Sam Torrance: Playing the Masters for the first time is an unforgettable experience April 10, 2019 A golfer's first time at the Masters is extraordinary, as two Englishmen making their debuts at Augusta National this week, Eddie Pepperell and Matt Wallace, will be discovering. One of the special things about the tournament is that it takes place at the same venue every year – a venue you have been watching on [...]
Fast starters at the Masters beware: Augusta National is a graveyard of first-round leads April 10, 2019 The Masters is synonymous with drama. From Rory McIlroy’s final-round nightmare in 2011 to Greg Norman’s collapse when holding a six-shot lead in 1996, there has been plenty of heartbreak. For all the despair, there has also been much joy. Augusta was the backdrop for Sergio Garcia’s emotional first Major title at the 74th attempt [...]
Tottenham 1-0 Manchester City: Helped by home atmosphere Spurs stand up to City and overcome VAR drama April 9, 2019 Rarely has a team ever settled into a new home as quickly as Tottenham have at their new stadium. It was just the second time in Spurs’ history that they had made the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the fans gave Mauricio Pochettino everything he had asked for. “We hope the atmosphere is going [...]
Sam Torrance: Rory McIlroy is my Masters favourite but Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods have strong claims too April 9, 2019 As the first Major of the year, the Masters is the tournament all players aim to be ready for and the shortlist of those expected to challenge at Augusta this week is a virtual who’s who of golf. Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods are among those with [...]
Manchester United ready to roll with the times and hire a technical director as post-Ferguson transition nears completion April 9, 2019 It has taken nearly six years, but Manchester United's transition through the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era is almost complete. The decision to hand Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a three-year contract last week after an unexpectedly excellent trial period is the latest symptom of a change in approach from the United hierarchy. The appointment of a young, [...]
Trevor Steven: Transfer talk has hit Manchester United’s form ahead of Barcelona Champions League clash April 9, 2019 After an initial burst of adrenaline and positivity brought about by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replacing Jose Mourinho in the dugout, it feels as though Manchester United have gone backwards lately. A run of three defeats in four games since their heroics against Paris Saint-Germain, including losing twice to Wolves, has punctured the belief that Solskjaer [...]
Tottenham v Manchester City: Quadruple talk masks the fact that only Champions League glory will do for City April 8, 2019 Is it possible to enjoy resounding success, to set new standards of achievement not just for your club but for the very competitions in which they play and yet still leave a nagging sense of hopes unfulfilled? It’s a question Bayern Munich must have wrestled with in the last days of Pep Guardiola’s tenure as [...]
Premiership Rugby’s relegation battle is set to go down to the wire, so why ring-fence the league? April 8, 2019 English top-flight rugby has rarely been more competitive than it has this season yet talk of ring-fencing the competition continues to loom large. Premiership Rugby is set to provide an update to its board on Tuesday regarding the proposal to ring-fence the league, despite the fiercest relegation battle for many years currently raging on. The [...]
Patek Philippe MD seeks to raise £50,000 for Parkinson’s support group with 24-hour tennis match April 8, 2019 The MD of Patek Philippe will be keeping one eye on the time next month when his tennis club takes part in a 24-hour non-stop charity match. Read more: Is Tsitsipas's Australian Open a sign of a changing of the guard? The Reigate Lawn Tennis Club will host the spectacle on 18 May with the aim [...]
Five things we learned from the weekend football: Gutsy Watford rip up the script; Everton turning a corner; Arsenal wretched on road; Liverpool bust a gut while Man City cruise; Foxes have tails up April 7, 2019 On paper, this looked like the less appetising of the two FA Cup semi-finals. On paper, Watford looked like underdogs against a Wolves side who were in the ascendancy and possess star quality. But on Sunday at Wembley, Watford – and particularly Gerard Deulofeu – ripped up the script and dragged the Hornets from two [...]