Did Tony Jacklin ever win a major?

The short answer is yes, he did. In fact, he won two and came agonising close to winning three. In 1969, five days after his twenty-fifth birthday, Jacklin won the Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, defeating former champion Bob Charles by two strokes. In so doing, he became the first Briton to do so since Max Faulkner in 1951. The following year, Jacklin shot 71-70-70-70 for a seven-under-par total of 211 and a seven-shot victory over Dave Hill in the 1970 U.S. Open at Hazeltine National. His wire-to-wire victory made him the first Briton to win the third of the four major championships since Willie Macfarlane in 1926.

Two years later, at the 1972 Open Championship at Muirfield, Jacklin was tied for the lead with eventual winner Lee Trevino with two holes left to play in the final round. However, he three-putted from 15 feet for a bogey on the penultimate hole and bogeyed the final hole to finish third behind Trevino and Jack Nicklaus, who shot a course record-equalling 65 in the final round to finish in the runner-up position. Reflecting on the defeat decades later, Jacklin said, ‘I was never the same again after that. I didn’t ever get my head around it.’

Why AJ vs Wilder in 2024 is closer than ever

It’s not quite the present we were all hoping for this Christmas but it’s pretty damn close. On December 23rd in Riyadh Saudi Arabia both Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will feature on the same card as anticipation continues to grow for their long-awaited encounter. Superfights failing to materialize is hardly a new trend when it comes to boxing but the past few years have been worse than usual and those frustrations began to simmer again in the aftermath of Tyson Fury’s clash with former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The Gypsy King’s underwhelming performance in the bout with the boxing newcomer left many thinking we would be left waiting even longer for a highly-sought after unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk. For the time being it seems those fears have been realized. Thankfully for boxing fans though, AJ and Wilder have stepped into the fold to stoke the fire once again and provide fresh hopes of a Heavyweight superfight coming sooner rather than later. There is still a job to be done in Riyadh however, and plenty of roadblocks to navigate before a pen is put to paper.

 

First up is AJ who will be taking on a tricky opponent in Otto Wallin. The 33-year-old Swede has not had many high-profile fights but is not to be underestimated with an impressive 26-1 record with 14 of those victories coming by way of knockout. Wallin is perhaps best known for giving Fury a scare back in 2019, opening up the WBC Heavyweight champion of the world just above the eye which required 47 stitches. The cut was so severe that there were genuine concerns the fight could have been called as Fury’s undefeated record was under serious jeopardy. Fury eventually won out with a unanimous decision but the Manchester born fighter had to dig deep to retain his crown. AJ will still arrive in Saudi Arabia on the 23rd the comfortable favourite but there have been question marks around the former two-time Heavyweight champion that suggest this will be no walk in the park. The 34-year-old from Watford has the better record at 26-3 with 23 knockouts but he failed to recapture the gold against Oleksandr Usyk and was less than convincing in his two most recent bouts against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius. He clearly has ambitions of reinserting himself into the Heavyweight title picture and will need to drastically improve on recent outings if he is to do just that. Simply put, Wallin will test the Brit’s mettle and Joshua will have to be at the top of his game to overcome this stubborn Swede. For those fancying a bet on the fight, online bookies have AJ as the 2/7 favourite to win.

 

As for Joshua’s long-term rival he has a very different challenge on his hands. The Bronze Bomber has been as inactive as it gets in the fighting world with only four fights since 2020 and similarly concerning for his preparations heading into a potential mega fight with Joshua is his recent record. The former WBC Heavyweight champion’s record over the last six fights stands at 3-2-1 with his undefeated streak in tatters and the aura of invincibility a thing of the past. He needs a dominant win in Saudi Arabia to get back on track but it’s unlikely to be a walkover. Former WBO Heavyweight champion Joshua Parker is no slouch and has an impressive 33-3 record with good reason. The New Zealander has been erratic in years gone by but he comes into this bout with more recent fight experience and is more than capable of scoring an eye-catching stoppage or two with 23 knockouts under his belt. It is entirely within the realm of possibility that the 31-year-old will outbox Wilder for large parts of this fight and with the Alabama native coming in undercooked, maybe even the unthinkable knockout win is on the cards. The 38-year-old certainly has his work cut out but the fact is he still possesses the most powerful punch in the game and the onus will be on Parker avoiding a direct hit rather than Wilder getting the job done. The Bronze Bomber comes in as a 1/6 favourite and he will need to live up to that billing to set up an encounter with Joshua in the near future.

 

Both AJ and Wilder are on the comeback trail after definitively losing their titles to Usyk and Fury and both could do with a landmark victory to get them back in the title fight picture. Should they through December 23rd unscathed then expect sparks to fly in the post-match interviews with these two heavyweight juggernauts within arm’s reach. The chances of both fighters staring each other down with a face to face encounter in the aftermath of the event seem high and rest assured the clamour for Joshua vs Wilder will only intensify from there. For years the rival promoters have failed to manifest a monumental meeting between the two icons, but should they score the wins they need on The Day of Reckoning card, then all signs point to their titanic clash in 2024.

The Legacy of Sports Teams in Texas

Texas stands as the country’s largest sporting powerhouse, where the legacy of athletic excellence is as diverse as the vast Texan landscape. From the gridiron gladiators of the NFL to the diamond heroes of MLB, the dynamic kicks of MLS, and the hardwood finesse of the NBA, Texas boasts a roster of teams that have etched their stories into the annals of American sports history. No other state has such a prominent culture of sports where fanaticism reaches as far as the high school level, yet Texas has managed to not only sustain the interest in sports, but grow it and expand it across many different genres over time.

NFL: Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans

With the NFL being America’s darling and Texas being the biggest state, Texas boasts two formidable contenders. Fittingly, The Dallas Cowboys, often hailed as “America’s Team,” have left an indelible mark since their inception in 1960. With a storied history that includes five Super Bowl victories, the Cowboys’ iconic star shines brightly in the NFL constellation.

A relative newcomer to the league, the Houston Texans, established in 2002, have quickly become a force to be reckoned with. While a Super Bowl title has eluded them and there have been some recent issues with quarterbacks, the team seems on the upswing with rookie QB CJ Stroud. According to Betting TX, this is likely the reason why their odds to win the Super Bowl has rapidly dropped over the last couple of weeks.

MLB: Houston Astros and Texas Rangers

The crack of the bat echoes through Texas, where Major League Baseball (MLB) holds a special place in the hearts of fans. The Houston Astros, founded in 1962, have seen their fair share of triumphs and tribulations. The Astros’ journey culminated in a historic World Series title in 2017, a crowning achievement that solidified their status in the MLB pantheon.

On the other side of the diamond, the Texas Rangers, established in 1972, have ridden the waves of baseball fortunes. Despite the absence of a championship, the Rangers have consistently been a force, with several playoff appearances capturing the imaginations of their devoted fan base.

MLS: FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo

Soccer, the world’s game, has found a fervent home in Texas through Major League Soccer (MLS). FC Dallas, founded in 1995, has been a standard-bearer for Texan soccer excellence. With a commitment to developing homegrown talent, FC Dallas has carved a niche in the MLS landscape.

Adding to the Texan soccer narrative is the Houston Dynamo, established in 2005. In a relatively short span, the Dynamo claimed back-to-back MLS Cup titles in their first two seasons, a testament to the franchise’s rapid ascent and the growing prominence of soccer in the state.

NBA: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs

Basketball courts across Texas resonate with the dribble and swish of the NBA, where three teams have left an indelible mark. The Dallas Mavericks, founded in 1980, etched their name in NBA lore with a memorable championship victory in 2011, led by the legendary Dirk Nowitzki and has since become synonymous with Mark Cuban. Although Cuban just sold the franchise, the team saw a revitalization and became vastly more successful under his management.

The Houston Rockets, established in 1967, boast a legacy of high-flying moments, with two NBA championships in the mid-’90s and a commitment to excellence that keeps them in perennial contention.

Down in San Antonio, the Spurs stand as a paragon of consistency and success. Founded in 1967 as the Dallas Chaparrals and later moving to San Antonio in 1973, the Spurs have secured five NBA championships, with a distinctive brand of team-first basketball that has become their hallmark.


Honorable Mention: Longhorns, Aggies, Frogs

While most people tend to keep their eyes on sports teams that extend past college, we felt that an honorable mention was needed due to the culture of college sports in Texas. At the top of this list sits the Longhorns, who are perhaps the most historical franchise in Texas college sport history. Next, we have Aggies who have remained a perennial contender in both college football but have also been formidable in basketball as of late. Lastly, the TCU Frogs are easily the least recognizable out of the three and the dismal season the team has experienced in 2023 has not helped their case. Still, with the help of Max Duggan, the team is the latest out of the trio to reach the National Championship and therefore has had the most recent success.

Who are the top UK Horse Racing Commentators?

After listening to thousands of horse racing commentaries I should know a thing or two about the voices to racing. Every country varies in the style of race commentary is presented. For example, racing in America compared with the United Kingdom. I guess we often like what we are accustomed to hearing and that’s why I consider home-grown commentators are the best in the world.

Here are 5 UK horse racing commentators who have called winners and losers.

Malcolm Tomlinson –

Interestingly, Tomlinson is not only a horse racing commentator but an actor who has starred in ‘Casualty’, ‘The Bill’, ‘Grange Hill’ and ‘Cold Feet’. He has an informed approach and a relaxed style building to a crescendo especially in a tight finish. He works for Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing other stints include ITV Racing and BBC Radio Live. Based in East Yorkshire he is often commentating on race meetings at Beverley among other courses.

Richard Hoiles –

I must admit Richard Hoiles is one of my favourite commentators. He has a passion for horse racing and often details insight about horse trainers, breeding lines and statistics. His background in racing started at Shat Tin, Hong Kong, in the early 2000s. In fact, he was recommended to the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 1995 by Australian commentator Jim McGrath, who was a stable for UK racing. These days Hoiles is the lead commentor for ITV Racing. One of his favourite courses is Cheltenham. However, he doesn’t just commentate this side of the pond but South Africa, Canada, Japan and Dubai.

Simon Holt –

Those dulcet tones and often an excited finish to every race. Holt started commentating back in 1988 after being a racing journalist. He was fondly called ‘the languid one’ by the late John McCririck for his mellow voice and a natural, seemingly without effort. Holt made his debut as a race-caller at Newmarket back in 1994 for Channel 4 Racing. In 2000, he was elected as lead. Unfortunately, Channel 4 ended their racing coverage in 2016. To this day he is the voice of racing for Sky Sport Racing covering many race fixtures. Not one to shy away from other sports, he also commentates on lawn bowls at the Common Wealth Games for the BBC.

John Hunt –

Has a very appealing voice and consummate professional. One of my favourites in the horse commentating world. This former policeman followed his love of sport after seeing an advertisement for a trainee racecourse commentator. These days he is a regular in the studio for Sky Sport Racing and BBC Radio 5Live. Hunt has remained loyal to BBC even though he was approached by ITV. In addition to horse racing commentary he also does Match of the Day and other sports including the winter Olympics.

Mark Johnson –

I often hear Johnson commentating on the horse racing, especially Kempton Park. He is well-known in the UK as well as America. In fact, he is noted to be the only person to commentate on both the Epsom Derby and Kentucky Derby. Also, he has been a racing commentator for the last 30-years for Jersey Race Club.

In recent years, there has been a wealth of new commentator to add to household names including Gareth Topham (2012). Other professionals include Darren Owen, Jerry Hannon, Stewart Machin and Mike Cattermole.

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