GOLF
Vegas shares Bob Hope lead
PGA Tour rookie Jhonattan Vegas overcame an erratic start with a sizzling finish to retain a share of the lead after the fourth round of the Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta, California, on Saturday. Venezuelan Vegas, joint pacesetter overnight with American Gary Woodland, birdied his last five holes for a six-under-par 66 at La Quinta Country Club, one of four venues hosting the five-round pro-am celebrity event. Vegas rolled in an 18-foot putt on his final hole, the par-four ninth, to draw level with Woodland at the top on 24-under 264. Britain’s Martin Laird carded a 66 on the Nicklaus layout, to finish at 22 under, a stroke in front of defending champion Bill Haas (62), Chris Kirk (66), Daniel Summerhays (64) and Keegan Bradley (66).
GOLF
Kaymer atop leaderboard
Holder Martin Kaymer moved five shots clear of the field after the third round on Saturday to close in on a third Abu Dhabi Championship title in four years. The German fired a 66 to move to 18-under. He has dropped just one stroke during the 54-holes in his first event of the year and that was a bogey at his 12th hole in the first round. Kaymer’s Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy is his nearest challenger after the Briton holed a 30-foot eagle putt at the last in a round of 65 for a 13-under par tally. Briton David Lynn is in third place at 12-under, while South African Charl Schwartzel (71) is tied with Sweden’s Alex Noren (67) at 10-under.
SOCCER
Minnows roll in French Cup
Amateurs Chambery continued their dream French Cup run by claiming another Ligue 1 scalp after beating Stade Brestois 29 on penalties to reach the last 16 as top flight clubs suffered further embarrassment on Saturday. Girondins de Bordeaux, the 2009 French champions, slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Ligue 2 Angers as only eight Ligue 1 clubs were left in the competition. Chambery won the shootout 4-3 after the match had finished 1-1 after extra-time. Bruno Grougi had fired Brest ahead in the first extra period, but Malick Faye equalized. In another upset, Bordeaux barely threatened Angers and the hosts were rewarded for their domination in the 65th minute when midfielder Sebastien Renouard fired home from 18 meters. Nancy needed a Julien Feret double to see off Ligue 2 Nimes 2-1 after extra-time. Mid-table Ligue 1 side Lorient needed extra-time to dispose of fourth division Fontenay Le Comte 1-0.
RUGBY UNION
World Cup in doubt for Fiji
Fiji’s participation in the rugby World Cup is in doubt after the International Rugby Board (IRB) wrote to the union’s board and told them not to cede to pressure from the military-led government, New Zealand media reported yesterday. The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) and the government have been at loggerheads since the country’s Commerce Commission conducted an investigation into a lottery held to raise funds for the World Cup. The government said earlier this month it would give 3 million Fijian dollars (US$1.61 million) to help prepare the team for the Sept. 9 to Oct. 23 tournament in New Zealand, but only if the FRU board resigned. The board and FRU chief executive Keni Dakuidreketi all resigned and a special board meeting was due to be held next week to elect new board members. However, the Fiji Sun said the interim board had rejected Dakuidreketi’s resignation and canceled the meeting following the IRB’s letter. The IRB also told the FRU they faced a ban if they did not adhere to their constitution.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or