Holywood ace is Golfer of Month Collingwood: England must raise their game Jankovic is out of this world to crush Venus

golf: Rory McIlroy's first US Tour victory, achieved with closing rounds of 66 and 62 at Quail Hollow, has earned him the European Tour's Golfer of the Month award for April.

Although the tournament ended on May 2, two days before his 21st birthday, it is the start date that made him eligible for the award. He said: "There is no better feeling in the world than to go out and beat such a high quality field over such a good golf course."

Alonso hopes to avoid further pain in Spain

FORMULA 1: Fernando Alonso is hoping to ride to a rare home victory on Sunday on a tidal wave of emotion.

In 10 attempts in front of his adoring fans -- eight Spanish Grands Prix at Barcelona and two European Grands Prix in Valencia -- Alonso has managed just one victory, back in 2006 with Renault. Now with Ferrari, Alonso will start as one of the favourites at the Circuit de Catalunya. "This race has always been a great one for me in terms of emotions and results," said Alonso, currently lying third in the title race 11 points behind reigning champion and leader Jenson Button.

Collingwood: England must raise their game

TENNIS: Paul Collingwood gave his England team a 'can do better' report after they started their World Twenty20 Super Eight campaign with a six-wicket win over champions Pakistan.

Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten 73 ensured England completed the job safely at Kensington Oval yesterday, after Pakistan had mustered only a below-par 147 for nine on a pitch of decent pace. Collingwood described Pietersen's batting as "exceptional" but conceded England have room to raise their game in other areas.

Jankovic is out of this world to crush Venus

TENNIS: Jelena Jankovic dashed hopes of an all-Williams semi-final at the WTA Internazionali BNL d'Italia by stunning Venus 6-0 6-1 in Rome. The 25-year-old Serbian will next face Serena Williams on the Italian clay.

BOXING: Recently crowned World Youth champion Joe Ward will be aiming for further glory at the National Youth Championships, which begin at the National Stadium in Dublin this evening (6.0).

NBA: Orlando 112 Atlanta 98 (Orlando lead the best-of-seven series 2-0)

BASEBALL: Philadelphia 7 St Louis 2, Washington 3 Atlanta 2, Pittsburgh 11 Chicago Cubs 1, Boston 11 LA Angels 6, San Francisco 6 Florida 3, Arizona 6 Houston 3, Texas 13 Kansas City 12, Chicago White Sox 0 Toronto 2, Minnesota 0 Baltimore 2