Australian surfer Mick Fanning is facing a tough battle in the Rip Curl Pro in France.

The two time world champion has dropped from first to third.

Conor Tobin reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Mick Fanning knows there is no more room for error after a surprising early exit from an event in France.

Mick Fanning: “Had an absolute shocker, those things happen, you just gotta try bounce back.”

Fanning will join Joel Parkinson and eleven time world champion, Kelly Slatter for the next event in Portugal this week.

Australian cyclist Anna Meares and swimmer Matthew Cowdrey are set to compete in the Australian celebrity race at the Formula One Grand Prix next year.

Meares has always liked the idea of her name on a race car.

While Cowdrey looks forward to driving laps around the track instead of in the pool.

Matthew Cowdrey, Swimmer: “It’s gonna be exciting, I’m really excited about getting out there and racing.”

In golf, Tiger Woods and world number one Rory McIlroy are both out of the World Finals tournament in Turkey.

McIlroy lost the opening match by six shots to Matt Kuchar, a bogey saw Woods lose by a shot to 2011 masters champ Charl Schwartzel.

World number five Bubba Watson, didn’t make the competition but spent time hitting other things on US television.

Conor Tobin, QUT News.