Rory McIlroy Completes Career Grand Slam with Masters Victory
Reaction from Augusta as Rory McIlroy finally completes the career Grand Slam with his first Masters win. Mark Chapman presents reaction with Trish Johnson, Andrew Magee, Alistair Bruce-Ball, Katherine Downes and Iain Carter. They discuss a turbulent fourth day at the Masters Championship which ended with Rory McIlroy taking home his first green jacket. Hear from the man himself on what it means to him after beating Justin Rose in a play-off, and hear from his psychologist, Bob Rotella. Plus, BBC correspondent Mark Simpson is in his hometown of Holywood, Northern Ireland with reaction to what the victory meant to his former golf club back home.
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The Masters 2025 preview
Can Rory McIlroy win the elusive green jacket? Mark Chapman is joined by Ian Carter, Alistair Bruce-Ball and legendary caddie Billy Foster to preview the 89th Masters. Sports psychologist Stephen Smith answers how McIlroy overcomes the mental barrier of attempting to win the one major that has so far eluded him. Ian also speaks to locals to hear the impact hurricane Helene has had since devastating Augusta in September 2024 and tells us how the affects will still be felt at this year’s tournament. Plus, the team discuss whether the out-of-form defending champion Scottie Scheffler is about to peak in time to reclaim his title and consider how they judge the form of LIV golfers in comparison to those on the PGA tour.TIME CODES:
1:32- Billy Foster joins the podcast
5:26- Joseph and Kasey Crosby on the impact of hurricane Helene
14:00- Is this Rory’s year?
20:50- Sports psychologist Stephen Smith
36:09- Can Scottie Scheffler peak in time?Coverage of the Masters 2025:
Thursday 10th April – Commentary of round one from 8pm – 1am on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds.
Friday 11th April – Commentary of round two from 8.30pm on 5 Live and then it switches from 10pm-1am on 5 Sports Extra.(On BBC Sounds throughout).
Saturday 12th April – Commentary of round three from 9pm-1am on 5 Live and BBC Sounds.
Sunday 13th April – Commentary of round four from 8pm-midnight on 5 Live and BBC Sounds.
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Rugby Union: Time for Change?
The game on the pitch has never been better, yet rugby union's finances leave the game with an uncertain and precarious future. Rarely has the gap between how the sport would like to be perceived and the unvarnished reality felt wider. Nearly 30 years since the sport went professional, why is it struggling so badly to sustain itself and grow?The numbers involved are alarming. According to the last set of accounts (2023/24) for each of the home unions, they posted a combined loss in the last financial year of £72m.The financially picture is equally as bleak for the 10 Premiership clubs, who collectively lost £30.5m in the financial year 2022/23 and have net debts of over £300m.So how does rugby union put itself back on a more sustainable financial footing against a backdrop of spiralling player salaries, a downward trend in the cost of TV rights, and a crowded sporting marketplace when it comes to attracting new fans? Sonja McLaughlan, Sara Orchard and rugby union correspondent for the Times, Alex Lowe are joined by former Saracens and Harlequins CEO Mark Evans, RFU CEO Bill Sweeney and Gloucester owner Martin St Quinton to discuss what needs to change for rugby union to thrive.TIME CODES:
08:13 - Former Saracens and Harlequins CEO, Mark Evans
29:20 - CEO of the RFU, Bill Sweeney
48:35 - Gloucester owner Martin St Quinton
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Golf in 2025
5 Live's golf correspondent Iain Carter and 2-time Solheim Cup winner Trish Johnson look ahead to the 2025 majors’ season, all coming to a thrilling climax in September with the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, New York. Iain speaks to Team Europe's Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, 4-time major winner Rory McIlroy and 2023 Masters winner John Rahm. TIME CODES:
1:19 - Europe's prospects in the Ryder Cup
4:59 - Europe Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald
13:21 - Rory McIlroy interview
21:58 - John Rahm interview
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Trump and Sport
Sportspeople featured prominently in the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump's re-election on November 5th, with golfer Bryson DeChambeau and UFC president Dana White making appearances on stage during his victory speech in Florida.And Dana White was back again, alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, at Trump’s inauguration.It was a reminder of Trump's sporting connections ahead of his second term in office, during which time, the United States will host this year’s inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup, next year’s FIFA World Cup, and the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, with Trump set to be a highly visible presence at them all.Mark Chapman is joined by Christine Brennan, sports columnist for USA Today, and Simon Evans, US sports correspondent for AFP, to discuss what impact Trump and some of his policies could have on the sporting landscape over the next four years, including hearing from the likes of two-time golf major champion Jon Rahm, and the president of World Athletics, Lord Sebastian Coe, who could be the president of the International Olympic Committee when Trump’s America hosts the LA games.TIME CODES:01:45 - President Trump’s relationship with sport
10:45 - Golf
14:55 - Trump on LIV golf
21:05 - Jon Rahm
26:10 - Football
39:30 - American Sports
39:55 - Steve Kerr
47:00 - Lord Sebastian Coe
48:15 - Olympics
New Zealand