Sports Digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

McDowell wants British Open to return to Portrush

GOLF:Graeme McDowell wants the British Open to return to his home town of Portrush after a gap of 60 years.

The man Rory McIlroy succeeded as US Open champion was speaking after receiving an honorary degree from the University of Ulster in Coleraine yesterday.

“Rory and I would be behind a NI event with the potential of then getting the Open back to Portrush,” he said.

“To play the Open in Portrush is a wild dream, to play a European Tour event in Portrush is an achievable dream.”

He added: “I will do everything I can to make it happen.”

The remarkable back-to-back US Open victories by two golfers from the North have prompted renewed calls for the British Open to return to the North – it was last played at Royal Portrush in 1951, when Max Faulkner emerged victorious.

Concerns have previously been raised about the area’s infrastructure and whether it could cope with hosting such a large event.

Klitschko warns Haye over trash talk

BOXING:Wladimir Klitschko sent a chilling warning to David Haye yesterday: "People have been handicapped and people have died in boxing – it's not something you joke about".

In yesterday’s final press conference ahead of Saturday’s unification clash in Hamburg with IBF/WBO champion Klitschko, WBA champion Haye promised a “brutal execution” of his Ukrainian rival.

“I’m a very lucky person in that I am healthy enough to perform. No matter what, it is disgraceful and disrespectful for a man to wish to damage your health,” said Klitschko.

“It’s not something you can joke about to promote yourself. It’s something you do not say. I felt embarrassed at the way David Haye acted in the press conference. Because it also casts a shadow on the sport.

“I just feel an obligation to give him some rehabilitation on July 2nd because it will make him a better person.”

Irish up against it at Henley Regatta

ROWING:Ireland's representation at Henley Royal Regatta, which begins today, is small and travels more in hope than expectation. Three boats go into action today: two from Trinity and one from Queen's University, the one "selected" (seeded) crew, reports Liam Gorman.

Trinity’s draw in the Temple Cup for student eights (3.05pm) is a heart-sinker: Nereus from Amsterdam were beaten finalists last year and set an outstanding time (five minutes 39.98 seconds) in winning the senior eights at Holland Beker regatta last Saturday.

Trinity also take on the University of Bristol in the final race of the day, the coxed four, in the Prince Albert at 7.20pm.

Queen’s also face the University of Bristol in the first round race in the Temple, and would be expected to progress. However, this is their second eight, and coach Mark Fangen-Hall, who has stayed in Belfast to oversee other crews, stresses the focus is on the Irish National Championships this year.

Former jockey Richard Fox dies

RACING:Former jockey Richard Fox has died aged 57 after spending almost two months on a life-support machine.

Fox, originally from Blackrock, Co Cork, was admitted to West Suffolk Hospital on April 30th after hitting his head in a fall while shopping in his home town of Newmarket.

He is survived by his wife Maria and two children, Francesca and Dominic.

Campbell just misses Open spot

GOLF:Former US Open champion Michael Campbell narrowly failed in his bid to qualify for next month's British Open at Sandwich.

The New Zealander was among 288 players fighting for just 12 spots over 36 holes at four courses in Kent.

He had rounds of 68 and 72 for a four-under-par total at Prince’s to finish on four under and miss at least a play-off qualifying spot by one shot.

“This is a very humbling experience for me,” said Campbell, who pushed Tiger Woods into second place at Pinehurst in 2005 to become his country’s first major champion since Bob Charles 42 years earlier.

Team Ireland’s Niall Turner was best of the Irish competitors. He finished alongside Campbell on the same mark on the same course after rounds of 69 71.