McIlroy and Tom Kim put on a show at CJ Cup, both 1 off lead

McIlroy and Tom Kim put on a show at CJ Cup, both 1 off lead
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Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the CJ Cup on October 20, 2022 in Ridgeland, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
McIlroy and Tom Kim put on a show at CJ Cup, both 1 off lead
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Tom Kim lines up a putt on the 18th green during the first round of the CJ CUP in South Carolina golf tournament. (USA TODAY Sports)
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Updated 21 October 2022
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McIlroy and Tom Kim put on a show at CJ Cup, both 1 off lead

McIlroy and Tom Kim put on a show at CJ Cup, both 1 off lead
  • Trey Mullinax and former US Open champion Gary Woodland each had a 6-under 65 to share the lead

RIDGELAND, South Carolina: Tom Kim felt as much a spectator as a player Thursday in the CJ Cup, amazed at how Rory McIlroy produces so much power with so little effort.

Kim wasn’t too bad himself.

They were the star attractions on a beautiful morning at Congaree Golf Club, one of them pursuing the No. 1 world ranking, the other a 20-year-old who is quickly becoming one of the more popular players among his peers.

Trey Mullinax and former US Open champion Gary Woodland each had a 6-under 65. McIlroy and Kim, who played together in the same group with Rickie Fowler, were among those another shot back at 66.

“He makes this game look so easy,” said Kim, who won two weeks ago in Las Vegas to become the first player since Tiger Woods with two PGA Tour titles before turning 21. “It was really hard to just kind of play my own game sometimes, seeing the lines he took. It was like 380 (yards) to the runout and he was saying, ‘Sit!’ I was like, ‘Really? Like sit?’ But he almost made it.

“Obviously, what was the most important thing for me today was trying to play my own game and not look at his line. But it was still so much fun.”

McIlroy was equally impressed, mainly at how polished Kim plays at such a young age.

They matched birdies for so much of the day in different manners. One example was the par-5 fourth hole, where McIlroy hit a 360-yard drive that bounded along the firm, wide fairway, and belted a fairway metal just through the green. Kim was 50 yards behind him off the tee, still 64 yards from the hole after a fairway metal, and then clipped a wedge over a bunker to 7 feet for birdie.

McIlroy really showed his driving ability on the 366-yard 15th, with sand and water along the right side of the green. He hit his drive just onto the front of the green, even as Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas in the group ahead were putting.

“The longer I stood over that tee shot, the more likely it was that I was going to lay up, so I just needed to step up and hit it,” McIlroy said. “Whether they were on the green or not, I had to go.”

Some apologies were in order by McIlroy, minus the hard feelings.

“He was never going to fly it on the green,” Thomas said. “It was never going to hit us. We’re just jealous. I wish I had hit on the green.”

McIlroy needs to win to reach No. 1 in the world for the ninth time in his career, and he was off to a good start with a bogey-free round.

Kim was one better, firing at pins with his superb iron play and not getting as much as he would have liked with his putter. He was tied for the lead until pulling his tee shot on the 18th, having to play short of the water and missing an 8-foot par putt.

“He didn’t really miss a shot out there,” McIlroy said. “He’s a very, very solid player, plays to his strengths. Makes the same swing at it pretty much every time. He was sort of picking my brain a little bit out there about speed training and I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no.’ I think as he gets older and maybe a touch stronger, he’ll get that naturally.

“I was like, ‘Don’t go down that path, you’re good the way you are.’”

It was a good day for so many in the 78-man field, starting with Mullinax and Woodland. Both ran off three birdies early. Mullinax already was 7 under through 12 holes when his birdies dried up. Woodland finished with two birdies.

But not everyone.

Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player since late March and trying to hold off McIlroy, switched putters and didn’t have much to show for it with two birdies and two bogeys for a 71.

Jordan Spieth had a 75 with a round that included a triple bogey and a putt he missed from 16 inches. Spieth tried to backhand his short par putt on the 16th and it missed the hole, the lowlight of an otherwise rough start to his season.

Fowler, who had the 54-hole lead in Japan last week, fell back early when he four-putted from 20 feet on the fourth hole. He had a 74.


Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’

Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’
Updated 16 sec ago
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Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’

Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’
LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino has urged his struggling Chelsea team to keep believing in themselves but admitted they had to “fix” their crippling goalscoring problem.
The Blues, European champions just two years ago, are a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, just four points above the relegation zone, after one win in their first six matches.
Big-spending Chelsea have mustered just five goals in the league — and three of those came in the 3-0 win against newly-promoted Luton.
But new manager Pochettino, speaking on the eve of their League Cup third-round match against Brighton, struck a positive note, saying his team were still a work in progress.
“(It is) a very short time that we are together,” said the Argentine. “Realistically, we only started after the transfer window closed. Before, it was a little bit of an unstable situation.”
He said injury-hit Chelsea were full of ideas and dominating games but struggling to find the net — Raheem Sterling is the top-scorer with just two goals.
“Every single football person in this country sees Chelsea deserve more but we have missed (scoring) goals, the most important thing in football — we cannot forget that,” said the former Tottenham boss.
“We need to get criticized, of course, because we are not winning games but we need to keep being strong in the belief.
“The team is very well-organized, the effort is massive. You can see against Aston Villa (a match Chelsea lost 1-0) how the players fight with 10 men.”
He added: “We are playing well, it’s only we are not clinical in front of the goal. That is what we need to fix and try to give more confidence to our offensive players.”

DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai

DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai
Updated 26 September 2023
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DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai

DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai
  • 2023 edition of the season-ending event will bring 50 of the world’s top golf stars to Dubai

DUBAI: The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, is set to return for its 15th edition in just 50 days with a blend of world-class golfing action, entertainment and fan experiences.

Following record weekend crowds last year and a sold-out event, the championship will take place at Jumeirah Golf Estates, as the grand finale of the prestigious Rolex Series.

From Nov. 16-19, the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates will witness the world’s top 50 players on the “DP World Tour Race to Dubai” Rankings battling for the coveted title of Race to Dubai champion.

The DP World Tour Championship Fan Village will offer an array of experiences including family-friendly activities, a special Ladies Day celebrating women’s golf, and daily music performances from local UAE based artists including Conleth McGeary, Lexie, Faux-asis and Garry Greig.

For those looking to improve their golf game, the “Golf for All” program will offer attendees lessons on the driving range, along with an opportunity to put skills to the test through a “long putt” challenge sponsored by DP World.

Tom Phillips, the DP World Tour’s Head of Middle East, said: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating the 15th edition of the DP World Tour Championship. This Rolex Series is not only a highlight on the global golfing calendar but has also firmly established itself on Dubai’s vibrant social calendar. It’s a testament to our commitment to delivering a world-class sporting and lifestyle experience that resonates with residents and visitors alike, and we can’t wait to share this milestone with everyone.”


Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16

Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16
Updated 26 September 2023
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Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16

Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16
  • Without Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr comprehensively overcome Ohod 5-1

Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal safely booked their spots in the round of 16 of the King’s Cup after away victories over lower-tier opposition on Monday night.

But while Al-Nassr cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win over Ohod, Al-Hilal struggled to overcome Al-Jabalain 1-0.

Al-Nassr, playing without the rested Cristiano Ronaldo, took the lead on 15 minutes through a penalty by Sadio Mane, but the home team responded with a fine chipped equalizer from Konrad Michalak deep into first-half stoppage time.

Second-half strikes from Seko Fofana (62 minutes), Talisca (75), Ayman Yahya (81) and Sami Al-Najei (86) saw the Yellows safely through to the next round.

In contrast, Al-Hilal could only manage a solitary goal from Reuben Neves on 64 minutes as they labored to beat stubborn first-division outfit Al-Jabalain.

Elsewhere on Monday night, there was shock as Saudi Pro League team Al-Raed were beaten by first-division Al-Najmah 2-1, while Damac progressed after a 2-1 victory over Al-Qaisumah.


Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound

Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound
Updated 26 September 2023
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Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound

Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound
  • Organizers confirm contest to be played across 5 custom-designed courts Dec. 1-3

DUBAI: Emirates Dubai 7s is to launch Rebound, its first padel tournament, further expanding the lineup of its sporting events for this year’s edition.

Set to take place from Dec. 1 to 3, the tournament welcomes players of all abilities, and will see them compete across five custom-designed padel courts at The Sevens Stadium.

Players can select from eight categories namely Team Open Competitive (C), Team Open Social (D), Men’s Open Competitive (C), Men’s Open Social (D), Women's Competitive (C+), Women’s Challenger (C-), Women’s Open Social (D), and the Parent & Kids Social for children aged 8 to 14.

During the tournament, each team will take part in a minimum of three games during the group stage, and game formats will vary by category. For most categories, there will be six games to a set in the group stage, and nine in the knockout stages, while the parent and children categories will feature four games to a set in the group stage and six in the knockout stages.

The tournament will kick off on Friday, Dec. 1 with the parent and children categories, as well as the initial group stages to determine finalists for the knockout stages. The team category will consist of four players — two female and two male — taking on opponents in mixed and same-gender matches in the group stages and finals.

Simon Jelowitz, head of sport operations at the Emirates Dubai 7s, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to introduce padel to our schedule of sporting events for the 2023 Emirates Dubai 7s, which will offer a completely new experience for players. Padel is a sport that is growing rapidly around the world and it’s no different in the UAE with a number of padel courts set up across the country.

“Whether you’re trying for the first time or play regularly, this is a great opportunity to be part of our first-ever padel competition in what will be a fantastic weekend of sports and entertainment and we encourage everyone to register and book spots now.”


Victory for Saudi handball team in Asian Games as tennis duo, fencers bow out

Victory for Saudi handball team in Asian Games as tennis duo, fencers bow out
Updated 26 September 2023
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Victory for Saudi handball team in Asian Games as tennis duo, fencers bow out

Victory for Saudi handball team in Asian Games as tennis duo, fencers bow out
  • In Boxing, the Kingdom’s Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi qualified for the round of 16 in the 51kg category

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s mens handball team were victorious in their second game at the Asian Games on Monday, beating Mongolian 45-15.
Saudi Arabia were seeking to revive their tournament after loosing to Japan in the opening game. They are now in joint second place in Group D alongside Iran, who they play on Wednesday.
In Boxing, the Kingdom’s Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi qualified for the round of 16 in the 51kg category, while teammate Raghad Al-Naimi bowed out after losing to Kazakhstan’s Natalia Bogdanova in the 66kg weight class. 


Saudi rower Haia Al-Mami finished 12th in the overall standings of the W1x competition with a time of 8.84 minutes on Monday. 


In the taekwondo competition, it was the end of the road for Dania Abu Talibn after losing to China’s Guo Qing, who won the silver medal in the 2022 World Championships, by a round to nil in the sub-49kg weight category for women. 


Also heading out of the games were fencers Adel Al-Mutairi and Mohammed Al-Omar in the saber competition. Al-Mutairi defeated Jordan’s Osama Al-Masri 15-12 before losing 6-15 in the round of 16 to South Korea’s Oh Sang-uk, who won gold at 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And Al-Omar lost in the round of 32 to Japan’s Yoshida Kento. 


The Saudi shooting team, Misfer Al-Ammari, Bader Al-Otaibi, and Hussein Al-Harbi, finished their participation in the 10m air rifle competition. Al-Ammari ranked 12th with 624.5 points, Al-Otaibi ranked 24th with 615.8 points, and Al-Harbi ranked 50th with 614.5 points. As a team, they finished 12th with a total of 1854.8 points. 


Saudi tennis duo, Ammar and Yara Al-Hogbani, also bowed out of the games after a loss in the doubles competition.