Rory McIlroy has playfully dismissed criticism over his recent Masters preparations as he gears up for the PGA Championship following a scouting trip to Aronimink Golf Club.
The Northern Irishman faced accusations of unfairness last month after skipping tournaments to practice at Augusta National ahead of his successful title defence.
As attention shifts to Pennsylvania for the second major of the year, the 37-year-old was quizzed on his early scouting mission.
He joked that he had taken up residence at the host course to gain an advantage, before clarifying it was only a brief visit.
Early preparations for Aronimink test
“No, I lived there for a week. Just played it every day,” he told reporters.
He quickly corrected himself, adding that he merely travelled up and back on the same day to reacquaint himself with the layout.
The course previously hosted the BMW Championship in 2018, but the recent Truist Championship participant noted that conditions were vastly different during this latest visit.
“It was wet in 2018 and the greens didn’t play as fast or as severe as what I felt like they played last week.”
While acknowledging the course is not exceptionally long, he pinpointed the severe greens and tricky pin placements as its primary defences.
Managing the major schedule
Securing an early look at the Pennsylvania venue allows the back-to-back Masters champion to conserve energy during notoriously slow tournament weeks.
“Historically the practice rounds at the PGA can be excruciatingly long, so it’s probably going to just be nine holes Tuesday, nine holes Wednesday.”
His relaxed demeanour suggests that the scrutiny surrounding his major championship scheduling has not unsettled him.
A recent return to competitive action at Quail Hollow yielded a tied-19th finish following several weeks of rest.
A disappointing Saturday 75 derailed his chances of a record-extending fifth crown at the event, but a closing four-under-par 67 provided a timely boost of momentum.
Kansas City has been selected as the official base camp for England, Argentina and the Netherlands ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
Despite being the smallest of the 11 American host cities, the Midwestern metropolis has successfully attracted three tournament top seeds.
The global competition runs from 11 June to 19 July, bringing an influx of elite athletes and fervent supporters to America’s heartland.
It marks a significant milestone for a region that missed out on hosting duties when the tournament was last staged in the country in 1994.
Central location and elite facilities
Football has grown exponentially in the decades since that initial snub, with the region now boasting several state-of-the-art training complexes.
The central geographical location of the urban area also makes it an ideal hub for international teams looking to minimise demanding travel schedules across multiple time zones.
Known locally as KC, the city uniquely straddles the two states of Missouri and Kansas at the confluence of two major rivers.
Arrowhead Stadium to host quarter-final
The more populous Missouri side will stage six tournament fixtures, including a highly anticipated quarter-final match.
These games will be held at Arrowhead Stadium, the renowned home venue of the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs.
Reigning world champions Argentina will conduct their training sessions on the quieter Kansas side of the border.
Meanwhile, the Three Lions will be accommodated in a nearby luxury hotel, presenting a stark contrast to their previous base in Qatar.
Culture and hospitality
While the region may lack the vibrant coastal nightlife of Miami or Los Angeles, local officials remain confident that visiting fans will embrace the distinctive Midwestern culture.
The area is globally recognised for its celebrated barbecue culinary scene and historic 18th and Vine jazz district.
“I think you come in and you expect Midwest cows walking down the street.”
Jake Reid, vice-president of the local host committee, believes the reality of the destination will pleasantly surprise international guests.
“But it’s got such a great arts and culture scene, and the people just make you feel welcome.”
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have backed Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice to win the PFA Player of the Year award ahead of David Raya and Bruno Fernandes.
The former England strikers revealed their preference during the latest episode of the Rest is Football podcast.
Co-host Micah Richards originally suggested Gunners goalkeeper Raya should take the honour following a string of crucial performances.
However, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer Shearer quickly disagreed, stating his preference for the combative midfielder.
“Declan Rice for me.”
Lineker echoed the sentiment, admitting a personal bias against selecting shot-stoppers for the prestigious individual accolade.
“Yeah, I think I’d go Declan. I can’t… I just haven’t got it in me to vote for a goalkeeper.”
Arsenal and Manchester United dominate award discussions
Mikel Arteta’s side currently sit four points clear of Manchester City at the Premier League summit with two games remaining.
Their title charge has been heavily reliant on defensive solidity, with the Spanish goalkeeper securing his 18th clean sheet of the campaign against West Ham.
A crucial weekend save to deny Mateus Fernandes ensured the north London outfit secured a vital 1-0 victory courtesy of Leandro Trossard.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are on the verge of cementing third place in a remarkable turnaround from their 15th-placed finish last term, despite a recent Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Bruno Fernandes leads the bookmakers’ odds
Despite the podcast hosts’ agreement on Rice, the Red Devils captain remains the betting favourite after recently securing the FWA Player of the Year.
The Portuguese playmaker has been instrumental for the Old Trafford side, registering a staggering 19 assists across the league season.
He requires just one more to equal the all-time Premier League record of 20 with only two fixtures left to play.
Rice is currently listed as the second favourite, while Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva remain firmly in contention.
Further down the betting markets, Bournemouth’s 19-year-old forward Eli Junior Kroupi has emerged as an outside contender after netting 12 league goals in his debut English season.
Rory McIlroy has dismissed concerns over a potential injury after being spotted limping with a toe blister at the Truist Championship ahead of the upcoming PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman finished tied for 19th place at Quail Hollow following a mixed weekend of form.
He carded a disappointing 75 on Saturday, marking one of the worst statistical rounds of his career.
However, the former world number one bounced back impressively with a four-under-par final round on Sunday.
Blister to blame for limp
Fans grew concerned when the 35-year-old was seen limping noticeably during the signature event.
Despite the worrying visuals, the four-time major winner was quick to reassure supporters that the issue was minor.
He revealed the discomfort was simply caused by a blister underneath the nail of his right pinky toe.
“I can’t really get to it so it’s a little sore, but I’ll be all right.”
The issue first became noticeable on Friday afternoon, but he categorically refused to use it as an excuse for his Saturday slump.
“I wish that was an excuse, but absolutely not.”
Preparation shifts to Aronimink
With the second major of the season looming, the European Ryder Cup star admitted he has technical areas to iron out.
He plans to spend time practising at home to rectify bad habits developed while fighting strong crosswinds on the driving range.
Attention now turns to the PGA Championship venue at Aronimink, a course he has already scouted this year.
The layout previously hosted the BMW Championship in 2018, though conditions are expected to be drastically different.
“It was wet in 2018 and the greens didn’t play as fast or as severe as what I felt like they played last week.”
The golf stalwart noted that while the course is not overwhelmingly long, severely tucked pins and rapid greens will serve as its primary defence.
By completing his scouting mission early, he hopes to avoid the excruciatingly long practice rounds that historically plague major championship weeks.
Former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will make a highly anticipated return to combat sports after a 10-year absence when she faces fellow pioneer Gina Carano.
The 37-year-old has not competed in professional mixed martial arts since suffering a devastating knockout defeat in December 2016.
Her upcoming bout against the 42-year-old Carano is being orchestrated by promoter Nakisa Bidarian.
Both athletes are widely credited with laying the essential foundations for modern female cage fighting and bringing the sport to a global audience.
A trailblazing legacy in the octagon
During her peak years in Strikeforce and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the Olympic judo bronze medallist was virtually untouchable.
The American built an intimidating 12-0 professional record while finishing opponents with her signature armbar in a matter of seconds.
Her dominance was so absolute that promotion president Dana White famously reversed his stance that women would never compete in his organisation.
This spectacular run transformed the Californian into the sport’s first genuine crossover superstar, attracting mainstream celebrity attention and Hollywood film roles.
The sudden and spectacular fall
However, the pioneer’s aura of invincibility was abruptly shattered during a record-breaking stadium event in Australia in 2015.
Striking specialist Holly Holm executed a flawless game plan to knock out the defending champion in the second round.
Following a year away from the spotlight, a comeback attempt ended disastrously inside 50 seconds against Brazilian powerhouse Amanda Nunes.
“It was constant insanity.”
Ronda Rousey
Facing mounting criticism and a fickle fanbase, the former titleholder transitioned away from the cage into professional wrestling and acting.
Now, she is preparing to step back into the competitive arena to cement her combat sports legacy against an opponent who shares a similarly groundbreaking history.
Former England defender Gary Neville expects Arsenal to be crowned Premier League champions on 19 May after predicting Manchester City will drop crucial points against Bournemouth.
The league leaders currently maintain a five-point advantage over the reigning champions following a vital 1-0 victory against West Ham on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side still hold a vital game in hand over their main title rivals.
Rearranged fixtures create a title twist
That extra fixture has been pushed back due to this weekend’s FA Cup final commitments against Chelsea.
Both challengers are heavily tipped to secure routine victories in their immediate midweek domestic matchups.
The Manchester club host Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening, while the Gunners welcome Burnley to north London.
Speaking on his podcast, the pundit forecast a definitive and unexpected twist during the subsequent round of matches.
“I think City beat Palace, I think Arsenal beat Burnley and I think Arsenal win it, Tuesday night on the 19th of May by City not doing the job at Bournemouth,” Neville stated.
A stumbling block on the south coast
The former Manchester United captain acknowledged the relentless nature of the chasing pack.
“Look, it can happen all sorts of different ways and Manchester City, to be fair have got that ability to go right until the end,” he added.
A gruelling and condensed schedule awaits the cup finalists over the coming week.
Securing a domestic double remains a significant possibility for the defending champions despite the heavy workload.
“But I think this is a hammer blow for City really. They’ve got the game on Wednesday against Palace, they’ve got the cup final against Chelsea on Saturday so they can win a domestic double, which is a big achievement,” Neville explained.
Farewell factor at the Vitality Stadium
The quick turnaround for their crucial league trip down south appears highly problematic for a fatigued squad.
The upcoming clash also marks Andoni Iraola’s final match in charge of the Cherries.
“And then they go to Bournemouth on Tuesday and I think that might be a step too far with how Bournemouth are right now. Being Iraola’s last game at Bournemouth and just the fact that they’re a good side,” he concluded.
England manager Thomas Tuchel must submit a preliminary 55-man squad to FIFA by Monday ahead of the upcoming World Cup in North America.
The submission of this provisional release list acts as the primary pool from which the final tournament selection will be made.
It also ensures European clubs legally release their players for international duty during mandated preparation periods.
This massive initial roster provides governing bodies with necessary documentation for player eligibility and logistical planning across the three host nations.
Final selection and tournament draw
The German tactician will eventually cut his sweeping initial list down to a final 26-man group by 30 May.
The Three Lions have been drawn into Group L for the expanded global showpiece.
Topping their group would see the 1966 champions avoid fellow heavyweights such as France and Argentina until at least the semi-final stage.
Group L fixtures and key dates
The national side kick off their campaign against Croatia on 17 June at the Dallas Stadium in Texas.
They will then travel to Massachusetts to face Ghana in Boston on 23 June.
The group stage concludes against Panama four days later at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
Should Tuchel’s men secure first place in their group, they will advance to a round-of-32 fixture in Atlanta on 1 July.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has expressed total confidence in his long-term knee health after his side suffered a season-ending playoff defeat to the New York Knicks.
The standout centre saw his campaign derailed by a litany of injuries, limiting him to just 38 regular-season appearances.
Philadelphia’s season concluded abruptly with a heavy 144-114 defeat in Game 4 on their home court.
Despite the disappointing exit, the former NBA Most Valuable Player struck an optimistic tone regarding his physical future.
“I’m as confident as I’ve ever been,” Embiid said.
Focus on future availability
The seven-foot talisman admitted his knee had been his primary concern throughout the year.
However, he stressed that careful management moving forward will alleviate those worries entirely.
“I’m looking at next year, obviously being more available. I know that if I’m available and I play as much as possible, everything else is going to follow.”
Health has been a persistent obstacle for the imposing big man, who missed his first two professional seasons entirely.
Battling through playoff adversity
He has averaged just 49 games per year across his decade-long career.
This postseason proved no different, with the Cameroonian international requiring an emergency appendectomy just a month ago.
He also missed Game 2 of the series against New York due to right hip and ankle issues.
Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse praised his franchise cornerstone’s resilience through the physical pain.
“He worked his ass off to get out there and play. I think it was really difficult for him,” Nurse noted.
Lingering surgery effects
Embiid had previously enjoyed a stellar first-round stretch against the Boston Celtics, helping his team achieve a historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit.
However, a collision with teammate Tyrese Maxey late in Game 7 of that series left him labouring against the Knicks.
The dominant pivot explained that his recent core surgery created a domino effect on his body during the tight playoff schedule.
“Because coming back early and the core is kind of weak, it’s not an excuse, but everything else is affected,” he explained.
Despite the setbacks, he finished the postseason with impressive averages of 24 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across seven games.