Welcome to The OTB Brief; everything you need to know about sport, every morning - we have all the big sporting news for you this Thursday morning.
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GOLF - US PGA
Rory McIlroy is hoping to re-find his pre-lockdown form when the first golf major of the year gets underway later.
The Ulster man will tee it up alongside Tiger Woods and world number one Justin Thomas at the PGA Championship this afternoon.
Tiger Woods has no concerns over his preparation for the US PGA golf Championship.
The American has only made one competitive appearance since the sport resumed amid the coronavirus pandemic in June.
Open winner Shane Lowry is also among the afternoon starters in a group with Gary Woodland and defending champion Brooks Koepka.
Lowry goes out just after 4.10 Irish time, with McIlroy out around 4.30. Graeme McDowell tees off alongside Bubba Watson and Matthew Wolff at 9.25pm Irish time.
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RYDER CUP
United States captain Steve Stricker will still get six wild cards for next year's rescheduled Ryder Cup.
He was initially given the increase because the coronavirus pandemic had forced 11 events on the PGA Tour to be cancelled.
Even though tournaments have now restarted, Stricker will be able to select half his team for the contest at Whistling Straits next year.
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SOCCER - EUROPA LEAGUE
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he's not made a decision on his goalkeeper for the rest of the Europa League.
Sergio Romero was between the posts for United's 2-1 win against LASK last night while regular first-choice David De Gea has been criticised for his performances in recent weeks.
Solskjaer says either stopper could feature in next week's quarter-final against F-C Copenhagen.
Wolves and Rangers will be looking to book their spots in the last-eight of the competition this evening.
Steven Gerrard's Rangers face an uphill task to do so, they're 3-1 heading into the away leg of their tie with Bayer Leverkusen.
While Wolves and Olympiakos are 1-all going into their second leg at Molineux.
Meanwhile, the new leader of the Scottish Conservative Party will be running the line at Ibrox this Sunday for the fixture between Rangers and St Mirren.
Away from politics, Douglas Ross is a professional football referee who has officiated Champions League games and is free to be assistant referee in the Scottish Premiership this weekend.
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ALEXIS SANCHEZ
Alexis Sanchez's unsuccessful stint at Manchester United is over.
He'll complete a permanent switch to Inter Milan later - the side he spent last season on loan with.
Sanchez managed just five goals in 45 appearances for United.
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DAVID MCGOLDRICK
David McGoldrick says it's a "real honour and privilege" to have been named the Republic of Ireland senior men's player of the year.
The Sheffield United scored his first international goal this season and played 529-minutes in the green shirt.
Alan Browne's been awarded the young player of the year prize.
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MAN CITY - AKE
Nathan Ake has joined Manchester City from Bournemouth in a deal worth forty-one-million pounds.
The defender has signed a 5-year contract with the former Premier League champions.
Ake - who has just suffered relegation with Bournemouth - spent three years with the south coast club.
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RUGBY - JAMES RYAN
Leinster and Ireland have been handed a fitness boost with James Ryan's recovery currently ahead of schedule.
The second-row had been expected to be out for three-months after having surgery on his shoulder.
But Leinster coach Leo Cullen says Ryan is now in line to return in the middle of next month.
He would then be available for the Blues' European quarter-final against Saracens and Ireland's two remaining Six Nations matches.
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SNOOKER
Four-time champion John Higgins resumes 5-3 down to Kurt Maflin this morning in their second round match at the World Championships.
Last night, Mark Williams took a 5-3 lead of his own over Stuart Bingham and they’ll resume this afternoon.
This morning’s other match sees three-time Crucible champ Mark Selby face Shaun Murphy’s conqueror - Noppon Saengkham.
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