WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT
HOT BUTCH HARMON
THE Sky golf guru recognised the colour Andrew Johnston has brought to golf but noted during US PGA coverage that at some juncture ‘the Beef’ may find it necessary to take a step back from the noise and focus solely on his game. He has a point.
PAUL POGBA
MAJOR summer tournaments can do wonders for a player’s value but Pogba seems to have inverted the pyramid. The incoming Manchester United player was ordinary at Euro 16 and was outshone comprehensively by a team-mate from Newcastle in the final. But what Jose wants, Jose shall have and a fee nudging the £100million mark really is extraordinary.
PAUL BROADHURST
ONE of the European Tour’s most-liked players put together a bogey-free round of 68 to clinch the Senior Open at Carnoustie. It was a nerveless exhibition of golf and if you think there is no pressure at that level then check out the bunker shot his nearest rival Miguel Angel Jimenez played at the 18th. Nasty.
MARK RAMPRAKASH
THE former Middlesex batsman was as technically gifted as they come but a Test average of 27 suggested he lacked something. Impressive, then, that he had the confidence in his role as batting coach to give Joe Root some tough love before England’s win over Pakistan.
NOT CESC FABREGAS
THE Chelsea player deserves credit for apologising for the late challenge that earned a red card against Liverpool but he has too often looked like a player trying to make an impression in the wrong ways in recent times. If he goes back to what he is so very good at — passing, creating, scoring — he should be fine.
THE NEW GENERATION
NOT long ago, Rory McIlroy (right), Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson looked set to take golf to a new level. The fact none of them can find any consistency not only tells us how difficult golf can be but also reminds us how astonishingly good Tiger Woods really was.
BRADFORD BULLS
WORLD club champions 10 years ago, Bradford’s 20-0 loss to Featherstone means they are destined for another season outside rugby league’s top flight. Chairman Marc Green has assured supporters the club will continue to offer players full-time contracts but the fact the question was even asked is indicative of a sobering fall from grace.
PITCH BATTLES
DURING a pre-season tour in Beijing four summers ago, a Manchester City employee fell through a hole in the floor at the Bird’s Nest Stadium. Now a dodgy pitch has forced City’s game with United at the same venue to be cancelled. We know why our clubs travel so far each summer. We don’t know why they don’t choose adequate stadiums.