Update, 7:35 pm ET, July 26, 2024 by FR

The athletes have made their way into the massive stadium, the torch lit, and the Summer Olympics are underway.

On Saturday, the first medals will be awarded in shooting, as has been the case at every summer Olympic Games since Munich 1972; in Paris it will be awarded in the mixed team 10m air rifle event at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre.

There are a total of 14 medal events on the first full day of competition, including the conclusion of the men's rugby sevens tournament which began on Day -2. Surfing is due to begin (7am local, 7pm in Paris).

Shortly after the shooting medals are awarded, the conclusion of the women's synchronised 3 meter springboard competition takes place.

Other medal events include the preliminary round in Men's volleyball, with Japan meeting Germany in Pool C; Men's basketball Group Phase - Group A, matching Australia vs. Spain and in Group B, as Germany faces Japan; Swimming heats in Women's 100 meter Butterfly and 400 meter Freestyle and Men's 100 meter Breaststroke and 400 meter Freestyle.

There are also early matches in Tennis at Roland Garros, Fencing, Rowing, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Handball, Water Polo, and much more inlcuding a full slate of preliminary football matches and a series of Rugby Sevens matches concluding with the Gold Medal Match late in the evening.

Full shedule here.

Zander Schauffele Wins Open Championship

Update, 2:05 pm ET, July 21, 2024 by FR

Zander Schauffele stormed home with a 6-under final round of 65 to capture the Open Championship at Royal Troon by two strokes over third round leader, Billy Horschel, and Justin Rose, who finished tied for second place.

Horschel, who led after 54 holes at -4, had troubles much of the day, but rallied with birdies on the final three holes. Manwhile, Schauffele was distancing himself with four birdies on the back nine which gave him a three stroke lead heding into the final holes.

After winning the PGA championship a month ago, Schauffele has established himself as a champion performer, now claiming the coveted Claret Jug as "Champion Golfer of the Year."

Scheuffele's 65 was not only the best round of the day, but the best of the tournament. His six birdies on the day included four on the back nine, with birds on 11, 13, 14, and 16.

Here is the complete Top 10 (and ties) from Royal Troon:
Zander Schauffele, -9
Justin Rose, -7
Billy Horschel, -7
Thriston Lawrence, -6
Russell Henly, -5
Shane Lowry, -4
Jon Rahm, -1
Sungjae Im, -1
Scottie Scheffler, -1
Matthew Jordan, even
Adam Scott, even
Daniel Brown, even

Now, it's on to Paris for the Summer Olympics, where Schauffele will compete as the reigning Gold Medalist.

The Open Championship Preview

Update, 3:15 pm ET, July 17, 2024 by FR

The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the four majors recognized by the PGA. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. Later the venue rotated between a select group of coastal links golf courses in the United Kingdom. It is organized by The R&A, aka, The Royal & Ancient.

Other than the Open, the other majors are the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Since the PGA Championship moved to May in 2019, the Open has been chronologically the fourth and final major tournament of the year, held annually in mid-July.

It is called "The Open Championship" because it is in theory open to all professional and amateur golfers. In practice, it is a professional tournament in which a small number of the world's leading amateurs also play, by invitation or qualification.

The winner is named "Champion Golfer of the Year", a title that dates to the first Open in 1860, and receives the Claret Jug, a trophy first awarded in 1872. The reigning champion is American Brian Harman, who won the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club with a score of 271.

This year's Open field includes champions of the three other majors. Scottie Scheffler, winner of the 2024 Masters, is likely to be the favorite going into play on Thursday. Xander Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship at Kentucky's Valhalla Golf Club will be vying for a victory in Scotland, as will Bryson DeChambeau, the excellent ball striker and strategist who won the U.S. Open at Pinehurt in North Carolina just a month ago.

The Open Championship will be played on the links at Royal Troon, in Scotland. The 152nd Open will mark the 10th time the event has been played at Royal Troon, the last being 2016. Established in 1878 on the Western coast of Scotland, the original five holes has expanded to 45, 18 of which comprise the Old Course, upon which the Open is held, with par set at 71. The course is a links style course of mostly flattish land punctuated by pothole bunkers and high grasses on the periphery of most fairways. It is 7,175 yards in length.

The Old Course consists of 11 par 4s, four par 3s, and three par 5s, the longest of which are the 555-yard 4th, known as Dunure, named for the village overlooking the hole and the ocean, and the 6th, called Turnberry, at 601 yards, rated the second hardest hole on the course. The shortest is the par 3 8th hole, known as Postage Stamp, a mere 123 yards. Numbers 6 and 8 are the longest and shortest holes in Open Championship play.

The front nine is par 36 out, while the back nine is 35 in. Coming in, the final four holes at Royal Troon are an extreme challenge, beginning with the par 4, 502-yard 15th, named "Crosbie" after a small, ancient fortification nearby. It is the third-hardest hole on the course.

The 16th is the par 5, 553-yard "Well", the last good chance to make up a stroke or two, because the 218-yard par 3 17th is the most difficult of the par 3s, followed by the challenging par 4 18th, 464 yards in length, where an overshoot of the green may end up on the path at the rear of the green, out of bounds.

The most difficult hole on the course is the 11th, a fairly straight 483-yard par 4 known as "The Railway", named for the railway line which runs alongside the hole.

The Royal Troon website is an excellent resource complete with history, hole design and other features by which one can familiarize oneself with a great golf course and club.

Some of the other notable players competing for the Claret Jug this year include Rory McIroy of Ireland, Sweden's Ludwig Aberg and Henrik Stenson, Aussie Jason Day, England's Tommy Fleetwood, Terrell Hatton, and Matt Fitzpatrick, and Spain's Jon Rahm.

Americans Akshay Bhatia, Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlany, Wyndham Clark, Harris English, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, 2023 champion, Brian Harmon, Max Home, Billy Horschel, Dustin Johnson, Colin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, Tiger Woods, Will Zalatoris, and Cameron Young.

Official website is www.theopen.com

TV Coverage in the U.S. will be carried live on USA Network, Peacock, and NBC.

Same Old All-Star Story: NL Bats Useless Against AL Hurlers in 5-3 Loss

Update: 7/17/24 9:15 am ET, by FR

The American League roared back from a 3-0 deficit for a 5-3 win the the 2024 All-Star Game Tuesday night in Texas. As usual, National League batters failed to push across any runs other than Shohei Otani's three-run, third-inning homer, stranding six, a pathetic 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

NL throwers, Logan Webb, of the San Francisco Giants, and Cincinnati's Hunter Greene allowed all five AL runs. The Yankees' Juan Soto got the AL party started in the third, doubling to center off Webb, plating two. Cleveland cather, David Fry, drove in Soto with a scratch single, tying the game after three.

The rest of the damage came in the fifth, off the bat of Red Sox outfielder, Jarren Duran, in for New York's Aaron Judge, with a two-run homer off Greene, completing the scoring for the game.

The National League failed to rally, as has been the case in recent All-Star games. The American League has now won 10 of the last 11.

2024 MLB All-Star Game Preview, Starting Lineups, Reserves

Update: 7/16/24 3:10 pm ET, by FR

The Annual "Mid-Summer Classic" All-Star game between the best of the rival baseball leagues is set for Tuesday night, July 16, at Globe Life Field in Arlington Texas, home of the reigning world champion Texas Rangers.

FOX will air the contest beginning at 8:00 pm ET. After player introductions and the National Anthem, the first pitch will probably commence around 8:35, though, being that FOX is the network, it could be any time.

Starting pitcher for the American League is Baltimore's right-hander, Corbin Burnes, who enters the game with a 9-4 record, 2.43 ERA, 110 Ks, and WHIP of 1.04 in 118.2 innings. Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates will start on the mound for the National League. Skenes is 6-0, with a 1.90 ERA, 89 Ks, and a 0.92 WHIP in just 66.1 innings.

This is the 94th All-Star game, the first played in 1933 at Chicago's Comiskey Park. The American League (AL) leads the series with a 47-44-2 (.516) record. Since 1988, the AL has dominated, going 27-7-1, though the National League won last year's game at Seattle's Petco Park, 3-2, ending a streak of nine straight AL victories.

TAKE THE IDLEGUY.COM ALL-STAR GAME QUIZ

All-Star Game starting lineups

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Starting pitcher: Paul Skenes, Pirates

Starting Lineup:
1. 2B Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks
2. DH Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
3. SS Trea Turner, Phillies
4. 1B Bryce Harper, Phillies
5. C William Contreras, Brewers
6. RF Christian Yelich, Brewers
7. 3B Alec Bohm, Phillies
8. CF Tesocar Hernandez, Dodgers
9. LF Jurickson Profar, Padres

Starters
C: William Contreras (MIL)
1B: Bryce Harper (PHI)
2B: Ketel Marte (AZ)
3B: Alec Bohm (PHI)
SS: Trea Turner (PHI)
OF: Christian Yelich (MIL)
OF: Jurickson Profar (SD)
OF Teoscar Hernandez (LAD)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAD)

Reserves
C: Will Smith (LAD)
INF: CJ Abrams (WSH)
INF: Pete Alonso (NYM)
INF: Luis Arraez (SD)
INF: Mookie Betts (LAD)
INF: Elly De La Cruz (CIN)
INF: Freddie Freeman (LAD)
INF: Ryan McMahon (COL)
OF: Teoscar Hernandez (LAD)
OF: Jackson Merrill (SD)
OF: Heliot Ramos (SF)
OF: Bryan Reynolds (PIT)
DH: Marcell Ozuna (ATL)

Starting pitchers
LHP: Max Fried (ATL)
RHP: Hunter Greene (CIN)
LHP: Shota Imanaga (CHC)
RHP: Reynaldo Lopez (ATL)
LHP: Cristopher Sanchez (PHI)
RHP: Paul Skenes (PIT)
RHP: Logan Webb (SF)

Relief pitchers
RHP: Jeff Hoffman (PHI)
LHP: Tanner Scott (MIA)
LHP: Matt Strahm (PHI)
RHP: Robert Suarez (SD)
RHP: Kyle Finnegan (WSH)

Unavailable:
OF: Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)
RHP: Tyler Glasnow (LAD)
RHP: Ryan Helsley (STL)
LHP: Chris Sale (ATL)
LHP: Ranger Suarez (PHI)
RHP: Zack Wheeler (PHI)

American League

Starting pitcher: Corbin Burnes, Orioles

Starting Lineup:
1. LF Steven Kwan, Guardians
2. SS Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
3. RF Juan Soto, Yankees
4. CF Aaron Judge, Yankees
5. DH Yordan Alvarez, Astros
6. 3B Jose Ramirez, Guardians
7. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
8. C Adley Rutschman, Orioles
9. 2B Marcus Semien, Rangers

Starters
C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
2B: Marcus Semien (TEX)
3B: Jose Ramirez (CLE)
SS: Gunnar Henderson (BAL)
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)
OF: Juan Soto (NYY)
OF: Steven Kwan (CLE)
DH: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)

Reserves
C: Salvador Perez (KC)
INF: Josh Naylor (CLE)
INF: Isaac Paredes (TB)
INF: Willi Castro (MIN)
INF: Corey Seager (TEX)
INF: Jordan Westburg (BAL)
INF: Bobby Witt Jr. (KC)
OF: Jarren Duran (BOS)
OF: Riley Greene (DET)
OF: Anthony Santander (BAL)
DH: David Fry (CLE)

Starting pitchers
LHP: Tyler Anderson (LAA)
RHP: Corbin Burnes (BAL)
LHP: Garrett Crochet (CWS)
RHP: Tanner Houck (BOS)
RHP: Seth Lugo (KC)
LHP: Cole Ragans (KC)
LHP: Tarik Skubal (DET)

Relief pitchers
RHP: Emmanuel Clase (CLE)
RHP: Clay Holmes (NYY)
RHP: Andres Munoz (SEA)
RHP: Mason Miller (OAK)
RHP: Kirby Yates (TEX)

Unavailable
INF: Jose Altuve (HOU)
INF: Carlos Correa (MIN)
INF: Rafael Devers (BOS)
RHP: Logan Gilbert (SEA)
OF: Kyle Tucker (HOU)

Wimbledon Finals: Alcaraz Takes Final over Djokovic in Straight Sets

Update: 7/15/24 9:50 am ET, by FR

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novac Djokovic of Serbia for a second straight year at the Wimbledon Men's Championship, this time in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6, winning the final set in a tie-breaker.

Unlike last year's championship, which went five sets, Alcaraz was in nearly-complete control throughout, taking the first two sets handily before stumbling slightly as Djokovic ralied to tie the third set at 6-6.

Alcaraz refused to let the match get away from him, closing out Djokovic, 7-4, in the tie-breaker.

At 21, Alcaraz is now 4-0 in major finals, winning Wimbledon twice, the U.S. Open in 2022, and the French Open in June. Djokovic, 37, is nearing the end of a dominant career.

Wimbledon Finals: Barbora Krejcikova defeats Jasmine Paolini, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; Men's Final Sunday: Alcaraz v. Djokovic

Update: 7/13/24 11:50 am ET, by FR

Czech Barbora Krejcikova, seeded #31, defeated #7 Jasmine Paolini in three sets to claim the Ladies' Championship at Wimbledon. Read More

On Sunday, it's the Gentlemen's Final, with Spain's Carlos Alcaraz looking to repeat as champion. For 21-year-old Alcaraz, this will be his fourth major final after defeating Daniil Medvedev in the semis after dropping the first set tiebreaker, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Alvarez will meet veteran Novac Djokovic, whom he defeated last year, for the second straight final between the two. Djokovic, 37, is chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam and a record-tying eighth Wimbledon title, but Alvarez has proven a worthy opponent.

Djokovic advanced by defeating No. 25 seed Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets in the other semi-final.

The two have met five times in the past, with Djokovic leading, 3-2.

The match is scheduled to begin shortly after 8:00 pm London time, 3:00 pm Eastern in the USA.

Wimbledon Championships

There are four major events in the month of July: The tennis Championships at Wimbledon (July 1-14), The Open Championship (July 19-21) for the world's best golfers, held this year at Royal Troon in South Ayrshire, Scotland, the MLB All-Star Game (July 16), and the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad which are to be held in Paris from July 26 through August 11.

Attention is directed to the lawns of Wimbledon, where the annual tennis championships will be contested.

The Championships at Wimbledon is the world's oldest tennis tournament and is widely regarded as the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, since 1877 and is played on outdoor grass courts, with retractable roofs over the two main courts since 2019. The tournament is part of tennis' Grand Slam major events, along with the Australian Open, French Open, and U.S. Open.

The most recent singles champions are Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated four-time defending champion Novak Djokovic, in five sets, 1-6, 7-6(8-6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, and the women's champion, Maketa Vondrousova, winner in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, over Ons Jabeur.

Alcaraz has won three major titles (2022 US Open, 2023 Wimbledon, and 2024 French Open) and is expected to fare well at this year's tournament. He is the current second choice of handicappers, having recently won the French Open and he holds a 17-3 record on grass courts.

Along with last year's champion, other standouts include Djokovic, seeking to avenge last year's finals defeat, top-ranked Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev,and Daniil Medvedev of Russia.

Sinner is currently the choice at odds of just under 2-1. The Italian was taken out in the semi-final last year by Djokovic in straight sets. Earlier this year, he won the Australian Open, defeating Medvedev in a five-set final after ousting Djokovic in the semis.

Vondrousova won her first major singles title and her first title overall in six years, and was the first unseeded female to ever win the singles championship.

Unlike the men's draw, which includes last year's champion and all quarter-finalists, the women's draw is more wide open. Vondrousova, whose victory in 2023 was considered something of a fluke, is not among the favorites, seeded sixth.

IRA Swiatek is the #1 seed on the ladies' side. The 23-year-old from Poland won Wimbledon in 2019 and has won four French Opens, including the last three. She also won the 2022 U.S. Open and was ousted in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year.

Ranked second is American Coco Gauff, who won last year's U.S. Open, but was ousted in the first round at Wimbledon last year and has never made it past the fourth round.

The current favorite in betting pools is #3-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian who won the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open, reached the semi-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2023 and was runner-up at last year's U.S. Open.

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan is ranked #4, and is another strong contender. Winner at Wimbledon in 2022, she recently reached the quarter-final at the French Open and is seeking her second Grand Slam title.

Gentlemens' Singles Draw

Ladies' Singles Draw

The Open Championship

Known in America as the Briish Open, the Open Championship is the world's oldest golf tournament, attracting players from around the world to compete for Golfer of the Year honors.

BASEBALL UPDATE

Now on page 7a, Sports Extra.