Golf: Masters
Masters favourite Rory McIlroy dug deep in yesterday’s first round to card a ninth straight sub-par round in Majors.
“It could have been a round that got away. I just stayed patient realising that it’s a 72 holes golf tournament, not to press too much. That’s what I did. I feel with the way I am driving the ball, if I can keep doing that and just be a little more patient with my iron play and give myself more opportunities.”
Jordan Spieth was the star of a round where once more the fearsome 11th hole was still felling many a pretender.
In last year’s tournament, it played as the toughest hole of them all and yesterday its toughness was still apparent as Charley Hoffman, Russell Henley, Justin Rose, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson – all players who had made strong starts – struggled.
GAA: Under 21 Munster final
Tipperary claimed the Munster Under 21 title from Cork’s stranglehold for just the second time in the third successive decider between the counties. The same group who won the All-Ireland minor championship in 2011 were led by Colin O’Riordan who had not been named to start having struggled with injury coming into the game. There were certainly no signs of that on the night though as he played a real captain’s part.
Tipperary now face an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Dublin on Saturday week.
Rugby: Leinster
Former Leinster back Isa Nacewa is to come out of retirement two years after leaving leaving the province, and he’s set to rejoin the province on a year’s contract.
It had been rumoured that the deal would incorporate a player/coaching role, but that now seems unlikely. He will join fellow new signings Johnny Sexton, Connacht’s Mick Kearney and Clontarf frontrows Royce Burke Flynn and Ian Hirst for next season.
Soccer: World Cup
The Republic of Ireland have left themselves with a lot of ground to make up on Fifa’s international ranking list in June if they are to end up amongst even the third seeds when the draw for the World Cup is made in St Petersburg on July 25th.
Martin O’Neill’s side has moved up four places to 62 in the latest edition of the Fifa list but having failed to beat Poland at home last month, they remain 32nd in Europe with Israel 44th in the overall list and 28th amongst the Uefa nations currently on course to take the last spot in Pot Three for the 2018 qualifiers.
Racing: Aintree
Tony McCoy may now be less than 48 hours away from retirement, but there was no easing off here, no lessening of the intensity that has hallmarked his 20-year reign as National Hunt’s champion jockey.
On a card that opens with four Grade One events, McCoy missed out in the first three as well-supported horses failed to run up to expectation, but he then came home clear aboard Jezki in the Aintree Hurdle, the most valuable race on the opening day of the Grand National meeting.
Boxing: Andy Lee
As Andy Lee is looking to reach the next level of stardom , putting his world title on the line against Peter Quillin in New York - the Limerick man concedes that his faith had been shaken. Had he lost to the Russian Matt Korobov last year in Las Vegas in his fight for the WBO title, he would have walked away from boxing.
What to watch out for:
Brighton and Hove Albion take on high-flying Bournemouth in the Championship tonight, every point counts at this stage with top of the table Bournemouth just two points ahead of fourth placed Middlesbrough.
Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm
We've more action today from Aintree including the Melling Chase.
Channel 4 from 1.45pm-5pm
Of course the second round of the Masters is underway this afternoon at Augusta.
Sky Sports 4 from 7pm-0.30am
