GOLF
Furyk aims for Ryder Cup
The US’ Jim Furyk laid down a timely marker for Ryder Cup selection by charging into a two-shot lead in Thursday’s opening round at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio. A veteran of the last seven Ryder Cups, Furyk lies 15th in the US standings and only the top eight will automatically qualify for this year’s edition against Europe, to be played at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago from Sept. 28. US captain Davis Love III is to announce his four wildcard picks to round out the 12-man team early next month. “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t on my mind and it hadn’t crossed my mind,” Furyk said after firing a superb seven-under-par 63 at Firestone Country Club. “I know exactly where I stand. And I’ve played on the last seven teams. Eventually in my career I’m going to miss playing on those teams, and I’m hoping it’s not this year.” Furyk has just two tournaments left to gain an automatic spot on the US team — this week’s elite World Golf Championships event at Firestone and next week’s PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in South Carolina. Should he fail in that bid, he will then have three more PGA Tour events in which to advance his claims as a captain’s pick by Love.
GOLF
Romero leads in Nevada
Argentina’s Andres Romero shot seven birdies in a bogey-free round of 65 for a one-point lead after the first round of the Reno-Tahoe Open at the Montreux Golf and Country Club in Nevada on Thursday. The tournament has altered the scoring for this year’s competition, making it the only event on the PGA Tour to use the modified Stableford points system. The system gives two points for a birdie, nothing for par and a minus-point for a bogey, with greater punishments and rewards for good shots, such as five for an eagle and minus-three for a double-bogey or worse. While Romero made the early pace on 14 points, South Korea’s Noh Seung-yul was a point further back after his round included seven birdies and a bogey. A trio of Americans were three points off the lead, with Josh Teater, Ricky Barnes and John Mallinger on 11 points.
SOCCER
Petrov in remission
Aston Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov is in remission and winning his fight to overcome acute leukemia, the English Premier League club announced on Thursday. “It is with great delight that the club can confirm on behalf of our long-standing captain, Stiliyan Petrov, that Stan’s acute leukemia is in remission,” Villa said in a statement. “Stan’s fight is not over. There will be further battles to overcome in the days, weeks and months ahead. But he would like to share with you this tremendous news now.” The 33-year-old Bulgaria international midfielder has been undergoing regular treatment at a London hospital since the illness was diagnosed four months ago.
SOCCER
Gunners sign Cazorla
Arsenal have completed the signing of Spanish international Santiago Cazorla from Spanish side Malaga, the player said on his Twitter account on Thursday. “I can say I am a new Arsenal player,” the 27-year-old midfielder said. Cazorla, who has won 47 caps, but missed the World Cup triumph in 2010 following a hernia, starred last season as Malaga reached the Champions League, while former side Villarreal were relegated. He was on the Spain squad which lifted the Euro cup a month ago and also featured in the 2008 success in the same event.
The US’ bid for a fourth consecutive CONCACAF Nations League title came to a stunning end as they fell 1-0 to Panama after a stoppage-time goal from Cecilio Waterman on Thursday in Inglewood, California. Despite dominating possession, the US struggled to break down a resilient Panama side for long periods. Panama spent the bulk of the match defending, but pounced on a giveaway by the US before substitute forward Waterman sent a shot from the right side of the area to the bottom left corner late in stoppage time. Up next for Panama in tomorrow’s final is to be Mexico, who beat
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
BRING THE NOISE: Brazil’s Fonseca attracted a boisterous crowd that brought such dominant soccer-style energy the referee switched to Portuguese to ask for quiet Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Monday put an end to Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca’s challenge at the Miami Open, outlasting the 18-year-old 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in an enthralling contest. Attendance on stadium court had been sparse throughout the day, but the Hard Rock Stadium turned into a mini-Maracana Stadium for Fonseca’s match, complete with Brazilian flags and soccer-style chanting. Fonseca brought his energetic brand of ultra-attacking tennis, but De Minaur was up to the challenge, coping with blistering forehands and a partisan crowd. Such was the dominance of Fonseca’s raucous support that the referee switched to Portuguese for his appeals for quiet. However, De
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