TIGER RETURNS
After one false start, cautious optimism best be the watchword in anticipating Tiger Woods making his comeback to competitive golf. He was due to play the Safeway Open in October after a 16-month absence from the game following surgery on his back but withdrew from the tournament. The 14-times major winner is now ranked No879 in the world, but will be hoping to begin what is a long journey back to the sharp end at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Thursday (Sky Sports 4, 6.30pm). It might be described as a home fixture for the 40-year-old, whose foundation backs and hosts the event. However, it will be testing for him. The Hero is an invitational, with a field of 18 – all expected to be players at the top of their game, including Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson.
FA CUP TIES
Macclesfield Town and Oxford United begin a weekend of FA Cup second round action on Friday (BBC2, 7.30pm), with the chance for a big tie up for grabs in the next round. Macclesfield, of the National League, are the form side having unexpectedly knocked out Walsall to advance. Other televised games are Curzon Ashton v AFC Wimbledon (Sunday, BT Sport 1, 12pm) and Lincoln City v Oldham Athletic (Monday, BT Sport 1, 7.45pm). The BBC will cover the action on Sunday afternoon in FA Cup Final Score on BBC1 from 1.45pm and the draw for the third round will be made on the Monday at 7.10pm.
SEVENS BACK ON PITCH
Having gone down a storm at the Rio Olympics, sevens returns in its annual form as HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series begins in Dubai (day one, Friday, Sky Sports 2, 6am). The opening part of the tournament sees the teams in four groups of four competing in a round robin. Fiji have been the cup holders for two seasons and showed no signs of letting up after their dominant performance at the Games this summer when they secured the country’s first gold medal and, more recently, became the Oceania Rugby Sevens champions. Uganda are the newest competitors, having beaten Namibia to win the Rugby Africa Sevens.
OLD RIVALRY RESUMES
Australia meet New Zealand for the first match of the Chappell-Hadlee One-Day International Series on Saturday (BT Sport 3, 3am) with the honours between the two rivals delicately poised. Although Australia held the trophy between 2008 and 2011 and are 4-3 up in overall wins, the two sides share 12 wins apiece from the 27 games played since 2004 and New Zealand will be eager to have the edge and make it all square for the trophy as a whole. Sydney hosts the first match, with Canberra and Melbourne following on the Monday and Thursday.
SPOTY NAMES OUT
The BBC will announce the shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year during The One Show on Monday (BBC1, 7pm) when Spoty host Gabby Logan will reveal who has been chosen for the public vote. Last year’s winner, Andy Murray, became firm favourite with the bookies after his victory at Wimbledon, and is heavily odds-on in front of Alistair Brownlee, Mo Farah, and Laura Trott.
LOOK OUT FOR … MASSIMO CELLINO
What’s he said now? Not so much lately – he’s been preoccupied by takeovers, plus an embezzlement case and an FA “bung” inquiry – he denies wrongdoing in both. But this week should raise his profile again as Leeds eye their biggest night since he took over: Tuesday’s EFL Cup quarter-final at Anfield.
So Leeds are good again now, are they? They’re getting there – and it’s been a while. When Cellino arrived in 2014 he told a wary fanbase not to listen to media sceptics: “Me, I sort out the fucking problems at Leeds. The fans, they will enjoy this, I promise.” Since then he’s delivered instability, rows, seven managers and a laser-sharp focus on superstition: railing against the appearance of the number 17 on seats, shirts, in players’ birthdates and on the match programme – with an issue 16b published last season. It’s not been dull – but it’s not looked like being successful, either. Until now.
How so? Thanks to some rare self-restraint. According to reports, Cellino first toyed with sacking Garry Monk two games into this season. Then again after four games. But then Monk’s side started performing, hitting form in time for Tuesday’s glamour tie, and reviving memories of their most recent golden era.
How long ago was that? It’s 15 years since they reached the Champions League semis. Three years later they were relegated in financial chaos. And it’s been seven years since they last faced Liverpool – also in the League Cup.
How did that one go? The League One side charged into it in on the back of 15 home league wins on the trot – but lost 1-0 at Elland Road. David N’Gog scored Liverpool’s second-half winner.
So what are their chances this time? Never discount the magic of the Rumbelows, or the impact of squad rotation – but it looks like it’ll be tough under the lights at Anfield. “We’ve had some mighty battles with Liverpool over the years,” says former star Eddie Gray. “I just wish it was at Elland Road.”
Any omens? One big one – and it has nothing to do with the number 17. Almost exactly 19 years ago David O’Leary’s Leeds were 1-0 down at Anfield with 10 minutes left. Then 18-year-old debutant Alan Smith came off the bench to equalise with his first touch, before Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored twice to win it 3-1. Something similar on Tuesday should tick Cellino’s boxes. No pressure, Garry.
