Wyndham Clark holds a commanding four-stroke lead heading into the weekend of the 126th US Open after setting a 36-hole scoring record at Shinnecock Hills.
The 2023 champion capitalised on benign early conditions in New York to card a one-under-par 69 on Friday, reaching seven under for the tournament.
That halfway total eclipses previous scoring marks set at the historic Southampton venue, firmly establishing the American as the man to catch.
Several major winners remain within striking distance, including Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy who sits seven shots adrift after a second-round 71.
Chasing redemption after Oakmont controversy
The frontrunner arrives at the weekend seeking not only a second major title, but also a measure of public redemption.
During the previous US Open at Oakmont Country Club, he caused outrage by severely damaging century-old locker room facilities after missing the cut.
The subsequent fallout resulted in a temporary ban from the club, mandatory anger management counselling and a significant charitable donation.
“I’ve gotten a lot of grief since last year, rightfully so,” Clark admitted.
“The thing that’s unfortunate is that’s not who I am. I’m hoping I can win back the fans that I had or some new fans because it was a terrible incident.”
Return to form under new guidance
Despite the intense public scrutiny, the world-class ball-striker has recently enjoyed a spectacular resurgence following a year-long slump.
Working alongside new swing coach Pat Coyner, he secured victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May before claiming top-15 finishes at both the Memorial Tournament and Canadian Open.
His precise iron play continued during Thursday’s opening round, where he gained nearly three strokes on the field with his approach shots.
While his putting statistics cooled slightly during the second round, the former Los Angeles Country Club winner remains fiercely optimistic about his game.
“Momentum is a huge thing in golf, and I feel like I have it right now,” he said.
McIlroy remains defiant despite deficit
History suggests that Shinnecock’s notoriously punishing weekend setup could quickly erode any existing leaderboard advantage.
When Retief Goosen claimed the US Open trophy here in 2004, the South African required a winning score of just four under par.
Such demanding conditions provide a glimmer of hope for the chasing pack, particularly for a confident McIlroy.
“If there’s a course where you feel like you still have a chance if you’re seven back going into the weekend like I am, it’s definitely this one,” stated the four-time major winner.
Leinster have retained their United Rugby Championship title in emphatic style by defeating the Bulls 36-7 at Croke Park to secure back-to-back league crowns.
The resounding victory provides much-needed solace for the Irish province following their heartbreaking European Champions Cup final defeat to Bordeaux-Begles last month.
Leo Cullen’s men dominated the opening period entirely, racing into a commanding 22-0 halftime lead.
Pretoria side punished for early indiscipline
The visitors found themselves reduced to 14 players within the opening two minutes when Canan Moodie was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.
Tommy O’Brien ruthlessly capitalised on the numerical advantage by pouncing on a wayward pass from Handre Pollard to sprint clear for the opening try.
A beautifully orchestrated backline move soon resulted in a second touchdown as Rieko Ioane stepped inside the covering defence to dive over in the corner.
The South African outfit suffered another severe setback when veteran fullback Willie le Roux received a yellow card for a second deliberate knock-on offence.
Ruthless finishing ends the contest
Jack Conan exploited the fractured defensive line by barging over from close range to register a third try before the interval.
Sam Prendergast then extended the insurmountable advantage further by slotting a straightforward penalty and darting over for a try of his own shortly after the restart.
Although Moodie managed to cross the whitewash to register a consolation score for the beleaguered tourists, Harry Byrne added a fifth try to seal the rout.
Historic milestone secured in Dublin
The hosts have now claimed the league championship 10 times across its various iterations.
They also become the first franchise to successfully defend the crown since the competition was rebranded in 2021.
Conversely, the heavy defeat condemns the visiting side to their fourth final loss in the past five tournament campaigns.
British double Olympic relay medallist Asha Philip has announced her retirement from athletics at the age of 35 following a highly decorated 19-year career.
The former sprinter was a crucial component of the Great Britain 4x100m relay quartet that secured bronze medals at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.
Her departure concludes an inspiring journey in track and field, highlighted by a remarkable recovery from a devastating knee injury sustained during a gymnastics competition in 2007.
Overcoming adversity to reach the podium
That severe setback threatened to permanently derail her sporting ambitions just months after she had made history on the global stage.
At merely 16 years old, the lightning-fast athlete had become the first British woman to capture a global 100m title in any age group by triumphing at the 2007 World Youth Championships.
Reflecting on a long and successful tenure on the track, the 35-year-old expressed deep appreciation for her experiences within the sport.
“Sport has been a way of life and I am so grateful for everything it has given me,” said Philip.
A legacy of international relay success
“My true resilience showed after a serious knee injury in 2007 threatened my sporting career,” she continued.
“To be able to come back from that challenging period and become a two-time Olympic medallist, a three-time world medallist, alongside multiple European, Commonwealth and British gold medals, has been the greatest achievement of my life.”
Beyond her Olympic triumphs, the esteemed veteran’s extensive medal haul includes two silvers and one bronze from the World Athletics Championships in the 4x100m event.
The London-born star also steps away from the track as a formidable four-time European champion and a two-time Commonwealth champion, cementing her enduring status as a linchpin of British sprinting.
Former Wales international George North will conclude his professional rugby career by representing the Barbarians against his home country at Twickenham on Saturday, 27 June.
The 34-year-old announced his impending retirement in April and will make his debut for the famous invitational side to cap off a glittering playing history.
He is set to join the Baa-Baas squad next week following their clash with South Africa.
A fitting end for a national hero
The prolific wing called time on his international duties earlier in 2024.
During a phenomenal Test career, the powerhouse back earned 121 caps and scored 47 tries for the Welsh national side.
His international tenure included four Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams, cementing his status as a modern rugby great.
The former Scarlets, Northampton and Ospreys star also toured twice with the British and Irish Lions, playing three Tests and scoring two tries.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play for the Barbarians so to be invited now, for a game at Twickenham, against Wales is incredible.”
Twickenham double-header provides ultimate stage
Over the past two seasons, the veteran has been plying his trade in the French second tier with Provence.
His final appearance will serve as a warm-up for Wales ahead of their Nations Championship Tests against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in July.
The highly anticipated fixture forms part of a spectacular double-header, with the men’s game at 14:00 BST preceding the women’s equivalent.
North follows in the footsteps of former international team-mates Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric.
The legendary Welsh duo previously enjoyed a similar farewell appearance for the Barbarians following the 2023 World Cup.
“I have been privileged to enjoy the career I have had, and I have so many unforgettable memories from Wales and friendships to last a lifetime. So to go out against my country, with some of my friends and teammates playing is so special.”
The outgoing back added that experiencing the famous Barbarians spirit was an opportunity he simply could not turn down.
“I can’t wait to link up with the boys next week and hopefully we can do something special.”
The Middle East Professional Boxing Commission has dismissed an appeal by Rico Verhoeven regarding his controversial eleventh-round defeat to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in May.
The 37-year-old Dutchman formally protested the result after claiming referee Mark Lyson ended the contest in Egypt after the official bell had sounded.
In a ruling seen by BBC Sport, the governing body agreed that the physical wave-off occurred fractionally after the bell.
However, officials concluded this timing discrepancy had no bearing on the final outcome.
Referee prioritised fighter safety
The panel stated that Lyson acted in good faith with the paramount objective of protecting the challenger.
The official told the commission he had already seen enough to halt the bout before the round ended.
“I decided I wanted to stop the contest… I had already seen enough.”
The commission emphasised that the referee remains the sole arbiter of the contest.
They added that an official retains the unfettered right to stop a fight at any time, including between rounds.
Scorecards favoured the challenger
The kickboxing legend was on the verge of a major upset against the undefeated Ukrainian before a late surge sent him to the canvas.
Judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage read 95-95, 95-95, and 96-94 in favour of the challenger.
Despite beating the count, a follow-up flurry from the defending champion prompted the referee to step in.
Procedural error over bad faith
Official timekeeper Brad William identified a timing discrepancy regarding the final wave-off.
The panel acknowledged this evidence but ruled that a fractional delay does not constitute corruption or fraud.
Medical assessments from Dr Neil Scott confirmed the beaten fighter was stable after just his second professional boxing appearance.
Following the dismissal of his protest, the defeated heavyweight argued that fans were denied a thrilling final round.
He is now demanding an immediate rematch with the unified world champion.
New Zealand have taken firm control of the second Test against England at the Kia Oval after Glenn Phillips scored a maiden century to leave the hosts trailing by 169 runs at 222-6.
A combination of wayward bowling, squandered batting starts and a crucial dropped catch allowed the tourists to post an imposing 391 in their first innings.
Joe Root’s side delivered a disjointed performance that bore a striking and unwelcome resemblance to their struggles in Australia during the winter.
Phillips capitalises on wasteful morning
The tone for a dismal day was set during a chaotic opening hour where the hosts leaked 74 runs across just 12 overs.
Instead of utilising the new ball effectively, the home bowling attack opted for an erratic bouncer strategy that immediately surrendered the initiative.
The Blackcaps took full advantage of the indiscipline, with Phillips quickly converting his overnight score into a half-century from the second ball of the day.
He was ably supported by Kyle Jamieson, who constructed a vital knock of 41 despite being struck twice on the helmet by hostile deliveries.
Errors mount for struggling hosts
England’s frustration was compounded when Ben Duckett shelled a routine catch at deep midwicket to reprieve Jamieson.
Captain Root also raised eyebrows with several curious tactical decisions, including throwing a five-over-old ball to Jacob Bethell rather than frontline paceman Jofra Archer.
Bethell did eventually break the 87-run partnership, but Phillips pressed on with remarkable bravery and tactical awareness.
The talented all-rounder cut and carved his way to a brilliant 133-ball century in the fresh morning light.
Top order stumbles in reply
A belatedly introduced Archer removed Matt Henry with his very first delivery of the spell.
Matt Fisher then prompted the centurion to hole out to the legside sweeper in the following over to finally end the innings.
However, the damage had already been done, further highlighted by extras finishing as the second-highest contributor to the total.
The English top order subsequently failed to build meaningful partnerships, closing a chastening day still significantly adrift of the target.
World number one Scottie Scheffler insists completing the career Grand Slam at this week’s US Open is not a motivating factor, a stark contrast to the historic pressure previously felt by rival Rory McIlroy.
The American arrives at Shinnecock Hills as the overwhelming favourite to claim the major championship trophy on Sunday.
Victory in New York would guarantee him a place in golfing immortality as just the seventh player to complete the modern career Grand Slam.
Scheffler requires only the US Open to complete the four-tournament sweep following a dominant four-shot triumph at The Open last year.
Contrasting approaches to history
Despite standing on the brink of joining elite company such as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, the current world number one remains completely unfazed by the milestone.
“The Grand Slam has never been a motivating factor for me,” Scheffler said.
“I always just wanted to be the best version of myself.”
He believes professional athletes can never truly satisfy external expectations and cautions against treating major milestones as the ultimate finish line.
“The fallacy in our sport is if I win the US Open, I am going to be satisfied, I’ve won all the tournaments, and my career is essentially over because I’ve accomplished everything I want to,” he added.
McIlroy’s decade-long burden
Scheffler’s relaxed perspective highlights a significant difference in mindset compared to McIlroy, who famously spent a decade wrestling with the immense burden of completing his own Grand Slam.
The Northern Irishman finally secured his missing Green Jacket with a thrilling victory at Augusta National last year.
That triumph ended a gruelling 10-year wait that began after his first attempt to complete the prestigious sweep in 2015.
Before securing that elusive Masters title, the six-time major champion openly admitted that the historical weight played heavily on his mind.
“If I can win a Green Jacket and become just the sixth player in history to win a Grand Slam, then I would retire happy knowing I have joined an exclusive list,” McIlroy told the BBC in 2016.
He later confessed that his career would always feel incomplete without capturing all four major championships, describing it as the final missing piece of his childhood puzzle.
Now freed from that immense psychological weight, McIlroy arrives in New York seeking a second US Open crown following back-to-back Masters victories earlier this year.
Ilia Topuria has suffered orbital and nose fractures following his first professional MMA defeat against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday.
The gruelling bout for the lightweight championship was stopped by the corner between the fourth and fifth rounds.
The previously undefeated fighter had looked unstoppable following recent devastating victories over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira.
Extent of the damage revealed
Gaethje inflicted severe punishment from the opening bell, completely shutting the right eye of his opponent by the end of the first round.
Despite a spirited resurgence and a flurry of body shots in the second, the Spaniard eventually succumbed to the blistering pace set by the American.
Pablo Motos, a close confidant of the defeated star, has now clarified the severity of the injuries sustained in the Octagon.
“This morning, I was with Ilia. He has fractures in his orbital bones in his nose. They were treating his wounds and he still couldn’t open his eyes properly.”
Pimblett targets future showdown
A lengthy spell on the sidelines is now inevitable as the mixed martial artist recovers from his extensive facial trauma.
The lightweight division landscape will likely shift significantly before he is medically cleared to compete again.
English rival Paddy Pimblett wasted no time in mocking the stoppage and calling out the injured athlete.
“The only thing you had to do was beat a 38-year-old coming off of a five-round war with me. Instead, you quit on your stool like the little b**** you are.”
Pimblett is scheduled to face Benoit Saint-Denis during International Fight Week.
A victory for the outspoken contender could perfectly position him for a highly anticipated grudge match upon Topuria’s eventual return.