Young Briton Tom Lewis, bidding to earn his playing rights for next season after turning professional last month, stole the show with a sizzling eight-under 64 in Friday’s Portugal Masters second round.
Lewis, who sprang to prominence by sharing the first-round lead at the British Open in July while still an amateur, produced a scintillating reply to two opening bogeys by rattling in 10 birdies in 14 holes on a day of outstanding scoring.
The 20-year-old Englishman’s stunning run left him on 10-under 134, three strokes behind leader Simon Khan of Britain (66) at the Victoria course on the Algarve.
Photo: EPA
“I thought I was on my way home after the first two holes and I was pretty angry with myself,” Lewis said.
“Then my putt on the 12th hole [his third] went in when it looked as though it was going 12 feet past,” he added.
“From there I just kept making birdie after birdie and my sad face turned into a smiley face,” he said.
Lewis, who turned pro after helping Britain and Ireland regain the Walker Cup from the US last month, is trying to earn a European Tour card next year from seven tournament invitations, this being his third.
“I don’t really want to go to tour school so I’m hoping a good finish this week will increase my chances,” he said.
Second place would earn him his playing rights in much the same way as world No. 3 and US Open champion Rory McIlroy gained his card soon after turning professional in 2007.
Khan, winner of the tour’s flagship PGA Championship last season, collected eight birdies to lead fellow Briton Rhys Davies (67), James Kingston (68) of South Africa and Chilean Felipe Aguilar (66) by a stroke.
“I can’t remember the last time I was leading,” Englishman Khan said. “But I enjoy being up there.”
“You have to embrace the pressure really and if you want to be on the fringes on this tour, then go and do something else. It’s only the shadow of your ambitions, the pressure, and you have just got to enjoy that,” he said.
On a day when six-birdie runs were commonplace, Swede John Edfors claimed three eagles in a 67 as he finished in a group two strokes off the pace.
Tournament favorite and world No. 6 Martin Kaymer, who shares the course record of 61, was left rueing two careless bogeys at the fourth and ninth as he returned a 68 for 135.
“Nine-under looks good, but really the par for the course is more like 69 than 72,” he said.
“I would expect to be closer to the lead but dropped two strokes where I should have been picking them up,” he added.
“I ran up four shots from only 45 yards on the fourth. Tiredness can creep in at this time of the year, but I can’t blame that because I feel pretty fit,” he added.
With the cut being made at a joint record for this year five-under, triple major champion Padraig Harrington just crept in on 138.
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