Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Harrington willing to take a step back, Roche looking for stability at Sunderland, Jim McGuinness on Dublin’s attack and Tipp calm over Maher’s fitness

Jordan Spieth will play with Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama in the first round of the British Open at St Andrews. Photograph: Afp
Jordan Spieth will play with Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama in the first round of the British Open at St Andrews. Photograph: Afp
Tue Jul 14 2015 - 08:41

Padraig Harrington willing to take a backward step

The tee times for this week's British Open have been announced, bringing together the world number two Jordan Spieth and the man who he pipped to the US Open at Chambers Bay last month, Dustin Johnson - not that runner-up Johnsonseems too perturbed about taking to the tee with his most recent nemesis.

Padraig Harrington is gearing up for his 19th crack at the tournament he so famously won back-to-back at Carnoustie and then Royal Birkdale in 2007 and 2008, and he spoke to Philip Reid about his preparations for St Andrews, which have involved a lot of walking backwards.

Roche looking for Sunderland stability

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After her American adventure came to an untimely end, Stephanie Roche is back playing again for Sunderland and looking for a bit of stability following the whirlwind 20 months since she scored her famous goal for Peamount United.

Yesterday saw Manchester United confirm the arrivals of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlein, who have both joined their new team mates on tour in the US. Louis van Gaal is still keen to add a centre forward to his squad, with Edison Cavani reportedly his first choice.

Jim McGuinness column

In his weekly column Jim McGuinness reflects on last weekend’s Leinster football final which saw Dublin’s provincial dominance continue with a fifth straight title.

However, he feels while Westmeath lacked the attacking prowess to really trouble the favourites, they were defensively sound and this raises questions over Jim Gavin’s side’s ability to break down tougher defences later in the Championship.

Elsewhere according to reports the GAA’s Central Competition Controls Committee are to re-open the investigation into an incident which left Dublin footballer Davey Byrne with serious facial injuries in a game against Armagh.

Galway's win over Armagh at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday was their first away win in a qualifier since their victorious 2001 campaign, and Damien Comer has singled out the influence of manager Kevin Walsh as they look to shake the qualifier monkey off their back.

The draw for the next round of football qualifiers was made yesterday, with Tipperary to host Tyrone and Galway to host Derry in Round 3B, and Fermanagh to play Westmeath and Kildare to play the loser of Cork and Kerry in Round 4A.

With five weeks to go before their All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Cork or Galway Tipperary are confident over the fitness of defender Padraic Maher.

Basso leaves tour with cancer

Ivan Basso has been forced to pull out of the Tour de France after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Moore injury opens way for O’Brien

Injury to Ryan Moore could offer up a Group 1 opportunity for Joseph O'Brien in the Grand de Prix de Paris, the first of what could be a number of opportunities in the coming weeks. Meanwhile Crystal Zvezda and Gretchen are expected to run in the Irish Oaks for John Gosden and Michael Stoute.

What to watch out for:

Cycling

After a day off the Tour de France returns for the 10th stage to La Pierre-Saint-Martin. Eurosport 12.45-4pm. TG4 1.10pm-4.05pm. ITV 4 1.30pm-4pm.