The Guardian

World No 294 lets victory slip in agonising fashion JJ Spaun triumphs by two shots at Wentworth We’ll come to JJ Spaun and Jeremy Clarkson later. Only those without an ounce of compassion in their body could feel no sympathy for Manuel Elvira. The Spanaird, without a professional win to his name, stood on the 18th fairway at Wentworth’s West Course with one of golf’s most extraordinary stories in…

Diego Simeone said it had been a special week in Madrid, a “tremendous energy about the city”, and it closed the way he wanted. He had enjoyed the Formula One, he said, and he had enjoyed going to see Shakira. He enjoyed this even more, at least he did by the time the last of many, many blows on the referee’s whistle brought it to an end, sending him sprinting up the tunnel punching the air. Two-…

To paraphrase a former Manchester United manager, Michael Carrick knew that the storm would come. Everything went a little too perfectly for him in the second half of last season. There would be ill winds at some point. Which was what Carrick could feel before this visit to Fulham. What were his emotions after this? Relief was surely the main thing. Because after the derby defeat by Manchester Ci…

Brook has ‘grown as captain and as a person’ – McCullum England begin ODI series against Sri Lanka this week England’s white-ball coach, Brendon McCullum, was full of praise for the captain, Harry Brook, after Saturday’s eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka completed a T20 series whitewash and took the side to No 1 in the world. Brook, player of the T20 series against Sri Lanka, has now won 23 of …

Swiss rider denies British challenger in Montreal Franziska Koch finishes third, Demi Vollering eighth Marlen Reusser retained her world time-trial title in Montreal on Sunday as her expected main challenger, Demi Vollering, finished a disappointing eighth. Time-trial queen Reusser secured an ultimately comfortable victory, winning her second world championship after triumphing last year in Kigal…

College football hits Wembley in Union Jack Classic Get in touch: send your thoughts to Graham via email Hi and hello football fans! Firstly I must apologise for missing the opening Sunday’s action. I was busy beating Andy Burnham in a running race in Newcastle and am now officially three minutes faster than the PM over 13.1 miles. Secondly, we’re baaaaaaaaack with a bumper slate of eight games a…

Josh Inglis scored his second one-day international century and Nathan Ellis his highest score in ⁠the format with an unbeaten 36 from 44 balls as Australia claimed a dramatic one-wicket victory over hosts ⁠Zimbabwe with a ball ⁠to spare in Harare on Sunday. When Ellis was joined at the crease by Australia’s No 11, Spencer Johnson, ⁠the tourists needed 27 runs for victory, something the pair mana…

A one-handed six from Jos Buttler sealed the deal and a delighted Harry Brook said yes, it absolutely did feel like he was in charge of the new No 1 T20 side in the world. “Everything is running so smoothy, especially in the field,” the captain said after England’s eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka. “Lads are taking it upon themselves to make sure they’re in the right spots, buying into everything …

Milan’s grand old home turns 100 this weekend, and while it will soon be torn down one of the greatest players to grace it reflects on the noise and power of a unique stadium Alessandro Costacurta lasted 15 minutes of his first game at San Siro. He was, admittedly, not playing, but tagging along to watch his older brother’s favourite team. “I grew up in the province of Varese, north of Milan,” he…

Perhaps it is testament to the progress Leeds have made since returning to the Premier League just over a year ago that there was discontent at failing to move up to third after drawing with Crystal Palace. Instead, Daniel Farke’s side enter the prolonged international break in fifth and unbeaten, which is a fine achievement in itself. Apart from Tyrick Mitchell’s disallowed goal, neither side ga…

Manchester City and Sunderland shared eight goals in a madcap contest that Enzo Maresca’s side won 5-3 to stay top of the Premier League table with five wins from five. Antoine Semenyo’s two goals either side of half-time, plus strikes by Enzo Fernández, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland sealed the victory for City, although they were given several scares by Sunderland. Jamie Jackson’s full report …

At the final whistle, victory secured, Andoni Iraola embraced both his current players and those he guided to new heights at Bournemouth last season. Liverpool are not yet the overwhelming, suffocating force Iraola hopes they become but they did enough to claim three points here, Alexander Isak capping a peculiar performance with a simple finish. Cody Gakpo was again the architect, the Dutchman t…

If ever a stadium can be rocked by silence, this was the moment. With no visiting fans allowed at any of this season’s Glasgow derbies, Ryan Naderi’s winning goal was met with nothing but the banging of fists of the clear plastic of the Rangers bench and the shouting of the broadcast commentators. A screaming void of apathy and atrophy, the sound of a beckoning abyss, of three straight Celtic def…

Pair win doubles match in straight sets Finals are in Bologna in November Few people across London enjoyed a more soothing night’s sleep than Leon Smith on Saturday. After an ideal first day for his team in their Davis Cup qualifier against Ecuador, where his singles players both did their jobs, the Great Britain Davis Cup captain had the luxury of calling upon two of the very best doubles player…

‘If the Dutch stay like this I’m not going,’ says teenager Littler hoping to win all 10 major TV events in a year Luke Littler has threatened to boycott tournaments in the Netherlands after being booed and whistled during the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. The back-to-back world champion faced a hostile environment during Friday’s win over home favourite Danny Noppert and it escalated…