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Liverpool were denied an equaliser in the first half of their meeting with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in a decision that proved contentious.

The hosts went a goal ahead through Erling Haaland, having missed a penalty earlier in the half, but the Reds thought they’d got one back just under 10 minutes later when Virgil van Dijk nodded home a Mohamed Salah corner.

It wasn’t to be, however, with the fourth official quickly declaring offside and chalking the goal off, a decision both referee Chris Kavanagh and VAR agreed with.

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Left-back Andy Robertson was the offending party, who had been left in the six-yard box as the City backline pushed up.

“I think it’s really harsh”Micah Richards and Roy Keane share their thoughts on the disallowed Liverpool goal pic.twitter.com/MqIah11v1uNovember 9, 2025

However, according to the rulebook, a player is offside, even if they don’t touch the ball, when interfering with an opponent.

One such example outlined in the laws states a player cannot make “an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball”.

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While Robertson didn’t touch the ball or impede Donnarumma physically, and made every effort to get out of the way, he ducked late.

The Scotland international’s mere presence in the flight path of the ball could have created a flicker of doubt in the City gloveman’s mind about whether to dive, or hold his position to anticipate an extra touch from Robertson.

As he’s in an offside position, such an action is against the rules and the goal, therefore, cannot stand – the reasoning later confirmed by the Premier League Match Centre on X.

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Van Dijk’s disallowed goal could have changed the course of the game had it stood (Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite the officials’ justified thinking, it was still a controversial decision, as subjective offsides often are.

“No, I wouldn’t agree with that, I think it’s harsh,” pundit and former City player Micah Richards told Sky Sports. “I think the goalkeeper can see it all the way.”

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, while Donnarumma doesn’t look like he’s reaching the header with Robertson there or not, it’s difficult to quantify whether Robertson’s presence delayed his move over to his left, and what impact that may have had on the save.

It’s a tight call, but the officials were probably right on balance.

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Bully Ray believes Alexa Bliss has played a huge part in changing how fans feel about Charlotte Flair.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Bully Ray said Alexa Bliss helped improve Charlotteâ€s image among fans. He said, “Charlotte has got the rub from Alexa when it comes to how the fans perceive Charlotte.â€

“Whether we feel a certain way about Charlotte and her being synonymous with gold or not. The fanbase was tired of Charlotte being in the title scene. So tired that the whole program with Tiffany did not work. Now they get Charlotte out of a picture and put her with a beloved Alexa Bliss, and all of a sudden. How does an audience go from ‘we hate you†to ‘wow we really like youâ€. That basically happened over night.â€

Bully Ray said WWE fans†love for Alexa Bliss carried over to Charlotte because of Alexaâ€s popularity and her emotional connection to the late Bray Wyatt. “Itâ€s because since we love Alexa so much, and because Alexa was involved with Bray, and Bray is no longer with us. Since we accept Alexa, and we love Alexa, if Alexa is friends with you, then we like you too.â€

“Something is also going on with Charlotte that hasnâ€t happened with her in a long, long time; sheâ€s having fun. I would keep Charlotte Flair out of the World Championship picture for so long that the people want to see her come back.†[H/T: Wrestletalk]

While, he also suggested WWE should keep Charlotte out of the womenâ€s title scene for a while so her growing fan support can continue to build. Since teaming with Alexa Bliss, Charlotte has been getting some of the loudest cheers of her career.

The two have held the WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team Titles for nearly 90 days and defended them five times. With most recent title defense came against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria on this weekâ€s WWE RAW.

Read More: Alexa Bliss And Lyra Valkyria Have Awkward Wardrobe Malfunction On WWE RAW

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Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have been named by the FBI in two separate indictments. Both have been arrested and put on immediate leave by the NBA. (AP) Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested on Thursday along with over 30 others in New York for their alleged involvement in two separate criminal schemes. The cases involve rigging sports bets and poker games connected to Mafia families, with prosecutors alleging millions in fraudulent gains through sophisticated cheating methods and exploitation of insider NBA information.FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the scale of the fraud. “The fraud is mind boggling. We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multi-year investigation. This is the insider-trading saga for the NBA.”Joseph Nocella, the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York, emphasized the significance of the case. “My message to the defendants who’ve been rounded up today is this: Your winning streak has ended. Your luck has run out.”Who have been arrested and what are the charges?

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups during an NBA game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

The indictments, unsealed in New York, detail two distinct criminal operations that have cast a shadow over the NBA as its season begins. Billups is accused of participating in fixing high-stakes card games across multiple cities, while Rozier faces charges related to manipulating sports bets using insider information about NBA players.Both Billups and Rozier are facing money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy charges. Former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones is also implicated in both schemes.The NBA has placed both Billups and Rozier on leave and issued a statement confirming their cooperation with authorities. “We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

FILE – Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) looks up court during the last seconds of the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File)

Rozier’s lawyer, Jim Trusty, defended his client, stating that Rozier is “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.” Trusty criticised the FBI’s arrest approach, saying they opted for a “photo op” instead of allowing self-surrender.One specific instance cited involved Rozier, while with the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, allegedly informing others of his plan to leave a game early with an injury. This information allowed gamblers to profit significantly from wagers.Despite the scale of the alleged fraud, both athletes had earned substantial legitimate income during their careers. Billups accumulated approximately $106 million over his 17-year career, while Rozier earned about $160 million playing for Boston, Miami, and Charlotte.What is the poker scheme? Which crime families are involved?

This image shows a card shuffler allegedly used by defendants in a sports betting and illegal gambling case brought by the US attorney’s office of the Eastern District of New York. (U.S. Attorney’s Office vis AP)

The poker scheme allegedly defrauded gamblers of at least $7 million by luring them into games with former professional basketball players. The operation utilised sophisticated cheating technology, including altered card-shuffling machines, hidden cameras, and X-ray equipment built into tables.The scheme involved illegal poker games run by New York crime families, with proceeds shared among the Gambino, Genovese, and Bonnano crime families. These organisations allegedly assisted with violent acts to ensure debt repayment and continued operations.Prosecutors are seeking detention for involved Mafia members and ringleaders of the poker scheme. They recommend releasing Billups and Jones with strict bail conditions, including gambling prohibition and travel restrictions.Is this the first such controversy in NBA?

FILE – Milwaukee Bucks’ Damon Jones looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

No. The allegations against Rozier and Billups potentially represent the NBAâ€s most serious blow to its reputation since 2007, when referee Tim Donaghy was found to have bet on games. The timing is also significant, coming during the seasonâ€s opening week and as the league launches new broadcast deals totalling $76 billion over 11 years.The NBA said they will continue to cooperate with authorities.“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and maintaining the integrity of our game is our top priority,†the league said.What is the LeBron James connection?

LeBron James and Damon Jones (Image via Getty)

Ex player Damon Jones, who went on to become an assistant coach, has been accused of exploiting his relationship to “a prominent NBA player†to obtain inside information, which he allegedly sold to professional bettors. Many speculate that the so-called prominent player could be LeBron James, the NBAâ€s all-time leading scorer, but he has not been named in the indictment.

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So far this season, we’ve seen a total of six different MLS teams get their hands on major silverware.

Philadelphia Union claimed the Supporters’ Shield, Nashville won their first-ever trophy after beating Austin in the U.S. Open Cup Final, Vancouver Whitecaps came away with the Canadian Championship, whilst Seattle Sounders secured their maiden Leagues Cup title. However, the most important trophy is still up for grabs: the MLS Cup title.

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Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan walk off the field on the end of the play of third day of the second test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) Day three in Rawalpindi was filled with drama, but one moment at the very end drew attention for its unusual circumstances. On the final delivery, South Africa had dominated proceedings, and Pakistanâ€s Mohammad Rizwan drove a ball from Keshav Maharaj toward cover. With no run attempted, Rizwan casually turned and, in a smooth motion, tapped the base stump with his bat, dislodging the bails. South Africa wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne immediately appealed for hit wicket, convinced Rizwan had broken his stumps. However, the ball was technically still in play—the fielder collecting the shot had not yet returned it to the keeper, and the umpires had not called stumps. Umpire Sharfuddoula at the bowlerâ€s end quickly dismissed the appeal with a smile, supported by square-leg umpire Chris Brown. Reports indicate the South African players were not directly told why the appeal was rejected. While it is unusual for a batter to remove bails with their bat, the Laws of Cricket support Rizwanâ€s action. Law 35.1 specifies that a batter can only be out hit wicket during the bowlerâ€s delivery stride, while attempting a shot or taking a run immediately afterward, or while making a second or further stroke to guard the wicket. Rizwanâ€s action did not meet any of these conditions. South Africa appeared to take the incident in stride. Allrounder Senuran Muthusamy later admitted he was too far from the play to notice exactly what happened, suggesting the team was not particularly aggrieved. By stumps, Pakistan held a narrow 23-run lead with six wickets remaining, keeping South Africaâ€s hopes of leveling the series alive.

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With Warriors guard Moses Moody doubtful for Golden State’s 2025-26 NBA season opener due to a calf strain, when could the fifth-year pro make his debut?

Stanford Medicine orthopedic surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Abrams, MD, provided some expert analysis on what Dub Nation can expect from Moody’s injury — which Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the team isn’t “too concerned” about — as he works his way back to the court.

“If the team is describing it as a minor muscle strain, it’s probably … some microscopic tearing and minor partial tearing,” Abrams told NBC Sports Bay Area on Friday. “The good news about that, obviously, it’s on the lesser severe end of the spectrum, and typical return-to-play timelines are a couple weeks or so for these more minor muscle grade strains.”

Kerr said this past Tuesday, Oct. 14, that Moody would be reevaluated in a week, with the Warriors set to open their new season against the Los Angeles Lakers this Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. A return timeline of a couple weeks, as noted by Abrams, hopefully would put Moody back in Kerr’s rotation by Golden State’s Oct. 28 game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center, their fifth contest of the season.

There are several hurdles Moody will have to clear before that happens, Abrams explained.

“Obviously, the Warriors are a great professional organization and they’ve got top notch medical personnel, so they’re going to run him through the professional protocol and things like that,” Abrams said. “In terms of returning to play, he basically has to be able to participate in full practices 100 percent, and before he even gets to that, he has to demonstrate he’s got strength, range of motion, flexibility of the muscle and be able to do the things that are required for an NBA athlete, of course, before they even throw him into full practices.

“And then, once he’s comfortable with full practices and jumping and running up and down the court, that’s when you start to think about getting back into games. Sometimes … there’s situations where they may limit minutes initially before throwing him back into full pre-injury participation. But that just depends on a variety of different circumstances.”

After entering the Warriors’ starting lineup late last season en route to the NBA playoffs, Moody missed Golden State’s final three preseason contests this month with his calf issue.

As long as the Warriors don’t rush Moody back, Abrams noted, there’s little chance that the calf strain impacts Moody’s play moving forward, and the chance of an Achilles tear, as has been seen in countless NBA stars recently, is minimal.

“Certainly re-injury is also sometimes a possibility, but that’s why you go through the protocol is really to reduce that risk and not put him out there before he’s ready, which I’m sure the staff will do,” Abrams said.

Moody has proven himself as a valuable member of the Warriors’ lineup, and Kerr certainly hopes to have the 23-year-old back sooner rather than later.

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Colt Knost, the former PGA Tour pro turned CBS Golf analyst and radio/podcast host, turned heads earlier this week when he revealed that, after 18 years as a professional golfer, he had applied to regain his amateur status from the United States Golf Association.

Two decades ago, Knost was an elite amateur; in 2007, he joined Bobby Jones and Jay Sigel as the only players to win three USGA titles in the same year. (In Knost’s case, those wins came at the U.S. Amateur Public Links, the U.S. Amateur and, as part of a team effort, the Walker Cup.) For five weeks that year, Knost held the top spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking before making his first start as a professional at the Valero Texas Open.

Knost joined the PGA Tour in 2009 and went on to notch nine top-10 finishes in his career and more than $4 million in earnings. He played his last full-schedule season in 2015-16 and retired from competitive golf following a missed cut at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Two years later, he joined CBS as a full-time analyst.

When Knost, who now is 40, announced his desire to regain his amateur status, he said his decision was partly motivated by wanting to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, but that no one should be under the illusion that his game still packs the punch that it did when he was in peak form. On Wednesday, on Knost’s Sirius XM show, Knost added that he also has dreams of one day captaining a U.S. Walker Cup team, and that being an amateur “would probably help” his chances. None of that rationale, however, is likely to assuage critics of Knost’s (or, for that matter, any other longtime pro’s) move back to amateurism, some of whom have been popping off on social media.

“Total bullsh-t,” John Ziegler, a two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier who hosts The Death of Journalism podcast, wrote on X. “You were a pga tour pro. Now, on a lark you want to take a coveted spot away in a USGA championship from an actual amateur. … You should know better and should be ashamed.”

Should he, though?

The rules permit changes of heart, and Knost is far from the first high-level pro to return to his amateur roots. Gary Nicklaus, Jack’s son, did it in 2007. Dillard Pruitt was another; after a decade-long PGA Tour run in the 1980s and 90s, Pruitt was granted reinstatement and promptly won the Sunnehanna Amateur and Canadian Amateur. John Peterson, a former pro who finished 4th at the 2013 U.S. Open, also has returned to paycheck-less golf. At this year’s U.S. Mid-Am, six of the eight quarterfinalists — including eventual winner Brandon Holtz — were former pros, indicating the top shelf of amateur golf is littered with players who once played for cash.

“We’re seeing more and more kids turn professional and give it a go,” Thomas Pagel, the USGA’s chief governance officer, said on Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio this week. “Therefore we’re seeing more and more applications coming back to us. Once you have success and once you get one of those cards, man, it’s really, really hard to keep it.”

According to the USGA, roughly 800 U.S.-based pros — including not only tour professionals but also the club and teaching variety — annually apply for reinstatement, and virtually all are approved. Which isn’t to say every candidate zooms back to the amateur ranks. Far from it. On Thursday, I spoke with Craig Winter, the USGA’s senior director, Rules of Golf and amateur status, to better understand how the process works.

How do pros apply for amateur reinstatement?

Pros who want their amateur status back need only answer a couple of dozen questions on an application available on the USGA’s website; the application fee is $200.

Among the information candidates must supply are the names of any tours on which they have competed, their results, cuts made and prize money won. The app also asks for “two people who can attest to the accuracy of the information provided.”

“The more somebody puts into an application, the less we have to do research ourselves,” Winter said. “And frankly, the less back and forth there is when the application matches what we see in public records. It’s a simpler process for us.”

Winter said the review process for a player of Knost’s pedigree is more rigorous.

“We’re trying to make sure that our decisions, especially with that type of a player, is as like as it can be to others,” he said. “And so we’re trying to get a full understanding of what the playing record was.”

Who makes up the applicant pool?

Applicants run the gamut from established tour pros to dreamers who never made it to teachers who ply their trade at clubs and driving ranges. Few applicants have had sustained success at a high level, Winter said, but those who have should expect a longer waiting period before they are granted reinstatement.

There’s no precise formula, because how could there be?

“We try to look at players that have that have had success and try to put them kind of in similar buckets,” Winter said. “Like being treated alike is probably the best way to put it.”

Tell us more about these waiting periods!

The minimum waiting period for a pro seeking reinstatement is six months from their last “professional action,” meaning, for example, a tournament start or a paid lesson. But for more decorated tour pros, the “cooling-off” period, as Winter phrased it, can take years.

“The more success you have, the more that you would be asked to wait from whenever your last breach was,” Winter said, referring to breaches of the rules of amateur status (i.e, competing as a pro, accepting a prize that is not permitted or holding a teaching job). “And the weight that we put on that is — it’s hard to just kind of put into words, specifically, but if you’ve played on a major tour and had membership, you’re going to wait quite a bit longer than someone who played mini-tour golf and won cash prizes or prizes above a thousand dollars, the limit in the current rules.

Phil Mickelson calls this golf-etiquette breach a ‘huge problem.’ Is it?

By:

Josh Sens

“We’ve had players that have waited eight years before, and that’s, again, from the date of the last breach. I think what often is a lightning rod for the public out there is when they hear somebody applied and they got reinstated right away. That kind of misses the facts of, well, when was the last time they breached the rules? And it may have been quite some time ago. I think in Colt’s case it’s been quite a while.”

It has, indeed — more than five years since his last start as a pro, meaning when the USGA rules on Knost’s reinstatement, he’s unlikely to have more than another year or two tacked on to his waiting period.

Has a pro ever been denied reinstatement?

No!

At least not as far as Winter can tell.

“We’ve done some looking and never seen anything to that effect in in our museum archives,” he said.

If everyone gets approved, why bother with the review process at all?

Take it away, Mr. Winter!

“Well, we want to have a process by which we can look, compare and ultimately have some system in place [by which], as I mentioned before, like situations are treated alike; we feel there’s value in that. The player coming off the PGA Tour and jumping right back into amateur golf, we don’t feel like that’s the right thing for the amateur game. So there is a waiting period that acts as a cooling off of sorts for players of that caliber, and it does help in in a way protect the amateurs that have been lifelong amateurs.

“And to say that we’ll let everybody in isn’t quite accurate. There would be a lot of players that could apply that would be told no. Those that are close to that edge, they are waiting a long time. Eight years is a long time to not be able to play an amateur golf competition after you ultimately hang up the professional golfing life.”

What would happen if, say, Scottie Scheffler, wanted his amateur status back?

Scheffler falls into what the USGA calls its “national prominence category” — in other words, players of repute. For pros in this class, the governing body’s decision is easy.

“I am very confident that Scottie, should he choose to apply or someone in his situation, he would receive a phone call that would say, ‘Scottie, unfortunately you do fit the national prominence category,’” Winter said. “‘And that means you’re not eligible to get your reinstatement back.’”

Finally..something most golfers can do that Scheffler can’t!

If you watch Rory McIlroy on the range at any tour event, chances are that you’ll see him toting around a little green ball with him — and this week at the DP World India Championship was no different.

Early this week, a video of McIlroy using his trusty training aid, The Connector by Sure Golf, went viral on social media.

While some fans are already familiar with this tool, many are just discovering its benefits. So, let’s break down why this simple device is so effective.

What is it?

The Connector is a foam ball designed to promote proper arm and wrist positioning throughout the golf swing, and you can purchase your own at the link below.

The Connector by Sure Golf

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Roll it Pure…Hit Crisp Chips…Flight your Pitches…Compress your Iron Shots…Launch your Drives…The Connector up-skills all aspects of your games for a radical shift in performance.

Perfect Body-Arm Synchronization

The Connector effortlessly trains the correct arm structure to work in unison with your body. This unified action is the cornerstone of all effective golf swings, laying the groundwork for perfect fundamentals.

Powerful Impact Alignments

The Connector illuminates the path to creating powerful impact alignments, which results in significantly more compression—the key difference often seen between amateur and professional golfers.

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To use it, just place it between your forearms with the alignment rods facing up. As you make a few swings, focus on squeezing the ball just enough to keep it in place. You should quickly feel your upper body, core, and lower body syncing up almost immediately.

How it helps

In the video above, you can see McIlroy rehearsing with this tool, and it seems like he’s focusing on a few key positions in his swing: mid-backswing, top of the swing, and delivery.

With the Connector, he can work on all of these aspects of his swing at once. Let’s look at each and how this tool can help.

Mid-backswing

At this point in the swing, the goal is to keep the arms in front of the chest while the trail arm folds naturally. To get in this position, the arms need a bit of structure and the right amount of space. If they collapse or separate, this can drain power from the swing.

The Connector helps keep the arms in front of the chest and the forearms properly spaced, promoting a wide, structured backswing. This helps to cultivate power on the way back — loading the swing with a ton of speed that’s ready to fire on the way down.

Top of the swing

In position two, the Connector helps the arms stay connected and structured. By squeezing the device at the top of the swing, the arms won’t disconnect or drift away from the body — a common cause of improper sequencing in the downswing.

It also keeps the elbows close together and the arms in front of the chest, which is an optimal position to get in to shallow the club effectively — a cornerstone of McIlroy’s effortless power.

Delivery

During the delivery — right before impact — the arms should be extended out front and connected as everything rotates through the shot. But, if timing gets off or the arms get stuck too far inside, players often end up casting the club or extending early. Using the Connector helps keep everything in a compact position that’s working together in proper sequence, making it easier to “slot” the club for a powerful delivery at impact.

It’s easy to see why this training aid has earned a permanent spot in McIlroy’s range routine. Whether you’re building better structure, working on sequencing, or just trying to clean things up, The Connector is a simple tool that delivers meaningful feedback — and it’s one the pros trust.

Tiger Woods had his seventh back surgery on Friday. A day later, the 15-time major champion said that he underwent a lumbar disc replacement and was already feeling the positive effects of the procedure.

“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” Woods said in a statement. “The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/L5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday and already know I made a good decision for my health and back.”

Woods didn’t compete on the PGA Tour this past season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon in March. No timetable was provided for Woods’ potential return to competitive golf after his lumbar disc replacement, and several questions naturally come with Woods’ decision to have another back surgery.

Sports injury analyst and physical therapist Marty Jaramillo answered some of those questions about the procedure, the recovery and Woods’ potential return to competitive golf.

WATCH JARAMILLO’S EXPLAINER HERE:

What surgery did Tiger Woods have on his back, and why?

“Why did Tiger Woods opt for an artificial disc replacement?” Jaramillo said. “Let’s talk a little about the history and what led to that decision. Tiger suffered from multiple back injuries, multiple disc herniations, and all the subsequent surgeries to repair those disc herniations.

“He really suffered at the level of L5, S1, the lowest level, where in 2017 he opted for spinal fusion at that level, with the implant hardware on both sides to decompress the nerves, add stability and support, but there is a trade-off with the hardware. Yes, you get a decrease in pain, but you lose a little bit of mobility, specifically in rotation, sometimes up to 20 percent. It was extremely successful, and in 2019, Tiger won his fifth green jacket at the Masters.

“But like I said, the trade-off is fusion. Below it puts undue stress at the disc levels above. Now L4, L5 is in play and suffered a tremendous amount of stress and overload in subsequent years, and in 2021, he had yet his fourth microdiscectomy to help repair L4 right here now. Between the fourth microdiscectomy, then his horrific car accident and then this year with the Achilles and still trying to compete and play at a high level, that disc at L4, L5 essentially started to degenerate, develop bone spurs, start to compress the nerve endings yet again.

“Now, if he opted for a fusion which was successful, he would lose even more mobility and golf would not be even a question because he wouldn’t be able to compete and play at a high level. So, fast forward, we have this great new technology called an artificial disc. It is still hardware where they removed the old disk. And implant an artificial one. It still provides a tremendous amount of support, stability and decompresses the nerves. But the hardware does not limit motion and you need that rotation to swing a golf club at a very high level and compete at a high level. So in Tiger’s case he just didn’t have a choice and the procedure’s perfected, and he had that procedure performed this past Friday at the hospital for special surgery in New York.”

What will Tiger Woods’ recovery be?

“So for the next two weeks, Tiger will be under strict orders to do a lot of resting and strict limitations on movements like twisting and bending,” Jaramillo said. “But he’s also able to walk as much as he can tolerate. By weeks two to four, he’s implementing a very progressive lumbar stabilization program and some mobility, keeping in mind that the disc replacement surgery does have to heal. The hardware still has to fuse to the overlying and underlying bone, just like a fracture, and has to heal. But by week six to eight, he has progressed to aggressive strengthening in all planes of the golf swing and perfecting sports-specific motions.

Tiger Woods makes ‘good decision’ to have another back surgery, return is unclear

By:

Josh Schrock

“Now long term, well, any aging athlete has to have a strict regimen and be very disciplined with both maintenance and recovery of therapies. Tiger has been great at that over the years, just like LeBron, just like Tom Brady, but Tiger’s had so many surgeries, so he’s had to kinda keep resetting those recovery and maintenance protocols, but still disciplined, nevertheless. He also has to have load management. It has to be in full effect here. He’s gonna probably have to limit his total tournaments but also make smart decisions on both the climate and terrain of those tournaments.”

When will Tiger Woods be able to play competitive golf again?

While no timetable was given for Woods’ return to the PGA Tour, Jaramillo is optimistic that Woods can return soon, given how long it has been since his Achilles procedure and the expected healing time for the lumbar disc replacement.

“Tiger Woods has the potential to play in his own Hero World Challenge and the PNC Championship, both tournaments that take place in December,” Jaramillo said. “By December, he would have over eight months having recovered from his Achilles repair and close to six to eight weeks for his artificial disc replacement, both within good healing time frames, and be ready to go and also be competitive for both tournaments.”

Tiger Woods’ long-term health concern

To Jaramillo, it is not Tiger Woods’ back that is the biggest concern for prolonging his competitive career. It’s the ankle issues that have been prevalent since his car accident in 2021.

“I’m not so concerned about his back and this artificial disc,” he said. “I think it’s gonna do really great. He’s going to compete at a high level.

“My biggest concern for Tiger is his ankle following his horrific car accident,” Jaramillo said. “A couple of years after the accident, he had to have his ankle fused to help limit the pain and minimize the pain. But what does it do? With the fusion, just like in his lower back from 2017, it limits movement, and in his case, his ankle. He’s lost some rotation, which prevents him from adjusting to uneven terrains on the golf course, and it’s really plagued him. You’ve seen it in years past. Over the course of a four-day tournament he’s the limping gets worse and worse. So I really think it’s his ankle that’s gonna be the speed bump that curtails his career.”

Last week the first batch of tickets for next summer’s matches went on sale, with more than 4.5 million fans entering a draw for a chance to buy them.

Immediately, Fifa’s approach to pricing drew significant backlash.

Fifa has not formally revealed a full price list, but they are being listed online by fans who were successful in the draw after spending hours in digital queues last week.

General admission tickets are being split into four categories, with those for the first match in the USA costing between $560 (£417) and $2,235 (£1,662). At the last World Cup in Qatar, the opening match was priced between $55 (£41) and $618 (£460).

The cheapest ticket for the 2026 final costs $2,030 (£1,510), and the most expensive is $6,000 (£4,462). Hospitality tickets, meanwhile, are yet to go on sale but will almost certainly be priced significantly higher.

Some tickets for matches early in the tournament – in a few of the less prestigious locations – are available for $60 (£44), but stadium map images show they are a tiny proportion of available seats.

The Athletic also reports, external that Fifa will also implement 15% charges on both the buyer and seller of tickets resold via its official platform.

Fifa did not respond to questions put forward by the BBC.

“These prices are astonishing – $2,030 for the cheapest final ticket is unacceptable,” said Thomas Concannon, who leads the Football Supporters Association’s England Fans’ Embassy.

“If fans are successful in obtaining a category four ticket from the first game to the last, that could set them back $3,180 (£2,363) at least. That is more than double what Qatar cost.

“Combined with travel and accommodation, this will be the most expensive World Cup for match-going fans we’ve ever seen by some distance.”

Fifa is also adopting a ‘dynamic’ pricing model for the tournament, meaning ticket prices for matches deemed high demand could be raised significantly during later sales periods.

The system has the potential to benefit Americans while locking out foreign fans.

“Dynamic pricing has really been a thing here for more than a decade,” said Scott Friedman, found of the Ticket Talk Network in the USA. “For Fifa, it’s supply and demand – they are trying to maximise their revenue.

“The system gives an advantage to American citizens who can maybe buy a resale ticket for a game which has less demand at much less than face value 48 hours before a match.

“People can’t really travel from overseas to do that. The system is not fair for the rest of the world and could definitely price out people from other countries.”

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