Golf: Sam Torrance yesterday admitted that he will approach the Ryder Cup committee on the controversial issue of wild-card selections for the 2001 showpiece at The Belfry.
The European captain was responding to fears raised by Colin Montgomerie that, with a large number of European players planning to play the majority of their golf in America next year, the existing two wildcard situation will not be sufficient to ensure the best home team lines up against the Americans next September.
The race for Ryder Cup points begins in two weeks at the Canon European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland and Phil Weaver, joint Ryder Cup committee chairman, admitted that the situation needed to be clarified by then.
Golf: Irish Champion Alison Coffey went straight onto the practice green at the Sporting Club Berlin last night after three putting four times during the first round of the World Women's Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy. "I'm going to sort several things out on the practice green and then you wait - there will be several single putts tomorrow," said the 27-year-old from Warrenpoint.
Despite her putting difficulties, Coffey still returned a 75 - three over par. And although Britain and Ireland did not enjoy one of their best days in the history of the championship, they still managed to return a total of 148 - four over par.
Cycling: It was announced yesterday that the Irish Cycling Federation e.g.m. scheduled for this Saturday has been cancelled. Meanwhile, the row prompting the call for the e.g.m., namely the question of sending Peter Purfield rather than John Keegan as a second official to Sydney, was settled yesterday when the OCI announced they would send both to the Olympics.
Tennis: Number seven seed Shane Travers was forced to withdraw from the Dunlop's Irish Open junior tennis championships at Fitzwilliam yesterday. Travers had progressed to the quarter-final of the intermediate singles without losing a set but just when the moment of truth beckoned for the talented Dubliner, a clash with number two seed Barry King, he had to withdraw after going over on an ankle in a mixed-doubles match.
Elsewhere top seeds Elsa O'Riain and Andrea Maughan came through while Mark Finnegan, the top senior boys seed, opened impressively and Stephen O'Connor, Conor McHale and Darragh Rowan also advanced.
Rowing: The lightweight coxless four which set off for Sydney yesterday will have an online diary throughout the Games. It is sponsored by the sports law unit of A and L Goodbody Solicitors.
