It has taken five long, hard years - but finally, Tiger Woods is back in the winners' enclosure. Last night the 14-time Major winner held his nerve to shoot a one over par round of 71 and finish two shots clear of Billy Horschel in the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake. Victory - the first since he won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in 2013 - completes the 42-year-old's improbable comeback from a back injury and spinal fusion surgery in 2017. Philip Reid writes: "Woods's win was reminiscent of his old self: dominant, front-running and in control of every facet of his game. It was the 24th time of his storied career that Woods carried a lead of three strokes or greater into the final round and the 24th time that he converted the advantage into a victory." Woods had flirted with FedEx cup glory to add to his tournament success in Atlanta, however world number one Justin Rose held his nerve to birdie the 18th and finish tied for fourth place overall, securing the title for himself. Rory McIlroy meanwhile, who teed off with Tiger in the day's final pairing, failed to mount any sort of challenge - he signed for a heavily disappointing round of 74, leaving him tied for seventh place.
Chelsea's 100 per cent start to their Premier League season came to an end yesterday as they were held to a goalless draw by a resurgent West Ham at the London Stadium. Maurizio Sarri's side dominated proceedings but were ultimately lucky to leave Stratford with a point - Andriy Yarmolenko heading wide to miss a golden late opportunity to give his side all three points. Meanwhile Arsenal chalked up their fourth consecutive league victory as they beat Everton 2-0 at the Emirates - Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both on target in the second half against Marco Silva's profligate Toffees.
Elsewhere in his column this morning Ken Early has suggested Manchester City supporters should embrace the Champions League if their side are ever to break their duck in Europe's blue-riband competition. There were thousands of empty seats at the Etihad for last week's 2-1 defeat to Lyon, and Early argues the apathy on the terraces could have filtered down onto the pitch, he writes: "City fans might resent Uefa's top competition but as far as Guardiola is concerned this is the only one he really cares about. If the City supporters would like him to stick around they might want to start acting as though they care about it too."
Leinster's 31-7 bonus-pointwin over Edinburgh on Saturday saw the province continue their fine start to the season - but now the attentions of the defending Pro14 champions turn to next weekend, and earning revenge over Connacht in the season's first round of inter-pros. The men from the west thrashed Leinster 47-10 in April, with outgoing skipper and backrow John Muldoon taking a late conversion - something that still grates on Ireland prop Cian Healy: "No. Leave it to the kickers. I suppose, on a personal note that was nice for him to finish off his career. But it is something you have to take a bit of offence to when you're not taken seriously."
