Justin Rose has a four-stroke lead in the US Masters, after he posted a stunning opening round of 65 on a difficult day of scoring at Augusta National. Rose had got off to a slow start and was two over par through seven holes, but an eagle on the eighth sparked something inside the 2013 US Open winner, and a further seven birdies moved him to seven under par and earned him an imposing early lead in the year's first Major. Only 12 of the field are under par after a tough first round, and among them is Ireland's Shane Lowry who produced a very tidy 71 to leave himself firmly in the mix. With the greens fast and firm at Augusta many big names struggled however, including Rory McIlroy, whose opening 76 already leaves his hopes of a maiden Masters win in the balance. He wasn't alone, with Bryson DeChambeau also signing for a 76 and defending champion Dustin Johnson a 74, with conditions a world away from when he put on the green jacket last November. Today Lowry tees off at 2.36pm in his second round with McIlroy off at 6.48pm - you can follow all of the action via our liveblog from around 2pm.
Manchester United have one foot in the semi-finals of the Europa League, after they were convincing 2-0 winners away to Spanish side Granada last night. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in Andalusia with a well taken goal just after the half hour mark - his 20th of the season. Bruno Fernandes then doubled United's lead with a 90th minute penalty, giving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side an imposing lead to take back to Old Trafford next week. Meanwhile Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the first leg of their tie with Slavia Prague. Nicolas Pepe looked to have given the Gunners a narrow victory in the 86th minute but Tomas Holes equalised in the 94th minute to hand the Czech side the advantage ahead of next Thursday's second leg. There is one Premier League fixture tonight, with Fulham welcoming Wolves to Craven Cottage (8pm).
Dublin have accepted a 12-week ban handed to manager Dessie O'Farrell from the GAA, after the All-Ireland champions breached Covid-19 restrictions by holding an early morning outdoor training session last week. While Dublin had already suspended Farrell for 12 weeks themselves, the GAA's sanction will now begin as of yesterday, while the Dubs will also be stripped of home advantage in a league match. Monaghan GAA have also suspended their manager Séamus McEnaney after the county's footballers were recorded having a training session in Corduff, with the GAA's management committee likely to reimpose their own sanction next week. Meanwhile the GAA unveiled their intercounty programme for 2021 yesterday, with a return to training on April 19th and fixtures beginning on May 9th in the top two hurling divisions, with football to follow a week later.
In his column this morning Johnny Watterson has looked at the plight of YMCA Cricket Club, who could be set to lose their home on Claremont Road in Sandymount, Dublin. Owners of the land, the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), have said they will sell it to the highest bidder - something which would end the club's more than 100-year association with their ground. He writes: "Uncaring, the wrong impression? Please. The decision to replace green space and a thriving club with concrete was coldly commercial and no more than a latter-day eviction, one callously delivered with little notice. The Young Christians are not a publicly accountable body. Nothing can be done about that."
Vera Pauw's Ireland fell to a narrow defeat on their return to action yesterday evening, with Denmark running out 1-0 winners in a friendly in Tallaght. Everton winger Nicoline Sorenson's ninth-minute effort proved enough for the visitors as Ireland fell to a fourth-consecutive defeat. Afterwards, Pauw was frustrated but positive: "Every game, we're getting better and I said to our players that they don't know how good they are. I don't think we lack belief; it's just experience. They have the heart and belief and I didn't feel fear but somewhere deep inside." Elsewhere there are two League of Ireland fixtures tonight, with St Pat's at home to Derry (5.45pm) and Dundalk at home to Bohemians (7.45pm).
And veteran Leinster lock Scott Fardy has refused to be moved on whether or not he will retire at the end of the season. The 37-year-old former Wallaby is likely to be in Leo Cullen's matchday 23 for tomorrow's Champions Cup clash with Exeter - that team should be announced at 12pm today.
