Bryson DeChambeau was escorted back onto the Royal Birkdale course following his second round at The Open to investigate a potential rules violation regarding an improved stance.
The two-time US Open champion had just signed for a brilliant 66 to reach seven under par.
That impressive score temporarily catapulted the American into second place and a prospective spot in Saturday’s final group.
Stance improvement allegations
Moments after completing a spectacular birdie-birdie finish, officials informed the 32-year-old of a suspected infringement on the driveable par-four fifth hole.
The allegation suggests the major winner trampled down high grass after carving his drive into deep rough, illegally improving his angle to the green.
Officials transported the visibly furious golfer back to the site of the incident while later starters remained on the course.
Club in hand, he spent several minutes animatedly demonstrating his shot execution to R&A representatives.
Penalty threatens leaderboard position
Following the on-course recreation, the powerhouse driver was taken back to the recorders’ office for further intense discussions.
A two-stroke penalty would adjust his score on the fifth hole from a bogey to a triple-bogey.
Such a sanction would alter his second-round card to a 68, dropping him down into a tie for fifth place at five under par.
Historic scoring at Royal Birkdale
Away from the controversy, Lucas Herbert stormed into the tournament lead at eight under par.
The Australian equalled the lowest round in major championship history by firing a phenomenal 62.
Incredibly, American Sam Burns matched that record-breaking feat just 20 minutes later to reach five under for the championship.
First-round leader Jackson Suber, alongside Cameron Young and Ryan Gerard, currently sit one stroke ahead of Burns at six under par.
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has not been cleared to resume baseball activities as his broken right rib remains partially unhealed following a recent scan.
The 32-year-old outfielder has been sidelined since 31 May after suffering a stress fracture.
A medical assessment conducted during the recent All-Star break revealed only partial healing of the affected area.
The American League slugger is currently waiting for further instructions from the club’s medical staff regarding his rehabilitation timeline.
Boone remains optimistic despite absence
Speaking on Friday ahead of a weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankees manager Aaron Boone maintained a positive outlook.
“I feel good about the fact that he will be back. It’s just a matter of when.”
Prior to the injury, the formidable hitter was batting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 runs batted in.
However, his form had dipped significantly before his enforced break, registering just one home run in his final 18 appearances.
His prolonged absence has heavily impacted the Bronx Bombers’ momentum throughout the mid-summer stretch.
New York boasted a strong 36-23 record when their captain last took to the diamond, but they have managed only an 18-19 run since entering the second half of the season.
Mounting injury concerns for New York
The Yankees are currently navigating a severe injury crisis that extends well beyond their star right fielder.
Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton has been unavailable since 24 April due to a strained right calf.
The pitching rotation is also heavily depleted, with left-handers Max Fried and Carlos Rodon both sidelined by separate elbow issues.
However, there is some positive news on the horizon for the struggling pitching staff.
Fried was scheduled to make a rehabilitation start on Friday as he recovers from a bone bruise.
Furthermore, Clarke Schmidt is set to throw an inning of batting practice on Saturday as he continues his long return from Tommy John surgery.
Leeds United have completed the £34.1m signing of defender Tarik Muharemovic from Italian club Sassuolo on a five-year contract.
The 23-year-old arrives at Elland Road to fill the void left by Pascal Struijk, who departed for Brighton in a £20m deal earlier this June.
This lucrative capture marks the West Yorkshire outfit’s second addition of the current transfer window.
The squad had previously been bolstered by the arrival of Harry Wilson on a free transfer following his exit from Fulham.
World Cup controversy and international pedigree
The highly rated centre-back recently represented Bosnia-Herzegovina at this summer’s World Cup.
During the tournament, the defensive enforcer was at the centre of a major talking point when he was involved in a collision that resulted in a controversial red card for United States forward Folarin Balogun.
The former Serie A talent also experienced disciplinary issues of his own on the global stage, having been dismissed during a group-stage fixture against Switzerland.
Rebuilding the Elland Road defence
Securing a high-profile reinforcement at the back was a clear priority for the club hierarchy ahead of the new campaign.
With a substantial fee committed to his signature, the newly recruited international will be expected to immediately anchor the defensive line.
Mauricio Pochettino will decide next week whether to accept a contract extension from US Soccer to remain head coach of the United States national team through to the 2030 World Cup.
The 54-year-old’s current agreement expires at the conclusion of the ongoing tournament.
Despite suffering a disappointing round-of-16 exit against Belgium, the host nation are eager to retain the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager.
Evaluating the US offer
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, the Argentine confirmed a new deal is officially on the table.
“We are evaluating it, looking at it,” he said.
“They have made me an offer to continue and we will see. Next week we will take a decision.”
Earlier in the year, the highly regarded tactician was linked with several top European club vacancies before committing to the American project in September 2024.
Mixed fortunes on home soil
The Stars and Stripes demonstrated promising early form during the group stages of their home tournament.
An impressive 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 raised expectations across the country.
However, a subsequent defeat to the Belgians prematurely ended their campaign and left senior players in shock at the team’s exit.
Anticipating a historic final
While his own managerial future remains unresolved, the ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss has turned his attention to the looming World Cup final between Spain and his native Argentina.
“Everyone is eager to watch the World Cup champions and Copa America champions take on European champions Spain,” he stated.
“I have no doubt this is going to be one of the most important games in history.”
Preparing for Lionel Messi
Key to the contest will be 39-year-old Lionel Messi, who provided two vital assists during Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final triumph over England.
“The further away Messi is from your goal, the better,” the manager added.
“Even at almost 40, he still has that charisma and the respect of his opponents.”
Former West Indies captain and cricketing icon Sir Garfield Sobers has died at the age of 89.
The celebrated all-rounder led the Caribbean side with distinction during a seven-year tenure between 1965 and 1972.
A record-breaking international career
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever grace the sport, he famously established the record for the highest individual Test innings.
His unbeaten score of 365 against Pakistan, achieved at the remarkable age of 23, stood as the ultimate benchmark in international cricket for nearly four decades.
Prolific success in the English county game
Beyond his international exploits, the legendary Barbadian enjoyed tremendous success on the English domestic circuit with Nottinghamshire.
He accumulated an impressive 7,041 First-Class runs during his time in the County Championship.
That outstanding domestic stint included 18 centuries alongside a devastating return of 281 wickets.
Defending champions Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey this Sunday following a thrilling five-week tournament.
The expanded 48-team competition has delivered incredible entertainment, encompassing major upsets and standout individual performances.
However, the global spotlight remains firmly fixed on Lionel Messi as he seeks to secure back-to-back international triumphs.
Messi defies time to reach final
The 39-year-old superstar has remarkably surpassed his own statistical output from the victorious Qatar campaign four years ago.
He currently leads both the goalscoring and assist charts for the tournament having single-handedly guided his nation through the knockout bracket.
Modern-day talents such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior all saw their campaigns end prematurely this summer.
In stark contrast, the veteran forward simply refused to let his team stumble on the biggest stage.
A fateful reunion with Yamal
Sunday’s showpiece event will feature a fascinating subplot involving Spanish teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
The prodigious winger famously met his upcoming opponent 19 years ago during a charity photoshoot in Barcelona.
At the time, the legendary South American was pictured bathing Yamal as an infant in an image that recently resurfaced online.
It represents a remarkable twist of fate for two generational talents at opposite ends of their respective careers.
Veteran stars bid tearful farewells
While one veteran continues to thrive, the competition served as a bittersweet swansong for several other global icons.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Kevin de Bruyne were among the aging stars making their final tournament appearances.
Brazil international Neymar famously departed the competition in tears after a shock round-of-16 defeat by Norway.
The former Paris St-Germain attacker reportedly recovered quickly enough to attend a Las Vegas poker tournament shortly afterwards.
Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni will contest Sunday’s World Cup final without having managed a single top-flight club match between them, exposing the struggles of high-profile international appointments.
Despite overseeing global superstars like Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, the two managers lack the glittering club CVs of their illustrious peers.
The Argentine boss initially took charge as a caretaker following Jorge Sampaoli’s departure in 2018.
He has since guided the South American giants to consecutive Copa America titles and a World Cup triumph, transforming a nation that had previously endured a 25-year trophy drought.
Contrasting paths to success
Spain’s head coach followed a similar low-key route to the national team dugout by earning a promotion from the Under-21 setup.
The 63-year-old replaced Luis Enrique in 2023 and swiftly delivered Nations League glory.
He then masterminded a victorious European Championship campaign in 2024 to initiate a new golden era for La Roja.
Big-name bosses stumble
Their sustained achievements stand in stark contrast to several celebrated tacticians who suffered early eliminations at the 2026 tournament.
Thomas Tuchel was tasked with ending England’s long wait for silverware but faced heavy criticism following a disappointing semi-final exit.
Over in the Brazilian camp, five-time Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti could not guide the pre-tournament favourites past the last 16.
Julian Nagelsmann has already vacated his role as Germany manager after suffering a shock round-of-32 defeat against Paraguay.
Re-evaluating the international model
Mauricio Pochettino also endured a premature departure as his United States side fell at the last-16 hurdle.
Marcelo Bielsa departed his post following Uruguay’s group-stage failure.
I left nothing to Uruguayan football.
The veteran tactician made the stark admission after his squad failed to progress to the knockout phase.
The collective struggles of these decorated coaches suggest that international football heavily rewards systemic continuity over expensive tactical appointments.
Spain have advanced to Sunday’s World Cup final as heavy favourites after utilising a suffocating possession-based defence throughout the tournament.
The national team has completely transformed their historical reputation of underachievement on the biggest global stages.
Prior to their recent golden era, the Iberian nation had only progressed past the quarter-finals of one major tournament in 42 years.
However, La Roja have claimed four major titles over the past 18 years and now stand on the brink of another historic victory.
The antithesis to Argentine drama
The current squad has navigated their path to the showpiece event with clinical and unwavering efficiency.
Unlike the chaotic and emotional journey of tournament rivals Argentina, the European giants simply control the ball and systematically dismantle opponents.
This methodical approach has seen them establish early, unassailable leads against Saudi Arabia, France, Austria and Uruguay during their formidable run.
When late interventions are required, manager Luis de la Fuente has successfully deployed Mikel Merino from the substitutes’ bench.
The versatile midfielder provided crucial winning goals in the 88th minute against Belgium and deep into stoppage time against Portugal.
Defensive perfection through possession
The pre-tournament favourites have largely flown under the radar despite boasting the most complete defensive record in the competition.
Their success is built on a modern tactical system that effectively tilts the pitch and prevents opposition attacks from ever materialising.
By dominating the ball and executing a relentless counter-press, the European heavyweights ensure matches are played entirely on their terms.
This flawless tactical execution positions them perfectly to reaffirm their status as the dominant force in international football.