Tiger Woods fired his lowest round in nearly two years to answer a career-low course record by defending champion Anthony Kim and produce a sizzling start to the PGA National on Thursday.
Kim, inspired to play golf by fist-pumping idol Woods, fired an eight-under par 62 at rain-softened Congressional Country Club for a two-stroke lead on fellow Americans Woods, D.A. Points and Bryce Molder.
Tournament host Woods sank seven birdies, his longest a 48-footer at the second hole, in 27 putts on the way to his 64, the 14-time major champion’s best round since the 2007 PGA Tour Championship some 22 months ago.
PHOTO: AP
■OWENS CORNING CLASSIC
AFP, SYLVANIA, OHIO
South Korea’s Kim Song-hee shot a seven-under 64 to seize a share of the lead after the opening round of the LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
Americans Laura Diaz and Morgan Pressel also shot 64s on the Highland Meadows Golf Club on Thursday.
Taiwan’s Candie Kung and Yani Tseng were in a group at 68, while compatriot Amy Hung followed in a group at 71.
■FRENCH OPEN
AFP, VERSAILLES, FRANCE
Rising German star Martin Kaymer set a blistering pace in the first round of the 4 million-euro (US$5.6 million) French Open at Le Golf National on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Kaymer from Dusseldorf was The European PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007. He chipped in for an eagle at the par-five third and added eight birdies en route to a 62, equaling the course record set by Argentina’s Eduardo Romero in 2005.
It was one of the finest rounds on the European PGA Tour this year and put him three strokes clear of a quintet comprising John Bickerton of England, Rafa Echenique of Argentina, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Scott Strange of Australia and Peter Hanson of Sweden.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
PREDICTION: Last week, when Yu’s father made a wrong turn to the former champions’ parking lot, he said that his son could park there after this year With back-to-back birdies on the 18th hole, Kevin Yu fulfilled his driving range-owning dad’s prediction that he would win the Sanderson Farms Championship and become Taiwan’s third golfer to claim a US PGA Tour title. The Taoyuan-born 26-year-old, who represented Taiwan in the Olympic golf at Paris, saw off Californian Beau Hossler in a playoff at the Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday. Having drained a 15-foot putt to claw his way into the playoff, Yu rolled in from five feet on the first extra hole, ensuring he joined Chen Tze-chung (LA Open in 1987) and Pan Cheng-tsung (RBC
LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers. The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason defeat to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles. While LeBron James impressed with 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds on court before sitting out the second half, Bronny found the going harder with zero points in just over 13 minutes on court. The younger James attempted just one
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