Andy Hampson

Bryson DeChambeau returned to Royal Birkdale aiming to move past a two‑shot penalty that dropped him back in the Open standings, insisting the incident would motivate him. His dispute with rules officials overshadowed Lucas Herbert’s tournament‑leading 62, while several contenders, including Sam Burns and Ryan Fox, moved up the leaderboard. Rory McIlroy made a mixed start as he sought to rejoin the competition.

Rory McIlroy opened The Open at Royal Birkdale with a two‑over‑par 72 marked by six bogeys and several short missed putts, leaving him seven shots behind leader Jackson Suber. Despite the setbacks, he remained optimistic, citing strong driving and improved conditions expected in the morning. McIlroy aims to mount a recovery despite historical trends showing past champions were typically closer to the lead after the opening round.

Rory McIlroy shot a second‑round 66 to share the lead at nine under heading into the weekend at the Genesis Scottish Open, alongside Jordan Smith and Tom Kim. McIlroy’s strong start and steady play kept him in contention despite a single bogey. Smith surged with a seven‑under 63, while Matt Fitzpatrick and Min Woo Lee sit close behind. Scottie Scheffler missed the cut after failing to save par at his final hole, altering his preparation plans for the Open Championship. Several notable players, including Aaron Rai, Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele, also missed the cut, while Jon Rahm recovered with a 65 to make the weekend.

Manchester United aims to move into a new 100,000‑seat stadium around 2035, with officials noting the timeline depends on planning and design finalization. The club confirmed the site will be built near the current Old Trafford, allowing continued use during construction, and indicated the initial canopy‑roof design may change. United declined to estimate final project costs but emphasized privately sourced funding while wider area regeneration will involve public‑private partnerships. Plans for surrounding development include new housing, jobs, and upgraded transport links, while decisions regarding the existing stadium and the new stadium’s name remain undecided.

Brazil came from behind to defeat Japan 2-1 in Houston and secure a place in the World Cup last 16 with a stoppage‑time winner from substitute Gabriel Martinelli. Kaishu Sano opened the scoring for Japan before Casemiro equalised with a header early in the second half. Japan defended resolutely but Brazil’s late pressure paid off when Bruno Guimaraes set up Martinelli for the decisive goal. Carlo Ancelotti praised his team’s patience, while Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed disappointment but pride in his players’ efforts.

Enzo Maresca has signed a three-year deal to become Manchester City manager after paying part of Chelsea’s compensation to exit his contract, prompting Chelsea to express frustration over his departure. Chelsea said he had long been focused on succeeding Pep Guardiola, and delays in confirming the move centred on settling compensation of around £17 million. Maresca apologised for the disruption caused by his mid-season resignation and emphasised his commitment to continuing City’s dominant playing style. Club executives welcomed his return, and England midfielder Elliot Anderson is set to become his first major signing following agreement on a record fee with Nottingham Forest.