Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Rory hits a shot on the sixth hole at Royal Troon

Rory McIlroy satisfied with 'solid start'

World number four Rory McIlroy was reasonably happy with a two-under-par opening round of 69 that left him three shots off the early lead at the Open.

Golf • 14 Jul 16

Rory McIlroy won the 2014 Open at Hoylake

McIlroy tipped to take Open at Royal Troon

RTÉ Sport’s Greg Allen believes Rory McIlroy has strong claims of capturing a fifth major when he contests the Open this week.

Golf • 13 Jul 16

Mickelson reacts to his narrow miss on the last green

As it happened: The Open day one

All the action from the first day at the 145th Open championship where Phil Mickelson equalled a Major record and Rory McIlroy led the Irish charge.

Golf • 14 Jul 16

Danny Willett finished in a share of sixth at last year's Open

Willett bidding to rediscover top form at the Open

Masters champion Danny Willett admits he is trying to rediscover the game which won him the Green Jacket as the knock-on effects of winning at Augusta have impacted on his form.

Golf • 12 Jul 16

Padraig Harrington's superb iron play was undone by a cold putter in his final round

Harrington takes positive from St Andrews showing

Two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington believes he has rediscovered some form in the majors after an encouraging performance in the 144th championship at St Andrews.

Golf • 20 Jul 15

Paul Dunne jumps 719 places after Open performance

Paul Dunne’s Open adventure has seen the Wicklow amateur jump 719 places in the world rankings.

Golf • 22 Jul 15

Zach Johnson has become a two-time major winner

Johnson triumphs at Open after three-man play-off

Zach Johnson defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a play-off for the Open Championship on Monday after Jordan Spieth agonisingly failed to keep his grand slam dream alive.

Golf • 20 Jul 15

Paul Dunne recorded four birdies and one bogey in his round of 69

Amateur Paul Dunne shoots superb 69 at the Open

After being mistaken for Jordan Spieth several times this week, Irish amateur Paul Dunne did a pretty good impression of the world number two on the course as well with an opening 69 at the Open at St Andrews.

Golf • 16 Jul 15

Jordan Spieth going for third leg of an unprecedented calendar grand slam

Spieth paired with rival Johnson at St Andrews

US Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth has been paired with Dustin Johnson and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama for the opening two rounds of the 144th Open at St Andrews, which starts on Thursday.

Golf • 13 Jul 15

Padraig Harrington won the Claret Jug in 2007 and again in 2008

Peter Alliss disappointed with R&A Open decision

Renowned BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss has expressed his disappointment that the R&A have awarded Sky Sports the live television rights to The Open.

Golf • 04 Feb 15

The R&A have awarded live Open rights to Sky Sports from 2017

R&A defends Open move to Sky Sports

The R&A has moved to allay fears that its decision to award live television rights of the Open Championship to Sky Sports will have a negative impact on golf participation.

Golf • 03 Feb 15

Rory McIlroy has now won three of the four majors and will target a career Grand Slam at the Augusta Masters next year

McIlroy: I want to be the best in the world

The Open winner Rory McIlroy has told RTÉ that he feels his form in winning a third major proves his worth on the golf course and that he can potentially be the best player in the world.

Golf • 22 Jul 14

Rory McIlroy celebrates a birdie putt on the 14th green during the third round

Experience and calm inspire McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has credited his “inner calmness” with his fine finish to his third round of the Open Championship, after a round of 68 left him with a six-shot lead going into the final day.

Golf • 20 Jul 14

Rory McIlroy celebrates holing his eagle putt on the 16th

McIlroy shines to lead Open by six

Two eagles in his final three holes ensured a battling Rory McIlroy will go into the final day of the Open Championship with a six-stroke lead after a third round of 68.

Golf • 19 Jul 14

Rory McIlroy recorded a rather apt birdie on the eighth hole

McIlroy forges clear at the Open

Rory McIlroy exorcised his Friday demons in style at the 143rd Open Championship as he carded a second consecutive 66 to finish on 12 under par, four shots clear of nearest pursuer Dustin Johnson.

Golf • 18 Jul 14

Michael Hoey tees off the 4th during day two of the 2014 Open

Injury forces Hoey out of Open

Michael Hoey has withdrawn from the Open Championship with a foot injury after seven holes of his second round.

Golf • 18 Jul 14

Tiger Woods has won the Claret Jug on three occasions

Solid Woods in positive mood despite distractions

It was not quite exactly the same as 2006, but it was not far off as Tiger Woods returned to major championship action in the Open at Royal Liverpool.

Golf • 18 Jul 14

Rory McIlroy is 50 under par for his first rounds and nine over for his seconds this year

McIlroy insists he does not fear a Friday collapse

Rory McIlroy insists he does not fear Fridays and has no worries about a repeat of the collapse the last time he led the Open Championship after day one.

Golf • 18 Jul 14

Adam Scott during a practice round prior to the start of the 143rd British Open Championship

Scott desperate to exploit fine form

World number one Adam Scott has said he is playing the golf of his life as he gears up for the British Open.

Golf • 16 Jul 14

Graeme McDowell is keen to land Open as his second Major title after his 2010 US Open victory

Claret Jug tops McDowell's Major targets

Graeme McDowell is desperate to get his hands on the Claret Jug to prove he is not a one-hit wonder, no matter what it costs.

Golf • 15 Jul 14

Padraig Harrington feels he sometimes tries too hard when out on the course

Harrington: I need to try to be less intense

Former Open champion Padraig Harrington admits he needs to loosen up as he looks to rediscover his winning touch at Hoylake this week.

Golf • 15 Jul 14

Rory McIlroy tees off at the fourth hole today

McIlroy confident ahead of The Open

Rory McIlroy declared himself happy with his Open preparations after bouncing back from a familiar Friday failing in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Golf • 12 Jul 14

Michael Hoey qualified for the Open with a seventh-place finish at the French Open

Hoey hitting his stride ahead of Open

Michael Hoey is targetting a much-improved performance when he tees up at the British Open at Hoylake.

Golf • 09 Jul 14

Open Championship Live Leaderboard

Follow the leaderboard on the second day of the British Open in Muirfield.

Golf • 19 Jul 13

Graeme McDowell believes he can challenge for the Open Championship

McDowell ready to claim another major

Graeme McDowell watched from afar as the carnage unfolded at Muirfield in 2002, but still rates the Open Championship as his best bet for a second major title.

Golf • 16 Jul 13