I’m still leery about leaving the countrythe world No 2 said And I’m still leery about the Ryder Cup

“I’m still leery about leaving the country,”the world No 2 said “And I’m still leery about the Ryder Cup. A month away from the Open Championship, Phil Mickelson has admitted he is wary of travelling overseas, especially for this September’s re-arranged Ryder Cup. “The big problem will be if I shoot a low number.”At least he is here. “I’ve been delighted with the reaction the last two days,” he said.

As the local expression goes: “Fuggedaboudit.”Colin Montgomerie’s relationship with rowdy American galleries has never been good and there has already been the odd comment about the Scot But Monty is remaining stoical, so far. Whether it was sensible for a leading American magazine to dish out badges reading: “Be nice to Monty”, is highly debatable. It is going to be interesting to see what it is like on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, especially with the heat and humidity, and once the beverage of their choice has taken effect.”As one local columnist put it, “the average fan here will boo his own mama if she burns the breakfast toast”. But there is also no getting away from the fact that major sporting events in New York have an atmosphere all of their own.”I don’t think I’ve seen the excitement level this high so early in the week,” Woods said “The fans are really into it. Many of the thousands of marshals and volunteers here are from the New York police and fire departments.
Like all the players, Tiger Woods has been happy to pose for photographs and sign autographs The security in all areas has been appreciably stepped up. Bethpage State Park, the first public course to stage America’s national championship, is only 35 miles from where the twin towers of the World Trade Centre once stood.

The shadow of 11 September remains hanging over the 102nd US Open. They deserve it.Republic of Ireland 3 Saudi Arabia 0Keane 7, Breen 61, Duff 87. For the Irish and their thousands of followers, there will be at least one more adventure. As if to lay the ghost comprehensively, they added a third shortly before full-time, Matt Holland putting Duff through for a rare international goal ­ only his second in 29 games ­ with a shot that Mohammed Al Deayea fumbled over the line.So the tournament ended much as it had begun for the highly-fallible goalkeeper-captain, forced to bend his back eight times in the opening game against Germany.

It was the first time in 14 matches at the final stages of a European Championship or World Cup that Ireland had managed more than one goal. But in the 62nd minute Staunton swung over one of the numerous free kicks from Duff’s flank and Breen darted in front of his marker to stab in the ball with the outside of his front foot. Duff began running at defenders who could only trip or block him, and Quinn was always available for the longer ball.There was still a nasty moment when news arrived that the 10 men of Germany had scored, bringing the possibility of a 1-1 draw in Shizuoka closer. If statistics purporting to show that Ireland had 57 per cent of the possession before the interval suggested those compiling them were in need of a course in numeracy, it would have been a more realistic figure thereafter. At half-time the manager came up with some choice words and a new choice of personnel, taking off Ian Harte and sending on Niall Quinn to offer a different option The pattern changed immediately. The right wing-back, Mohammed Al Jahani, burst through, forcing Shay Given to parry at his near post, and before McCarthy could usher his troops to the dressing-room for a dressing-down, the goalkeeper had to punch away from Abdulaziz Al Khathran in some alarm. Fortunately, Staunton stood firm, once pulling off a heroic saving tackle as Al Temyat darted between him and Breen.