Rory has mixed day at Quail Hollow
Rory McIlroy’s patchy form continued on the opening day of the Wells Fargo Championship as he returned to Quail Hollow, the scene of his first PGA Tour win and one of the world number one’s favourite haunts.
McIlroy got off to a fine start with three birdies in the opening seven holes and looked set to post a score to challenge the lead of Robert Streb, who sits on top of the leaderboard at seven under par after posting a 65, but a double bogey five on the 17th meant he finished the day at two under.
Alongside him is Padraig Harrington, who picked up where he left off from his fine closing 67 in the Players Championship last weekend with a scrambling 70.
Runner-up in the Players Sergio Garcia struggled to live up to his favourite tag in the opening round of the Spanish Open, carding a three over par 75 to sit 10 shots off the lead of Trevor Fisher.
Concussion could see O’Carroll retire
Dublin's Rory O'Carroll has said if he has one more concussion he could retire from the game. The 2013 All-Star suffered a single head trauma in the All Ireland final win over Mayo in 2013 and believes one more could force him to walk away from the game.
O'Carroll is also a doubt for Dublin's Leinster Championship quarter-final fixture against either Offaly or Longford on May 31st.
On Saturday night Carlow and Laois are two of the first counties to get the 2015 Championship underway and the fixture will bring back memories of their controversial meetings in 1995.
In the pick of the weekend's games Tyrone take on Donegal in Ballybofey and they must do so without goalkeeper Niall Morgan who has been unable to prove his fitness in time meaning Mickey O'Neill will make his full championship debut.
World Cup 2023 bid
The Women's Rugby World Cup is coming to Ireland in 2017 and now attentions turn to trying to secure the men's event in 2023, with a successful bid potentially benefitting the Irish economy to the tune of €800 million.
Ulster's Stuart McCloskey started out with ambitions of being a golfer but a late growth spurt has put the 22-year-old among the contenders for a regular starting berth in the province's very healthy looking midfield.
Lansdowne's All-Ireland club final win over Clontarf was a brilliant, attacking spectacle, but it's important to make sure elite clubs are bridging the gap between the professional and amateur game, writes Liam Toland.
Dnipro reach first European final
Ukrainian side Dnipro dumped out Rafa Benitez and Napoli out of the Europe League last night to reach their first ever European final. They will play Sevilla in Warsaw after the holders swept aside Fiorentina to reach their second consecutive final.
Meanwhile Wednesday's night Champions League exit at the hands of Juventus could mean curtains for Carlo Ancelotti, with no Real manager going into a summer having not won anything and continuing the next season since 1983.
Free scoring midfielder Richie Towell has been the stand out player in the League of Ireland so far this campaign, and his table topping Dundalk side welcome Derry to Oriel Park tonight. Elsewhere Bohemians travel to Galway and Shamrock Rovers welcome Longford.
Steven Gerrard says his farewells to Anfield tomorrow, and the Liverpool midfielder has urged the club to bring in proven strikers if they want to succeed.
Epsom uncertainty
This year's Epsom Derby seems to be shrouded in uncertainty, with Aidan O'Brien without a runner at a single figure price, and yesterday's impressive winner of the Dante Stakes at York, Golden Horn, only a possible for June 6th.
What to watch out for:
Golf
Rory McIlroy will be looking to kick on in the second round at Quail Hollow. Sky Sports 4 8pm-Midnight
The Spanish Open continues. Sky Sports 4 10.30am-12.30pm, 2.30pm-5.30pm
Football
Middlesbrough play Brentford in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final second leg
Cycling
Stage Seven of the Giro D’italia: To Fiuggi. Eurosport 1.30pm-4.30pm
