Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Jordan Spieth sets hot pace at US Masters day one, It’s advantage Klopp after first-leg and what to watch out for

Jordan Spieth of the United States is seen at the top of the leaderboard during the first round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National. Photograph: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Jordan Spieth of the United States is seen at the top of the leaderboard during the first round of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National. Photograph: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Fri Apr 08 2016 - 08:32

Golf: Masters

US Masters holder Jordan Spieth continued where he left off last year to set a hot pace and top the round one leaderboard with an impressive opening 66, six under par, yesterday. Yet much of the day went to Irish man Shane Lowry, just two shots of the lead after his first round, and wondering now how he would keep his feet on the ground? "I'm sure I'm going to be sitting back thinking at some stage about wearing a green jacket. I'm only human, I'm going to do that." Rory McIlroy slipped up with a closing bogey but opened with a two-under-par 70, that had him in tied-ninth.

Soccer: Europa League

It's advantage Klopp after Liverpool's Europa League first-leg trip to Borussia Dortmund last night - as the Premier League boss watched his team take a 1-1 draw from their visit to his former club. The German coach was rewarded for his decision to start youngster Divock Origi as the Belgium striker put his team in front on 36 minutes - although Mats Hummels responded with a 46th minute header to draw the tie.

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Racing: Aintree

Meanwhile in Aintree Willie Mullins' long wait to land the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle came to an end in emphatic fashion as Annie Power eased to victory. And confidence is high in the Mullins camp that lightly raced mare Limini can prove up to defeating the boys on her first venture into Grade One company in the Top Novices' Hurdle today.

Rugby

Liam Toland's column this morning calls for Connacht to focus and have total faith in the gameplan during their Challenge Cup quarter-final with Grenoble this weekend. "It's hard to know what pace the game will be played at as two cultures collide. I expect Connacht to keep up their pace which will unlock holes in Grenoble. But the big call for Pat Lam's men is to contest or not contest the breakdown as Grenoble are very strong technically in this area, especially when counter rucking."

Doping in sport

Wada director general David Howman believes that drug testing of amateur and school team sports needs greater attention- speaking at Sport Ireland's anti-doping review for 2015 where it was revealed that just three of 1,028 anti-doping tests carried out in 2015 (295 of which were blood tests) yielded positive samples.

What to watch out for

It's day two at Aintree with the Melling Chase the day's main event.

Channel 4, 1.45pm-5pm

Setanta, 2pm-5pm

Shane Lowry is out at 3.54pm today for his second round at the Masters, McIlroy is out at 4.05pm.

Sky Sports 1, 7pm-0.30am

Setanta, 8pm-0.30am

In the League of Ireland tonight St Patrick's Athletic host Sligo Rovers in the featured game.

RTE 2 from 7.30pm