Category Sports News

British Masters – round two leaderboard

-9 M Siem (Ger); -8 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -7 M Wallace (Eng), B Stone (SA), K Kobori (NZ)

Selected others: -6 A Fitzpatrick (Eng); -5 N Hojgaard (Den), A Sullivan (Eng) ;-4 R Hojgaard (Den), A Noren (Swe), D Willett (Eng); -3 E Ferguson (Sco); -1 M Penge (Eng), A Rai (Eng)

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick posted a three-under-par 69 to put himself in firm contention at the British Masters, moving just one shot behind leader Marcel Siem heading into the weekend.

The 2022 US Open champion rolled in his fifth birdie of the day from 22 feet on the 18th green at the Belfry after Siem also signed for a 69 – the German being helped by a 22-foot putt of his own for eagle at the par-five 17th.

“It was a good day all round,” said Fitzpatrick, who is hoping to earn a captain’s pick to appear for Europe at the Ryder Cup next month.

“I never really put myself out of position and drove the ball really well off the tee. If you can do that, you will give yourself a chance.

“I feel like my irons have been better. I didn’t chip and putt well at the start of the year and when you hit your irons better and start putting well it is a nice recipe for success.”

Siem sits on nine under, with Fitzpatrick eight under.

“I try and play my best golf every single week, every single day,” said Wallace, who also had a round of 69 on Friday.

“For me it is to try and deliver for the crowd here, the support has been amazing this week.

“If I can carry on doing what I’m doing and hopefully give them a ride for the week, try and win a tournament and then give Luke [Donald – Europe’s captain] a headache.”

Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard carded a one-under 71 and is at four under for the tournament, in a tie for 13th.

He is on course to claim the last automatic spot in Luke Donald’s team for the biennial contest between Europe and the United States, which takes place from 26-28 September.

Everton are close to making the £40 million signing of Tyler Dibling from Southampton.

The Toffees made three summer offers to the England Under-21 international that were rejected.

However, sources close to the two clubs have now resumed discussions, according to BBC Sport.

After scoring twice in 33 appearances last season, Dibling, 19, has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Everton manager David Moyes stated on Friday that the club was having a “very difficult” time making signings.

“We have money to spend, and we’re trying to use it,” Moyes said.

We do have money at the moment, but we are finding it very difficult to spend it, the statement goes.

Kate Cross remarks that it “feels savage” that England’s squad was drafted for the Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Seamer Cross, 33, was left out of Charlotte Edwards’ 15-player squad for the tournament, which runs from September 30 through November 2.

One of England’s most experienced one-day international players, she opened the bowling in the first match of last month’s ODI series against India despite having struggled for form since suffering a back injury at the end of 2024.

It seems like everything has happened so quickly, she told the No Balls podcast, which is what I’m really struggling to understand.

After being reduced to 29 overs per side in the second ODI against India at Lord’s because of the rain, Cross was dropped for the series finale at Chester-le-Street.

After being chosen for that game, which England lost to suffer a 2-1 series defeat, she claimed she initially worried she might not make the World Cup squad.

Despite her recent struggles, Cross believed she had made the squad enough despite her back injury, which prevented her from playing a game in England’s miserable 16-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia earlier this year.

She said, “Being in the best XI is a different conversation.” However, not being on the plane makes it feel savage.

Cross claimed it was “one of the worst” times in her career and that she felt “quite sick” after being informed that she had not been chosen.

She remarked, “The messages I’ve received from everyone have been amazing.” In the end, I won’t be playing any cricket because it’s so small.

” But it’s hard to take because I don’t feel like I’ve done enough to deserve not being on that plane. “

England captain and all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt is expected to be fit enough to bowl in the World Cup, with Edwards picking Em Arlott, Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer as the only three other seamers, given surfaces are expected to favour slow bowling.

Cross, who is playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, said she still needs to have a conversation with Edwards about whether she will be on standby in case of injury to one of those seamers.

Amir Khan says Jake Paul is “very bad for boxing” but has warned that the YouTuber-turned-boxer is “going to hurt” Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in their upcoming exhibition bout.

Former world light-welterweight champion Khan told BBC Sport the huge size and weight difference between the pair makes the fight, which takes place on 14 November in Atlanta, a dangerous mismatch.

Paul, 28, will face undefeated 30-year-old lightweight world champion Davis, who has won 30 of his 31 fights, with 28 knockouts, in an exhibition that will not count towards either man’s professional record.

“Jake Paul, in my opinion, is going to hurt Gervonta Davis,” Briton Khan said. “Davis is a tiny little man compared to Paul. I think it’s a big mismatch. “

The weight disparity between the two fighters is stark – Paul weighed in at 200lbs for his last bout, while Davis campaigns at 135lbs.

There is also a significant height and reach difference, with 6ft 1in Paul standing eight inches taller and having a nine-inch reach advantage.

“It shows to me that Tank’s acting desperate by taking a fight like that,” Khan said.

Bolton’s Khan, who also won Olympic silver at lightweight in 2004, appeared stunned when BBC Sport told him the fight – which will be shown live on Netflix – had been confirmed.

“Is it really happening? What? Wow. You just shocked me there, I had no idea. That’s crazy, bro,” Khan said.

While the contracted weight, number of rounds and size of gloves for the exhibition are yet to be confirmed, Khan cast doubt on whether the fight will even take place.

“I don’t think it happens, but if it does happen, Gervonta, being as good as he is and he’s an amazing fighter, he’ll end up getting hurt,” Khan said.

“I don’t think Davis can hurt Paul. “

Khan also took aim at the wider role in the sport of Paul, who outpointed 39-year-old former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June, taking his professional record to 12-1. He also beat 58-year-old heavyweight great Mike Tyson by decision last November.

“I think people like Jake Paul are very bad for boxing, to be honest with you,” Khan added.