Spain and Argentina have reached Sunday’s World Cup final by very different paths, yet both arrive hoping their gameplay will be the one to win them the world’s biggest football championship. Spain’s La Roja have looked like the tournament’s most complete team, conceding just one goal in 7 matches. Argentina’s La Albiceleste, meanwhile, have perfected the art of the comeback, twice rallying from behind to keep their bid for back-to-back world titles alive.
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The World Cup 2026 final will also reunite two coaches whose paths crossed long before they met on the world’s biggest stage. Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni completed his training under Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente.
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“They know each other extremely well,” says French football journalist Xavier Barret. “Many Argentine internationals have played in La Liga, while many Spanish players have worked under Argentine coaches or alongside Argentine teammates.”
Yet despite the shared footballing roots, the identities at play could hardly be more different.
Collective precision
Spain’s route to New York has been built on suffocating opponents rather than overwhelming them. They monopolise possession, dictate the tempo and rarely lose their structure.
“They don’t dominate relentlessly for 90 minutes, though,” Barret says. “They control games in phases. They move the ball patiently, they don’t press constantly because that’s impossible to sustain, but they make opponents chase the game.”
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French sports journalist Karim Baldé believes Spain’s greatest strength lies in collective, rather than individual, brilliance and in their ability to steadily raise their level of play throughout the tournament.
“They started the tournament quietly, after drawing with Cape Verde, and it wasn’t sure they would even reach the final,” he said. “But they have improved with every match. Their defensive block is incredibly well-organised. The team hardly moves out of shape.”
Spain are also one of the few elite sides not dependent on a single star.
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“They can leave players like Mikel Merino on the bench,” Baldé says. “That tells you about the depth Luis de la Fuente has: He has different tactical options depending on the opponent.”
The team’s cohesion is a reflection of a programme dating back to the mid-1990s when Spain overhauled youth coaching nationwide, introducing regional scouting and a unified possession-based philosophy inspired by FC Barcelona, Barret explains.
The ‘M’ factor
If La Roja represents structure, La Albiceleste embodies resilience.
Scaloni’s side needed another dramatic comeback against England in the semi-finals (2-1) after trailing for much of the match, continuing a pattern that has defined their title defence.
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“You always think they’re about to lose, and somehow they win,” Baldé says.
Behind Lionel Messi, he says, lies a squad willing to sacrifice everything.
“They’re soldiers in Messi’s service. Players like [Leandro] Paredes and [Alexis] Mac Allister bring intensity and aggression when it’s needed. The whole team is elevated by having him.”
“I didn’t think he’d still be playing at this level,” Barret admits. “He doesn’t run much anymore, but he stays mentally sharp. He always sees the right pass at exactly the right moment.”
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But Barret sees something deeper at play. “When Argentina are backed into a corner, they find something extra,” he adds.
“They play as if their lives depend on it. That’s very South American. They have enormous pride.”
That mentality has repeatedly compensated for tactical imperfections. Argentina’s defence has occasionally looked vulnerable, but they have shown remarkable composure under pressure. Against England, they finished with an extraordinary 88 percent possession during the closing stages after spending much of the game trying to find a path to victory, illustrating their ability to adapt when circumstances demand it.
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Barret expects both teams to neutralise many of each other’s strengths in the final.
“They could cancel each other out,” he says. “Spain will try to control the ball. Argentina are perfectly comfortable defending deep and waiting for their moment.”
Time to shine for Yamal
For Baldé, one player could tip the balance.
“We’ve all been waiting for Lamine Yamal to produce his defining performance,” he says. “If he reaches his best level in the final, that could change everything.”
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The semi-finals offered contrasting lessons in game management.
While Spain comfortably controlled France, Argentina capitalised on England manager Thomas Tuchel’s increasingly defensive substitutions.
“Scaloni is always willing to take risks,” Barret says. “Even against Egypt earlier in the tournament, when others would protect what they had, he removed defenders and added attackers. Tuchel did the opposite against Argentina.”
Against Spain, however, Scaloni faces a very different challenge.
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“Nobody has really managed to disrupt Spain,” Barret says. “That’s why this final is so fascinating.”
Fox News chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt reports on Spain winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina in a match at New York New Jersey Stadium on ‘The Big Weekend Show.’
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Spain’s exciting FIFA World Cup victory over Argentina in extra time was marred by a post-match brawl that included Leandro Paredes and Eric García.
The aggressive tackling and chippyness from the Argentinian side led to a confrontation between the two squads. Paredes was seen coming over to a post-match fracas between players from the two nations and putting his hand on the throat of García.
Leandro Paredes of Argentina confronts Eric Garcia of Spain after the FIFA World Cup final match at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19, 2026.(Marvin Ibo Guengoer-GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Paredes was issued a red card after the whistle and was sent off. He was also given a yellow card during the match for a hard tackle shortly after coming into the match.
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Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni was held back by a Spain player while he shouted at someone. Nicolas Otamendi exchanged words with several Spanish players, including Rodri.
“We are gracious in victory, and we must be so in defeat,” Scaloni said, via ESPN. “We accept the loss; we gave everything. We were stretched thin coming into this, but giving it your all, like they did today, sets a great example for our people and our country.
Referee Slavko Vincic of Slovenia shows a yellow card to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes during the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J.(Pamela Smith/AP)
“You lose, and you have to pick yourself up again.”
“There was one man on the pitch who did have class and that was Lionel Messi, who shook hands with every one of those Spanish players,” he said, via Goal.com. “The game’s done. They could have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behavior.”
Spain’s Gavi falls as he scuffles with Argentina’s Leandro Paredes and Thiago Almada during the World Cup final match, Sunday, July 19, 2026.(Yuki Iwamura/AP)
Jul 10, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Leahy (62) throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Coming in off arguably their worst loss of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in Anaheim, Calif.
St. Louis, in a three-way tie for the final wild-card spot in the National League, squandered a 7-0 lead while dropping the decisive contest of their three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, 8-7, in 10 innings on Sunday in Phoenix.
The seven-run comeback matched the largest in team history for the Diamondbacks, who are just a half-game back of the Cardinals, Miami and Pittsburgh in the race for the final wild card.
Max Kepler lined a double over the head of right fielder Lars Nootbaar with one out in the 10th inning to drive in automatic runner Jorge Barrosa to win it for Arizona, which trailed 7-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
It marked the first time since July 2010 that St. Louis blew a lead of seven or more runs in a loss. Rubbing more salt in the wound was the fact ex-Cardinal Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to forge a 7-7 tie.
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“We don’t deserve to win that game in any way, to be quite honest with you,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “We did a nice job early getting ahead, but the way that one unfolded … I tell you what, there’s a lot of learning opportunities in that one. It stings. It (stinks), and no one is more mad than me. At the end of the day, we gave that one away.”
Marmol said it was important for his team to move on from the bitter loss and focus on its three-game series against a Los Angeles team that owns the worst record in baseball at 39-61.
“We already talked about it,” Marmol said. “Dwell on (the loss) for the time being, take what you need out of it. Before you guys were let in here, they were already talking about some of the things that we felt that we gave away. Their ability to (rebound) quickly and move on to the next day is, at this point, part of our identity.”
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Kyle Leahy (7-4, 3.73 ERA) gets the start in the potential bounce-back game for St. Louis. He will be opposed by fellow right-hander Jose Soriano (8-6, 3.49).
Leahy is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three career relief appearances against the Angels. He hasn’t allowed a hit over 5 1/3 innings.
He threw three shutout innings and allowed one hit in a 2-1 home win over Atlanta in his last start on July 10. He departed after throwing just three pitches in the fourth inning because of a two-hour, 44-minute rain delay.
Soriano has started against the Cardinals once in his career. That came in 2024 when he allowed two hits over 5 1/3 shutout innings and struck out six in a game that St. Louis used an eight-run seventh to rally for a 10-5 victory at Angel Stadium. Even more coincidental is the fact Leahy picked up the win with 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief.
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Soriano, the American League Pitcher of the Month in April, is 0-2 in his last five starts following an 8-0 home victory over Tampa Bay on June 13.
The Angels held on for a 3-2 victory over the visiting Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon to snap a four-game losing streak. It was just the third win in the last 15 games for Kurt Suzuki’s squad.
Right-hander Ryan Johnson allowed a leadoff homer to fellow rookie Kevin McGonigle on the third pitch of the game but rebounded to allow no more runs and just one more hit over five innings to pick up his third career victory.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever given up a leadoff home run, so that’s a new experience,” said Johnson, 23. “But I was able to stay focused, stay with the game plan and attack.”
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell showed visible emotion Sep 8, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, during second-half action at Soldier Field against the Bears. O’Connell’s reaction on the sideline reflected the intensity of the divisional contest as Minnesota worked to maintain composure and adjust strategy on the road in the NFC North matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.
For a little while, there’s been speculation aplenty about adding a sturdier EDGE3 in Minnesota. All of the online ink on that Vikings rumor hasn’t led to a deal getting done.
Consider, for instance, the opinion offered by Jeff Diamond. Writing for Vikings Territory, the team’s former GM insisted that Minnesota is an edge rusher short: “Unless Golday quickly emerges as a solid edge rusher (as indicated on draft day) in addition to his ability to play inside ‘backer, we’ll have to continue to harp on the ill-advised decision to trade Jonathan Greenard, an elite edge rusher when healthy unless a vet free agent of renown is brought aboard.”
More thoughts from Mr. Diamond: “they have to be concerned about who will be in the rotation to give Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner a break since rushing the passer is one of the most physically demanding jobs in football. And I’ve always believed pass rushers are the second most important position in the NFL after quarterback (I go back to something Bud Grant often said—’give me a great quarterback and a fourth-quarter pass rush’).”
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Diamond’s perspective is shared by many. Do the Vikings agree?
Top Vikings Rumor — Adding an Edge Rusher — Put to Test Soon
Somewhat ironically, the Vikings’ third and fourth edge rushers may not be edge rushers at all. Filling those openings may come down to pushing a linebacker forward and by kicking a defensive lineman outward.
Eric Wilson, in particular, looks like a decent option. He’s coming off a breakout season. Mr. Wilson thrived under the tutelage of DC Brian Flores (both player and coach appear to enjoy working together). The former undrafted talent tossed 6.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and 17 tackles for loss onto the stat sheet. Better yet, Wilson boasted an eye-popping 4 forced fumbles.
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Much of the damage got done within his job as an edge rusher, where he had 336 snaps (PFF).
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58), linebacker Eric Wilson (55) and linebacker Andrew van Ginkel (43) celebrate after a play during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
Much of what’s appealing about Ingram-Dawkins is that he’s capable of doing a bit of everything. He’s long, he’s fast, and he’s strong. Maybe he’s not totally elite at a single thing, but the well-roundedness of his game makes him an intriguing piece of the puzzle for Coach Flores.
The danger here rests in mirroring the careers of James Lynch, Jalyn Holmes, Esezi Otomewo, and others of recent Vikings history. Essentially, capable of being moved around but never settling into a clear job.
Dangers aside, Ingram-Dawkins appears ready to earn more snaps as an edge rusher. He looks visibly leaner, hinting at being asked to kick outside a touch more as a sophomore. Ideally, his long arms and explosiveness will lead to playing sturdy snaps at edge rusher. Quite possibly, that’s as a run stuffer due to being larger than most along the edge, but that’s speculative.
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Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew van Ginkel (43) and Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (26) celebrate after a play against the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
But then there’s the issue that still stands behind the Vikings rumor: is that going to be enough? Do the Vikings get enough from this cluster of talent?
Sitting on north of $13 million in space — with options to add plenty more — the Vikings could opt to pickup an assassin-for-hire to reinforce the pass rusher’s department. On Bleacher Report, there’s a listing of the best remaining free agents. Jadeveon Clowney, Von Miller, and Kyle Van Noy are among the players. Clowney, in particular, looks like a nice fit since he’s a 3-4 edge rusher coming off a productive year.
At training camp, the Vikings are going to get a much better understanding of where the roster is strong and less than strong. Accordingly, GM Nolan Teasley will be able to make decisions about a needed add to shore up a weakness (if that issue arises).
Minnesota wants to live in a world where everybody remains healthy as several options beyond Andrew Van Ginkel & Dallas Turner appear prepared to shine. However, the inverse could occur. Maybe an injury happens (hopefully not). Or maybe one of the planned options to fill the EDGE3 or EDGE4 snaps underperforms. Teasley could then be a touch more open to offering a decent deal to a free agent.
Training camp and the preseason offer clarity. As a result, the Vikings will soon be able to glean valuable insight to fully address a longstanding rumor about needing to add an edge rusher.
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Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) during the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
The Vikings begin reporting to training camp on Sunday.
The Boston Red Sox were left for dead this season. Now, they’ve won 18 of 20 and are currently riding their longest winning streak since the lineup included Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, Bobby Doerr and some lefty named Ted Williams. They are just two shy of the franchise record of 15 straight wins, which was established by a different Williams-led team.
This past weekend series, the Red Sox toppled the first-place Rays in a four-game sweep. Meanwhile, the second-place Yankees lost two of three. Oh, and the Orioles swept the Astros and have won seven straight games. Things are tightening.
For much of the season, this division has looked like a two-team race. Maybe, if a third team snuck into contention, it would be the defending American League champion Blue Jays. The Orioles and Red Sox looked like they were coasting into the trade deadline as sellers.
Maybe that’s still the case, as things can change very quickly in two weeks. Look no further than what has happened here over the last several weeks.
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It’s also entirely possible that all five teams could remain in contention all season here. Perhaps the AL East ends up with all three wild-card teams as the rest of the American League remains mired in mediocrity.
It’s not even that far-fetched. Right now, the Rays have the best AL record with the Yankees second. The Red Sox hold the third wild card. The Orioles are only two games out of a playoff spot. The Red Sox and Orioles would only need to squeeze past the Guardians (who are currently three games ahead of the Orioles) to give the East four of the six playoff teams on this side of the bracket.
Maybe the division race could even get juicy? The Red Sox have trimmed their deficit to just six games, with the Orioles eight back. The Rays looked like a regression candidate heading into the second half and if that coincides with the Yankees’ offensive woes continuing, things really could tighten up here.
How’s this for backward? Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw his first career complete game on Sunday. Well, his first in the regular season. He had two in the playoffs last year.
They lost four of five heading into the break. So what? It’s a group of winners. They come out of the break and sweep the Marlins, including two walk-off wins.
The most disappointing performers on offense in the first half were probably Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner. Both appear to be waking up, as Bregman has three homers in his last five games and Hoerner went 8 for 13 over the weekend.
The Braves will hold out hope that all Austin Riley needed was the All-Star break. After a first half in which he hit .207/.288/.329, he’s 6 for 12 with three home runs so far post-break.
I mentioned the Rays as a regression candidate. The most elementary way of showing my work here is they have a +14 run differential and are 56-42. With that run differential they should only be about two games over .500. Obviously there are outliers and it’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but when teams stray this far, it can be a red flag.
In a six-game stretch wrapping around the All-Star break, the Pirates went 5-1 against the Brewers and Guardians. They’ve also now won three straight Paul Skenes starts after that weird losing streak. Things are looking up!
Through 100 games, the Guardians are on pace to have zero players hit 20 home runs. We don’t see that often these days, but for this franchise, it last happened in 2015 (excepting the 2020 nonsense). The team leader that year was Carlos Santana with 19.
The Mariners had an Andrés Muñoz problem earlier this season, but he’s now gone 12 straight scoreless outings, converting all seven of his save chances in there with 18 strikeouts against four walks in 12 innings.
On Dec. 22, the Nationals signed lefty Foster Griffin to a one-year, $5.5 million deal. He had spent the previous three seasons in Japan and had just eight career MLB innings (with a 6.75 ERA) to his name. He’s now an All-Star who is 11-2 with a 2.68 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. What a story.
They got the blowout win on Sunday, but the bottom line is they lost a series to a bottom feeder coming out of the break. The Padres now get to deal with the Braves and Marlins before returning home.
Hunter Brown was good in two starts, but then hit the injured list for roughly 2 ½ months. He was fine in his first three starts back. In his last three? Fifteen walks in 14 ⅔ innings along with three home runs allowed have contributed to a 7.98 ERA.
They still haven’t been more than two games over .500 since March. They haven’t been over .500 since April 3, when they were 4-3. They pulled themselves even at 29-29, but then lost four straight. They pulled themselves back to even, again, on June 22, but followed that with six consecutive losses.
Sal Stewart moved to 20 homers and 70 RBI on Sunday. The only Reds rookie to ever get to 25 and 80, respectively, was Hall of Famer Frank Robinson in 1956 (38 HR, 83 RBI).
Starter Clay Holmes was supposed to make a rehab start over the weekend as he looks to return from a broken fibula. Alas, it was rained out, but he’ll still be back soon enough to garner a lot of trade interest, especially given the dearth of sellers and how many teams are looking to buy rotation help. Keep an eye on him.
Buyer beware on Robbie Ray? He has a 2.44 ERA at home and 4.36 on the road. Then again, one disastrous outing is really skewing that road ERA and he’s had some good road outings (such as five scoreless innings in Wrigley or 6 ⅓ scoreless in Truist).
The A’s have now allowed 23 runs in a game twice this season. The only other teams in history to have that happen (at least 23, that is) are the 1901 Reds and 1923 Red Sox.
Last week, I mentioned Hunter Goodman’s home run pace relating to the Rockies having never had a 50-homer guy. Well, he hit three on Sunday and his pace is up to 48. This is fun.
Given their upside and also inconsistency often on display, I can only conclude that both Reid Detmers and José Soriano should both be rooting for a trade. Both could benefit from a change of scenery in the hopes that their new team can better help them hit their ceiling.
The 23rd edition of the multi-sport event for Commonwealth nations, the Commonwealth Games 2026, is all set to begin on Thursday, July 23, in Glasgow, Scotland.
The 11-day event, running until August 2, will feature athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories competing across a streamlined programme of 10 sports, including six integrated para sports. Glasgow is hosting the Games for the second time after staging the event in 2014, but this edition will be significantly smaller in scale, with competitions taking place across just four venues.
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India will be represented by a 120-member contingent across 13 disciplines, with Olympic and world champions such as Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain leading the country’s medal hopes.
Commonwealth Games 2026: Venues
Unlike previous editions, all competitions will be held within an eight-mile corridor across four major sporting venues in Glasgow.
Scotstoun Stadium – Athletics and Para Athletics
SEC Centre – Boxing, Bowls, Para Bowls, Judo, 3×3 Basketball and Wheelchair 3×3 Basketball
SEC Armadillo – Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting
OVO Hydro – Netball
Tollcross International Swimming Centre – Swimming and Para Swimming
Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Arena – Track Cycling, Para Track Cycling and Artistic Gymnastics
Commonwealth Games 2026: Full list of sports
The Glasgow edition of the Commonwealth Games will feature the following sports:
3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball
Artistic Gymnastics
Athletics and Para Athletics
Bowls and Para Bowls
Boxing
Judo
Netball
Swimming and Para Swimming
Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling
Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting
Commonwealth Games 2026: Full schedule
Date
Sports Scheduled
Approximate Session Timings (IST)
23 Jul 2026 (Thu)
Opening Ceremony
10:30 PM onwards
24 Jul 2026 (Fri)
3×3 Basketball & 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball; Artistic Gymnastics; Athletics & Para Athletics; Bowls & Para Bowls; Boxing; Judo; Netball; Para Powerlifting; Swimming & Para Swimming; Track Cycling & Para Track Cycling; Weightlifting
2:30 PM–6:15 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
25 Jul 2026 (Sat)
Same 11 sports
1:00 PM–6:30 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
26 Jul 2026 (Sun)
Same 11 sports
1:00 PM–6:30 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
27 Jul 2026 (Mon)
Same 11 sports
1:00 PM–6:30 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
28 Jul 2026 (Tue)
Same 11 sports
1:00 PM–6:30 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
29 Jul 2026 (Wed)
Same 11 sports
1:00 PM–6:30 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
30 Jul 2026 (Thu)
Same 11 sports
1:00 PM–6:30 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
31 Jul 2026 (Fri)
Same 11 sports
1:00 PM–6:30 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
1 Aug 2026 (Sat)
Same 11 sports
1:00 PM–6:30 PM; 7:30 PM–12:30 AM; 12:30 AM–2:45 AM
2 Aug 2026 (Sun)
Athletics & Para Athletics Finals; Boxing Finals; Netball Medal Matches; Swimming & Para Swimming Finals; Track Cycling & Para Track Cycling Finals; Weightlifting Finals; Closing Ceremony
Competition from 1:00 PM onwards; Closing Ceremony 10:30 PM onwards
Commonwealth Games 2026: Full list of players in Indian contingent
India has named a 120-member contingent for Glasgow 2026 across 13 disciplines. Athletics accounts for the largest representation, followed by boxing, judo and weightlifting.
Among the biggest names in the squad are Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, world champion boxer Lovlina Borgohain, swimmer Srihari Nataraj, gymnast Pranati Nayak, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, race walker Priyanka Goswami, high jumper and decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and boxer Sachin Siwach.
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India will also field athletes in para events, including para athletics, para swimming, para powerlifting, para track cycling and wheelchair 3×3 basketball.
Moreover, Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain have been confirmed as India’s flag and baton bearers for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on July 23.
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Indian contingent for Commonwealth Games 2026:
Sport
Category
Athlete
Events/Weight Class
3×3 BASKETBALL
Reena Rameshchandra Gupta
Women’s Wheelchair
3×3 BASKETBALL
Irengbam Ritu Chanu
Women’s Wheelchair
3×3 BASKETBALL
Jadhav Minakshi Harichandra
Women’s Wheelchair
3×3 BASKETBALL
Rayannavar Laxmi Rayappa
Women’s Wheelchair
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Tapan Mohanty
Men’s Team all-around
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Tapeshwarnath Das
Men’s Team all-around
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Swatish KP
Men’s Team all-around
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Satyajit Mondal
Men’s Team all-around
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Pranati Nayak
Women’s Team all-around
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Nishka Agarwal
Women’s Team all-around
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Eshita Rewale
Women’s Team all-around
ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
Protistha Samanta
Women’s Team all-around
ATHLETICS
Track
Gurindervir Singh
Men’s 100 metres
ATHLETICS
Track
Animesh Kujur
Men’s 200 metres
ATHLETICS
Track
Vishal TK
Men’s 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay
ATHLETICS
Track
Rajesh Ramesh
Men’s 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay
ATHLETICS
Track
Gulveer Singh
Men’s 5000 metres, Men’s 10,000 metres
ATHLETICS
Track
Tejas Shirse
Men’s 110 metres hurdles
ATHLETICS
Track
Yashas Palaksha
Men’s 400 metres hurdles
ATHLETICS
Track
Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan
Men’s 400 metres hurdles
ATHLETICS
Track
Rashdeep Kaur
Women’s 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay
ATHLETICS
Track
Neeru Pathak
Women’s 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay
ATHLETICS
Track
Ansa Babu
Women’s 400 metres, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay
ATHLETICS
Track
Parul Chaudhary
Women’s 3000 metres s’chase, Women’s 5000 metres
ATHLETICS
Track
Priyanka Goswami
Women’s 10,000 metres walk
ATHLETICS
Track
Ravina Gaikwad
Women’s 10,000 metres walk
ATHLETICS
Field
Dev Meena
Men’s pole vault
ATHLETICS
Field
Kuldeep Kumar
Men’s pole vault
ATHLETICS
Field
Sarvesh Anil Kushare
Men’s high jump
ATHLETICS
Field
Aadarsh Ram J
Men’s high jump
ATHLETICS
Field
Tejaswin Shankar
Men’s high jump, Men’s decathlon
ATHLETICS
Field
Murali Sreeshankar
Men’s long jump
ATHLETICS
Field
Lokesh Sathyanathan
Men’s long jump
ATHLETICS
Field
Praveen Chithravel
Men’s triple jump
ATHLETICS
Field
Selva Prabhu
Men’s triple jump
ATHLETICS
Field
Samardeep Singh Gill
Men’s shot put
ATHLETICS
Field
Tajinderpal Singh Toor
Men’s shot put
ATHLETICS
Field
Neeraj Chopra
Men’s javelin throw
ATHLETICS
Field
Rohit Yadav
Men’s javelin throw
ATHLETICS
Field
Yash Vir Singh
Men’s javelin throw
ATHLETICS
Field
Pooja Singh
Women’s high jump
ATHLETICS
Field
Manpreet Kaur
Women’s shot put
ATHLETICS
Field
Seema Kaliramna
Women’s discus throw
ATHLETICS
Field
Nidhi Rani
Women’s discus throw
PARA ATHLETICS
Track
Rakeshbhai Bhatt
Men’s 100 metres (T38)
PARA ATHLETICS
Track
Shreyansh Trivedi
Men’s 100 metres (T38)
PARA ATHLETICS
Track
Mohammed Basil M
Men’s 100 metres (T47)
PARA ATHLETICS
Track
Dilip Mahadu Gavit
Men’s 100 metres (T47)
PARA ATHLETICS
Track
Ramesh Shanmugam
Men’s 1500 metres (T54)
PARA ATHLETICS
Field
Devender Kumar
Men’s discus throw (F44)
PARA ATHLETICS
Field
Sagar Thayat
Men’s discus throw (F44)
PARA ATHLETICS
Field
Shubham Juyal
Men’s shot put (F57)
PARA ATHLETICS
Field
Soman Rana
Men’s shot put (F57)
PARA ATHLETICS
Field
Sharmila Dhankar
Women’s shot put (F57)
PARA ATHLETICS
Field
Shilpa K Shyla
Women’s shot put (F57)
LAWN BOWLS
Putul Sonowal
Men’s singles
LAWN BOWLS
Nayanmoni Saikia
Women’s singles
LAWN BOWLS
Navneet Singh
Men’s pairs
LAWN BOWLS
Dinesh Kumar
Men’s pairs
LAWN BOWLS
Rupa Rani Tirkey
Women’s pairs
LAWN BOWLS
Pinki Singh
Women’s pairs
BOXING
Jadumani Singh
Men’s 55 kg
BOXING
Sachin Siwach
Men’s 60 kg
BOXING
Aditya Pratap Singh
Men’s 65 kg
BOXING
Sumit Kundu
Men’s 70 kg
BOXING
Ankush Ankush
Men’s 80 kg
BOXING
Kapil Pokhariya
Men’s 90 kg
BOXING
Narender Berwal
Men’s 90+ kg
BOXING
Sakshi Choudhary
Women’s 51 kg
BOXING
Preeti Pawar
Women’s 54 kg
BOXING
Jasmine Lamboria
Women’s 57 kg
BOXING
Priya Ghanghas
Women’s 60 kg
BOXING
Parveen Hooda
Women’s 65 kg
BOXING
Arundhati Choudhary
Women’s 70 kg
BOXING
Lovlina Borgohain
Women’s 75 kg
JUDO
Harsh Singh
Men’s 60 kg
JUDO
Rohit Basir Majgul
Men’s 66 kg
JUDO
Arun Kumar
Men’s 73 kg
JUDO
Harsh Tokas
Men’s 81 kg
JUDO
Karanjit Singh Maan
Men’s 90 kg
JUDO
Avtar Singh
Men’s 100 kg
JUDO
Yash Ghanghas
Men’s 100+ kg
JUDO
Asmita Dey
Women’s 48 kg
JUDO
Shraddha Kadabul Chopade
Women’s 52 kg
JUDO
Yamini Mourya
Women’s 57 kg
JUDO
Unnati Sharma
Women’s 63 kg
JUDO
Inunganbi Takhellambam
Women’s 70 kg
JUDO
Ishroop Narang
Women’s 78 kg
JUDO
Tulika Maan
Women’s 78+ kg
PARA POWERLIFTING
Ashok Kumar Malik
Men’s lightweight
PARA POWERLIFTING
Parmjeet Kumar
Men’s lightweight
PARA POWERLIFTING
Sudhir Sudhir
Men’s heavyweight
PARA POWERLIFTING
Jhandu Kumar
Men’s heavyweight
PARA POWERLIFTING
Suman Devi
Women’s lightweight
PARA POWERLIFTING
Jaspreet Kaur
Women’s lightweight
PARA POWERLIFTING
Kasthuri Rajamani
Women’s heavyweight
SWIMMING
Srihari Nataraj
men’s 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay
Why is the Commonwealth Games 2026 reduced to just 10 sports?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are considerably smaller than previous editions because the original host, the Australian state of Victoria, withdrew in 2023 after projected hosting costs ballooned to around A$6-7 billion.
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To ensure the Games survived, Glasgow stepped in as host with a sustainable, low-cost model centred around existing venues rather than new infrastructure. As part of that approach, the sports programme was reduced from the 19 sports featured in Birmingham 2022 to just 10 sports, while competitions are being held across only four venues.
Athletics and swimming remained compulsory sports under Commonwealth Sport regulations, while Scotland selected the remaining sports based on venue availability, cost, athlete participation and commercial viability. Despite the reduced programme, Glasgow 2026 will still award 215 gold medals and feature the largest-ever integrated para sports programme in Commonwealth Games history, with six para sports included. Organisers hope the leaner model will provide a blueprint for making future Commonwealth Games more financially sustainable and attractive to potential host cities.
Commonwealth Games 2026: Live streaming and telecast details
When will the Commonwealth Games 2026 begin?
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The Commonwealth Games 2026 will kick off on Thursday, July 23, with the opening ceremony.
How long will the Commonwealth Games be in 2026?
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The Commonwealth Games 2026 will run for 11 days before concluding on August 2 with the closing ceremony.
Which city will be hosting the Commonwealth Games 2026?
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The Commonwealth Games 2026 will be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland.
Where to watch the live broadcast of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in India?
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The live broadcast of the Commonwealth Games 2026 will be available on Sony Sports Network and Doordarshan (DD National) in India.
Where to watch live streaming of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in India?
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The live streaming of the Commonwealth Games 2026 will be available on the SonyLIV app and website in India.
Dmitry Bivol has been linked to a number of opponents since defeating Michael Eifert, but it seems as though there is only one man whom the Russian intends to face – avoiding a fight with a former world champion in the process.
Bivol claimed the undisputed light-heavyweight crown when he avenged his solitary career defeat to Artur Beterbiev with a majority-decision triumph in February 2025, until a 15-month period of inactivity saw him forego his WBC world title.
Upon his return, in May, Bivol shook off the ring rust by fulfilling his IBF mandatory and defending his three remaining world titles against Eifert in Russia, before rumours that the 35-year-old would swerve a trilogy against Beterbiev emerged.
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However, in an interview with FightHype, promoter Eddie Hearn denied those suggestions and revealed that it is the Beterbiev fight which Bivol wants most.
“There’s a lot of people saying, ‘Bivol doesn’t want to fight Beterbiev.’ That’s not true at all.”
“Dmitry wants the trilogy. That’s the fight he wants. We’ll start those conversations and see what happens.”
It had been understood that Bivol would instead take on former WBA super-middleweight world champion and current WBO 175lb mandatory challenger Callum Smith – once the Russian had recovered from an elbow surgery which is set to take place later this month.
Yet, Hearn went on to explain that he now expects Smith to rematch Joshua Buatsi in a clash for the vacant WBO light-heavyweight world title, after Bivol has relinquished the belt.
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“I think Callum Smith will probably end up boxing Joshua Buatsi for the vacant world title if that’s the route it goes.
“We’ll see how everything plays out, but Dmitry wants the Beterbiev fight.”
As a result, it seems as though Bivol-Beterbiev III could be back on the cards for later this year, with the WBA and IBF light-heavyweight marbles at stake.
Meanwhile, Smith-Buatsi II could headline a mooted ‘Matchroom vs. Queensberry 2’ bill in either October or November, nearly two years on from their first battle which was won by Smith after a Fight of the Year contender.
Football didn’t have it easy at the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
There were questionable decisions by FIFA, the sport’s governing body, as well as a lot of spectacle and a final in which only one team actually played football.
After a total of 104 games in this biggest-ever World Cup, Spain were deservedly crowned champions, and, for the first time, a country’s men’s and women’s teams are simultaneously world champions.
US President Donald Trump congratulated FIFA on what he called “one of the all-time greatest sporting events in history.”
But was it really? Here’s what will be remembered.
How did viewers receive the biggest Cup yet?
Fears of empty stadiums — especially in the United States, where international football isn’t the No. 1 sport — proved unfounded. According to FIFA, 6,810,966 fans attended the tournament, the first to be co-hosted by three countries. This set a new record for World Cup attendance.
Given that the schedule featured 104 matches, instead of 64 at previous tournaments, record attendance is no surprise. The average match attendance was about 65,000, and, according to FIFA, 99.7% of all available seats were filled. However, many empty seats were visible in stadiums, especially during the group stage.
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Hydration breaks draw criticism
Fans criticized the newly introduced hydration breaks. Most coaches, however, supported the breaks — or, at least, did not complain about them.
Uruguay’s now-former coach, Marcelo Bielsa, on the other hand, criticized the additional opportunity to influence the game.
“Playing four halves instead of two changes the culturally shaped perception of football,” he said. “These breaks add nothing to the game, but take a lot away from it.”
Germany felt both the advantages and disadvantages of the hydration breaksImage: Jan Woitas/dpa/picture alliance
Were there any surprises at this World Cup?
World Cup newcomer Cape Verde caused quite a stir. The small African nation held eventual world champions Spain to a 0-0 draw and narrowly lost to defending champions Argentina in extra time in the round of 32.
This World Cup was expensive. Fans had to dig deep into their pockets for tickets, hotels, parking fees or flights. However, prices inside the stadiums caused additional frustration. In the US, visitors had to pay up to €20 ($22) for a beer, more than €17 for French fries or about €7 for a bottle of water.
In Mexico, too, food and drinks were significantly more expensive than usual. At the Azteca Stadium, where the opening match took place, a beer cost the equivalent of about €15.50 — almost as much as the country’s minimum daily wage.
Tickets for the final were unaffordable and unattainable for most people Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa/picture alliance
What role did Trump play at the World Cup?
There was widespread concern that Trump might use the World Cup to advance his political agenda. After all, the US president had repeatedly declared the tournament to be his personal prestige project. Yet Trump didn’t show up at the stadium until the final and largely kept a low profile during the tournament.
Nevertheless, the 80-year-old sparked the biggest scandal of the tournament. After US forward Folarin Balogun was shown a red card, he successfully lobbied FIFA President Infantino to review the automatic ban for the next game.
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Balogun was allowed to play in the round-of-16 match against Belgium, but couldn’t stop America from losing to Belgium.
“The current FIFA president has bowed to Donald Trump,” said former FIFA boss Joseph Blatter. However, the criticism of Infantino is reportedly unlikely to jeopardize his potential reelection as FIFA president in March 2027.
How safe was the World Cup?
The war in the Middle East and unrest in Mexico had raised significant security concerns in the run-up to the tournament. While the games in Canada and the US went off largely without a hitch, there were several incidents in Mexico. Fans stormed an already overcrowded fan zone in Guadalajara; after a victory by the co-hosts, a car plowed into a celebrating crowd; and several people died during victory celebrations in Mexico City.
In addition to numerous fans, particularly from African countries, Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the US despite having a valid visa. The authorities cited security concerns over alleged ties to a terrorist organization in his home country as the reason. The Somali FIFA referee is still expected to receive his salary due from the World Cup.
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Many fans of African nations were not allowed to travel to the US for gamesImage: John E Sokolowski/IMAGN IMAGES/REUTERS
“This World Cup has been played against a backdrop of the U.S. government’s abusive immigration crackdown,” said Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch.
She also pointed to a “failure by FIFA to uphold its own human rights standards.”
This seems to contradict any claim of this being the “most inclusive World Cup in history.”
“FIFA had promised that everyone could feel safe. The truth is different. ICE, for example, has doubled the number of arrests,” said Daniel Norona of Amnesty International USA.
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Ronan Evain of the fan organization “Football Supporters Europe” criticized the opaque process for issuing visas to fans, particularly those from non-European countries.
“Our observations have revealed little or no evidence that ticket holders from Africa and Asia actually received visas to enter the US,” Evain said.
What’s next after the World Cup?
For Infantino, further expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams is certainly conceivable. Instead of the current 104, there would then be 128 matches.
“That is definitely an issue that will be examined after this World Cup and discussed within the committees,” the FIFA president told Swiss broadcaster “blue Sport.”
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Despite the widespread criticism of Infantino, his position as FIFA president is not in jeopardy. On the contrary: More games mean more money that he can distribute to the member nations. Next year, Infantino is expected to be re-elected to his post for the third time.
If reelected, Infantino would be in charge until 2031, a year after the next World Cup, which is to be spread over three continents. A total of three games will be played in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina before the tournament moves to Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Former MLB reliever Duane Ward, known for helping the Toronto Blue Jays win World Series in the 1990s, has died. He was 62 years old.
The Blue Jays announced Ward’s death on Sunday, saying he died of natural causes while in Toronto.
Ward was in Toronto for the unveiling of a statue outside the Blue Jays’ home Rogers Centre to commemorate the back-to-back World Series championship from 1992 and 1993, which he was a part of.
Duane Ward of the Toronto Blue Jays winds up to pitch against the Oakland Athletics during a game in Oakland, California.(Getty Images)
The unveiling was set for Saturday, where over two dozen players, coaches and executives were on hand to see it for the first time.
“Duane will be deeply missed by our fans, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family,” the Blue Jays said in a statement. “Duane will always be a cherished part of the Blue Jays family, and we will be forever grateful for his contributions to our organization and to baseball in Canada.”
The Blue Jays also had a tribute for Ward before Sunday’s first pitch against the Chicago White Sox, holding a moment of silence for him after a montage played on the videoboard in center field.
Ward was the top draft choice of the Atlanta Braves out of Farmington High School in New Mexico during the 1982 MLB Draft, but while he made his major league debut with the club, he didn’t last there long.
Ward was traded to the Blue Jays midway through the 1986 season, and he truly found a home north of the border.
He spent parts of nine years with the ballclub, turning into a key reliever that could be relied upon as the Blue Jays proved they had what it took to reach, and win, the World Series in the early 1990s.
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A moment of silence was held before the game for former Blue Jays pitcher Duane Ward, who died, as the Toronto Blue Jays played the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, on July 19, 2026.(Richard Lautens/Toronto Star)
Ward’s best season came during the 1993 World Series run, leading the league with 70 games finished and 45 saves, while owning a 2.13 ERA across 71.2 innings (71 games).
Ward also had a dominant 1.95 ERA during the 1992 season, earning himself 12 saves, and 103 strikeouts across 101.1 innings pitched.
In the postseason, Ward was just as exceptional, owning a 1.13 ERA and two saves during his World Series appearances. And though Game 6 of the 1993 World Series will forever be remembered for Joe Carter’s walk-off home run against the Philadelphia Phillies, it was Ward who earned the victory as the pitcher that shut the door to allow that to happen.
“Whether setting the stage in the eighth inning or closing out wins, he will be remembered for the role he played in some of the greatest moments in Blue Jays history,” the team’s statement continued.
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Former MLB player Duane Ward throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the American League Division Series between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.(Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
AEW star Chris Jericho had a guest walk out of his recent podcast with Y2J, addressing the fallout.
The Ayatollah of Rock n Roll sat down with the creative minds behind the upcoming horror classic, ‘Devour,’ to discuss the movie. In a clip released on Instagram, Chris Jericho spoke about the team conducting 4,000 auditions to lock in the final cast and the different species in the movie, like werewolves, minotaurs, demons, zombies, and more.
During the conversation, the artist donning the costume of Mae the Werewolf left the discussion. This came after the former AEW World Champion said the minotaurs looked better than Mae, with the other members saying she is sensitive and might not have taken Jericho’s comments well, leading to the walk-out.
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Terrifying chat with the creative minds behind the new batshit crazy, future horror classic @devour_movie on @talkisjericho NOW! Despite having a guest walk off #TalkIsJericho for the FIRST time ever, (who just so happened to be the FIRST Lycanthrope on #TalkIsJericho ever), director @scotthansenfilm, producer #DesireeHansen and star @gus.langley and Mae the werewolf delve deep into the story behind how a movie about a vampire metal band spiraled into a universe filled with werewolves, sirens, warlocks, minotaurs, zombies, demons, Civil War vampires, and total chaos. Hear how they cast the film from nearly 4,000 auditions, why Gus Langley turned down Marvel’s Thunderbolts to finish #DEVOUR, and why #MaeTheWerewolf got insulted and walked off the TIJ set!
Chris Jericho is set to bring back his popular heel persona in AEW
Chris Jericho is currently embroiled in a heated feud with Tommaso Ciampa in AEW. The duo squared off in a huge collision at Beach Break, which Jericho lost. He addressed the same in a promo the following week on Dynamite, saying that he wanted to have one more match against him at AEW Redemption 2026 PPV. However, Jericho revealed that it would be his infamous ‘Painmaker’ persona that would battle Ciampa at the event.
This will be the first time in three years that Jericho will wrestle as the Painmaker in All Elite Wrestling. With the Demo God channeling his most sadistic version, it remains to be seen if Ciampa will be able to get past him at the Redemption PPV.
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SOUTHPORT, England — Golf, it’s a beautiful thing.
A year ago, the No. 1 player in the world went wire-to-wire at the Open Championship to claim a blowout victory. On Sunday, a little-known, 39-year-old PGA Tour lifer with just three career victories claimed his first solo lead of the week on the 72nd hole with a birdie putt for golfing immortality.
And best of all? He waited just 22 seconds to hit it.
Ryan Fox was not the victor the scriptwriters had in mind for this 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. In fact, he might arrive in the winner’s circle as the most compelling evidence against the scriptwriters, beating out hometown kid Tommy Fleetwood and major-winner-in-waiting Cam Young and new-dad Sam Burns en route to his narrative-altering win.
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And yet there was something fitting about his run to the title on Sunday evening at this Open Championship, about the tears that fell in scoring as he talked with his parents shortly after that victory was complete. An exceedingly nice guy and exceedingly normal golfer winning a week in which golf showed its impressive penchant to be anything but nice or normal.
Consider the scene just 20 minutes before Fox arrived on the 18th green, when Bryson DeChambeau arrived before the enormous gallery along the 18th fairway. DeChambeau had won over the crowd at Royal Birkdale, but only after threatening to blow the joint altogether after a two-shot ruling went against him on Friday afternoon.
It’s impossible to say how that ruling affected the rest of Bryson’s weekend, but there is no questioning the way it affected the rest of the tournament weekend, when DeChambeau became equal-parts martyr and conquering hero, flaunting his way around the driving range deep into the night on Friday and holding everyone in the tournament (tee-time-waiting players included) up before playing two over-par rounds on Saturday and Sunday.
DeChambeau’s rumble in the crowd was prolific, as it was expected to be. He is one of the most popular players in golf. His silence after ending his day at 4 under, tied for a not-quite-competitive 14th, was equally expected. DeChambeau hasn’t spoken to the press all week, potentially as retribution for public criticism dolled by Nick Faldo, and Sunday was no different. He signed autographs and disappeared into the evening again, a pointed (if questionably necessary) argument made about his power and influence in the age of ascendant YouTube stardom.
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Bryson’s bizarre week at Birkdale underlined a particularly absent stretch for golf’s “media” star. He leaves the majors in 2026 with the following record: three missed cuts, 1 sport-wide controversy sparked, 1 post-round interview granted. He will play LIV London next week, but considering the perilous financial state of his employers, there is a chance he does not play another round of significance until next April.
Fleetwood’s departure came after DeChambeau’s, even though his round ended a few minutes sooner. This was altogether fitting. If Bryson’s actions had given the general appearance of a golfer in a hurry to leave, Fleetwood’s had the look of a golfer totally unprepared for the week to end. In the end, three consecutive bogeys at the turn did the beloved local boy in. He closed with two splendid birdies to finish exactly three shots out of the lead. Then he signed autographs well into the night for a small ocean of Scouse children, who strained the ropelines all weekend and, in the end, jumped a fence to see their native son.
“Walking down 18 and the atmosphere out there, that was beyond stuff that I’ve dreamt of,” Fleetwood said after. “That was just stuff that I never imagined. The crowds were amazing, and they made it the most special week ever for me, and I can’t thank them enough.”
Cast against the responses to DeChambeau and Fleetwood, Fox’s walk up the 18th fairway elicited a roar of a different kind. He did not earn the adulation of the crowd on account of his fame or his zip code. In fact, for the vast majority of Sunday, he did not earn the attention of anybody at all. But Fox never stopped moving — charging down the closing stretch at Birkdale with birdies on the 13th, 14th and 16th holes.
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By the time his drive blasted straight up the elevator-shaft 18th fairway and landed perfectly within striking distance, the crowd engulfing the 18th knew there might be something special afoot. Fox, a Kiwi, had battled all day and all week at Birkdale with the perfect kind of British golfing sensibility — keeping a good humor about the dastardly brown and bouncy conditions and darting around the course like he was worried he might miss a dinner date. He stepped to the ball in the fairway almost immediately after the group ahead of him cleared the green, blasting a “perfect 9-iron” to 10 feet.
“I see things fast,” Fox explained later. “I was the same when I was playing cricket growing up. I played almost every sport growing up, and tennis I wanted to hit the ball hard, and cricket I wanted to hit the ball hard. Everything just happened fast. I was never methodical at anything, to be honest, and it just carried over into golf.”
When he finally arrived in the shadow of the cavernous grandstand on 18, the crowd was not cheering for fame or favor — they were cheering out of genuine respect. And Fox rewarded their respect by stepping to his ball for the tournament clinching birdie putt a mere 22 seconds after Burns missed his own attempt to force a playoff.
When it fell into the center of the hole, Fox was not the only one who erupted. The crowds cheered as loud and as earnestly as they had all week.
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The 154th Open could not have been more different than the 153rd. Different in texture and substance and starpower and drama and controversy and winner. And yet in this moment it could not have been more similar — a reminder that no matter how much changes in our strange world and our even stranger sport, some things just don’t.
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