Rory McIlroy did not, by his standards, play his best golf in the opening round yet still managed a 5-under 67, good for a share of the early lead with Sam Burns and his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

Youngster Mukul Choudhary played the innings of his life, smashing seven sixes on his way to an unbeaten 54 to haul Lucknow Super Giants to a dramatic, last-ball, three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Thursday (Friday AEST).

WILL PICKWORTH AT SELHURST PARK: But on the most important night of Palace's season, they finally lived up to that tag by producing a superb display to beat Fiorentina 3-0.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows was sent to a hospital for overnight observation after he collided head-to-head with teammate Riley Greene as they converged for a fly ball on Thursday.Greene made the catch, and Meadows landed on his back in a daze, barely moving with his hands pointed up and blood appearing on his face. After a few minutes, Meadows was able to sit up. Medical personnel slowly helped him stand and move toward a cart that was waiting to take him away.It's a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible, Greene said after the game against Minnesota at Target Field. He hit my head. I don't know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he's OK."Meadows had a concussion, manager A.J. Hinch said after the Tigers lost 3-1 to the Twins and were swept in the four-game series. The collision caused Meadows to bite the inside of his mouth, which led to the bleeding.Were going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me, Hinch said.Josh Bell led off the eighth inning for Minnesota with a shallow fly to left-center that Greene appeared to be calling for as he and Meadows ran toward the ball. Meadows tried slowing up and backing off at the last second. But his face appeared to slam against Greene's head, sending both players tumbling to the grass.Its a perfect tweener, and you have two guys who like to go and get it, catcher Jake Rogers said. Its a scary thing.Meadows has started 11 of 13 games in center field for the Tigers this season. Matt Vierling made the other two starts. Meadows went 0 for 3 on Thursday and is batting .250 with two extra-base hits.The 26-year-old Meadows, who was a second-round draft pick by the Tigers in 2018, made his major league debut in 2023. He missed the first two months of last season with a nerve problem in his upper right arm. Then he missed more than a month with a shoulder injury and finished with a .215 average and a .621 OPS.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Maybe gift shopping really is out of control at the Masters.Xander Schauffele's tee shot on the par-5 eighth hole Thursday at Augusta National ended up in somebody's merchandise bag, just a few feet to the left of the fairway. Schauffele used a tee to mark the spot, removed the ball and then handed off the bag to a woman in a pink and white outfit.He was able to play on without penalty and made par.It just flew straight into the bag. It was a great break. That bounce wouldve put me in the pine straw and who knows if I wouldve had a shot to hit up the hill, Schauffele said after shooting a 2-under 70 in the first round.So thanks to the lady on 8, he said.Schauffele shouldn't sell himself short for his own role in a solid first day. After his tee shot on the par-4 ninth ended up in some pine straw and his second shot found a bunker, he splashed out to within inches of the hole for a par.He made three birdies and two bogeys on the back nine.A little bit of a mixed bag, he said.No pun intended, presumably.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Aston Villa have put themselves in a commanding position to reach the Europa League semi-finals after defeating Bologna 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash.Ollie Watkins proved the hero for the hosts, netting twice to give Villa a significant advantage heading into the return fixture in Italy.The England striker's second goal came deep into added time, providing the perfect finish to an impressive European night at Villa Park.Bologna had briefly threatened a comeback when Jonathan Rowe found the net in the 90th minute, but Watkins responded almost immediately with a close-range effort to restore Villa's two-goal cushion.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayVilla thought they had fallen behind midway through the first half when Ezri Konsa turned the ball into his own net, but the defender was spared embarrassment by an offside flag.The centre-back then made amends before half-time, rising to meet a Youri Tielemans corner and directing his header into the Bologna goal.Shortly after the interval, Watkins doubled the advantage after Bologna defender Torbjorn Heggem made a costly error that the Villa striker punished ruthlessly.Rowe's curling strike gave the Italian visitors hope late on, but Watkins ensured any momentum was immediately extinguished with his second of the evening.Away from the pitch, Villa face a summer of difficult decisions with the club reportedly prepared to accept offers for the 30-year-old striker to raise funds for a summer squad rebuild. Sources indicate a fee of approximately 30million could be sufficient to secure his signature, a decrease from previous valuations as he enters the final two years of his contract.Everton, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all understood to be interested in bringing the striker in.Selling Wakins could represent a solution to Villa's ongoing financial difficulties and could help the club avoid potential rule breaches.LATEST SPORT NEWS:Harry Maguire must go to the World Cup as his latest admission proves why he is a national heroCristiano Ronaldo dragged into Saudi league cheating claims as England star launches scathing attackAndy Robertson confirms Liverpool exit in bombshell announcement just weeks after Mohamed SalahThe Midlands club recorded losses of 120.3million in 2022-23 and 85.9million the following year, before posting a 17million profit last season that relied on one-off sales, including the women's team and the Warehouse entertainment venue near Villa Park.A Uefa report excluded these transactions and calculated Villa's losses at 85million.His value could increase further if he is called up to England's World Cup squad and impresses buyers.Wakings' place in the Three Lions set up is under serious threat after he was dropped from the most recent 35-man squad by manager Thomas Tuchel.Tuchel has favoured other striking options, including Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as primary backups to Harry Kane.The Midlands striker remains a hero for the national team after his Euro 2024 semi-final goal sent England into the final of the competition.However, his form this season has dipped with only 12 goals in 41 total appearances.He still remains a regular starter for Villa under Unai Emery.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

The Irish military will be deployed to move vehicles "blocking critical infrastructure".

Vivien Endemann hat sich in den letzten beiden Lnderspielen in den Fokus gespielt - und das nachdem sie ber ein Jahr kein Teil des DFB-Teams war.[mehr]

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