An elite field with 98 of the world’s 100 top-ranked players gathers at Bellerive Country Club for the year’s final major tournament, which starts Thursday.

Woods, a 14-time major champion, tries to end a 10-year major victory drought in his comeback from spinal fusion surgery while three-time major winner Jordan Spieth tries to complete a Career Grand Slam with a victory.

Add on-form McIlroy, a four-time major winner who was a runner-up at the Open Championship, plus reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed, two-time US Open winner Brooks Koepka and reigning Open Championship winner Francesco Molinari of Italy and it’s clear to see why expectations are high for a thrill-packed final major of 2018.

“I like the way the PGA sets it up,” Koepka said. “It’s very difficult. It’s a battle for sure.”

Second-ranked defending champion Justin Thomas, 14-time major champion Woods in his first PGA Championship since 2015 and McIlroy are grouped together for the first two rounds as are Molinari, Reed and Koepka.

World number three Justin Rose of England, Spain’s seventh-ranked Jon Rahm and eighth-ranked Spieth play together the first two days as do top-ranked Dustin Johnson and past Masters winners Bubba Watson and Adam Scott.

Thomas and Rose could overtake Johnson for world number one this week, but Rose would need a victory and Thomas no worse than a solo second finish.

The last August edition of the event before next year’s move to May also has Thomas coming off a win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational against a similar world-class field.

“I’m just in a great place mentally right now,” Thomas said. “I was just so patient and calm.”

Since 1980, only two players have won the week before the PGA and then captured the Wanamaker Trophy, Woods in 2007 and McIlroy in 2014. And not since Woods in 2006-07 has anyone won the PGA in consecutive years.

“Tiger has been a pretty big influence for me,” Thomas said. “He motivated me to get where I am now. So it’s great to have him back now.”

Woods briefly led on Sunday at the Open Championship before sharing sixth after his best final round in five years saw him share fourth at the US PGA National.

But 51st-ranked Woods hasn’t seen Bellerive in 17 years so nine holes of practice each day will be critical in his search for an 80th career victory and first in any event in five years.

“I’ll take a look at the course for feel more than anything,” Woods said. “I need to get a feel for the golf course now and how the holes are playing. I need to get some reps on the greens and see what’s there.”

– Chilean teen chases mark –

With a victory, Spieth would at age 25 join a select Career Grand Slam list that includes Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen.

“When you have an opportunity to do that, certainly it weighs on you a little bit,” Spieth said. “All I can do is embrace the challenge.”

Chile’s 164th-ranked Joaquin Niemann, the youngest player in the field at 19, could become the youngest PGA Championship winner, breaking the mark set by a 20-year-old Sarazen in 1922.

Two-time major winner Zach Johnson is joined in the field by Zach J. Johnson, one of 20 club professionals in the field.

The 26-year-old Belgium international was granted an extended rest after his country finished third at the World Cup, but he was scheduled to return to training following Chelsea’s 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Courtois joined Chelsea from Belgian side Genk in 2011 and spent the next three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid before dislodging Petr Cech as first choice at Stamford Bridge.

He has repeatedly stated his desire to move closer to his two children in the Spanish capital, and with just a year remaining on his contract Chelsea risk losing him for a reduced fee in January or for free next summer.

Eden Hazard, whose deal expires in 2020, has also long been the subject of speculation over a move to Real, but the forward was present at the club’s Cobham training base on Monday.

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, who replaced Antonio Conte last month, admitted on Friday he was unsure whether Courtois would stay.

“At the moment Courtois is the goalkeeper of the club, of Chelsea,” Sarri said. “I don’t know in the future. It depends on the club. It depends especially on him, I think.

“But, I hope that Courtois will be our goalkeeper. It’s very important for us to keep the top players.”

Novak Djokovic and Venus Williams also were among the Grand Slam champions who missed out on a first-round bye at the last major tuneup event for the US Open, which starts August 27 in New York.

Top seeds for the Cincinnati event followed the latest ATP and WTA rankings with world number ones Rafael Nadal of Spain and Simona Halep of Romania leading the 16 seeds in each 56-player field, the top eight of whom receive first-round byes.

Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion needing one more major victory to match Margaret Court’s all-time record, will try to extend her streak of years with a major title to seven by winning the US Open.

Two-time Cincinnati champion Serena lost the Wimbledon final to Angelique Kerber last month, the 36-year-old American’s first Grand Slam final since an extended absence after giving birth to a baby daughter last September.

Russia’s Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, reached the French Open quarter-finals but was a first-round loser at Wimbledon.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Djokovic, a 13-time Grand Slam champion, was named the 10th seed while Britain’s Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, will be unseeded in only his fourth start since an 11-month absence with a right hip injury.

Djokovic has reached the Cincinnati final five times without ever taking home the winner’s trophy.

Behind 17-time Grand Slam winner Nadal in the men’s seedings are 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, Germany’s Alexander Zverev fresh off defending a title in Washington, Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro and defending Cincinnati champion Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.

On the women’s side after Halep were Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, American Sloane Stephens, Kerber, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, France’s Caroline Garcia and defending champion Garbine Muguruza of Spain.

The athletes paid a courtesy call on the premier at Government House on Monday to listen to his instructions and receive his blessings ahead of their participation at the Games in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.

The prime minister advised the delegations not only to maximise their efforts in the pursuit of  excellence at Games but also to strengthen their friendships with other participants.

“Sports are used to build good relations at the global level, just like the North and South Korean nations,” Prayuth told the athletes.

“You should enjoy the experience and at the same time make friends during the Games. We always give priority to the medals but we should not forget to take this opportunity to build good friendships,” said the premier, adding that he always followed their fortunes at big sporting events.

The government leader also wished the athletes success, safe journey and told them to bring honour for themselves, families and the country.

Thailand will send 445 male and 385 female athletes to the Games, which will take part in Jakarta and Palembang.

The Sports Authority of Thailand expecst the athletes to return home with about 17 gold medals, with sepak takraw topping the gold medal expectations (four). Golf and weightlifting are predicted to produce two golds each while boxing, taekwando, sailing, bowling, shooting, and cycling are each tipped to yield at one.

A total budget of Bt37.9 million is being spent to send the Thai delegation to the Games. Thailand won 12 golds in Incheon, South Korea four years ago, while 24 is the highest number of gold medals Thailand has ever achieved in the Games history, achieved during the 13th Asiad in Bangkok 20 years ago.

Nat, 80, played a number of significant roles in Thai sport.

He was a Member of the Organising Committee for the XIII Asian Games in Bangkok (1998); Vice-President of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) (1999-2009); President of the Trap and Skeet Shooting Association of Thailand; Vice-President, then President (2006-) of the Asian Trap and Skeet Shooting Federation; Member of the Board of the Sports Authority of Thailand (2002-2006) and Vice-Minister of Tourism and Sports (2007-2008).

He had also been member of the IOC since 1992 in the following positions: Eligibility (1992-1998), Radio and Television (1993-1996, 2002-2004), Coordination for the Games of the XXVII Olympics, Sydney 2000 (1995-2000), Culture and Olympic Education (1999-2015), Coordination for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008 (2002-2008), Olympic Programme (2005-2013), Coordination for the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games Singapore 2010 (2008-2011), Coordination for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, Rio 2016 (2010-2016), Evaluation for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in 2020 (2013), plus Culture and Olympic Heritage (2015-).

United’s roller-coaster pre-season ended in defeat on Sunday when Javi Martinez’s second-half header earned Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory at the Allianz Arena.

Spain international Martinez nodded in from a corner on 59 minutes as the German champions overcame a lacklustre display from Mourinho’s side who face Leicester City at home on Friday.

“In the week, we have to organise the week in a way so we can be fresh for Friday because, on Friday, the Premier League starts. We play for points and it’s with the players we have,” Mourinho told MUTV.

“There is no time to cry. Players are not going to be here on Friday and we have to go with best possible team and with a great mentality.”

Mourinho still remains hopeful of strengthening his side in the transfer window before the August 9 deadline, with Brazil international midfielder Fred the club’s top signing this summer.

“My CEO knows what I want for quite a long time,” Mourinho told German TV ahead of Sunday’s game. “I know he tries to do the best for me, and I still have a few days to wait and see what is going to happen.”

Marcus Rashford and Victor Lindelof returned for United on Sunday after their post-World Cup break, although the visitors lost Eric Bailly to injury after the interval following a collision with Serge Gnabry.

“Finally, it’s over. Finally, such a difficult pre-season is over. The players were, once more, brilliant, they could not have done better than what they did,” added Mourinho to MUTV.

Rashford wore the number 10 short, previously the Old Trafford property of the likes of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“He wanted it. He always wanted it,” said Mourinho.

“Of course, he respected Rooney and then Zlatan wanted to have it. Of course, he was in the shadow, waiting for the opportunity and now the shirt is empty.

“It’s something fantastic for the kid, let’s give the shirt to him.”

Bayern, under new coach Niko Kovac, will head back to their training camp in Tegernsee ahead of next weekend’s German Super Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The 21-year-old German won his third title of the year and the ninth of his career by defeating Australian teen Alex De Minaur 6-2, 6-4 in the 50th edition of the US Open tuneup event.

“What a fantastic week for me,” Zverev said. “Winning a tournament on its 50th anniversary is something amazing. This has been a very special week for me.

“(Defending a title) feels great and shows mental strength as well. It shows a little maturity I think.”

While Zverev stands atop a generation of rising young stars, he still puts 20-time Grand Slam winner Federer, 36, and 17-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, 32, on the highest of pedestals.

“Roger and Rafa are still the best out there and still competing for Grand Slam titles,” he said. “I haven’t won a Grand Slam title. Saying I’m on their level wouldn’t be fair to them.”

Not since 20-year-old Rafael Nadal beat 19-year-old Novak Djokovic 11 years ago at Indian Wells had the combined ages of ATP finalists been so young. And not since 1995 in Buenos Aires had all four semi-finalists been 21-or-under, Zverev being the eldest.

“It’s not only me that’s the future of the sport. I think everybody who made it to the semi-finals is the future,” Zverev said. “We all want to be the best. Some of us already think we’re the best. We all have a lot of talent.”

Zverev joined a list of back-to-back Washington champions that includes Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Juan Martin del Potro.

– Aussie takes ‘proud’ step –

Zverev struggled when asked where his game needs work, saying with a smile, “I think I’m close to perfection.”

De Minaur, who took only 11 points off Zverev’s serve, could somewhat agree after falling in 74 minutes.

“He played some great tennis. He came out blazing and was too good for me,” De Minaur said. “It gives you that fire to replicate the success he has had at such a young age. I think he’s going to be around for a very long time.”

It was the second career ATP final for the 19-year-old from Sydney, who lost a final there to Daniil Medvedev in January. De Minaur saved four match points in beating Andrey Rublev in a grueling semi-final to get there.

“I did everything I could to recover,” De Minaur said. “I’ll have to get better at it and my body will adjust to the circumstances.”

The 72nd-ranked Aussie will jump to a career-best 45th in Monday’s rankings.

“I’m really proud of myself. I played some high-level matches,” De Minaur said.

Zverev, who needed a fifth-set Davis Cup tie-breaker to beat De Minaur in their only prior meeting, broke twice to win the first set in 30 minutes. He smacked a forehand winner to break for a 2-1 edge and held serve to the finish.

– Murray ‘shock to system’ –

De Minaur reached the semi-finals when three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray withdrew Friday after three grueling three-set matches in only his third event since missing 11 months with a right hip injury.

“To go from nothing to back-to-backs like that was quite a shock to the system. He was a bit beaten up,” said Andy’s brother Jamie Murray, who won the doubles title with Brazilian Bruno Soares.

Murray also withdrew from next week’s event in Canada but plans to play in Cincinnati the following week.

“Andy is on his way back,” Zverev said. “He looked unbelievable here. It’s going to be great to see what he can do.”

In the companion WTA event final, two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova saved four match points and rallied to defeat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 for her 18th career title.

It was the 33-year-old Russian’s first crown since 2016 in Moscow and second in Washington after 2014.

England’s Georgia Hall used to imagine as a young girl she was putting to win the British Open — on Sunday that fantasy became a reality as she showed grit and a steely nerve to win her first major at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

With her father Wayne acting as her caddie, the 22-year-old came from a shot behind overnight leader Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand to fire a sublime final round of five-under 67 for a 17 under par total and claim a first major title and the $490,000 winner’s cheque.

Over the 72 holes, Hall made only three bogeys — she could well afford the one at the last — and her six-birdie final round secured a two-shot victory over Pornanong.

“This is too good to be true,” she said.

“When I was nine years old I used to say ‘this for the British Open’ and to have that experience today was just unbelievable.”

It was also an emotional win as her grandfather is not well.

Struggling to hold back the tears at the presentation, she said: “This is for you Grandad.”

Hall, whose first name is in honour of the American state that hosts the Masters at Augusta, had only won twice previously since turning professional in 2014, as a rookie on the Ladies European Tour Access Series and at the 2016 Victorian Open in Australia.

The final day turned out to be a two horse race between the pair at the back of the field, Hall and Pornanong.

The Thai 28-year-old was two ahead after four birdies in the first six holes and still one ahead at the turn.

But Hall staged a great back nine charge with three birdies in four holes from the 13th, the 25-footer at the 16th earning the lead for the first time.

– ‘Loved every minute’ –

Hall is the first British winner since Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, also at Lytham in 2009, and joins Laura Davies, who has four, Alison Nicholas (1997 US Women’s Open) and Karen Stupples (2004 British Open) as English winners of a women’s major.

“It was almost like matchplay at the end, and I enjoy that sort of golf,” said Hall.

“I played in the Solheim Cup (Europe v the USA) and loved it.

“Being able to hit these shots under pressure felt so good and to have six birdies in the final round of a major isn’t bad is it?

“It’s wonderful to join the list of British major winners.”

Hall said that being in contention for last year’s title had stood her in good stead for Sunday’s climax.

“I finished third last year and that experience definitely helped today.

“I was nervous, but in control. I just loved every minute.”

Pornanong, leader at halfway and after 54 holes, did little wrong, but was finally overtaken by Hall’s late great run and only then started making costly errors.

A double-bogey at the 17th finally ended her challenge.

“I got a lot of experience, and just very nervous today, more nervous. Yeah, it’s going to be big experience for me.” said Pornanong.

“more confidence after this week, but I will fix my swing a little bit. Georgia  played so amazing today, everything is perfect. Yeah, she is from here and everyone rooting for her. I’m so happy she win,” the Thai said.

Pornanong closed with a 70 for 15 under par with South Korea’s Ryu So-yeon in third place on 13 under after a 70 that was blighted by a triple-bogey seven at the third.

Hall was able to enjoy the walk down the 18th — by then she had a three-shot lead and she played for a safe bogey.

Atthaya Thitikul was the only amateur to make the cut, and her reward was to win the Smyth Salver.

The Thai 15-year-old closed with 77 for 12 over par.

The 27-year-old from Suphan Buri province, who blew away his third-round leads in the 2017 Singha Masters and Pattaya Open, ended the final-round jinx yesterday. He shot a final-round 67 for a total 12-under-par 272 at the par-71 7,004-yard layout.

Teeing off a shot behind co-leaders Joohyung Kim of South Korea and Donlaphatchai Niyomchon, Pawin bogeyed the first hole but recovered quickly to fire three straight birdies (holes 3-5) and an eagle on the seventh hole before he swapped a birdie with a bogey at the back nine.

“This is a load off. I was leading after the third rounds in several tournaments before this but never won. I’m excited to pull it off this time,” said Pawin, after claiming his second All Thailand Tour trophy since the Hua Hin Open in 2015.

“After the opening bogey, I felt like: ‘Here we go again’, but I tried to stay focused as I wanted to catch up with the leaders. Three birdies and an eagle really got me back on track. I tried to play without pressure like in the first round [which he was leading],” said Pawin, who would return home Bt300,000 richer with the winner’s cheque.

Four players, including Kim and Donlaphatchai, were tied for second on eight-under-par 276. Each received Bt105,700 prize money as runner-up.

Kim went up 13 under but his disastrous form on the back nine, a double bogey on the 11th and three finishing bogeys saw him sign off with a 72.

Chapchai Nirat, with a 71, also shared second place for back-to-back runner-up finishes after the Royal Cup in Chon Buri last week. The other second-placed finisher was Nitithorn Thippong with a 69 final round.

The explosive 23-year-old convincingly defeated China’s highly promising Shi Yuqi 21-11, 21-13 in Nanjing, becoming the first Japanese man to win the World Championships.

Carolina Marin claimed her own slice of history as the Spaniard became the first woman to win three badminton world crowns with an emphatic victory over P.V. Sindhu of India.

Momota’s career descended into controversy in 2016 when Japanese badminton chiefs suspended him for more than a year for visiting an illegal casino, denying him a place at the Rio Olympics.

Momota, number two in the world at the time, has been working his way back to the top ever since and was the pre-tournament favourite in Nanjing.

After dismissing Shi, Momota was coy about his temporary absence from the sport, but said after a pause: “There was a time when I was away.

“But I got a lot of help and support from many people, this title is a good reward for them.”

Momota, now seventh in the rankings, said he wanted to emulate greats Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan, two super stars who have reigned over badminton for well over a decade.

Lee missed the tournament because of illness and Lin was well beaten by Shi in the third round.

“They have had long and successful careers and like them, I want to give the audience enjoyment,” said Momota, whose championship-winning point was a huge anti-climax — the shuttlecock hitting the top of the net before falling in his favour.

The Japanese immediately apologised to Shi, who was playing in front of his home-province crowd and appeared nervous, making numerous errors.

The third seed, 22, defeated compatriots Lin and Olympic champion Chen Long on the way to the final to confirm a changing of the guard in Chinese men’s badminton.

“That is why they call me the hope of Chinese badminton, but I need to improve on all fronts,” he said modestly.

– More heartbreak for Sindhu –

There were tears of joy from the 25-year-old Marin after her victory over the unfortunate Sindhu in the women’s final.

The aggressive Marin is now the reigning world and Olympic champion thanks to a ruthless 21-19, 21-10 win.

The all-action Spaniard adds the 2018 world crown to her titles in 2014 and 2015, and the Olympic gold she won at Sindhu’s expense at Rio 2016.

“I feel really happy, I cannot describe my emotions now, I have so many inside,” said Marin, who was imperious all week despite being a modest seventh in the seedings.

Third seed Sindhu, 23, well known for her never-say-die spirit, has now suffered a string of near-misses.

As well as disappointment at Rio, Sindhu was beaten in last year’s World Championships final by Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara and had to settle for silver at this year’s Commonwealth Games too.

Sindhu said she could not live with the pace of Marin.

“She has that speed. Today she started fast and I was prepared for everything,” said the Indian, who owes her athleticism to volleyball-playing parents.

She described another finals defeat as “frustrating and quite sad”.

“But I need to come back stronger,” she said.

Aside from Marin, Japan and China dominated the last day of action.

Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara won the women’s doubles title in a thrilling all-Japanese final, while the hosts took gold in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles.