Cavendish wins Tour de France stage 14, Froome keeps lead

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Team Dimension Data rider Mark Cavendish of Great Britain celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 14th stage  Manx Missile Mark Cavendish claimed his 30th Tour de France victory and fourth in this year's race when he left sprint rival Marcel Kittel trailing at the end of the 14th stage on Saturday. The Dimension Data rider, back in the limelight after three below-par Tours, is now four shy of the all-time stage win record of Belgian great Eddy Merckx. Cavendish, who had not won more than three stages on the Tour since 2011, was just too fast for the rest of the bunch, comfortably beating Norway's Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) in a bunch sprint after 208.5-km of riding from Montelimar. World champion and green jersey holder Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) finished strongly to take third place while German Kittel finished fifth, protesting as he felt Cavendish had veered towards him during the sprint for the line. Frenchman Jeremy Roy (FDJ), Cesare Benedetti (Bora Argon 18), Swiss Martin Elmiger (IAM) and American Alex Howes (Cannondale-Drapac) broke away early on and built a maximum advantage of 4:45. Howes was dropped by his breakaway companions with 14km left and Benedetti fell off the pace 9.5km from the line. Roy and Elmiger were caught with 3.4km left, shaking hands as the peloton reeled them in. Yellow jersey holder Chris Froome (Team Sky) finished safely to consolidate his advantage. The riders observed a minute's silence at the start with Sagan, yellow jersey holder Chris Froome and French champion Arthur Vichot in the front of the peloton in memory of the 84 victims of the Nice attack just eight months after gunmen killed 130 people in Paris.

Bayern Munich rule Brazil winger Costa out of Rio Games

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Bayern Munich's Douglas Costa

 Bayern Munich's pacey Brazilian winger Douglas Costa has withdrawn from the Rio Olympics due to injury, the German champions said on Monday.

Costa had been chosen along with Barcelona's Neymar among the over-age players in Brazil's squad for the first summer Games in South America.

Bayern said on their website (www.fcbayern.de) that an injury to Costa's left thigh had not healed and they had told the Brazilian football federation that the player could not be released.

"I greatly regret this," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "We all wanted Douglas to contest the Olympic Games in his home country, but the player's health and fitness takes priority."

Bayern said Costa, who joined them a year ago from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, would continue his sports rehabilitation programme in Munich.

The Olympic gold medal is the only major soccer title the five times world champions have never won.

Kobe Bryant slimed after winning Kids Choice prize

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Retired NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant  Retired Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was given the traditional golden sliming at the Kids Choice Sport awards on Thursday after picking up the "Legend" prize. The 37-year-old was presented with the award, an orange blimp with a bushy mohawk, by American actress and singer Zendaya in Los Angeles before four jets emerged from the stage to douse the 18-time All Star in slime. Bryant brought down the curtain on his standout 20-year career with a 60-point showing in his final game against the Utah Jazz in April. He won five NBA Championships with the Lakers, two NBA Finals MVP awards and two Olympic gold medals for the United States. Former England soccer captain David Beckham and ex New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter are previous winners of the Kids Choice 'Legend' prize that comes with a gold sliming.

I'll be back for my 20th Wimbledon, says Venus

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USA's Venus Williams in action against Germany's Angelique Kerber

 Venus Williams is planning to return to Wimbledon next year to make her 20th appearance confident in the belief that there is no such thing in life as impossible.

The oldest woman in the draw at 36, Williams lost 6-4 6-4 to Germany's Angelique Kerber on Thursday but has enjoyed something of a renaissance in reaching her first grand slam semi-final since 2010.

She returned to the world's top 10 last year following a frustrating run of results since she revealed in 2011 that she had been diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, an auto-immune disease that leaves her short of energy.

Asked whether she would return to Wimbledon next year, Williams told reporters: "I would love to, it's all in the plans. If it's different, I'll be sure to let you know."

The American - who is still in the Wimbledon doubles competition with her sister Serena - said she felt she could continue to play for a long time.

"In life there is no such thing as impossible, it's always possible," she added.

"That's what you feel as an athlete. Pretty much our job is to make the impossible happen every day. It's like magic, you know. I like that."

The eighth seed felt she had given the semi-final against Kerber her best shot.

"I ran into a better player, so next time," she said.

Fourth seed Kerber will face Serena in Saturday's final and Venus plans to give her sister "a few pointers" about the German left-hander.

"For the most part, she's got to go out there and play the match she wants to play, not that I want her to play."

There was some consolation for Venus when she and Serena beat Russian pair Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova 7-6(1) 4-6 6-2 to book their place in the women's doubles semi-finals.

Venus said the tournament had been hugely important for the partnership with the Rio Olympics looming next month.

"We've played so sporadically the last few years," she said.

"It's not easy to come out and play one match, then not play for a year.

"We've had a chance to build a little bit, starting in Rome, then the French, coming along here. As a team, our goal is to represent the States the best we can in Rio. It's a big job, but we're going to try to do it."

Frankfurt's Russ could return this year following cancer

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Eintracht Frankfurt's Marco Russ

 Eintracht Frankfurt defender Marco Russ could play
again this year following treatment for cancer, it was reported
Saturday.
Russ, 30, underwent surgery in May on a tumour detected during a
doping test and has since had chemotherapy treatment.
Bild newspaper quoted Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac as saying: "Marco
feels okay so far. We hope that he can slowly begin again with sport
in three to four months."
Frankfurt stayed in the top flight Bundesliga following a
relegation/promotion play-off tie with Nuremberg. Russ played in the
first leg shortly after being diagnosed with a tumour.
Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic recently said the club
intended to extend Russ's contract which expires next year.

Meier extends Frankfurt contract to 2018

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Frankfurt's Alexander Meier

 Former Bundesliga top scorer Alexander Meier has
extended his contract with Eintracht Frankfurt to 2018, the club said
Thursday.
The 33-year-old Meier's current deal was due to expire in 2017 but
the extension settles the future of the veteran, who has already been
offered an as yet undefined position with Eintracht when his playing
career ends.
"I have found my footballing home in Frankfurt. The city, the people,
the fans in the stadium - everything just fits and I'm pleased the
club has continued to show faith in me."
Meier has scored 131 goals in 353 competitive games for Eintracht
since moving from SV Hamburg in 2004. In 2015 he was the Bundesliga
top scorer with 19 goals but endured an injury-hit campaign last
season in which Frankfurt needed a play-off to avoid relegation.
"Alex Meier has given enormous service to Eintracht and has an
extremely important role here and with the fans," sport director
Bruno Huebner said. "It is something special when a player is with
one club for so long and is still so successful."

Kerber's best not good enough to topple Serena

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Angelique Kerber of Germany with the runner-up trophy following her defeat by Serena Williams

 Sometimes, your best simply isn't good enough.

It was a lesson Angelique Kerber learned the hard way on Saturday as no matter what the German did on court, she was powerless to prevent the unstoppable force that is Serena Williams from running away with the Venus Rosewater Dish.

The 7-5 6-3 final victory not only handed the American a seventh Wimbledon title, it also finally gave her the elusive 22nd grand slam title that drew her level with Steffi Graf's professional era record.

"I went out there today to win the match. I tried everything... but Serena was serving unbelievable today," said Australian Open champion Kerber, who had blocked the American's path to a 22nd slam title in January's Melbourne Park final.

"I played my best so what else could I do? She really played an unbelievable match. She's a great opponent, a great person, a great champion," said the fourth seed.

Kerber played great too and was even applauded by her rival in the fourth game of the second set when she finished off a 15-stroke end-to-end baseline rally by curling in a blazing backhand winner despite almost running off into the side stands.

At 3-3, Kerber earned a break point but that disappeared within the blink of an eye as Williams fired down a 117 mph ace.

Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Kerber.

"I had one break point and I couldn't do anything," said the 28-year-old, who was seeking to become the first German woman to win the title since her idol Graf 20 years ago.

"She was just going for it. She's a tough opponent when she's playing like today."
 KERBER PROUD

While Kerber fell one victory short of her target, reaching the Wimbledon final gave the German the belief that she has it in her to win more slams following her French Open nightmare.

Seven weeks ago Kerber was left distraught after she suffered a shock defeat by Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens in the opening round of Roland Garros in her first match at a major since joining the grand slam winners' club in Australia.

"I'm proud about what I did (at Wimbledon), especially after (what happened in) Paris," said Kerber who will rise to a career-high second in the world when the new rankings are released on Monday.

"I know I have the game, all the experience to win a few more grand slams. I know how to get here. I hope that I will reach a few more finals and maybe win a few more grand slams."

So having had the best seat in the house as Williams made history, did she think she could one day dominate the game like the American?

"It's tough to follow in her footsteps. I'm going my own way. It's one of my goals one day to be the number one... but it's still a long way (away). For now, it's just a great feeling to be in my second grand slam final."

This one I'll always remember, says forgetful Serena

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USA's Serena Williams celebrates winning her womens singles final match against Germany's Angelique Kerber

Serena Williams' memory is not as powerful as her first serve these days, although with so many achievements to recall it would be churlish to hold that against the American great.

However, when the 34-year-old world number one does finally call it a day, she says she will always remember the moment she beat Germany's Angelique Kerber on Sunday to equal Steffi Graf's professional era record of 22 grand slam singles titles.

"There's definitely some blurs between eight, nine and 10," the American who began her collection at the 1999 U.S. Open when beating Swiss Martina Hingis, told reporters.

"I don't even know where eight, nine and 10 were, or when. I definitely don't remember where 12 was. I remember one through four. Gets really blurry after that.

"But I will be able to definitely place this one."

For good reason.

Williams won her 21st singles major a year ago by beating Spain's Garbine Muguruza at Wimbledon.

Since then her reputation as a ruthless "closer" has been questioned after the calendar year Grand Slam dream went up in smoke in the 2015 U.S. Open semi-finals, before defeats by Kerber and Muguruza in the Australian and French Open finals.

Williams banned herself from talking about the "22" as this year's Wimbledon entered its business end.

But after rediscovering her ruthless streak in her 28th grand slam singles final she said that it was a special feeling and there had been a few sleepless nights fretting about it.

"If I'm honest, coming so close, feeling it, not being able to quite get there," she said. "My goal is to win always at least a slam a year. It was getting down to the pressure."
 SLIGHT SCARE

Apart from a slight scare when she dropped a set against fellow American Christina McHale in round two -- Williams has looked perfectly at ease during the championships.

On Saturday, during a 7-5 6-3 victory over fourth seed Kerber, her game oozed smooth power and even when her opponent fought tenaciously to stay in touch, there were none of the panicky moments Williams is occasionally prone to.

She said that was because she was calmer than ever -- having decided to accept some "tough losses" and carry on.

"I had to start looking at positives, not focusing on that one loss per tournament which really isn't bad - for anyone else on this tour they would be completely happy about it," she said.

"I learned that you can't win everything, even though I try really hard. I still am not going to be perfect.

"Once I started focusing more on the positives, I realised that I'm pretty good. Then I started playing a little better."

The French Open final defeat, when she was strangely subdued, was a turning point, Williams said.

"I think sometime after the French Open, (coach) Patrick (Mouratoglou) and I were talking, strategising. He just said, you're back. I guess he was right."

Terry will remain Chelsea's captain - Conte

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Chelsea's John Terry  Long-serving defender John Terry will remain Chelsea's captain in the coming season, new manager Antonio Conte said on Thursday at his first news conference since joining the Premier League club. Terry, 35, signed a new one-year contract at Stamford Bridge in May to end speculation that he was going to leave the London club after more than 700 appearances. He remains a firm favourite with the club's fans. "John Terry is captain of this team. He is a great player with a great personality and charisma. He knows the club. We take all decisions together with the club and I am very happy John signed," Conte said. Conte, who guided Juventus to three successive Serie A titles from 2012 to 2014 before becoming the Italian national team coach, has replaced interim manager Guus Hiddink. Known for his motivational powers and fiery touchline presence, the Italian said the team would need to emulate his work ethic to get back to winning ways after missing out on qualification for European soccer. "When I was in Italy I liked to say the coach is like a tailor, who must make the best dress for the team," Conte said. "Every manager has his own idea of football and I want to transfer my ideas to the players. I have great passion for football, for my team and my work. "It's important to have players who are ready to fight, play good football and transfer our passion and emotion to the fans. I am a worker. I suffer during the game. I want my players and the fans to see this." Chelsea, the 2014-15 Premier League champions, finished only 10th in the table last season and parted company with manager Jose Mourinho midway through the campaign. "Last season was a bad season," Conte said. "We must fight for the title, we belong in the Champions League and we must stay there. "This league is very difficult. There are six or seven teams that can win the title. This situation excites me." Conte is the fifth Italian to manage Chelsea, following in the footsteps of Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo. He begins his tenure in England with a London derby at home to West Ham United on Aug. 15.

Le Tour de France

Chelsea sign midfielder Kante from title-winning Leicester

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N'Golo Kante of France

 Chelsea completed the signing of midfielder N'Golo
Kante from title-winning Leicester City on Saturday in a deal
reportedly worth 30 million pounds (40 million dollars).
The 25-year-old Kante was instrumental in Leicester's stunning title
win last season but chose Chelsea instead of Champions League
football this term.
"I am so happy to have signed for one of the biggest clubs in
Europe," Kante told Chelsea's website. "It's a dream come true for
me.
"The opportunity to work with Antonio Conte, a brilliant coach, and
some of the best players in the world was simply too good to turn
down.
"My first season in English football was very special and now I hope
to go on to achieve even more during my time as a Chelsea player."
Kante is the second big name to arrive this summer, following on from
Michy Batshuayi and Chelsea's technical director, Michael Emenalo
said Kante was a fantastic signing.
"He is a perfect fit in terms of Antonio Conte's philosophies and the
style of football he wants to play," he said.
"For a player of his age he has already built up a wealth of
experience and his exceptional quality will without doubt be a great
addition to the team."

USADA wants blanket ban on Russian athletes in Rio

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 The United States and Canadian Anti-Doping Agencies want a complete ban on Russia competing at the Rio Olympics after next week's key report into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics is published, according to a leaked draft letter seen by Reuters on Saturday.

Russia's track and field athletes are already banned from competing at next month's Olympics by the world governing International Association of Athletics' Federations (IAAF) over widespread doping in the sport.

In the draft letter addressed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which will be sent once the report into Sochi led by Canadian law professor Richard McLaren is presented on Monday, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart calls for a ban on all Russian athletes, not just in track and field.

"We write on behalf of a community of clean athletes and anti-doping organizations with faith that the IOC can lead the way forward by upholding the principles of Olympism," said the draft letter signed by Tygart and Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (CCES) CEO Paul Melia.

"Therefore, consistent with the Principles, Charter and Code we request that the IOC Executive Board take the action to suspend the Russian Olympic and Paralympic Committee from participating in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

"The only appropriate, and permissible, course of action in these unprecedented circumstances is for the IOC to immediately suspend the Russian Olympic and Paralympic Committees from the Olympic Movement.... and declare that no athlete can represent Russia at the Rio Olympic Games."

USADA and CCES were not immediately available to comment.

The draft letter has also been circulated to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Athlete Committee members by Canada's Beckie Scott, who chairs the committee, asking whether they agree to support it.

"The letter outlines a basis for suspension of the Russian NOC (National Olympic Committee) from Rio, in light of the evidence and information that will come as a result of this report, and aligns very much with the position we have taken so far in this (long) process," Scott wrote in an e-mail dated July 16.

"You will also note that it presents a caveat - much as with the IAAF decision - to permit athletes who have lived outside the regime, been subject to strict doing controls, etc, to still compete in Rio."

IOC President Thomas Bach said last month that individual Russian track and field athletes assessed as clean would be able to compete for their country in Brazil.

WADA set up an investigation under McLaren to the probe allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Ronaldo told me I'd score the winner, says Portugal's Eder

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Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Eder celebrate after winning Euro 2016

 Cristiano Ronaldo predicted Portugal's Euro 2016 hero Eder would score the winning goal in their 1-0 extra-time triumph over France and gave him the encouragement to settle Sunday's final.

Eder came on in the 79th minute and, having played only 13 minutes at the tournament before his introduction, struck the winner with a venomous long-range strike in the 109th minute.

Portugal were outsiders to win the final and were dealt a significant blow early on when their talismanic captain Ronaldo had to be replaced through injury in the 25th minute.

Eder, who plays for French side Lille, said his captain's words had inspired him to make the decisive contribution.

"(Ronaldo) told me I would score the winning goal for the team," the striker told O Jogo. "He gave me this strength, this energy and it was vital.

"It was a goal I've been working for from the first minute of the Euros.

"For all the work we did, for all of the Portuguese, it's fantastic," he added. "It's well deserved and we should all be congratulated."

France had better chances in regular time but were unable to capitalise on their superiority despite Ronaldo's exit.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos brought on Eder for Renato Sanches and he broke the deadlock in the extra period after muscling his way past defender Laurent Koscielny before firing a low right-foot shot into the corner of Hugo Lloris's goal.

"The disappointment is immense," his club Lille wrote on their official Twitter account, "but there is considerable pride to be able to count such an attacker in our ranks."

Eder's winner gave Portugal their first major title and ended a run of 10 straight defeats by France since 1975.

Bamber Bridge - England VS Morecambe FC - England

Boston United - England VS Lincoln City FC - England

Valencia sign midfielder Medran from Real Madrid

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Real Madrid's player Alvaro Medran

 Valencia have signed Spanish midfielder Alvaro Medran from Real Madrid on a four-year contract, the Liga club said in a statement on Monday without giving any financial details.

Medran, who was impressive on loan at Getafe last season, scoring twice in 20 matches, is Valencia's second close-season signing after Portugal winger Nani joined from Fenerbahce.

Medran, 22, a Real youth product, played for the Madrid club in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League before joining Getafe on loan a year ago.

Bayern's Hojbjerg signs for Southampton

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Bayern Munich's Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg  Bayern Munich's Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg became manager Claude Puel's first signing at English Premier League club Southampton on Monday after putting pen to a five-year deal. Southampton announced the move, for an undisclosed fee which British media reports have put at 12.8 million pounds ($16.63 million), on their website (www.saintsfc.co.uk). The 20-year-old, at Bayern since 2012, spent last season on loan at Schalke 04 where he made 23 league appearances to help them to a fifth-place finish. He also spent the second half of the 2014-15 season on loan with Bundesliga rivals Augsburg. "I'm very pleased. It's a big opportunity for me. I look forward to giving what I have and what I can to the club. They have put trust in me and I want to show them that they are not wrong," he told the website. "When I heard that Southampton came in for me I said to my people that this is what I want to do because I can see myself at Southampton, as it's the way I like to think, the way I like to play and it fits me really well." Hojbjerg will become the second arrival at Southampton during the close season after the signing of England under-21 winger Nathan Redmond from relegated Norwich City last month. Frenchman Puel was appointed Southampton manager on June 30 after Ronald Koeman joined Everton. Southampton earlier announced the departure of Italian international striker Graziano Pelle to China's Shandong Luneng.

Barcelona confident Messi will stay, urge fans to support him

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Barcelona's Lionel Messi Lionel Messi is not interested in leaving Barcelona in the wake of his sentencing for tax fraud, according to club spokesman Josep Vives. A Barcelona court last week handed Messi and his father 21-month prison sentences and fined the former 2.0 million euros ($2.2 million) and the latter 1.5 million euros ($1.65 million) for tax fraud. They are unlikely to go to prison because under Spanish law, a first-time offender who receives a sentence of less two years for a non-violent crime does not serve jail time. Both have already appealed to the supreme court. Media reports in England recently claimed Messi's father and agent Jorge had met with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich aboard his yacht, raising concerns over whether the star would remain with Barca. "We have maintained contact with his entourage and we are not aware Leo wants to leave the club, we simply don't get that feeling," Vives told reporters in Spain on Monday. "We are not worried about this, nothing has reached us to suggest this is the case." Vives, meanwhile, asked the fans to "express sympathy" for the Argentine by joining via social media a campaign launched by the club called "We are all Leo Messi." "It is a simple campaign, but we hope that it will show how much we support him," Vives then told the club's official website. "We are talking about Messi, a player who was 19 when he signed all those contracts and it has been proven that he had no knowledge of all their details. He just focused on football and signed the contracts he was told to sign by his advisers. "Messi is being treated unfairly and the club are putting themselves in a position to defend him. We have a clear conscience and will not back down. We are inviting supporters to join our campaign." Vives believes the state prosecutor attempted to discredit Messi. "The club cannot tolerate this," he said. "There are other well known personalities who have not been subject to this type of situation as Messi has been. "This shows lack of respect and we don't want that for any fan, for any member and neither for Messi. That is why we are putting this campaign of support together."

Swim champion Le Clos reveals both parents have cancer

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South African swimmer Chad Le Clos

 South Africa's big Olympic swimming hope Chad Le Clos has revealed that both his parents are battling cancer as he prepares for next month's Rio Games.

The 200 metres butterfly champion, whose father Bert became a media sensation at the London 2012 Games for his exuberant reaction to his son's gold, said he hoped they would be accompanying him to Brazil.

"My mum Geraldine has breast cancer which has returned since her remission in 2010," Le Clos, who beat American Michael Phelps to gold four years ago, said in a statement.

"She has recently undergone a double mastectomy and is now having chemo. My dad Bert developed prostate cancer and has also undergone an operation in late June.

"It has not been an easy time but I am training hard for Rio. More than anything else I want them to win their battles," said the 24-year-old, who is also the 100m butterfly world champion and Olympic silver medallist.

The showdown in the pool with 18-times Olympic champion Phelps is set to be a highlight of the Rio meet.

Le Clos has booked a spot in five different events after securing required qualifying times at the South African swimming championship in April, but whether he will feature in all of them is unclear.

He said last year that he planned to take on Phelps in the 100m and 200m butterfly and freestyle races at the Aug. 5-21 Games but has since scrapped the 100m freestyle.

"Thinking about what has happened to both my parents has helped a lot with my motivation," he told the BBC.

"There are many pressures on me, but I know when I step on the starting block in an Olympic final that I can handle anything that gets thrown at me."

The swimmer said his father had lost about 30kg in six months "which, when you know how much my dad loves to eat, is a pretty frightening thing. But it goes well beyond the physical. It has been a difficult emotional rollercoaster for him."

Le Clos can become the most decorated African male Olympian, topping the three gold and one silver medal of Ethiopian long-distance runner Kenenisa Bekele.

Phelps has qualified for Rio in the 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley.

The American, who says his fifth Games will be his last, is aiming to add to his record total of 22 Olympic medals.

Open winner Johnson unsure golf belongs at Olympics

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Zach Johnson of the U.S

 Golf returns to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next month following an absence of 112 years, but British Open champion Zach Johnson has questioned whether the sport truly belongs on the Games schedule.

The 40-year-old American, who claimed his second major championship when he triumphed at St Andrews 12 months ago, believes minority sports are more deserving of prominence in an event that only comes around every four years.

"I don't know if golf has its place in the Olympics now," Johnson told a news conference on Monday. "We are relevant 24/7, 365 days of the year, if that's your barometer and criteria relevancy.

"I think golf fans really look forward to the majors ... and the Ryder Cup in particular. I know, as a player, those are my main motivations.

"No offence to the Olympics but I'd rather be on the Ryder Cup team. As an American golfer I have that opportunity and that's what I'd rather," added Johnson.

World number one Jason Day, second-ranked Dustin Johnson, number three Jordan Spieth and fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy are among several top players to have pulled out of the Olympics because of fears over the Zika virus.

Zach Johnson believes, however, that it is too early to tell how the string of high-profile withdrawals will affect golf's return to the Games.

"Will it fit in? Is there any motivation? Is there going to be any tradition? ... it's yet to be seen," said the 2007 U.S. Masters champion.

"The Olympics to me is certainly the premier event when it comes down to a lot of different sports. Those sports should be at the forefront, wrestling, all those sports that just don't get the recognition the mainstream sports get.

"Those athletes train essentially for three or four years for that one opportunity and one week. You can argue that basketball and soccer, do they really need to be in there either?" said Johnson.

"My guess is they want a World Cup before they want a gold medal, they'd want an NBA Championship before they want a gold medal."

Johnson, who will play alongside Australian Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson of Sweden in the first round of the Open on Thursday, says he is an avid television viewer every time the Games comes round.

"You can see the passion for the Olympics is there, pretty much regardless of any sport, but especially the ones that are just not mainstream, and I love that," he explained.