Jessica Bang, one of golf‘s brightest young prospects, has sadly died at just 18 years old, the WPGA Tour has confirmed.

Bang won her first professional event earlier this year during just her fifth ever entry on the tour.

The Australian golfer suffered a brain haemorrhage while preparing to compete in Thailand, collapsing on the 1st of August as she was getting ready for the KLPGA Tour’s International Qualifying Tournament.

The teenager was rushed to Synphat Ramintra Hospital in Bangkok, where she underwent emergency brain surgery before being placed on life support.

But after two weeks of fighting, Bang died at 7:20am local time on Thursday, according to an update shared by her family.

Members of Bang’s family had started a fundraiser during her fight following surgery, hoping to help aid the cost of her medical bills and organise a return to her family back in Australia.

Yesterday, however, they shared the heartbreaking news of Bang’s passing.

Statements Made After Jessica Bang’s Death

An update on the page by organiser Janette Yoon read: “We are truly heartbroken by this news. However, we would like to continue to remember Jessica and celebrate her achievements, passion, and dedication to golf.

A total of almost $50,000 AUD (£26,150) had been raised to go to her family to help with medical costs, with donations continuing to pour in following the devastating news of Bang’s passing.

A WPGA Tour of Australasia statement read: “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the broader Australian golf community are with Jessica’s family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her at this incredibly difficult time.”

Born in South Korea, Bang became an Australian citizen just after her 18th birthday.

She captured the 2026 Ford Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Moss Vale Golf Club in February, closing with an 8-under-par 65. The round established a course record, and her mother acted as her caddie throughout.

“I’m so happy, I can’t even put it into words,” Bang told Golf Australia Magazine after the victory. “It still doesn’t feel real yet. I did not expect this at all – big surprise.”

Months later, these words take on a poignant meaning, serving as a heartbreaking reminder of a young career that promised so much before being tragically cut short.

Rangers have agreed a loan deal with AEK Athens for defender James Penrice, GIVEMESPORT sources understand.

The Glasgow side were humiliated in the Europa League third qualifying round by Polish minnows Jagiellonia Białystok after a 1-1 draw at Ibrox on Thursday night, meaning new manager Derek McInnes has failed to win any of his four games in charge since taking over from Danny Rohl.

But despite already bringing in nine new faces, and agreeing a deal for PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech, the club have made a move for yet another new face in the light of their European exit.

GIVEMESPORT sources reported earlier this month that Rangers had an interest in bringing Penrice back to Scotland, and they have now agreed a season-long loan deal with the Greek outfit to do just that.

Rangers will also have the option to make the move permanent for €2m (£1.7m) next summer, and a medical has been booked for the player to undergo on Friday.

McInnes was previously at Hearts when Penrice was allowed to move on to AEK Athens, and has now dipped into his bag of contacts to be reunited with the left-back at Ibrox. He joins Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin as ex-Hearts players to have joined McInnes’ squad this summer.

Rangers have been dealing with some major defensive injury issues already this season, with Tuur Rommens suffering a hamstring problem that could keep him out for between 6-8 weeks, leaving the manager with no left-footed options in the defence.

But the club are now hopeful of getting a deal over the line in time for Penrice to go straight into the squad to take on St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup on Sunday afternoon.

McInnes a Huge Fan of Penrice

McInnes has previously gone on record to admit how much of a fan he was of 27-year-old Penrice, having briefly worked with him before he was sold last summer.

Speaking after that deal went through, McInnes admitted he had tried to sign him previously, and even compared him to Scotland legend Andy Robertson.

“That was a blow for us because we were really looking forward to working with James. But such was the deal for the club and for the boy, it was the right thing,” he said.

“I thought it was a brilliant signing for Hearts when they got him. I think he’s done brilliantly for Hearts and he’s deserving of the opportunity that’s been given to him.”

“I thought there were similarities. When I got the job at Hearts, I was kind of regretting saying that and thinking: ‘I hope we can just hold on to him’. But we always felt he was a slight risk.”

Before long, the 2026/27 Premier League season will be kicking off as reigning champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City on 21 August. Last term, the Gunners won the prize for the first time since 2004, and Mikel Arteta’s men will be strong favourites again.

That said, there are plenty in the chasing pack who will feel in with a shot at going all the way this time around. Manchester City and Liverpool are interesting propositions, as both clubs begin the campaign with new managers, Enzo Maresca and Andoni Iraola, replacing title-winning former head coaches, Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot.

Manchester United have also appointed a new permanent boss, with Michael Carrick landing the big job at Old Trafford after arriving as interim last season. Adding to the new faces, Xabi Alonso has taken over at Chelsea and will hope to recreate his Bundesliga-winning form enjoyed at his previous club, Bayer Leverkusen.

In the race for European football and possibly more, Aston Villa can’t be discounted under Unai Emery, while the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United will also harbour ambitions of finishing at the top end of the table.

John Barnes Expects Two-Horse Title Race

With so much unknown ahead of the new season, this is the time of year when pundits offer up their predictions. Peter Crouch, for example, has named his top four in order, while Michael Owen has suggested a full top six.

Another former Liverpool attacker has now weighed in on the debate, with John Barnes revealing his Premier League top five for 2026/27. As quoted by the Mirror, the ex-England winger didn’t quite land on a winner, but instead predicted it to be a two-horse race before then listing the rest in order:

He explained why it’s worth showing patience in the new Liverpool boss, noting: “Mikel Arteta finished 8th, 8th and 5th before he won the league, and they stuck with him and supported him and look what happened. So are we going to say, if you finish 3rd or 4th, we’re going to sack the manager because we didn’t finish first. I think that’s how we have to look at it.”

Barnes Warns Against Klopp Comparisons For Iraola

Andoni Iraola via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

In a separate interview, Barnes has given more thoughts on new man Iraola, insisting that it would be unfair to compare the former Bournemouth boss to Liverpool icon Jurgen Klopp. As quoted by the Liverpool Echo, he said:

“What Iraola has to do is bring his own style to the club. He can’t be somebody else. And if that’s who he is and that’s how he wants to play, then that’s what should happen.

“We have to forget about Jurgen, as much as we love him. We will remember him forever. But if you’re going to live on Jurgen’s legacy, then you can look at what happened at Manchester United.

“Alex Ferguson left, then they got rid of David Moyes, then Louis van Gaal, then Jose Mourinho, who are all good managers. “Arsenal, when Wenger left, they got rid of Unai Emery, yes, but then Arteta came in, and the club said ‘do it your way’.”

He added that fans will have to accept that Iraola’s style will be different to Klopp’s, and must show patience if the Reds hit a bump in form. He concluded: “Now, if all of a sudden we lose the first three or four games, or, you know, we don’t start off well and we don’t win all the games, are we then going to say ‘let’s get rid of him?’. We have to stop that, or Liverpool will end up like Manchester United “