Rory McIlroy only found five of 14 fairways in Thursday's first round of the Masters but still managed to grab a share of the lead with his best Augusta start since 2011.
Jean-Philippe Mateta inspired Crystal Palace to a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in their Conference League quarter-final, first leg on Thursday.
Ollie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa beat Bologna 3-1 in their Europa League quarter-final, first leg on Thursday, while Nottingham Forest held Porto 1-1 thanks to a comical own goal from Martim Fernandes.
- Pioneering US hip-hop artist Afrika Bambaataa dies at 68
- Russia bans Nobel-winning rights group, raids independent newspaper, in one day
Politics
The Pentagon on Thursday denied a report that the Vatican's US envoy was summoned in January for a "bitter" dressing down over remarks by Pope Leo that were seen as criticizing the Trump administration’s use of military force.
April 09, 2026
RECENT NEWS
- US stocks extend gains, shrugging off ceasefire worries
- Russian police raid independent Novaya Gazeta outlet, reporter detained
- Strait of Hormuz traffic remains becalmed despite ceasefire
- France's Macron in Rome for first meeting with Pope Leo
Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and was scheduled for surgery in Houston on Thursday, the team said hours before their NBA game against the Rockets.
April 09, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Tyson Fury insisted "I've still got it" as the former world heavyweight champion prepared for his latest return to the ring.
April 09, 2026
Iran's imposition of a toll for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz looks set to be a key point of contention at talks opening in Pakistan Friday.
April 09, 2026
Rory McIlroy reeled off three consecutive back-nine birdies to fire a five-under par 67 and seize a share of the lead in Thursday's opening round of the 90th Masters with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler lurking two adrift.
April 09, 2026
Sports
Boston star Jayson Tatum will try to set aside the emotions of his Madison Square Garden return on Thursday and help the Celtics lock up the NBA Eastern Conference second seed with a win over the New York Knicks.
April 09, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Meg Jones is confident England will give supporters value for money when she leads the all-conquering world champions for the first time in their Women's Six Nations opener against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.
American Airlines said Thursday it will restore service to Venezuela as soon as April 30, making it the first US airline to return to the country since Washington captured leader Nicolas Maduro.
Andy Robertson will bring down the curtain on his nine-year career at Liverpool at the end of the season, the faltering Premier League champions announced on Thursday.
Youngster Mukul Choudhary played the innings of his life, smashing seven sixes on his way to an unbeaten 54 to haul Lucknow Super Kings to a dramatic, last-ball, three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Thursday.
April 09, 2026
Culture
Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs urged an appeals court Thursday to overturn the US hip-hop mogul's prison term of more than four years for prostitution-related crimes.
April 09, 2026
RECENT NEWS
The International Monetary Fund will lower global growth forecasts due to the Middle East war, its chief said Thursday, warning of the conflict's "scarring effects" despite a fragile ceasefire.
Jihadists in northeast Nigeria killed several troops including a brigadier general in an assault on a military base, local government and intelligence sources told AFP on Thursday, the second killing of a high-ranking officer in five months.
An animal welfare charity has revealed it rescued more than 250 dogs from one UK home, with a photo of the scene prompting "disbelief" and false claims that the image was generated by artificial intelligence.
The European Union will not be able to compete in the global artificial intelligence race by hurting companies in other countries, US envoy to the EU Andrew Puzder told AFP on Thursday.
April 09, 2026
- Verstappen Red Bull future in doubt as engineer to join McLaren
- Angola name former Senegal boss Cisse as new coach
- Sinner and Alcaraz wobble but advance to Monte Carlo quarter-finals
- Reed soars to early Masters lead on wings of eagles
- US Democrats fail in bid to curb Trump's Iran war powers
- Veteran prop Slimani to return to France with Toulon
- Iranians pay tribute to slain supreme leader weeks after killing
- Israel seeks Lebanon talks as its strikes threaten US-Iran truce