Newcomer Christos Tzolis helped set up two goals as defending champion Arsenal opened the Premier League season by dismantling promoted Coventry 3-0 to spoil the visitor’s long-awaited return to the top flight Friday.

After ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title, Arsenal showed why it’s favored to repeat as champion by completely dominating Frank Lampard’s side in a game that was one-sided from start to finish.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard scored for the Gunners, who spurned chances to pad the scoreline even further.

For Coventry, it was a rude welcome back to the Premier League after a 25-year absence. Having won the second-tier Championship last season by a wide margin, Lampard’s side simply looked outmatched as it was repeatedly taken apart by a marauding Arsenal.

Tzolis was the only summer signing to start for the hosts, but the left winger showed he could give this attack an added dimension by helping to set up both opening goals.

First he stole possession to feed defender Riccardo Calafiori, who squared the ball for Havertz to slot home in the 15th minute. The Greece international then sent a cross in from the left that goalkeeper Carl Rushworth managed to only push into the path of Saka, who scored into an empty net in the 23rd.

Odegaard added the third shortly after the break after his scuffed shot looped in out of reach of Rushworth. The Arsenal captain gave an apologetic shrug as a celebration.

At the other end, the only time Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was troubled was when a speculative overhead kick from Loum Tchaouna from outside the box sailed just high of the bar in the 42nd. The visitor’s only effort on target came in the 86th, when Jack Rudoni managed only a weak header straight at Raya.

Arsenal introduced its latest signing, England defender Ezri Konsa, before kickoff after he completed a move from Aston Villa earlier Friday.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Scottie Scheffler, who won the PGA Tour’s FedEx St. Jude Championship last week by a whopping eight strokes, says he played this week while dealing with hand, foot and mouth disease.

Scheffler’s revelation came Sunday, after he played four days at the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. The world’s top-ranked player said he developed blisters on his hands and feet and in his throat, and that he considered withdrawing from the tournament.

“So to start the week, it was pretty painful to grip the club,” Scheffler said. “If I was smarter, maybe I would have pulled out, but I was playing so good I felt like if I could knock it out quickly and just get through the first couple rounds I would still have a chance. 

“But I think that’s part of my stubbornness, probably. That’s probably a strength of mine and a weakness at times. Like, I’ve never been one to ever pull out of a tournament, especially in the middle of it. That’s really frustrating for me. So I definitely didn’t want to do that going into this week, even though it was suggested.”

He said it didn’t hurt to walk.

“Once you get on the course, you get the adrenaline and everything, I started to feel better,” Scheffler said. “But the blisters on the hands was probably the most challenging, just because it was painful to grip the club to start the week. I was prioritizing rest so I wasn’t able to work out the way I want to, and practice the way I want to, and even warm-up for rounds the way I want to. 

“I really just did my best to try and battle and it maybe was a poor decision playing, but I’ve never been one to try and quit.”

Notably, Scheffler’s two-over 72 during Thursday’s first round bettered only three players in the 50-man field, and from there, he played nine-under golf and tied for 12th. In his session with reporters on Sunday, Scheffler said he was starting to feel better, but also described a potentially awkward moment with Cameron Young, his final-round playing partner.

“I actually almost caught myself shaking hands with Cam on 18,” Scheffler said. 

“I would have felt really bad. I was like, Oh, my gosh, I almost forgot. So that’s good news, starting to feel better. Hopefully the throat will clear up the next couple days.”

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Bryson DeChambeau says he is “proud” of what LIV Golf has achieved as the breakaway league faces questions about its future following the final event of the season in Indianapolis.

The league, which launched in 2022 as an alternative to the PGA Tour, has faced an uncertain future since Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) withdrew its financial backing in April.

Last week, its season-ending Team Championships in Michigan was cancelled, meaning the event in Indianapolis concluded the 2026 campaign.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has said new investors have been secured for next season but has been tight-lipped on the league’s future plans and structure.

American DeChambeau, who led a selection of star players in joining LIV Golf four years ago, said although the breakaway league has not been perfect, it has “a lot of potential moving forward”.

“It has been an interesting ride, that’s for sure, everything we’ve gone through, and the tough moments we’ve had. It’s made us stronger,” said DeChambeau.

“As much as we are transitioning from LIV 1.0 to LIV 2.0, I have great thoughts about what could happen next year. I wish I could be more upfront about it.

“Ultimately I’m proud of the fact of what we’ve done, the good and some of the bad that we’ve unfortunately had, things that have occurred, I’m going to be real with it, not everything was perfect.

“But for the most part we’ve done a solid job and if there’s one thing I could say, we did something different in the game of golf and I’m proud of that.”

At the end of the interview, DeChambeau added: “I think there’s something fun coming.”

India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando have been fined 25 per cent of their match over their fiery altercation on the opening day of the 2nd Test in Colombo. 

Both players were found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator during an International Match).”

In addition to this, one demerit point each has been added to the disciplinary records of Fernando and Jaiswal, both of whom did not have any previous offences in the preceding 24-month period.

Former two-weight world champion Billy Joe Saunders believes one heavyweight has the upper hand in a “battle of the old man” between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

The two Brits are set to collide later this year, yet it remains to be seen whether their long-awaited showdown lands on the proposed date of November 20.

Not only that, but it seems the venue is up in the air following several weeks of uncertainty over whether the fight takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York.

According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s contract states the event must be staged in the UK while Fury, it appears, did not outline any preference over the location in his original agreement.

The 38-year-old therefore insists that he has no issue with fighting at Madison Square Garden, where Netflix and event financiers Sela are hoping the contest can be held.

As for the fight itself, many have made Fury a clear favourite following his seventh-round stoppage of Mariusz Wach last month, while ‘AJ’ was twice dropped by Kristian Prenga – before scoring a second-round finish – in his particular warm-up bout that same weekend.

Speaking with talkSPORT, Saunders maintained his allegiance to ‘The Gypsy King’ while admitting that Joshua remains a dangerous puncher.

“We all know it’s a bit late. Are we going to see who really is the true best in this fight? They didn’t fight eight-ten years ago, so what we’re going to see, now, is the battle of the old man.

“I don’t think it’s about who trains the hardest, who looks the fittest [or] who’s in brilliant shape; it’s gonna be about who uses their brain and just sails through.

“I’m backing Tyson. I know AJ didn’t look too good in his last fight, but he still got the knockout. And he showed he’s still got that finishing punch.”

Saunders went on to critique Fury’s performance against Wach, saying he was “open to the right hand”, but is ultimately backing his friend’s “boxing ability” against Joshua.

The ICC on Monday confirmed the sanctions for India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando for their altercation (IANS Image)

India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando have each been fined 25 per cent of their match fees and handed one demerit point following their on-field altercation during the opening day of the second Test in Colombo. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the Level 1 sanctions on Monday, August 24, after both players admitted to breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with inappropriate physical contact between players.

How the Jaiswal-Fernando clash unfolded

The incident occurred during the 17th over of India’s first innings after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45. The Sri Lankan pacer gave the batter an animated send-off, prompting Jaiswal to turn back and exchange words with him. The confrontation quickly escalated as the two players came face-to-face. Fernando moved his head forward while Jaiswal leaned in, resulting in their helmets and heads making contact. Teammates and Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva intervened and separated the two players before the situation could escalate further.Jaiswal later addressed the incident on social media, urging critics not to pass judgment without knowing what had been said during the exchange.“If you don’t know what he said, then please don’t make your judgment. If anyone crosses the line, we need to let them know this: India will fight and reply,” Jaiswal posted before the start of play on Day 2.His comments appeared to be in response to a Cricbuzz video on Instagram in which commentator Harsha Bhogle suggested that Jaiswal should have simply walked away after his dismissal.

What India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had earlier acknowledged that the incident may have occurred in the “heat of the moment” but admitted that Jaiswal should not have made physical contact with Fernando.“I think they must have said something to him, and it might have happened in the heat of the moment. Obviously, Jaiswal, I don’t think he should have been so close (to Fernando), but that happens when you are in the heat of the moment,” Kotak said after the opening day’s play.

Boniface, ridden with the conviction of the race’s standout performer, finally rewarded the patience of punters with a victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The French import had experienced a series of unrewarding runs in his four previous starts in Australia, but star jockey Tommy Berry guided the gelding with confidence, proving too formidable for his rivals.

Berry eliminated any chance of misfortune by positioning Boniface directly behind So You Are, maintaining this order until well into the home straight.

However, Boniface seized control of the race and secured a commanding win, signalling his potential for the upcoming spring carnival.

“We got the first half too easy and Rachel’s (King, rider of So You Are) has got a beautiful knack of getting horses into a lovely rhythm, slipping you down the side and you can’t get her back,” Berry said. “So, I just had to make sure I was close enough without trying to get to the front too early on my bloke.

“When they haven’t won for a while, they lack a little bit of confidence and he needed that today, so I’m sure he’ll go on with it now.”

Berry, taking over as Boniface’s rider, made a point of acknowledging the crucial role played by the gelding’s previous jockey, Tyler Schiller, in the Premier’s Cup triumph.

“I’ve got to say, full credit to Tyler, who’s ridden him at his last couple,” Berry stated. “He obviously didn’t get the ride today, but he came around and saw me and told me everything I needed to know about the horse. That just shows what a top bloke he is, and he’ll obviously get his turn.”

Boniface ($2.45 favourite), prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior, overcame the early leader So You Are ($3.60) by a half-length, with Matusalem ($8) finishing with determination for third place, a short head behind the runner-up.

Ben Elam, the Sydney stable representative for Price and Kent, declared that Boniface’s strong performance was a clear demonstration of his developing talent.

“We had to feel our way with him trying to get into this race,” Elam said. “It’s a race that always has some nice horses in it but it doesn’t get a massive field every year so we thought he was a chance of getting a run.

“We got the run on Monday with nominations being a little bit skinny. He’s trained on really well, we haven’t done a lot with him as he’s a highly strung horse, albeit he is relaxed.

“He puts a lot into his work so we don’t do much galloping with him. He’s a French import that we have had to ‘unwind’ a little bit.

“So, it was really good to see him relax outside the leader. I would like to see him with a bum in front of him so he can follow and be dragged into the race.

“He did a pretty good job and hit the line strongly so we are very pleased.”

Elam added that there was significant merit in Boniface’s win, noting the gelding is “definitely a better chaser, for sure.”

“But I said to Tommy I don’t care where you land just get him to relax,” Elam continued. “If he finds a rhythm he will give you that sharp turn of foot he has got and he can sustain the gallop.

“I know he didn’t win by a big margin but I think you can say this horse has won by a margin that was respective of the run he had in transit.”

Elam indicated that Boniface is likely to be aimed at the Group 2 $300,000 Kingston Town Stakes at Royal Randwick on September 12, followed by the Group 2 $2 million Hill Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on October 10.

Punters checking the racing betting markets will find Boniface a strong contender for future events.

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