Ranieri’s Foxes are falling fast
IT’S wonderful to be celebrating the return of a true legend to top-level sport.
The word legend is used far too often, but the guy I am talking about is up there with the very best who have ever played his sport.
Tiger Woods is finally back to playing competitive golf at the highest level.
His list of honours and tournament victories is pretty much endless, and his iconic stature in the game has claimed countless column inches.
Over the last 20 years, he has been the face of global golf, and he is now back from a troubling spell of injuries which threatened his career.
Those who don’t play golf may not be aware that golf is under massive pressure as a sport.
While at the very top, many sponsors and TV companies maintain their interest, the reality is brands like Nike and Adidas have withdrawn from the sport.
Many sports that take a long time to play, in fact, are coming under pressure.
Short-term attention spans in the modern day, particularly from children, means the demand is arrowed in on something quick.
That’s why Twenty20 is thriving in cricket while Tests sometimes struggle to attract. Likewise snooker is struggling to
Memberships at clubs are dropping and, while I haven’t heard of any courses closing, it may be where we’re heading
compete for interest because of the very nature of tournament play.
The five hours it takes to play golf (or four if you are lucky!) mean that many people no longer have the time to play – because they are away from their family – or to sit through a round on TV.
When I was growing up, my dad worked through the week and played golf every Saturday.
Good luck to anyone who can get five hours away from the family these days to play a round of golf on a Saturday or a Sunday.
Memberships at clubs are dropping and, while I haven’t heard of any courses closing, that could be where things are heading.
That’s why the return of Tiger Woods couldn’t be better timed.
Imagine if we can get him back among the contenders in a major.
Maybe we could get McIlroy, Spieth, Johnson, Day, Stenson and Woods all in the shake-up at the same time.
Now that would be one hell of a final day!
Top-level sport at it’s very best and, if it could happen, what a wonderful shot in the arm it would be for golf across the world. Tiger Woods escapes from the rough on the 18th hole during the final round at the Hero World Challenge golf tournament in the Bahamas MY how the wheels have fallen off at Leicester City!
The 5-0 defeat to Porto is a record defeat for an English side in the Champions League.
While generally Leicester have just been keeping their heads above water in the Premier League, I looked in a bit more detail at last week’s defeat by Sunderland.
Sunderland had 22 attempts on goal – and this is a team that has had three scorers all season.
Leicester, as reigning champions, are simply not doing the basics any more.
And those shrewd people who took the early 50/1 and 40/1 odds for Leicester to be relegated this season will be feeling pretty smug right now – for the record, the price at the moment for Leicester to get relegated is around 8/1.
Things aren’t going to get any easier for Claudio Ranieri’s side and how bizarre and ridiculous, too, that last year’s manager of the season – probably manager of the century for what he achieved with the team – is rapidly dropping in the prices for next manager to be sacked!