“If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have given you a different answer, but certainly the future looks brighter than it has.
“The body can’t do what it used to but I can still think my way around the golf course. I know how to play and I was able to do that this week. There was a time if I didn’t know if I would play again so I am very appreciative.”
2. Jones: England have to play better
England may have destroyed New Zealand to storm into the Rugby World Cup final but head coach Eddie Jones believes that his side must produce even more next Saturday against South Africa.
Jones said: “We’ve got to play better next week. It’s about making sure no one gets too far ahead of themselves and this team has got no reason to, because we haven’t achieved what we want to achieve. All it’s done is give us another week in the competition.”
Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of winning a sixth Formula 1 drivers’ championship after his victory at the Mexican Grand Prix yesterday.
The Mercedes ace now leads team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 74 points in the drivers’ standings with three races remaining. Bottas must win the United States Grand Prix next Sunday to stay in the title race.
Even if the Finn does win in Austin with 26 points from a victory and fastest lap, Hamilton will secure the title by finishing eighth or higher. Should Bottas finish second or lower at the Circuit of the Americas then Hamilton will be guaranteed the championship.
Papua New Guinea have made cricketing history by securing their place at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. It will be the first time the nation has played in a World Cup of any format.
PNG captain Assad Vala said: “It means a lot to the players and the fans. I don’t know how many qualifiers we’ve been to, we’ve come close on so many occasions, but this group believed they could get it done.
“T20 really suits the way we play, there’s a lot of energy involved and we don’t play a lot of 50-over cricket, so the boys are used to playing in the shorter format.”
Ireland have also qualified for next year’s event Down Under.
5. Astros one win away from World Series title
The Houston Astros will win their second Major League Baseball World Series title in three years should they beat the Washington Nationals in game six on Wednesday (12.07am UK time). Astros are 3-2 up in the series after a 7-1 victory over the Nationals in game five.
(Image credit: Oscar del Pozo/AFP/Getty Images)
6. Federer withdraws from Paris Masters
Roger Federer will not play in this week’s Paris Masters as he looks ahead to next month’s ATP Finals in London.
The 20-time grand slam champion, who won his tenth Swiss Indoors title last night, said: “I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out. I want to play as long as possible on the Tour. I’m sorry for my French fans who I’ll see at Roland Garros in 2020.”
Cincinnati Bengals’s 100% losing record continued last night as they were beaten 24-10 by the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium. The Bengals have been defeated in all eight of their NFL regular-season matches so far this season.
The final game of the 2019 NFL London series on Sunday 3 November will see the Jacksonville Jaguars play the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium.
8. Messi dreams of Newell’s but will stay at Barca
Lionel Messi admits that he has a dream to return to Argentina and play for Newell’s Old Boys but says his future is with Barcelona.
The 32-year-old, who has scored 606 goals in his club career at Barca, told TyC Sports: “I don’t want to leave here. I can’t think of moving away from Barcelona.
“I have a dream of being able to play at Newell’s, in Argentine football, but I don’t know if it will happen. I have a family and they come before my own desires.”
Harry Kane gave Spurs the lead in the opening minute but Jordan Henderson equalised on 57 minutes. Salah then secured the 2-1 win with a 75th-minute spot-kick.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “At half-time we said this game only had one problem, the score. There were one or two things we could do better and adapt a little bit.
“We were in control, we pushed them back and dominated apart from the last five minutes when we felt the intensity of the game. It was a super game and I loved it.”
10. Xhaka under fire from Arsenal fans
The Daily Mirror reports that Granit Xhaka could lose the Arsenal captaincy after his “X-rated stroppy exchange” with fans during yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
After being substituted at the Emirates Stadium Swiss midfielder Xhaka was booed off by supporters. In reaction he cupped his ear, was seen to shout “f*** off” before taking off his shirt and storming down the tunnel.
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery said his skipper was “wrong” to react to the fans. Emery said: “He’s wrong but we are going to speak inside about that situation. I want to be calm but, really, he was wrong in this action.
“We are here because we have supporters. We work for them and need to have respect for them when they are applauding us and criticising us.”
The real story behind the Stanford Prison Experiment
Is it safe for refugees to return to Syria?
Quiz of The Week: 14 - 20 December
The Augusta Masters: the pinnacle of sport
Tiger Woods pulls out of PGA Championship
Tiger Woods at the Masters: golf’s ‘greatest ever comeback’ part two?
The biggest sports scandals of the 21st century
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Tiger Woods targets the 150th Open: ‘I would love to play at St Andrews’
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
