LIV Golf to tee off 2025 season in Saudi Arabia

LIV Golf to tee off 2025 season in Saudi Arabia
The third full season of LIV Golf will kick off in February 2025 with a series of global events starting in Saudi Arabia. (LIV Golf)
Short Url
Updated 04 September 2024
Follow

LIV Golf to tee off 2025 season in Saudi Arabia

LIV Golf to tee off 2025 season in Saudi Arabia
  • Riyadh, Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore to host first 4 events of the league’s third full season

RIYADH: LIV Golf has announced that the league will launch its third full season in February 2025, teeing off in marquee global markets across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

Fans can sign up to LIV X for free to receive exclusive access to tickets, including pre-sale information on hospitality and grounds passes for events featuring team and individual competitions, live music and activities for all ages.

“As we set our sights on 2025, LIV Golf is gearing up for our most ambitious season start, to date,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman.

He said that since the tournament’s debut in 2022, LIV Golf has played 34 tournaments in nine different countries across four continents.

“We are a global league with a global footprint, and we’re excited to kick off next season with four truly international events that will deliver our unique blend of elite golf, entertainment and culture to fans around the world.”

The league will begin the 2025 season Feb. 6 to 8 with LIV Golf Riyadh, marking its debut in Saudi Arabia’s capital city.

The Riyadh Golf Club venue will host events including the Aramco Team Series, the Saudi Open presented by the PIF, and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers in December.

From Feb. 14 to 16, the league will return to The Grange Golf Club for LIV Golf Adelaide, reigning winner of the World’s Best Golf Event at the World Golf Awards.

This past April, the tournament welcomed more than 94,000 fans to the South Australia venue which reset the bar for LIV Golf fandom across the three days.

The event saw the return of the popular Watering Hole on the par-3 No. 12, had a standout performance by individual champion Brendan Steele, and played host to the league’s first team playoff, won by the all-Australian Ripper GC and captain Cam Smith.

Two weeks after Adelaide, the league will have its second consecutive year of competition at Hong Kong Golf Club from March 7 to 9.

Annual host to some of the region’s most prestigious golf events for the last 60 years, Hong Kong Golf Club will be a challenging test for the sport’s biggest stars, including defending individual champion Abraham Ancer as well as team champions Crushers GC and captain Bryson DeChambeau.

The following week, from March 14 to 16, LIV Golf will return to Sentosa Golf Club for the third consecutive year of LIV Golf Singapore. The event will have reigning individual champion Brooks Koepka and team champion Ripper GC attempt to defend their titles on the club’s Serapong course, recently voted the World’s Best Golf Course.

LIV Golf’s 2024 regular season concludes next week in Illinois at LIV Golf Chicago, from Sept. 13 to 15 at Bolingbrook Golf Club.

The following week, the 13 teams travel to Texas for the season-ending LIV Golf Dallas Team Championship, from Sept. 20 to 22 at Maridoe Golf Club.


Knicks get Karl-Anthony Towns from T-wolves for Randle in major NBA deal

Knicks get Karl-Anthony Towns from T-wolves for Randle in major NBA deal
Updated 1 min 16 sec ago
Follow

Knicks get Karl-Anthony Towns from T-wolves for Randle in major NBA deal

Knicks get Karl-Anthony Towns from T-wolves for Randle in major NBA deal
  • The three-team deal saw the Knicks also obtain the draft rights to James Nnaji from the Charlotte Hornets
  • Knicks also sent Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop and a future first-round pick to Minnesota and Charlie Brown, DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr. and two future second-round picks to Charlotte

NEW YORK: Karl-Anthony Towns was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to New York in a three-team NBA trade on Wednesday that sent Julius Randle from the Knicks to the T-wolves in return.

The three-team deal saw the Knicks also obtain the draft rights to James Nnaji from the Charlotte Hornets while also sending Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-Diop and a future first-round pick to Minnesota and Charlie Brown, DaQuan Jeffries, Duane Washington Jr. and two future second-round picks to Charlotte.

Towns, a 7-foot (2.13m) center, is a four-time NBA All-Star who sparked the T-Wolves into the Western Conference finals last season for the first time in 20 years.

“We’re beyond excited to welcome Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks,” team president Leon Rose said. “Karl-Anthony brings a skillset that is unique to the game of basketball. He possesses a blend of playmaking, shooting, rebounding and defending that in combination with his size allows him to compete at a level that is rare in this league.

“Karl-Anthony has demonstrated throughout his career to be a high caliber player and person on and off the court who will complement the type of team and culture we continue to build in New York.”

Towns, 28, has averaged 22.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 blocked shots a game over nine NBA seasons, all with the Timberwolves.

“To the Timberwolves Family: Nine years ago, I arrived in Minnesota as a young man with a dream. Little did I know that this place would become my home, and its people would become my family,” Towns posted on social media.

“Your love, support, and unwavering loyalty have fueled my journey and inspired me to be the best player I could be. Thank you to my teammates, coaches, and the entire Timberwolves organization for the countless opportunities and experiences. I’ll cherish the friendships I’ve made and the battles we’ve fought together.

“To the incredible fans, your support has meant the world to me. It gave me strength on and off the court. I’ll never forget it. You’ll always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for everything.”

Randle, a three-time NBA All-Star forward, helped the Knicks reach the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. He has averaged 19.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists over 10 NBA seasons, the past five with the Knicks.

“Julius worked tirelessly day in and day out to represent the Knicks organization with grit, grace and tremendous skill,” Rose said. “Julius played a major role in establishing the foundation and culture of our team and we cannot thank Julius enough for what he did.”

Nnaji, a 20-year-old Nigerian guard, spent the past three seasons with Barcelona of the Spanish league, averaging 2.9 points and 2.0 rebounds over 110 games.

DiVincenzo, a 27-year-old guard, has spent six seasons in the NBA with Milwaukee, Sacramento, Golden State and New York, averaging 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals. He was part of Golden State’s 2021 NBA championship team.


Mbappé can’t rescue Real Madrid in Champions League loss to Lille

Mbappé can’t rescue Real Madrid in Champions League loss to Lille
Updated 03 October 2024
Follow

Mbappé can’t rescue Real Madrid in Champions League loss to Lille

Mbappé can’t rescue Real Madrid in Champions League loss to Lille

Kylian Mbappé came off the bench but couldn’t prevent defending champion Real Madrid from losing 1-0 at unheralded Lille in the revamped Champions League on Wednesday.
With Mbappé a substitute after a minor hamstring injury, the opening goal came from Canada striker Jonathan David ‘s penalty deep into first-half stoppage time. A video review ruled that midfielder Eduardo Camavinga handled the ball.
David scored a hat trick last weekend and shot confidently past goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who was replacing the injured Thibaut Courtois. Mbappé came on in the 57th.
It was Madrid’s first loss in the competition since a 4-0 hammering by Manchester City in the 2023 semifinal return leg.
Brazil teenager Endrick became the youngest Champions League starter for Madrid at 18 years, 73 days old. He surpassed the mark set by former Madrid great Raúl González, who was 18 years, 78 days old when he faced Ajax in 1995.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot got his first taste of a European night at Anfield and saw his team beat Bologna 2-0, thanks to goals from midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and prolific forward Mohamed Salah.
Substitute Jhon Duran scored a late winner to give Aston Villa another 1-0 win against Bayern Munich.
When the sides met in the 1982 European Cup final, Villa won 1-0 in a big upset. Prince William was born that year, and he was cheering in the Villa Park crowd when Duran pounced late on.
Coach Unai Emery sent the 20-year-old Duran on in the 70th and the Colombia forward — who has made a habit of scoring goals from the bench — did it again with a brilliant left-footed effort from around 25 meters to beat Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Juventus had goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio sent off in the 59th for a handball yet still won 3-2 at Leipzig.
Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko scored both goals for Leipzig but Serbia’s Dusan Vlahovic did the same for 10-man Juve before Francisco Conceição netted in the 82nd.
OTHER MATCHES
Earlier, Atalanta and Feyenoord got their first wins in the competition’s second round of matches.
Italian side Atalanta coasted to a 3-0 win over Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk, Dutch club Feyenoord secured a gritty 3-2 win at tournament newcomer Girona.
Albanian Berat Djimsiti, Nigerian Ademola Lookman, and Italian Raoul Bellanova scored for Atalanta in the German city of Gelsenkirchen. It was officially a home game for Shakhtar, which is playing at German club Schalke’s stadium because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Girona led through center-back David López’s close-range finish, but the visitors equalized with an own goal from Yangel Herrera and took the lead on Antoni Milambo’s 31st-minute strike.
Donny van de Beek made it 2-2 but another own goal, this time from Ladislav Krejci, gave Feynoord — Slot’s former club — victory in a match where both teams missed a penalty.
Kerem Akturkoglu, veteran Ángel Di Maria, Alexander Bah and Orkun Kokcu scored for Benfica in a 4-0 rout of Atletico Madrid; and Monaco netted a last-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Dinamo Zagreb thanks to Denis Zakaria’s penalty.
Also, Sturm Graz lost 1-0 at home to Club Brugge, which won thanks to a curling strike from Christos Tzolis.


Volleyball and badminton feature on day three of Saudi Games

Volleyball and badminton feature on day three of Saudi Games
Updated 03 October 2024
Follow

Volleyball and badminton feature on day three of Saudi Games

Volleyball and badminton feature on day three of Saudi Games
  • Other action included deaf futsal and 5x5 basketball

RIYADH: Wednesday’s action at the Saudi Games saw the men’s volleyball semifinals decided, with Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Khaleej, and Al-Ittihad securing their spots.

Al-Hilal triumphed over Abha with a commanding 3-0 win, while Al-Nassr defeated Al-Ahli 3-1, and Al-Khaleej edged past Al-Ittihad in a close 3-2 match.

At the Boulevard 4 area in Riyadh, 22 matches were held in badminton singles for both men and women.

Meanwhile, the Paralympic Hall at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex hosted the 5x5 basketball quarterfinals for both men and women.

In the women’s category, Jeddah United claimed victory over Al-Ittihad 66-54, while Al-Nassr defeated Al-Okhdood 78-47. For the men’s matches, Al-Khaleej beat Al-Khuwaildia 72-43, and Al-Ittihad narrowly won against Al-Ahli 71-67.

All victorious teams have now advanced to the semifinals.

In men’s futsal for the deaf, Jeddah Deaf Club dominated Makkah Deaf Center with a 13-2 win, while Riyadh Deaf Club beat Madinah Deaf Center 12-1. Al-Baha Deaf Center secured a 11-3 victory against Al-Qatif Deaf Center.

The women’s volleyball semifinals are set to begin on Thursday with Al-Fayha taking on Al-Nassr, followed by Al-Ula versus Al-Anqaa.

Jeddah will also host the rowing and jet skiing competitions, while Riyadh will see action in athletics, fencing, Muay Thai boxing, futsal, and Paralympic athletics.


Messi back in Argentina’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia

Messi back in Argentina’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia
Updated 02 October 2024
Follow

Messi back in Argentina’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia

Messi back in Argentina’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia
  • The 37-year-old star had missed recent matches because of an ankle injury
  • Messi did not play the two previous rounds after sustaining an injury in Copa America

BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi will return to Argentina’s national team for the South American World Cup qualifying matches against Venezuela and Bolivia.
The 37-year-old star had missed recent matches because of an ankle injury.
Coach Lionel Scaloni announced his squad Wednesday for the matches at Venezuela on Oct. 10 and five days later in Buenos Aires against Bolivia.
Messi did not play the two previous rounds after sustaining an injury in the Copa America final against Colombia. Argentina won 1-0.
Argentina lead South American qualifying with 18 points, followed by Colombia (16) and Uruguay (15). The top six teams will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, and the seventh position will play an international playoff for a berth.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Marcos Acuña (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Nicolás Paz (Como), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Valentín Carboni (Olympique Marseille)
Strikers: Thiago Almada (Botafogo), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás González (Juventus), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Julián Álvarez (Atletico Madrid), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)


Formula E puts women in the driving seat at Valencia’s pre-season session

Formula E puts women in the driving seat at Valencia’s pre-season session
Updated 02 October 2024
Follow

Formula E puts women in the driving seat at Valencia’s pre-season session

Formula E puts women in the driving seat at Valencia’s pre-season session
  • Electric car series announces first for an FIA Championship, holding a dedicated test session for female drivers in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  • 22 drivers competing in the series set to use the latest GEN3 Evo race car

LONDON: Formula E has announced that the first all-women test session of an FIA Championship will take place on Nov. 7 at Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, as part of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s pre-season testing schedule.

The first-of-its-kind test in the all-electric championship gives elite women racing drivers the opportunity to drive the Season 11 (2024-25) GEN3 Evo car, which is capable of 0-60 mph in just 1.82 seconds — 30 percent faster than a current Formula 1 car. The vehicle will also be tested during the same week by the 11 race teams and 22 drivers currently competing in the series.

Each of the race teams in the championship will be required to field at least one woman driver for the half-day test, but encouraged to field two, who will drive in current-season cars.

With all the women on the track at the same time, the session will create a tangible platform for a wide pool of elite drivers who would not otherwise get an opportunity to drive machinery at this level.

The test will aim to provide the women not only with a destination, but also a pathway to develop their careers and skills using current technology.

The drivers will take part in multiple media opportunities at the Valencia track, including press conferences, briefings and interviews, while content will be captured for broadcast and social media on behalf of Formula E and its respective teams.

Formula E is proactively launching this initiative as part of a broader long-term strategy to remove barriers and expand opportunities for women within the all-electric championship. (Supplied)

This is to raise the drivers’ profile within elite motorsport and the wider sports industry, along with encouraging those involved at grassroots level and aspiring to work in motorsport. The full lineup of women drivers participating in the test will be announced in the coming weeks by each Formula E team.

Despite motorsport being one of the few sports in which men and women can compete together, it remains predominantly male, with only 3 percent of current top-tier racing licenses worldwide held by women.

Formula E is proactively launching this initiative as part of a broader long-term strategy to remove barriers and expand opportunities for women within the all-electric championship. It is not just about creating a one-off opportunity; it is about analyzing and actively dismantling the structural inequalities that have limited women’s participation and progress.

Jeff Dodds, CEO at Formula E, said: “We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport. If we’re going to truly give women equality, opportunity and visibility in our series, however, conditions for all need to be the same to aid their development and test themselves against those already on the starting grid.

“Unlike other series where women drivers have to use old or restricted machinery, they’ll be using the state-of-the-art GEN3 Evo car that accelerates 30 percent faster than an F1 car, just as our championship drivers do.

“We also recognize that one test will not solve the longstanding issue, but we have to start somewhere, knowing there is a long way to go and making sure we’re making proactive, consistent steps that continue to make forward progress.

“As a motorsport with an almost-equal split of male and female fans, as well as within Formula E including my exec and director teams, we believe it’s only right that our drivers and wider ecosystem is representative of those that follow and support the sport.”