Category Sports News

How much of a threat do the leading LIV Golf League players pose to Rory McIlroy’s quest for his first career Grand Slam?

Who else could possibly refuse the Northern Irishman the title he so desperately desires if Scottie Scheffler fails to win the upcoming Masters for the third time in four years?

If it isn’t another Scheffler success or Rory glory, then LIV might be celebrating at Augusta, in all likelihood. The breakaway tour will host 12 competitors for the first major of the year.

The world no. 1 shot a second-round 62 to finish second to Min Woo Lee in Houston last week, showing his best golf of the year.

McIlroy also completed what have proved to be very promising competitive preparations for the one major that he is yet to master.

He finished fifth overall after completing his two PGA Tour victories in 2025. He only managed two weekend 64s.

The 35-year-old is currently recovering from a sore elbow and fine tunings his preparations to be hidden from the public. LIV’s top stars this week compete on the circuit’s most challenging course.

Bryson DeChambeau is one of them, who won the US Open last June after beating a sluggish McIlroy.

Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton, and Joaquin Niemann are LIV contenders who will be desperate to refute the widely accepted theory that the limited field, 54-hole shotgun start team format played on LIV is detrimental to major chances.

When Rahm won the 2023 Masters, he still played on the PGA Tour, and he hoped that his switch to LIV would help bring some sort of reunification of men’s professional golf.

The Spaniard must show that he can still reach the heights that earned him his second major crown two years ago as the wait gets longer.

Rahm, the LIV individual champion from the previous year, is now second only to Niemann in the standings overall. He has won four of their four matches so far in 2025. Since finishing second in the inaugural season opener in Riyadh in February, the 30-year-old has finished in the top six in every category.

However, he needs to improve his scoring accuracy because he is frustrated. He recently admitted, “I have not played my best.” In my wedge game, I haven’t felt as at ease as I would like, which is evidenced by my experience.

You need that component of your game if you want to compete and win, and especially win majors.

His 150-yard accuracy will be important when LIV play at Doral this week. The arduous and reliable Miami test from Donald Trump appears to be the kind of warm-up the breakaway circuit candidates need.

Cameron Smith, a potential LIV threat at Augusta, commented, “Basically all the things that make a golf course hard are right here.”

Twelve months prior, DeChambeau shot 65-73 to share the Masters’ halfway lead, seven under par at Doral to tie for seventh. His best Augusta performance to date tied for sixth place with him.

It provided the framework for McIlroy’s most agonizing defeat, winning the US PGA Championship the following month and then triumphing at Pinehurst to place him in the top spot.

The big-hitting American, however, only tops LIV once this year. DeChambeau will need to find form in this week.

Koepka has long enjoyed a reputation for reserving his best form for grand slam events, becoming the only golfer to do so while playing the LIV schedule, the 2023 US PGA.

In shoddy tournaments, the five-time major champion struggles to find motivation. Koepka is showing signs of improvement after placing second at LIV’s most recent tournament in Singapore.

Phil Mickelson, a three-time Augusta champion, claims Niemann is currently playing the best golf in the world. Following wins at Pebble Beach and Players last month, McIlroy should beg to differ with that ostensibly misguided assertion.

But the Chilean’s qualities are unquestionable. After winning the Saudi International at the end of last year, he won in Singapore by five shots and three in Adelaide.

The 26-year-old placed third in a separate Asian Tour event held in India in February. I think I’ve gained more experience playing against the best players in the world, Niemann said.

And I’ve gained a lot in the last year. Yes, I feel different.

It seems increasingly absurd for him to never post a major top 10 ranking, despite his best performance in the big four championships in 16th place at the 2023 Masters.

Hatton will be eager to recapture his impressive early-season form in Florida this week because the Englishman has been largely unproductive since winning the Dubai Desert Classic in January.

The form line for Europeans who have won that prestigious tournament is encouraging, with Danny Willett (2016) and Sergio Garcia (2016) both coming out on top before the Green Jacket was draped on their shoulders.

Hatton, however, has not attended any LIV events since 2025, and will need a boost as he tries to surpass his best Augusta result so far, which was a share of ninth last year.

The 33-year-old maintains his position in the top 20 on a circuit that does not receive any world ranking points. And if he can control his notorious temper, he undoubtedly has qualities to contend with at Augusta.

This week at Doral will be the next step in determining the best way to prepare for the year’s initial major.

And this seems to be LIV’s most significant tournament of the year in terms of the wider golfing landscape. Top athletes have a right to feel they can compete anywhere if they play well at Doral, even though the layout is much flatter than the Masters’.

When they arrive at Augusta National, a positive week would strengthen their credibility as legitimate threats.

When Arsenal and Tottenham square off in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong this summer, the two teams will square off against one another in the first north London derby to be played outside of the UK.

As part of their preparations for the 2025-26 season, the London rivals will play at the newly opened Kai Tak Stadium on July 31.

The two teams’ first ever cross-country match is scheduled for 7: 30pm local time (11: 30am BST).

Liverpool’s Premier League rivals will face AC Milan on July 26 at the Hong Kong Football Festival.

Spurs traveled to Japan and South Korea in 2024, while Arsenal did in 2012 for the last time.

Manchester United is one of a number of Premier League clubs that will travel to the United States as part of their pre-season preparations, with two post-season friendlies scheduled for Hong Kong and Malaysia.

For the chance to win the top spot in the Club World Cup this summer, Major League Soccer’s LAFC and Mexican side Club America might play a one-off play-off match.

The winner of the play-off match would take Club Leon’s place after being expelled from the competition for breaking Fifa’s multi-club ownership rules due to dual ownership issues with fellow qualifiers Pachuca and other competitors.

Club America is the team with the highest ranking in Confederation Ranking after Club Leon, who defeated LAFC in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League final.

A Fifa statement read, “Fifa can confirm it is considering one play-off match between LAFC and Club America for the right to play in the Fifa Club World Cup 2025.”

In Group D, Club Leon were drawn against Chelsea, Flamengo, and Esperance Sportive of Tunisie.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has heard from Club Leon.

An unfinished appeal is also being brought by Costa Rican side Alajuelense, who originally lodged a complaint against Leon. Cas will hear both on April 23.

Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and former France captain Hugo Lloris both play for LAFC, who are eighth in the MLS Western Conference.

Seattle Sounders, Botafogo, Atletico Madrid, Paris St-Germain, and Atletico Madrid.

Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica, and others in Group C.

Flamengo, Chelsea, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie, and Club Leon are all in Group D.

River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan, and others belong to Group E.

Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns, Fluminense, Group F.

Manchester City, Wydad, Al-Ain, Juventus, and Group G.

Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, and Salzburg are in Group H.

Only four points separate the teams in sixth and ninth as they battle to clinch a spot in the top half and potentially secure European football in the coming season with two games until the Scottish Premiership splits.

The win over Ross County on Sunday all but guaranteed Dundee United’s top-six spot, while Aberdeen and Hibernian both won over Motherwell and St. Johnstone on Saturday, respectively.

St. Mirren also defeated Kilmarnock by five points to close the gap to sixth-placed Hearts, who were defeated by Celtic’s leaders by a score of 3-0.

The top flight of Scotland splits in half after the 12 clubs have played each other three times, for those who don’t know.

The bottom six and the top six then square off, leading to 38 matches played and the final league standings.

With two games to go, Hibernian clinched their position with a 3-0 victory, bringing them to 47 points.

When David Gray’s side lost their first 12 games to fall short of the Scottish Premiership, that was hardly believable in early November.

However, a fantastic run of form stabilized Leith and placed them one point ahead of them in third place.

After overcoming bottom side St Johnstone, Gray declared, “A fantastic day’s work and we fully deserved it.”

“Our goal is to finish in the top six minimum for this football club at the start of the season. Then, if that’s possible, you begin to consider European locations. That is the intention and the target.

We had a very difficult start, had to endure that hardship at the start of the season, and now have 15 games undefeated in the league, giving us the chance to finish in the top six with two games left.

Aberdeen won Motherwell 4-1 to cement their position in the top half.

Their route there has been radically different from Hibs’, with a run of 31 points from their first 11 games followed by a 14-game winless run.

Jimmy Thelin, who had three victories, two draws, and one defeat for Celtic in their final six games, was pleased to secure their top-half position.

Although St. Mirren and Motherwell are only one point ahead of Hearts, the Tynecastle side’s superior goal difference is almost a bonus at this point.

However, Motherwell’s opponents play it away in their final match before the split, which could prove crucial given the midtable’s congestedness.

As they attempt to defeat Hearts, which is boosted by their dominant 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday, St. Mirren are traveling to Dundee and home to Ross County.

When Motherwell travel to Rugby Park next weekend before that crucial game against Hearts, manager Michael Wimmer hopes to recover from their defeat by Aberdeen.

The Wimmer said, “We lost against a good team, but anything is possible because the table is so tight.”

It’s important that we work hard for 90 minutes, he said, “It’s good that we’re in the top six.”

“We need to concentrate on our next game against Kilmarnock, and we should be able to stay there when Hearts is played at home.

“I believe game 33 will be over because the table is so tight,” he said.

Ross County needs the most points and plenty of other results to fall to, while Dundee United only needs one point from their next two games to finish in the top six.

Following a brawl during Minnesota’s 123-104 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, five players and two coaches were ejected.

Naz Reid of Minnesota was reacting to being bumped by Detroit’s Ron Holland during a dribble early in the second quarter of a content contest in Minneapolis.

Members of both teams quickly got involved as the two players squared off against one another, leading to a melee that quickly spread into the courtside spectator seats.

As some spectators left their seats, team officials made an effort to break up the players.

Tensions persisted even after the fight was over because both teams’ players continued to verbally abuse one another even after the breakup.

Bickerstaff claimed that Prigioni caused the incident, in which case they both received insults from his players.

Their assistant coach said things, according to Bickerstaff.

“My guys and I are in the same boat,” I said. We’re going to stand up for one another, and I won’t tolerate disparaging comments about my guys.

It’s that easy, really. He then continued to say what he had. He is aware of what he said.

Later, Minnesota head coach Chris Finch suggested the flashpoint had been brought on by Detroit’s aggressive play.

The game was way too physical, Finch said, “I thought before that.”

I assumed it would occur because the physical aspect of it was a little lopsided. Simply put, it appeared to be coming.

Fourth-round leaderboard for the Ford Championship

-22 Kim (Kor), Vu (US), -21 Corpuz (US), -20 Thitikul (Tha), -19 Duncan (US), -18 Lopez (Mex), Lee (Kor), Noh (US), Ko (NZ)

Selected others: -17 Hull (Eng), -14 Korda (US), -3 Maguire (Ire)

Hyo-Joo Kim of South Korea won the Ford Championship in a play-off match against Charley Hull of England in Arizona.

After finishing at the top of the standings of 22 under par at Whirlwind Golf Club’s Cattail Course, Kim defeated American Lilia Vu on the opening hole to win her seventh LPGA title.

After carding a one-under-71, which was her worst of the tournament, Hull finished tied for 11th on 17 under. She was two shots clear of leader Vu in the final round.

After shooting a 65, American Allisen Corpuz placed third, and Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul a shot further back,