Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Rory’s got one intention at the Masters, Shane Lowry’s loving his first trip to Augusta, Bubba’s love/hate affair, McFadden grateful for Banahan heads up, Andy Lee’s going box office

Rory McIlroy walks alongside his caddie Niall Horan of the band One Direction during the Par 3 contest prior to the start of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy walks alongside his caddie Niall Horan of the band One Direction during the Par 3 contest prior to the start of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Thu Apr 09 2015 - 12:02

Golf: It’s Masters time

It’s the second weekend in April and for golf fans and sports fans in general that means the Masters.

And this year at Augusta a 25-year-old golfing sensation from Holywood in Co Down has his sights set on joining some of the game’s greats by claiming a green jacket come Sunday to secure a career grand slam of Major Championships.

Tiger Woods's return to action this week has added to the anticipation before the event, while there's a host of in-form American golfers, led by Jordan Spieth, looking to claim a first Major.

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Philip Reid previews the tournament and hears why from Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke why they believe the world number one can be seated in the Butler Cabin on Sunday night.

Shane Lowry is playing the Masters for the first time and has been blown away by the experience so far. You can read all about it in his Irish Times column.

Andy Bull profiles defending champion Bubba Watson and how the two-time Masters winner rubs his fellow professionals up the wrong way but remains hugely popular among the galleries.

Did you know the winner of the Masters can only bring the green jacket outside of Augusta for the first 12 months, after which it remains at the golf club.

You can also check out Philip Reid's guide to the course.

Rugby: Thanks for the heads up

In rugby, Fergus McFadden respects the concern Bath winger Matt Banahan showed for him when he was knocked out in last weekend's Champions Cup quarter-final.

Ahead of the semi-final against Toulon, John O’Sullivan reports that Leinster fans hoping to travel to Marseille should not be affected by ongoing strikes by French air traffic controllers.

Boxing: Lee’s box office

Dave Hanningan’s America at Large column looks at the return of boxing to network television in the United States, with Ireland’s Andy Lee’s first WBO world middleweight title defence on Saturday set to attract a TV audience of over three million.

Gaelic Games:

Ian O'Riordan reports on the frustration facing Kerry's hurlers in trying to gain promotion despite winning Division 2A for the last two seasons, while Brian O'Driscoll is hoping to join his older brothers in winning a Munster under-21 final with Cork in Friday's final against Tipperary at Semple Stadium.

Soccer:

Emmet Malone catches up with Aidan 'Jacko' Smith, the kitman at West Brom, there's plenty of Irish involvement on the first day of the Aintree Grand National meeting.

What to watch out for:

The first day of the Aintree Grand National festival gets underway this afternoon with plenty of Irish interest. Live on Channel 4 from 1.45pm.

The first day of the Masters gets underway this afternoon with live coverage on Sky Sports 4 from 7pm and Setanta Ireland from 8pm.