Phil Mickelson stayed on track in his bid to become world No. 1 for the first time, while South African Retief Goosen grabbed a one-shot lead after the second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Friday.
Top-ranked Tiger Woods again struggled with his driving, but Goosen was in good form off the tee and on the greens as he fired a four-under 66 in rain-softened, overcast conditions at Firestone Country Club.
The smooth-swinging South African recorded six birdies and two bogeys for a seven-under total of 133, finishing one ahead of Americans Mickelson (68) and Justin Leonard (66).
Left-hander Mickelson, who would replace Woods as world No. 1 with victory this week, recovered from a double-bogey at the 14th with two birdies in the last four holes to be snapping at Goosen’s heels.
First-round leader Bubba Watson carded a 71 to lie two strokes off the pace at five-under, level with fellow American Bo Van Pelt (68) and Swede Peter Hanson (66).
Australian Adam Scott (70), Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) and Britain’s Paul Casey (68) were among a group of six bunched at four-under.
Woods, the champion last year and seeking a record eighth victory at Firestone, hit only three of 14 fairways on the way to a 72 that left him a distant 13 shots off the pace, tied for 72nd in a field of 80.
■TURNING STONE
Reuters, NEW YORK
Germany’s Alex Cejka shrugged off gusting winds to take a one-shot lead after Friday’s second round at the Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, New York.
The 39-year-old, seeking his maiden USPGA Tour title, fired a sparkling four-under 68 at Atunyote Golf Club for a 10-under total of 134.
Cejka covered the back nine in four-under 32 to end the day a stroke in front of South African Rory Sabbatini (70) and Chris Tidland of the US (69).
Australian Steve Elkington carded a 71 to share fourth place at seven-under with Britain’s Brian Davis (71) and Americans Robert Garrigus (69), Woody Austin (69), John Mallinger (70) and Omar Uresti (72).
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
Brandon Miller scored 18 points, LaMelo Ball had 17 and the Charlotte Hornets built a 47-point lead in the first half of a 150-95 rout against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. It was the second-biggest win in franchise history for the Hornets and their largest on the road. The Hornets bounced back from a pair of frustrating losses in a big way, having fallen to Toronto by one point and Indiana by two in their last two games. Charlotte pounded the NBA champion Thunder by 27 in Oklahoma City before those defeats, previously the Hornets’ most lopsided victory of the season. Tre
RSS