Darren Clarke

One of the best bits of sporting news for a long time came today when Northern Ireland golfing star Darren Clarke won the Asian Open in Shanghai. It brings to an end a barren run for Darren as it represents his first European Tour title in five years, during which the 39 year old tragically lost his wife Heather to cancer. During Heather's illness, golf naturally took a back seat in Darren's life, with two young boys to look after. It may be that Darren's golf never reaches the heights of the past, during which time he won two WGC events and was ranked in the World's top ten. Nevertheless, this is pleasing step forward for him, and perhaps he will again be able to take his place in the European Ryder Cup team. Darren is pictured on Anfield Road on 3 May 2005 when he attended the Champions League semi-final tie between his beloved Liverpool and Chelsea

Lee Westwood

Today is the 35th birthday of golfer Lee Westwood, currently the leading Englishman in the European PGA Order of Merit, and lying 20th in the Official World Golf Rankings. Lee was born on 24th April 1973 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire and began playing golf at the age of 13. Just four years later he had won his first amateur event, The Peter McEvoy Trophy, and he turned professional after winning the British Youth Championship in 1993. His first professional title came in 1996 when winning the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, and to date he has won 18 events on the European Tour. A regular member of the Ryder Cup team, he is a close friend of fellow golfer Darren Clarke, with whom he co-owns a private jet, and they were together when I took this photograph of Lee Westwood on 3rd May 2005 before Liverpool's Champions League semi-final victory over Chelsea at Anfield