Inter Milan step up pursuit of Tottenham defender Cristian RomeroInter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur have intensified negotiations over a summer move for defender Cristian Romero, according to SportMediaset. Roberto De Zerbi is at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.The 28-year-old Argentina international has already given his full commitment to the Nerazzurri, expressing enthusiasm about returning to Italy four years after leaving Atalanta. Fresh from reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with Argentina in North America, Romero views the Italian champions as the perfect fit for the next chapter of his career.A move to San Siro for Romero is gathering momentum, with the Inter hierarchy preparing an initial formal offer. The Serie A heavyweights are proposing a loan deal with a mandatory purchase clause, forming a total package worth 40 million. Further direct talks between Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio and Tottenham executives are scheduled in the coming days to resolve remaining details.For Tottenham, sanctioning their captains departure represents a significant shift during Roberto De Zerbis defensive rebuild. Spurs have already strengthened their central defensive options this window with the arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, giving the club flexibility to consider proposals for the Argentine.While Tottenham initially held out for a 50 million baseline fee, Romeros clear desire to join Cristian Chivus squad has given Inter crucial leverage in negotiations. With personal terms not expected to be an obstacle following positive talks with the players entourage in Milan, both clubs are pushing to reach a definitive agreement.After bringing in a host of players this summer, Spurs are keen to sanction several departures, with the likes of Guglielmo Vicario and Manor Solomon also on the chopping block.

Real Madrid ready to fork out 60 million to sign top midfield target after personal agreementDespite the four new additions so far this summer, Real Madrid are still in dire need of further reinforcements if they are to return to the top.The midfield, in particular, has been an area of concern, with Los Blancos simply lacking enough quality and experience, following the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.In recent weeks, there has been renewed calls for Real Madrid to sign Rodri, who was a driving force in Spains World Cup winning campaign.Real Madrid ready to sign RodriRodri is the need of the hour at Real Madrid. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)Now, a report from Sergio Valentin suggests Real Madrid are finally prepared to make a move for the Manchester City this summer.This is a significant departure from the clubs earlier stance, which was to ignore the Rodri option altogether given his age-profile and the fact that he wont be a long-term solution.Now, Real Madrid are ready to fork out 60 million in order to acquire the services of the Spanish international. The Spanish giants have yet to kickstart negotiations with Manchester City, but the Premier League outfit do not have much leverage as the players contract expires at the end of next season.Man City are determined to renew Rodris contract, but Real Madrids renewed efforts to sign the Spaniard may complicate that process.Agreement done between Rodri and Real MadridRodri is ready to play for Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)The journalist further adds that Real Madrid have an agreement in place with Rodri over a long-term deal at Santiago Bernabeu.It appears the player is prepared to sign a contract until 2030, with earlier reports suggesting that the Spaniard has agreed to settle for a lower salary than at Manchester City.This is a huge boost for Real Madrid as Rodri would be an ideal chain between the defence and the attack, as well as being a definite upgrade over Aurelien Tchouameni.On that front, Tchouamenis potential exit could be a vital part of Real Madrids pursuit of Rodri, with the Frenchman already being linked with a move to Manchester United, among other clubs.The next few weeks, therefore, could be critical as Real Madrid look to not only negotiate with Man City but also create space in the team for Rodri.

Real Madrid open to mid-season Vinicius renewal if summer talks fail reportVinicius Jr.s future has been called into serious question over the past few weeks, but the first links of a serious transfer have only arrived over the past 24 hours.Arsenal have risen as a potential destination for the player who is at a standoff with Real Madrid over renewal talks, and Los Blancos also maintain that they are open to selling him if his extension cannot be closed.In fact, there has also been concurrent talk that Yan Diomande may be Real Madrids marquee Vinicius Jr. replacement despite the fact that he plays on the opposite flank.Vinicius wants to stayNow in a recent report, Jorge C Picon reiterates that Vinicius Jr. wants to stay at Real Madrid as far as possible and that a renewal remains a priority for the player. His entourage convey that the players stance has not changed on that front.Vinicius wants to stay. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)The question, however, is whether a renewal is still possible given that Real Madrid are not willing to improve their offer. Vinicius will have to compromise and agree to the terms that have already been on his table for a long time.Los Blancos have even conveyed to the Brazilian stars entourage that their priority is to renew the players contract, but they have also stressed that they are open to reaching an agreement if he wishes to leave.After all, they do not wish to lose him on a free transfer in 2027 at any cost.An option that gives hopeThe Spanish journalist also furthers that Vinicius saga is expected to progress once the player returns to Madrid at the end of the week, and that Real Madrid know that there is a good chance he may enter the new season at the club without a renewal.Real Madrid are open to a mid-season renewal. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)The club now believe that there may well be no option but to allow the player to begin running down his contract at the club next season with the risk of losing him on a free.There is, however, a chance that he can renew his deal midway through the 2026-27 season. It is a situation the club dread but feel forced to accept given the players stubbornness to compromise.As matters stand, the situation is thus growing complicated and it remains to be seen if the two parties can reach an agreement once the player is back. The summer talks for either a renewal or a departure will be the first priority, and a mid-season renewal option will only be explored if both fail.

Elinor Snowsill, Caryl James and Alecs Donovan all played international rugby for Wales [Huw Evans Picture Agency]Former players have backed ground-breaking new research into the impact of concussion in women's rugby.Repeated blows to the head have been found to affect women differently to men, with female athletes more susceptible to concussion and reporting longer recovery times.Symptoms can also vary, with men commonly experiencing amnesia while women report prolonged headaches, mental fatigue and difficulty concentrating.But despite the findings, rugby's concussion guidelines are still largely based solely on the men's game - something ex-internationals say needs to change.Cardiff University's medical engineering team is now aiming to create the first head impact assessment protocol designed specifically for female athletes.The study followed 30 players from the university's women's rugby team, using specialised mouthguards, cognitive tests and MRI imaging. Researchers hope to gather enough data by the end of the year to determine whether new guidelines can be set."The female brain is different from the male brain and women's rugby is different from male rugby, so if we were only to use the same safety threshold as we do for men, that would seem inconsistent with the evidence that we understand so far," said lead researcher Peter Theobald.'No game more important than your brain'Elinor Snowsill, capped 76 times during a 14-year international career, is among those backing the female-focused research."We are not just mini versions of men," she said."It is so important to understand our bodies and that we have systems in place that are best suited for us, not just taken from the men's game."There is no game [of rugby] that is more important than your brain."It is the one thing you cannot replace. You can rehab any muscle or have a knee replacement, but you have to have your brain for the rest of your life. Nothing is more important than your health."Specially-designed mouthguard records the number and force of head impacts during matches [Calum Carpenter]'Women have been let down'Uncertainty surrounds why women can experience concussion differently to men, although researchers point to brain structure and neck strength.This is alongside differences in the way the game is played, in strength and conditioning and the later introduction of women to the sport.But the lack of dedicated research into the women's game is not unique to rugby with only 6% of sports science research solely based on female athletes, according to PhD student Freya Butcher, part of the research team."We aim to contribute to that pool and gain a better understanding of the way that female physiology interacts with our sports," she said. While welcoming their work, former Wales wing Caryl James says it is concerning that only now research is being done into female athletes."That really worries me and I feel women have definitely been let down over the years," she said. I've been playing rugby since I was eight, I never thought about concussion - until nowWhat are rugby union's rules on concussion injuries?The mouthguards being used by the university team are similar to those used by World Rugby in elite competitions.They measure the force, speed and direction of head impacts, with medical staff alerted if they exceed a set threshold. Players are then required to leave the pitch for a head injury assessment (HIA).However, part of the research aims to uncover whether those thresholds should be refined specifically to the women's game.Cleo Pallister-Turley plays rugby for Cardiff University's rugby team and says the study has made the whole team more aware of concussion."Both on and off the pitch, the study has made the whole team a little bit more wary about head health, in a way that throughout my 13 years of playing rugby hasn't been spoken about," she said."The previous season I would have just got up after any hit to the head and thought it was fine to play on."But last season, you're a lot more aware of it, even though the data wasn't fed back to us."Cardiff University have regularly scanned women rugby players as part of the research [Rolling Speed Photography]Awareness was something that former Wales centre Alecs Donovan says was lacking during her playing career."It wasn't the coaches or the medical team that knew I was concussed because I carried on playing, it was at work a couple of days after," Donovan said."I worked as a medical rep. I was in operating theatre and one of the doctors there said he thought I was concussed, just because of how I was feeling."Snowsill added: "I remember playing and thinking that one of the women had hit her head, but at the time other players didn't know how important it was. "They just knew it would mean they wouldn't be able to play, so a lot of the players would try to hide it, and I would question whether I should report it."Although it's your friend, you want to do what's best for them even if they would be angry with you for doing so."High Court leaves rugby brain injury case in balanceSmart gumshields - chips, change and criticismSmart mouthguards a 'game-changer' for rugby unionThe impact of concussion has come to the forefront of rugby with hundreds of former players bringing legal action against the sport's governing bodies.England world cup winners Steve Thompson, Mark Regan and Phil Vickery as well as British and Irish Lions Ryan Jones, Gavin Henson and Dafydd James claim authorities failed to protect them from the neurological consequences of repeated head impacts and concussions.That six-year battle hangs in the balance following two days of High Court proceedings this week as the judge considers whether the claimants have complied with an order to provide documents surrounding the neurological testing process.But despite the well-documented risks, Pallister-Turley hopes Cardiff's research will not deter people from playing rugby."The idea of this research is not to scaremonger, it's to invest in more research that allows you to make an educated and informed decision about your head health," she said."The sport is great in terms of friendships and camaraderie; it means so much to so many people."

A continental title is not the only thing on the line at the 2026 Womens Africa Cup of Nations, which begins today (Sunday).The four countries who reach the semifinals of this competition will also earn automatic qualification to next years World Cup in Brazil, with the four beaten quarterfinalists going into a playoff bracket that offers its winners a shot at securing their ticket to the finals via a six-team inter-continental playoff being staged in late 2026 and early 2027.The added pressure makes the plethora of storylines at this tournament that much more enticing as things finally get started, after months of delay, in host nation Morocco.Champions Nigeria enter with 10 stars encircling the crest on their jerseys, having won 10 of the previous 13 WAFCONs, and looking to add an 11th.Morocco have yet to claim a title despite reaching the final in the past two editions of the tournament, both of which they also hosted. Will third time be the charm? Or will last years third-place finishers, Ghana, show just how much they have grown as a team?Malawi, equipped with the lethal attacking powers of the Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, are eyeing a strong WAFCON debut that could also lead them to their first World Cup appearance. Unfortunately for them, they face the attacking prowess of Zambia trio Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji and Prisca Chilufya in a difficult group alongside Nigeria and Egypt.A tournament thats been postponed from its original March-April slot and also unexpectedly expanded to 16 teams from the usual 12 while the qualification competition was underway, this WAFCON is set to be the biggest yet not only for the number of nations taking part but the brightness of the stars on show and magnitude of the stakes.Lets take a closer lookTournament format, host and groupsWAFCON is Africas most prestigious womens football tournament, with this edition featuring 16 of the continents top teams. The biennial competition (its previous edition was put back from 2024 to last July) is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the sports official governing body there.The 22-day tournament kicks off today (Sunday, July 26) and ends August 16.It begins with a group stage, followed by three single-elimination knockout rounds. There are four groups of four teams, who play each other in a round-robin format. The top two from each group advance to the quarterfinals. There are then semifinals, a third-place playoff and the final to decide Africas champions.Group A: Algeria, Kenya, Morocco, SenegalGroup B: Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, South Africa, TanzaniaGroup C: Egypt, Malawi, Nigeria, ZambiaGroup D: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Ghana, Mali.Morocco will be the first nation to stage the tournament three consecutive times, previously hosting in 2022 and 2024.WAFCON 2026 was originally scheduled to begin in March, but the competitionwas postponed only 12 days before it was set to begin. CAF said the decision was made to ensure the success of this important womens competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances.Matches will be hosted across five stadiums in two cities Rabat and Casablanca.The stadiums in Rabat:Moulay El Hassan Stadium (capacity of 22,000)Olympic Stadium (21,000)Al Medina Stadium (18,000)The stadiums in Casablanca:Larbi Zaouli Stadium (20,000)Moulay Rachid Stadium (25,000)Most importantly, as well as deciding the African champions, the tournament serves as the qualification path for the continents nations into the World Cup next June and July in Brazil. The four semifinalists secure automatic berths, with the losing quarterfinalists immediately contesting a playoff bracket. The winners of that join teams from the five other confederations around the globe in an inter-continental playoff round in November/December and next February to decide three more qualifiers for the World Cup.There have been 13 WAFCON winners since the tournament began in 1998. Ten-time champions Nigeria were also the most recent winners a year ago. South Africa won in 2022, and Equatorial Guinea are two-time champions (2012, 2008).View this post on InstagramA post shared by OkayAfrica. (@okayafrica)Which NWSL players are involved?Several NWSL clubs will feel the strain of some of their biggest stars heading to WAFCON mid-season. A total of 12 players from the league will be competing, representing seven of its clubs and eight African countries.In its original March-April timeframe, WAFCON 2026 would have posed minimal threat to these NWSL teams rosters. However, the tournaments current kickoff falls in a crucial period for the league.The Orlando Pride will try to make do without Banda, currently leading the NWSLs Golden Boot race. Kansas City Current will be without their own star striker and two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga, as she reunites with her sister, Tabitha, on the international stage. But no team will feel the absences more than the Washington Spirit, who have six players away in Morocco.Washington Spirit:Mlissa Bethi (Algeria), Alimata Blem (Burkina Faso), Monique Ngock (Cameroon), Rosemonde Kouassi (Ivory Coast), Deborah Abiodun, Gift Monday (both Nigeria)Kansas City Current:Temwa Chawinga (Malawi)Boston Legacy:Assata Traor (Mali)Chicago Stars:Michelle Alozie (Nigeria)Orlando Pride:Barbra Banda (Zambia)Bay FC:Racheal Kundananji (Zambia)Angel City FC:Prisca Chilufya (Zambia)What about WSL players?Just two players competing in this edition of WAFCON play their club football in the English Womens Super League. Both are from Nigeria: goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton and Hove Albion and defender Rofiat Imuran of the London City Lionesses.How can we see the tournament?The North Americanbroadcast rights for WAFCON are held by beIN Sports, with matches viewable on beinsports.com or through any streaming service that carries the provider. The Qatar-based network will also provide access across the Middle East and North Africa.In the UK, Channel 4 will broadcast all WAFCON matches free. For the first time, DAZN has acquired the broadcast rights to WAFCON for Germany and surrounding territories, according to CAFs website, along with Canal+ in French-speaking African countries.CAF will stream select matches live on its YouTube channel, named CAF TV, and make highlights available globally.FIFA+ will also make some matches available for streaming via its free digital platform, depending on local licensing agreements.Three key matches to watchIvory Coast vs. Burkina Faso (Monday, July 27; 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT/9 p.m. BST)This will be of special importance to Washington Spirit fans. The clubs Ivorian winger Rosemonde Kouassi will face off against one of the Spirits newest signings in Alimata Blem, a defender for Burkina Faso. Both teams missed out on qualification for the 2025 WAFCON, and with Ivory Coast part of this editions expanded format, they will be keen to capitalize on the opportunity. This will be Ivory Coasts third WAFCON finals to Burkina Fasos second. Ivory Coasts best finish was third in 2014, Burkina Faso have yet to advance from their group, or even win a game.View this post on InstagramA post shared by Washington Spirit (@washingtonspirit)Morocco vs. Algeria (Thursday, July 30; 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT/9 p.m. BST)A showdown between the two North African giants in the womens game. Back-to-back beaten finalists Morocco will need to establish themselves against a defensive-minded Algeria side who didnt concede any goals in their WAFCON campaign a year ago, keeping four clean sheets before losing to Ghana on penalties in the quarterfinals (though they only scored once themselves across the four matches).Another shout for Spirit fans, too: Algeria midfielder Mlissa Bethi recently signed with the team from FC Nantes in France.Malawi vs. Zambia (Wednesday, Aug. 5; 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT/9 p.m. BST)Group C, made up of the two Southern African teams plus Nigeria and Egypt, culminates with a meeting between these two regional rivals. Only the top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals (and Brazil 2027), so there is potentially a lot on the line.Zambia have been vulnerable on defense and may have to deal with the Chawinga sisters here. Malawi might be tasked with holding off Banda, Kundanandji and Chilufya. A step toward the World Cup sweetens the bragging rights in this final group-stage game, which cant be missed.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.NWSL, Women's Soccer, FIFA Women's World Cup2026 The Athletic Media Company

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Cavaliers looking to flip Max Strus for ex-Warrior Jonathan Kuminga after missing on LeBron James originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cleveland Cavaliers were in the same position as many other contenders over the last week, pursuing LeBron James as aggressively as possible in hopes of giving him one final championship run. Cleveland was hoping for a homecoming with the four-time NBA champion, who had already spent two separate stints with the franchise.The Cavaliers roster heading into the upcoming season is extremely appealing. They are set to feature James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, giving them a strong foundation to compete in the Eastern Conference. At one point, Cleveland was considered one of the favorites to land James.I would be stunned if he picked a team that wasnt Golden State or Cleveland, a Western Conference executive told FOS Alex Schiffer.It appeared the Cavaliers had a legitimate chance to bring back the final version of James that the NBA will ever see. However, that is not how things unfolded this summer. James is heading to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he hopes to capture another NBA championship.LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for his final run at another NBA championship, he announced Friday, ESPNs Dave McMenamin wrote. James, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania.With James joining Philadelphia, Cleveland now has to find an athletic wing to add to its roster. The Cavaliers have turned their attention toward NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga, but acquiring him will likely require a sign-and-trade. Cleveland is reportedly willing to move Max Strus in a potential deal for Kuminga.The Cavaliers are ramping up their pursuit of Jonathan Kuminga via sign-and-trade after missing out on LeBron James. Cleveland is actively shopping Max Strus, who Kuminga would replace on the wing. A potential framework might feature Strus + 2nd-round pick capital for Kuminga, NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.The Atlanta Hawks currently do not have much roster flexibility to add players. However, acquiring Strus would make sense because Atlanta could use additional shooting off the bench. Strus also represents a more appealing option for the Hawks compared to what the Los Angeles Lakers could offer in a potential sign-and-trade scenario.The Cavaliers are not going down without a fight in their pursuit of Kuminga. The young forward has become one of the most sought-after players available in free agency. Strus would join a Hawks team looking to add shooting, while Kuminga would have the opportunity to thrive in Cleveland alongside Mitchell and Harden.More NBA news:Heat reportedly favorites to sign $645M veteran duo to join Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam AdebayoLakers, Cavaliers get $20M contract demand from ex-Warriors NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga76ers reportedly signing $147M elite shooter, ex-Lakers NBA champion to reunite with LeBron JamesHeat, Warriors in bidding war for $73M future Hall of Famer after missing out on LeBron James

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is recovering from serious injuries after a car accident on July 14, and his friend and rival Sean McVay was among the first to reach out to him.McVay, the Rams head coach who worked with Shanahan for four years when they were young assistants in Washington, said Shanahan is in good spirits.Most importantly, thank God he and the other person involved is okay, McVay said. Perspective is everything. We talk about that all the time as coaches, and everybody goes through different things. I think the most important thing is that he's on the road to recovery. His wife Mandy, and he's got a beautiful family, and I think any time that something like that happens, it shakes you up a little bit. But most importantly, I have talked to him. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and I know he's got an incredible perspective on it all. And Kyle's a stud. I have as much respect for him as anybody and he's a friend of mine, and I love him and hope that he's going to have a great recovery.Shanahan reportedly has a severe concussion, multiple broken bones, and lacerations requiring 40 stitches on his face. He will be coaching on a limited basis in training camp.McVay and Shanahan were hired to coach NFC West rivals in 2017. Shanahan's 49ers are 11-7 against McVay's Rams in the regular season. McVay and the Rams won their only playoff meeting, in the NFC Championship Game after the 2021 season.

Arda Guler delighted to be working with Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid Its a great opportunityIt has been almost two weeks since Real Madrid returned for pre-season, and so far, things are going well under the guidance of Jose Mourinho in his second spell as head coach. Los Blancos defeated Alcorcon 1-0 in their first friendly of the summer earlier this week, although Arda Guler did miss a penalty in the frst half.Guler is hoping to build on an impressive 2025-26 season from an individual standpoint, and his early 2026 World Cup exit with Trkiye has allowed him more time on the training pitch. As per the clubs official media channels (via MD), he admitted that he missed being at the club over the summer, and hes excited to start the 2026-27 campaign in a few weeks time.I missed my home. Im very happy to start working to always give a better version on the pitch. I have learned and improved a lot, but my enthusiasm has never changed. I want to win everything like the first day and make the Madridistas happy.Guler: Mourinho and his team have been very clear with usGuler was also asked about how it has been working under Mourinho. A number of players expressed their excitement at the prospect of being managed by the iconic Portuguese manager, and the 21-year-old has admitted that hes enjoying the learning experience.Its a great opportunity to work with a legend likeMourinho. He and his team explain everything very clearly and are also very sincere off the pitch. In pre-season the most important thing is to work on the physical part but also to listen and learn whatMourinhoasks of us to be able to do well on the pitch.There is a lot of hope within Real Madrid that Mourinho can turn things around after two dismal seasons, and if anyone can light a fire under the fire, it will surely be the Portuguese.

Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty ImagesTrevor Immelman believes that Scottie Scheffler put everything together for one of the first times this season during the third round of the 3M Open, as he assessed the world number ones chances of catching Jackson Koivun and winning on Sunday. Scheffler goes into the final round in Minnesota six shots off the lead held by Koivun. The 30-year-old will play alongside Brian Harman on Sunday at TPC Twin Cities, with the pair heading out 50 minutes before the leader.Many would have expected this to be the week that Scheffler secures his first victory since beginning his PGA Tour season with a win at The American Express back in January.He was able to get off to a bright start on Thursday, as he posted an opening round of 65. However, a 70 on Friday left Scheffler with plenty of work to do.Trevor Immelman assesses Scottie Schefflers week so far at the 3M OpenHis task only got harder as Scheffler found himself at level par through the front nine on Saturday. But five birdies and one eagle after the turn have left him with a chance.And speaking on CBS Sports, Trevor Immelman suggested that he does not think that Scheffler is out of the mix just yet.He needs to keep doing what he did today, particularly on the second nine today. It was a big swing from round two when he was a couple over on the back nine, and then today on that same side. He seemed to put it all together today, which is what weve kind of been missing from Scheffler throughout the season. Ball-striking was there, started making a few putts, and maybe this will just jumpstart the remainder of the season for him, he said.I think the key is the first par five comes at the seventh hole here at TPC Twin Cities, so can he pick off a few before he gets to the par five seventh, put a little scoreboard pressure on Koivun, and then see how the kid reacts from there. A good start is going to be needed for Scheffler. He cant leave himself six or seven back with nine holes to play. Hes going to have to eat into that lead, try and get within three at the turn.What Jackson Koivun showed in the warm-up to seriously impress ImmelmanOf course, Scottie Schefflers performance has been completely overshadowed so far by the remarkable display from Jackson Koivun.His 61 on Saturday has left the 21-year-old three shots clear with 18 holes to play on only his third professional start.Like Scheffler, it was during Koivuns back nine that he was really able to steal the show. The youngster made four birdies and two eagles to take control of the tournament.Photo by David Berding/Getty ImagesAnd Immelman explained that he was not at all surprised by Koivuns game after getting the opportunity to speak with him just before his third round began.Just about everything impressed me about this young man, starting with his demeanour in the warm-up today. I went down and spoke to him and hung out with him for a little while. He was so cool and calm and collected, and had great conversation, a great back and forth with me, so immediately I could tell that he wasnt too wound up. He was feeling good about himself and his game, he said.My goodness, did he turn it on on that second side. In fact, the last 10 holes, he was nine under with two eagles. It was just so much fun for us to be a part of up here and call that action. Really, really looking forward to seeing how he reacts and finishes off tomorrow.It would be incredibly impressive if Koivun was able to get across the line and secure his first PGA Tour victory on Sunday evening, particularly with Scheffler in the field.However, it is surely safe to say that whatever happens in the final round, Koivun has already made a real statement that he is here to stay.