The Sports Matrix: Tuesday 19 July 2011

Woods texted the secrets of success

Tiger Woods sent detailed advice to Darren Clarke during the Open. “Darren got two text messages from Tiger,” confirmed Clarke’s manager, Chubby Chandler, yesterday. “They weren’t just ‘play well’ messages either. It was a real bit of sports psychology.” MORE

Cavendish well set for green jersey

After four stage wins this year, Britain’s Mark Cavendish is leading the race to win the green jersey for leading points-scorer. Legendary sprinter Mario Cipollini recently said Cavendish was “100 times better” than he was, and hailed his “enthusiasm”. MORE

Sky is now the limit for Colombian Uran

Rigoberto Uran, a 24-year-old former lottery ticket seller from Colombia, will dominate Team Sky’s plans for the Tour’s third week, given his lead in the standings for the white jersey awarded to best young rider. MORE

Clarke celebrates deep into the night

Darren Clarke partied all night on Sunday to celebrate his Open victory before facing the world’s media yesterday morning. “Moving back to Royal Portrush played a huge part in this victory,” he said, as London “wasn’t conducive to playing links golf.” MORE

ICC: We will fight for Test cricket

This week will see the 2,000th Test, as England face India, but ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat warned yesterday that the format must be protected: “We have got to promote this game. We have said over and over that we will protect the Test format.” MORE

We’ll win in Europe, says Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas insists that Chelsea will one day win the Champions League: “Our club played one magnificent final – we lost, but when you get to semi-finals and finals anything can happen. For sure, one day the trophy will arrive at this club.” MORE

Windies greats miss out on World XI

The International Cricket Council announced its all-time World XI yesterday, but after more than 250,000 votes there were no places for Sir Garry Sobers or Sir Viv Richards, widely regarded as two of the greatest cricketers to have ever played. MORE

Barça hope £35m will land Fabregas

Barcelona are expected to make an offer to Arsenal of around £35m for Cesc Fabregas this week, their third bid of the summer. The transfer will move closer if the clubs can finally agree on a compromise fee for the Spanish midfielder. MORE

Khan: Judah will be toughest fight

Amir Khan believes he will face his hardest opponent on Saturday when he fights Zab Judah. “I think he could be the toughest one yet,” Khan said yesterday. “He’s a five-time world champion and a two-weight world champion. He’s very experienced.” MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

Is there really such a thing as a life-affirming six-iron? Tom Watson suggested strongly there was, in a brief and joyous statement after supporting with brilliant craft his declaration that he will keep on competing. MORE

City at odds with Corinthians over Tevez transfer

Manchester City are adamant they have agreed a £44m deal to sell Carlos Tevez to Corinthians despite the Brazilian club’s denials yesterday. The City manager, Roberto Mancini, had said yesterday morning that Corinthians had agreed a fee with them for Tevez. The Brazilian club later said that they were still studying a proposal from City regarding fees and payment schedules and had not come to a final agreement. But City sources insist that a fee and a payment schedule were agreed overnight on Sunday, and that only relatively small details remain. City have accepted a £40m fee with £4m in add-ons. They would not accept the same fee from European clubs, though. The fact that Corinthians can afford so much speaks of the increasing financial power of the big Brazilian clubs. Corinthians, the second best-supported Brazilian club, have just agreed a new £40m television deal, and are one of a number of Brazilian clubs benefiting from strong economic growth in Brazil in the last 10 years. MORE

Denilson heads back to Brazil

Arsenal have allowed midfielder Denilson to join Sao Paulo on loan. “I will be playing in Brazil next season as I felt that this is a good opportunity for me to play regular first-team football,” said the 23-year-old who fell behind Jack Wilshere last season. MORE

Applications flood in for World Cup

The Rugby League has received applications from 25 towns and cities to stage matches in the 2013 World Cup. The 14-team tournament has attracted bids from all the major heartland areas, as well as from centres such as Bolton and Bristol. MORE