Justin Rose lies 81st on the Order of Merit. Photograph: Robert Galbraith/Reuters
Justin Rose’s hopes of making a better job of his Volvo Masters defence than his Order of Merit defence lay in tatters today after an opening nine-over-par 80 at Valderrama.
Playing on his own at the start of the 57-strong field - he qualified not [...]

Evander Holyfield, pictured during victory over Jeremy Bates in August 2006. Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP
Evander Holyfield is in talks for a contest that could see him become the oldest ever WBA heavyweight champion. If matters are agreed he would fight the current champion, Russia’s Nikolay Valuev.
“Yes, we are in negotiations with Evander Holyfield. We have [...]

Former grand prix driver Giorgio Pantano secured the GP2 drivers’ title at his home race. Photograph: Alastair Staley/GP2 Media Service.
Giorgio Pantano was crowned 2008 champion of GP2, the feeder series to formula one, despite failing to take a victory from the weekend’s final two races at Monza.
Pantano, who has scored four wins for the Racing [...]

Roger Federer’s victory over Marc Gicquel sets up a fourth round tie with former champion Lleyton Hewitt. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images
Every hero becomes a bore at last, observed Emerson - not Roy, who won 12 grand slam titles, including two Wimbledons, but Ralph Waldo, who was probably a duffer at tennis but understood a thing [...]