Golf: No whining from leader Piercy after vintage 62 in Napa
(Reuters) – American Scott Piercy took the first-round lead at the Tiger-less Safeway Open in northern California on Thursday as Englishman Paul Casey put down his wine glass to trail by two strokes.
Soccer: Infantino says 32, 40 and 48-team World Cups on the table
ZURICH (Reuters) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that proposals for a 32, 40 or 48-team World Cup in 2026 were still on the table and that a larger tournament would not mean a drop in quality.
Golf: Wintry weather no problem for back to form Westwood
WATFORD, England (Reuters) – Former world number one Lee Westwood brushed off wintry conditions and a woeful run of form to boost his hopes of securing a 24th European Tour victory at the British Masters on Thursday.
Golf: Eagle finale boosts Swede Noren’s treble hopes
WATFORD, England (Reuters) – Alex Noren, showing the sort of supreme confidence befitting one of the hottest players in Europe, eagled the par-five 18th to provide a springboard for another potential title push at the British Masters on Thursday.
Confident Koeman says Everton can prevail over ‘risky’ City
(Reuters) – Manager Ronald Koeman has praised Pep Guardiola’s impact at Premier League leaders Manchester City, but says his Everton team can exploit the Spaniard’s “risky” playing style when they travel to the Etihad stadium on Saturday.
Five Russian race walkers handed four-year bans by CAS
(Reuters) – Five Russian race walkers have been handed four year bans by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after testing positive for the banned blood booster EPO in June 2015, the international tribunal said on Thursday.
Simon knocks out Wawrinka in Shanghai, Djokovic, Murray advance
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Frenchman Gilles Simon upstaged world number three Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-4 in the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Thursday, while top seeds Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray eased into the quarter-finals.
Westwood in contention thanks to blast from the past
WATFORD, England (Reuters) – Two missed cuts and a poor Ryder Cup show prompted Lee Westwood to seek solace from some vintage displays captured on film and the blast from the past worked a treat at the British Masters on Thursday.
Chelsea agree long-term kit deal with Nike
LONDON (Reuters) – Chelsea announced on Thursday a long-term partnership with Nike from next year in a deal that media reports suggested could be worth 60 million pounds ($74.61 million) a season.
Stuttering Real, Barca face more tough tests
BARCELONA (Reuters) – The two biggest names in Spanish club soccer will be anxious to put uncharacteristically stuttering starts to the season behind them on Saturday when they face sides that have set them stern tests in the recent past.
