Pinpoint accuracy helped former USPGA champion Keegan Bradley grab a four-shot lead at the halfway stage of the CIMB Classic in Malaysia yesterday as Phil Mickelson’s swing struggles continued.
Bradley fired seven birdies in his second round of six-under-par 66 to lead the US$7 million PGA Tour event on 13-under, after overnight leader Ryan Moore failed to match the fireworks of his opening 63 and settled for a level-par 72.
Bradley, who won his sole major championship in 2011, said his accuracy needed to continue on the narrow layout if he was to claim a fourth PGA Tour title.
Photo: AFP
“I’m hitting the ball super straight, it’s hard to remember a time when I have been more dialed in than this last two days,” the US player told reporters.
Fellow US player Moore mixed three birdies with three bogeys in his level-par round to sit second in the 78-man field event, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat continued to carry the flag for the local players as he briefly shared the lead yesterday before signing for a 69 and a share of third place on eight-under with the US’ Chris Stroud (69).
The burly Thai, who birdied his opening three holes, is a big fan of the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, having won the European Tour’s Malaysian Open there in March.
“I thought of that victory, so the back nine I didn’t move [up the leaderboard] that much,” Kiradech joked of the distraction. “I miss a lot of putts because I think too much.”
Putting was not an issue for his playing partner Mickelson, who hailed his work with the short stick for keeping him in red figures after a 70 put him at three-under in a tie 25th at the halfway stage.
The Open champion, again struggling for swing rhythm, birdied his final two holes after back-to-back bogeys from the 13th had stymied his efforts.
Australian Marc Leishman shot a 65, the best round of the day, to sit tied fifth with Spain’s Sergio Garcia (71) at seven-under. The reduced field meant there was no cut.
‘AWFUL PERFORMANCE’: Golden State were always chasing the game after failing to threaten from long range, making just eight of 33 three-point attempts Aaron Gordon on Monday scored 38 points as the Denver Nuggets shrugged off the absence of Nikola Jokic to halt the Golden State Warriors’ seven-game winning streak with a 114-105 victory over their Western Conference rivals. A dazzling display from Gordon inspired what was ultimately a comfortable win for Denver, who were missing regular starters Jokic and Jamal Murray from their lineup. The absentees were barely felt by Denver, who startled the Warriors early at San Francisco’s Chase Center and led for most of the game. The Warriors threatened to stage a late rally after slashing the Nuggets’ fourth-quarter lead from 15 points
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
RSS