McIlroy defends his tactics

GOLF:Rory McIlroy has responded to Colin Montgomerie and others questioning his decision to take three weeks off before next week's British Open.

Writing on his website, the US Open champion said he needed time away from competitive play because of media attention he came under after becoming the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923.

“Some people may have wondered why I chose to go from one major straight to another without anything in between and the answer is simple,” said the Ulsterman after practising at Royal St George’s. “Because of what happened at Congressional and the way it became such a big deal, I wanted to get everything out of the way and sorted so that when I did start playing again I could just concentrate on golf.

“If I had gone to France (last week’s French Open) I just would not have been able to practise or prepare properly. Every time I play I want to go out there with a chance to win and that wouldn’t have happened.

“There were so many commitments and so much media to do that I would have not been able to give my best, so I decided to wait until I was absolutely ready.

“I didn’t touch a club for 10 days after the US Open and then, after just hitting balls on the range at home, it did feel good when I finally got out on the course again.

“I went down to Royal St George’s on Tuesday and Wednesday so that I could get a good look.

“The practice was great because we had one calm day and one when the wind got up so I got a great feel of what we can expect.

“It wasn’t my first visit because I played the 2005 Home Internationals there and also the British Amateur the following year. And, more important, I like the course.”

US TOUR: Davis Love, refreshed and energised after a two-week break, charged into a share of the early lead in the John Deere Classic first round.

The 47-year-old fired a flawless seven-under-par 64 in ideal scoring conditions at the TPC Deere Run course in Illinois.

Love racked up seven birdies to end the round level with Canadian journeyman Matt McQuillan, who rocketed up the leaderboard after making a wild bogey-eagle-bogey start.

Mark Wilson and Kyle Stanley opened with 65.

WOMEN'S US OPEN: Americans Cristie Kerr and amateur Amy Anderson shared the on-course lead on two under par when play was suspended during the first round at The Broadmoor course in Colorado.

MEN'S AMATEUR:Ireland suffered a dramatic singles collapse over the Vilamoura Victoria Course on Portugal's Algarve yesterday to crash out of medal contention in the men's European Amateur Team Championship.

They looked set for the semi-finals when they took both morning foursomes against France and Paul Cutler opened up an early singles lead.

But then things went terribly wrong and they did not win any of the singles resulting in a 4½-2½ reverse and a match today against Scotland with fifth place the best they can achieve now.

Meanwhile, over the Prague City course in the Czech Republic, Ireland’s Boys battled hard for a semi-final place just falling short with Spain getting home 4-3.

Ireland now take on Finland.

WOMEN'S AMATEUR:Ireland's hopes of a third European Team title disappeared over the Murhof course in Austria yesterday after a titanic struggle with Sweden.

They went down 5-2 in the first matchplay round, but it was closer than the scoreline suggests as two of the singles they lost ended on the home green.

Once again Leona Maguire was in devastating form. First she and Lisa secured a foursomes point and helped Ireland share the spoils 1-1 at halfway. Then, at the top of the order, she held her nerve to record a 20th hole victory over Johanna Tillstrom.

In the Girls championship in Sardinia, Ireland, playing in the second flight, lost 4-1 to the Netherlands with the only Irish winner being Chloe Ryan.