Will the president be help or hindrance for the US, while Britain looks to gold
Golf was an exhibition sport at the 1936 Olympics and at lunchtime on the last day the German pair held a three-stroke lead. Adolf Hitler decided to present the trophy but while he was on his way to the course, Tommy Thirsk had a final round of 65 and he and Arnold Bentley won the title for Britain by four. A furious Hitler turned his car around and that is why the Hitler Trophy now resides at Hesketh Golf Club in Southport.
I am not for a second joining those who call Donald Trump a Nazi, but Europe’s golfers have a similar chance to upset an expectant leader in his own back yard when the Ryder Cup is held at Bethpage in New York (Friday 26th to Sunday 28th, Sky Sports Main and Golf, from 11.30am). Trump will be there on the first day, though he has been asked to delay his arrival until the afternoon to reduce the security queues.
The morning session will be foursomes, at which Europe excels. Two years ago, they won that format 7-1, with Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland beating Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka by a record 9 and 7. A fast start is required. Bethpage Black is a stern test. A sign by the 1st tee warns that it is “an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers”. The rowdy galleries are intimidating too.
When Nottingham Forest last played in Europe, most of their current squad had not been born. Their 7-2 defeat on aggregate by Bayern Munich in 1996 was followed by 30 years in the wilderness. Forest return to Europe on Wednesday with a Europa League trip to Real Betis. Their European Cup titles in 1979 and 1980 came in the middle of a six-year winning streak for English clubs, the last of which was Aston Villa, who play Bologna on Thursday (both on TNT Sports 1, 8pm).
This could be a good week for Nottingham. After a narrow win over Surrey on Thursday, Nottinghamshire enters the last round of cricket’s County Championship knowing that a draw against Warwickshire will almost certainly bring their first title since 2010. Surrey, who had hoped to be the first to win four in a row since 1958, head to Hampshire needing a miracle (from Wednesday, YouTube, 10.30am). For Notts’ captain Haseeb Hameed, it might make a point to the England selectors.
Related articles:
Before all that, though, the final day of the World Athletics Championships brings the event that Britain has been waiting for. Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell are targeting gold and silver, though Lilian Odira and Mary Moraa may have something to say about that (Sunday, BBC One, 11.35am).
Photograph by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Social links
Copyright © 2025 Tortoise Media
All Rights Reserved
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.