Martin Kaymer shared the clubhouse lead at the Castello Masters with Robert Allenby on Friday after play was suspended for the second day because of bad light.
A group of 50 players were to complete their second rounds yesterday.
Kaymer was one of those who had to get up early to complete his first round and his opening 63 gave him a share of the lead with Sergio Garcia.
PHOTO: AFP
His second round 67 put him on a 12-under par total of 130.
Australia’s Allenby added a 66 to his first round of 64 to share the second round lead.
Kaymer’s sharp shooting has given the French and Scottish Open Champion the chance to regain the No. 1 spot in The Race to Dubai at his first event back from breaking his toes in a go-kart crash.
Considering he has been out since mid-August and was unable to start practicing fully until the last few days, the 24-year-old was more than satisfied with his day’s work. Top of The Race to Dubai when the accident happened, Kaymer is now down to third, but the first prize today would instantly take him back above Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy.
■ARIZONA OPEN
REUTERS, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
The UK’s Greg Owen spectacularly holed out with a sand wedge to eagle the par-four 15th on the way to a share of the lead in Friday’s second round of the Arizona Open in Scottsdale.
Owen began another sunny day in the Arizona desert with a sizzling run of five birdies in the first six holes and ended it by carding a six-under-par 64 for an 11-under total of 129.
Level with the Briton was 20-year-old American Rickie Fowler, who fired a matching 64 on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club in only his second PGA Tour event as a professional.
Veteran American Justin Leonard, winner of the 1997 British Open, was alone in third at 10 under after carding a seven-birdie 64.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and