Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday:
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GOLF
British Open (to 19)
Spieth launches history bid at St Andrews
ST ANDREWS, Scotland - All eyes will be on Jordan Spieth in the first round as the 21-year-old American whizzkid begins his attempt to become the first golfer to win the year's first three majors since compatriot Ben Hogan in 1953. (GOLF-OPEN/ (PIX), expect throughout, by Tony Jimenez and Martyn Herman, 650 words)
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FIFA
U.S. senators call for reforms of U.S. soccer body
WASHINGTON - U.S. senators on Wednesday called for extensive reforms in the way soccer is run by both international and U.S. governing bodies, and questioned what current U.S. soccer chiefs knew about corruption in the global organization FIFA. (SOCCER-FIFA/REFORMS, by Mark Hosenball, moved, 750 words)
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CYCLING
Tour de France (to 26)
Red-hot Froome expected to attack again in stage 12
PLATEAU DE BEILLE, France - Overall leader Chris Froome is expected to hammer his rivals again in the 12th stage, a 195-km mountainous ride ending with the punishing ascent of the Plateau de Beille. (CYCLING-TOUR/ (PIX), expect by 1530 GMT/11:30 AM ET, by Julien Pretot, 500 words)
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Armstrong joins charity ride on Tour route
MURET, France - Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong is taking part in a charity ride on the route of the Tour de France, one day ahead of the race. (CYCLING-ARMSTRONG/ (PIX, TV), expect by 1600 GMT/12 PM ET, by Anthony Paone and Julien Prétot)
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CRICKET
England v Australia, second test at Lord's (to 20)
England look to kick on after impressive start
LONDON - England, lifted by their unexpected victory in the first test in Cardiff, bid for their third successive Ashes win at Lord's to secure a 2-0 lead in the series. Michael Clarke's Australian side will be desperate to level the series after a disjointed performance in the first test. (CRICKET-ASHES/ (PIX), expect by 0945 GMT/5:45 AM ET, by Ed Osmond, 500 words)
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RUGBY
Rugby Championship (round 1)
Wallabies, Springboks looking for statements of intent
SYDNEY - Australia and South Africa, with four World Cup triumphs between them, will both be out to make a clear statement in their Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane as they look ahead to rugby's showpiece tournament in England later this year. (RUGBY UNION-CHAMPIONSHIP/AUSTRALIA (PREVIEW), moving soon, by Nick Mulvenney, 400 words)
We will also move an accompanying factbox
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Wallabies go back to the future for Springbok test
SYDNEY - Australia went back to the future on Thursday when Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Greg Holmes and halfbacks Will Genia and Quade Cooper were recalled to Wallabies colours for the Rugby Championship opener against South Africa. (RUGBY UNION-CHAMPIONSHIP/AUSTRALIA-TEAM), moved, by Nick Mulvenney, 400 words)
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SOCCER
CONCACAF Gold Cup (to 26)
Trinidad top group after thrilling draw with Mexico
Trinidad and Tobago left it late to salvage a 4-4 draw against Mexico that secured top spot in Group C of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Wednesday as both teams scored in stoppage time at the end of a thrilling encounter. (SOCCER-CONCACAF/GOLD, moved, 350 words)
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Libertadores Cup semi-final, first leg
Internacional (Brazil) v Tigres (Mexico)
Fast-starting Inter take narrow lead in Libertadores semi
SAO PAULO - Internacional struck two early blows in their Libertadores Cup semi-final against Tigres on Wednesday before the Mexican side rallied then held on with 10 men to leave the tie finely poised at 2-1 ahead of the second leg in Monterrey. (SOCCER-LIBERTADORES/, moved, by Andrew Downie, 300 words)
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Berger believes Liverpool did well out of Sterling transfer
SINGAPORE - Former Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger discusses his views on Raheem Sterling's record transfer to Manchester City. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/LIVERPOOL-BERGER (INTERVIEW), expect by 0800 GMT/4 AM ET, by Patrick Johnston, 500 words)
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GAMES
Pan American Games (to 26)
Cuban rowers defect, Canada still on top
TORONTO - Four Cuban rowers ended their Pan American Games by defecting to the United States on Wednesday while a wave of support continued to carry Canada to the top of the podium at the pool and on the rowing course. (GAMES-PANAM/ (PIX), moved, by Steve Keating and Frank Pingue, 400 words)
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NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS
Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (moved, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (Asia Desk Editor: John O'Brien)