Four-time Major winning Phil Mickelson warmed up for a hopeful double Scotland victory celebration with a sizzling six-under-par 66 on the opening day of the Scottish Open on Thursday.
Mickelson started with a bogey, but then eagled the third hole of his round, along with adding six birdies and one bogey. It left the world No. 8, who is contesting the Scottish Open for a ninth occasion ahead of next week’s British Open at Muirfield, sharing third place and just two shots behind England’s John Parry, who enjoys the lead after signing for an eight-under-par 64.
England’s Simon Khan is in second place with a 65, while Mickelson shares third spot with six others, on a day when there was 33 eagles and 648 birdies.
Mickelson is looking to win for only a second time in Europe after capturing a secondary Challenge Tour event 20 years ago in France.
Defending champion Jeev Milka Singh put aside a nagging right index finger injury to shoot a five-under-par 67.
Singh expressed his disappointment in having to miss the premiere in India of the movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag on the life of his father and legendary athlete, Milka Singh.
“It is a very emotional thing for the family, because the movie is made about a man who is still living and it’s an inspirational movie, and I wanted to be there for my father,” Singh said.
“I’ve seen the movie three times and I think it’s going to be one of the best movies of the year. I cried three times, so I can say it’s a good movie,” he added.
JOHN DEERE CLASSIC
AFP, SILVIS, Illinois
Colombia’s Camilo Villegas deployed a “chill” attitude and a hot putter to seize a share of the first-round lead on Thursday at the John Deere Classic alongside defending champion Zach Johnson.
Johnson and Villegas were one stroke in front of Matt Bettencourt, Daniel Summerhays and Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge, who all carded 65.
Colonial winner Boo Weekley led a group of seven players on five-under.
Steve Stricker, who had his three-year winning streak in the tournament snapped by Johnson last year, was in a group of 13 players on 67.
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
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Armand Duplantis will be among the reigning Olympic champions adding star power to the world indoor championships this weekend when the Chinese city of Nanjing hosts the first major global athletics meet since the Paris Games last year. The three-day event was originally slated for 2020 and faced multiple postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Nanjing’s Sports Training Center would finally welcome more than 570 athletes for the start of the showpiece today. One of the main attractions would be pole vaulter “Mondo” Duplantis, who soared 6.27m to break the world record for a staggering 11th time in Clermont-Ferrand last
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