HOUSTON — Jose Altuve, the 5-foot-6 star second baseman for the Houston Astros, long ago proved that height doesn’t matter that much. He is a six-time All-Star, three-time batting champion and one-time Most Valuable Player Award winner. This week, he added “thorn in the Yankees’ side” to his résumé. With his team leading by just one run in the fifth […]

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The fifth hole has been the forgotten hole at Augusta National. Trapped between three iconic par-3s with little access for spectator viewing, the dogleg left par-4 is largely ignored as patrons walk from the par-3 fourth tee to pick up play at the par-3 sixth, where you can also see the par-3 16th. There was no reason […]

It's a tradition unlike any other, at the tradition unlike any other. The annual Masters Par 3 contest held on the eve of the opening round of golf's first major took place on Wednesday afternoon and ended in a playoff between Sandy Lyle and Matt Wallace. It took three sudden-death holes before Wallace prevailed with a birdie on the pairings […]

The New Jersey Devils beat their lottery odds of 11.5 percent Tuesday night, and landed the first overall pick in this year’s NHL draft. But perhaps even more fortunate than the Devils is another team that jumped up higher than their projected position—the New York Rangers, who’ll draft second. With their first pick, the Devils will need to decide between […]

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy turns 30 in less than a month, so if he's going to complete the career Grand Slam in his 20s, now is the time. He’s at the top of his game, he has a healthy new attitude and he says he is “very comfortable” playing Augusta National for the 11th consecutive year. In addition to […]

IT'S almost time for the first Major of 2019. But before things get underway at Augusta National, there is the small matter of the annual Masters Par 3 contest. What time is the Masters Par 3 contest? AHEAD of the main tournament on Thursday, the Par 3 competition will be held on Wednesday, April 10. As is now traditional, it […]

ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE has defended Mesut Ozil in the wake of “coat-gate.” Ozil appeared to lob his jacket in the direction of Everton staff as they clashed with Arsenal boss Unai Emery at the weekend. Ozil had just been subbed and cut a frustrated figure as the Gunners crashed to a 1-0 defeat on Merseyside. He has been heavily criticised in […]

ASTON VILLA visit Rotherham for a key midweek Championship clash. Dean Smith's Villans are on a terrific winning run and have stormed into the playoff places, but will face stiff opposition from the relegation-threatened Millers. What time is kick-off? THIS Championship clash will be held on Wednesday, April 10. Kick-off is at 7.45pm. When the sides met at Villa Park […]

THURSDAY'S action is a proper headscratcher. After a serious read up I could only pick out one over fences at Huntingdon. CRACKING DESTINY (Huntongdon, 3.35) should be suited by this course and distance and has conditions in his favour. His last two runs on good ground – both on galloping right-handed tracks like Huntingdon – have resulted in cosy wins. […]

World No. 479 Tara Moore was losing about as badly as it is possible to lose to No. 201 Jessika Ponchet at the ITF event Tuesday in Sunderland, England. One bagel had been served and the other was nearly done cooking. At 0-6, 0-5, 30-40, Ponchet had a match point to put Moore away. But in that rally, Moore backpedaled […]