Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam received an award on British Queen Elizabeth II's New Year's Honors list yesterday for leading Europe to a third straight victory over the US.
Woosnam, who won the 1991 Masters and was ranked No. 1 for a total of 50 weeks, was given an Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for Europe's win at The K Club in Ireland in September.
Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, became the first senior royal to win the honor of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Phillips won gold in eventing at the World Equestrian Games in Germany in August.
The 25-year-old also won the BBC sports personality of the year, 35 years after Princess Anne herself won the award for equestrianism.
"I'm honored I've been recognized for my achievements in equestrianism and pleased British Eventing nominated me -- I'm delighted for the sport,'' Phillips said.
England midfielder Steven Gerrard also picked up an MBE, a year after he led Liverpool to the Champions League title. He has also won the FA, League and UEFA Cups in his eight years at the Reds.
Reports that Real Madrid midfielder and former England captain David Beckham would receive a knighthood proved unfounded, as no sports person received the Queen's highest distinction this year.
Former WBA welterweight and IBF light-welterweight champion Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton (41-0) also received an MBE. He received the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year award last year.
Former Football Association executive director David Davies and yachtsman Michael Golding each received an OBE.
Golding was 1,609km from land when he sailed 129km to rescue one of his rivals in the Five Oceans round-the-world race last month.
In descending order after knighthood, the honors are CBE, OBE and MBE.
Badges have recently been created so that the awards can be shown and recipients are allowed to put the letters after their names.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS