Irish trio have mountain to climb

DID anybody else in the field fail to make a birdie was the plaintive plea of Paul McGinley as he walked disconsolately off the Pinehurst course last night.

He shot a bitterly disappointing six over par 76 in the first round of the US Open.

And it was an even worse day for the major Irish hope Pádraig Harrington who slumped to a 77, leaving Graeme McDowell best of our three strong Irish challenge on four over.