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THE rise and rise of Rory McIlroy accelerated to breakneck speed this year as the Holywood star achieved every target he set himself in 2012 – and then some (All photos by Getty Images)
2012 - Rory McIlroy's year to remember
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McDowell wins World Match Play Championship
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Unchallenged in his world
Imagine, for a moment, these two things really happened. First, in an interview with Sports Illustrated magazine, Tiger Woods admits to using a product that is banned under the PGA Tour anti-doping policy. And four months later, on his way to victory in the Players Championship at Sawgrass, Vijay Singh takes a penalty drop beside a pond on the 14th hole that a leading analyst and former Tour pro describes as "really, really borderline".
It's natural for Rory to go out on own – McDowell
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Lucan's O'Donovan tied for the lead after stunning round in Welsh Open
Poulter in survival battle
McDowell's extra venom lifts World bid
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Top Stories
McDowell wins World Match Play Championship
Graeme McDowell today became the first Irish winner of the Volvo World Match Play Championship with a hard-fought victory over Thongchai Jaidee in Bulgaria.
Still chasing Brad's record in Europe's Wentworth reunion
An unusually strong gathering of Europe's leading players, from the present and recent past, won't include Pádraig Harrington for this week's £4.75m BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The three-time Major winner withdrew yesterday from the challenge of the famous West Course, which doesn't rank among his favourite golfing stretches.
Unchallenged in his world
Imagine, for a moment, these two things really happened. First, in an interview with Sports Illustrated magazine, Tiger Woods admits to using a product that is banned under the PGA Tour anti-doping policy. And four months later, on his way to victory in the Players Championship at Sawgrass, Vijay Singh takes a penalty drop beside a pond on the 14th hole that a leading analyst and former Tour pro describes as "really, really borderline".
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Actor Furlong arrested in Hollywood
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THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS
TODAY
Obama threat to go rogue and speak out
President Obama apparently has his own Hollywood-inspired aspirations. According to a nugget buried in a New York Times story on Thursday, Obama has been telling aides that he is tempted to pull a "Bulworth" – that is to make like Warren Beatty's liberal senator character in the 1998 movie of the same name by going rogue and saying exactly what is on his mind regardless of the political fallout.
Rosanna's old prep school facing uncertain future as debts pile up
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Like a faded film star, Cannes loses some of its allure
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Alesha attracts the acts on BGT
Alesha Dixon proved a hit with the male contestants in this week's Britain's Got Talent auditions.
