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Author: Harry Howes

The biggest women’s sporting events in 2024

Posted on by Harry Howes

There have already been so many iconic moments in women’s sport in 2024. England won the Six Nations for the 20th time in April, while we saw yet another new champion at Wimbledon as Czech star Barbora KrejčíkovΓ‘ saw off Jasmine Paolini in the final.

We’re in the midst of the Olympics, with plenty of female superstars set to claim medals, while the Paralympics are just around the corner. With so many more prestigious events to look forward to before 2025, we’ve taken a look at all the key women’s events to keep an eye out for.

Women’s T20 World Cup

The T20 World Cup gets underway in Bangladesh in October, with 10 nations competing to be crowned cricket world champions. Six-time winners Australia are looking to defend their crown, having won last time out as they beat South Africa in the final.

Luckily for England, they’ve managed to avoid powerhouses Australia and India in the group stages. Yet they’ll still face a tough test, having been drawn against South Africa, West Indies, Scotland and hosts Bangladesh. They’re looking to lift the trophy for the second time after winning the inaugural competition back in 2009.

England’s hopes could rest on the form of Surrey all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt. She was the second highest run-scorer in the previous World Cup with 216, second only to South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt. The tournament starts on 3rd October, with the final taking place on the 20th.

The Women’s Super League

The 2024/25 Women’s Super League kicks off on September 22nd, with reigning champions Chelsea looking to extend their remarkable run of success. The Blues have won five consecutive titles, pipping Manchester City to the crown on goal difference in dramatic fashion last season.

However, Chelsea face a period of transition heading into the new campaign. Long-time manager Emma Hayes has departed, with former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor taking over the reins at Kingsmeadow. Bompastor brings impressive pedigree, having secured three league titles and a Champions League during her time in France.

Their closest challengers are expected to be City, who will be desperate to bounce back after narrowly missing out last season. They boast a talented squad, spearheaded by the likes of Lionesses Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly.

US Open

The US Open takes place later this month and all eyes will be on Coco Gauff, who is looking to win back-to-back Grand Slams on home soil. The 20-year-old won her only major title at Flushing Meadows last summer and she’s among the favourites despite crashing out in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

World number one Iga Swiatek also disappointed at SW19. She’ll be looking to add to her Grand Slam collection, which includes the 2022 US Open and this year’s French Open. Elsewhere, this year’s Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will be aiming to go one better after losing to Gauff in last year’s final.

Emma Raducanu suffered a round of 16 exit at Wimbledon and she’ll be looking to do better across the pond. The 21-year-old has been plagued by injuries since announcing herself on the world stage by winning this competition three years ago. The US Open takes place from Monday 26th August until Sunday 8th September.

Tour de France Femmes

After two thrilling editions, the Tour de France Femmes is back for a third year, with eight stages taking place across seven days from 12th to 18th August. This year’s race will cover 946 km as riders start in the Netherlands and make their way through Belgium before finishing in the French Alps.

It’ll be the 22nd event of the UCI Women’s World Tour calendar and few are expected to challenge defending champion Demi Vollering, who’ll be representing SD Worx once again. The Dutch dynamo put in a dominant performance last year to claim the iconic yellow jersey.

Italian powerhouse Elisa Longo Borghini will be chomping at the bit for a maiden Tour de France Femmes title, while Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma – who finished third in 2023 – could also be strong at the front of the pack.

Golf galore

The Women’s British Open heads to the iconic St Andrews course this year, with defending champion Lilia Vu looking to repeat her dominant performance from 2023, when she beat England’s Charley Hull by six strokes for her second major title.

However, she’ll be wary of fellow American and world number one Nelly Korda, who also has two majors to her name, including this year’s Chevron Championship. The competition takes place from 22nd to 25th August and just a few weeks later, Vu and Korda will be teaming up for the Solheim Cup.

Europe are the reigning champions, with Team USA looking to win the competition for the 11th time. They’ll be doing so on home soil – this year’s Solheim Cup takes place in Virginia from 13th to 15th September.

ICON Legends – Tiger Woods – Golf Genius

Posted on by Harry Howes

Our ICON Legends series has so far featured a number of sporting legends that can be considered to be among the greatest of all time in their respective fields. We’ve highlighted the phenomenal achievements of the likes of Serena Williams, Michael Schumacher, Lionel Messi and Frankie Dettori.

As we dive into other sports, it feels only right to honour a golfing great. Tiger Woods is undoubtedly one of the best to ever hold a club, with an incredible 15 major titles to his name. Only Jack Nicklaus can boast more than that, having won three more than Woods.

Tiger is also level in the all-time rankings of PGA Tour wins. He’s tied at the top on 82 alongside Sam Snead and with Woods’ career still going strong, he’s got every chance of leapfrogging his way into the undisputed top spot.

Bursting onto the scene

When you consider how early in his career Woods became a superstar, it’s no surprise to learn that his father first got him into the sport at the age of two. His parental guidance combined with natural talent and hard work saw Woods win his first U.S. Junior Amateur Championship when he was just 15.

After turning professional in 1996, he really made a name for himself the following year. Aged just 21, Woods’ performance at the 1997 Masters Tournament etched him into the history books.

The youngster won the iconic competition by an astonishing 12 strokes, which remains the biggest winning margin in the tournament’s history. The win was effectively sealed by his famous chip-in on the 16th, highlighting his exceptional short game.

He ultimately finished 18 shots under, consigning runner-up Tom Kite to second place for the third time in his career. Despite the huge margin of victory, Woods actually started slowly and struggled over the first nine. But he soon got into his stride, winning the second and third rounds and setting a then-tournament record of 270.

The win saw Woods crowned the youngest ever Masters champion and paved the way for dominance. Within two months he became world number one for the first time and he would later go on to hold this position for a remarkable 264 consecutive weeks from 1999 to 2004.

Majors domination

Over the next decade, Woods went on a tear, winning 13 major championships and cementing his place as the most dominant golfer of his generation. During his illustrious career, he’s been ranked No. 1 for a total of 683 weeks and during the early noughties he was virtually unbeatable.

He remains the youngest golfer, and only the fifth ever, to have won all four majors. Remarkably, in 2001 he achieved the feat of winning them all consecutively. He remains the only golfer to have achieved this feat, which was affectionately dubbed the β€˜Tiger Slam’.

Woods’ incredible maiden Masters win back in 1997 sowed the seeds for a remarkable record in majors. He’s claimed the green jacket at Augusta five times, as well as winning the PGA Championship four times and the US Open and the Open Championship three times apiece.

Woods’ consistency is unmatched and he holds the record for consecutive cuts on the PGA tour with 142. His brilliance was personified when he played through the pain barrier to win the 2008 US Open in dramatic style.

Rocco Mediate managed to take him to a sudden-death playoff and, despite carrying a serious knee injury, Woods was able to come out on top. He required surgery shortly after the competition, which personified his determination and winning mentality.

The comeback

Despite his achievements, Woods has never been far from controversy. Scandal and marital problems in 2009 threatened to harm his career. But after taking a step back, Woods eventually bounced back to pick up where he left off.

He claimed his 80th PGA Tour win at the 2018 Tour Championship and was arguably back to his best. And it was this win that likely spurred him on to one of his greatest triumphs.

Just a year later, at the age of 43, Woods shocked the golfing world as he won the Masters for the fifth time. It was his first major win for 11 years and after years of battling personal and injury issues, with numerous back surgeries impacting his form, it truly cemented his position as one of the greatest golfers in history. And the golfing world certainly agreed, inducting Woods into the World Golf Hall of Fame three years ago.

Having started out almost 30 years ago, it’s a testament to the man that he’s still competing on the tour today at the age of 48. His Masters win five years ago was astonishing and, barring a miracle, it will almost certainly be the last major title he wins in his career.

It’s unclear when he’ll be hanging up his clubs and while he understandably may not be what he was, it’ll be a sad day when Woods calls time on his career.

The Hundred: Can Oval Invincibles retain their crown?

Posted on by Harry Howes

Summer is in full swing and with the sun shining, there’s nothing quite like a nice bit of cricket. Thankfully, The Hundred is back for another year, with the 2024 season getting underway today.

It’s the fourth edition of the exciting cricket format, with eight men’s and women’s teams from across the country set to lock horns as they battle to be crowned this year’s winners. After eight matches each, the top three teams qualify for the knockout stages, with second and third place playing out an eliminator to reach the final.

This year’s final once again takes place at Lord’s on Sunday 18th August, with the eliminator played at The Oval the day before.

Oval Invincibles target second successive title

The Oval Invincibles have a rich history in The Hundred despite the competition’s relatively short lifespan. The women’s side won the first two editions and a year ago it was the turn of the men to take charge as they claimed their first title.

The London-based franchise dominated the men’s standings in 2023, finishing top of the pile before beating Manchester Originals in the final at Lord’s. They won six of their eight group matches, with their only defeat coming against Birmingham Phoenix.

Now the Oval Invincibles have another title in their sights and they seem to have gone from strength to strength. While they’ve kept the bulk of their key players, including impressive all-rounders and brothers Tom and Sam Curran, they’ve also made improvements.

Jason Roy has made the switch to the Northern Chargers and he’s been replaced by Dawid Malan, who was the leading run scorer in the 2022 season. They’ll also benefit from the bowling of Spencer Johnson, who is back after helping Brisbane Heat win the Big Bash.

On the women’s side, the Oval Invincibles aren’t quite as fancied to go all the way, although they’ll still compete and they know what it takes to win having gone all the way in both 2021 and 2022.

Their 2023 season didn’t quite go to plan as they finished fifth in the standings, winning just three of their matches. But they still boast a strong squad that includes South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, who won the player of the series last year.

Oval Invincibles key fixtures

Oval Invincibles vs Birmingham Phoenix – Tuesday 23rd July, The Oval
London Spirit vs Oval Invincibles – Sunday 4th August, Lord’s
Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles – Tuesday 6th August, Old Trafford
Oval Invincibles vs London Spirit – Sunday 11th August, The Oval

Third time lucky for Manchester Originals?

The phrase β€˜always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ comes to mind when it comes to Manchester Originals and The Hundred. The men’s side have lost the last two finals and will be desperate to make it third time lucky this summer.

Back in 2022, they finished second in the group stage and edged past London Spirit in the eliminator. But it wasn’t to be as they narrowly lost in the final against Trent Rockets. And 12 months ago it was a case of deja vu as Tom Curran’s unbeaten 67 saw Oval Invincibles triumph in the final.

Manchester Originals boast an impressive squad and in Jos Buttler and Phil Salt they had one of the competition’s strongest pairings at the top of the order. Buttler finished top of the runs standings last time out with 391, 151 runs clear of second pace. However, Buttler looks set to miss the competition due to injury.

To make matters worse, they’ve been hampered by the loss of Laurie Evans who has switched allegiance and joined Southern Brave. They’ll still feel they can do damage and win enough games to reach the knockout stage. But should they find themselves in another final, they’ll face a psychological battle to escape the losing mentality that has seen them miss out in previous years.

Manchester Originals key fixtures

Manchester Originals vs Welsh Fire – Thursday 25th July, Old Trafford
Manchester Originals vs Oval Invincibles – Tuesday 6th August, Old Trafford
London Spirit vs Manchester Originals – Friday 9th August, Lord’s

Southern Brave look to defend women’s crown

Much like Manchester Originals in the men’s competition, the Southern Brave women’s side previously had two losing finals under their belts. Luckily for them, they hit that hoodoo for six by winning the title in 2023.

They enjoyed a near-perfect group stage, winning seven of their eight matches to reach the knockouts. And when they met Northern Superchargers in the final, they won by 34 runs, with Danni Wyatt scoring an impressive 59.

Wyatt scored the most runs in the competition with 295, while Georgia Adams topped the wicket standings after taking 16. Both players are still at Southern Brave and they’ll be essential if they’re to go all the way again. They remain the bookies’ favourites to retain their title, although they’ll face stiff competition from Northern Superchargers and Welsh Fire.

Who are Premier League teams playing in pre-season?

Posted on by Harry Howes

With the Euros and Copa America done and dusted, fans up and down the country are looking for their next football fix. Luckily, attention has already turned to next season and pre-season is in full swing.

Summer friendlies generally have no bearing on how the season will go, with players using them to get back into shape and get to grips with how their manager wants them to play.

But for us, the ever cynical fans, we use them as an opportunity to judge new signings after five minutes and claim our team is definitely going to win the league after narrowly beating a non-league side.

Premier League teams often use pre-season to build their brand globally, travelling to all corners of the world to play in front of a new audience. To keep track of who they’ll all be facing in preparation for the new campaign, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to all the key fixtures.

Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool meet stateside

As has become tradition in recent years, three of the Premier League’s biggest sides will face each other in friendlies across the pond. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool all have huge fan bases in America who will be desperate to see their heroes in the flesh.

Arsenal then welcome Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen to north London before hosting Lyon in the Emirates Cup. As well as Arsenal and United, Liverpool will also face Real Betis in the states. Arne Slot has big shoes to fill at Liverpool following Jurgen Klopp’s departure and he’ll get his first taste of the Anfield atmosphere in a home clash with Sevilla.

Meanwhile, United’s pre-season campaign has already started. Erik ten Hag has been handed a lifeline when he was expected to lose his job following last season and he’ll be hoping for an improvement after his side lost 1-0 to Rosenborg earlier this week.

Their line-up was mainly filled with academy players, although the likes of Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Aaron Wan Bissaka featured. Following a disappointing campaign, United look set to spend big under their new ownership, with Joshua Zirkzee already snapped up and Leny Yoro set to follow.

Arsenal v Manchester United – Saturday 27th July, Los Angeles
Arsenal v Liverpool – Wednesday 31st July, Philadelphia
Liverpool v Manchester United – Saturday 3rd August, South Carolina

Man City and Chelsea set for dress rehearsal

In a warm-up game for their first Premier League game of the season, champions Manchester City are set to face Chelsea in a pre-season clash. The pair meet on the opening weekend at Stamford Bridge and their friendly in America will give new Blues boss Enzo Maresca the chance to see counterpart Pep Guardiola’s side up close in preparation.

Both sides are set for a series of heavyweight clashes while they’re abroad. City have friendlies against Celtic and AC Milan to look forward to, as well as La Liga giants Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Chelsea also face Celtic, while they could face Kylian Mbappe as they come up against Real Madrid. They’ll then host Inter Milan the week before the league season gets underway.

Manchester City v Celtic – Tuesday 23rd July, North Carolina
Chelsea v Celtic – Saturday 27th July, Indiana
Manchester City v AC Milan – Saturday 27th July, New York
Manchester City v Barcelona – Tuesday 30th July, Florida
Chelsea v Manchester City – Saturday 3rd August, Ohio
Chelsea v Real Madrid – Tuesday 6th August, North Carolina
Chelsea v Inter Milan – Sunday 11th August, Stamford Bridge

Who is everybody else playing?


Tottenham fans will have the opportunity to see former talisman Harry Kane once again. Spurs have two friendlies against Bayern Munich lined up, firstly in South Korea before a second fixture in London the following week.

Ange Postecoglou’s men aren’t the only side heading to Asia – both Newcastle and Brighton are set for trips to Japan. Meanwhile, Aston Villa will prepare for a Champions League campaign with matches against RB Leipzig, Athletic Bilbao and Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern Munich v Tottenham – Saturday 3rd August, Seoul
Tottenham v Bayern Munich – Saturday 10th August, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Aston Villa v RB Leipzig – Wednesday 31st July, New Jersey
Aston Villa v Athletic Bilbao – Wednesday 7th August, Walsall
Borussia Dortmund v Aston Villa – Saturday 10th August, Dortmund

Much like Arsenal and co., Crystal Palace, Wolves and West Ham are all set to play each other in friendlies in America. Meanwhile, Everton’s final game of the summer is a high-profile meeting with Roma at Goodison Park.

The Premier League’s new boys are all set for exciting fixtures as they prepare for the new campaign in the top flight. Ipswich were boosted by boss Kieran McKenna committing his future to the club and they’ve backed him well so far in the transfer market.

The Tractor Boys will face Shakhtar Donetsk, Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim. Similarly, Leicester are set to face Palermo, Augsburg and Lens, while Southampton are looking forward to friendlies against Lazio and Getafe.

Carlos Alcaraz retains Wimbledon crown as Djokovic wait goes on

Posted on by Harry Howes

Wimbledon is over for another year and after two weeks of thrilling tennis, we have our champions. Carlos Alcaraz strolled to another title as he blew away Novak Djokovic, who is still waiting for his record-breaking Grand Slam win. Meanwhile, Barbora KrejčíkovΓ‘ went all the way in the ladies’ competition to win Wimbledon for the first time.

Alcaraz blows Djokovic away

Alcaraz won the hearts of the Wimbledon faithful a year ago as he stormed his way to the final. The fresh-faced Spaniard recovered from an embarrassing 1-6 first-set defeat against Djokovic to win in five sets and claim his first SW19 title.

Fast forward 12 months and the two superstars met again in a repeat of the previous final. It was clear that Alcaraz has matured massively over the last year. No longer the new kid on the block, he looked fitter, stronger and even more determined to prove he’s the next big star of tennis.

And that was evident in his game throughout the contest. In his semi-final win over Daniil Medvedev, Alcaraz made notable errors, with some strange shot choices and uncharacteristic mistakes that showed his inexperience. Yet there were none of those in the final as he smashed Djokovic around the court, dominating from start to finish.

You’d have been forgiven for thinking that it was Alcaraz who had 24 Grand Slam titles to his name when looking at the scoreboard. The 21-year-old raced into a two-set lead, winning both 6-2. While Djokovic recovered and attempted a comeback in the third, Alcaraz showed resilience to stay in the game and take it to a tie break.

But from then on there was only going to be one winner. After claiming the third and final set to whitewash his Serbian opponent, Alcaraz was jubilant, momentarily losing his bearings as he got lost during his climb into the stands to celebrate with his team.

It was Alcaraz’s fourth Grand Slam title and his second in a row after claiming the French Open last month. He’ll now have his sights firmly set on winning an Olympic gold medal before the US Open at the end of summer.

When will Djokovic break the Grand Slam record?

Djokovic was humble in defeat but privately he’ll be fuming that his wait for a record-breaking Grand Slam goes on. The 37-year-old has been stuck on 24 major titles for almost a year, having failed to win the previous three.

He’s level at the top of the all-time standings with Australian icon Margaret Court and his next Grand Slam will take him to 25 wins, making him the undisputed greatest of all time.

Djokovic’s Wimbledon dreams looked to have fallen into place perfectly this year. He avoided Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner’s side of the draw, while his quarter-final opponent Alex de Minaur pulled out with injury, giving him a vital extra few days to rest.

But despite a favourable campaign, Djokovic looked lost against Alcaraz. His recent knee surgery was an obvious disadvantage, with his joint support on show throughout, while perhaps his age is finally catching up with him as he just wasn’t able to match the speed and power of the youthful Alcaraz.

He’ll go again at the US Open next month as he looks to win the competition for the second year running and finally claim the Grand Slam record. But if he doesn’t get it over the line soon, he may start to wonder if it will ever happen.

558020 Jannik Sinner (ITA) playing against Novak Djokovic (SRB) in the semi-final of the Gentlemen's Singles on Centre Court at The Championships 2023. Held at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. Day 12 Friday 14/07/2023. Credit: AELTC/Jonathan Nackstrand

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Another new ladies’ champion

While we’re used to seeing the men’s singles title at Wimbledon dominated by the same usual suspects, it couldn’t be further from the truth for the ladies. Since Serena Williams last won back in 2016, there have been seven different female champions in a row.

The latest victor to be added to the list is KrejčíkovÑ, who beat Italian counterpart Jasmine Paolini in a thrilling three-set final on Saturday. KrejčíkovÑ was ranked 31st in the world before the tournament but she now has a second Grand Slam to her name having won the French Open three years ago.

The 28-year-old joins a long list of successful Czech women at Wimbledon. Nine-time winner Martina Navratilova was born in Prague, although later became an American citizen. The late Jana Novotna was also Czech, as is two-time winner Petra Kvitova and unlikely 2023 champion MarkΓ©ta VondrouΕ‘ovΓ‘.

The end of an era

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Andy Murray waved an emotional goodbye to Wimbledon in the opening week of the championships. Sadly for the Scot, he didn’t get a final crack at the men’s singles as he prioritised the doubles competitions following back surgery.

He teamed up with brother Jamie in the men’s doubles but the pair crashed out in the first round following defeat to Australian duo John Peers and Rinky Hijikata. Following the match, Murray shared an emotional goodbye in an interview with Sue Barker, as tennis legends from all eras gathered to witness it.

That defeat wasn’t supposed to be his final farewell, with a mixed doubles campaign planned with Emma Raducanu. But when the 2021 US Open champion pulled out, it spelled an end to Murray’s Wimbledon career.

The 37-year-old is set to retire later this year, claiming that his injury-ravaged body can’t cope with high-level tennis any more. Murray claimed two Grand Slams on home soil in a glittering career, winning Wimbledon in both 2013 and 2016.

And while we won’t be seeing him strut his stuff on court any more, it may not be the last we’ve seen of him. Murray made it clear during his BBC interview that commentary isn’t for him. However, he didn’t rule out coaching and that may well be his next career move.

Can Rory McIlroy bounce back at the Open Championship?

Posted on by Harry Howes

They say major golf championships are like buses and after the excitement of the US Open last month, we head to Scotland next weekend for the Open Championship.

The fourth and final major of 2024 takes place at the Royal Troon Golf Club, with four days of thrilling golf getting underway on Thursday 18th July. It’s the 10th time the South Ayrshire course has hosted the competition – Henrik Stenson won it last time back in 2016.

Last year’s Open Championship saw the unlikeliest of winners crowned champion as Brian Harman stunned the sporting world. The 125-1 outsider claimed the Claret Jug across a phenomenal weekend, finishing 13 under in a performance that saw his lead never drop below three.

Few expect Harman to repeat the feat this year, with Rory McIlroy among those expected to challenge. But he’ll face stiff competition from the world’s best, with Americans dominating the majors so far this year.

Bryson DeChambeau narrowly won the US Open last month as he made a late charge to capitalise on McIlroy’s mistakes. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler claimed the Masters while Xander Schauffele came out on top in the PGA Championship.

Ahead of the Open Championship, we’ve taken a closer look at the main contenders.

McIlroy looks to put US Open behind him

It’s been 10 years since McIlroy last tasted success in a major championship and after coming so close at the US Open last month, he’ll be desperate to reclaim the title that he won back in 2014.

McIlroy claimed his third major in the Open Championship in Liverpool all those years ago, finishing two shots ahead of Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia. His drought almost came to an end in June but with one hand on the trophy, a late collapse saw him surrender his lead.

McIlroy led by two shots with five holes left but it all went downhill from there. He bogeyed in all but one of the final four, missing two close-range putts to put DeChambeau in the ascendency.

And the American graciously accepted the opportunity, taking full advantage to win the competition by one shot. McIlroy has now finished second in the US Open in two consecutive years.

Yet despite the disappointment of throwing away another title, his performance showed that he’s still more than capable of competing with the elite. With the next major back on British soil, he’ll be determined to go one better and claim the major that he last won a decade ago.

The 35-year-old finished sixth in this competition last year at his spiritual home in Liverpool, seven shots behind champion Harman. And the fact that the Open Championship comes so soon after McIlroy’s US Open heartbreak gives him the perfect opportunity to bounce back and prove he’s still one of the best in the world.

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the 7th green during the second round on day two of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Jan Kruger/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

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Who are the favourites?

While McIlroy sits near the top of the bookies’ favourites as usual, the clear contender to go all the way is world number one Scheffler. The American is yet to win the Open Championship and only has two major titles to his name, winning the Masters both this year and in 2022.

But the 28-year-old is in strong form and has won two of his last three tournaments. Despite his credentials, he struggled at the US Open as he tied way down in 41st. Yet with one major already in the bag this year, he’ll fancy his chances of adding to his collection.

After winning the US Open for the second time last month, DeChambeau will be full of confidence going into the Open. The 30-year-old has never won the competition though, with his best finish of eighth coming back in 2022.

Meanwhile, PGA Championship winner Schauffele is also looking to claim a second major of the year. He’s finished in the top 10 in all but one of his appearances since winning at Valhalla in May and he’ll be looking to go one better than the second-place finish he achieved at the Open Championship back in 2018.

Watch the Open Championship in style

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In our Scorers and Scorers Premium facilities, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, all served by roaming waiters and prepared by our incredible chefs. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the dessert station and have access to the complimentary bar, with wine, beer and soft drinks on offer.

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Formula One: Can Lando Norris challenge Max Verstappen?

Posted on by Harry Howes

We’ve reached the halfway stage of the Formula One season and it’s business as usual with Max Verstappen seemingly running away with it once again.

But there’s plenty of action to look forward to and Lando Norris has ambitions of launching a phenomenal bid to stop three-time champion Verstappen in his tracks.

F1 standings after 12 races

PositionDriverTeamWinsPodiumsPoints
1Max VerstappenRed Bull79255
2Lando NorrisMcLaren17171
3Charles LeclercFerrari15150
4Carlos Sainz JrFerrari15146
5Oscar PiastriMcLaren02124

Can Verstappen be caught?

If you’ve been following our regular F1 updates throughout the season, it’ll come as no shock to discover that Verstappen is still sitting pretty at the top of the standings.

The Red Bull superstar has won three consecutive titles and looks on course to add a fourth to his collection in 2024. He dominated the track last year, winning 19 of the 22 races. And while the wins have been shared out a tad more this time around, he’s still managed to come out on top in all but five races so far.

We’re only halfway through the season, meaning there’s plenty more action to come and anything could happen in the second half of the campaign. Despite that, it seems incredibly unlikely that Verstappen will surrender his lead.

The 26-year-old is already more than 80 points clear of Norris in second and it would take a catastrophic collapse for him to throw it away from here. Yet stranger things have happened and the chasing pack will still fancy their chances.

One thing that could offer them a glimmer of hope is what could be considered as a rare weakness for Verstappen. While he’s no stranger to winning races, he’s starting to make finishing further down the field a habit when things don’t quite go his way.

He’s finished sixth and fifth in two of the last five Grands Prix, when he would’ve expected to be on the podium. And with the likes of Norris starting to show consistency in his top three finishes, he may sense an opportunity to capitalise on Verstappen’s rare mistakes.

We’re only halfway through the season so there’s still a lot of action to look forward to, with 12 races to go. Next up we head to Hungary next weekend, followed by the remaining European races. From there we’ll have races in Asia and both North America and South America to enjoy, before heading to Qatar and Abu Dhabi for the final Grand Prix of the season.

Hamilton rolls back the years on home soil

It’s fair to say that Lewis Hamilton isn’t quite the force he once was in Formula One. The 39-year-old started the season with faint hopes of eclipsing Michael Schumacher to claim a record eighth title.

Yet after a slow start to the campaign, his championship hopes are all but over for another year. Before the British Grand Prix at the weekend, Hamilton had only broken the top three once this year, finishing third in Spain.

But muscle memory, nostalgia and a roaring home crowd spurred him on at Silverstone to help him win his first race of the season. Hamilton finished ahead of Verstappen to win the British Grand Prix for a record ninth time.

In fact, it was his first Grand Prix win since coming out on top in Saudi Arabia back in 2021. Verstappen struggled with the rain throughout but made a late charge and had leader Hamilton in his sights after edging ahead of Norris.

But Hamilton held him off to win by 1.4 seconds, giving him a day he’ll never forget. The Mercedes driver finds himself way down in eighth in the standings and a title win this year is as unlikely as ever. Yet his performance at Silverstone was a reminder of what he’s capable of and it may just light the fire that could see him finally become the undisputed greatest of all time before he decides to call it a day.

Norris emerges as a contender

While British F1 fans have spent years backing Hamilton, it seems there’s a new kid on the block. McLaren driver Norris is enjoying a remarkable year and finds himself second in the standings.

He achieved a best-ever finish of sixth last year but he’s well on track to better that and looks in good shape to push Verstappen all the way. Aged just 24, he’s a bright hope for the future and could establish himself as a regular contender.

Norris is currently 21 points clear of third-placed Leclerc having achieved seven podium finishes already this season. He claimed his first ever Grand Prix win in Miami back in May, which was sandwiched in between two second-place finishes.

How are the Premier League stars performing at Copa America?

Posted on by Harry Howes

With the late kick-off times and Euro fever taking over the nation, it can be difficult keeping up with Copa America.

Yet the tournament in the USA has been quietly bubbling away across the pond. The quarter-finals get underway this weekend, with Argentina looking to retain the title they won in Brazil three years ago.

Ahead of the knockout stages, we’ve taken a look at how all of the Premier League representatives have been performing.

Quarter-final fixtures

Argentina v Ecuador – Friday 5th July

Venezuela v Canada – Saturday 6th July

Colombia v Panama – Saturday 6th July

Uruguay v Brazil – Sunday 7th July

Liverpool pair to lock horns in quarter-final

The final eight has drawn South American sides Uruguay and Brazil together in a game that will be keenly observed by Liverpool fans across the globe. The match sees the often impenetrable goalkeeper Alisson come up against teammate Darwin Nunez who is proving to be rather prolific on the international stage.

The 25-year-old has scored twice in the tournament so far, helping his side top Group C with three wins out of three. In fact, Nunez’s blank in Uruguay’s final game ended his run of scoring in seven consecutive games for his nation.

Nunez has Premier League back-up supporting him in attack, notably in the form of Manchester United youngster Facundo Pellistri. The winger has played almost every minute for Uruguay, popping up with a goal and an assist. Meanwhile, Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has found gametime hard to come by. Despite this, he still found himself on the scoresheet in Uruguay’s 5-0 drubbing of Bolivia.

Nunez and co. will fancy their chances when they take to the pitch in the early hours of Sunday morning. While Brazil are traditionally among the world’s best, they’re yet to find their rhythm in the tournament and finished as runners-up in their group behind Colombia.

Alisson will be hoping he can thwart Liverpool colleague Nunez, aided by the assistance of Premier League stars Bruno Guimaraes and Joao Gomes, who have been near ever-present during the competition.

West Ham attacker Lucas Paqeuta has contributed, popping up with a goal and an assist in Brazil’s 4-1 win over Paraguay. However, Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli have barely featured.

Crystal Palace duo star for Colombia

It’s a measure of the progress Crystal Palace have made in recent years that their players are starring at both the Euros and Copa America, something their fans have certainly never been used to.

Yet it’s a pair of Eagles that are soaring for surprise package Colombia, most notably marauding right-back Daniel Munoz. The 28-year-old has his sights set on the Golden Boot having scored twice so far, including an equaliser against Brazil on Wednesday.

Munoz also netted in his side’s opening game, as did Palace teammate Jefferson Lerma. The 2-1 victory against Paraguay set Colombia on their way as they finished ahead of Brazil to top Group D and set up a quarter-final meeting with Panama.

Liverpool star Luiz Diaz has also been a key figure in Colombia’s success. He scored the opener in their 3-0 win over Costa Rica and he’ll be essential if they want to reach the latter stages of the tournament. Chelsea target Jhon Duran and Bournemouth’s Luis Sinisterra are part of the Colombia squad but have struggled for minutes so far.

Chelsea midfielders go head-to-head

Much like Nunez’s impending battle with Alisson, the Copa America quarter-finals could see another pair of club team-mates come up against each other. Argentina take on Ecuador this Friday, with Chelsea midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo competing on opposite sides.

Fernandez will be desperate to prove himself against his west London counterpart but he’s been mainly used from the bench so far despite starring for Argentina as they won the World Cup in Qatar 18 months ago.

Elsewhere, Argentina’s squad resembles a β€˜who’s who’ of Premier League stars. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Maritnez has kept three clean sheets so far, with Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero playing their part in a solid defence.

Manchester City star Julian Alvarez has scored once so far, netting in the opening game against Canada. Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister will be hoping to continue his promising season by contributing in the tournament, while Alejandro Garnacho and Giovani Lo Celso have also seen minutes.

Caicedo’s former Brighton teammate Jeremy Sarmiento has been a bright spark for Ecuador so far. The tricky winger, who spent last season on loan at Championship sides West Brom and Ipswich, has been heavily involved and scored in his side’s defeat against Venezuela.

An early exit for some Premier League stars

While there are plenty of Premier League players in with a shout of winning the competition, for some familiar names it just wasn’t to be. Jamaica crashed out after losing all three games, with Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey refusing to be part of the squad after falling out with the hierarchy.

Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock was unable to prevent his side shipping seven goals in their three defeats. However, there was some joy for West Ham attacker Michail Antonio. He scored Jamaica’s first ever Copa America goal and their only one of the tournament in a 3-1 loss to Ecuador.

Elsewhere, the USA were eliminated as they finished third in Group C after a shock defeat to Panama. Palace defender Chris Richards was an ever-present alongside Fulham duo Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson. Matt Turner and Tyler Adams also featured.

And finally, Paraguay finished rock-bottom of their group following three defeats. Brighton’s Julio Enciso netted in their game against Colombia, while Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron was also involved.

England v West Indies: The beginning of a new Test era

Posted on by Harry Howes


Following England’s disappointing T20 World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of India, attention now turns back to red-ball cricket.

Brendon McCullum’s side take on the West Indies in a three-match Test series, starting at Lord’s on Wednesday 10th July.

Out with the old, in with the new

Following a dismal 3-1 series defeat in India earlier this year, Rob Key and McCullum have rung the changes in order to freshen things up a bit. But in a squad packed with youth, there’s still room for a legend to bow out.

James Anderson is set for one last dance in an England shirt as he prepares to say goodbye following the first Test. The 41-year-old has taken a record 700 wickets for his country and he’ll be hoping to end his international career with a couple more.

One long-term teammate that won’t be part of Anderson’s goodbye party is Jonny Bairstow. The much-maligned wicket keeper received plenty of criticism during the Ashes last summer following a string of sloppy performances.

The Yorkshire stalwart has been left out of the squad, as has Ben Foakes, who has often been mooted as his replacement. Instead, England have taken a left-field approach and have handed a call-up to uncapped Surrey wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Seamer Dillon Pennington has also earned a first call-up, while Gus Atkinson is hoping for a first cap after not playing on the tour of India. Chris Woakes returns to the squad for the first time since the Ashes while Shoaib Bashir has been selected as England’s first-choice spinner.

The squad has been chosen for the first two Tests (minus Anderson), with potential changes taking place ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston.

England squad

Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes.

Can the West Indies win?

The West Indies are looking to retain the Richards-Botham trophy after beating England on home soil the last time the two sides met in this format. Back in 2022, the West Indies won the third and final Test to take the series following draws in the first two matches.

The long-standing rivalry between the two sides dates all the way back to 1928 when the West Indies first toured England. And while they’ll be hoping they can spring a surprise, they’ll miss the bowling of Kemar Roach. The 35-year-old is experienced in the English conditions having spent the last three years at Surrey. But Roach misses out with injury and has been replaced by Jeremiah Louis.

Yet West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite will be confident that his side can compete and he’ll be hoping to repeat his marathon effort from two years ago. The former Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire batsman was heavily involved in the second Test last time out.

Brathwaite spent more than 15 hours at the crease, scoring 160 in the first innings, his 10th Test match century, before recording an unbeaten 56 to win his side the match.

Hospitality at Lord’s

As the home of cricket, Lord’s is one of our most popular venues and, as usual, we offer a range of exclusive hospitality packages, meaning you can enjoy the cricket in style.

ICON facility

Situated right next to the warm-up nets, our ICON facility gives you front row seats to the best players in the world as they get ready for action. You’ll then be able to take your seats in the grandstand to ensure you don’t miss a ball.

Enjoy a three-course lunch, afternoon tea and complimentary bar, with visits from cricket legends to keep you entertained throughout the day.

ICON Premium

Upgrade your day at the cricket by going premium. As well as the same food and drinks packages as the ICON facility, alongside visits from legends of the game, you’ll have seats in the Compton Stand Balcony. Plus, you’ll also have access to the legendary Old Clock Tower Bar.

Private box

Enjoy an exclusive facility to yourself with a private box at Lord’s. You’ll have space to entertain up to 18 guests, offering them unrivalled views of the match.

Get set for a premium drinks reception and complimentary bar, as well as a light breakfast, grazing lunch menu and afternoon tea. If that’s not enough, you’ll also have access to the Engage concierge service, offering help with anything you may need.

Fancy joining us for the first Test? Enquire today to book your place.

When are England playing next?

Following the first Test at Lord’s, England then take on the West Indies at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. McCullum’s side will then face Sri Lanka across three Tests later in the summer.

England v West Indies – 18th – 22nd July, Trent Bridge

England v West Indies – 26th – 30th July, Edgbaston

England v Sri Lanka – 21st – 25th August, Old Trafford

England v Sri Lanka – 29th August – 2nd September, Lord’s

England v Sri Lanka – 6th – 10th September, The Oval

The best days to go to Wimbledon

Posted on by Harry Howes

The wait is over – the greatest tennis competition on earth is back. The start of Wimbledon today means we’re set for two weeks of Pimm’s, strawberries and cream, quintessential British culture and the best tennis players in the world.

Carlos Alcaraz is looking to defend his crown after shocking Novak Djokovic to claim his maiden title at SW19 a year ago. Meanwhile, there was another shock as Marketa Vondrouvosa became the first ever unseeded player to go all the way in the ladies’ competition.

Ahead of the third Grand Slam of 2024 and a fortnight of thrilling action, here’s everything you need to know.

Who are the big hitters playing?

As Djokovic looks to become the undisputed greatest player of all time by winning a record 25th Grand Slam, he’ll be relieved to be on the other side of the draw to French Open winner Alcaraz, meaning they can’t meet until the final.

Alcaraz claimed his third Grand Slam in Paris earlier this month after beating Alexander Zverev in an action-packed five-set final. The Spaniard has been tipped to become the next superstar in tennis and a title defence at Wimbledon would certainly help his cause.

Djokovic’s first round match sees him face Vit Kopriva, while Alcaraz has been drawn against Mark Lajal. Murray is set to play at Wimbledon for the final time but his tournament is in jeopardy following recent surgery. The two-time champion will make a late decision ahead of his match against Tomas Machac.

There will be no Rafael Nadal at this year’s Wimbledon. The 2008 and 2010 champion, who has been plagued with injuries in recent years, is prioritising staying fit for the Olympics, which gets underway next month.

Elsewhere, world number one Jannik Sinner will face Yannick Hanfmann. On the ladies’ side of the draw, Iga Swiatek faces a tricky test against 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenen, while Emma Raducanu meets Ekaterina Alexandrova.

What is the best day to go to Wimbledon?

You’re guaranteed a great time whatever day you go to Wimbledon (unless it’s raining!) but to see as much tennis action as possible, going in the first week is advised as there will be non-stop action on all courts.

The grounds will be packed full of spectators on all days, although you may find it’s slightly less busy on weekdays. The schedule for each day is released the night before, meaning you’ll be able to plan your day if there are particular matches that you want to see.

The likes of Alcaraz, Sinner, Raducanu and Coco Gauff are all playing today, although they’re on centre court. For those with ground passes, you’ll be able to see Heather Watson play Greet Minnen on court 18, while fellow Brit Liam Broady faces Botic van de Zandschulp on court 12.

Djokovic, Murray, Swiatek and 2023 champion Vondrousova get their tournaments underway on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Murray and brother Jamie are scheduled to start their doubles campaign on Wednesday against Australian duo John Peers and Rinky Hijikata.

How long do you have to queue for?

If you’ve not been to Wimbledon before, you may have heard tales of the infamous queue. While the majority of tickets for the show courts have to be bought in advance, anybody is free to buy a ground pass, which allows you to walk around the grounds and watch matches on courts 3 – 18.

The only catch is that you’ll need to queue in order to get in. The grounds open at 10am each day, with play starting at around 11am – but the queue starts long before then. You’re free to join the queue at any point, with many people opting to camp the night before to guarantee entry.

Each day, there are 500 tickets available for centre court and courts 1 and 2. Following that, those in the queue will gradually be able to buy ground passes until capacity is reached. Once all ground passes have been purchased, a β€˜one in, one out’ policy is enforced.

How much are Wimbledon tickets?

If you’re lucky enough to get centre court tickets, prices start from just Β£70 and gradually increase as the tournament progresses. No. 1 court prices start from Β£40, while court number 2 tickets start from Β£50. For the first eight days of the championships, ground passes cost Β£30, although they decrease in the second week as games become less frequent.

Wimbledon hospitality

If you’d rather skip the queue and watch the tennis from the best seats in the house, you’re in the right place. We offer hospitality for every day of the tournament, including both the men’s and ladies’ finals.

Engage offers four different hospitality packages, each offering bespoke food and drink options, as well as plenty more. If you fancy joining us, enquire today to book your place.

How to get there

Wimbledon is easily accessible by train, with Southfields station just a 15-minute walk away. Alternatively, Wimbledon station is 20 minutes away by foot and both stations are served by the District Line.

For those driving, limited parking is available and pre-booking a space is recommended.

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