Golf Digest

In brief

James backs Europe

Former Ryder Cup captain Mark James is backing Europe to retain the famous trophy at the K Club in September. Ian Woosnam will take charge of the European team in the defence of the title they won under the guidance of Bernhard Langer at Oakland Hills in 2004.

But James believes the Irish course will play into the hands of the Welshman's side. He said: "We will win and will have a really good side. The American team will be reasonably good, but, round the K Club - which we know well - we will have the edge."

James claims European golf has never been as strong as it is now. Swede Johan Edfors, 410th in the world at the start of the year, became the shock winner of the British Masters at The Belfry on Sunday.

James added: "European golf is extremely strong with great depth. Edfors came out of nowhere on Sunday, played with great maturity and produced a really solid round of golf.

"He deserved it and there are a lot of great players like him. British golf, too, is in great shape. You mention Luke Donald and Paul Casey and you can reel off the names of many more great stars.

"If you look at the players who aren't in the top 10 in the Ryder Cup points at the moment, like Casey, Darren Clarke and Ian Poulter, they are incredibly good players. We have huge depth and have a pool of about 15 to 20 tremendously good players who could all do well. I don't think Woosy will be too worried about the content of the team."

Casey let the British Masters slip from his grasp this year, but James expects him to be named by Woosnam.

He created a furore after saying he "hated" Americans - a remark he claims was misquoted - and was subjected to abuse on the PGA Tour. But James believes he is on the way back despite his latest problems.

He said: "Paul has come through a difficult 18 months with his comments, which were misquoted and a little misunderstood."

Prize money up

Prize-money at next week's BMW Championship at Wentworth is going up by more than £150,000 to almost £2.9 million. The European Tour's flagship event won last year by Argentina's Angel Cabrera, will now have a winner's cheque for a massive £482,733.

Retief Goosen and Ernie Els, third and sixth in the world, head a field that includes nine major champions and all the leading Europeans except Sergio Garcia once again. The pair are joined by Adam Scott, Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal and Henrik Stenson. Another South African, Trevor Immelman, will also be taking part after finishing second in his last two US Tour events. In addition to Goosen and Els, the other major champions are Nick Faldo, Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Olazabal, current US Open champion Michael Campbell and American Ben Curtis.

Wadkins holds on

Bobby Wadkins led from start to finish to claim only his second Champions Tour victory at the Boeing Championship in Florida on Sunday night.

After a bogey-free round of 62 on the opening day, Wadkins battled to an even-par 71 in the second round and a one-under-par 70 on day three saw him hold on to beat Ray Floyd by a stroke.

Wadkins, who entered the final round with a three-shot lead, finished at 10 under on 203 to hold off Floyd who carded a superb eight-under 63 in the final round. Floyd fired nine birdies but his quest for the title was ended by a late bogey.

Scott Simpson (67), Tom Watson (67), Loren Roberts (69) and Craig Stadler (70) finished tied for third.

Easy for Mangan

On a day interrupted by fog, defending champion Tricia Mangan from Ennis safely negotiated the first hurdle in the Lancome Irish Ladies' Close Championship at The European Club yesterday with a 6 and 5 win over Louise Mernagh from Woodenbridge.

Mangan lost the first hole but soon took control of the match holing crucial putts on the fifth, eighth and 11th before closing out the match on the 13th.

Elsewhere, Irish captain Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange) was a surprise winner over Sinead Keane (Curragh) while Curtis Cup star Claire Coughlan (Cork) was all square with Dawn Marie Conaty from Ashbourne after 19 holes when play was halted for the day because of fog.