Roger Federer is coming back to US Open four years after retirement, set for two blockbuster matches US Open confirmed Roger Federer's return on Sunday, and he will be joined by three other tennis greats Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:25:16 IST Written by Aratrick Mondal Prefer HTon Google Share
Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Nerves cost us against Australia, but I'm proud of the team: women's hockey coach: Marijne Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:09:14 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
After seventh seed Victor Lai fell in three games to ninth seed Alex Lanier at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi, the former described the Frenchman as a ‘beast’, lauding his physical fitness and tenacity to go the distance and play the long game
India men’s football team will face Panama in a FIFA international friendly in September, ahead of another friendly against five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. According to a report by The Times of India, the match between India and the North American side is
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled himself out of the running to replace Gianni Infantino, but says he expects a candidate to challenge the Fifa president's leadership in March. Infantino has faced calls to step down after he scrapped a controversial plan to sell off stakes in Fifa's
Barcelona began their La Liga title defence with a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche on Sunday, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut. The result comea a day after Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-1 with a late winner
GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals GCT Grand Finale: Praggnanandhaa beats Keymer to stake his claim for finals Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 09:43:17 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link St. Louis
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin may have been vocal in his demand for the current FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step down but he has no interest in replacing the under-fire Swiss. Infantino continues to face pressure to leave his position as world football’s governing body chief following
Magical 90 minutes tightens McIlroy's grip on Masters
Magical 90 minutes tightens McIlroy's grip on Masters
The Masters, round two leaderboard
-12 R McIlroy (NI); -6 S Burns (US), P Reed (US); -5 J Rose (Eng), S Lowry (Ire), T Fleetwood (Eng)
Selected: -4 T Hatton (Eng); -3 B Koepka (US); -2 X Schauffele (US); -1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); Level S Scheffler (US), L Aberg (Swe); +4 J Rahm (Spa)
Full leaderboard
When Rory McIlroy chatted to the great Jack Nicklaus for advice about the best way to defend his Masters title, he was given a succinct piece of advice.
"He told me 'no double bogeys'," laughed McIlroy.
An obvious tip maybe, but it is easier said than done at Augusta National. Just ask the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland, who has opened up a record six-shot lead at the halfway stage thanks to a stunning finish to Friday's second round.
On his way to golfing utopia last year, McIlroy carded four double bogeys over the week - a tally which nobody had ever recorded and still managed to don the Green Jacket.
So far, with McIlroy holding a commanding advantage in his pursuit of a rare back-to-back Masters win, there haven't been any.
Instead of costly doubles threatening to derail his progress, there was a flurry of birdies late in a sensational second round which helped McIlroy accelerate away from the chasing pack.
He converted six in the final seven holes of his second round - including a glorious chip in from 30 yards on the 17th - to finish 12-under par following a spell which ranks among the finest of his career.
The run enabled the five-time major champion to set a record 36-hole lead going into the weekend, with American pair Sam Burns and Patrick Reed closest behind on six under.
"I've always loved the tournament and loved this golf course, even when I felt it didn't love me back," said McIlroy, who is bidding to follow Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as only the fourth player to win successive titles.
Now when I miss fairways it's fine, when I miss greens it's fine. I feel like I'm playing with the house's money.
McIlroy has rarely done anything conventionally in a career packed with as many bitter lows as there have been exhilarating highs.
This week, his progress has been uncharacteristically serene as he swung what had been a wide open tournament heavily into his favour.
With 36 holes still to play at a fickle Augusta which has the capacity to bite back, it is far from game over. A host of big names behind McIlroy are ready to pounce on any slips which he may make over the weekend.
But, judging by the evidence of the first two days, it does not feel like there will be any blips.
The relaxation which McIlroy has developed since finally becoming the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam of winning all four majors has allowed him to play with freedom around Augusta National.
"I haven't panicked when I've hit it off line and into trees, I've layed up and relied on wedges and those scoring clubs," he told Sky Sports.
"This course enables you to get on runs, although I certainly didn't imagine birdieing six of the last seven.
I've always felt when you're feeling it around here you can get momentum, the crowd gets on your side and you keep it rolling.
It seems bizarre to say now given his dominant position, but there was a spell on Friday where you felt McIlroy was still not playing close to his best.
When McIlroy bogeyed the 10th, he dropped back alongside 2018 champion Reed on six under and his general untidiness put his place at the top of the leaderboard under pressure.
Some drives were being sprayed, some approaches were not precise.
At the end of his round, the statistics showed McIlroy ranked 90th in the 91-man field for accuracy off the tee.
Ultimately, it didn't matter. His exceptional short game held his round together and when things did click into place on the tees and fairways, he motored through the final seven holes in fabulous fashion.
After winning last year, there is no longer a melodrama - created by the player or the galleries - every time he makes a bad shot. McIlroy has learned how to be patient around Augusta.
That seems to spell bad news for the rest of a leaderboard stacked with Green Jacket wearers, major title holders and Ryder Cup stars.
Staying even-tempered at the most famously punishing golf course in the world is a trait which two of the big names hoping to unseat McIlroy also recognise is necessary to succeed there.
Three-time runner-up Justin Rose, who is joint fourth, is targeting his own redemptive win after losing to McIlroy in last year's sudden-death play-off and credits his patience for a back-nine climb up the leaderboard on Friday.
"Early on things were tough out there. But I settled down and built the round back up," said Rose, who is seven behind McIlroy after a three-under 69.
It's a continuation of being on the leaderboard from last year and keeping the dream alive. I need to keep it as free as I can.
Ireland's Shane Lowry had a run of 14 successive pars before two birdies in the final three holes moved him alongside English pair - and victorious Ryder Cup team-mates - Rose and Tommy Fleetwood on five under par.
"I was hitting good shots and just wasn't converting but I was patient out there," said Lowry, whose sole major win came at the 2019 Open.
But there is another contender, also part of that European band of brothers bonded by Bethpage, who hopes a lack of patience will not stop him landing the Green Jacket.
The fiery Tyrrell Hatton knocked in seven birdies on the way to a six-under par 66, seemingly carding the round of the day only to be bettered by McIlroy.
"I definitely don't stay calmer or more patient this week. If anything, I am probably more on edge," said the 34-year-old Englishman who ended the day on four under.
I will just take each shot as it comes and see what we end up with.
Discussion had started to increase again about why the big-name LIV golfers were continuing to struggle at the majors as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau toiled at the Masters.
The conversation was cut short when Hatton, who also defected to the breakaway Saudi-backed tour, started making eyes at Augusta National.
Up to this point he had formed an uneasy relationship with the Masters, regularly squabbling with the unrelenting undulations of the famed course.
Hatton had unsuccessfully tried to befriend the old place on nine previous visits and, after starting with a two-over par 74 on Thursday, finally managed to ingratiate himself on Friday.
After seven birdies in 16 holes, Hatton had the course record of 63 - set in 1986 by Nick Price and matched in 1996 by Greg Norman - in his sights, but ultimately had to make do with a 66.
Hatton was only the third player in the past 30 years to hit all 18 greens in regulation, demonstrating how he is continuing to rise to the challenge which Augusta presents him - having called it "unfair" in 2022.
But, after a bogey on the last stopped him moving alongside then-clubhouse leader Rose, he still was not completely happy.
"I've clearly not learned enough seeing as I three-putted the last," he told Sky Sports.
DeChambeau, one of the fancied picks before the tournament, suffered the ignominy of missing the cut when a disastrous finish pushed him to six over.
With the cut line at four over, the 32-year-old American - who finished tied fifth last year - found the greenside bunker on the 18th and took two swipes at getting out on his way to a triple-bogey seven.
Spain's 2023 champion Rahm, 31, narrowly avoided the same fate of missing the weekend thanks to a birdie on 16, which moved him to safety at four over.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Sports
The French are known for a lot of things but badminton isn’t one of them. Till Sunday, when the country that has never been considered among the top nations even in Europe created history at the 2026 World championships, in more ways than one
11 hours ago
AITA picked them, the government cut them: Why has India’s Asian Games tennis squad been slashed from 12 to 7? The AITA had originally proposed a 12-member squad for for the Asian Games, which included six women. But the list was slashed down to just seven players. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026
11 hours ago
Ashton Jeanty injury update: Is the Raiders RB out for the season? Doctor reveals possible diagnoses; ‘best case…’ Ashton Jeanty was injured after attempting a catch, prompting a tense silence at the Raiders’ facility before his teammates gathered and knelt in prayer. Updated on: Aug 24
14 hours ago
When Liverpool came to Newcastle last August, there was utter jubilation as Rio Ngumoha scored a remarkable 100th-minute winner. They scored late again this time around, through Dominik Szoboszlai's 99th-minute penalty, but it felt more like a sense of relief than joy as they rescued a point
14 hours ago
'Is Sydney Taylor playing tonight?' Chicago Sky guard's slow start vs Fever sparks injury concerns Sydney Taylor was in Chicago’s starting lineup when the Sky hosted the Indiana Fever on Sunday night. Updated on: Aug 24, 2026, 07:32:12 IST By Ojas Jaiswal Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
14 hours ago
Yet again, the England men's cricket team is picking through the wreckage of a late-night misdemeanour. The latest stain on the game's reputation is a result of pictures of fast bowler Brydon Carse in handcuffs and surrounded by police officers outside a nightspot in Derby
14 hours ago
Jean-Philippe Mateta is arguing the remainder of his Crystal Palace contract is invalid and has taken his case to Fifa. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport the France international has launched an official challenge over the validity of the final 10 months on his Selhurst Park deal
1 days ago
Bangladesh 64: Starc 6-12 & 95: Shanto 31; Starc 4-39, Cummins 3-10, Lyon 3-25 Mitchell Starc took 10 wickets in the match as Australia bounced back from last week's shock defeat by Bangladesh to win the second Test by an innings and 51 runs and draw the series 1-1. Second Test
1 days ago
Jannik Sinner's absence benefits Carlos Alcaraz: What to expect from the US Open champion after his long injury layoff Jannik Sinner is out, but is it premature to call Carlos Alcaraz the US Open favourite after four months away? Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
US Open leaves Stan Wawrinka out in the cold, denying former champion a wild card for his final Grand Slam The US Open has surprisingly denied Stan Wawrinka a wild card for what could be his final appearance at a Grand Slam. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
India faced the Netherlands in their Pool E match of the ongoing FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 on Saturday (August 22) at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen but suffered a 1-3 defeat. India conceded one goal in the third quarter and two in the fourth quarter to go down against the hosts
1 days ago
There is an uncanny resemblance between Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa’s bronze-medal run at the 2011 BWF World Championships and Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand’s campaign at the 2026 edition. Jwala and Ashwini faced the second-seeded Cheng Wen-hsing and Chien Yu-chin as early as the
1 days ago
Runs on the board and rival wickets, is the template that Dhananjaya de Silva will chase when the second Test commences at the SSC Ground on Sunday (August 23, 2026). “It’s about putting runs on the board. That’s what India did [at Galle]. For the first two days they batted and got 460 runs
1 days ago
Serena Williams returns to US Open after four years, joins Carlos Alcaraz for mixed doubles Serena Williams will return to the US Open for the first time since 2022, partnering Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles after receiving a wildcard. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
1 days ago
Roberto De Zerbi may have spent close to £400m by the time his Tottenham Hotspur rebuild is complete – but it took just his side's first Premier League game of the season to prove all the money in the world is no guaranteed cure for a losing mentality
1 days ago
Manchester United's fans had endured a bad enough day on the banks of the River Humber when Hull City's stadium announcer gleefully piped up midway through the second half. Two trains back to Manchester from the city centre station had been cancelled
1 days ago
From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life From a shy girl to team mentor, Savita Punia says hockey changed her life Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:08:49 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Amstelveen
2 days ago
Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Shubhankar makes cut after spectacular ace at Nexo Championship Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 12:17:58 IST PTI Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Aberdeenshire , Shubhankar Sharma ended his streak of four missed cuts as he made the
2 days ago
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi has been fined for slapping Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan during their side's Major League Soccer (MLS) 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Messi, 39, slapped Sullivan around the back of the head towards the end of the game as he complained the Union player had elbowed him after
2 days ago
Premier League champions Arsenal will start the new season with some of the nightmares of the previous two as their marquee signing, midfielder Bruno Guimarães, is not part of the squad due to an injury. Guimarães signed for £75 million (Rs. 979 crore) from Newcastle United and suffered a knock
2 days ago
Nostalgia may have enveloped Sairaj Bahutule when he entered the SSC Ground. He would have remembered his last Test played at the same venue in 2001, a game India lost. The Indian spin-bowling coach, though, quickly immersed himself in the nets here Friday (August 21, 2026)
2 days ago
Lionel Messi fined for slapping opponent on the head as Inter Miami-Philadelphia clash erupts into late red-card chaos Lionel Messi was fined by MLS after slapping Philadelphia's Quinn Sullivan on the head as Inter Miami's 2-2 draw desecended into stoppage-time chaos. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026
2 days ago
Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra managed to deliver his season’s best performance at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday but fell agonisingly short of the top spot, as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage finished first with a throw just nine centimetres more than his
2 days ago
Why did Nick Chubb retire? Net worth in focus as NFL player ends career at 30 Nick Chubb played for eight seasons in NFL that included seven years with the Cleveland Browns and one with the Houston Texans. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026, 09:25:09 IST By Shirin Gupta Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link
2 days ago
Arsenal started last season as nearly men - but now they have the swagger of winners. That much can be seen on the approach to Emirates Stadium. Above the entrance to the ground is new signage, a simple message in gold: 'Champions'. Players and fans alike have taken the confidence of last season's
2 days ago
Liverpool, Man City face questions in new era without Salah, Guardiola Liverpool, Man City face questions in new era without Salah, Guardiola Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 06:32:41 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Mohamed Salah and Pep Guardiola are two of the most iconic figures in
2 days ago
Nakashima knocks out Fritz to reach Cincinnati semi-finals Nakashima knocks out Fritz to reach Cincinnati semi-finals Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 04:36:47 IST AFP Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Brandon Nakashima continued his red-hot pace on Friday
2 days ago
