Tiger Woods retained his No. 1 ranking in the world on Sunday despite his worst showing in a major championship this season.
The 28-year-old Woods finished tied for 24th at the PGA Championship but he surpassed Australian legend Greg Norman for most consecutive weeks in the top spot, extending his record streak to 332 weeks.
Woods needed Ernie Els to finish second or higher at the PGA Championship on Sunday to keep the top ranking. Els shot 73 on Sunday to tie for fourth place.
Eight time major champion Woods started his No. 1 streak in 1997, becoming the youngest every to achieve the lofty perch at age 21 years, 24 weeks. Bernhard Langer, of Germany, held the previous record at 29 years, 31 years.
Extending his No. 1 streak wasn't enough to make up for the disappointment of failing to win another major championship however. Woods' major drought now extends to the last 10 tournaments.
He was tied for 22nd in the Masters this year, tied for 17th in US Open and tied for ninth in the British Open.
Woods got off to a poor start at Whistling Straits which put him in danger of missing a 36-hole cut for the first time in over six years.
He posted three birdies over his final six holes on Friday to make his record 129th cut in a row.
Woods said putting was the worst aspect of his game at the PGA. He averaged 29.8 putts per round, including 32 on Thursday. By comparison Chris Riley averaged just 26.8 putts.
Woods finished tied for 39th in the PGA Championship last year and tied for 29th in 2001.
After winning five events in 2003 and picking up player-of-the-year award, Woods is still searching for his first win this year.
Woods said part of the reason for his incredible run between 1999 and 2001 when he won five of 12 majors, was that winning those championships did wonders for his confidence.
"There's no substitute for getting on a roll. Look at what Phil [Mickelson] is doing this year. Ernie [Els] did it this year or most of the year.
"You get on these little runs. I was on my own little run for that stretch where I played well for about five majors," he said.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two