Rory McIlroy returns to PGA Tour action after showbiz sweep as he prepares for US PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy
gets his head back into golf after a whirlwind week of television chatshow appearances – most notably on the Tonight Show with host Jimmy Fallon – and, notably, his Symphony Ventures investment firm teaming up with private equity firm TPG to start TPG Sports, an investment fund that will place bets on businesses across the sports industry.
The newly minted Grand Slammer returns to the golf course for the Truist Championship in Philadelphia, which is actually a defence of the Wells Fargo title he won at Quail Hollow last year.
McIlroy's defence, however, comes with a new sponsor and at a new venue: Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon Course), a classic A.W. Tillinghast designed course.
McIlroy and
Shane Lowry
are the two Irish players in the limited field event, one of the $20 million signature events on the PGA Tour, ahead of next week's US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
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On the LPGA Tour,
Leona Maguire
returns to competitive action after skipping last week's tour stop in Utah.
Maguire plays in the Mizuho Americas Championship at Liberty National in New Jersey, and is headed into a busy summer schedule with new caddie Shane O'Connell, who previously carried for John Murphy, on the bag.
'We have been getting along really well,' said Maguire. 'He has been really sharp adjusting to things and adapting to different distances and spins. It has been really good.
'He is a lot younger than a lot of the caddies I have had before and he is eager to learn and eager to adapt to things, which is nice. He has taken quite an interest in the stats and the performance side of things as well. It is nice to have him on board with all that and co-ordinate with the rest of the team. I think there is a lot of potential there. We're only a few weeks in but so far so good.'
Sport Ireland-assisted scheme helps Irish golfers around the world
Conor Purcell, Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly, Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy Charlie McConalogue TD, Chair of Sport Ireland John Foley and Lauren Walsh were at the launch of the Golf Ireland Professional Scheme at the Golf Ireland Academy in Carton Demesne, Maynooth. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
The far-flung nature of professional golf – and where players must travel in chasing their dreams – is reflected on the various tours this week, where the nine men and women who benefited from the Golf Ireland Professional Scheme for 2025 are all involved in tournaments.
Conor Purcell is playing in the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya on the DP World Tour; Lauren Walsh, Annabel Wilson and Anna Foster are playing the Aramco Korea Championship on the Ladies European Tour; Max Kennedy, Mark Power, Alex Maguire and Liam Nolan are competing in the Spanish Challenge in Girona on the HotelPlanner Tour, while Sara Byrne is playing in the Arizona Classic on the Epson Tour.
The nine players selected for the scheme, funded by Sport Ireland, received €33,000 in financial support to assist with their travelling and other expenses as they seek to advance their careers. The support scheme has been operating since 1999 and, apart from the financial input, also provides coaching support, access to Golf Ireland's National Academy at Carton House and training base at Quinta do Lago in Portugal and access to the Sport Ireland Institute.
'I believe it vitally important that we continue to invest in sport at all levels, and that we support projects such as the Golf Ireland Professional Scheme to enable our elite, high-performance golfers to excel in their chosen field,' said Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy Charlie McConalogue in announcing this year's recipients.
Word of Mouth
'Scottie was practically flawless, which is kind of what you expect from the world number one ... absolute hat's off to Scottie, he's played fantastic golf' – runner-up Erik Van Rooyen on getting a close-up view of Scottie Scheffler's masterclass in winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament. Scheffler shot a closing round 63 for a winning total of 31-under-par 253, some 12 strokes clear of Van Rooyen. Scheffler's total matched the lowest 72-hole total on the PGA Tour, first recorded by Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open and again by Ludvig Åberg at the 2023 RSM Classic.
By the Numbers: 65
Séamus Power will make another Major appearance. Photograph: Julio Aguilar/Getty
Séamus Power is not in the field for the Truist Championship, this week's tour stop in Philadelphia on the PGA Tour, but the Waterford man has made it into the field for next week's US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte. Although he missed the cut in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Power finished in 65th in the PGA Championship points standings from the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge through to the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. It will be Power's first Major outing since last year's US Open.
On this day ... May 6th, 1962
Arnold Palmer, aka The King, reigned supreme on the PGA Tour throughout 1962 and his win in the Tournament of Champions – played in May back then rather than being the opening event of the season it is now – was his fifth of a dominant campaign.
Played at the Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas, Palmer shot rounds of 69-70-69-68 for a 12-under-par total of 276, which gave him a one-stroke winning margin over Billy Casper. Palmer sank a 24-footer for birdie on the final hole to claim the win, the 32nd of his career on the US circuit.
Palmer earned $11,000 for his fifth win of the season – having previously won in Palm Springs, Phoenix, Texas and the Masters at Augusta – which took his total money won at that point of the schedule to $52,308.
Social Swings
Here's a hot take. Does Scottie win in 2025 before the Ryder Cup? I don't think so –
Phil Mickelson's crystal ball predictions didn't age well.
Golf is a f-ckin craZ game. hit the ball better @livgolf_league Korea over 3 days than any other event back but was the worst on & around the greens. Never thot I would B back in KOREA playing golf in front of family & show BELLA the love & support here. Thank u SOBER is DOPE –
Anthony Kim's unique take on playing again following his rehab.
A sad day for my family, tragically we lost Setanta to an adverse reaction to an anaesthetic –
Pádraig Harrington mourning the loss of his beloved Bernese mountain dog.
Pádraig Harrington's late dog Setanta. Photograph: Pádraig Harrington
Know the Rules
Q
In a match, player A requests player B to lift B's ball that is on A's line of play. Player B refuses to do so. What is the ruling?
A
If player A is forced to make a stroke with player B's ball on their line after B refused to comply with A's request, then B loses the hole. Such a situation is covered by Rule 15.3: if player B refuses to lift their ball or move their ball-marker when required to do so by another player, and a stroke is then made by the other player, player B gets the general penalty.
In the Bag
Scottie Scheffler – The CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament
Driver:
TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees)
3-wood:
TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Irons:
Srixon ZU85 (3, 4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Wedges:
Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50 and 56 degrees), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks SM10 (60 degrees)
Putter:
TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Ball:
Titleist Pro V1
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The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm a Mayo man' – John Joe Patrick opens up on roots and dream of more caps after Republic of Ireland debut
IRELAND fans are still getting to know John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa and even what to call him. Some fans call him Finn, others John Joe, while he is known at French club 2 John Joe Patrick Finn is honoured to play for Ireland as his late father was from Mayo 2 The Stade de Reims ace is excited to create a legacy with Ireland The back of his shirt when he came on for his Ireland debut against Advertisement So what does he prefer to be called? He said: 'I prefer John but there are a lot of Johns in the squad, it's more easy.' The 6ft 4in 21-year-old is a player that naturally excites fans when he bursts onto the international scene given his impressive CV that is like no other in the Ireland squad. Born in Madrid, his mother Odetta is French with Cameroon heritage while his late father - also John - hailed from Galway but had Mayo roots. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA Spanish is his mother tongue and he told Luxembourgish journalists he did not feel comfortable being interviewed in French yet, but spoke happily to Irish journalists in English. The midfielder said: 'My dad is from Ireland, also my grandfather and when I was young every summer I went to Ballyhaunis. 'So I had that connection when I was young, it really mattered. I am a Mayo man. 'It was nice, growing up it was so different from Madrid, where I lived. Those summers were really great, with my family, we had a great time, great days.' Advertisement Most read in Football He actually played for Salthill Devon for a while though he was first noticed by Irish fans when he joined Real Madrid as a nine-year-old. It was at Getafe he made his breakthrough making ten La Liga appearances as a teenager even as he finished school and progressed into the Ireland Under-19 squad. He earned Ireland Under-21 call-ups too and was also eligible for Spain, France and Cameroon. But while that was a focus in Ireland and led Advertisement ALWAYS IRELAND He said: 'Cameroon no, France no, Spain no, always Ireland. It's always good that the coach makes the effort to go and see you, to speak with me.' His debut came in the last minute as a replacement for Jason Knight on Tuesday night, though the midfielder admitted that it was not quite the debut of his dreams. He said: 'I feel good, I am a bit disappointed with the result, it was not the way I wanted to make my debut but I will just keep working and continue on this way. 'I feel ok but the last minute, it's not the way that everybody wants to make their debut, it's high intensity, into the game and it's not easy.' Advertisement But the 21-year-old hopes that his debut can be the first of many caps having quickly got up to speed with what Hallgrímsson expects from his midfielders. He said: 'He just told me I had to get the tactics, how the team works and I think I am catching the way the team play. We still have a bit of work to do but I am happy. 'The experience was good, the group has a lot of quality, I think if we can continue this way we can do good things. 'We are hungry, we are conscious that we are in a top World Cup group but with the work we are doing we can do it.' Advertisement Ireland's next games come in September with the beginning of the World Cup qualification campaign at home to Hungary and away to Armenia. And the midfielder hopes that a good start to the season with Stade Reims, who were relegated last season, can keep him in Hallgrímsson's plans. He also believes that next year is a big year for him when he expects to play regularly for Reims after a difficult settling in period in France. He added: 'At the beginning it was not easy, I was alone, my family stayed in Madrid but in the end the club made things really easy so the time I adapted was quick and the culture is nice. Advertisement 'It was a difficult moment to end the season like this (with relegation), but to come here is a bit of a distraction from the club, I had great days, now I can rest a bit and come back.'
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
'He will be really proud' - John Patrick Finn fulfills late dad's wish for him to play for Ireland
'I prefer to be called John,' says Ireland's latest debutant, whose full name is John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa. He's 21 but various versions of his name have formed part of the Irish football discourse since before he reached 10. His distinctive hairstyle caught attention but giddiness abounded when it was discovered this nine-year-old namechecked on the Ryan Tubridy Show was eligible for Ireland. Meritocracy knows no age in the footballing industry and the stylish midfielder emerged from a competitive trial of 200 boys to be recruited by Real Madrid. Born to a Cameroonian mother and English father, whose parents lived in Ballyhaunis Co Mayo, the name was a giveaway about his lineage. Yet this wasn't a case of a player possessing tenuous Irish connections seeking a ticket to the international football circuit. Finn spent his summers in the west of Ireland, lining out for Galway side Salthill Devon on occasion. Then his name began to morph. John Patrick was the primary moniker but John Joe was used within an Irish context. Read More Three bright sparks from a frustrating Irish night in Luxembourg Being the only John in the Irish camp, apart from assistant manager O'Shea, played into his preference for the one name title. He was raised in Spain, now operates in France for Stade de Reims but is unequivocal about his identity. 'I am a Mayo man,' he affirmed in his broken English after appearing as a late substitute against Luxembourg on Tuesday. 'My Dad is from Ireland, also my grandfather, and when I was young every summer I went to Ballyhaunis. 'Mayo was different to Madrid where I lived. Those summers were really great with my family - we had a great time and days together. 'So, I had that connection from when I was young and it really matters.' The one pang of disappointment about his bow was his Dad not being around. He passed away in recent years but held a lifelong wish for his son to represent Ireland. 'I know he will be really proud,' said his son. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson with John Joe Patrick Finn after the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne. His club career entailed a move from Real to Getafe and last season onto Ligue 1 in a seven-figure move. Making his debut against PSG and figuring in the French Cup final were his highlights but Reims suffered relegation. That might widen the latitude for the newcomer to string games together and he realises that's necessary to be in the equation for the Ireland squad that embarks on the World Cup qualifiers. Heimir Hallgrimsson recently made a two-hour drive to meet Finn to ascertain his international commitment. The player insisted Ireland was the only country for him and rival countries didn't pose a dilemma. 'It's not the way that everybody wants to make their debut – playing the last few minutes,' he confessed. 'Being a high intensity match, it wasn't easy getting into the game. 'The manager just told me I had to get the tactics, how the team works and I think I am catching the way the team plays. 'The experience was good. This squad has a lot of quality. I know we have a difficult qualifying group but I think we can do good things.'
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
John Joe Patrick Finn's verdict on his Ireland debut and hopes for the World Cup
The big winners from Ireland's two-game summer window were the players who stayed at home because very few of them will find their positions under threat in the fringe players reporting for duty against Senegal and Luxembourg, only Kasey McAteer, Jack Taylor and Ryan Manning enhanced their claims for a World Cup O'Leary did well on his debut against Luxembourg - six years after his first call-up - but he's behind Caoimhin Kelleher, with Gavin Bazunu and Mark Travers still to return. St Mirren midfielder Killian Phillips put his best foot forward off the bench on his own debut against Senegal, but found it harder going against Luxembourg. And while John Joe Patrick Finn may be one of the more hyped Irish players in recent times, it's very much based on a curiosity factor rather than actual Omobamidele, Liam Scales and Josh Honohan will be disappointed not to have featured at all this month, although Honohan did have a scan on a thigh the dour stalemate on Tuesday, there's a noticeable confidence within the squad after four games unbeaten this year, ahead of September's clash with Hungary. But there is still cause for concern across aspects of this team, not least with a malfunctioning attack despite the potential on offer to Heimir Hallgrimsson. And midfield remains an issue, even though Hallgrimsson addressed it this month with a smattering of bigger, more imposing players added into the was no coincidence, according to Hallgrimsson, after handing debuts to both Finn and Phillips over the two games. Clearly, Finn is further down the pecking order as he was only introduced in the 88th minute against Luxembourg but it was good to finally have a look at the Reims and raised in the Spanish capital Madrid, his late father was from Mayo and his mother is French-Cameroonian with Finn eligible to play for all four countries. But the 21-year-old - who played at Real Madrid's academy as a kid - insists he only wanted to represent Luxembourg, softly-spoken Finn said: 'My dad is from Ireland, also my grandfather and when I was young every summer I went to Ballyhaunis. I had that connection when I was young, it really mattered. I am a Mayo man. It was nice, growing up it was so different from Madrid, where I lived. Those summers were really great, with my family, we had a great time, great days. I think my dad would be really proud.' Finn, who plays for French side Reims having been previously with Getafe in La Liga, continued: 'I feel good, but I'm a bit disappointed with the result. It was not the way I wanted to make my debut but I will just keep working and continue on this way. The manager just told me I had to get the tactics, how the team works and I think I'm catching the way the team plays.'We still have a bit of work to do but I'm happy. The experience was good, the group has a lot of quality, and if we can continue this way I think we can do good things.' Finn's hopes of a recall in September for the Hungary and Armenia qualifiers won't rest on his seven-minute run out at Stade de Luxembourg. Instead, that will hinge on how he handled himself behind the scenes over the week and how he performed on the training Monday's open training session, he was partnered with late call-up Bosun Lawal in midfield and Lawal was the more dominant of the two. The Stoke City man only played seven league games this season due to a back injury but is well liked by Ireland's management team, from his time with the Under-21s. If he is fit and firing by September, he will rival Finn and Phillips all the way for inclusion, with the likes of Josh Cullen and Finn Azaz nailed on to travelled out to France at the start of May to meet Finn and to sound him out on his international intentions, considering he could play for other nations. But Finn only had eyes for Ireland and wanted to seize this June opportunity, even though it came on the back of a difficult club were relegated from the French top flight and they also lost the French Cup final, smashed 3-0 by PSG with Finn coming on as a sub.'At the beginning it was not easy (moving from Spain to France), I was alone as my family stayed in Madrid. But in the end the club made things really easy so I adapted quickly and the culture is nice.'But it was a difficult moment to end the season like that, but to come here is a bit of a distraction from the club. I had some great days and now I can rest and come back.'The fear for Finn is that playing in French football's second tier next season will mean he is out of sight, out of mind. The flip side is he could play more he hopes that Hallgrimsson's flying visit last month counts for something and said: 'It's always good that the coach makes the effort to go and see you, to speak with me.'
