Defending champion Rory McIlroy overcame early nerves to shoot a five-under-par 67 and share the early Masters lead with Sam Burns at Augusta National.
Overcoming first-tee jitters
The defending champion admitted his right hand visibly shook as he placed his tee in the ground on Thursday morning.
However, he welcomed the familiar anxiety during his first competitive round at Augusta since securing his career Grand Slam last year.
“I was anxious just like I always am. I think it would be worrisome if I didn’t feel that way because it definitely still means something to me.”
The Northern Irishman noted that retaining such nerves is essential for producing top-tier golf under immense pressure.
Finding a way to score
Despite hitting only five of 14 fairways, he managed his way around the iconic Georgia course with impressive patience.
This resilience resulted in his lowest opening round at the prestigious tournament since 2011.
“I didn’t hit the ball very well the first seven holes, and sometimes here that would lead me to get tentative.”
Instead of panicking, he trusted his swing and eventually found a rhythm that yielded a five-under-par finish.
His recovery was highlighted by crucial birdies on the 13th and 15th holes, salvaging scores even after driving into the famous pine trees.
The Green Jacket effect
A strategic shift also played a vital role in his strong start to the major championship.
Opting for a driver rather than a three-wood on the traditionally uncomfortable seventh, 14th, and 17th holes, he played that trio in one under par.
Ultimately, the comfort of knowing he is already an Augusta champion allowed him to play with newfound freedom.
“I think it’s easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the Champions Locker Room and put my green jacket on.”
Ireland’s Shane Lowry produced a moment of magic on day one of The Masters, holing out from 99 yards to secure a spectacular eagle on the par-five 13th hole at Augusta National.
The sublime wedge shot arrived at the iconic par-five, instantly propelling the 2019 Open champion up the early leaderboard.
After laying up with his second shot, the Irishman judged his approach to perfection as the ball spun sharply back into the cup.
Navigating Amen Corner
The 13th hole, traditionally the final test of Augusta’s treacherous Amen Corner, frequently offers scoring opportunities for those brave enough to attack the pins.
However, finding the bottom of the cup from the fairway requires a masterful display of distance control and spin regulation.
The Clara native has often spoken of his affection for the season’s first major championship, despite the unique challenges presented by the Georgia layout.
Chasing Major Glory
Securing an eagle so early in the tournament provides a vital injection of momentum as players jockey for positioning.
The 37-year-old will be hoping this stunning highlight acts as the catalyst for a sustained challenge over the coming days.
Augusta’s notoriously fast greens demand absolute precision, a quality the Ryder Cup star demonstrated flawlessly from the fairway.
The first batch of tickets for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games has sparked outrage among local residents after seats priced at over $5,000 appeared during a presale event plagued by technical errors.
Despite organizers marketing the upcoming summer spectacle as the most accessible in history, many fans discovered that popular sessions were either completely sold out or astronomically expensive.
Prospective buyers who logged on for their assigned time slots this week were met with opening ceremony tickets ranging from $329 to a staggering $5,519.
Glitches compound ticketing frustration
Technical difficulties further alienated residents attempting to secure early entry to the much-anticipated global event.
Numerous users reported being unexpectedly ejected from the virtual queue or facing access denial messages for several hours.
By the time many locals successfully navigated the portal, the remaining inventory was severely limited and predominantly consisted of premium-priced options.
“I was shocked. Even climbing was all gone.”
Local resident Andie Pangan
Stark contrast with previous Games
The steep financial barrier has drawn immediate and unfavorable comparisons to recent international sporting showcases.
During the Paris 2024 Games, the most expensive passes for highly sought-after swimming finals were firmly capped at approximately $1,050.
The Californian host city, which previously staged the event in 1984, had promised a community-inclusive approach to the 2028 edition.
While officials maintain that 75 percent of all admissions will ultimately cost under $400, the reality of the initial purchasing window painted a markedly different picture.
“I don’t know how they can afford it. It’s a missed opportunity for the Olympics and for the area.”
Agoura Hills resident Harris Auerbach
Organizers defend controversial fees
The organizing committee has also faced significant criticism regarding a supplementary 24 percent service fee automatically applied to each transaction.
Representatives for the upcoming tournament dismissed the technical glitches as isolated incidents that were swiftly resolved.
They defended the substantial processing surcharges as standard industry practice for live events within the United States market.
These exorbitant pricing structures mirror a broader trend in American sports, where entry to premier domestic fixtures like the Super Bowl regularly demands thousands of dollars.
England fly-half Fin Smith returns from concussion as Northampton Saints make six changes to face Bath in Friday’s Champions Cup quarter-final at the Rec.
Scrum-half Alex Mitchell is named among the replacements after recovering from a hamstring injury that curtailed his Six Nations campaign.
Archie McParland starts in the number nine jersey alongside the returning playmaker, while Rory Hutchinson joins Fraser Dingwall in midfield.
Furbank leads reshuffled Saints side
Full-back George Furbank, whose end-of-season departure to Harlequins was announced on Wednesday, will captain the visitors.
The forward pack sees Curtis Langdon and Cleopas Kundiona selected in the front row.
Open-side flanker Tom Pearson is also drafted in to complete a new-look back row alongside Josh Kemeny and Henry Pollock.
Bath opt for power on the bench
The hosts have also rotated their starting XV heavily, with England pair Sam Underhill and Miles Reid joining Guy Pepper in the back row.
Head coach Johann van Graan has named a formidable six-two split of forwards and backs on the bench, bringing significant power in reserve through players like Alfie Barbeary and Thomas du Toit.
In the backline, Cameron Redpath replaces Max Ojomoh at centre, while Henry Arundell shifts to the right wing to accommodate Will Muir.
Recent history favours the visitors
The Premiership’s top two sides come into this knockout fixture following high-scoring victories in the previous round.
Phil Dowson’s men secured a thrilling 49-41 triumph over Castres last week, while the Somerset outfit overcame domestic rivals Saracens 31-22.
The East Midlands club triumphed 41-21 when these heavyweights last met in December, heavily aided by a Tommy Freeman hat-trick.
“We took quite a bit of learning a few months ago when we played Northampton here,” said Bath head coach Johann van Graan.
“It’s a completely different game and psychological remit, but we’ll try to replicate the things that went well that day,” added Saints boss Phil Dowson.
The victors of this tie will face either cup holders Bordeaux or six-time champions Toulouse in next month’s semi-finals.
Brazil seamer Laura Cardoso has become the first player in history to take nine wickets in a Twenty20 international during a remarkable victory over Lesotho.
The 21-year-old recorded astonishing figures of nine wickets for just four runs in three overs at the Kalahari Women’s tournament in Gaborone.
Chasing a formidable target of 203, the African nation were completely dismantled and bowled out for a mere 13 runs in 6.2 overs.
Unprecedented international bowling figures
The history-making spell surpasses the previous overall T20 record held by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, who claimed eight wickets against Myanmar in a men’s fixture in 2025.
In women’s cricket, the South American bowler eclipsed the benchmark set by Indonesia’s Rohmalia Rohmalia, who took seven wickets without conceding a run against Mongolia in 2024.
The fast bowler initiated her devastating run of dismissals by claiming five wickets in five consecutive deliveries across her first two overs.
Denied a perfect ten-wicket haul
She left her opposition reeling at eight for five before picking up another two wickets to complete a second consecutive maiden over.
Two further dismissals followed in her third over as the national side closed in on a comprehensive triumph.
However, the prospect of a perfect ten-wicket haul eluded the Brazilian starlet when teammate Marianne Artur secured the final breakthrough.
Artur had Lindiwe Polaki stumped to conclude the match, sealing a dominant result that keeps the squad unbeaten after five games in Botswana.
Holly Aitchison will start at fly-half as England face Ireland in their Women’s Six Nations opener at Twickenham, marking the team’s first match since winning the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
John Mitchell’s side return to the scene of their September triumph in front of an expected crowd of over 75,000 at Allianz Stadium.
Uncapped 19-year-old Loughborough Lightning forward Haineala Lutui is named on the bench and could make her international debut.
Rowland and Jones form new midfield partnership
Versatile back Helena Rowland lines up alongside new captain Meg Jones in the centre following an injury to Tatyana Heard.
On the wing, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald replaces the retired Abby Dow and is set to face her wife, Irish hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald.
A major opportunity awaits 22-year-old Lilli Ives Campion in the second row.
The highly-rated lock steps in for pregnant trio Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan.
Mitchell looks to build on World Cup legacy
The head coach has largely stuck with his world-conquering squad, though selecting Aitchison over Zoe Harrison hints at a desire for greater attacking expansion.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to be returning to Allianz Stadium in front of our fans for the first time since the 2025 Rugby World Cup final.
John Mitchell
The players relish, and absolutely deserve, the opportunity to perform in front of record crowds, but they also understand the responsibility that comes with that stage.
John Mitchell
Hooker Connie Powell returns to the matchday squad among the replacements, having missed out on selection for last year’s global tournament.
Veteran flanker Marlie Packer is omitted from the matchday 23 entirely.
Perry set to face former teammates
For the visitors, flanker Erin King returns from injury to captain a relatively settled lineup named by head coach Scott Bemand.
Dannah O’Brien retains the number 10 shirt as the away side look to cause an upset in London.
Prop Ellena Perry will make her first tournament appearance for the girls in green after previously winning 11 caps for the Red Roses prior to switching allegiance.
Eilis Cahill is also among the potential debutants on the bench for the visiting team.
Tiger Woods has been officially charged with driving under the influence following a two-vehicle rollover crash in Florida last month.
The 15-time major champion faces a potential prison sentence and fines if convicted of the charges stemming from the March 27 incident near his Jupiter Island home.
Police confirmed the golfing icon was driving a Range Rover that overturned after striking a trailer towed by a pickup truck.
Details of the Florida collision
Local sheriff John Budensiek stated the American was travelling at an unsafe speed when he attempted a late overtaking manoeuvre.
The collision caused his vehicle to roll onto its side, preventing the other driver from fully exiting the roadway.
Following the crash, the former world number one was detained for a mandatory eight-hour period before a close friend posted his bail.
Potential legal consequences
Authorities formally charged him on Wednesday with a DUI and refusing to submit to a chemical or physical test of his breath or urine.
Under state law, a first-time DUI conviction carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000.
Despite a previous arrest in 2017 on suspicion of drink-driving, he avoided a custodial sentence at the time by pleading guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving and completing a diversion programme.
Prison time considered unlikely
Legal experts suggest that while the charges are severe, a custodial sentence remains highly improbable for the 50-year-old.
“Do I think he’s going to be facing jail time? It’s probably unlikely because he’s Tiger Woods,” Palm Beach criminal defence lawyer Michelle Suskauer told the New York Post.
“What is a reasonable sentence in this case, probably probation.”
In the meantime, a Florida judge has granted the veteran athlete permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, with his private jet recently tracked arriving in Zurich.
Champion two-year-old and major 2,000 Guineas contender Gewan has died after suffering a fatal accident during a morning gallop at Kempton on Thursday.
The Dewhurst Stakes winner was undertaking a routine racecourse exercise under jockey James Doyle when the tragic incident occurred.
Veterinary staff attended to the top-rated juvenile immediately on the all-weather track, but the animal sadly could not be saved.
Doyle fortunately escaped the distressing incident without sustaining any physical injuries.
A devastating loss for European racing
Trained by Andrew Balding, the promising colt had recently topped the European rankings following a stellar, Group 1-winning campaign last year.
He was widely considered one of the foremost hopes for the first Classic of the upcoming season, entering the betting markets as third favourite at a short price of 13-2.
The prized thoroughbred was being prepared to represent Forz Europe, a prominent syndicate operating under major owner Zhang Yuesheng’s global racing umbrella.
Balding pays tribute to a brilliant talent
In an emotional statement, the Kingsclere handler expressed profound sadness over the unexpected loss of his stable star.
“It is with extreme sadness that we report that Gewan, champion two-year-old of 2025, has suffered a fatal accident whilst having a racecourse gallop this morning,” Balding said.
“The vets were on site and attended to the horse immediately but sadly he could not be saved.”
“Our thoughts are with Mr Zhang and his family who owned Gewan, James Doyle who was riding the horse and is luckily uninjured and Marie Perrault who has looked after the horse since he arrived at Kingsclere and rides him every day.”
The veteran trainer reflected on the horse’s most famous triumph, noting the immense anticipation surrounding his three-year-old career.
“We will never forget his brilliance when taking the Dewhurst in such impressive style and we were so looking forward to seeing what he could achieve.”
“Racing is full of high days and low days and unfortunately this is very much one of the latter.”