andy sullivan�*s still the best of the british hopefuls, isn�*t he, ben?his title of course — is doing ok after that disappointing first round. yes, pretty safe to say that we won�*t have a british winner of the open championship this time around. darren clarke one of course in 2011, but andy sullivan is the best placed of the brits at the moment. he started the day at —6, made a bogey but has since picked up a shot on the back nine and moved back —6. not quite clicking into gear. neither too is the defending champion shane lowry from northern ireland. he picked up a fine birdie on the 16th, the par three, and seem to enjoy it following up with a birdie at 17. another one of the contingent not looking like they will be challenging at the top of the leaderboard. rory mcilroy is having a disappointing open again and is stuck down at —1. a disappointing open again and is stuck down at -1. disappointment fou~ht stuck down at -1. disappointment fought rory _ stuck down at -1. disappointment fought rory mcilroy _ stuck down at -1. disappointment fought rory mcil

andy sullivan and danny willett both in the chasing pack. ts of big names still to start their rounds, including rory mcilroy, who goes off at 3:20pm. many thanks, andy. time for the weather now, here's chris fawkes. i thought we'd start off by looking at the weather in europe. massive thunderstorms hitting the same kind of areas, the heaviest of the rain was to the south—west of bonn. across parts of western germany we saw up to 158 millimetres of rain, that looks to be about three times the amount of rainfall we'd normally expect in the whole ofjuly, falling in one day. it's been extreme rainfall. you seem catastrophic damage and flooding as a result, partly caused by this upper low pressure. in the uk we are under the rich part of the jet stream and what that does is it bill's area of high pressure. here is our high and in the next few days that will be with us through the rest of the week, the weekend and will influence the weather into next week as well. today, we've got the sunshine out in full force across northern parts of the uk. tha

quietly crept up the leaderboard, sitting on seven under par at the moment, behind him england's andy sullivanst major championship, he said yesterday that nobody expects andy sullivan to win, he is hoping to fly under the radar. you can find coverage on the bbc sport website and bbc radio 5 live, highlights later on bbc two at eight o'clock. in rugby league, the challenge cup final is under way at wembley. it's the first time castleford and st helens have met in a major final theres around 115,000 fans at wembley today to watch the match, ten minutes gone and it's still 0—0. saint helens have just taken the lead. here we go. live pictures over on bbc one at the moment. st helens are looking to win the trophy for first time since 2008. it's castleford's first final since 2014, they last lifted the cup in 1986. you can watch it now on bbc one. history will be made at silverstone later on today, with the first "sprint race." final practice took place earlier this afternoon with red bull's max verstappen the fastest. lewis hamilton was only eighth fastest but he'll start on pole position after wi

andy sullivan and danny willett both in the chasing pack.ther now, here's chris fawkes.

paul casey and andy sullivan are the best place brits and are on —5 and if you want to keep across allts on what has been a thrilling day, we have got highlights on bbc two right after this. fin highlights on bbc two right after this. �* . ., this. an exciting final day tomorrow. _ tadej pogacar is set to win the tour de france again after making it through the last time trial with a lead of five minutes 20 seconds. with the tradition that no—one attacks the yellow jersey on the final day, he'll be confirmed as champion in paris tomorrow. the other parisian tradition is a sprint finish on the champs—elysees, and mark cavendish will be wearing the green jersey to contest that. drew savage reports. starting with such a big lead, tadej pogacarjust had to make it to the finish. no chance of any penultimate stage drama this year. the young slovenian has been in stellar form. in contrast to chris froome, who must have been relieved to get this far after crashing on day one of his comeback from injury. while mark cavendish has exceeded all expectations after his surprise late call up. while mo

these two shots back, while hopes of a home winner are led by andy sullivan, another impressive day keepinghots back, his hopes looked remote. what they'd all have done for a little bit of this. england'sjonathan thompson thrilling the crowd with a hole—in—one. oh, it's in! itjust doesn't get any better. well, it's been a day of glorious weather and some equally glorious golf, but none brighter than louis oostheuizen's. on this form, he'll take some stopping. andy swiss, bbc news, sandwich. roared on by his home crowd, lewis hamilton claimed pole position for formula one's first sprint race ahead of the british grand prix on sunday. as a government test event, 86,000 fans were at silverstone with 140,000 expected on sunday. hamilton's first lap in the final session was quick enough to secure the top spot for the new qualifying race ahead of title rival max verstappen. i'm so grateful to see everyone here. we've missed you for a whole year, so to come to the silverstone grand prix and have a full crowd like this, to see the energy... when i was coming into it, i was hopeful that with the gre

andy sullivan has put in another good day. he's the best place of the brits at the moment.ve rounds of 67 have left him on six under par, so he's well—positioned to be challenging this weekend. i missed the last two cuts, but he is flying along at the minute. five under par. a little lower down the board is an englishman called jonathan thompson. he suffered from leukaemia when he was young and he stands at six foot nine and made a hole—in—one on the 16th. absolutely extraordinary shot. i6th. absolutely extraordinary shot. there is an amphitheatre around the 16th. i was there for the last couple days, and the roar was as loud as anything we have heard all day. an extraordinary shot. he will be making the weekend as well. a really impressive work from thompson, the man from sheffield showing everybody how it started. we have two holes in one and we had our first and the second day. this have two holes in one and we had our first and the second day.— first and the second day. this is what so lovely _ first and the second day. this is what so lovely about _ first and the secon

he's two shots back, while hopes of a home winner are led by andy sullivan, another impressive day keepingheering. the rory mcilroy fan club was out in force, and they got a few decent moments. but 11 shots back, his hopes look remote. what they'd all have done for a little bit of this. england'sjonathan thompson thrilling the crowd with a hole in one. itjust doesn't get any better. england'sjonathan thompson lighting up his round with a hole in one, the first of the championship. golfjust doesn't get any better. well, it's been a day of glorious weather and some equally glorious golf. but none brighter than louis 0osthuizen�*s. on this form, he'll take some stopping. hello. some very warm to hot weather on the way for much of the uk this weekend. there is a weak weather front in northern scotland, and that will bring windier conditions, some cloud and the chance of a little rain, and temperatures just into the mid to high teens. in fact, this cloud becomes more extensive across western scotland into northern ireland overnight. some patches of cloud through eastern parts of england as well

englishman andy sullivan is the closest british threat.ough his round, five shots back on four—under par. but rory mcilroy is battling hard to make the cut. he bogeyed his first two holes, but he's battled back to one under, with just a few holes to go. so here's the latest leaderboard from royal st george's. confirmation of collin morikawa up at the top there on nine—under. and then daniel van tonder, emiliano grillo and louis 0osthuizen all level on six under. 0oosthuizen, the overnight leader, tees—offjust before 3.00pm. lewis hamilton says winning an eighth formula i world drivers�* title will be a tall order this year. the mercedes driver is 32 points behind max verstappen of red bull before this weekend's british grand prix. there's qualifying today before the new sprint race to decide the grid tomorrow and hamilton is hoping the home crowd of more than ia0,000 will make a difference for him. the roar of the crowd here is unlike anywhere else, so, considering we have had a drought in terms of fans not being at the races in the past y

paul casey and the pinpoint—precise andy sullivan the best of the bunch.th missed a tiddler at the last and 0osthuizen edged clear of morikawa. he's led after every round so far. could this once again be his year? and so louis 0osthuizen takes a slender one—shot lead into the final day. this enthralling 0pen remains tantalisingly poised. andy swiss, bbc news, sandwich.

leaderboard but, as sandwich bathed in the sunshine, others tried chasing him down, among them england's andy sullivanilroy fan club was also out in force, and they got a few decent moments. but at level—par mcilroy�*s hopes look remote. at least he wasn't francesco molinari, the former champion twice trying and twice failing to get out of a bunker. third time lucky, but that's his chances gone. jordan spieth's though are very much alive, as he followed a fine first day with a pretty good second one, but what they'd all do for a bit of this. england's jonathan thompson lighting up england'sjonathan thompson lighting up his round with a hole in one, of the championship. golf doesn't get better. we have a new leader. south africa's louis 0osthuizen, one shot clear ofjordan spieth and colin moran,, still plenty of golf to be played before we find out the open champion on sunday —— collin morikawa. the tokyo 0lympics begin a week today and in the latest of our look ahead to the games we meet lawrence 0koye. a naturally gifted sportsman and academic, the discus thrower is back at the games nine years after

he's two shots back, while hopes of a home winner are led by andy sullivan, another impressive day keeping of glorious weather and some equally glorious golf, but none brighter than louis 0ostheuizen's. on this form, he'll take some stopping. andy swiss, bbc news, sandwich. roared on by his home crowd, lewis hamilton claimed pole position for formula 0ne's first sprint race ahead of the british grand prix on sunday. as a government test event, 86,000 fans were at silverstone with 140,000 expected on sunday. hamilton's first lap in the final session was quick enough to secure the top spot for the new qualifying race ahead of title rival max verstappen. i'm so grateful to see everyone here. we've missed you for a whole year, so to come to the silverstone grand prix and have a full crowd like this, to see the energy... when i was coming into it, i was hopeful that with the great work that we've done together in the team, plus the energy of the fans would get us there. so, this is down to the fans, i think. england have been beaten by pakistan in the first of three t20 internationals. it was a

andy sullivan was playing in his group and he _ sullivan was playing in his group and he made birdierrow fairways and if you find the fairway. _ fairways and if you find the fairway, they are undulating and lumpy— fairway, they are undulating and lumpy and bumpy so the ball can go inthe— lumpy and bumpy so the ball can go in the middle of the fairway and it spits _ in the middle of the fairway and it spits into— in the middle of the fairway and it spits into the rough and if it finds the rough — spits into the rough and if it finds the rough some of it will come up to our knees _ the rough some of it will come up to our knees and you can struggle to find the _ our knees and you can struggle to find the ball, let alone hit it out of it. _ find the ball, let alone hit it out of it. and — find the ball, let alone hit it out of it. and if— find the ball, let alone hit it out of it, and if you find the green, they— of it, and if you find the green, theyare— of it, and if you find the green, they are undulating as well, so it's a reat— they are undulating as well, so it's a real challenge

paul casey and the pinpoint—precise andy sullivan the best of the bunch.y are seven shots back. while rory mcilroy is 11 back after a round which began promisingly before falling away. but at the top of the leaderboard, late drama. spieth missed a tiddler at the last and oosthuizen edged clear of morikawa. he's led after every round so far. could this once again be his year? and so louis oosthuizen takes a slender one—shot lead into the final day. this enthralling open remains tantalisingly poised. andy swiss, bbc news, sandwich. and the action doesn't stop there on a busy day of sport. silverstone is set to host the biggest crowd at a sporting event since before the pandemic began. a 140,000 are expected at the track for the british grand prix this afternoon... and lewis hamilton will be desperate to keep his title hopes alive, as lydia campbell reports. away from the fans, and soon there will be a lot more of them, as silverstone welcomes the biggest crowd at a sporting event in the uk since the start of the pandemic. just happy to be out and about and a

as of the english contingent chasing, andy sullivan— the english contingent chasing, andy sullivan besthow he described it. he is sitting — is how he described it. he is sitting on— is how he described it. he is sitting on level par and there were times— sitting on level par and there were times yesterday when we thought he wasn't _ times yesterday when we thought he wasn't going to make the weekend's play but _ wasn't going to make the weekend's play but he — wasn't going to make the weekend's play but he has. probable you won't be winning — play but he has. probable you won't be winning the tournament from level par but— be winning the tournament from level par but he _ be winning the tournament from level par but he is— be winning the tournament from level par but he is here for the weekend. he is— par but he is here for the weekend. he is teeing — par but he is here for the weekend. he is teeing offjust after 11am, hoping — he is teeing offjust after 11am, hoping to— he is teeing offjust after 11am, hoping to make his way up the leaderboard and get some confidence back into _ leader

andy sullivan was out in the first group with richard bland, the 43—year—old engagement and made a birdieaul casey, who made a very strong start with birdies on the first and third, which put him in a share for the lead along with samples field. still early days in the first round at saint georges but a strong start from the english players. despite the nice conditions, _ from the english players. despite the nice conditions, some - from the english players. despite i the nice conditions, some struggles this morning on the notoriously difficult course? it is this morning on the notoriously difficult course?— difficult course? it is one of the hardest courses _ difficult course? it is one of the hardest courses in _ difficult course? it is one of the hardest courses in golf, - difficult course? it is one of the hardest courses in golf, mike. | difficult course? it is one of the | hardest courses in golf, mike. it might be sunny but this one is really challenging, undulating fairways and really thick rough. brooks koepka, the american ryder cup player, one of those to really find outjust ho

englishman andy sullivan is the best placed on the brits — three shots off the lead.ummer. but the club's new boss wouldn't be drawn on the striker�*s future. he is our player, period. no need to talk about anything _ he is our player, period. no need to talk about anything else. _ he is our player, period. no need to talk about anything else. now i he is our player, period. no need to talk about anything else. now is i he is our player, period. no need to talk about anything else. now is the moment to recover his energy, to rest and when harry comes again, we will have time to speak and i'm looking forward to him joining the group and start working together. when he arrives, he will feel that every one of us wants to commit ourselves to becoming better and we are ambitious people, we want to do it will and we count on harry in that. lewis hamilton says winning an eighth, formula 1 world drivers' title will be a tall order this year. and it's looking like the 32—point gap to max verstappen will widen during this weekend's british grand prix. the championship leader to

paul casey and the pinpoint precise andy sullivan the best of the bunch.erboard, late drama. jordan spieth missed one and collin morikawa. could this once again be his year? morikawa. could this once again be his ear? �* ., , his year? and so louis oosthuizen takes a slender— his year? and so louis oosthuizen takes a slender 1-shot _ his year? and so louis oosthuizen takes a slender 1-shot lead i his year? and so louis oosthuizen takes a slender 1-shot lead into i his year? and so louis oosthuizen. takes a slender 1-shot lead into the takes a slender 1—shot lead into the final day. takes a slender 1-shot lead into the final da . , ., , final day. this enthralling open remains tantalisingly _ final day. this enthralling open remains tantalisingly poised. . tadej pogacar is set to defend his tour de france title this afternoon, as the race heads to paris for its final stage. the slovenian finished 8th in yesterday's 20th stage to retain a substantial lead and with the tradition that no—one attacks the yellowjersey on the final day, he'll be confirmed as cham

the best of the british players are andy sullivan, justine rose, danny willet and jack senior all iney "were all united" in their decision to make the gesture. it was a group consensus. there wasn�*t anyone specific, but i think we all feel strongly as individuals and as a team, and i think we all understand what has been going on and the discrimination, and we know we have a big part to play and i think it is important we use our platform is to help in anyway we can. the people that do not have the voice, they are who we are standing up voice, they are who we are standing up for. who we are standing up for. staying with the olympics and britain�*s men�*s tennis number one dan evans has had to pull out after testing positive for covid—19. jamie murray will take evans�* place in tokyo as doubles partner to neal skupski. it�*ll be murray�*s fourth 0lympics, having competed in beijing, london and rio. he partnered skupski on the atp tour last season, and they�*ve also played together in the davis cup. it�*s been announced today that the rugby league world cup in england will go ahead th