Tiger Woods probably thought he had encountered everything in professional golf until a freakish Friday at the Players Championship. In virtually the final acts of round two, with Woods heading for an early tournament exit, the most unlikely set of events handed the 14-times major champion salvation.

Woods found himself afforded cut-line hope as Justin Thomas, one of golf’s most unflappable figures, fluffed a chip at the 18th en route to a bogey.

In the youngster Ollie Pope Surrey have a batsman to watch. The 20-year-old scored his third hundred in 10 first-class matches to turn day one against Yorkshire on its head following a sticky start on an unusually green-tinged pitch.

At 69 for four and 162 for six either side of lunch Surrey were struggling after Joe Root’s decision to let the toss go uncontested and bowl first – Root is captaining Yorkshire this weekend following illness to Gary Ballance. A score of 200 was in doubt against a team full of confidence having beaten champions Essex last weekend despite posting 50 in the first innings. But Pope, a calm head on young shoulders, guided Surrey to 366 for seven.

The Giants’ 2018 schedule reinforces what New York fans already know heading into the season: New coach Pat Shurmur has a lot of work to do if the team plans to contend for a division title.

The Eagles’ 2018 schedule is not easy, but it’s manageable enough for Philadelphia to repeat as division champion. SN breaks down the schedule.

Kevin Harvick will be out in front as he attempts to win his fifth race of the season.

The Bears’ 2018 schedule presents plenty of opportunities for Chicago to prove itself as an up-and-coming contender in the NFC. SN breaks down the Bears’ regular-season schedule.

The Vikings’ 2018 schedule begins where last season’s ended, but the season-opener is just one of several intriguing games. SN breaks down Minnesota’s 2018 schedule.

The side who finished sixth in the Championship have not won promotion through the play-offs since Blackpool managed it in 2010. Derby County have spent the intervening years finding new and more elaborate ways not to go up, but they took a big step towards the final with a 1-0 win over Fulham in the first leg of their semi.

It was a solid performance from Derby, defending Cameron Jerome’s first-half header as if the very future of the club depended on it. They played the second half as if they were the away team, defending superbly as Fulham tried again and again to break their resolve, to no avail.

McCutchen admitted things might get emotional when he faces the Pirates for the first time: “If I cry, I cry. Big whoop.”

Rudolph, who was selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, is expected to be Roethlisberger’s backup this season.