The Morning Sports Briefing: Keep ahead of the game with ‘The Irish Times’ sports team
Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the 16th tee during a practice round prior to the US Open at The Country Club in Brookline. Photograph: Warren Little/GettyIt’s time for the third Major of the golf season as the US Open begins at The Country Club in Brookline today, with three Irish players in action — Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Séamus Power.
Shane Lowry, meanwhile, is playing with two players that have joined the controversial new Saudi-backed LIV Tour — Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen — at 6.47pm. Some might construe that he has been given a short straw but. “I could make an excuse and say it is going to be a distraction but it is not, I am a big boy, I am well able to look after myself.” Séamus Power will play with Joohyung Kim, Min Woo Lee at 6.25pm and hegoing at US Open after a top 10 at the US PGA at Southern Hills.
In today’s Subscriber Only piece, Gavin Cummiskey looks over the week that was for Ireland’s soccer team as they enjoyed an uplifting finish. “The past fortnight will only be remembered for three happenings — collapse in sticky Yerevan, Obafemi’s wonder strike against Scotland and a phenomenal individual effort by Collins”, he writes as there were “two defeats, a thrilling win, the bravest of draws and plenty of air miles”.