Johan Wahlqvist of Sweden chipped in at the first hole and later holed a six-iron for an eagle two at the 16th on his way to an opening 63 and the lead in the ECCO Tour Championship at Odense GC, in Denmark.
Wahlqvist leads by one from England's Iain Pyman and John Morgan, with Francois Delamontagne of France, Welshman Stuart Manley and Swede Magnus A Carlsson all well placed after rounds of 65.
Colm Moriarty is four back after a 67, Mark Murphy is on 68 with Justin Kehoe well off the pace after a 79.
EUROPRO TOUR:England's Graeme Clark added a second round 67 to his opening 64 to claim a two-shot lead in the Europro Tour Ufford Park Classic in Suffolk yesterday.
Clark, on nine-under-par 131, leads from Russell Clayton, Eddie Vernon and Daniel Brooks, while Ireland's Michael McDermott is on five-under-par after a 72. Alan Murray, Mark O'Sullivan and Brian McElhinney are all on three-under-par 137.
Pádraig Dooley also made the cut on 140 after a second successive 70 but there was no joy for Justin Kehoe who shot a disappointing 79.
LPGA TOUR: Sherri Steinhauer took a early one-shot lead in the State Farm Classic at Panther Creek CC, Illinois.
Marcy Hart and Ai Miyazato were a shot back on 68 with defending champion Annika Sorenstam on one-under-par 71.
