USPGA TEXAS OPEN
Curtis stretches lead
Former Open winner Ben Curtis managed to overcome a pair of double bogeys in the third round of the PGA Tour’s Texas Open to stretch his lead to three shots on Saturday. Curtis, who is chasing his fourth USPGA title, fired a one-over 73 for a nine-under 207 total on the TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. Matt Every was alone in second after a one-over 73, as the American seeks his first Tour win. South Koreans Noh Seung-yul (68) and Charlie Wi (71) were tied for third with the US’ John Huh. Huh shot a five-under 67, which tied for the low round of the day with Matt Kuchar, on a day when high winds slowed the pace of play and saw just 19 of the 81 golfers who made the cut break par. Curtis had two double bogeys on the front nine, including one on the par-five eighth, where his ball landed on another fairway. He battled back with three birdies on the back. Every made three bogeys, but was saved by a couple of birdies, including a 10-footer after a nice tee shot on the par-three third hole.
LPGA LOTTE
Miyazato wins in Hawaii
Japan’s Ai Miyazato claimed her eighth career LPGA title on Saturday by shooting a two-under 70 in the final round of the inaugural LPGA LOTTE Championship. The 26-year-old Miyazato finished with a 12-under 276 total for a four-stroke victory at the US$1.7 million tournament. Miyazato had taken a three-shot lead into the final round, and had four birdies and two bogeys on Saturday as windy conditions again made things difficult on the par-72 Ko Olina course. Her victory comes after two runner-up finishes to world No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan this season, in Thailand and Phoenix, Arizona. Tseng, winner of three titles this year, carded a 74 that left her tied for 10th on four-under — her seventh straight top-10 finish this year. South Korea’s Meena Lee was tied for the lead after a birdie at the 15th, but she took a double-bogey six at the par-four 18th to complete a two-under 70 for a share of second place, along with Spain’s Azahara Munoz. Munoz carded a 71 to join Lee on eight-under 280. Taiwan’s Candie Kung shot a last-round 70 to finish at two-under and in a shared eighth place.
CHINA OPEN
Grace wins by three shots
Branden Grace of South Africa shot a final-round three-under 69 yesterday to win the China Open by three shots. The 23-year-old Grace started the round with a three-shot lead over last year’s winner, Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, and maintained that lead to finish with a 21-under 267. Colsaerts sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the 9th to briefly close to within two shots. Colsaerts also closed with a 69 to finish second at 18-under. England’s Richard Finch was third a shot further back after carding a closing 66.
INDONESIAN MASTERS
Westwood takes lead
Third-ranked Lee Westwood of England completed his delayed third round yesterday with a seven-under 65 to take an imposing eight-shot lead. The English defending champion had seven birdies and two bogeys among the remaining 14 holes of his third round for an 18-under 198 at the Royal Jakarta Golf Club. South Korean Lee Sung shot five birdies to stay second with a 10-under 206. Former top-ranked Asian Tour player Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, Kieran Pratt of Australia and two-time winner Gaganjeet Bhullar of India were tied at 9-under 207 in third. Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang carded a 71, Hsu Mong-nan shot 72 and Lu Wei-chih 73, while Chiang Chen-chih carded a 74.
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
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two