SPORT | IN BRIEF
Molinari books Ryder Cup spot
GOLF: Italy’s Francesco Molinari has secured his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team after Ross McGowan pulled out of the Johnnie Walker Championship through injury.
McGowan’s pinched nerve means he no longer has any chance of overtaking Molinari in the top nine ranking places this weekend at Gleneagles.
England’s Simon Dyson, who needs to win the tournament to gatecrash the automatic spots, boosted his chances with a four-under-par round of 68.
PM praised by Fifa inspectors
FOOTBALL: Fifa inspectors praised Prime Minister David Cameron for choosing to skip their four-day visit to evaluate England’s 2018 World Cup bid.
Cameron’s wife Samantha gave birth to a daughter on Wednesday and Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who led the Fifa delegation, said: “Fifa is a family too and we fully understand why he could not be with us. The Prime Minister took the right decision.”
England’s bid was warmly received, with Mayne-Nicholls adding that a number of aspects were “perfect”.
Schumacher sends ‘sorry’ text
FORMULA ONE: Michael Schumacher has cleared the air with Rubens Barrichello ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix with a text message.
Mercedes driver Schumacher caused a storm in Hungary earlier this month when he almost ran Ferrari’s Barrichello into the pit wall.
“I received a message from him today, an SMS,” said Barrichello. “He apologised. I accepted it, wished him a good weekend, life goes on.”