The Ryder Cup rookie factor: Does it matter how many debutants are on your team? September 27, 2018 If the number of rookies in his team has caused Thomas Bjorn any sleepless nights in the lead-up to Friday's first day of the Ryder Cup then Europe’s captain did his best to hide it earlier this week. The hosts will have five debutants in their ranks at Le Golf National – Tommy Fleetwood, [...]
Ollie Phillips: Joe Marler’s international retirement is a huge loss and raises questions about the England set-up September 27, 2018 Nobody should discredit Joe Marler for his decision to retire from international rugby at a relatively young age so that he can spend more time with his family. Marler doesn’t want to be a dad who never sees his children and you have to respect that. Joe’s upfront and will say if he doesn’t [...]
Big-spending Everton still seeking lift-off in mission to challenge Big Six September 27, 2018 When Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri purchased a 49.9 per cent share in Everton two and a half years ago, his intention was to ensure the club challenge for Champions League football. Yet as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stroked home Arsenal's second goal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday and condemned the Blues to their second Premier League [...]
Day in the life: Bex Rimmington, ironman triathlete September 27, 2018 I get up at 5.30am at every day. I have a quick snack and then head out training, which because I’m training for an ironman means either a swim, a bike or a run. I swim at the local leisure centre, which is helpful in the mornings, but I also do open water swimming [...]
Exit the King: The National Theatre’s production of Ionesco’s absurdist drama wanders but the journey is worth it September 27, 2018 First performed in 1962, Exit The King is a tragic comedy about a clownish, centuries old despot who once held dominion over nature itself, but is forced to rapidly come to terms with his imminent death, his waning powers and his shrivelling kingdom. A great crack runs down the castle wall. Ministers are falling [...]
How the Ryder Cup became one of sport’s biggest events – and why it might be about to become even bigger September 26, 2018 The Ryder Cup has come an awful long way since British garden seed entrepreneur and golf enthusiast Samuel Ryder spawned the competition as we now know it during the mid-1920s. More than 50,000 spectators per day are expected to pay an average of £115 to attend the contest at Le Golf National, near Paris, [...]
Sam Torrance: USA are rightful Ryder Cup favourites but Europe thrive on underdog role September 26, 2018 On paper, the 12 men wearing the striped shirts at Le Golf National this week might comprise the strongest line-up that the United States has ever sent to a Ryder Cup. But then I can’t remember the last time that Europe started out as favourites. We love being the underdog. We don’t realise that [...]
Can banning ketchup really improve a footballer’s level of performance? September 26, 2018 Manager Maurizio Sarri has already made an impression on his new Chelsea team. They have won five of their opening six Premier League matches, and his philosophy of moving the ball quickly and intensive pressing – dubbed “Sarriball” – has led to the west London club making more passes than any other team in [...]
Ryder Cup 2018: Why Le Golf National course could be just as influential for Europe as any player this week September 26, 2018 When Colin Montgomerie captained Europe at Celtic Manor eight years ago, hoping to reclaim the Ryder Cup after a crushing defeat at Valhalla two years before, he instructed the groundsmen to make the course as fair as possible. "I don't think it is right to set the course up in any other way than [...]
Manchester United posts record revenue, but performances hurt income September 25, 2018 Manchester United posted record revenue of £590m for its full year today, receiving a £10m boost to its broadcasting income after finishing second in the Premier League last season. But broadcasting revenue dropped in the fourth quarter after the team was knocked out of the Champions League by Sevilla in the round of 16 as the team's [...]