Tiger Woods hoping to defend Memorial title

Tiger Woods returns to Muirfield looking to win his sixth Memorial Tournament

Tiger Woods will be looking to add to his four tournament wins from seven starts on the PGA Tour this season as he begins the defence of his Memorial title at Muirfield this week.

The world number one returns to action for the first time since his Players Championship victory at Sawgrass earlier this month, heading a stellar field that includes seven of the world's top ten golfers making the trip to Dublin, Ohio.

Muirfield Village has a +2 stroke average and was ranked the sixth toughest course on the PGA Tour in 2012, so it will present a difficult challenge for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald, who will want to bounce back from disappointing efforts in last week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Both players failed to make the cut, so will be determined to put in an improved performance as they reintroduce themselves to American conditions ahead of next month's US Open major at Merion.

Five-time champion, Woods, will once again be among the favourites as he bids to replicate last year's success which saw him win the Memorial Tournament thanks to an outrageous chip-in on the par-three 16th during his final round.

That victory saw the 37-year-old draw level with Jack Nicklaus on 73 tournament wins, and he'll be hoping for the same fortune upon his return to Nicklaus's own tournament in 2013.

"That was a dicey little chip," recalled Woods in an interview with Sky Sports. "To do it at Jack's event to tie his all-time record, 73 wins is pretty impressive, I definitely pulled a rabbit on that one.

"It means so much to us to have him be there on the 18th green when you win, it just takes it to another level."

You can re-live Tiger Woods's amazing chip on the par-three 16th at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio last year in the video below - and feel free to share your favourite chip-in shots in the comment box provided.

Sam Tomkins advised to head to Australia

Wigan legend Bill Ashurst backs Tomkins to pursue a career in Australia

Wigan legend Bill Ashurst has advised Sam Tomkins to go and pursue a career in Australia.

Ashurst spent three years Down Under himself playing for Penrith Panthers between 1974 and 1976 and thinks Tomkins should do the same.

Tomkins has been with Wigan for his whole career, joining the club in 2008 and the 24-year-old has a remarkable record with the Super League club scoring 140 tries in 142 appearances.

The full-back also has a try per game record for England, notching 18 tries in his 18 international caps.

Ashurst told MEN Sport: "Sam has got to go and play in Australia. If he does, he will be a sensation.

"You have to test yourself against the best and that simply means playing in the NRL. It’s a far superior competition to Super League."

The Wigan legend made over 180 appearances for the Warriors in the 1970s and he believes Tomkins would continue his success if he decided to move in 2014.

“He can play anywhere and for anyone in my view because he is such a naturally gifted player who can have a huge impact on any given game.

“I am sure he would really have a massive impart in Australia because he has the game suited for the NRL."

Auckland Warriors seem to be the team leading the chase for Tomkins with the Englishman supposedly set to be the first million-dollar man in the club's two-decade history.

Ashurst believes there are more incentives for Tomkins than the money though.

He said: "It’s said players mainly go to Australia because of the money but that’s not true.

“Believe me, any player worth his salt wants to play at the very highest level and that means going to the NRL."

World football's top 10 brands

Bayern Munich knock Manchester United off top spot in world football's biggest brands countdown

Bayern Munich have capped a memorable season on the pitch by becoming world football's most valuable brand.

According to a new report by BrandFinance, the Bavarian giants have knocked Manchester United off top spot as the world's premier football brand following a nine per cent increase in value from 2012.

After last year's heartache in the Champions League, this season's success has boosted them up one place, with United dropping to second, Real Madrid in third, and Barcelona and Chelsea rounding out the top five.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City compromise the remaining Premier League contingent in the top 10, with AC Milan the sole Serie 'A' representative. 

Bayern Munich's beaten opponents in the Bundesliga and Champions League, Borussia Dortmund, come in at tenth place after a massive 15 per cent increase in brand value.

The Bundesliga's rise in value is reflected by the fact that Schalke and Hamburg both sit just outside the top 10 - 11th and 16th respectively.

But the collective might of the Premier League still puts its German cousin in the shadow - the English top flight worth $3.1billion compared to $1.9billion.

Part of United's two per cent fall from top spot can be attributed to their Champions League elimination at the last-16 stage to Real Madrid. The rest of the calculations are based on revenue figures, player values and UEFA coefficients.

But the strength of the Premier League is pretty clear to see - as well as five of the top 10, England also boasts Tottenham, West Ham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Everton, Fulham and Sunderland in the top 40.

The highest valued club from outside Europe is Brazilian side Corinthians at 19th, while the highest new entry for 2013 is Galatasaray at 17th.

BrandFinance's head of sports valuation, Dave Chattaway, told the Daily Mail: "Bayern Munich is still very much a story of domestic dominance, however its continued presence in the Champions League has provided the club with access to a global audience.

"The challenge now for all Bundesliga clubs and the league itself, is to see if they can export their domestic brand strength into global opportunities."

Exclusive: Theo Walcott aims to impress in England friendlies

Theo Walcott wants to impress for England in friendlies against Ireland & Brazil

England winger Theo Walcott isn’t getting ahead of himself and aims to make an impact in the forthcoming international friendlies against the Republic or Ireland and Brazil.

The Arsenal star is certainly not taking his place in Roy Hodgson’s side for granted, and knows that he needs to impress every time he plays for the Three Lions.

His next opportunity to do so could come tonight against Giovanni Trapattoni’s side at Wembley, and Walcott is hoping he can take his end of season form at the Emirates Stadium into the game.

“I'm not really thinking as far ahead as the World Cup. I'm thinking about the friendlies first against Ireland and Brazil,” he told GiveMeSport in an exclusive interview when asked about next summer’s showpiece event.

“If I get a chance against those two then hopefully I can take it, take my form on from Arsenal and then be involved in the crucial qualifiers.”

But, whilst admitting his mind was on the immediate task at hand, he recognised that failure to qualify for the tournament in South America would mean failure for a nation with such ‘quality’ players.

“We have to expect to qualify because we have plenty of players with plenty of quality. It would be a major disappointment if we weren't at the next major tournament, and we’re not even thinking about that possibility,” he concluded.

Walcott has made 31 senior appearances for his country since earning a shock first call-up for the 2006 World Cup under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Whilst he didn’t feature in Germany, he’s since played a major part for England in the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championships

Sebastian Vettel: Fastest lap in Monaco cured boredom

Sebastian Vettel believes drivers are bored of the current style of racing

World Champion Sebastian Vettel has admitted he defied team instructions to set the fastest lap of the race on the penultimate lap of the Monaco Grand Prix to cure boredom.

Vettel set a 1:16.577 on the 77th lap which was some three seconds a lap faster than he had been going in recent laps. When asked why he decided to set the lap time he told reporters: "Just satisfaction instead of going slow for 77 laps," replied the German.

"No satisfaction for us though," added Vettel's race engineer Guillaume Rocquelin.

After the race former Red Bull driver David Coulthard hit out at the current style of racing as "rubbish" after seeing must how much faster Vettel was capable of going.

"I'm not trying to do something silly, and I apologise for quarrelling with my engineer on the radio.

"But it's a reflection of how the racing is today, when you can be three seconds a lap faster," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

"I know that the drivers are not enjoying the races as much as they would like," he added.

"The show is good up to a point, but if it's a matter of following one another and waiting for the chequered flag, I'm not sure if that is what people want to see."

Vettel ended saying he hoped the changes coming for the Canadian Grand Prix will reduce the need for such high tyre conservation and allow the drivers to push harder.

The question does have to be raised however, if Vettel was able to go so much faster, then why as he not allowed to try and win the race?

Of course the Mercedes probably could have gone a lot faster as well and Vettel's nearest rivals in the championship were struggling, but surely the thought of winning the Monaco Grand Prix would have been enough motivation?

£51m Chelsea target passes Monaco medical

Chelsea transfer news: Radamel Falcao on verge of Monaco switch

Radamel Falcao has passed a medical ahead of his move to Monaco,according to Spanish newspaper AS.

The Colombian striker, who will cost around £51 million, looks set to follow Porto pair James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho who signed on the dotted line for the newly promoted Ligue 1 club last week. 

Chelsea and Manchester City had been heavily linked with a move for the prolific Atletico Madrid man, however the offer of a big-money move to Monaco, who are bankrolled by billionaire  Dmitry Rybolovlev, looks to have been too tempting.

According to AS, Falcao has passed his medical with the club who won promotion back to Ligue 1 this season, and will put pen to paper on a long-term deal worth €10 million-per-season after tax in the coming days.

However there is still some hope for the likes ofChelsea as well as Real Madrid of eventually getting their man.

According to Punto Pelota, Falcao will have a clause inserted into his contract that will allow him to leave Monaco in the January transfer window if either Chelsea or Real Madrid make an approach.

If either Chelsea or Madrid do make a move for the 27-year-old they will have to cough up €60 million to get the deal done.

San Antonio Spurs books NBA finals spot

Tony Parker scores 37 as San Antonio Spurs sweep Memphis Grizzlies 4-0

Tony Parker's 37 points helped the San Antonio Spurs to a 93-86 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, in the process booking a spot in the NBA finals after a 4-0 series sweep.

The winner of the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers await the Spurs in the finals, with that series currently evenly poised at 2-1 in favour of LeBron James' Heat.

Parker was undoubtedly the star of the show for the Spurs as he hit on 15 of his 21 shots, including six from six from the line.

"It's a great feeling," Parker told ESPN after the victory. "Since last year, I promised to him [Duncan] that we will go back, go back to the Finals and get an opportunity to win the whole thing and I'm trying to do my best, trying to be aggressive every night.

"I think everybody on the team, we really want to do it from him. We win the West and now it's one more step. This is the hardest one."

The Spurs led the Oklahoma City Thunder 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals last year, only to lose the next four and crash out.

Duncan and co didn't come close to surrendering their lead to the Grizzlies this post-season though. Duncan, a four-time NBA champion, added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard contributed 11 points.

For the Grizzlies, Quincy Pondexter recorded a career-high 22 points, while Zach Randolph's struggles continued - the forward finishing with just 13 points.

But on defence they just couldn't deal with Parker. Speaking about his Spurs point guard, Duncan said: "He's been amazing. Every year he gets better and better and better. He's been carrying us. You can see tonight he carried us the entire game."