Golf: Canada’s Pendrith grabs three-stroke PGA Bermuda lead
MIAMI (AFP) – Canadian Taylor Pendrith reeled off four consecutive birdies on his way to a six-under par 65, seizing a three-stroke lead after Saturday’s (Oct 30) third round of the US PGA Bermuda Championship. The 30-year-old newlywed from suburban Toronto, who barely practiced before the event began, stood on 17-under par 196 after 54... » read more
Golf: Koepka Ryder Cup ready despite injuries
KOHLER, UNITED STATES (AFP) – Brooks Koepka says he enjoys the Ryder Cup despite its differences from a typical golf week and the American vows he is ready for this weekend’s showdown despite nagging injuries. The four-time major winner cleared the air on several issues on Thursday (Sept 23) on the eve of the 43rd... » read more
Formula One: Ricciardo dares to dream after securing Italian GP front row start
MONZA, ITALY (REUTERS) – Daniel Ricciardo dared to dream after the Australian secured his return to the Formula One front row with McLaren at Monza on Saturday (Sept 11). Second place on the Italian Grand Prix grid was Ricciardo’s best qualifying performance since he took pole position in Mexico for Red Bull in 2018 with... » read more
Formula One: Leclerc tops practice as Hamilton breaks down at ‘epic’ Zandvoort
ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS (AFP) – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped opening practice for the Dutch Grand Prix on Friday (Sept 3) as Lewis Hamilton endured a frustrating afternoon at a redesigned Zandvoort circuit the Mercedes world champion described as “epic”. Hamilton produced the fastest lap in a truncated morning session but lasted just three laps in the... » read more
Golf: Driving well the key for Johnson’s British Open bid
SANDWICH, ENGLAND (REUTERS) – Dustin Johnson has good memories of Royal St George’s after finishing tied second at the 2011 British Open and the world number one is confident of going one better this year. The 37-year-old American won the Masters in November, his second major title, and believes he is playing well enough to... » read more
Football: ‘It’s not Belgium v Ronaldo’ says Vertonghen ahead of Portugal showdown
SEVILLE, SPAIN (AFP) – Jan Vertonghen said that Belgium’s focus wouldn’t just be on Cristiano Ronaldo as the Red Devils prepare to take on Portugal in a Euro 2020 last-16 showdown between two of the tournament favourites. Ronaldo tops the scoring charts at the Euro with five goals in three group stage matches but Benfica... » read more
Golf: McIlroy seeks relaxed swing as US Open tests mental game
LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES (AFP) – Rory McIlroy is trying to recapture his free-swinging style from a decade ago that made him a major champion and snap a seven-year major win drought at the US Open. The 32-year-old from Northern Ireland won his first major at the 2011 US Open at Congressional and seeks that... » read more
Formula One: Verstappen criticises slippery Portuguese track surface
PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL (REUTERS) – Max Verstappen criticised the slippery surface of Portugal’s Algarve circuit as “not a lot of fun” on Saturday (May 1) after the Red Bull driver qualified behind both Mercedes cars for Sunday’s race. The Dutch driver, second in the championship and only one point behind Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, also had a... » read more
Golf: Slumping Fowler in battle to keep major streak alive
MIAMI (REUTERS) – Rickie Fowler heads into this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational seeking a long-awaited return to form that would do wonders for his bid to extend a streak of 41 consecutive major appearances. Fowler, who is 65th in the world rankings and without a top-10 finish since January 2020, can keep his major streak... » read more
Arsenal not relying on away goal against Benfica
LONDON • Lose today and Arsenal’s season will realistically be over. That is the prospect facing the Gunners, who are 11 points off the top four in the Premier League. With Champions League qualification via a top-flight finish looking a tall order, Arsenal’s exile from the competition is set to extend to a fifth year... » read more
Cilic offers great peek into playing tennis’ Big Three
It’s not one point, or two, or a game, or a set. No, to play Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal is to feel the squeeze of pressure all day. It’s a suffocating intensity that won’t dip, it’s a relentless interrogation under bright lights to which you’d better have brilliant rejoinders. “They play every single point... » read more
Hotel is ‘like jail, but with WiFi’
MELBOURNE • Roberto Bautista Agut has slammed the Victoria state government’s quarantine requirements for tennis players ahead of next month’s Australian Open, saying that being subject to a hotel lockdown was no different to being imprisoned. Passengers who arrived on three charter flights have been placed into hard quarantine, including 72 players who are unable... » read more
Aussie Open delay ‘pure speculation’: Organisers
MELBOURNE • Tennis Australia (TA) yesterday dismissed multiple media reports claiming the start of the Australian Open is set to be pushed back from January to February or March due to Covid-19 protocols in the country. The Herald Sun quoted Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews as saying he was “very confident” of hosting the event but... » read more
Kane wants more after his 200-goal milestone
SOFIA • With Harry Kane just eight goals behind Bobby Smith, he is odds-on to leapfrog him into second place on the all-time scoring list for Tottenham this season. The England captain reached the 200-goal milestone as Spurs won 3-1 at Bulgarian side Ludogorets in their Europa League Group J tie on Thursday. Lucas Moura... » read more