Heroic Southgate summer looks set to continue

Early birds should catch most of the worms in the first round of the Open Championship and Matthew Southgate will be thrilled with his 6.46am tee-time at Carnoustie.

Fresh turf, filled with some dawn moisture, allied to hardly any breeze, means the likes of Southgate can make hay before the course firms up under bright sunshine as the day wears on. The windiest conditions of the whole tournament are expected on Thursday afternoon, so expect one of the early starters to be perched atop the leaderboard as sunset approaches in Angus.

Gareth Southgate has been a hero for English sports fans this summer, but his namesake Matthew could provide an even more compelling story by winning the Claret Jug on Sunday. Southgate has proved himself one of the best links golfers in the business and he can be fancied to find a way to score well at a brown, burned Carnoustie.