HOT OR NOT: Sergio Garcia earns automatic spot in Ryder Cup team but Sunderland may have familiar problems in transfer market

It’s that time again to run the rule over the best and worst of sport at the moment. Sportsmail’s Ian Laydman is here to give you the verdict…

HOT

SERGIO GARCIA

All seemed lost for the Spaniard when he failed to make the last Ryder Cup team but the 36-year-old has made it into the automatic spots this time.

Testament to natural talent and Garcia’s unparallelled enthusiasm for the competition.

SEAN DYCHE

Burnley’s unpicking of Liverpool provided another blow to the flawed theory that possession is king. 

However, just 18 per cent possession means you will lose more than you win and it may have been that, rather than the two wonderful goals, that kept Burnley boss Dyche awake on Saturday night.

Sean Dyche’s Burnley had just 18 per cent possession in their 2-0 win over Burnley

MARCUS TRESCOTHICK

It is 10 years since the England batsman (right) returned from a tour of Pakistan with the first signs of a stress-related illness that was to end his international career. 

Now 40, the opener is still making runs on the county circuit and needs one century for a total of 50, a Somerset record.

Marcus Trescothick is still making runs in county cricket and needs one century for a total of 50, a Somerset record 

PHIL JONES

In a team meeting last week, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho told his squad he planned no more incomings or outgoings. ‘It’s us together now,’ was the message. 

This represents opportunity for Jones, who many thought may be jettisoned. All the 24-year-old has to do now is get fit and stay fit.

Phil Jones (middle) has been given a lifeline as Jose Mourinho told squad he planned no more summer business

NOT

SUNDERLAND

At the end of last season, Sam Allardyce said he did not expect to have much to spend at Sunderland after talking to owner Ellis Short (right).

Now it is David Moyes’s problem and it will be interesting to see if the new boss will be given funds to improve a desperately weak squad before Wednesday’s deadline.

David Moyes will have to wait and see whether he will be given funds to improve Sunderland

TOM LEWIS

The 25-year-old was back in the headlines after shooting a 62 in Denmark but that served only to indicate how tough life has been since he briefly led the 2011 Open as an amateur. 

Lewis turned pro but his current ranking of 647 underlines his changed circumstances.

Tom Lewis, ranked 647th in the world, made the headlines after shooting 62 in Denmark 

UEFA

In announcing that Europe’s major leagues will be sure of four places in the Champions League every season, UEFA have damaged the competition’s credibility further. 

Worth noting that, points-wise, Germany’s fourth club this year — Borussia Monchengladbach — finished closer to the bottom of the Bundesliga than the top.

UEFA have announced that Europe’s major leagues will get four places in Champions League

AUSTRALIAN RUGBY

A World Cup final defeat and now a record hammering at home by the All Blacks. The Wallablies, led by Michael Cheika (right), are in a fix. 

It’s not funny that the one homegrown coach who could fix them, Eddie Jones, now works for England. No, nothing funny about that at all.

Australia lost to New Zealand 8-42, which is a record hammering at home against the All Blacks