GOLF: Australia’s Adam Scott flirted with golfing history in the first round of the British Open at Royal Lytham yesterday before settling for a six-under par 64 and the clubhouse lead. The 31-year-old from Adelaide came to the last needing a birdie to become the first player in the long history of the majors to record a 62. Instead, a wayward drive into thick Lancashire rough resulted in a closing bogey and meant that Scott was even deprived the satisfaction of joining the 25 other golfers who have recorded 63s in major golf.

TENNIS: Defending champion Rafael Nadal has dropped out of the London Olympics because he is not in shape to compete. “I am not in condition to compete so I will not be travelling as planned with the Spanish delegation to London,” said Nadal, who had been recovering from a knee injury.

WIMBLEDON: Wimbledon will be moved back one week from 2015 in a bid to allow players more time to rest and adapt to grass after the French Open. All England Club chiefs agreed the schedule switch after pressure from several stars including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who believe the current two-week gap between the conclusion of the clay-court season at Roland Garros and the start of the third Grand Slam of the year is too short.

FORMULA ONE: Hockenheim is ready to assume sole responsibility for hosting the German Grand Prix as the Nurburgring circuit lurches towards administration, circuit owner Georg Seiler declared yesterday. The two circuits have shared the German race since 2009, with Hockenheim set to play host to this weekend’s event, but the Nurburgring’s majority shareholder revealed earlier this week that the track is €13 million in debt. “We’re ready to adapt to any demands,” Seiler said.