Rory McIlroy can focus fully on claiming a record fourth FedEx Cup title and 18million US dollar (£14.1million) first prize after revealing he is less “emotionally invested” in off-course affairs.
McIlroy was one of the most prominent supporters of the PGA Tour in its battle with LIV Golf and spent part of the build-up to last year’s Tour Championship getting changes to the Tour’s schedule ratified in response to the threat posed by the Saudi-funded breakaway.
However, with the PGA Tour announcing in June plans for a shock deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV, McIlroy has been able to take more of a back seat, especially with Tiger Woods recently joining the PGA Tour’s policy board.
“I think last year, I was probably energised by everything that was going on in the world of golf. I felt like we were maybe in a bit more of a state of flux,” McIlroy said in his pre-event press conference in Atlanta.
“I sat up here at this table this day last year talking about designated events and getting all the best players to play together and all that stuff.
“I remember this time last year being on a board call at 7.30 in the morning on the Tuesday trying to get all that stuff ratified and get it passed through the board.
“I’ve been able to focus a little bit more just on golf and my game and even able to take two days at home between Chicago and here, getting to spend some time with the girls. That’s been really nice.
“(I’m) maybe less emotionally involved. Last year it was to do with how can we make the product of the PGA TOUR better and I think I was really invested in that.
“So when it comes to, like, governance and investment and all that, it’s not that I don’t care about it, but it doesn’t excite me as much as making the product better and how can we make this the most competitive landscape to play professional golf and how can we get all the best players to play together.
“I’m on the board and I have to be involved and whenever something’s brought to the table I’ll vote on it yes or no. But, yeah, maybe just not as emotionally engaged on all of this other stuff.”
McIlroy is the only three-time winner of the FedEx Cup after overturning a six-shot deficit in the final round of the Tour Championship last year.
The 34-year-old had also started the week six shots behind world number one Scottie Scheffler under the handicap scoring system and instantly fell further behind by making a triple bogey on the first hole.
As the player with the most FedEx Cup points from the regular season, Scheffler again starts the Tour Championship on 10 under par, with Viktor Hovland eight under, McIlroy on seven under and Masters champion Jon Rahm six under.
While McIlroy is in favour of the controversial scoring system first adopted in 2019, Scheffler is not a fan of the format, even though it gives him an advantage.
“This tournament is a little bit weird because there’s starting strokes and I wouldn’t say that it is the best format to identify the best golfer for the year,” Scheffler said.
“Jon Rahm played some of the best golf of anybody this year and he’s coming into this tournament fourth and he’s four shots back. And, in theory, he could have won 20 times this year and he would only have a two-shot lead.
“I feel like I’ve joked a decent amount about being (world) number one meaning you don’t get any extra strokes and you show up this week and I do get some extra strokes. So it’s a bit strange, but it should be a fun week.”
Asked what he learned about losing his six-shot lead in the space of seven holes in last year’s final round, Scheffler said: “I don’t know if impatient is the right word, but I just didn’t get off to a good start and after that, I played really well.
“I remember walking down number eight and kind of just having a talk with myself about, you know, this is why you practice, this is why you prepare, just kind of give yourself a little pump-up speech, and then after that I snapped right back in.”
Frankie Dettori produced a brilliant front-running ride aboard Mostahdaf as he lowered the colours of Paddington in a thrilling edition of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.
Deputising for the suspended Jim Crowley aboard John and Thady Gosden’s Royal Ascot scorer, Dettori wasted little time in bouncing the 3-1 second favourite out of the stalls and quickly into stride, he set perfect fractions as the Shadwell-owned five-year-old made every yard of the running.
Although Ryan Moore received the desired response when asking Paddington to close the gap in the home straight, he ultimately had no answer to Mostahdaf who kept finding extra under an ultra-confident Dettori as he registered a length success and followed up the owner’s victory in the Group One contest with the imperious Baaeed 12 months ago.
Stablemate Nashwa edged her way past Paddington for the silver medal late on as the Clarehaven team enjoyed a fabulous one-two, but the day belonged to Dettori who by winning the race for the first time since 2007, moved past Lester Piggott to become the contest’s leading rider.
Ryan Moore produced a sterling ride aboard Continuous as he came from last to first to register an emphatic victory in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the son of Heart’s Cry dead-heated for third in the Dante at the track earlier in the season and was putting his St Leger credentials to the test following a fine effort in defeat behind King Of Steel at Royal Ascot.
Sent off the 4-1 second favourite, he answered every question to throw his hat in the ring for the final Classic of the season in tremendous fashion.
Ridden with real patience by Moore as 8-11 favourite Gregory went for home early under Frankie Dettori, Continuous gradually worked his way through the gears and as Gregory’s challenge began to wain inside the final two furlongs, the Ballydoyle colt was just getting started as he powered clear of runner-up Castle Way for an authoritative three-and-three-quarter-length success.
The winner was cut to 4-1 joint favourite from 12s by Betfair for the St Leger on September 16, with the firm also easing Gregory out to 5-1 for Doncaster after John and Thady Gosden’s charge stayed on for third.
O’Brien said: “He’s a lovely horse who is progressing, he has enough class for a mile and a half and could stay further. He’s an exciting horse really.
“He handles an ease in the ground well as he has a bit of a round action, but that was fast ground there today – Ryan said it was quicker than it was at Royal Ascot – and he didn’t seem to have any problem with it.
“He came here in the Dante and needed the run very badly and ran a massive race. I said to Ryan before the race today ‘would any of those other horses have ran as well in the Dante as he did?’ and he said they wouldn’t. A little bit of class usually outs, especially if the pace is even.
“I asked Ryan about that (the St Leger trip). He said he doesn’t need a mile and six but he said you wouldn’t rule it out.”
Charlie Appleby does not view Castle Way as a St Leger candidate following his run, with an American target on the horizon now.
He said: “I’m pleased. The fractions looked very quick and William (Buick) said he was close enough but fair play to the winner, he was the fastest horse in the race.
“The main thing to take out of it is that William did say the mile and six in the Leger will probably stretch him, so where do we go next?
“I think I’ll most definitely put him on the radar for Belmont (Jockey Club Derby) where the quick ground will suit him.
“That will most likely be our next stop. He’s got a great attitude, he tries but he was beaten by a better horse today.”
John Gosden was pleased with the performance of Gregory in third, and feels the extra distance in the St Leger will be in his favour.
“We felt we couldn’t go from Royal Ascot to the Leger so we had to come here, even with a 3lb penalty,” he said.
“They went a strong pace and there were two others forcing it, but what I loved about it was that a furlong out he got going again.
“To me he’s run the perfect trial for the Leger. I did say to the owners before the race that I’d asked the course executive if they could move the stalls back to the start of the Ebor, but they wouldn’t!
“I couldn’t be more pleased as a Leger prep and you can see by the size of him he’s all about next year, one more run in the Leger and then Cup races next year.”
As Paul Hanagan bows out after a 25-year career in the saddle, we reflect on five of the dual champion jockey’s best horses:
TAGHROODA
Taghrooda won her only juvenile start and then blazed home by six lengths in the Pretty Polly Stakes to mark herself as a Classic contender. She went to post as a 5-1 shot for John Gosden in the Oaks, making easy work of a near four-length win before exploiting the three-year-old allowance to perfection to follow up in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Narrowly beaten as the 1-5 favourite in the Yorkshire Oaks, she rounded off her career when beaten just over three lengths into third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
MUHAARAR
The sprint king of 2015, Muhaarar’s ability was evident when winning the Gimcrack the previous season. Trained by Charlie Hills, Muhaarar won the Greenham which prompted a crack at the French 2000 Guineas, but after failing to stay he dropped back to six furlongs and mopped up the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest before signing off with a British Champions Sprint triumph.
WOOTTON BASSETT
Wootton Bassett was a landmark horse for the Paul Hanagan-Richard Fahey axis, providing the pair with their first Group One success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. That victory capped a five-race unbeaten juvenile campaign for the colt, which also included a couple of richly-endowed sales events at Doncaster and York along the way. While he did not win at three, he has gone on to prove a stallion revelation with a welter of Group One winners and a current stud fee of €150,000.
SANDS OF MALI
Winner of the 2017 Gimcrack Stakes, he took the Sandy Lane and finished second in the Commonwealth Cup the following spring, but by the time midsummer came around, it looked as though he had posted his best as he turned in a couple of lacklustre runs. However, soft ground at Ascot in the autumn saw him roar back to form and defy his odds of 28-1 to win the British Champions Sprint on what was his final run in Hanagan’s hands.
MAYSON
At his peak in his four-year-old season, Mayson won the Abernant and Palace House Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile before successfully switching to the July course to land the July Cup later in the campaign. He had only one more run after that, when edged by a neck in the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp, completing a fine rise through the ranks to bow out with a rating of 119.
Indian Run announced himself as a youngster on the rise with a stylish display in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York
Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, he was only third on debut at Newbury, but advertised his potential with a clinical win at Ascot next time.
Always travelling strongly on the outside in the hands of Danny Tudhope, he eased to the head of proceedings heading up the Knavesmire straight and the son of Sioux Nation still had plenty up his sleeve at the business end of the contest to repel the challenge of Ballymount Boy as he finished the Group Three contest full of running.
Owned by the Bronte Collection, made up of connections of leading owner Steve Parkin and including England cricket star Jonny Bairstow, the 17-2 scorer could now be set for bigger things and was trimmed to 12-1 from 16s by Paddy Power to follow in the footsteps of last year’s Acomb winner Chaldean and head for Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes.
Equilateral, running in his first handicap in the UK, defied top weight in the Sky Bet And Symphony Group-sponsored opener at York.
Trained by Charlie Hills, the sprinter is now in the veteran stage as an eight-year-old but is clearly still a force to be reckoned with.
While he had run in handicaps before, they had only been in Meydan, where he won the same event two years running in 2020 and 2021.
Since then he has spent his career dining at the top tables, running in Pattern races with his career-best effort coming behind stablemate Battaash in the 2020 King’s Stand when second.
He had run well earlier in the season to be second in both the Temple and Achilles Stakes at Haydock but was last of 11 at Goodwood behind Highfield Princess last time out.
In a typically helter-skelter affair, York specialist Copper Knight made a bold bid but was swamped close home, with Equilateral and Jamie Spencer beating Alligator Alley by a neck with a head back to Jm Jungle.
Hills said: “He’s a yard favourite, he’s always got his head over the door and the day he does leave will be very sad.
“He loves Dubai, he ran well this year without getting his head in front, hopefully that will give him confidence to go forward and go back into Group class. He loves that fast ground.
“He’s in the Flying Five at the Curragh and that is a definite option. If Khaadem can win a Group One at 80-1 then this fellow can!”
Ben White is back in the Scotland XV to face Georgia at Murrayfield on Saturday – just three weeks after fearing injury might rule him out of the World Cup.
The scrum-half limped off in clear distress in the first half of the home win over France earlier this month and looked exasperated as he made his way up the tunnel with his ankle heavily strapped. He missed the subsequent match away to France and later revealed that he was “really concerned” when the injury first happened.
However, White – Gregor Townsend’s first-choice scrum-half – has now been deemed fit enough to return to the number nine jersey for Scotland’s last warm-up match before heading to France for the World Cup at the start of September.
In a further boost for supporters, Edinburgh wing Duhan van der Merwe, who suffered a minor ankle injury in the last match in Saint-Etienne, is also fit enough to start against Georgia.
Despite Scotland’s first game of the tournament against South Africa being only three weeks away and the 33-man squad having been finalised, head coach Townsend has opted to send out a strong XV.
Ollie Smith, with five caps to his name, is the least experienced player in the team as he stands in for Blair Kinghorn at full-back, but the backline is otherwise arguably as strong as it could possibly be.
In the forward department, Glasgow prop Jamie Bhatti starts along with Edinburgh veteran WP Nel, with Pierre Schoeman rested and Zander Fagerson suspended. Richie Gray is another likely starter at the World Cup who has been given the weekend off, with Sam Skinner taking his place alongside Grant Gilchrist in the second row.
Dave Cherry starts ahead of George Turner and Ewan Ashman at hooker, while the back-row is comprised of captain Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey.
Classic-winning jockey Paul Hanagan has announced he will retire from the saddle after riding at York on Friday.
The 42-year-old enjoyed Epsom glory when steering Taghrooda to victory in the 2014 Oaks, before the duo went on to land the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and finish third to Treve in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Hanagan was the leading apprentice in 2002 and was crowned champion jockey twice – first winning the title in 2010 when he rode 205 winners in a calendar year and successfully defending his crown in 2011, when he partnered 177 winners over the 12 months.
Recent seasons have proved more difficult, suffering a serious fall in February 2020 that resulted in three fractured vertebrae and a prolonged period on the sidelines, eventually returning to action in August that year and steering Majestic Dawn to a popular victory in the Cambridgeshire the following month.
Hanagan has ridden 14 winners so far this year and feels it is the right time to depart the weighing room, with his final ride due to come aboard the Richard Fahey-trained Wootton’Sun.
He said: “As you can imagine it’s quite emotional. It’s difficult, I think any professional sportsperson will tell you, especially doing it as long as I’ve been doing it for.
“There’s a few things involved in making my decision, I had a pretty bad fall about two years ago and I’ve never quite been the same after it, I fractured my back in three places.
“It’s not so much painful riding, but it’s getting to the level of fitness you need to be at to be a professional jockey and I don’t think I was getting to that standard.”
It was always expected to be two hard-fought encounters to decide the Men’s and Women’s Singles titles at the 28th edition of the Senior Caribbean Championships, and both lived up to billing, as the Barbados pair of Khamal Cumberbatch and Margot Prow claimed top honours in Cayman Islands on Tuesday.
Cumberbatch and Cameron Stafford of the hosts nation entered the one-week tournament as top seeds in the men’s draw and, so it was no surprise that they locked horns in a keenly contested best-of-five final, which the former won 3-2.
The ding-dong battle which lasted 47 minutes, saw Stafford winning the first game 11-6, before Cumberbatch rallied to win the second 11-3. The Cayman Islands top man again found himself in front winning the third game 11-9, but Cumberbatch asserted authority in the last two games to win 11-9, 11-3.
Predictions were that the women’s showpiece would have been an all-Guyana battle between Nicolette Fernandes and Ashley Khalil, but Prow had other ideas, as she bettered Khalil in the semi-final to set up the gold medal battle with Fernandes.
And the Bajan proved superior to her Guyanese counterpart in the Best-of-five final, registering a 3-1 win. She won the first set 11-7, before Fernandes rallied to take the second 11-9, but Prow, like her compatriot Cumberbatch, showed class at the backend to win the next two games 11-9 and 11-7.
Earlier, Julian Jervis and Stafford, handed Cayman Islands the Men’s Doubles gold medal, as they battled to a come-from-behind 11-7, 11-5 win over the Barbadian pair of Cumberbatch and Shawn Simpson in an entertaining finale. Cumberbatch and Simpson won the first set 7-11.
To get to the finals, both pairs had to endure almost hour-long battles in their respective semi-final encounters, Cumberbatch and Simpson moreso, as they had to come from behind to better the Jamaican pair of Bruce Burrowes and Julian Morrison 11-9, 11-8, after losing the first set 9-11.
While the Cayman duo’s battle against Guyana’s Daniel Ince and Jason-Ray Khalil lasted 48 minutes, they won 2-0 with scores of 11-9, 11-10.
In the Women’s Doubles, Guyana secured gold courtesy of top seeded Ashley Khalil and Ashley De Groot, who justified favouritism with a come-from-behind 11-5, 11-9 win over the second seeded Cayman Islands pair of Jade Pitcarin and Marlene West, who won the opening set 11-4.
Khalil and De Groot had earlier bettered Barbadians Karen Meakins and Margot Prow 11-5, 5-11, 11-5 in a competitive three-set battle lasting just over half-hour, while Pitcarin and West got by the Jamaican duo of Karen Anderson and Mia Todd, 11-9, 11-6.
Jamaica’s Tahjia Lumley and Jessica Davis copped the Mixed Doubles title by virtue of a walkover. The reason for such an outcome remains unclear, as the Jamaicans were expected to face the number two seeded Guyanese pair of Jason-Ray Khalil and Nicolette Fernandes in the showpiece event.
After entering the event as the number five seed, the Jamaicans registered an 11-5, 11-2 win over the Trinidad and Tobago pair of Anthony Allum and Faith Gillezeau, and later scored a two-set 11-5, 11-5 win over top seeded pair of Alex Frazer and Michaela Rensburg of the host nation, on their way to the final.
Meanwhile, Khalil and Fernandes bettered the Barbadian pair of Darien Benn and Jada Smith-Padmore 11-5, 11-8, on their way to the final.
The tournament continues with team action on Wednesday.
William Haggas’ Relief Rally will be tested over six furlongs in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York after an impressive string of five-furlong performances.
The daughter of Kodiac has been beaten just once in four runs, winning a novice and a conditions race before stepping up to Group Two level in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
There she was beaten just a nose by the American challenger Crimson Advocate in a busy field of 26 runners.
She lost little in defeat and was a winner again when heading to Newbury for the Super Sprint, a race she won by three lengths under regular rider Tom Marquand.
The same jockey will receive the leg-up on the Knavesmire, where Relief Rally steps up to six furlongs for the first time against a group of eight rivals for the Group Two Lowther.
Trainer William Haggas said: “She’ll run a good race. She’s a lovely filly – very fast, very able, goes on any ground.
“She should get the trip – I think she’ll enjoy the trip.”
Relief Rally will face Andrew Balding’s Flora Of Bermuda, a Dark Angel filly last seen winning the Alice Keppel at Goodwood by a convincing four lengths.
Prior to that the grey was sixth of 26 in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, where she was the first home in the group on the far side as the race split into three bunches across the track.
“She won well at Goodwood in different ground conditions, we’re looking forward to seeing her over six furlongs and she seems in great form,” said Balding.
“You never quite know until you try, but it’s a nice race for her and the timing is right.
“The draw was a factor there (at Ascot) but it won’t be here, it’s a smaller field.
“Hopefully we’ll get a fair race and fingers crossed she runs well.”
Also well-fancied is Aidan O’Brien’s Cherry Blossom, a No Nay Never filly with form over six furlongs as she won a Curragh maiden over the trip by five lengths earlier in August.
Prior to that she notably made her debut in Listed company, finishing fourth in the Marwell Stakes when beaten only a length and a quarter.
“We started her off in a Listed race and she ran well,” said O’Brien.
“She’d taken a big step forward from that and we’ve always liked her. Any ease in the ground would be an advantage to her.”
Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have a runner in Star Of Mystery, winner of the Listed Empress Stakes and second in the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket’s July Cup meeting.
Karl Burke, who was victorious last year with Swingalong, has two chances with Beautiful Diamond and Dorothy Lawrence.
Beautiful Diamond was third in the Queen Mary when racing alone behind the leading duo, prior to which she was a decisive winner of a Nottingham maiden.
Dorothy Lawrence has more racing experience having run four times, including a good course effort when second in the Marygate by half a length in May.
Following that performance she was third at Chantilly and then won for the first time in an Ayr maiden last month.
Running in the same Clipper Logistics silks for Michael Bell will be Queen’s Guard, who comes into the race having won a Yarmouth maiden last time, with Irish trainer Paddy Twomey represented by Airlie Stud Stakes second Gunzburg.
Clive Cox will saddle Symbology, a winner over course and distance on debut before finishing third in the Princess Margaret at Ascot.
England play their final match before departing for the World Cup when dangerous Fiji visit Twickenham on Saturday with head coach Steve Borthwick facing challenges on and off the field.
Here, the PA news agency answers some key questions ahead of the tournament in France.
What has happened?Fresh from finishing fourth in the Six Nations after losing three of their five games, England’s malaise has continued into their series of World Cup warm-up fixtures, only now the poor results have been compounded by a disciplinary implosion that saw Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola sent off for dangerous tackles.
What are the repercussions?Both Farrell and Vunipola will miss the crucial opener against main Pool D rivals Argentina on September 9 after they received respective four and three-match bans, Vunipola’s reduced to two upon completion of tackle school. Farrell only becomes available for the Chile and Samoa games, while England’s options at number eight are further limited by Tom Curry’s ankle injury.
Can changes be made to England’s squad?The final 33-man squad does not have to be submitted to World Rugby until August 28, setting Borthwick a Monday deadline for any late adjustments. Two matters must be addressed – does Borthwick remain committed to Farrell despite his absence for the two most important group games and is there enough cover at number eight following Vunipola’s ban?
Surely he will not drop Farrell?Highly unlikely, but the length of the ban has left the player and England in limbo. Borthwick’s decision would have been simplified had Farrell been cleared or suspended for six matches, but as it stands he will start the World Cup with George Ford at fly-half and Courtney Lawes as captain knowing that if the team delivers in their skipper’s absence then there may be no place for him in the starting XV.
What about the back row?Vunipola’s absence is easier to overcome given he will only miss the Argentina showdown but as the squad’s sole specialist number eight and its standout carrier in the forwards – at least historically – the situation is hardly ideal. Lewis Ludlam and Ben Earl are the fit alternatives and are high quality players, but neither are the type of bulldozing power runner every World Cup winning team has fielded in the position. Curry’s recovery from an ankle issue has been slow, but Borthwick will surely give such an influential back row every chance to contribute in France.
Can England beat Argentina?View this post on InstagramRyder Cup captain Luke Donald admits thinking about selecting his six wild cards is starting to give him sleepless nights.
Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm have already secured places in Donald’s side via the European Points list, with Viktor Hovland qualifying on the World Points list.
Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood currently occupy the other two spots on the World Points list, with Robert MacIntyre holding the third and final place on the European Points list with two qualifying events remaining.
MacIntyre and Alexander Bjork will partner Donald in the first two rounds of this week’s Czech Masters, with three of Donald’s vice-captains tasked with assessing the performance of several other contenders.
Nicolas Colsaerts will partner Pablo Larrazabal and Adrien Dumont de Chassart at Albatross Golf Resort, with Edoardo Molinari playing alonsgide Yannik Paul and Rasmus Hojgaard and Francesco Molinari drawn with Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg.
“I’m not sure if it was the jet-lag last night or lots of things building up, but I was up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night,” Donald said.
“Lots of things whirring through my head – who I should be talking to, next steps, all that sort of stuff.
“It’s becoming more and more as the week gets closer. A lot to digest, I’m trying to take it day by day, but it’s an important week. I’m excited to be very close to finalising those 12 guys.”
Next week’s Omega European Masters is the final qualifying event, with Donald naming his wild cards on September 4.
“There are definitely some spots open,” the former world number one added.
“I was looking at the statistics this morning and someone as low as 23rd on the European Points list, if they won this week and next, still has a statistical chance of making that top three on the list.
“All to play for, I’d say, and these guys should be chomping at the bit to show up and have some good weeks. It’s great to see that commitment. It doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Everyone in their right mind should have playing a Ryder Cup as a goal of theirs. People who have played never want to miss one once they’ve been a part of it. Rookies want to understand how special the event is.
“A lot of guys who should be playing are playing this week and I’m excited to see how the week unfolds.”
Keely Hodgkinson welcomed another showdown with Athing Mu after the defending 800m world champion showed her hand.
American Mu had kept her rivals guessing over whether she would turn up in Hungary after her coach, Bobby Kersee, last month suggested she may skip the World Championships.
But the 21-year-old, who forced Hodgkinson to settle for silver in Eugene last year, won her heat in one minute 59.59 seconds in Budapest on Wednesday.
Hodgkinson eased into Friday’s semi-finals after winning her heat in one minute 59.53 seconds and is eager to take another shot at Mu.
“Yeah, I saw here in the warm-up. It’s good that she’s here. Hopefully all three of us (Hodgkinson, Mu and Mary Moraa) will make it to the final and it will be a good race,” she said.
“I was just jogging and she passed me and I was like ‘oh, she’s come’ because nobody knew. That’s the first time I knew, I knew she was on the start list. I didn’t know she was here.”
Hodgkinson also had to contend with temperatures over 30 degrees at 10am in Hungary.
World Athletics had already moved the women’s 5,000m heats to Wednesday evening because of the soaring heat and Hodgkinson admitted it has been a battle.
She said: “The conditions are awful. Mixed in with the 6am does not bode well for me.
“But I’ve got it done; I’m glad it’s the only morning round. I like to be back at 12 and done but I also like my sleep.
“Anti-doping came for me yesterday as well, at 6am at the door, so I was not happy. But as I say, first round out the way.
“It’s just (about) keeping cool. Even when I came the other night on Sunday to watch and just being sat there in the heat, it’s draining.”
Jemma Reekie joined Hodgkinson in the semi-finals after running one minute 59.71s and feels she is in a better place to challenge the best, following the split from coach Andy Young this year.
She said: “I expected Mu to be here and I want Mu to be here. I want them all in that final and I want me in that final. I want to run the best against the best in the world.
“It’s so nice compared to last year. Last year, I wasn’t ready. This year. I’m more than ready.
“I’m better than I’ve ever been. But you can’t take these heats and semis for granted.”
In the men’s 200m, Zharnel Hughes – who won 100m bronze on Sunday – breezed through to the semis in 19.99s.
“It was like a Sunday jog,” he said. “I’m inspired, after getting that medal it makes you want more. It makes you more committed and dedicated to see what more you can do.
“The job’s not done yet. I’m not disrespecting anyone, I’m just letting you know I am in shape. I am feeling well and I am looking forward to going through the rounds.”
Daryll Neita and Dina Asher-Smith overcame their 100m disappointment by reaching the women’s 200m semi-finals.
Asher-Smith finished eighth in the 100m final on Monday but won her heat in 22.46s and Neita, who failed to make the final, came second in her heat in 22.39s.
New 100m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson was the fastest qualifier in 22.16s.
Neita said: “I had to have a memory of a goldfish, the 100m didn’t go to plan, we will review it after the Championships. We all know I’m capable of much better things.
“It’s patience this game. I know where I’m at and what I need to work on. Doubling up before next year (Olympics), I’m getting a great rehearsal.”
Defending champion Highfield Princess will have 15 horses to beat after 16 runners were declared for a red-hot Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.
John Quinn’s star mare stormed to victory in this race in the midst of a phenomenal Group One treble last term and although she may have not reached the same heights this year, she has still performed with real credit and looked back to her very best when scoring at Goodwood earlier this month.
She will lock horns with both of her Ascot conquerors on the Knavesmire with Archie Watson’s King’s Stand champion Bradsell and Charlie Hills’ Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem featuring amongst those declared.
Frankie Dettori will partner Twilight Calls in his final Nunthorpe, with Henry Candy’s five-year-old attempting to replicate his grandsire Kyllachy and win this prestigious sprinting prize following a luckless run at the Royal meeting.
Course and distance scorer Regional could provide Ed Bethell with the biggest win of his career if securing a hat-trick in this high-class event, while Mick Appleby’s two-year-old Big Evs was supplemented at a cost of £40,000 and adds further spice to the mix.
Ascot Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami heads the seven declared for a competitive renewal of the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes.
John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old announced himself as the new star of the staying division at Royal Ascot but now heads to York having suffered his first defeat when behind runaway scorer Quickthorn in the Goodwood Cup.
The six-year-old employed bold front-running tactics when thriving on the Sussex Downs, just as he did when romping away with this prize 12 months ago, and trainer Hughie Morrison will be hoping for more of the same.
Marco Botti’s Giavellotto returns to the scene of his Yorkshire Cup victory earlier in the season, while Andrew Balding’s Coltrane is an ultra-consistent performer at this level.
Ten go to post for the day’s feature two-year-old action and Kylian is a warm order to give Karl Burke a first Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes victory.
The Group Two contest is run over six furlongs, with Vintage Stakes hero Haatem (Richard Hannon), Action Point (Archie Watson) and Ballydoyle’s Windsor Castle runner-up Johannes Brahms others to note.
Billy Vunipola has joined Owen Farrell in being banned for the start of England’s World Cup campaign after receiving a three-week suspension for his red card against Ireland.
Vunipola was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Andrew Porter in Saturday’s 29-10 defeat in Dublin, but the offence was upgraded to a red by the bunker review system.
An independent disciplinary hearing reduced the entry-level ban of six games to three because of mitigating factors and the Saracens number eight could shave an additional match off the total if he attends tackle school.
It means he will miss Saturday’s final warm-up fixture against Fiji at Twickenham and the pivotal World Cup opener against Argentina on September 9.
The decision comes the morning after Farrell was given a four-match ban for his dangerous tackle on Wales flanker Taine Basham on August 12 and is another grave setback for Steve Borthwick.
England’s head coach must now plan for the opener against Argentina without his captain and talisman as well as the only specialist number eight in the squad.
Vunipola will be available for the clash with Japan in Nice on September 17 when he completes tackle school but Farrell will not be back until the final group games against Chile and Samoa.
PA SPORT BIRTHDAYS
Sam Torrance (golf) – former European Ryder Cup captain, born 1953.
Karl Maier (speedway) – German who won four long track world titles, born 1957.
Michael Thomas (soccer) – former Arsenal, Liverpool and England midfielder who scored a title-clinching goal for the Gunners in 1989, born 1967.
Tugay (soccer) – former Blackburn and Turkey midfielder, born 1970.
Denilson (soccer) – former Brazil winger who cost a then world-record fee of £21.5million when Real Betis signed him from Sao Paulo in 1998, born 1977.
Stephen Bate (cycling) – gold medallist in the individual pursuit and road time trial at the 2016 Paralympics, born 1977.
Jurgen Macho (soccer) – former Sunderland and Austria goalkeeper, born 1977.
Jose Bosingwa (soccer) – former Chelsea, QPR and Portugal full-back, born 1982.
Maya Yoshida (soccer) – Japanese defender who played 154 times for Southampton in the Premier League, now at LA Galaxy, born 1988.
ON THIS DAY IN SPORT
1957: Jimmy Greaves scored on his Chelsea debut against Tottenham.
2001: Liverpool beat Bayern Munich 3-2 in Monaco to win the European Super Cup, their fifth trophy in six months.
2008: Cricket’s Champions Trophy – which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan – was postponed. South Africa had already withdrawn due to security concerns, and other countries were considering doing likewise.
2011: Manchester City signed France midfielder Samir Nasri from Arsenal on a four-year deal.
2012: The United States Anti-Doping Agency stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and banned him from cycling for life.
2016: Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane announced his retirement from international football after the friendly with Oman on August 31.
2017: Harry Maguire received his first England call-up, for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia. He would go on to play a starring role in the Three Lions’ run to the semi-finals in Russia the following summer.
2018: Tottenham and France captain Hugo Lloris issued an apology after being charged with drink-driving following a routine patrol stop in central London.
2022: Scottish mountain biker Rab Wardell died just days after winning the
Scottish MTB XC Championships.
PA SPORT SELECTIVE TV GUIDE
Today (Thursday, August 24)
CRICKET: The Hundred, Birmingham Phoenix Women v London Spirit Women – Sky Sports Mix, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket 1430, Birmingham Phoenix Men v London Spirit Men – Sky Sports Mix, Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket 1800.
GOLF: DP World Tour, Czech Masters – Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Golf 1200; PGA Tour, The Tour Championship – Sky Sports Golf 1700.
HORSE RACING: Ebor Festival, York – ITV1 1330.
ATHLETICS: World Championships, Budapest – Eurosport 1 0600 and 1730, BBC Two England 1730, BBC One 2000.
SNOOKER: European Masters – Eurosport 2 1430 and 1900.
TENNIS: US Open qualifiers – Sky Sports Arena 1600, Sky Sports Main Event 2130.
CYCLING: Benelux Tour – Eurosport 1 1415; Women’s Tour of Scandinavia – Eurosport 1 1615.
Tomorrow (Friday, August 25)
FOOTBALL: Premier League, Chelsea v Luton – Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League 1900; LaLiga, Las Palmas v Real Sociedad – Viaplay Sports 1 and LaLiga TV 1800, Celta Vigo v Real Madrid – Viaplay Sports 1 and LaLiga TV 2025; Bundesliga, RB Leipzig v Stuttgart – Sky Sports Football 1920; Ligue 1, Nantes v Monaco – TNT Sports 1 1945.
MOTOR RACING: Formula One, Dutch Grand Prix first practice – Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports F1 1100, second practice – Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports F1 1445.
ATHLETICS: World Championships, Budapest – BBC Two England 0845 and 1730, Eurosport 1 0900 and 1745, BBC One 1900.
GOLF: DP World Tour, Czech Masters – Sky Sports Golf 1200, Sky Sports Main Event 1300; PGA Tour, The Tour Championship – Sky Sports Golf 1700, Sky Sports Main Event 1715.
HORSE RACING: Ebor Festival, York – ITV1 1330.
RUGBY UNION: International, New Zealand v South Africa – Sky Sports Mix 1925.
RUGBY LEAGUE: Super League, Hull Kingston Rovers v Leigh Leopards – Sky Sports Action 1930.
TENNIS: US Open qualifiers – Sky Sports Arena 1600, Sky Sports Main Event 2245.
SNOOKER: European Masters – Eurosport 2 1430 and 1900.
CYCLING: Benelux Tour – Eurosport 1 1415; Women’s Tour of Scandinavia – Eurosport 1 1200.
PA SPORT QUIZ
1. The US Open venue is named after which former tennis player?
2. Which Scottish golfer was picked as a wildcard for the Solheim Cup?
3. Where will the Tour de France start in 2024?
4. In which year did former bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt make her England debut?
5. Which team are currently bottom of the Betfred Super League?
6. Who does quarterback Aaron Rodgers now play for in the NFL?
7. England forward Rachel Daly spent six years with which NWSL team before moving to Aston Villa?
8. Who is the only other driver alongside Max Verstappen to have won Formula 1 races this season?
9. Name the two co-captains for Wales at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
10. Where in the world would you find the Hagley Oval cricket ground?
ANSWERS: 1. Billie Jean King; 2. Gemma Dryburgh; 3. Florence, Italy; 4. 2004; 5. Wakefield; 6. New York Jets; 7. Houston Dash; 8. Sergio Perez; 9. Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake; 10. Christchurch, New Zealand.
Josh Rojas hit a two-run homer and the Seattle Mariners matched a season high with their eighth straight win, 6-3 over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
The eight-game streak is the second this month for the Mariners, who moved a season-high 16 games over .500 by improving to 33-13 since July 1.
They moved within one game of AL West-leading Texas and remained one game ahead of Toronto in the race for the third and final wild-card spot.
Rookie Bryan Woo allowed one run and three hits over four innings after he was reinstated from the injured list earlier in the day.
Six relievers followed with Justin Topa getting four outs for the win and Andres Munoz striking out Luis Robert Jr. for his eighth save.
Seattle went ahead to stay on RBI singles by Mike Ford and J.P. Crawford in the second inning, and Rojas homered after Ford drew an eight-pitch walk in the fourth.
The Mariners again played without star center fielder Julio Rodriguez, who was scratched because of an illness after he missed Monday’s win for rest.
Before their eighth loss in 10 games, the White Sox fired executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn, cutting ties with their baseball leadership amid a hugely disappointing season.
Nationals keep Yankees reeling
Josiah Gray pitched six strong innings, CJ Abrams hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and the Washington Nationals beat the New York Yankees 2-1, extending their longest losing streak in over 40 years.
The last-place Yankees dropped their ninth straight game for the first time since 1982 and fell 10 ½ games back of the final AL wild card spot.
New York had just two hits – both by rookie Ben Rortvedt – and scored their only run on his third-inning home run.
Gray allowed one hit and one run in six innings while walking five and striking out four.
Turner’s walk-off hit lifts Phillies
Trea Turner delivered a two-run single in the ninth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-3 win over the struggling San Francisco Giants.
Giants closer Camilo Doval was called on to protect a 3-2 lead in the ninth but hit leadoff batter Bryson Stott and gave up a one-out single to Brandon Marsh, putting runners on the corners.
After Marsh stole second and Kyle Schwarber was intentionally walked, Turner lined a shot off Doval’s glove and into center field to score the tying and winning runs.
The Giants have lost 12 of 16 to fall behind the Cubs and Arizona into a tie with Cincinnati for fourth in the wild-card race.
The Chicago White Sox fired front office executives Ken Williams and Rick Hahn Tuesday, moving on from the longtime leadership pairing amid another disappointing season.
Williams had been Chicago’s executive vice president for 11 seasons after previously serving as the club’s general manager for 12 years. Hanh took over the GM role when Williams was promoted in October 2012.
The club announced the change in leadership by releasing a statement on social media, ending a disappointing era for the White Sox, who entered play Tuesday in fourth place in the AL Central with a 49-76 record.
The White Sox have not won a postseason series since their World Series title in 2005 and have made just three playoff appearances in that span.
“This is an incredibly difficult decision for me to make,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “Ken is like a son to me, and I will always consider him a member of my family.
“I want to personally thank Ken and Rick for all they have done for the Chicago White Sox, winning the 2005 World Series and reaching the postseason multiple times during their tenures.”
The club said in the statement that the search for a new head of baseball operations will begin immediately, and the White Sox hope to fill the position before the end of the season.
Jeremy Haber and Chris Getz served as assistant general managers under Hahn, but the White Sox did not say if internal candidates would be considered for promotion.
Chicago snapped an 11-year playoff drought in 2020 and followed by winning the Central with a 93-69 record in 2021.
Several key contributors from that 2021 squad moved on to other teams, while others – such as Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada – have since regressed.
The result was an 81-81 season last year and a disastrous 2023 season that is on pace for 98 losses.
This year’s team got out to a 7-21 start – including a 10-game April losing streak – and never made a serious run to get back into playoff contention.
The Los Angeles Angels need a miracle to make the playoffs.
They'll turn to a familiar face in hopes of making an improbable postseason push.
The Angels activated Mike Trout from the injured list ahead of their game against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.
The three-time AL MVP had missed 38 games with a broken right hand sustained on a swing while fouling off a pitch in a game against the San Diego Padres on July 3.
The 32-year-old had surgery a few days later to remove a fractured hamate bone, and was initially projected to miss anywhere from four-to-eight weeks.
In 81 games this season, Trout is batting .263 with 18 home runs, 44 RBIs and has an .862 OPS.
His OPS is his lowest since his 2011 rookie season, but he still ranked fifth in the AL among all batters with a minimum of 325 plate appearances at the time of his injury.
Just prior to getting hurt, Trout was selected as a starter in the All-Star Game for a 10th consecutive time.
Los Angeles was two games out of a playoff spot through games on July 2, but has gone just 16-23 since to drop nine games behind the Seattle Mariners for the AL's final wild-card spot.
The Angels last made the playoffs in 2015, and their eight-season drought without a postseason berth is tied with the Detroit Tigers for the longest active streak in MLB.
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