G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall" - Mitch Hedberg (Comedian)

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏈 Biggest contract in sports history

⛳️ PGA Review and Preview

🥊 Gallen fight confirmed for October

⚽️ Live Scores

(FT) Crystal Palace 2-3 Chelsea

• Chelsea win five-goal thriller with Palace

• Rocket from Zaha (see further down in the mail)

• In form Pulisic nets again

(FT) Watford 2-1 Norwich

• Welbeck's stunning overhead kick moves Watford four points clear of drop zone

(HT) Arsenal 1-0 Leicester

•  Aubameyang converts Saka cross for 20th league goal of season

🇦🇺 Geelong prepares for lengthy AFL road trip following Victoria's coronavirus spike

Geelong has only recently arrived in Sydney but the club is preparing for the possibility of being on the road for a lot longer than the five-week period initially laid out by the AFL.

Melbourne will be locked down for six weeks as coronavirus cases rise.

They take on Brisbane at the SCG on Thursday night before travelling to Perth, where they will play against Collingwood, West Coast and Fremantle. (abc)

Key points:

• The Cats have moved to Sydney, before they travel to Perth ahead of round seven

• Chris Scott said the Cats might send players home to Victoria while based interstate

• Scott said the club would give its full support to Gary Ablett while away from his family

🇦🇺 Rowell to have surgery on shoulder

Rowell dislocated his shoulder during the opening quarter of the Suns’ clash with Geelong and is expected to miss the next three months of the season.

“Matt met with a surgeon in Sydney. The outcome from that is he’ll undertake some surgery early next week,” Haines (Club Operations Manager) said. (Fox)

🏉 Broncos need old school honesty: Hodges

An "old school" honesty session is just what Brisbane needs to snap their horror NRL form slump, former captain Justin Hodges says.

After six straight losses, the Broncos would be forgiven for wanting to drown their sorrows.

Hodges played in a Broncos era that usually tasted success. It featured in the 2006 premiership win and retiring after leading them to the 2015 grand final.

"I've been in sides where we have been absolutely hammered and we've had those honesty sessions," he told Fox League's NRL Tonight.

"It's better off having a beer. After a few beers the truth comes out.

"Teammates may come to blows or have an argument but that is what you want to see - that reaction.

"Sometimes, the best thing is to get the guys in a group and have a beer, really iron out so they can get on the front foot again."

🏉 Thompson set for Bulldogs debut

Luke Thompson is set to make his NRL debut for Canterbury Bulldogs on Saturday after being named in coach Dean Pay’s 17 for the first time ahead of their clash with the under fire Brisbane Broncos.

Thompson arrived in Australia after securing an early release from St Helens three weeks ago and will start a loose forward.

⛳️ Dechambeau wins Rocket Mortgage Classic

Bryson DeChambeau (-23) overpowers field to win at Rocket Mortgage.

“It’s a little emotional for me,” DeChambeau said after firing a 7-under 65 to beat Matthew Wolff (71) by three shots.

Ranks for @B_DeChambeau:

• 1st in Driving Distance (350.6 yards)

• 1st in SG: Off-the-Tee (+6.672)

• 1st in SG: Putting (+7.831)

He was certainly bullish about his chances beforehand and I imagine a few on you got on board albeit at a short price.

⛳️ Workday Charity Open

After the cancelation of the John Deere Classic, this would have been a blank week on the PGA Tour but instead we have a 156-player field with a juicy $6.2 million purse, for the inaugural and only once to be played, Workday Charity Open.

The tournament is to be played at Muirfield Village which is the host course for next week's Memorial Tournament.

Named after his favourite Open Championship venue and set in 240 rolling, wooded acres, Jack Nicklaus designed Muirfield Village himself.

Top-10 players in the world Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay headline. Cantlay and Dechambeau have won at this course before.

Jon Rahm (17.0) looks well suited to this challenge after a week off.

The Memorial event (July 14-19) was due to be the first tournament of the adjusted schedule to have fans in stands. They announced on Monday it will take place without fans present.

⚽️ Transfer Gossip

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has targeted West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice, 21, as a potential centre-back for his side. (Times - subscription required)

Manchester City and Manchester United are both interested in the same central defenders, with Napoli and Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly, 29, and 25-year-old Milan Skriniar, who plays for Inter Milan and Sloviakia, on their radar. (Independent)

⚽️ MLS: FC Dallas withdrew from the league tournament after 10 players and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Also, last year's MVP, Carlos Vela, opted out of playing for LAFC. Games begin today.

🥊 Paul Gallen officially confirms mega-fight with UFC veteran Mark Hunt

Cronulla Sharks great Paul Gallen has revealed he's set to face UFC legend Mark Hunt in boxing mega-fight later this year.

Previously, due to contract issues, Hunt was the only fighter to sign off on a deal leaving the match-up in serious doubt at the time.

"It's back on," Gallen told Wide World of Sports' 2GB radio.

"October 31st is the date that has been set. The venue I'm not sure of yet. It could be NSW somewhere, hopefully, Queensland, possibly even New Zealand.

When asked if he was going to win, the rugby league legend had a straightforward message.

"I'm not going there to lose," he said. (nine)

🏈 Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City Chiefs agree 10-year contract extension with quarterback

The deal is reportedly worth between (US$450-$503m).

It surpasses baseball player Mike Trout's 12-year $425.5m contract with the Los Angeles Angels as the biggest in sports history.

The Chiefs have rewarded Mahomes after he led the franchise to its first Super Bowl title in 50 years, inspiring them to victory over the San Francisco 49ers as MVP it February, following on from his league MVP award in 2018.

Mahomes is the youngest player (24) in NFL history to win a Super Bowl and league MVP.

Apparently, if he makes all of the contract money (triggers apply), he'll be making approx. US$1m, every nine days (nfl.com)

🏎 Fernando Alonso to return to Formula 1 with Renault in 2021

The Spanish two-time world champion, who will be 39 later this month, has signed and will be confirmed soon.

Alonso will return to the outfit with whom he won his World Championships, and for whom he has already driven twice during his career.

He left F1 in 2018 and is due to make a third attempt to win the Indianapolis 500 with McLaren in August.

In addition to his two world titles, Alonso has won 32 grands prix, which puts him sixth on the all-time list, and is regarded as one of the greatest racing drivers in history.

📺 Live sport

Wednesday

⚽️ 05:15 - Premier League - Arsenal v Leicester City (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 05:45 - Serie A - Milan v Juventus (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 06:00 - La Liga - Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid (BeIN Sports 3)

🏏 20:00 - Test Match - England v West Indies (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Kashima Antlers v Consadole Sapporo (Optus Sport 2)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Sagan Tosu v Vissel Kobe (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 20:00 - J1 League - Yokohama F. Marinos v Shonan Bellmare (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 20:30 - J1 League - FC Tokyo v Kawasaki Frontale (Optus Sport 4)

Thursday

⚽️ 05:15 - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 05:45SoccerItalian Serie ARoma v Parma (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 06:00SoccerSpanish La LigaBarcelona v Espanyol (BeIN Sports 1)

🎮 09:00 - Esports - Basketball, NBA 2K League (ESPN 2)

⚽️ 10:00 - MLS - Tournament Group Game, Orlando City SC v Inter Miami CF (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 12:30 - MLS - Tournament Group Game, Nashville SC v Chicago Fire (ESPN 1)

🇦🇺 19:40 - AFL - Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions (Fox Footy or 7mate)

🏉 19:50 - NRL - North Queensland Cowboys v Sydney Roosters (Fox League or Nine)

🏏 20:00 - Test Match - England v West Indies (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 23:00 - MLS - Tournament Group Game, New York City FC v Philadelphia Union (ESPN 1)