Stacy Boit,

Rory McIlroy posted a first round of 70 at the Truist Championship as he began his challenge to win at Quail Hollow for a fifth time.

The 37-year-old from Northern Ireland made 17 pars before his only birdie of a one-under round came at the 18th hole.

American Matt McCarty set the early pace with an eight-under-par 63 at the event in Charlotte.

England’s Harry Hall managed six birdies and one bogey as he ended the opening round with a five-under 66.

Compatriots Tommy Fleetwood, whose round included an eagle on the 10th, and Alex Fitzpatrick, fresh from securing tour membership, are on four under after 67s.

England’s Matt Wallace and Justin Rose both signed for level-par rounds of 71, while Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre was two over with one to play when play was halted late in the evening because of inclement weather.

The tournament is the last event before the US PGA Championship takes place at the Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania from 14-17 May.

Stacy Boit,

Unai Emery walked into Villa Park and declared he was at Aston Villa to win trophies.

In his first press conference in November 2022, the Spaniard’s ambition was clear. It has taken a little over three years but Villa are nearly there.

In front of a raucous and triumphant Villa Park on Thursday, the club reached the Europa League final with a crushing win over Nottingham Forest.

Germany’s Freiburg await in Istanbul on 20 May but few would bet against Emery adding a fifth Europa League trophy to his collection.

Villa are a game away from their first major silverware for three decades and a first European trophy in 44 years as they look to try to stand with the club’s European champions of 1982.

The commentary on Peter Withe’s winning goal against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam hangs above the Doug Ellis Stand.

In two weeks, Villa may need another banner if they win in Turkey, which would also earn a Champions League return regardless of whether they finish in the Premier League’s top five.

John McGinn’s late double put the gloss on a dominant performance that was too much for Forest to match, or even cope with.

Boss Vitor Pereira was able to include Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangare and Murillo on the bench but none were fit and only defender Murillo made it on to the pitch and that just for two minutes with the game lost.

But even with that trio fully available, the visitors might have struggled to contain a rampant Villa, who only increased the tempo throughout the match.

Ollie Watkins’ opener and Emi Buendia’s penalty put Villa ahead on the night and then in the tie. After that there was never any doubt in a performance that even gained Royal approval from a fan – Prince William visiting the dressing room post match to offer congratulations

“They [the players] were so focused, they were aware about the momentum,” said Emery. “We planned before emotionally and how we were playing the match. It was the only match we played with this circumstances.

“The possibility to get to a final was the only moment we’ve had here. We were confident about how the supporters were here and creating this atmosphere.”

It will be Emery’s sixth Europa League final with four wins – a record – and one defeat, which came against Chelsea while Arsenal manager in 2019.

“Europe is very important,” he said. “In my first press conference here I was speaking about Europe, I was speaking about trophies as well, but it’s very difficult. It’s difficult to get trophies.

“In Europe, it’s difficult to be consistent like we are. It’s through our hard work and the players must set the standards we want to achieve.

“Today the players [gave] their best, collectively and individually.”

Only Giovanni Trapattoni, with seven, has reached more major finals in European competition than Emery.

“There’s no better manager than this to get us prepared for this game and take us into the final. His track record speaks for itself,” Watkins told TNT.

“We need to go and win it now.”

Watkins himself admitted changes in the squad are expected this summer and so this current run represents the last chance to achieve something together.

Emery has wrung everything out of his players. Several like Watkins, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash and Morgan Rogers came to Villa from the Championship, and there is an internal recognition the squad needs to be revamped.

Captain McGinn also recognises the players have a final chance to be compared to past heroes like European Cup-winning captain Dennis Mortimer and Paul McGrath who lifted the 1994 and 1996 League Cups.

He told TNT: “We’ve had low moments, definitely. It’s a demanding club to play for, but when it’s like this, Villa Park is electric. What we’ve done in the last few years is exceptional.

“I felt it this morning, but now it is about embracing it and trying to be legends. You see the guys from 1982, you see the cup winners in the 90’s.

“It’s a historic club and it’s been a long time without success. There’s been massive lows, like relegation and it has built itself back up. It’s such a proud football club, it deserves success and hopefully we can be the group to do it.”

Stacy Boit,

Jannik Sinner considers it “tough to say” whether he would ever boycott a Grand Slam over prize money, but the Italian claims players are not getting the respect they deserve.

His fellow world number one Aryna Sabalenka said on Tuesday that she believes players will “at some point” boycott one of the majors.

The top 10 players are demanding a higher percentage of the revenue generated by the four Slams, as well as benefit contributions and a greater say in areas such as scheduling.

“It’s more about respect,” Sinner said in Rome before his attempt to win a sixth consecutive Masters 1,000 title at the Italian Open.

“I think we give much more than what we are getting back. It’s not only for the top players – it’s for all of us players, from men’s and women’s side.

“The top 10 men and top 10 women, we wrote a letter and it’s not nice that after one year we are not even close to a conclusion for what we would like to have.

“Talking in other sports, if the top athletes, they send important letters, I truly believe that within 48 hours you have not only a response but you also have a meeting.

“Of course we talk about money. The most important is respect, and we just don’t feel it.”

The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic also joined the debate by saying “players know that they’ll always have my support”.

“I do like the fact that there is more conversations happening on this,” the 38-year-old Serb added. “It needs to be because players’ position is not where it needs to be with slams, with tours.”

Meetings have taken place between players and Grand Slam representatives. The players have made no progress in their request for benefit contributions, and rejected a meeting in Indian Wells in March to discuss the formation of a Grand Slam player council.

Grand Slam executives are currently limited in what they can discuss among themselves, or with the players, as they have been the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association which accuses them of “monopolistic control.”

Sinner expressed his disappointment at the 9.5% prize money offered by this month’s French Open – as players believe the total sum is still some way below the 22% of tournament revenue they feel entitled to.

The financial pot at last year’s US Open rose by 20%, with the figure for January’s Australian Open nearly 16% higher year on year.

“I think in the next couple of weeks we know also the prize money we’re going to have in Wimbledon,” Sinner said.

“We truly hope that it’s going to be better. Then, of course, US Open. So I do understand players talking about boycott because it’s somewhere we also need to start. It has been a very long time with this.”

Sinner stopped short of committing himself to boycotting one of the Slams.

“Of course, it’s tough to say. I cannot predict the future in a way,” he said.

“It’s the first time that I feel like the players are all in the same scenario and in the same point of view.

“I think it’s also right because without the players, they are not going to happen, any tournaments. In the same time we also know and we respect the tournaments because they make us bigger as athletes.

“Let’s see in the future.”

Djokovic also avoided a direct commitment to go on strike, but praised Sabalenka for her intervention.

“That’s a true leadership for me and I think she needs to maintain that. I salute that,” he added.

“We’re all part of the same sport. We all try to elevate the game, whether it’s players, tournaments, governing bodies. Unfortunately, often there is a conflict of interest that some people don’t want to address.

“I think that’s where the players really have the power. I’m always supportive of the stronger player position in the ecosystem.”

Stacy Boit,

The look on Michael Carrick’s face said it all.

“Yes,” he said, with a slight nod of the head and a forced smile. “I can remember that. I have not forgotten it.”

The Manchester United head coach had just been asked about 13 May 2012. It is a day etched into English football folklore. The day Sergio Aguero scored a dramatic injury-time winner against QPR to give Manchester City the Premier League title.

One hundred and forty miles away, Carrick was on the pitch at the Stadium of Light as the news filtered through.

They had started their match at Sunderland knowing they needed to win. If they did and Manchester City did not, they would be champions.

No-one expected it to happen. But, amazingly, when the final whistle went at Sunderland, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were top. Wayne Rooney scored the only goal at Sunderland and Edin Dzeko had only just headed in City’s equaliser against a team that had begun the day fearing relegation.

United’s players and coaching staff could only wait and hope.

For them, Aguero’s goal was the cruellest of blows.

United faces turned to thunder.

As the players went to applaud the visiting supporters, the cheers of the Sunderland fans echoed round the ground. Despite their own side’s defeat, they revelled in United’s demise as lustily as if Sunderland had won the league themselves.

“We stayed out on the pitch because we had our result but we knew it wasn’t over at City,” said someone who was part of the United contingent that day. “It was their last home game of the season and there were a lot of people still in the stadium.

“I just remember the noise. There was sarcasm in the way they were singing. It wasn’t over but we thought we had done the job. Then the Sunderland fans got smart about it and started having a pop, which exploded into laughter because we had lost the league.

“Sir Alex [Ferguson] was down. He was annoyed at the added time and the sarcasm. You knew he wouldn’t forget. He could turn that into propaganda for next time. ‘Remember this day. Remember Sunderland enjoyed the moment’.”

Which is exactly what Ferguson did.

As Sunderland’s supporters did the ‘Poznan’, the trademark dance adopted by City after a visit from the Polish side, where they turn their backs to the game and put their arms around the shoulders of the fans next to them, a fierce desire for revenge burned within the Scot.

It reminded him of the aftermath of losing at Liverpool in 1992, a result which confirmed Leeds as champions at United’s expense, when young players in his squad were taunted.

The message he delivered was similar.

“When we lost the league to Leeds United in 1992, I said to [Ryan] Giggs and the boys, you remember this day,” Ferguson revealed at an awards dinner the day after the Sunderland trip.

“That’s exactly what I said to the players yesterday. Those Sunderland fans that were cheering for City, remember the day. We won’t forget that I’m telling you.”

The experience was crushing.

Premier League chairman Dave Richards was not aware of how the situation had changed so dramatically.

Having left his seat at full-time for what he thought was going to be a trophy presentation, Richards congratulated a senior United official as he made his way through the stadium towards the tunnel area, only to be informed his services would not be required.

Another senior United official switched his phone off on the lonely drive home and kept it off when he arrived back. He wasn’t in the mood to talk.

United’s players watched the City game on their way back to Manchester. The conspiracy theories soon started.

Why, after Edin Dzeko’s equaliser, did a QPR side with a number of former City players in their ranks, put the ball straight out of play near the home goalline from the restart?

This ignores the fact that a full minute later, 10-man QPR had a throw-in just inside the City half, which lone striker Jay Bothroyd challenged for, Joleon Lescott won and Nigel de Jong set off on the run that ended with one of the all-time most memorable Premier League goals.

“That should have been looked into,” said Wayne Rooney, half-jokingly during an appearance on the Overlap in April 2025.

Stacy Boit,

Newcastle Red Bulls interim head coach Stephen Jones says he is excited by the “wonderful challenge” the club will face next season.

Jones is set to revert to his preferred role as attack coach in the new-look coaching team, which will be led by Englishman Dan McFarland.

With 23 new players signed up for the new campaign, it will be a busy summer at Kingston Park.

“It’s exciting and there are challenges that come with that,” Jones told BBC Sport.

“But how good is it? Quality players, quality people coming in, it’s a wonderful challenge for us as coaches.”

Jones says he has had lots of conversations so far with McFarland, who is currently working for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan.

But the interim head coach is looking forward to how the new coaching team will come up with a blueprint for the new Newcastle.

“When we get together as a coaching group, that’ll be exciting,” he said.

“We’ll be discussing concepts on how we want to play, what’s our DNA, what’s this club’s identity and how we can best bring that together.

“There are lots of pieces of the puzzle that when we connect, we’ve got to make sure we’re clear on our vision and our alignment.”

Before then, Newcastle have four games left of The Prem season, starting with the visit of Harlequins on Sunday (15:00 BST).

Red Bulls have lost all four of Jones’ league games in charge as they sit bottom of the table, nine points adrift of Quins.

The former Wales and British and Irish Lions fly-half says there have been improvements in the six weeks he has been in charge since replacing Alan Dickens, but a second league win of the season would change the narrative.

And Newcastle have a favorable fixture list with only one of their games coming against a top-six club.

“We can look at statistics and we can see improvement, but professional sport is all about winning,” said Jones.

“We’re desperate for that win. We can talk things up that we’re making improvements – which we are from a statistical point of view – but the most important thing is winning and we want a ‘W’ as soon as we can.

Stacy Boit,

Federico Valverde went to hospital with a head injury after a dressing room row with Real Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni but denied the pair “came to blows”.

The Uruguayan said the injury, which will keep him out of Sunday’s match against Barcelona, was caused when he “accidentally hit a table”.

Midfielder Valverde explained he suffered a “small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital” during what he described as an argument.

The club, who have opened disciplinary proceedings against both players, said Valverde, 27, has been diagnosed with a cranioencephalic trauma, a type of concussion.

The Thursday morning incident came just three days before Real face a crunch title match against rivals – and likely champions – Barcelona.

“Valverde is at home in good condition and will have to remain at rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by the medical protocols for this diagnosis,” the club said.

In a statement on Instagram, Valverde said: “At no point did my team-mate hit me, and I didn’t hit him either, although I understand it’s easier for you to believe we came to blows or that it was intentional, but that didn’t happen.

“I feel that my anger about the situation, my frustration at seeing some of us struggling to get through the end of the season on our last legs, giving it our all, pushed me to the point of arguing with a team-mate.

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry because this situation hurts me, this moment we’re going through is painful. Real Madrid is one of the most important things in my life, and I can’t just turn a blind eye to it.

“The result is a build-up of things that culminate in a senseless fight, damaging my image and leaving room for doubt – for people to fabricate stories, slander me, and sensationalise an incident.

“I have no doubt that any disagreements we might have off the field ceases to exist on it, and if I have to defend the team inside a stadium, I’ll be the first to do so.”

Valverde also confirmed widespread reports that the pair had another row on Wednesday, adding: “In a normal locker room, these things can happen and are usually resolved internally without it becoming public knowledge.

“Clearly, someone here is spreading rumours, and with a season without titles, where Real Madrid is always under scrutiny, everything gets blown out of proportion.”

An emergency meeting was called for Thursday evening with Real president Florentino Perez and his staff, plus head coach Alvaro Arbeloa and club captain Dani Carvajal.

Real have have had disappointing season, sitting 11 points behind Barcelona in La Liga with four games to go, while they also exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage with Valverde describing it as another “wasted year”.

Anything other than a win for Real in Sunday’s El Clasico at the Nou Camp will hand Barcelona a second consecutive La Liga title, with three games to spare.

A spat between team-mates in the run-up to the game added to Real’s difficulties.

In their statement about the altercation between Valverde and Tchouameni, Real added: “The club will provide updates on the resolutions of both proceedings once the corresponding internal procedures have been completed.”

Spanish media say the incident has been described internally by several members of staff as “the most serious ever experienced in Valdebebas”.

Stacy Boit,

After seven months of league action, the race for the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs is going down to the wire.

After a break for European semi-finals, the URC returns for the final two rounds of the regular season with plenty still to be decided.

The tussle for seedings in the top four – and home advantage in the quarter-finals – is tight but not as tense as who finishes in the top eight.

Cardiff missed out by a point last season after Lions were pipped by Ospreys on games won a year earlier.

BBC Sport looks at what is at stake in the final games and how other results could impact Champions Cup qualification.