World number one Scottie Scheffler is targeting a historic career Grand Slam at the upcoming US Open, while fellow major champion Brooks Koepka’s participation is in doubt following a hand injury.
The 29-year-old is among the favourites to secure the title at Shinnecock Hills this weekend.
A victory in New York would see the American become only the seventh golfer in the modern era to win all four major championships.
Despite tying for 12th at the recent Canadian Open and remaining winless since January, the two-time Masters champion arrives with high expectations.
Scouting a challenging Shinnecock Hills
Shinnecock Hills has historically proven to be a severe test during previous US Open tournaments.
The notoriously difficult layout prompted the world number one to conduct an early scouting mission to familiarise himself with the conditions.
“Once you start missing fairways out there, you have no chance,” Scheffler said regarding his experience at the venue.
“But the fairways are generous enough to where it provides you some opportunity and that way it’s just that the green complexes are extraordinarily difficult, and so they can put the pins wherever they want and make the scores as high as they could possibly want them to be.”
The Texan acknowledged the immense pressure of completing the Grand Slam but insists he is embracing the monumental task ahead.
Pushing the boundaries of major golf
The United States Golf Association is renowned for creating punishing setups that test the mental fortitude of the world’s elite.
When the major was last staged at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, the winning score was just one-over-par.
“It’s hard when you run one tournament a year – and you run it on a different golf course every year – to get it just right,” Scheffler added.
“And you’re trying to make it hard. I think in the US Open, they push the boundaries. If they’re going to continue to push the boundaries, eventually they’ll screw up and then they’ll dial it back.”
Koepka suffers untimely injury setback
Meanwhile, five-time major winner Brooks Koepka was forced to withdraw from the final round of the Canadian Open on Sunday.
The 36-year-old experienced severe numbness in his hand, leaving him unable to properly grip his clubs.
This latest physical setback raises serious concerns over his availability for the upcoming major.
Koepka previously conquered Shinnecock Hills during his 2018 triumph, but now faces a tense race against time to be fit for the latest edition.
Lionel Messi will become the first male footballer to appear in six World Cups when he leads Argentina against Algeria in Kansas City.
The Inter Miami forward will beat his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo to the historic milestone by a matter of hours.
Messi had previously hinted at international retirement following his nation’s triumphant 2022 campaign in Qatar.
However, the 38-year-old insists his motivation to compete on the global stage remains entirely undiminished.
Chasing Klose’s goalscoring record
The veteran attacker will also earn his 200th international cap during the opening Group J fixture.
He approaches the tournament standing just three goals short of Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 strikes.
The Argentine captain will celebrate his 39th birthday next week as he looks to defend the trophy won so dramatically in Doha.
‘Excited as ever’ to compete
The former Barcelona star acknowledged that his presence at another finals seemed unlikely four years ago.
“There had been doubts because of what I said at the previous World Cup.”
“That I thought it would be difficult for me to play in another one, because so many years had to pass.”
“But I kept feeling good and taking things day by day.”
“I had the opportunity to play, get into rhythm, get minutes on the pitch and gradually feel better.”
“I’m happy, enjoying every moment and now I’m also as excited as ever.”
London-born forward OG Anunoby believes basketball will experience rapid growth in the United Kingdom following his starring role in the New York Knicks’ historic 2026 NBA Championship victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks secured their first finals triumph since 1973 by wrapping up a 4-1 series win in Texas.
However, it was the former Toronto Raptors star who provided the defining moment of the best-of-seven series during a dramatic game four at Madison Square Garden.
With just 1.2 seconds remaining and New York trailing by a single point, Anunoby tipped in a missed Jalen Brunson three-pointer to steal a miraculous victory.
A defining moment in British basketball history
That stunning rebound propelled the British standout into elite company alongside iconic clutch plays from legends like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.
The viral game-winner sparked wild celebrations among the celebrity-filled front row and pushed the storied franchise to the brink of basketball immortality.
“Game four is probably the top of British basketball history,” said London-born Anunoby, now a two-time NBA winner.
“Amazing for Britain and the UK and everyone who loves basketball in the UK.”
Stepping out of the shadows
Unlike his 2019 title success in Canada, where injury sidelined him for the entire post-season, Anunoby was instrumental to this year’s championship run.
The defensive specialist started 84 matches this season and ranked second across the entire squad in play-off points, assists, blocks, and steals per game.
While talismanic point guard Brunson claimed the Finals MVP award, his British team-mate has firmly cemented his status as a vital franchise cornerstone.
A golden era for UK-based talent
The 2026 campaign featured a record-breaking contingent of players from the United Kingdom making their mark on the premier basketball league.
Anunoby shared the court with fellow Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan, who holds deep allegiance to the UK despite representing Poland internationally.
Amari Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan also featured during a landmark season that promises to inspire a new generation of British prospects.
Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has agreed a new long-term contract to remain at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031.
The 24-year-old’s previous deal was scheduled to expire in 2028, but successful negotiations have now secured his future with the English champions.
This commitment officially ends persistent speculation linking the versatile defender with lucrative moves to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Overcoming major injury setbacks
The Croatian international endured a highly frustrating domestic campaign last year after sustaining a broken leg in January.
That severe injury sidelined him for four months and restricted his club appearances to just 25 games across all competitions.
However, the adept centre-back proved his fitness by successfully returning to Premier League action in May.
He managed 58 minutes on the pitch against Crystal Palace before making a late 12-minute appearance against Aston Villa on the final day of the season.
Focus shifts to international duty
Despite that lengthy absence, the defender’s exceptional underlying quality still earned him the club’s player of the season award for the 2024-25 campaign.
His immediate focus now turns to the international stage as he finalises preparations for the upcoming World Cup.
The left-sided specialist will likely face several familiar domestic colleagues when Croatia open their tournament against England next Wednesday at 21:00 BST.
The Chicago Bulls are finalising the appointment of Tiago Splitter as their new head coach to succeed Billy Donovan, following an impressive interim spell with the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 41-year-old emerged as the chosen candidate after top franchise officials met with four finalists in Illinois last week.
He steps into the role previously held by Donovan, tasked with bringing organisational alignment and strong player development to the United Center.
Executive vice-president of basketball operations Bryson Graham led a thorough search before settling on the former NBA champion.
Impressive interim stint in Portland
The new arrival significantly boosted his coaching credentials after stepping into the top job for the Trail Blazers last season amidst off-court adversity.
He guided the Oregon franchise to a 42-40 regular-season record and a Western Conference playoff berth as the seventh seed.
Under his stewardship, Portland boasted a top-10 defensive record over their final 51 fixtures while leading the league in second-chance points.
His leadership also garnered strong support from the locker room, notably aiding forward Deni Avdija in securing his first NBA All-Star selection.
From NBA champion to the touchline
The incoming boss brings a wealth of elite experience, having enjoyed a seven-year playing career that included a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs.
After retiring from the court, the Brazilian systematically climbed the coaching ranks starting as a scout and development staff member with the Brooklyn Nets.
His journey to the premier job in Chicago included an assistant role with the Houston Rockets and a brief spell leading Paris Basketball.
Meanwhile, Portland must now resume their own coaching search, with Micah Nori and Tyler Lashbrook remaining as the primary candidates.
Former Wolves and Nottingham Forest striker Rafa Mir has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison by a Spanish court for violent sexual assault.
The Provincial Court of Justice in Valencia delivered the guilty verdict on Monday following the 28-year-old’s initial arrest in September 2024.
The Spanish forward has also been ordered to pay more than £55,000 in damages to the victim.
Nightclub meeting precedes attacks
The offences occurred in the early hours of 1 September last year after the attacker met the victim at a nightclub.
Prosecutors outlined that the player took the woman back to his residence before throwing her into a swimming pool fully clothed.
The pre-trial indictment stated he then grabbed her tightly and began kissing her face and neck against her will.
A second assault took place after the woman initially fled the property but returned shortly afterwards to retrieve a forgotten handbag.
Victim testimony and co-defendant
He took me into the bathroom and locked the door. He started doing the same thing to me he had done at the swimming pool.
That’s when I started crying and telling him to stop, that I wanted to leave. He didn’t stop.
The former Sevilla player had heavily protested his innocence during a court hearing in May.
Public prosecutors had originally pushed for a longer ten-and-a-half-year prison term.
Fellow footballer Pablo Jara was tried alongside him and received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for a separate assault on a friend of the primary victim.
Struggles in English football
The convicted striker spent three years registered with Premier League side Wolves after joining the Molineux club in January 2018.
He made just four first-team appearances without featuring in the English top flight before embarking on several loan spells.
After playing 13 times for Nottingham Forest during the 2019-20 Championship campaign, he eventually secured a permanent transfer back to Spain in 2021.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have appointed Cesar Peixoto as their new head coach on a two-year contract following the departure of Rob Edwards.
The 46-year-old arrives at Molineux from Portuguese top-flight club Gil Vicente.
He is tasked with guiding the Midlands outfit back to the Premier League after they finished bottom of the table last season.
This upcoming campaign will mark the club’s first appearance in the Championship since 2018.
First managerial role abroad
Taking the reins in England represents the Portuguese tactician’s first managerial position outside of his homeland.
He arrives with a growing reputation after leading his former employers to an impressive sixth-placed finish in the Primeira Liga.
Notably, his recent tenure was the first time in a seven-year managerial career that he completed an entire season at a single club.
A clear identity and strong leadership
The Molineux hierarchy moved swiftly to secure their new man after parting ways with previous boss Edwards last week.
Executive chairman Nathan Shi highlighted the incoming manager’s mentality and work ethic during a rigorous recruitment process.
“Throughout our discussions with him, it became clear very quickly that he possesses many of the qualities we believe are important for the future of this football club,” said Nathan Shi.
“We wanted clear identity, strong leadership qualities and a real hunger to succeed.”
“He is young, energetic and ambitious, but he is also thoughtful, accountable and willing to challenge himself and those around him in pursuit of improvement.”
Twelve games into the global tournament, competing nations are reverting to classic 4-4-2 formations and mid-block defensive strategies to combat extreme climates and modern tactical challenges.
The beauty of this international competition lies in the variety of unique styles and players clashing on the biggest stage.
Such a diverse tactical landscape often poses unusual challenges that require managers to formulate on-the-fly solutions.
Influenced heavily by the popularity of the Premier League and Champions League, countries frequently borrow ideas from elite club football when this quadrennial event arrives.
Revival of a classic system
Football strategies are continually developing, making it fascinating to see the traditional 4-4-2 shape become so prevalent at this tournament.
Early 2000s English top-flight football was typified by this exact setup, creating larger spaces between players with fewer low blocks or intensely drilled high presses.
Consequently, that historical approach afforded attackers significantly more time and space to express themselves on the ball.
Perhaps due to demanding weather conditions and limited coaching time, international squads have reverted to a similar structure that helps explain why current matches feel remarkably open.
Mastering the mid-block
Many participants, including Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Brazil, Haiti, Scotland, and Japan, are frequently opting for this shape out of possession.
Instead of defending deeply or pressing high consistently, these setups allow teams to pick specific moments to step up while predominantly defending in a solid mid-block.
Managers understand that simply sitting back and defending near their own penalty area ultimately concedes too much control to the opposition.
Allowing elite opponents long spells of attacking possession around the box essentially hands them the exact type of game they desire.
Adapting to the elements
Pressing intensely for an entire match becomes increasingly ineffective given the gruelling heat and humidity experienced by the competing nations.
However, carefully timed bursts of pressure have proved highly fruitful for Mexico, Morocco, and Germany, who have all scored shortly after forcing crucial turnovers.
This calculated approach naturally leaves most defending units operating firmly in the middle third of the pitch.
While the formation provides wide and balanced cover, it inadvertently leaves gaps between the lines that clever opponents are learning to exploit.
Diagonal attacking movements
Defending sides using two flat lines of four are exceptionally well placed to stop straightforward forward and sideways ball progression.
As a direct result, executing diagonal attacking passes has emerged as another defining feature of this month-long festival of football.
Playing at these specific angles helps forwards move seamlessly from wide touchlines into dangerous central areas behind the opposition midfield.
For defensive units orientated in a strict flat line, effectively covering these unpredictable diagonal runs proves incredibly difficult.