Matt Kuchar, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell were also confirmed to play this morning.

Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle when his contract expires on June 30, the club have announced.

We’re almost there, although we still don’t know where “there” is yet. It’s been whittled down to heaven or hell, with nothing in between.

Is the world about to end?

“Let’s give Madrid something to think about”. Yes, let’s. Who the hell are Brighton, for starters.

For all true red-bloods, the ghosts of Istanbul are alive and well and all around these days, as Liverpool prepare to take on Roma with a Champions League final place at stake.

I’m back writing about Spanish wine again this week (after a short break!) but I have a good excuse as Spanish Wine Week runs from April 23 to April 29. I’ve spoken a lot about the value to be had from Spain but less about cava. Much of the cava we drank in the 1990s was rather simple

No complaints. Again. This must be some kind of record.

If we’re second for a few hours, or even a few weeks, it doesn’t feel like a big deal.

There wasn't too much in the midweek games to get Fantasy Premier League managers excited - all the best action was off the field.

Rafael Nadal called for the tennis authorities to think about players’ long-term health after retiring from his quarter-final against Marin Cilic at the Australian Open because of a leg injury.

Rafael Benitez has launched a passionate defence of his Newcastle team as he attempts to end a damaging run of four successive Premier League defeats.

Grigor Dimitrov claimed the biggest title of his career by beating David Goffin at the ATP Finals - and now has his sights set on winning a grand slam.

Roger Federer offered no excuses for his shock defeat by David Goffin in the last four of the ATP Finals.

Jose Mourinho expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to complement rather than compete with Romelu Lukaku after welcoming the striker back to the Manchester United squad, along with Paul Pogba.

Mauricio Pellegrino has admitted he will always be grateful to Rafael Benitez, but has vowed to get one over his former manager on Sunday.

Welcome to the annual bar lowering championships, earlier than usual, where Liverpool are looking for their umpteenth title in a row. Practice makes perfect, after all.

The tweet from a reporter read “Klopp angry with crowd impatience”. Here we go, I thought.

Rafael Nadal put the seal on a throwback year for men's tennis by winning his 16th grand slam title at the US Open.

Juan Martin del Potro must rouse himself for another physical and mental effort as he prepares to take on Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of the US Open tonight.

Roger Federer conceded he was not in the right shape to challenge for another grand slam title as the elusive US Open clash with Rafael Nadal slipped away again.

Roger Federer reported himself fit for a tilt at a third grand slam title of the year at the US Open.

They could make a film about Liverpool optimism; Gone In 60 Days.

Fantasy Premier League is back, and oh how we’ve missed it!

Fantasy Premier League is back, and oh how we’ve missed it!

Roger Federer admits he woke up with a sore head after celebrating a record eighth Wimbledon triumph until 5am on Monday morning.

Chris Froome dodged crashes in the pack to retain his overall lead in the Tour de France before the race heads back to the mountains today.

Refusing to fulfil media obligations to the week’s sport.

A resigned Novak Djokovic was at a loss to explain the shocking ending to his French Open title defence.

Andy Murray feels the odd man out after arriving at the French Open playing "garbage" but that did not stop him reaching a fourth consecutive semi-final at Roland Garros.

There was a distinctly Irish flavour to Aberdeen’s 3-2 win over Hibernian in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.

Arguably the greatest rivalry in the history of tennis will continue at the BNP Paribas Open after Roger Federer set up a quarter-final clash with Rafael Nadal.

Roger Federer insists his bid to win an 18th grand slam title in Sunday’s Australian Open final will not be hampered by injury.

Quick, find a straw to clutch. We’ve reached our fifth semi-final in two years. Not bad for has-beens. What? No, no actual cups per se, if you’re going to be picky and mean about it.

World number two Andy Murray recovered from a slow start to surge into the final of the China Open with victory over Spain's David Ferrer today.

John McHenry dissects the pick of the Ryder Cup rookies.

Rafael Nadal crashed out of the US Open as the Spaniard lost a five-set thriller to France's Lucas Pouille in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows.

Roger Federer says he cannot wait to play Britain's Wimbledon wonder Marcus Willis and hailed his progress as one of the greatest stories in the sport.