(Reuters) – Masters champion Scottie Scheffler said on Tuesday a key reason behind the remarkable success he has enjoyed over the last 13 months on the PGA Tour is a support team that helps him shut out the background noise and focus on golf.

Scheffler transformed into a bona fide PGA Tour star from a player on the rise while winning four times in 2022 and he has already triumphed twice this year, including in his most recent start at The Players Championship.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his title defence at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play event in Austin, Texas, world number one Scheffler was asked if there was a secret to success on the PGA Tour.

“If there was a secret, you would have seen a lot more guys do it than just Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus,” Scheffler said at Austin Country Club where play begins on Wednesday.

“It’s a tough question. It’s different for everybody. I think I’ve developed a good recipe for good golf out here and that will be something that I’m going to try to not change in the future.”

Scheffler has so far managed to remain unaffected by the greater expectations that come with the territory of being a major champion and already has six top-10 finishes in nine events this season.

The 26-year-old American has had the same coach since he was around seven-years-old, the same trainer from when he was in high school and has known his manager “my whole life” and feels that consistency has a positive impact on his game.

“I have a great team of people around me that help keep me grounded and help me be able to go out here and do my best and not think about all the other stuff. I can go out here and focus on golf and just go out and play,” said Scheffler.

“And so I have a great team around me that’s helping me do that and just going to kind of stick to the programme that we’ve been doing for years and go from there.”

The reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year is the top seed at this week’s match play event and is in a group with Tom Kim, Alex Noren and Davis Riley. Winners from the 16 groups advance to the knockout stages.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

PARIS (Reuters) -Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has been named France captain to succeed Hugo Lloris, the French football federation (FFF) said on Monday.

French sports daily L’Equipe reported that Mbappe had accepted the captaincy after speaking with coach Didier Deschamps.

“Didier Deschamps has named Kylian Mbappe the new captain of Les Bleus. Antoine Griezmann if the vice-captain,” the FFF said on Twitter.

“Kylian meets all the requirements to have this responsibility. On the field as in the life of the group, by being a unifying element,” French TV channel TF1 quoted Deschamps as saying in an interview to be aired on Sunday.

Mbappe, 24, had been touted as one of the candidates for the role since goalkeeper Lloris retired from international football in January, weeks after leading France to a second straight World Cup final, where they were beaten by Argentina.

Mbappe has been capped 66 times and played a key role in their successful 2018 World Cup campaign as well as their runners-up finish in 2022.

France take on the Netherlands at the Stade de France in their first Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday, before travelling to Ireland next Monday.

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru and Julien Pretot in Paris; Editing by Peter Rutherford and Christian Radnedge)

By Philip O’Connor

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden welcomed back Zlatan Ibrahimovic from a knee injury on Tuesday ahead of their opening European Championship qualifier, with the record international goal-scorer cheekily declaring himself the past, present and future of the side.

The 41-year-old recently returned from a 14-month injury layoff and scored a penalty for AC Milan against Udinese to become the oldest player ever to score in Italy’s Serie A. He is now setting his sights on the opening Euro qualifier with Belgium on Friday in Stockholm.

Asked whether he intended to take his side all the way to the finals in Germany next year, Ibra gave a tongue-in-cheek response reminiscent of his more bombastic younger self.

“If I feel good and I’m selected by the coach, I will help him, the team and the country to do my best. So I think at my age you cannot think future, you think present – even if I am the past, present and the future,” he said with a wry smile.

The striker, who is Sweden’s top scorer with 62 goals in 121 games but without an international goal since November 2015, revealed that he had undergone three knee operations in the last 14 months.

“Basically, my knee was swollen for eight, nine months, but then suddenly, one month ago, something happened and then everything became positive, and I got energy from it,” he explained at a media conference.

“From there, we could work more and more, so from standing still for eight months, suddenly I could move normally, and then from normal I tried to play the game, and it become good, and from there I step it up.”

Last Saturday, Ibrahimovic captained AC Milan against Udinese in his first start since the injury, and though his penalty represented another milestone in his glittering career, his joy was tempered by the fact that the game finished 1-1.

“I had the honour to be the captain for my team and I didn’t win the game, so the outcome could have been better if I won the game, but I didn’t,” he said, but he showed he was glad to be back playing football at the highest level again.

“That is important to me, because I’m not here for charity … I’m here to play my game, to provide and bring results through my performance. Hopefully I can continue to do that, but at the same time feeling healthy,” he said.

(Reporting by Philip O’Connor; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

PARIS (Reuters) -Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has been named France captain to succeed Hugo Lloris, French media reported on Monday.

French sports daily L’Equipe reported that Mbappe had accepted the captaincy after speaking with coach Didier Deschamps.

“Kylian Mbappe is the new captain of Les Bleus. Antoine Griezmann is the vice-captain,” French TV channel TF1 quoted Deschamps as saying in an interview to be aired on Sunday.

“Kylian meets all the requirements to have this responsibility. On the field as in the life of the group, by being a unifying element.”

Mbappe, 24, had been touted as one of the candidates for the role since goalkeeper Lloris retired from international football in January, weeks after leading France to a second straight World Cup final, where they were beaten by Argentina.

Mbappe has been capped 66 times and played a key role in their successful 2018 World Cup campaign as well as their runners-up finish in 2022.

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru and Julien Pretot in Paris; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

(Reuters) – Refereeing bodies have told Premier League and English Football League match officials to pause play so players can break their fast during the holy period of Ramadan, Sky Sports reported on Tuesday.

Match officials have been issued guidance so players can break their fast by taking on liquids, energy gels or supplements on the touchline during a pause in play. Ramadan begins on Wednesday and lasts a month.

Referees have also been encouraged to identify players who are fasting prior to kickoff and agree an estimated time for the pause in play.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez are among players who are expected to abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours.

In 2021, a match between Leicester City and Crystal Palace was halted by referee Graham Scott after half an hour so Wesley Fofana and Cheikhou Kouyate could break their fast after sunset.

(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

(Reuters) – Premier League leaders Arsenal will provide the opposition for the Major League Soccer All-Stars who will be managed by D.C. United head coach Wayne Rooney at the mid-season showcase, MLS said on Tuesday.

It will mark the second appearance in the All-Star game for Arsenal, who could arrive at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field for the July 19 match as newly minted Premier League champions.

The north London club tightened their grip on the top of the standings after they moved eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City with a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

“It’s great that we’re playing against the MLS All-Stars in Washington D.C. in July,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said in a statement. “Our U.S. tour last summer was very good preparation for the season.

“The match against the MLS All-Stars will be a good test ahead of the 2023/24 season.”

For Rooney the All-Star game will be his third.

The former-England forward was on the MLS All-Star squad that faced Atletico Madrid in 2019 and played against the MLS best in 2011 as a member of Manchester United.

“I’ve had a front row seat to watch the growth and development of Major League Soccer, first as a player and now as a manager,” said Rooney.

“The opportunity to lead the best our league has to offer against a top Premier League club like Arsenal will be a highlight for me personally and an unforgettable experience for our passionate fanbase here in DC.”

(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

BERLIN (Reuters) – Paris 2024 Olympic torchbearers may not all get to keep their torches as a cherished memento of the Games because organisers plan to cut down on the number made in the name of sustainability, a source told Reuters.

It is still unclear how many torches, which usually burn a mixture of gases, will be produced for the thousands of runners who will take part in next year’s relay ahead of the July 26-Aug. 11 summer Olympics.

But organisers are planning changes to the traditional months-long relay across the host nation to make it more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

There will also be far fewer torches than the several thousand usually produced for an Olympic relay by host cities, the source close to the torch lighting and relay planning process told Reuters.

Olympic Games torch bearers, who run a few hundred metres each with their torch before using it to ignite the torch of the next runner, can usually buy the torch as a souvenir of their participation.

“The organisers are planning not to use individual torches for each of the runners,” the source said. “They are planning to produce fewer and the reasons cited are sustainability concerns.”

The relay in the host country starts after the torch-lighting ceremony in Greece’s Olympia, the site of the ancient Games.

No dates have been announced for the torch-lighting ceremony in Greece and the start of the relay in April 2024 in France after the flame arrives in the southern port of Marseille.

Paris organisers told Reuters there would still be the traditional passing of the flame from one torch to the next between runners in a more environmentally friendly model of the relay.

“With a view to reducing our environmental impact we are thinking of another model so that everyone can keep a souvenir of this unique moment and share it with their entourage and the greatest number of people,” a Paris 2024 official told Reuters.

Organisers did not comment on the number of torches to be produced, saying it was still “a work in progress.”

The Tokyo Games relay in 2021 used some 10,000 torch bearers. More than 12,000 ran with the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic flame, while the London 2012 summer Olympics had more than 8,000 torch bearers.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann and Julien Pretot; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

(Reuters) – Women’s world number one Iga Swiatek has agreed a deal with Swiss sportswear brand On and will don their gear starting from this week’s Miami Open.

Reigning French and U.S. Open champion Swiatek from Poland becomes the first female tennis player to join the elite roster of On, which has Swiss great Roger Federer on board as a co-entrepreneur.

“It has been very inspirational for me to develop my ideas and needs with them, working on my current and future gear. On’s core values are what connects me with the company,” three-times Grand Slam Swiatek said in a statement.

On, which also signed rising American player Ben Shelton, did not disclose financial details of the deals.

Federer said the company was delighted to work with Swiatek and men’s world number 39 Shelton, who reached the quarter-final of the Australian Open in January.

“Iga and Ben represent the next generation of world class talent,” 20-times major champion Federer said. “Both demonstrate On’s competitive spirit and embody current and future champions of the sport.

“We’re pleased to welcome them to the On family.”

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

(Reuters) – Norway striker Erling Haaland will miss their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Spain and Georgia after picking up a groin injury in Manchester City’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Burnley, the Norwegian Football Federation said on Tuesday.

Haaland, who has 21 goals in 23 appearances for Norway, has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 42 goals for City since arriving from Borussia Dortmund last June.

“After doing tests and examinations yesterday, it became clear that he will not make the matches against Spain and Georgia,” national team doctor Ola Sand said. “It is better that he then gets medical follow-up in the club.”

Norway are in Group A along with Cyprus, Georgia, Scotland and Spain. They play Spain in Malaga on Saturday before travelling to face Georgia on Tuesday.

“Erling took it hard when he realised that he could not play for the team,” national team coach Stale Solbakken said. “Fortunately, there is still plenty of confidence, talent and unity in this group to win points in the next games.”

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Carter Verhaeghe scored two goals to lead the Florida Panthers to a 5-2 road win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.

Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists, Gustav Forsling and Eric Staal each scored and Sam Bennett had two assists for Florida, which has won three straight.

Aleksander Barkov also added an assist, tallying his 614th point with the Panthers to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He broke the mark set by longtime teammate Jonathan Huberdeau, who is now with the Calgary Flames.

Pius Suter and Dylan Larkin scored for Detroit, which has lost three straight.

Senators 2, Penguins 1

Goaltender Dylan Ferguson made 48 saves in his first NHL start and Drake Batherson scored a power-play goal with 2:09 left in regulation to give visiting Ottawa a win over Pittsburgh.

From the top of the crease, Batherson fended off Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin and swatted the puck inside the left post for the winner. Thomas Chabot also scored for the Senators, who snapped a five-game losing streak (0-4-1).

Rickard Rakell scored for the Penguins, who have lost four in a row. Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry made 19 saves.

Oilers 5, Sharks 4 (OT)

Darnell Nurse scored with 15 seconds remaining in overtime to give Edmonton a wild win over visiting San Jose, the Oilers’ fourth consecutive victory.

Mattias Ekholm had two goals and Kailer Yamamoto had a goal and assist for Edmonton. Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid each had two assists, and Nick Bjugstad scored the Oilers’ other goal. Jack Campbell stopped 28 of 32 shots for the win.

James Reimer made 46 saves for the Sharks, who are on a seven-game losing streak (0-4-3). Erik Karlsson had two goals, Alexander Barabanov had a goal and an assist, and Steven Lorentz scored San Jose’s other goal.

Avalanche 5, Blackhawks 0

Denis Malgin had two goals and an assist, Alexandar Georgiev turned away 27 shots for his fifth shutout of the season and Colorado beat Chicago in Denver.

Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist and Logan O’Connor and Kurtis MacDermid also scored goals. Georgiev notched the 13th shutout of his career to help Colorado win its sixth straight.

Alex Stalock made 27 saves for the Blackhawks, who have lost two in a row.

Kings 8, Flames 2

Adrian Kempe had two goals and an assist for Los Angeles in a win against visiting Calgary.

Carl Grundstrom scored two goals and Viktor Arvidsson, Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson each had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who are 8-0-2 in their past 10 games. Los Angeles’ Gabriel Vilardi also scored, and Anze Kopitar, Quinton Byfield and Rasmus Kupari logged two assists apiece.

Tyler Toffoli and Noah Hanifin scored, and Jacob Markstrom stopped 20 of 26 shots for Calgary before he was replaced after two periods. Dan Vladar came in and finished with 11 saves for the Flames, who are 1-1-2 in their past four games.

–Field Level Media