Rory McIlroy says he is feeling more confident than at any time since 2016 as he bids to end his wretched run at the US Open.

Rory McIlroy made a healthy start to the US Open on Thursday night as he shot up the leaderboard with a three-under par round of 68. 

DEREK LAWRENSON AT PEBBLE BEACH: One month to go until the biggest sporting event the province has seen, and the boys from Northern Ireland are building up a head of steam.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER AT PEBBLE BEACH: Is it possible to win a major golf tournament without actually playing well? Justin Rose appears determined to find out.

Ragged Roger Federer recovered from dropping the first set of his US Open campaign to squeeze past Indian qualifier Sumit Nagal. Federer made 19 unforced errors during the opening set in New York.

Second-seeded Rafael Nadal looked dominant in his first-round U.S. Open match, easily defeating Australian John Millman 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Roger Federer's stuttering start at the US Open continued as he suffered a second scare in as many rounds before beating Damir Dzumhur 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: The British No 2 was good enough to take advantage of an error-strewn performance from Pouille to come through 6-4, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 over a steaming hot lunchtime.

The defending champion sparked fears that he may have to pull out of the tournament after delaying a practice session, but Djokovic showed no obvious discomfort in a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Kudla.

The Vogue editor-in-chief, 69, appeared on day five of the US Open Friday. She attended Federer's match against Great Britain's Dan Evans.

Rafael Nadal moved ominously into the last 16 at the US Open with a straight-sets win over Chung Hyeon.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: If Dan Evans thought he had it hard against the suddenly revitalised Roger Federer then it was even worse for unfortunate Belgian No 1 David Goffin.

Golfer Tiger Woods was on hand with girlfriend Erica Herman and his children in New York on Monday to see Rafael Nadal come back and beat Marin Cilic to advance to the US Open quarterfinal.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: The watching Tiger Woods could scarcely contain his excitement as Rafael Nadal moved ominously towards yet another Grand Slam final.

MIKE DICKSON AT FLUSHING MEADOWS: Roger Federer may have fancied his chances of taking another Grand Slam title - but then along came the player known as Baby Fed.

The Vogue editor-in-chief, 69, cheered Federer on as he was defeated by Bulargia's Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday. She wore a red and black polka dot dress with heeled sandals and sunglasses.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Two days before another dramatic US Open exit, Roger Federer was talking up the chances of him being competitive in the Grand Slams into his forties.

Rafael Nadal is taking nothing for granted as he bids to close in on Roger Federer's grand-slam record. Nadal is chasing a fourth US Open title which would move him to within one major win.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal survived an opening set scare to power his way through to a 27th Grand Slam final, defeating Matteo Berrettini in straight sets.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Men's tennis will get a taste both of its glorious recent past and uncertain future in Sunday's final of the US Open.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Nadal denied Medvedev one of the greatest comebacks when he finally forged a 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 victory that took a breathless four hours and 51 minutes.

Nadal won his 19th major title in dramatic fashion after holding off a remarkable comeback from Russian Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's US Open final - he is now one off Roger Federer's record.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Konta is relishing big tournaments like never before this year, and she clocked her twelfth victory in the Grand Slams this season by reaching the US Open third round.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Jo Konta emerged again as the last surviving British player when she powered into the last 16 of the US Open with a 6-2, 6-3 win over China's Shuai Zhang.

The actor, 38, looked enthralled as he watched Johanna Konta of Great Britain play against Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic on Sunday.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Hardly anyone walks tightrope of deciding sets as well as Jo Konta this year, and she successfully did so once again to make the last eight of the US Open.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Words with negative connotations are out when it comes to the work she does with Dimitri Zavialoff. The hairdryer is strictly confined to the hotel room.

He's been taking advantage of his temporary American residency by enjoying the US Open. 

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: This time there were no recriminations or spats with the media, just the numbing disappointment of another missed opportunity.

She's one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, known for her films including Pitch Perfect and The Hustle.

Veteran employee Gilbert Serna, 36, and loyal customer Adria Gonzalez, 37, have been credited with saving dozens of lives by directing people to safety during the massacre on Saturday.

The return of Serena Williams to the US Open promises to be barely less dramatic than her departure from it last year. She now finds herself with a first-round tie against Maria Sharapova.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: The umpire at the centre of last year's US Open final storm involving Serena Williams storm has been formally told he will be kept away from her matches.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: According to her coach, Serena Williams's meltdown during her defeat in last year's US Open final was 'the best moment in tennis for the last ten years.'

Alec and Hilaria Baldwin enjoyed each other's company while embracing and kissing court side at the 2019 US Open in New York as they watched Serena Williams take on Maria Sharapova.

The celebrity couple were snapped in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York.

The US Open is set to become the third American major to be postponed and will now be played in early September, according to a report in the New York Post.

Bianca Andreescu has revealed that she received a message from Drake after winning the US Open. 19-year-old Andreescu defeated Serena Williams in the final last weekend.

Not long now until major golf tournament US Open 2019 starts now. Sportmail provide you with all you need to know for the golf tournament including date, tee times and channel plus course, odds and more.

US Open 2019 gets underway this week. Sportmail provides you with all the US Open tee times for the first and second round at Pebble Beach, California.

Former champion Jordan Spieth arrived at this week's US Open confident that his struggles on the course are firmly behind him after a string of three consecutive top-10 finishes.

The third round of the US Open takes place at Pebble Beach in California on Saturday. Here are all the tee times and pairings as the main contenders look to make their move.

The US Open reaches it climax at Pebble Beach in California on Sunday. England's Justin Rose sits just one shot off the lead held by American Gary Woodland heading into the final day.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Serena Williams's return to the Arthur Ashe Stadium proved a stunning contrast to her last appearance she imperiously crushed old foe Maria Sharapova.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka fought her way into the second round of the US Open with victory over Anna Blinkova.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: The mantle of being British No 1 has never rested easily on the shoulders of Kyle Edmund, and he may be relieved of that pressure fairly soon.

The 15-year-old recovered from losing the first set 6-3 to claim the next two 6-2, 7-5 against a player 68 places higher up in the rankings.

Vanessa Williams and Martha Stewart were among the star-studded crowd to watch Serena Williams steamroll to victory and advance to US Open Semi-Finals on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old comedian looked cute in a plaid dress as she joined her husband Chris Fischer, 39, for the New York outing.

Serena Williams took a lighter approach to her preparations for the US Open with a cartwheel over her sister Venus. She will play Maria Sharapova in the first round at Flushing Meadows.