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Rory McIlroy has joined an elite club by defending his Masters crown at Augusta National, becoming just the fourth golfer ever to win the tournament back‑to‑back. The Northern Irish star edged out world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by a single shot, marking his sixth major championship and cementing his place in golf history. Speaking after the victory, McIlroy emphasized that the win is a stepping stone, not a final destination. “I just won my sixth major and I feel like I’m in a really good spot with my game and my body,” he said. “I still have things I want to achieve and I want to enjoy the journey.” His parents, Rosie and Gerry, who missed the 2025 ceremony, were present this year, adding a personal dimension to the triumph. “It’s amazing to have them here,” McIlroy remarked, noting that their presence reinforced his motivation and gratitude. Despite the celebratory mood, McIlroy’s performance was far from flawless. He hit only 55% of fairways and recorded 48 of 72 greens in regulation over four rounds. A six‑shot lead after 36 holes evaporated by the 54‑hole mark, and a wayward drive into the trees on the final tee underscored the pressure he faced. Reflecting on the difficulty of the feat, McIlroy admitted, “I don’t make it easy. I used to win by eight shots in my early 20s. This year I realised it’s just really difficult to win the Masters.” He described the moment of uncertainty on the 18th tee as “the greatest stress,” highlighting the thin margin between victory and defeat. Looking ahead, McIlroy signaled that his ambitions extend beyond the Masters. While he plans to take a brief break, he dismissed the notion of a post‑victory lull, stating, “I don’t think I’ll go through that lull of motivation… I still want to enjoy it as well.” With his back‑to‑back Masters titles now secured, the golfer’s next targets remain speculative, but his confidence suggests a continued push for further major victories and possibly a career Grand Slam.

Rory McIlroy clinched a second Masters victory on Sunday, edging out the field by a single stroke at 12‑under‑par to become only the fourth player in history to successfully defend the green jacket, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.The 36‑year‑old Northern Irishman entered Augusta National after ending his own “Masters hoodoo” in 2025, a win that completed his career Grand Slam and placed him among the elite six‑time major champions, surpassing Seve Ballesteros in the process.In a final round that tested his nerves, McIlroy recovered from a six‑shot lead that vanished after 54 holes. A double‑bogey on the 4th and a further slip on the 6th sparked talk of a potential collapse, but the champion rallied, birdieing the 7th and 8th before delivering a decisive birdie on the 13th after a 350‑yard drive on the par‑five 12th.McIlroy’s composure under the blazing Georgia sun and gusty winds was evident as he navigated the closing holes, posting pars on 15, 16 and 17 and securing the win even if he had finished with a bogey on the 18th.Scottie Scheffler, the world No 1, finished runner‑up at 11‑under‑par. Despite an early birdie on the 3rd and a stretch of 11 consecutive pars, Scheffler’s putter faltered on the final holes, leaving him unable to challenge McIlroy’s lead.The third‑place tie at 10‑under‑par featured Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Rose, Russell Henley and Cameron Young, highlighting the depth of the field.During the prize ceremony, an emotional McIlroy thanked his parents, stating, “I wanted to come back here and prove last year wasn’t a fluke. The Masters continues to be the shining light of the majors, and I am honoured to win it again.”Analysts note that defending a Masters title is notoriously difficult; McIlroy’s triumph not only cements his status among the sport’s greats but also demonstrates the mental resilience required to dominate at Augusta, a venue often described as a “psychological torture chamber.”Looking ahead, McIlroy hinted that Augusta may become his “playground,” suggesting that his focus will now shift to maintaining this momentum across the remaining majors of the season.

Rory McIlroy faced a daunting challenge on the 12th hole at Augusta National Golf Club during the Masters Tournament. The hole, known as Golden Bell, had a pin positioned precariously on the far right edge, making it one of the most difficult holes in tournament golf. McIlroy decided to ignore Jack Nicklaus's advice to play for the middle of the green and instead went for the pin, a decision that could have easily backfired.Nicklaus, a legendary golfer and course designer, had previously advised McIlroy to avoid going for the pin if it's on the right side of the green, suggesting that players should prioritize making par over attempting a challenging shot. However, McIlroy chose to take a different approach, hitting his shot over the water and onto the green, where it bounded towards the cup.The crowd held its collective breath as McIlroy lined up his birdie putt, which was approximately seven feet left of the hole. With the wind whipping through the trees and the pressure mounting, McIlroy remained focused and sank the putt with ease, securing a crucial birdie that helped him stay in contention.This moment proved pivotal in McIlroy's victory, as he managed to navigate the challenging 12th hole successfully and maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard. McIlroy's win marked his continued dominance in the golf world, showcasing his skill and mental toughness under pressure.

The light‑heavyweight division entered a new chapter on Saturday night in Miami when Carlos Ulberg secured the vacant UFC title by delivering a decisive left hook to former champion Jiri Prochazka. President Donald Trump watched from the cageside as Ulberg’s strike landed at the 3:45 mark of the opening round, ending the bout with a knockout and awarding him the undisputed belt. Ulberg entered the fight with a professional record of 14‑1 in MMA (10‑1 in the UFC), while Prochazka held a 32‑6‑1 MMA record (6‑3 in the UFC). Early in the first round Ulberg felt a knee give way, yet he persisted, capitalising on Prochazka’s hesitation to land the winning blow. “I blew out my knee, but I never counted myself out,” Ulberg said afterward. “I knew I needed one clean shot, and when I saw Jiri pulling back, I threw my left hand and it landed.” Prochazka, who has gone 1‑3 in UFC title fights since June 2022, reflected on the loss: “I felt sorry for him, and this is one of the biggest lessons in my life. The fight was in my hands, I saw his injury, and I’ll be back.” The championship was vacant after former champion Alex Pereira vacated the belt to pursue an interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250, a bout scheduled for the White House on Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Trump promoted the event on his Truth Social account and arrived at the Kaseya Center accompanied by UFC president Dana White, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. ambassador to India Sergio Gor. A Kid Rock track blared as Trump took his seat beside the officials. In the co‑main event, Azamat Murzakanov knocked out Paulo Costa with a right round‑house at 1:23 of the third round, extending his perfect UFC record to 17‑0‑0. After his victory, Murzakanov shook hands with Trump, who praised the fighter. Murzakanov acknowledged the president during his post‑fight interview with Joe Rogan. The heavyweight showdown between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes turned into a gritty slugfest, with Hokit prevailing by unanimous decision (29‑28 on all three cards). Trump cheered loudly as the fighters exchanged blows. Following Hokit’s win, UFC chief Dana White announced on social media that a bout between Hokit and Derrick Lewis would be added to the UFC Freedom 250 card, noting that President Trump helped bring the matchup together.

Roberto De Zerbi arrived on the pitch barely half an hour before kick‑off, his black padded gilet pulled up to the neck against a biting Wearside wind. By the final whistle the chill had eased, but Tottenham’s morale had plummeted.Sunderland’s 1‑0 victory not only cemented the visitors’ place in the league’s bottom three, it also lifted Régis Le Bris’s side to 10th place with six matches left in the campaign.Facing his third managerial appointment in a single season, De Zerbi urged his squad to rediscover the high‑risk attacking ethos of former boss Ange Postecoglou – a vision that remained frustratingly out of reach on a day dominated by low‑tempo play.Long‑time Tottenham midfielder Antonin Kinsky made a rare return after his brief, infamous cameo in a 5‑2 Champions League loss to Atlético Madrid. His comeback was cut short when a second‑half head clash forced his substitution for the inexperienced Brandon Austin.Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, still recovering from hernia surgery, was expected to be tested. Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka delivered a sharply inswinging corner, but Kinsky calmly palmed the ball over the bar, keeping Spurs in the game.A potential penalty for Tottenham was overturned after VAR review; replays showed Omar Alderete had won the ball cleanly, while Randal Kolo Muani’s appeal proved unfounded.Richarlison offered brief flashes of quality but failed to convert his chances, and Dutch striker Brian Brobbey – described as a “human bulldozer” – was unable to capitalise on Enzo Le Fée’s incisive passes, despite a lone fine save from the Sunderland keeper.De Zerbi’s frustration was palpable. After Dominic Solanke’s weak finish allowed Sunderland’s Robin Roefs to deny a golden‑chance in stoppage‑time, the manager pulled his gilet up over his eyes, perhaps to shield himself from the disappointment.Mid‑second‑half, former Paris Saint‑Germain defender Nordi Mukiele, back from injury, struck a 20‑yard shot that deflected off centre‑back Micky van de Ven. The ball’s change of direction left the goal‑mouth ambiguous, sparking a debate over whether the goal should be credited to Mukiele or recorded as an own‑goal.The match’s physical intensity escalated when Brobbey’s challenge led to a painful collision between Kinsky and Cristian Romero, forcing both players off – Romero in tears with a leg injury. De Zerbi also expressed anger that Brobbey, already booked, escaped a second yellow card.Despite a flurry of substitutions, Tottenham struggled to pose serious questions to Sunderland’s defence, leaving the club’s relegation hopes hanging by a thread as the season draws to its final stretch.

Birmingham City defeated Wrexham 2-0 at St Andrew’s, a result that pushes the Red Dragons further from the Championship playoff places. The loss leaves Wrexham four points behind sixth‑placed Hull City with only four games remaining.After a 5-1 drubbing by Southampton, the defeat marks Wrexham’s first back‑to‑back losses since August. Manager Phil Parkinson tried to steady the mood, saying, “We’ve had a tough week, but we’re not down and out yet. People may write us off, but inside the dressing room we’re still fighting.”Goals came from Carlos Vicente, who headed in his third goal for Birmingham since joining in January, and Christoph Klarer, who added a second‑half strike to seal the win.Wrexham’s attack was virtually silent – they failed to register a single shot on target, and goalkeeper James Beadle had little to do. In contrast, Birmingham’s keeper Arthur Okonkwo made several first‑half saves, keeping the hosts in control.The victory gave Birmingham their first win in over a month and lifted them to 15th place in the league table. The hosts dominated possession, forcing early saves from Okonkwo and creating chances for Ibrahim Osman and August Priske, though those early efforts were thwarted.In the second half, a well‑timed delivery from Kai Wagner allowed Vicente to rise highest at the far post and head home. Later, a corner from Paik Seung‑ho found Klarer, who muscled past Max Cleworth and finished confidently.Substitutes Josh Windass and Nathan Broadhead were introduced by Parkinson in a bid to spark Wrexham’s attack, but the visitors could not muster any meaningful threat in the final quarter.Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised his side’s performance: “We were excellent throughout. When the opposition doesn’t have a shot on your goal and you score two – we could have scored five – that’s everything.”

Sergio García, the 2017 Masters winner, made the cut at Augusta National but saw his weekend marred by a heated outburst on the second hole. After a mis‑hit tee shot, he struck his club into the ground, snapped off its head, and tossed it into a nearby cooler.Masters officials responded swiftly, issuing García a code‑of‑conduct warning. Under tournament rules, a second breach would add a two‑stroke penalty, while a third could lead to disqualification.In the aftermath of the incident, García stepped in to assist his playing partner Jon Rahm, picking up and carrying Rahm’s clubs while Rahm’s caddie was occupied raking a bunker.The Masters has seen several disciplinary actions this year. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre received a reprimand for flashing an obscene gesture toward spectators after a wayward shot landed in water.García entered the round 16 shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young. Although he managed a par on the second hole, he recorded three bogeys in the first four holes, slipping further down the leaderboard.Known for a volatile temperament, García’s latest flare adds to a history of on‑course confrontations: at the 2023 Open Championship he broke his driver after a similar outburst, was disqualified from the 2019 Saudi International for damaging greens, and clashed with officials at the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship before departing the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.

The Masters 2026 final round has begun, with significant drama unfolding. Rory McIlroy's six-shot lead from the previous round has vanished, leaving him tied with Cameron Young at -11. McIlroy is not the only one in contention; other top golfers include Sam Burns at -10, Shane Lowry at -9, and Jason Day along with Justin Rose at -8. The current leaderboard standings are as follows: -11: Cameron Young, Rory McIlroy -10: Sam Burns -9: Shane Lowry -8: Jason Day, Justin Rose -7: Scottie Scheffler, Haotong Li Today's tee times have been announced, with notable pairings including: 1406 Aaron Rai (Eng), Charl Schwartzel (SA) 1417 Gary Woodland, Kurt Kitayama 1428 Jon Rahm (Spa), Sergio Garcia (Spa) Rory McIlroy expressed his mindset after losing the lead, stating he aims for a 'free' state of mind moving into the final round. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler has positioned himself strongly for the Green Jacket.

Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw at the City Ground, a result that significantly boosts Forest's chances of avoiding relegation. Neco Williams's low strike cancelled out Murillo's own goal, securing a precious point for Forest.The match was marked by Villa's dominance, with Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins missing clear chances to score. Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels made crucial saves, including one from Ross Barkley's low shot. The draw moves Forest three points clear of the relegation zone.Despite Villa's pressure, Forest's defense held firm, with Matty Cash seeing an effort blocked late in the game. The result comes as a relief for Forest, who could have faced a more challenging situation had they lost.The draw also highlights Villa's inconsistent form, as they failed to capitalize on their chances. Unai Emery's side now looks to their upcoming Europa League semi-final against Forest.