⛳️ Smith May LIV It Up After Open Win

Here we go, it's Tuesday, 19 July. It's the day after Cameron Smith won The Open and we're just gonna assume that, like us, you've started cultivating your very own mullet. A complementary moustache isn't necessary but it is encouraged. Smith is still in the headlines but it's not about his Open win or how many beers fit in the Claret Jug. It's 2, FYI.

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👀 Pigeon racing? Pigeon racing!

THE MAIN GAME

⛳️ Smith doesn't debunk LIV Golf link

As Cameron Smith was putting his way to an epic win at The Open Championship, reports emerged he’s the next big name to sign on with the Saudi-funded LIV Golf tour.

Golden points: A report from the Irish Golfer Magazine says Smith is one of 6 new players that will jump ship from the traditional tours in the US and Europe to the cashed-up rebel tour headed up by Greg Norman.

• Smith, fellow Australian Marc Leishman, two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson, European Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson and Tommy Fleetwood from England are the names being reported by the Irish Golfer.

• After his Open win, Smith was asked if he was interested in joining Norman on the LIV Golf tour, but he said his team worries about that stuff, he’s there to win golf tournaments. Jeez, that’s terrific delegation.

• Smith is now the #2 men's golfer in the world after his win at The Open, making him the highest-ranked golfer on the LIV Golf tour should he sign with Norman.

• While he’s won close to 14 million dollars in the past 7 months, Smith’s signing fee could be 10 times that if it’s similar to what Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson have reportedly received.

They said it: "I just won the British Open, and you're asking about that. I think that's not good," Smith wasn’t stoked about being asked about the rebel tour, but he didn’t deny anything either.

What’s next: Well, the Irish Golfer says the new players will be announced today, so keep an eye out for that because the next LIV Golf event starts on 29 July at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey.

QUICK SINGLES

🏉 The Wallabies fan that climbed on top of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) roof has been banned for life by Rugby Australia (RA). The man, who allegedly urinated off the roof, has been banned from attending any future RA events. He’s also been banned from the SCG for 2 years and is going to court next week.

🥉 Nina Kennedy wins bronze in the pole vault at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Kennedy hit a season-best vau of 4.8m to get the bronze and win Australia’s first medal of the Championships. Americans Katie Nageotte and Sandy Miller both cleared 4.85m, but Nageotte won on a countback. Gotta love those Ts & Cs.

🏏 Australia has named their one-day squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand and there’s no Pat Cummins. He’s being rested to recover from niggling hip and ankle injuries to be right for a huge summer of cricket that includes a T20 World Cup, Tests against the West Indies and South Africa and a tour to India. The one-day matches will be played in Townsville and Cairns, starting 28 August.

🏏 Ben Stokes has called it a day in one-day cricket. Stokes says he can't give 100 per cent to his teammates in 50-over cricket as he juggles the Test captaincy, keeping fit and playing T20 cricket. His last game will be tonight against South Africa in Durham.

• 📺 Watch Stokes' last ODI tonight from 10pm AEST on Foxtel and Kayo

⚽️ Life's a beach for Barcelona's star recruit Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker confirmed he's signed with Barca from a beach in Miami, where the club will play Inter Miami in a friendly match tomorrow. Lewandowski didn't come cheap - his transfer fee was an eye-watering $75 million.

LEFT OF FIELD

🏉 Pigeon racing: Pigeon racing, you read that right. Meet Matty Starkhoff, the pigeon trainer from the outback Queensland town of Winton who is quietly confident his birds can get the job done at one of the biggest events in the world. He'll be sending 2 birds over, Augustus and Lady Luck, to the Pattaya International Pigeon Race in Thailand this November. But Augustus and Lady Luck are going to have some stiff competition - more than 8000 pigeons from 48 countries will compete in several events for some serious cash. The prize pool is $2.6 million, but Starkhoff says he doesn't do it for the money, he just does it for the thrill.   

📽 Highlight reel: Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce proved age is just a number by winning her 5th world title in the 100m sprint at the age of 35 at the World Athletics Championships.

📸 Photo finish: We're getting some strong 007 vibes from F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.

THE POLLING BOOTH

Monday's result: 58.57% don't care about mullets but if it means Cameron Smith wins more majors they're all for it

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

• 🥇 9:35am - Athletics - World Championships - University of Oregon, Oregon - Foxtel, Kayo

• ⚾️ 10:00am - Baseball - MLB Home Run Derby - Los Angeles - Foxtel, Kayo

• 🚴‍♂️ 9:30pm - Tour de France - Stage 16 - Carcassonne to Foix - SBS

All times AEST

THE MANAGER'S OFFICE

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