Golf/ European Tour: France's Jean van de Velde matched his lowest round in Europe yesterday, and now has the chance to resurrect a tour career he feared could be over.
Playing on a sponsor's invitation at the French Open after losing his card following two knee operations, the 39-year-old, who will forever be remembered for a closing triple bogey seven at the 1999 British Open, fired a seven-under-par 64 at Le Golf National.
Van de Velde leads by one from England's Jonathan Lomas overnight, but half the 156-strong field have still to complete their first round after a thunderstorm halted things in mid-afternoon.
On his 42nd birthday, Colin Montgomerie came in with a 69, as did Jose-Maria Olazabal. Tournament favourite Miguel Angel Jimenez is handily placed after a 67, while Paul McGinley is best of the Irish at level par after eight holes.
US TOUR: Fiji's Vijay Singh fired a three-under-par 68 to grab a share of the first round clubhouse lead at the $5.7 million Barclays Classic in Harrison, New York, yesterday.
The world number two and twice winner at the Westchester Country Club mixed five birdies and an eagle with four bogeys to join Americans John Rollins and Brian Bateman at the top of the leaderboard.
Padraig Harrington was one over par after 13 while Graeme McDowell finished on two over par 73.
WOMEN'S TOUR: Annika Sorenstam was forced to play a patient game at Cherry Hills yesterday as Angela Stanford set the early place at two-under-par 69 in the US Open.
This championship is really all about whether Sorenstam can make it three out of three in the majors this year, and though her first two were won with ease, the early signs were that this one might be more of a grind.
She missed four putts from around six feet on the first nine on her way to a first round of level par 71.
EUROPEAN OPEN: Darren Clarke has entered next week's European Open at the K Club after taking a month off to be with his wife, Heather, who is suffering from cancer.
The Dungannon man did not have the event at the K Club on his schedule, but will now play in the tournament he won in 2001.
Clarke withdrew from the BMW Championship at Wentworth in late May after the second round and missed last week's US Open so he could be with his wife, but now feels satisfied enough with her progress to return to tour.
He plays next week, the following week in the Scottish Open and then in the British Open the week after.
IRISH YOUTHS: Brian O'Connor of Hermitage set a course record 68 in the second round on his way to a five-shot lead at the half-way stage of the Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship at Portumna Golf Club yesterday.
O'Connor, on 137, leads from Michael Mulryan (Athenry) on 142 after rounds of 72 and 70 and Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney on 143 after rounds of 71 and 72.
