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Golf's final major of the year began in earnest on Thursday, and it was American Jackson Suber who stole the show. Suber carded a five-under-par 65 to lead after round one, a single stroke clear of England's Dan Brown and South Korea's Sungjae Im. A cluster of nine players sit a further shot back on three under, among them Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, Cameron Young, Thomas Detry and Bryson DeChambeau. Defending champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler opened with a solid, if unspectacular, 68 — four birdies in his first six holes before a run of pars and a late bogey at 17.
At Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Joe Root produced another masterclass in the second one-day international, finishing stranded on 99 not out from 133 balls with nine boundaries as England chased down India's 233 to win by four wickets. Gus Atkinson sealed it with a boundary, levelling the three-match series at 1-1 and setting up a winner-takes-all decider at Lord's on Sunday. India, who took the opener in Birmingham, will feel they left runs out on the pitch.
The transfer window dominated a quiet Thursday for domestic football. Aston Villa agreed a deal worth in the region of £35m for Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, earmarked as a replacement for the departing Youri Tielemans, with the Brazilian leaving training to complete his medical. Elsewhere Leicester City confirmed the signing of forward Conor Chaplin, while at international level the FA moved to end the speculation around Thomas Tuchel, backing the German to remain England head coach through to Euro 2028 after last week's agonising World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
It was a busy Thursday on the Flat and over jumps, with 112 races staged across 13 meetings including Worcester and Epsom, as the summer programme rolls on ahead of a strong Friday card at Newmarket.
All eyes stay on the Lancashire coast as Royal Birkdale hosts the second round of the 154th Open. Rory McIlroy is out early alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele at , with overnight home hope Dan Brown teeing off at in the company of Sungjae Im. The marquee afternoon group sees Scottie Scheffler partner Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton at , while Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth follow at . Firm, fast links and a swirling coastal breeze should make the cut line a moving target.
Newmarket's July Course provides Friday's feature action with a seven-race evening card running from to . The going is described as good to firm (GoingStick 7.2) with watering in place, and the card opens with a competitive Class 3 contest for two-year-old fillies over seven furlongs. There is quality throughout the handicaps, including a well-regarded three-year-old event that has attracted a Gosden-trained newcomer to the ranks. Meetings elsewhere around the country supplement a full domestic Flat programme.
The competitive calendar remains dark, but the pre-season friendly schedule is about to burst into life. Premier League squads are back in training and the tour fixtures begin this weekend, headlined by Manchester United facing Wrexham in Helsinki on Saturday, with Aston Villa at Walsall to follow early next week. The 2026/27 top-flight season is pencilled in to start on 22 August.
No international action today, but attention already turns to Sunday's series decider at Lord's, where a rejuvenated England — buoyed by their T20 whitewash and Root's Cardiff heroics — meet an India side determined to close out a rare 50-over series win on English soil. Domestic T20 Blast fixtures keep the county game ticking over.
Selection: Heraldry (John & Thady Gosden, William Buick). Reasoning: A well-bred three-year-old making his handicap debut off a mark of 89, Heraldry got up late to win a Kempton maiden before a narrow reverse to Decade Of Time at Windsor — and he now has a 10lb pull with that rival. Buick taking the ride for the first time is a positive signal, and there looks to be more improvement to come from a yard in fine form.
Selection: Scottie Scheffler outright. Reasoning: The world number one and defending champion is favourite for the 16th consecutive major, and while an opening 68 left him three off the pace, that is exactly the platform from which he tends to strike. His relentless consistency in tough conditions makes him the one to beat as the weekend firms up at Birkdale.
Selection: Rory McIlroy each-way (win & place). Reasoning: The only other player trading inside 10/1, McIlroy has the links pedigree and ball-striking to climb the board quickly. An early tee time on Friday could hand him a weather edge, and at 9/1 with generous place terms he offers value for those wanting a marquee name onside.
Selection: Matt Fitzpatrick, each-way outright. Reasoning: The Sheffield man has been one of the form players of the season with three wins and eight top-10 finishes, and shares favouritism among the home contingent with Tommy Fleetwood. A proven major winner who thrives on precision, Fitzpatrick is an each-way play that also covers the top-Brit market on a course that rewards accuracy.
The biggest team-news story is a permanent one: Joao Gomes has agreed to join Aston Villa from Wolves in a deal reported at around £35m, becoming one of the club's most expensive signings. He is lined up to fill the midfield void left by Youri Tielemans and adds bite and energy to Unai Emery's engine room.
Reports indicate personal terms are effectively settled for England forward Morgan Rogers to move from Aston Villa to Arsenal, with a contract said to be agreed. The Gunners have been busy, David Ornstein describing their latest recruit as their most exciting summer piece of business yet.
Manchester United continue to scour the market for a third central-midfield addition, with Eduardo Camavinga and Manu Koné both linked as the club looks to add control and running power ahead of the new campaign.
Thomas Tuchel has vowed to remain as England boss through to Euro 2028 after the World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, defending the substitutions — including replacing Reece James and Declan Rice late on — that preceded Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez's dramatic goals in Atlanta. The FA has retained its backing of the head coach.
In the divisions below, Leicester City completed the signing of forward Conor Chaplin, while Luton Town sanctioned the departure of defender Christ Makosso to French side Auxerre as squads reshape before the season's return.
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