Rory McIlroy could not have scripted a better start to his latest PGA Tour season.
The Northern Irishman, making his 2022-23 debut at the CJ Cup in South Carolina, carded four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine to claim his third win of the calendar year. The victory moved him back to number one in the world for the ninth time in his career, but the first time since July 2020.
"I've worked so hard over the last 12 months to get myself back to this place," he said afterward. "I feel like I'm enjoying the game as much as I ever have. I absolutely love the game of golf and I think that when I go out there and I play with that joy, it's definitely showed over these last 12 months. Yeah, it feels awesome."
The 33-year-old, who captured the Tour Championship in August, became the first FedExCup champion to open his season with a win since Tiger Woods did it at the 2007 Buick Invitational. He also became the fifth player since 1983 to successfully defend a title on a different course and joined Woods as the only player in Tour history to do it multiple times (McIlroy won the 2019 and 2022 RBC Canadian Opens at two different locations, while the CJ Cup moved this year to Congaree Golf Club from The Summit Club in Las Vegas).
As always, McIlroy used his prodigious skill set with the driver to power his way to victory. He averaged 323 yards off the tee at Congaree, marking the fourth-longest average by a winner in the ShotLink era. It was the 31st time of McIlroy's storied career where he has led the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, the most of any player since 2020.
Tom Kim chugs along
Tom Kim shocked the golf world when he burst on the scene at the PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship in August, when the youthful Korean came out of nowhere to shoot a final-round 61 and claim the regular-season finale.
The Korean would not be surprising anyone this year, though, especially after his breakout performance at the Presidents Cup. And yet there he was just a few weeks later, surprising everyone once again as he held up another trophy, this time at the Shriners Children's Open.
At 20 years, three months and 18 days old, Kim became the second-youngest player to win two PGA Tour events on the all-time list, behind only Ralph Guldahl, who won his second event in 1932 at 20 years, two months and 10 days.
Now trailing Kim on that list as a who's who of world-class players and Hall of Famers – Gene Sarazen, Horton Smith, Tom Creavy, John McDermott and some guy named Tiger Woods (he won his second event at 20 years, nine months and 20 days).
"Golf on the PGA Tour is really hard. It's really hard to win tournaments," said Kim, who also became the fastest Korean to multiple wins, taking just 18 starts. "You can't expect everything in life. I've just got to keep working hard on my game. I'm very fortunate to win twice on Tour and to be even out here. I think the mindset is for me I've just got to keep working hard and be grateful for what things come along."
Kim certainly makes the game look easy, despite what he may suggest. He became the first player since J.T. Poston in 2019 to go bogey-free in a tournament and win and was only the third to do it all-time (Lee Trevino first accomplished the feat in 1974). He hit 87.5 percent of his greens in regulation – the best mark by a Shriners winner since 2008 – and was a perfect 100 per cent in scrambling for the week.
Canadian Hughes nabs second win
But Kim was not the only player in October to card the second win of his PGA Tour career, as Canadian Mackenzie Hughes survived in the first play-off of the season to win the Sanderson Farms Championship.
The 31-year-old poured in an 8-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to outlast Sepp Straka, notching his first victory since winning the RSM Classic six years ago. As the sun set over Mississippi, Hughes had to convert six critical putts over his final seven holes – four of them for par – before ultimately outlasting Straka.
"I kept telling myself the whole week that I was going to do it. That was the only thing I saw in my mind," Hughes said. "Those par saves down the stretch, I was just trying to will the ball into the hole."
It seemed to work. Hughes finished with a 91.67 scrambling percentage, the highest mark of his career and best since winning the aforementioned RSM Classic, where he finished with an 85 scrambling percentage (that was good for second at that event). His +2.31 average in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green was also the second-best average of his career, behind last year's RSM Classic, where he finished second after carding a +3.14 average.
"The second [win] felt harder because I've had to wait a lot longer for it," he said. "The first one came in my fifth tournament as a PGA Tour member. I felt like, 'Oh, man, this is going to be easy, I'm going to be able to rack up a few of these,' and it's been six years since I did that.
"It's been unbelievable. I didn't need the validation, but it's nice to be a two-time winner instead of a one-time winner and help to add to that tally."
Rafael Nadal retires: The King of Clay's career in numbers
The day tennis fans across the globe had feared was coming for some time has finally arrived, with Rafael Nadal confirming his impending retirement on Thursday.
Nadal had previously suggested 2024 was likely to be his final year on the ATP Tour after struggling with injuries throughout a difficult few years.
The Davis Cup Finals, set for Malaga in November, will now be the final event for one of sport's all-time greats.
Here, we delve into the Opta data to run through the best facts and figures from Nadal's astonishing career.
The records
Across the ATP and WTA Tours, only Margaret Court, Novak Djokovic (24 each) and Serena Williams (23) have won more singles grand slam titles than Nadal's 22 in tennis history.
An astonishing 14 of those triumphs came at the French Open (more on that event later), which is the most of any player at a single major in history. Djokovic's 10 Australian Open titles are the second-most by anyone at a particular grand slam.
Nadal's first grand slam title came at the 2005 edition of Roland-Garros, while the 2022 season saw him triumph in the French capital and at the Australian Open, speaking to his remarkable longevity.
He is the only player to win at least one major in 15 different calendar years, and between 2005 and 2014, he never ended a season without a grand slam title. No other player in the Open Era has won at least one major in 10 consecutive seasons.
Nadal ended 13 different years in the top two of the ATP World Rankings, more than any other player throughout the Open Era.
He is also the only player in the Open Era to win multiple grand slam crowns both as a teenager and when aged over 30, and the only player since 1990 to win more than five ATP Masters 1000 finals before turning 20 (boasting a 6-1 record) and since turning 30 (8-3).
The rivalries
Nadal's exploits are even more impressive when one considers the competition he faced throughout his career, being a part of tennis' 'Big Three' alongside Djokovic and Roger Federer.
The other members of the 'Big Three' (Djokovic – 37, Federer – 31) are the only players to compete in more men's grand slam finals than Nadal in the Open Era (30).
Djokovic (257) and Federer (224) are also the only men to have won more matches against top-10 opponents than Nadal (186) since the ATP Rankings were first published. Nadal has played 289 matches against such opponents (third-most) and his win ratio of 64.4% is the fourth-best among players with a minimum of 100 such victories.
Nadal and Federer, in particular, enjoyed many titanic tussles through the years, not least the 2008 Wimbledon final, which the Spaniard won 6–4 6–4 6–7 (5–7) 6–7 (8–10) 9–7 in four hours and 48 minutes, a match regarded by some as the greatest of all time.
The duo faced off 40 times before the Swiss great retired in 2022, with Nadal edging their head-to-head 24-16 overall and 14-10 in finals.
Djokovic, meanwhile, is the only player to beat Nadal at all four majors, winning 31 of the pair's 60 all-time meetings.
The King of Clay
While Nadal enjoyed success on all surfaces and at all four majors (plus the Olympic Games), it is Roland-Garros that will be remembered as his tournament.
Nadal's unbelievable 96.6% win rate at the French Open (112 wins from 116 matches) is the best of any player at a grand slam event in men's singles, with only Djokovic (twice), Robin Soderling and Alexander Zverev beating him at the tournament.
Nadal's 112 French Open wins are the most of any man at a single major in the Open Era, while his 14-0 record in Roland-Garros finals is the best recorded by anyone at an event in that span.
His dominance on clay extended beyond Paris, though, with Nadal's total of 63 career clay-court titles are more than anyone else in the Open Era, with Guillermo Vilas second on 49. His win percentage of 90.5% (484-51) on clay is also the best of any player on any individual surface in the Open Era.
At the peak of his powers, Nadal managed an incredible 81 consecutive victories on the surface between 2005 and 2007 – the longest streak on a single surface in the Open Era.
Only three tournaments have been won more than 10 times by the same player in the Open Era – Roland-Garros (14), Barcelona (12) and Monte-Carlo (11), all by Nadal on the clay.
It was perhaps fitting, then, that Nadal's final match at the very top level – at the Paris Olympics in July – saw him soak up the adulation of the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd following a hard-fought defeat to old rival Djokovic.
Current French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz may be the pretender to Nadal's throne, but the title of 'King of Clay' will surely always be his.
Women's Super League Predictions: Arsenal look to end Bompastor's perfect start at Chelsea
Matchday four of the Women's Super League promises drama, with key matches taking place at both ends of the table.
Chelsea are back in WSL action after having their match against Manchester United postponed due to a fixture clash last weekend, and kick off the weekend against fellow title challengers, Arsenal, who are looking to recover from a slightly underwhelming start to the season.
On Sunday, Brighton, who were tipped as relegation favourites at the start of the campaign, are looking to build on their emphatic start against promoted Crystal Palace, who got their first-ever WSL win against Leicester City last weekend.
Elsewhere, Man United meet Tottenham for the first time since their FA Cup triumph in May as they try to close the gap to current leaders Manchester City, who take on Liverpool.
Aston Villa face Leicester City, and Everton host West Ham, with all four teams still searching for their first win of the campaign.
But who does the Opta supercomputer predict will come out on top in this round?
ARSENAL V CHELSEA
The blockbuster clash will kick off the weekend of WSL action, with both teams fresh off their Champions League openers – Chelsea narrowly overcame Real Madrid 3-2 on Tuesday, while Arsenal were beaten 5-2 away at Bayern Munich.
Chelsea won the most recent meeting between the sides 3-1, and are the slight favourites for this one too, winning 42% of the supercomputer's simulations, while there is a 25.5% chance of a draw.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last four home meetings with Chelsea in the top flight (W2 D2), but they have not won back-to-back such games against them since June 2013 (three in a row), and they are given just a 32.5% chance of that on Saturday.
However, the Gunners have struggled at home so far this season, drawing both of their matches – they last went on a longer such run in October 2014, a six-match streak that included a 3-2 loss to Chelsea.
And they meet a Chelsea side in fine goalscoring form, with the Blues winning their last five WSL games by an aggregate 23-0, though they have not won six straight league matches without conceding since April 2021.
MANCHESTER UNITED V TOTTENHAM
Manchester United were also not in action last weekend due to Chelsea's fixture clash, but they are favourites to capitalise on their perfect start to the season against Tottenham, who they beat 4-0 in the FA Cup final in May.
And they are overwhelming favourites to get a third win on the bounce at 66.7%, which would extend their 10-match unbeaten streak against Spurs, who are given just a 15.1% chance.
Only against Everton (nine) have United won more games than against Spurs (eight), and the Red Devils have history on their side as they look to add to that, having never lost a WSL game in October, going unbeaten across their last 14 such matches (W11 D3).
Spurs will also come up against an in-form Grace Clinton, who scored four goals in 20 WSL appearances while on loan last season. The 21-year-old is aiming to become the first United player to score in each of their first three WSL appearances.
EVERTON V WEST HAM
Everton and West Ham are both sitting at the bottom of the table, having only claimed one point each from their first three matches.
Despite still waiting for their first WSL goal of the season, Everton are tipped to win this one at 51.2%, while West Ham have nearly equal chances of coming away with a draw (24.8%) or a win (24%).
The Toffees have won their last three meetings with West Ham in the league, and if they make it four, they will become the third team in WSL history to reach 200 wins (199 as it stands). However, they could also be the first team to register 100 losses in the competition (99 as it stands).
West Ham are also in desperate need of a turnaround in form though, as they have not won any of their last 12 WSL matches and have not scored more than once in a game during that run.
CRYSTAL PALACE V BRIGHTON
Palace and Brighton are meeting for the first time since the 2019-20 FA Cup fifth round, and it is the newcomers who are favourites in this one, winning 43.9% of the simulations compared to Brighton's 29.3%.
The Seagulls' two wins so far are as many as they managed in their last 11 outings in the WSL last season, and they are sure to cause problems at the top of the field – they have the best conversion rate in the league this campaign (26.7%), netting eight times already.
Palace put their 7-0 drubbing by Chelsea behind them last time out though, beating Leicester City 2-0, but a newly promoted side has not won back-to-back WSL games since the Foxes themselves in 2021-22.
That heavy defeat to the Blues marked a disappointing start to their home campaign in the competition. The most goals ever conceded across a team's first two home matches is eight (Aston Villa), and Palace will be keen to avoid recording that unwanted record.
ASTON VILLA V LEICESTER CITY
Villa and Leicester are the other two teams sitting joint bottom with one point, and both Robert De Pauw and Amandine Miquel will be keen to get their first wins in charge.
The hosts are favourites for this one with a 55.2% chance, as De Pauw looks to avoid becoming the first Villa manager to fail to win any of their first four matches in charge (D1 L2 so far).
Leicester have only ever won once against Villa in the WSL and are only handed a 21.7% chance of getting a second by the supercomputer, though they did draw 2-2 the last time the sides met (23.1% chance of a draw on Sunday).
Miquel has seen her side score just once across her first three WSL games in charge of the Foxes, the fewest goals netted in a manager's opening three matches in the competition since Scott Booth in September 2021 (also 1 with Birmingham City).
LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER CITY
With all the teams back in action, City know they will need a win to make sure they keep hold of top spot, and they are the overwhelming favourites here with a 64.5% chance.
They have won eight of their last 10 WSL meetings with Liverpool (L2), but have struggled away from home against them, losing four of their eight trips (W3 D1).
However, this match is taking place at Anfield, a stadium where the Reds have lost all three of their previous games without scoring a goal, and they only have a 16.5% likelihood of coming away with a win.
Gareth Taylor's side were in Champions League action in midweek though, beating reigning champions Barcelona 2-0, and Liverpool could catch them out with a fast start, having opened the scoring in the opening 10 minutes in three of their last four WSL matches.
But they will have to be wary at the other end – Lauren Hemp scored her 50th WSL goal last time out against West Ham, and has created 14 chances in the competition, at least seven more than any other player.
Root targets 'many more runs' as Cook backs England great to set all-time record
Joe Root is targeting "many more runs" after overtaking Alastair Cook as England's all-time leading Test run-scorer.
The 33-year-old surpassed Cook's previous high of 12,472 on day three of the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Root reached the mark by piling on 71 runs in the blistering Multan heat and reached 176 not out at the end of play with England 492-3.
"I'm obviously proud but still feel there is plenty more left to do, and many more runs left to get," Root is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
"More than anything, the way we played as a team is what stands out - we've got ourselves back in a really good position."
Root's 12,578 runs consist of 35 centuries, 1,355 fours and 44 sixes, coming across 146 matches.
He is now fifth on the all-time list of run-scorers across all nations, with only Rahul Dravid (13,288), Jacques Kallis (13,289), Ricky Ponting (13,378) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) ahead of him.
And with time still on his side age-wise, Cook has backed the man who took his England record to overtake each of those legendary names.
"I would be betting on Root to do it," Cook told Test Match Special. "I don't see Root losing that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.
"He's just this consistent run-scoring machine. There are other geniuses who can play genius innings, but Root is a genius with consistency."
England have never conceded as many as Pakistan's 556 and gone on to take a first-innings lead, but they trail by just 64 runs heading into day four.
"We've still got an opportunity to win the game, which is really exciting," Root added. "Hopefully we can kick on tomorrow."
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