Patience key at Chambers Bay
The year’s second Major championship, the US Open, gets underway at Chambers Bay today.
The build up to the tournament hasn't been focused on any particular player but rather the course itself which promises to provide a devilishly difficult, links-esque test for players who will need to stay incredibly patient, writes Philip Reid from Seattle.
One man looking forward to tackling the course is Shane Lowry, who feels Chambers Bay is the closest thing to a links course he has seen outside of Ireland and the UK.
Lowry tees off from the 10th at 10.39pm BST, while Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy also start from the back nine at 4.04pm and 4.28pm respectively. Darren Clarke starts from the first at 9.55pm.
Premier League fixtures
The fixtures for the 2015/16 Premier League season were released yesterday with champions Chelsea starting their title defence at home to Swansea.
Manchester United welcome Tottenham to Old Trafford in the pick of the weekend's opening games, while Liverpool return to Stoke the scene of their 6-1 humiliation on the final day of last season.
Leinster to face O’Connell and Toulon
The draw for next season's European Champions Cup pools were also made yesterday and Leinster drew the short straw, being lumped in Pool Five with Bath, Toulon and Wasps.
Ulster and Munster's groups are still tricky but far more enviable, Neil Doak's men will play Saracens, Toulose and Oyonnax while Anthony Foley's side were drawn with Stade Francais, Leicester and Treviso.
In the Challenge Cup top seeds Connacht were drawn in a pool with Newcastle, Brive and Russian outfit Yenisei-STM who are based near Mongolia.
Mayo need to shore up defence
In this week'sstatistics column, Eamon Donoghue suggests it is Mayo's defence which is preventing them from finally scratching a 64-year itch and wining the All-Ireland. Over the past three seasons Mayo have conceded41 goals in 34 games against Division One opponents, while the eventual All-Ireland winners in each of those seasons conceded 32 in 35.
Former Armagh footballer Oisin McConville has backed the suspension handed to Monaghan footballer Thomas Connolly for failing a drugs test, however he has urged for the player to be given proper support in the wake of his ban.
Kilkenny hurling legend JJ Delaney has backedJoey Holden to step into his shoes at full back and control Wexford's dangerous forward Ciaran McDonald.
Free Eagles wins Prince of Wales’s
Free Eagle put a Group One seal on his reputation with victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royak Ascot yesterday, seeing off a stellar field including the Grey Gatsby.
Today Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Pleasacach drops in grade for the Ribbledale stakes at 3.40, while the Gold Cup is today's feature race at 4.20pm.
Ian O’Riordan in Baku
The journey was far from straightforward but Ian O'Riordan has arrived in Baku, and he talks of an impressive city but one running an operation which seems too grand for the inaugural European Games.
Hockey history
The Ireland women's hockey team have the chance to make history today when they could become the first Irish team sport to qualify for the Olympic games since 1948, and the first team ever to qualify for men's or women's hockey, if they beat China .
Park Tennis goes from strength to strength
Meanwhile Park Tennis, which aims to give affordable tennis to children of all age, is going from strength to strength, writes Johnny Watterson.
What to watch out for:
Golf
The US Open gets underway at Chambers Bay, Washington. Sky Sports 4 from 5pm.
Racing
The third day of Royal Ascot gets underway, with feature race the Gold Cup at 4.20pm. Channel 4 1.40pm.
Hockey
Ireland play China in the World League quarter-final with a place at Rio 2016 at stake. Sky Sports 1, 10.30am.
