GOLF
Sullivan, Warren share lead
Defending champion Andy Sullivan on Friday carded 10 birdies to take a share of the lead after two rounds of the Portugal Masters, firing a season-low 61. The Englishman won the event last season by a record nine shots with a 23-under-par total and his Friday round took his bogey-free run at the Vilamoura, Portugal, venue to 56 holes. Overnight leader Marc Warren added a 65 to his opening 63 to also get to 14-under and a share of the lead. “I knew I needed to go low today to get a beat on the leaders,” Sullivan said. “So to go out there and shoot that score is absolutely fantastic. I had thoughts of 59 coming down the stretch there, but it wasn’t to be.” The 14-under-par total of 128 for Sullivan and Warren was the lowest 36-hole score this season achieved without preferred lies. Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, without a win since his PGA Championship triumph in 2008, fired a 63 to sit alongside Jens Fahrbring at 13-under in second place.
GOLF
Lee, Korda lead at Blue Bay
Australia’s Minjee Lee and the US’ Jessica Korda yesterday topped the leaderboard on the third day of the US$2.1 million Blue Bay LPGA tournament. Korda demolished Lee’s commanding six-point lead at the end of play on the Chinese island of Hainan on Friday, with both players finishing yesterday at 11-under on the par-72 course. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn stalked the top spot, finishing just two strokes behind on a day where she notched eight birdies. After a commanding performance on Friday, Lee ended the day one-over-par, shooting a 73 after getting off to a bad start with an early bogey, followed by two more. A confident Korda shot six birdies, making up for a nightmare start on the previous day, where she dropped four shots in her first seven holes. Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung of the US finished tied for ninth on a three-day two-under 214 total, while Taiwan’s Yani Tseng carded a one-over 73 to tie for 60th.
TENNIS
Dimitrov advances to semis
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria on Friday advanced to the semi-finals of the Stockholm Open by beating Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-2. In the semi-finals he is to face Olympic silver medalist Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who withstood 12 aces to beat Croatian veteran Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 6-4. Fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev beat German compatriot Tobias Kamke 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to set up a semi-final against sixth-seeded Jack Sock of the US. Sock won 6-4, 6-4 against Portugal’s Gastao Elias, who had beaten top-seeded Gael Monfils in the second round.
TENNIS
Goffin rallies to defeat Copil
Top-seeded David Goffin of Belgium had more trouble than expected against Romanian qualifier Marius Copil, rallying to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the European Open on Friday. Goffin, ranked No. 12, next plays Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, who downed fourth-seeded Pablo Cuevas 7-6 (10/8), 6-3, breaking the Uruguayan’s serve twice in each set. Third-seeded Richard Gasquet of France advanced to the last four by beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2, 6-4. Gasquet, who broke the German player’s serve three times, remains on course to reach his third final of the season. Gasquet, ranked 19th, next plays Britain’s Kyle Edmund, who beat Italian veteran Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-4 in their first career meeting. Gasquet lost to Edmund in straight sets in the first round of this year’s US Open.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely