Good evening!

The final golf major of the year, the Women’s Open Championship, teed off about an hour ago. If you’d like to read a preview ahead of the action tonight and over the weekend, look no further than the one-minute section of today’s newsletter.

Speaking of golf, Adam Sandler confirmed to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show this week that Happy Gilmore 2 is set to begin production soon. The world has been waiting since 1996.

Here’s to hoping the seven Aussies playing at The Open can ‘just tap tap taaap it in’.

I’ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

21
The number of teams set to play in the inaugural Asian Women’s Champions League. Preliminary matches begin this weekend. Australia will be represented by the A-League Women's club Melbourne City.

Quote of the day

“He’s been the one who’s suffered through this the most and he’s the one that’s also had to get out there [and] play tennis tournaments. So it’s been really, really difficult for him and I take my hat off to him that he’s been able to get some of the results that he has.”
Jannik Sinner’s Australian tennis coach Darren Cahill in an interview with ESPN. Sinner was cleared of any wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Association after failing two drug tests in March. He will start the U.S. Open next week as the number one seed.

Random fact of the day

The U.S. Open (tennis) has only been played on a hard-court surface since 1978. It was played on grass from 1881 to 1974, and then on clay until 1977.

I’ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed it…

🚴 Australian cyclist Kaden Groves finished third in a sprint finish on Stage 5 of La Vuelta a España. Czech rider Pavel Bittner won the stage in a photo finish ahead of Belgium’s Wout van Aert. Slovenia’s Primož Roglič remains the overall leader of the multi-stage race, eight seconds ahead of Portugal’s João Almeida.

🎾 A record six Australian women have reached the third and final stage of the U.S. Open tennis qualifying. Arina Rodionova, Maya Joint, Destanee Aiava, Priscilla Hon, Talia Gibson, and Kimberley Birrell will play matches tomorrow with hopes of earning a spot in the main draw next week. Li Tu is the only Australian man in the final round of qualifying and will also play tomorrow. 14 Australians (11 men and three women) have already secured a spot.

🏉 All Blacks assistant coach Leon MacDonald has quit ahead of the side’s two Test matches against South Africa. Head coach Scott Robertson said: “As coaches, we have differing views and both agreed it wasn't working”. The Rugby Championship resumes on 1 September.

The driver of the truck that killed sports journalist Sam Landsberger on Tuesday morning has been charged by police for allegedly refusing to provide a mandatory blood sample. The 45-year-old male tested negative on an alcohol and drug test at the site of the accident but allegedly refused to submit to a blood test. He will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 19 September.

I’ve got 1 minute

The Women’s Open has teed off on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. The tournament is one of five major championships on the LPGA Tour and will run until Sunday when one player will emerge victorious at the prestigious tournament.

Australians at The Open

Seven Australians are teeing off in round one of the final women’s golfing major of the year. Minjee Lee (world no.13) and Hannah Green (no.5) represent Australia’s best hopes of winning the tournament. Lee finished runner-up at the U.S. Open earlier this year while Green is coming off a fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics. 

The five other Australians competing are Grace Kim, Steph Kyriacou, Gabriela Ruffels, Hira Naveed and three-time Open winner Karrie Webb, who qualified for the tournament because she has previously won it. 

Favourites

Favourites to win the tournament include the world number one and two, Nelly Korda and Lilia Vu. Korda had a stellar start to the season with six tour wins, including a major at the Chevron Championship, while Vu is the defending champion at the Open. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who won gold in Paris earlier this month, will look to add to her run of form despite not winning a major since 2016. 

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I’ve got 2 minutes

Ron Coote has been named as a rugby league Immortal. He is the 14th player to receive the honour.

Coote’s Career

Coote played in nine grand finals and won six premierships. He debuted at the age of 19 in 1964 for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, with whom he won four premierships. In 1972, Coote took his talents to the Sydney Roosters, where he won consecutive grand finals in 1974 and 1975. 

The 79-year-old also won three rugby league World Cups with the Australian team, including one as captain. 

Legacy

Coote is a founding member of the Family of League (formerly Men of League), formed in 2002. The organisation provides financial, social, and emotional support to people in the rugby league community. 

In 2008 Coote was named in both the NSW and Australian teams of the 20th century. 

What they said

Coote said: "I'm a bit taken for words at the moment. I never thought I'd be crying when I was 80 but here I am. For me it's sensational. I never thought it would happen. I've been at this function a few times and this time I've got the gong. It really means a lot to me and I really appreciate it."

South Sydney Rabbitohs chairman Nicholas Pappas said: “A giant in every sense, Ron embodies all the qualities of a sporting legend: towering strength, uncanny skill and gracious humility.”

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From plate to podium: Nutrition for young athletes

Peak performance isn't just about rigorous training, physical skills and genetics – it’s also about nutrition.

Whether you’re chasing gold or just looking to optimise your health, Dr Dominique Condo, a researcher and lecturer from Deakin’s School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, says that “proper nutrition is key.”

Nutrition has the power to make or break your athletic performance, and according to Dr. Condo, there are three key ingredients for a winning plate:

1. A balanced diet

Young athletes need a well-balanced diet that is rich in carbohydrates for slow-burning energy, proteins for muscle repair and growth, and fats for overall health. Picture a colourful plate full of fruits and veggies!

2. Hydrate

Unfortunately, the ‘eight glasses of water a day’ trick might not cut it! “It’s important to understand the demands of the sport and individual factors, including thirst, that may impact hydration needs,” Dr Condo said. Proper hydration depends on factors like body size, climate, activity level and overall health.

3. Meal timings

“Meal timing is just as important as what the meal is made of,” Dr Condo advises. “Eating a nutritious meal 2-3 hours pre-exercise or competition will allow for the food to be digested and able to be used as energy.”

Think beyond the field. Study sport at Deakin.

Looking back…

Looking forward…(All times are AEST)

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