Thursday's best sporting photos

Previews of the first day of the Open Championship at Royal St George's leads the way in the four UK national broadsheets.

But four of the five tabloid titles choose Blackburn accepting Chelsea's big-money bid for Damien Duff as their big story.

The exception is the Daily Mail, which patriotic as ever, opts for Britain's Justin Rose claiming he is ready to win the Open crown.

THE HEADLINES The Daily Telegraph: Woods given perfect start The Times: World's finest can go down a storm in bid for Open glory The Sun: Chelski jets his man The Guardian: Winner must bow to will of the wind Daily Mirror: Check in, cheque out Daily Express: Marriage made in heaven Daily Star: Fergie V-sign Daily Mail: It looks Rosy The Independent: Classic in prospect as Woods and Els battle with history

Elsewhere, the "qualities" see the Sandwich event as a showdown between title holder Ernie Els and world number one Tiger Woods.

The Daily Telegraph reckons a favourable weather forecast for early Thursday may give Woods - a 0909 BST starter - the upper hand.

Endless amounts of cash are threatening to give Chelsea the advantage in this summer's football transfer market.

They look set to blow away their Premiership rivals, with a �17m offer for Irish winger Damien Duff too big for Blackburn to reject.

The Daily Mirror's backpage photos show how Duff got as far as checking in to fly to America on Rovers' pre-season tour, before hastily collecting his bags to stay behind.

Photo opportunities galore at Sandwich

Meanwhile, the Daily Express reckons rouble-rich "Chelski" are ready to pay Thierry Henry �140,000 a week if they can persuade Arsenal to sell the French striker.

Final mention must go the The Open, Royal St George's and the blue skies of an English summer for providing the papers with so many beautiful pictures from the practice days.

Whether or not things will turn decidedly more ugly as the weather changes over the next four days remains to be seen...