Learning from New Zealand’s return to sport; Trump gets back on the course

It's what many of us are waiting for. While there will be no crowds when sport gets back underway in New Zealand, the fact that all team sports are set to begin again gives us all an envious glimpse of what, hopefully, we could see within a few months. "I'm not sure if [NEW ZEALAND]people reflect outwardly their pride in that we are doing better than someone else. I think there is a sense of togetherness and that we have been through something tough and we have all contributed," Sport New Zealand chief executive Peter Miskimmin tells Johnny Watterson this morning. One sport that took only a short break around the world was the good-for-social-distancing sport of golf which is now 10 days back into its first reopening phase here in Ireland while, in the US, courses in many states never closed at all. And while golf-in-chief Donald Trump did take some time off to watch the death toll in his country mount and tick past 100, he got the clubs back out last weekend for a round at his own course in Virginia. In his column this morning, Dave Hannigan looks at the reaction across the country and why Trump holds such a special place for the sport.

Sticking with golf and Dr Bob Rotella has, over the years, become the face of the psychological side of the game in his work with numerous players including three-time Major winner Pádraig Harrington. This morning he speaks to Joanne O'Riordan about the simple mental techniques all golfers can use to improve their game and what the best ways are to cope with lockdown and isolation. Meanwhile, GUI coach Neil Manchip is usually a busy man between his time working with Shane Lowry and everything else he does but the last few months have been obviously quieter. This morning he tells John O'Sullivan that Zoom calls with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Paul Dunne and Paul McGinley speaking to the Irish underage panels during lockdown was a great benefit for all involved and, with club golf back and a return for the elite game on the horizon, his focus now turns back to the course.

The last few months have undoubtedly been tough times for all, athletes included, and with little or no return on the horizon for some sports, the competitive element can start to blunt a little. In her column this morning Sonia O'Sullivan writes about how to stop that happpening and how to keep sharp even when there is little to build towards. "This is not a year to sit back and hit cruise control. There still needs to be a few high performance spikes, to avoid losing the momentum of a track season, or a whole year out of racing," she writes. Also in our women in sport pages this morning, Amber Barrett speaks about life in Germany and her return to play with FC Cologne.

On to soccer and Liverpool are one of the Premier League clubs arguing against paying a €384m TV rebate as the saga around when the league will restart continues. Liverpool, along with a number of other clubs – Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham among them believe fans not being able to attend games will actually increase the premium on live televised matches, with interest in any game shown heightened by the paucity of other live sports.