Rory McIlroy is the FedEx Cup champion after a final round of 66 saw him secure a four-stroke victory in the Tour Championship at East Lake last night, landing a $15 million prize - the biggest jackpot in golfing history - in the process. With lightning strikes suspending play on Saturday the third round was completed yesterday before the 30-strong field played their fourth, with McIlroy - who hasn't won a Major since 2014 - starting the day a stroke behind world number one Brooks Koepka. However Koepka slumped to a 72, which included three-consecutive bogeys on 12, 13 and 14, as McIlroy won in style - despite back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15. Afterwards, he said: "My goal today was not to go and win the normal tournament but to shoot the lowest score of the week. That was my goal going out. It looked like it would be a three horse race but it is tough coming in, it is such a cool way to end what for me has been a great season. I will try and improve for next year again."
Ireland boss Joe Schmdit has suggested Ireland's malfunctioning set-piece was down to a collective rather than an individual failure, after a shambolic lineout contributed to Saturday's galling, record 57-15 defeat to England at Twickenham on Saturday. Ireland lost six of their own throws in London, directly leading to 21 of England's points as the impressive Maro Itoje wreaked havoc. But Schmidt is reluctant to lay the blame at the door of his 37-year-old hooker and captain Rory Best. He said: "It's always a collective thing. There was a couple of calls that we put ourselves under pressure on, I think we put a bit of pressure on Iain Henderson by being a bit slow with our process and he's calling and they [England] see the picture early and they can get into it." Schmidt also suggested Saturday's humbling could leave some player's Rugby World Cup hopes on the brink, with back-to-back fixtures against Grand Slam winners Wales to come before Ireland depart for Japan. "Yeah, we have to be open-minded. I think Eddie's selection is open-minded. So for us, we'll be looking hard and long, and it's not going to be pleasant, at the footage and trying to piece together who has stood up and deserves to be in the 31 and who's under pressure."
Elsewhere Manchester City proved too good for Bournemouth on the south coast yesterday afternoon, with a Raheem Sterling goal, sandwiched between a Sergio Aguero brace, giving Pep Guardiola's side a 3-1 victory over Eddie Howe's Cherries at Dean Court. Later Newcastle finally had something to cheer about after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in London, with Joelinton's first half strike earning Steve Bruce's side their first points of the season and the first of his tenure. In the day's other game a late, late Raul Jimenez penalty rescued a point for Wolves as they drew 1-1 with Burnley at Molineux.
Dublin women's bid for three All-Ireland senior football titles in a row remains on course after they beat Cork 2-11 to 0-11 in Croke Park yesterday afternoon. A tight contest turned early in the second half, with the Dubs taking control following a goal from substitute Caoimhe O'Connor. Mick Bohan's side will face Galway on September 15th, after they beat rivals Mayo 2-10 to 2-9 to reach their first All-Ireland final since 2005. Mary Hannigan was one of the 10,886-strong crowd present at Croke Park.
And England's Ashes hopes are alive and kicking, after Ben Stokes produced one of the greatest innings in Test match history to earn the hosts an improbable and stunning one wicket victory at Headingley. England began yesterday's fourth day on 156-3 chasing 359 for victory, but after a solid morning session soon collapsed to 286-9. Stokes then seized the initiative, bludgeoning his way to 135 not out alongside number 11 Jack Leach (1*), to level the series 1-1 with two Test matches still to play. The fourth Test gets underway at Old Trafford on Wednesday September 4th.
