Des Smyth moved into contention at the halfway mark of the US Senior Open after he carded a second round 69 to lie three shots of the pace at Whistling Straits.

Smyth was in a group of five players tied for second place on five under par after sinking an eagle and four birdies to offset three bogeys and follow up an opening round of 70 with a three-under-par effort.

The 54-year-old was joined by Loren Roberts (69), Vicente Fernandez (70), Lonnie Nielsen (71), who won last week's Commerce Bank Championship and two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, who overcome a double-bogey on the 10th with seven birdies in his round of 67. The quintet are chasing leader Tom Watson, who stormed to eight under par with a round of 66 that featured eight birdies, including four in a row from the 14th, before a bogey at the 18th brought the 57year-old back towards the chasing pack.

KURTEN BAGS WINNING ROUND IN GERMANY

Always in contention during the first few days of Germany's fivestar Aachen show, Ireland's Jessica Kurten broke through yesterday with a narrow win on her 13-year-old mare Quibell.

Only .08 of a second separated the Antrim-born rider from German runner-up Ludger Beerbaum in the Winning Round competition, where the final outing is against the clock, but it was enough to nett Kurten ?16,500, which brings her total prize winnings at Aachen to over ?42,000, with the big Grand Prix prize still up for grabs today.

WOODS WANTS FAIRER SET-UP AT CARNOUSTIE

Tiger Woods expects to see a fairer Carnoustie when he starts his bid for a third successive British Open title on Thursday week.

"I think they probably learned a lesson, " said the world number one when asked about the Open after his second-round 66 in the AT&T National in Maryland. Woods finished seventh on the Scottish links in 1999, but was 10 over par.

"It was hard. It was really hard. I've never played a golf course as hard as that golf course was set up - and as unfair as it was set up as well.

"I remember number six, stepping off the fairway nine yards wide in a lay-up area. That's not a real big lay-up area when you have to hit a four iron. I think it's a great golf course. I played two Scottish Opens there (1995 and 1996) and I thought it was one of the best golf courses I've ever played. Lo and behold, we come back in 99 and it was not that way any more."

BROWNE CONTINUES HIS RECOVERY IN FRANCE

Dubliner Stephen Browne continued his recovery operation following his opening score of six over par with a third round 67 at the AGF Allianz Open des Volcans-Challenge de France.

The Dubliner was 89th after the first round but has recovered well to climb to a share of 14th on three over 216 with 18 holes to play. Michael McGeady is in 26th place (six over) after a third round of level par 71. New Zealander Gareth Paddison leads on 11 under.

MADRID MARKETING MEN GOING TO MISS BECKHAM

Real Madrid made more than ?440 million during David Beckham's four years at the club, according to marketing director Jose Sanchez.

The former England captain, who is set to make his debut for new club LA Galaxy in the USA later this month, moved to Spain in a ?7million transfer from Manchester United in 2003.

However, Madrid reportedly sold one million shirts within the first six months of Beckham's arrival and the money continued to roll in over the course of his contract at the Bernabeu. "In four years that Beckham played in Madrid we have generated more than ?440 million in marketing and commercial activities, " Sanchez said. "In that time, profits from merchandising increased by 137 per cent."

FAB' WILL STAY ON - AS LONG AS WENGER DOES

Cesc Fabregas' agent has claimed the Spain midfielder would have considered leaving Arsenal had manager Arsene Wenger quit the Emirates Stadium at the end of last season. Fabregas (20) has been linked with a move to either former club Barcelona or Real Madrid, with the rumours intensifying following Thierry Henry's departure for the Nou Camp. But Joseba Diaz believes Fabregas will remain at Arsenal - as long as Wenger, who has also been linked with Barca and Madrid, is in charge. "Cesc has not considered a move away from Arsenal and will start training with them next week, " Diaz told Spanish newspaper AS.

"Had Arsene Wenger left Arsenal, however, it would have been a completely different story because he is Cesc's football mentor."

MIXED SUCCESS FOR IRISH AT HENLEY REACH

Temperatures improved and the wind dropped at the fourth day of the Henley Royal Regatta, but times remained from 30 to 50 seconds slower than at the same stage last year due to conditions at Henley Reach. There were only Irish participants for English clubs yesterday, and with mixed success.

Robert Kennedy (formerly Portora) emerged from a tremendous struggle against 1829 Boat Club to set up a final against the winners of the other semi of York City (stroked by former UCC oarman Dave Heffernan) and Leander Club (stroked by former Methodist schoolboy Roger Ewing), so a guaranteed Irish success in the Britannia Cup, then. Alan Campbell (formerly Coleraine) has a difficult final against the reigning holder of the Diamond Sculls and World Champion Mahe Drysdale from New Zealand, but a battle royal is promised after Drysdale defeated the reigning World Silver Medallist, Marcel Hacker in the semi-final.

US-BASED DUO ENJOY ROAD, CRITERIUM WINS It has been a good week for the American-based David O'Loughlin and Ciaran Power of the Navigators Insurance team.

Last Sunday O'Loughlin triumphed in the National Road Championships and Power now is the new National Criterium Champion after his triumph in Killarney.

"Yes, it makes up for the disappointment of not succeeding in the 'Road', but this is a bonus for me. In the USA there are quite a number of criterium events. It will be a plus for my team Naviagators that I'll be wearing the distinctive jersey in these events which are very popular in America, " said Power.

In the criterium there was a great turnout, despite the weather, and the crowds were treated to fast racing on the 650 metre circuit. The crashes happened at the three corners and this contributed to third man home Aidan Crowley of MyHome. ie/BDCB. He was in the lead group, but crashed out, but he still got up to be third behind his team mate Brian Kenneally who could not match Power in the sprint for the championship.