NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Aaron Rai had no idea what to do.
He’d just finished off a 1-foot putt to secure the biggest win of his professional life, emerging from a peloton of heavyweights and leaving them in the dust, building a back-nine highlight reel en route to a shocking first major championship title. But the moment the job was finished, Rai seemed suddenly lost. No fist pump. No wave. He sort of wobbled in one direction, then another. And then, as the Philadelphia faithful roared, Rai did what felt most natural.
He turned to his playing partner, took off his cap and offered his hand.
“He’s just so polite,” said Ludvig Aberg a few minutes later, chuckling at the moment. “He’s got a putt to win his first major and he still said ‘good putt’ to me? He’s taking time to look me in the eye and say well done? That stands out. That’s really impressive.
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“If there’s one guy I’d love to lose to, it’s probably him.”
BY NOW, YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT RAI’S IRON COVERS. If you’re a golf fan, you likely know the story. He’s the only high-profile pro who uses them — and they’re broadly considered cringe in a sport where different ain’t good. But that’s also the point. That’s how they serve to explain Aaron. The iron covers tell his story. Here’s a concise version he offered to ESPN:
“My mom and dad worked extremely hard to support me, and my dad used to buy me the best equipment that he could, and he brought me a really nice set of irons, which he paid a lot of money for. And after every practice session he used to come home and he used to clean each groove with baby oil and a pin to get all the dirt and grime out, and then he started to put iron covers on those soon after to look after them and take care of them. So the reason I [use them] now is to remember what I came from — and also to respect the things that I have.”
It’s a remarkable telling. We could leave this piece here and you’d get the idea. Rai is different. He’s grateful. He’s humble. And he’s proud of where he came from. Also, Rai can spin a neat parable.
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But plenty of sons learn habits from their fathers and then discard them once they realize they’re uncool. Not Rai. So how’d he dodge the pressures of conformity and sameness? Why isn’t he wearing a white golf glove, a brand-name hat logo, a too-cool-for-school attitude, as is status quo on Tour? He pondered the question in his post-round press conference, then returned to his father.
“I think my dad played a really big role in that,” he said. It was the two of them for most of his childhood, he said. They’d practice together, read about golf, watch Tiger Woods VHS tapes. Amrik implored Aaron to stay in his lane, to control the things he could control.
“And I didn’t really mix with a lot of other junior golfers, which didn’t give me a perspective of what was normal,” Rai added. “So I think he kind of sheltered me to be able to develop in a way that made sense for me, in a way that I guess was a little bit unique — with two gloves, with iron covers, et cetera.”
By the time Rai was a teenager, playing more serious competitive golf and ultimately at the pro level, he had enough self-belief to stay the course, to double down on himself.
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“I felt like I was strong enough in why I did certain things,” he said. “I knew the reasons why I do them. I believe in the reasons why I do them. So I had no reason to really shift from that as I got older.”
AARON RAI WON THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP the same way every golfer eventually succeeds: By being himself.
No, he wasn’t the major champ we expected. We entered this week on a run of brand-name winners. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler had won four of the last five, the last decade of PGA champs are all multiple major winners and there was every reason to believe that, like them, this week’s winner would come from the Tour’s tier of top-ranked, big-hitting alpha dogs.
Even with Sunday’s traffic-jam leaderboard — 30 players within five shots of the lead — there were enough big names in the mix that it seemed likely one would end up on top. When Rai bogeyed three of the first eight holes he seemed destined for the ranks of the also-rans.
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But then Rai started building a highlight reel.
First with a bomb for eagle at No. 9 from the back of the green, where McIlroy had settled for par just minutes before.
Then with an incredible bunker shot at the short par-4 13th, landing his 40-yarder on top of a tiny shelf and yanking it to a stop, making birdie where Xander Schauffele had just made bogey.
Then with a glorious high-cut approach into the par-5 16th, the exact shot demanded by the hole and the moment, setting up an easy two-putt birdie that opened a gap on the rest of the field.
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And then, impossibly, with a 68-foot birdie bomb at No. 17, the most crowded spectator area, sending the loudest roar of the week cascading across property. It was an exclamation point. Suddenly he was up by four. Suddenly the tournament was over. Suddenly everything had changed.
SO WHO IS AARON RAI? If the jury is his peers, he’ll come out okay.
Take Schauffele, the two-time major champ, who was thrilled to share his impressions of Rai.
“I’m super happy for him. He’s such a good dude,” he said. “Rarely do you feel like people work way harder than you … but Aaron is always there. He’s always in the gym. He’s always on the range. He’s always — you know, at the Scottish, I’m staying right on site there. I thought it would be fun for [his caddie] Austin and I to go putt. Aaron is finishing up his little putting session at 9 p.m. and going to the gym at 9:45.
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“This was three years ago. I think that’s what it’s about. To be a major champion, you put the work in when nobody’s looking. Super pumped for him and his team.”
McIlroy, who won last month’s Masters, affirmed his approval rating.
“It looks like he’s going to win, which is great,” he said post-round. “You won’t find one person on property who’s not happy for him.”
“Aaron is a super hard-working guy,” added Matti Schmid, who finished T4. “Maybe the most hard-working guy on tour. He does everything so deliberate. Practices with so much intention. I think he does a lot of things the right way, and that’s why he’s the winner today.”
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And although Jon Rahm hasn’t spent much time with Rai, he knows the iron-cover story and that tells him plenty.
“That he’s still doing it shows a lot about a person,” he said. “I have heard consistently there’s very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai.”
THERE’S A TEMPTATION TO SAY THAT RAI’S NOT COOL. That’s the subtext of the irons-cover story, of the two black golf gloves, of his insistence on politeness above all else.
But that misses the point entirely.
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Rai does things his own way. Practices, plays, thinks, speaks, dresses. He won doing things his way. He’ll keep doing things his way. He’ll keep winning, too.
So he may not have had a big-time bottle-service post-round celebration lined up. But he did have something money can’t buy: His wife, Gaurika, sitting beside the stage, grinning as she lobbed a promise his way:
As a milestone American birthday approaches, where better to be this week than the heartland?
It is the annual trip to the Quad Cities area for the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., one last State-side stop before we go overseas for the Scottish Open and then the season’s final major, the Open Championship.
Established in 1971, the John Deer Classic has made its home at TPC Deere Run since D.A. Weibring designed the course in 2000. Like last week’s Travelers Championship, this event typically draws large and enthusiastic crowds. The fields are not always star-spangled but fireworks often show up in the way of birdie barrages and long-shot winners, some of them destined to become big names.
The golf course is a par 71 that measures just over 7,300 yards. There are 11 par 4s, four par 3s, and three par 5s. The fairways are wide, bordered by very penal rough, and the Bentgrass greens are large and fast. The formula around here is pretty straightforward. Neither distance nor accuracy off the tee has proven to be a must. This event is more about approach play, hitting greens in regulation, being a demon with the wedges, finding a hot putter for a few days, and racking up a bunch of birdies. Over the last 10 editions of this tournament, the average winning score is 22-under par.
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As far as correlated courses, I believe we can go back to where we were last week at TPC River Highlands. I also used Detroit Golf Club (Rocket Classic); TPC Craig Ranch (Byron Nelson); Black Desert Resort in Southern Utah (Black Desert Championship), and a pair of recent Canadian Open venues, Oakdale Golf & Country Club and TPC Toronto.
In the hopes of pyrotechnics, I have put nine outright-to-win wagers on the card this week, though I’ll temper that by noting that the overall outlay is low to normal, as some of my selections are the darkest of dark horses.
In line with the holiday weekend, let’s see if we can stumble upon something explosive.
Mitchell is our lone selection from near the top of this week’s board. He is one of the best players in this field and I like the way he has been going of late. He has one career win on the PGA Tour has come close to adding a second on several occasions. This might finally be the time and place. Mitchell has finished as high as seventh here in the past and was fifth at TPC Craig Ranch last month. He was also brilliant just two weeks ago, finishing fourth at the U.S. Open. Over the last 24 rounds, he is fourth in this field for Birdie or Better Percentage and is 14th for Strokes Gained: Par 4s.
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Ryo Hisatsune (50-1)
Hisatune is still looking for his first PGA Tour win, but he hasn’t missed a cut since the Sony Open in January. He is arguably the best ball striker in this field. It will be up to the putter if he figures on contending. He ranks second on Tour in Total Birdies.
Andrew Novak (50-1)
Novak’s lone Tour victory came in the team event in New Orleans two years ago. He’s still seeking his fist individual title. He, too, is a premier ball strike. He hasn’t ever missed a cut here in three tries and finished seventh in 2024. Novak was ninth at Oakdale in 2023 and 14th at TPC Toronto in 2024.
Taylor Moore (80-1)
Moore knows how to win, having have done so at the Valspar Championship in 2023. He finished runner-up earlier this season at the Cognizant Classic and is fresh off a top 15 last mont at TPC Craig Ranch. He has finished sixth, fourth, and 10th at Detroit Golf Club and ranks 10th in this field over the last 24 rounds for Birdies or Better Percentage. He is 26th in this field for SG: Putting (Bentgrass).
Kevin Yu (80-1)
Another ball striker extraordinaire who has shown good form of late. Yu’s last start was a top 30 finish at TPC Toronto, where he was sixth in that field for SG: Off the Tee, eighth for SG: Approach, and was No. 1 that week for Greens in Regulation. He took third at TPC Toronto in 2025. He’s never finished worse than 21st at Deere Run and was sixth in 2023. Over the last 24-rounds, Yu ranks seventh in this field for Birdie or Better Percentage and is 17th for SG: Par 4s.
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Ben Kohles (80-1)
Earlier this month, Kohles won for the fifth time in his career on the Korn Ferry Tour and followed that up with a top 25 finish at Shinnecock Hills at the U.S. Open. He’s been top 20 at Black Desert and at the Rocket Mortgage in Detroit, and was runner-up at TPC Craig Ranch in 2024. He is especially accurate off the tee and ranks second in this field in SG: Approach over the last 24-rounds.
Jimmy Stanger (225-1)
Time to venture into the deep, dark, depths of the betting board. Stanger made a splash just a few weeks ago at TPC Toronto where he finished fourth. He is long off the tee and elite with the putter putter. Stanger finished No. 1 in that field in Canada for SG: Putting for the week and was 10th in Greens in Regulation.
Erik van Rooyan (275-1)
EVR always seems to be at or near the top of the leaderboard in ol’-fashioned birdies fests. That’s in part because he ranks 15th in this field for SG: Putting (Bentgrass) and is 10th for Birdie or Better Percentage over the last 24-rounds. He missed eight cuts in a row to begin this season but has since made seven straight, including 19th at the Byron Nelson and 20th at TPC Toronto. Van Rooyan was runner-up at the Nelson in 2024 and sixth at the Rocket Classic that same season.
Tyler Duncan (400-1)
Hailing from the Midwest, Duncan is familiar with this part of the country and has finished as high as 12th at TPC Deere Run. He’s accurate off the tee, dials in the approach shots from 75-150 yards, and possesses a deft short game, ranking 11th in this field for Scrambling over the last 24-rounds and is 33rd for SG: Putting (Bentgrass).
June 28, 2026; Irvine, California, U.S.; Sergino Dest of the U.S. during training. Mandatory Credit: Bailey Holiver-Imagn Images
The U.S. Men’s National Team haven’t won a World Cup knockout match since 2002 nor have they defeated a European side in any competition in more than five years.
For the current squad, it’s not about revisiting history but making history when the United States plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in a round of 32 match in Santa Clara, Calif., on Wednesday. The winner will advance to the round of 16 to meet Belgium or Senegal on July 6 in Seattle.
“Honestly, I don’t even think any of us are thinking about it,” U.S. captain Tim Ream said. “I think it’s just about putting in good performances. If we do everything that we’ve done up to this point we’re going to put ourselves in the best possible position to move on in the tournament.”
The U.S. is confident in advancing despite losing 3-2 to Turkey on June 25 in what was a meaningless match because the Americans already had clinched first place in Group D. Nearly all of the starters from the first two matches did not play but the lineup is expected to return to form on Wednesday.
“It’s a knockout round and if you want to win this trophy, the World Cup, you have to beat everyone and be able to beat everyone, from Europe or Africa it doesn’t matter,” midfielder Sergino Dest said. “We just want to win.”
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Star Christian Pulisic (calf) could return to the starting lineup. He left the first match at halftime, missed the second game and returned to play 33 minutes as a substitute against Turkey.
Pulisic said he’s ready to play 90 minutes — or 120, if needed.
“I’m feeling good this week, and I’m definitely ready to go for tomorrow,” Pulisic told reporters Tuesday.
The FIFA rankings list the U.S. as No. 15, Bosnia and Herzegovina as No. 61.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina were third in Group B and will present a similar defensive-minded philosophy employed by the first two U.S. opponents that resulted in a 4-1 win over Paraguay and 2-0 blanking of Australia by the Americans.
“Just move the ball quick as you possibly can side to side, getting runs in behind and just really unbalancing their shape,” Ream said. “It sounds simple and that’s really the key to any team you play, no matter if they’re playing the low block, medium block, high press, whatever you want to call it.”
The difference, though, is the physicality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which led all teams through the group stages with 46 fouls.
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“We will try to create problems and of course win the game,” Bosnia and Herzegovina coach Sergej Barbarez said.
The matchup is intriguing for Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder Esmir Bajraktarevic, 21, who is from Appleton, Wis. He played one match for the U.S. in a friendly vs. Slovenia in January 2024 before using his dual citizenship to switch countries later that year.
He scored the clinching penalty in the shootout that led Bosnia and Herzegovina to defeat Italy and qualify for the World Cup. He started the first and third World Cup matches and came off the bench in the second.
Bajraktarevic will see familiar faces on the opposing team because Dest and Ricardo Pepi are teammates at Dutch champion PSV Eindhoven.
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“That will be great for me,” Bajraktarevic said of the match. “It doesn’t really matter who we play next. Obviously, we are ready for everything.”
For the Americans, the last time they reached the round of 16 was 2002 when they went directly there from the group stage under the 32-team format. They downed Mexico 2-0 before losing 1-0 to Germany in the quarterfinals.
This year is the first World Cup with 48 teams, prompting an extra round.
The U.S. is winless in 13 matches (two ties) against a European side since a 2-1 win vs. Northern Ireland on March 28, 2021. They have lost 10 straight, beginning with a 3-1 setback to Netherlands in the round of 16 in 2022.
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None of that matters to U.S forward Folarin Balogun, who scored twice against Paraguay.
“It’s crunch time, it’s knockout football,” he said. “You lose, you go home, so this is the business end and this is the stage where, in my opinion, the big players step forward and the big players carry the pressure and make things happen.”
Norwegian fans cheer after victory in the round of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway during the 2026 World Cup, in Oslo, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Javad Parsa/NTB via AP)
Erling Haaland delivered when Norway needed him most, scoring five minutes from time to seal a 2-1 victory over Côte d’Ivoire and send his side into the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Antonio Nusa’s superb first-half opener had given Norway the lead before substitute Amad Diallo hauled the Ivorians level in the 74th minute, but Haaland’s decisive intervention ensured Ståle Solbakken’s side survived a sustained spell of pressure to book a blockbuster meeting with Brazil.
Norway strike first before Côte d’Ivoire’s pressure grows
The Round of 32 contest at Dallas Stadium unfolded exactly as anticipated, with Côte d’Ivoire controlling possession while Norway looked to punish them in transition. Emerse Faé’s side enjoyed 52 per cent of the ball, completed 442 passes at an 86 per cent accuracy rate and repeatedly forced Norway backwards, yet the Scandinavian side remained disciplined inside their compact defensive structure and were far more clinical whenever opportunities appeared.
Norway’s Kristoffer Ajer (3) stops the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
The Elephants continually attacked through the flanks, finishing the evening with 14 corner kicks compared to Norway’s three, but the Norwegian back line dealt confidently with the aerial deliveries while waiting for openings to counter. Their breakthrough arrived in the 39th minute through a move that perfectly reflected their game plan. Martin Ødegaard initiated the transition from midfield before the ball was worked quickly into the left channel for Antonio Nusa. The winger squared up Guéla Doué, shifted the ball inside onto his stronger foot and created just enough space to shoot. His curling effort arced beautifully beyond Yahia Fofana before clipping the inside of the top-right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance and handing Norway a 1-0 lead against the run of possession.
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Norway’s Antonio Nusa (20) reacts during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Diallo’s impact changes the game before Haaland has the final say
Côte d’Ivoire emerged after the break determined to overturn the deficit and steadily increased the pressure around Norway’s penalty area. Despite producing 14 shots to Norway’s nine and forcing repeated defensive interventions, clear chances remained limited as the European side continued to protect the central areas effectively.
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Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo (15), right, scores his side’s first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Faé’s changes eventually paid dividends in the 74th minute. Nicolas Pépé found space just outside the area before linking neatly with substitute Amad Diallo. The Manchester United winger combined quickly with Pépé in a sharp one-two, slipped between two Norwegian defenders and calmly swept a low finish beyond Ørjan Nyland to make it 1-1, capping an energetic cameo that appeared to shift momentum firmly towards Côte d’Ivoire.
Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo (15) celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Norway in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
With the game entering its closing stages, the contest opened up dramatically as both teams chased a winner rather than settling for extra time. Norway found it in the 85th minute through their biggest star. Patrick Berg won possession high up the pitch and immediately drove a dangerous low ball into the six-yard box. Haaland anticipated the delivery quicker than anyone, escaped the attention of Emmanuel Agbadou and stabbed a first-time finish beyond Fofana from close range to restore Norway’s advantage and silence the Ivorian supporters.
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Clinical Norway withstand late pressure to reach the last 16
The closing minutes saw Côte d’Ivoire throw everything forward in search of another equaliser, but Norway held firm to complete one of the tournament’s biggest knockout victories so far. Although Norway finished with only 48 per cent possession and completed 411 passes compared to Côte d’Ivoire’s 442, their superior efficiency proved decisive. They converted two of their three shots on target, while the Ivorians managed only one goal despite registering five efforts on target from 14 attempts overall. Norway also completed 89 per cent of their passes, slightly outperforming Côte d’Ivoire’s 86 per cent despite seeing less of the ball. Defensively, the Scandinavian side absorbed enormous pressure throughout the contest. They cleared repeated deliveries from the 14 corners they conceded, committed 14 fouls to break up attacks and received two yellow cards, while Côte d’Ivoire finished with 11 fouls and one booking. The victory sends Norway into the Round of 16, where they will face five-time champions Brazil in New York on July 5. Côte d’Ivoire’s tournament ends after an impressive but ultimately unsuccessful effort in which territorial dominance, possession and attacking volume were undone by Norway’s composure in both penalty areas and Haaland’s decisive late finish.
Jalen Duren had a very underwhelming postseason for the Detroit Pistons. Despite being a third-team All-NBA selection, the production simply wasn’t there for Duren in the playoffs.
He went from averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting to just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting a horrific 51% from the field. At points during the Eastern Conference Semifinals, he was benched for third-string big, Paul Reed. Offensively and defensively, it was an utter slog for Durren, and that leaves Detroit in an unfortunately precarious position.
Even with a slightly underwhelming playoff performance, Detroit would likely have been willing to give Duren a max contract; however, with his struggles to even stay on the court, his future as a Piston looks murky at best.
Duren’s team seems frustrated that Detroit has not gotten close to a max-money offer, and he is now seriously looking elsewhere in free agency. I’m not sure the Pistons are too upset with this outcome, and now feel like they could flip Duren in a sign-and-trade. The main suitor appears to be the Sacramento Kings, and I just don’t think they have anything to offer that’s worthwhile in a potential trade.
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The Kings have three pieces that Detroit has rumored to be interested in. The main piece is Domantas Sabonis, who would immediately provide a spark on offense for the Pistons. Detroit could also try to fix Keegan Murray, who has steadily declined from a very solid sophomore season in the league. Lastly, they could take on Zach LaVine’s albatross of a contract and hope he could be a secondary scorer next to Cade Cunningham.
These all feel like such losing decisions to me. If you aren’t able to build off the success you had this past season, you risk frustrating Cunningham and having him demand a trade out. I’m just not sure two aging guys on horrible deals, or a rehabilitation program, are going to be what keeps Cade happy.
Duren has had massive playoff struggles in his first two go-arounds, but you’ve got to remember he’s only 22-years-old. Tying him down to a max extension comes with risks, but he was an All-NBA selection this past season. I’m willing to bet on him raising his playoff output, then two 30-year-olds deciding they’re going to play impactful basketball in the latter halves of their careers.
There’s not a lot of centers making All-NBA teams at this point in their careers. Giving up on one for very flawed alternatives does not feel like the fix.
Manchester United look set to miss out on Mateus Fernandes, who is closing in on an £85 million move to Tottenham.
Former Manchester United and West Ham striker Teddy Sheringham has said that United shouldn’t be too disappointed at missing out on Mateus Fernandes, with the midfielder not at the level that the club require. The Portugal international was a key target for United this summer, but now looks set to sign for Tottenham.
The news is the latest blow in the search for a new midfielder this summer, with another target in Elliot Anderson closing in on a £116 million move to Manchester City. It has led to some suggestions that the club could change tack in the transfer window and look for cheaper, but more raw alternatives.
However, Sheringham has appeared to suggest that United should instead go the other way, and target top players, no matter what the cost.
“Man Utd fans shouldn’t be upset at missing out on Mateus Fernandes – he simply isn’t good enough for the club,” he told ComeOn.
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“I wasn’t so impressed with Mateus Fernandes at West Ham this year. A lot of West Ham fans think he’ll go on to bigger and better things but the jury’s still out for me on Fernandes.
“Manchester United need top players. They’ve already got enough decent players. They need to buy the top players or they will miss out again and again.
“It was the same with Harry Kane and Declan Rice a few years ago when the chance was there to go and sign them. United were nowhere in the market for them. Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t have let that happen.
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“Sir Alex always brought in the top players and they came in and led by example, and you need those top players at a club like United otherwise you’ll end up in the same situation.
“It’s not about having good players. You want great players playing for Manchester United because it takes a lot to play for the club. So go out and break the bank for the top players and let them lead.”
United are preparing for a return to the Champions League in the 2026/27 season, after a third-place finish last season. It will be their first appearance in the competition since the 2023/24 season.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
SECOND SET! Serena Williams 3-6 7-6 (8-6) Maya Joint
A 122mph ACE from Williams! Now she gets set point! Incredible. How does Joint respond!
She’s close to an ace, but out. A gripping rally… Joint is pushing but Williams holds on… JOINT GOES LONG AND WILLIAMS FORCES A THIRD!
WOW! Match point saved and the 44-year-old is still fighting!
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This is epic (AP)
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:16
TIEBREAK! Serena Williams 3-6 6-6 (6-6) Maya Joint
Williams finds the first serve… Centre Court holds its breath… Williams powers the forehand winner! Match point saved!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:15
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TIEBREAK! Serena Williams 3-6 6-6 (5-6) Maya Joint
Joint rattles out two quick points after drawing errors from Williams. Back on serve, she finds accuracy. An ace out wide and she moves ahead once more! If Joint loses either of the next two points, Williams will have set point on serve.
Joint gets Willams moving, switching the direction of her groundstrokes. Williams slices into the net. Then she blasts the backhand return wide. Instead, it will be match point to Joint!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:14
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TIEBREAK! Serena Williams 3-6 6-6 (3-2) Maya Joint
An error from Williams on the first point, putting a short forehand into the net. But Joint then goes long on the return. Williams returns the favour: long on the forehand. First serves will be crucial for Williams here. She finds one, then powers the forehand winner down the line!
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:10
TIEBREAK! Serena Williams 3-6 6-6 Maya Joint
A hold from Joint sends us into a tiebreak. Williams stumbles a little chasing after the Joint winner, directed past her. After that epic last game, this is far simpler for the Australian. An ace out wide is followed by another. Love-hold. TIEBREAK!
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Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:08
HOLD! Serena Williams 3-6 6-5 Maya Joint*
Williams, pushed slightly wide, nets on the forehand. Another break point, Williams is slo close to the line on the second serve, so is Joint on the return. This is gripping, but Joint fires long!
Another deuce…. How Williams would love a big first serve now, but Joint is generous enough to miss the return. On game point, Joint steadies and puts the forehand past a standing Williams.
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Williams cracks the backhand winner – now she finds a first serve! Joint goes out, and Williams holds on! Four break points saved, and she’s still fighting! That was just pure grit.
(Reuters)
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:05
*Serena Williams 3-6 5-5 Maya Joint
Oh no. That’s a bad time to make a double fault from Williams! Joint then steps up and cracks the return, which Williams slumps into the net.
Three break points. Williams saves the first but may be tiring, she can’t find the first serve. Joint squirts a backhand return wide. Another saved.
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Another return missed by Joint! Williams is hanging on and gets back to deuce.
Another miss from Joint – this coming while the room for the forehand winner was open.
This would be some escape… Williams thinks the ball from Joint landed long… some of the crowd did too. But no, she nets and Joint hangs on.
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 21:01
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*Serena Williams 3-6 5-5 Maya Joint
Joint takes a deep breath, steps up to the baseline, and fires a series of first serves which Williams can’t return. Back level.
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 20:55
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Serena Williams 3-6 5-4 Maya Joint*
For the first time in the second set, Williams LEADS. Joint cracks a backhand into the net and Williams has won back-to-back games to edge in front. Huge pressure now on Joint, who must hold serve to stay in this decider.
Oooh this is electric now.
(PA)
Jamie Braidwood30 June 2026 20:52
BREAK! *Serena Williams 3-6 4-4 Maya Joint
I wonder how the match would have gone had Williams been this aggressive in the first set. She starts by cracking a backhand return, then following in to put away the volley.
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Two errors follow from Williams and she shrieks in frustration, but then she produces another crisp backhand return. It’s followed by an error from Joint and Williams will get another break point chance.
Joint knifes the backhand down the line…. but there’s Williams to put away the volley!
Nov 09, 2010; Milwaukee, WI, USA; NBA logo on the basket during the game between the New York Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. The Bucks defeated the Knicks 107-80. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Bids for all 12 planned future franchises of the soon-to-launch NBA Europe reached $500 million with some as high as $1 billion, Sportico reported Tuesday.
The NBA intends to launch NBA Europe by 2017, with 12 of the league’s 16 teams to be built from the ground up. Bids to own franchises in a dozen previously selected cities were due Monday.
The 12 predetermined cities are Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Berlin; Istanbul; London; Lyon, France; Madrid; Manchester, England; Milan; Munich; Paris; and Rome.
Reports have indicated that Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is a potential investor in the Rome franchise.
“We’re extremely encouraged by the final bids we received for permanent franchises,” Mark Tatum, NBA deputy commissioner, said in a statement. “This will be the biggest influx of capital European basketball has ever seen, and we have clear front-runners in each of our 12 target cities, including many existing basketball and football clubs. We will now work with the NBA and FIBA Boards to finalize the long-form agreements.”
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The report indicated that as many as 20 existing basketball and soccer clubs in Europe submitted ownership bids. NBA owners are not allowed to own teams in the new league.
The 16-team NBA Europe will be filled out with four existing FIBA franchises from various overseas leagues that will earn their way into the new league.
The reported bids for franchises met initial projections. Sports Business Journal reported earlier this year that potential owners would pay between $500 million and $1 billion for a franchise.
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Sportico reported earlier this week that the NBA will fund financial losses as NBA Europe tries to establish itself. The 12 new permanent franchises are projected to at least break even in three years.
All future league equity will be split evenly between current NBA owners and ownership groups of the 12 new franchises.
1 min read Last Updated : Jun 30 2026 | 7:51 PM IST
Fair trade regulator CCI on Tuesday cleared the acquisition of IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore by a consortium of Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone in a Rs 16,660 crore all-cash deal.
In March this year, United Spirits Ltd (USL) announced the sale of IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a Rs 16,660 crore all-cash deal to the consortium.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has approved the proposed deal.
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“CCI approves acquisition of 100 per cent shareholding of Royal Challengers Sports by a consortium comprising Big Banyan Holdings, Bolt IPL Holdings, Times Internet, Times Cricket, ICQ Opportunities, Asia Investment Topco II and others,” the regulator said in a post on X.
Deals beyond a certain threshold require approval from the regulator, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices as well as promotes fair competition in the marketplace.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
2 min read Last Updated : Jun 30 2026 | 11:51 PM IST
Chelsea evaded more serious UEFA sanctions Tuesday for overspending, while its sister club Strasbourg got the heaviest fine of 13 million euros ($14.8 million) among 14 clubs that broke financial monitoring rules.
Aston Villa was ordered to pay 7.5 million euros ($8.6 million), which was a one-third cut from its UEFA financial sanction last year.
One year ago, Chelsea was fined 31 million euros ($35.5 million) and set stricter financial targets which the club just missed by spending more than 70% of its revenue on wages and transfers in 2025, UEFA said.
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Chelsea was fined just 1 million euros ($1.14 million) Tuesday, with a further 2 million euros deferred, after a season in which it won the Club World Cup and got almost $115 million from FIFA.
Villa was fined 7.5 million euros with twice that sum deferred in order to meet targets next year, when the new Europa League title holder will play in the Champions League.
UEFA praised Chelsea and Villa for making financial progress while urging both clubs toward “continuing to significantly decrease their squad cost ratio in 2026.”
Chelsea, however, should see a big revenue drop because the team will not play in the Champions League or any European competition next season after a 10th-place finish in the Premier League.
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Chelsea did earn about $90 million in June in compensation from Manchester City for hiring its former coach Enzo Maresca and the sale of Spain defender Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid.
Other fines ordered Tuesday include 7 million euros ($8 million) for Fenerbahce, and 6 million euros ($6.85 million) for each of Newcastle, Juventus and Fiorentina.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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