GOLF
Hsu wins Charity Classic
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling won the Symetra Tour’s Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Charity Classic on Sunday, closing with an eagle for a four-under 68 and a five-stroke victory. The 19-year-old Hsu had an eight-under 280 total at The Links at Stoney Point in Greenwood, South Carolina, and won US$30,000 to jump from 81st to fourth on the money list with US$31,810. The final top 10 will earn LPGA Tour cards for next year. Hsu won the Credit Union Challenge last year in Albany, New York, and finished 15th on the money list. Spain’s Marta Silva, France’s Joanna Klatten and South Korea’s Kwak Min-seo tied for second on Sunday. Silva and Klatten shot 71, while Kwak had a 72.
GOLF
Caddie dies in Madeira Open
Zimbabwean caddie Iain McGregor died of a heart attack in the final round of the Madeira Open on Sunday, the European Tour said in a statement. McGregor, 52, was working for Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth at the tournament when he collapsed on the ninth hole The event was halted, but resumed after consultation with the players and caddies. “Everybody is in shock,” Forsyth said. “To see that happen to someone in front of your eyes — I don’t know how or when you get over that. We spoke to [PGA Tour chief] George O’Grady on the phone before taking the decision to play on because we felt that was what Mac would have wanted. He was far too young for this to happen. He was the life and soul of the caddies’ lounge and a nice guy who will be sorely missed. I’m absolutely numb.” England’s Daniel Brooks went on to win the event.
TENNIS
Isner upset at Italian Open
Ninth seed John Isner was upset by the 64th-ranked Jurgen Melzer 7-6 (7), 6-3 in the first round of the Italian Open on Sunday, eliminating the lone American in the men’s event. Also on the day, 16th-seeded Spain’s Tommy Robredo held off Juan Monaco of Argentina 7-6 (3), 6-4, while Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany outlasted the big-hitting Pole Jerzy Janowicz 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2 and Jeremy Chardy of France beat Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-4, 6-4 to set up a clash with Switzerland’s Roger Federer, who is expected back on tour following the birth of twin sons. Second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia is to meet Radek Stepanek, the Czech veteran who rallied past Pablo Andujar of Spain 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The women’s tournament began yesterday, with the US’ Serena Williams set to defend her title and Dane Caroline Wozniacki withdrawing due to a knee injury.
BASKETBALL
NBA denies Sterling’s wife
The NBA said that if Donald Sterling’s ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers is terminated, so is his wife’s. Hours after Shelly Sterling said she would fight to keep her part of the franchise even if her estranged husband cannot, the league said that would be impossible. “Under the NBA constitution, if a controlling owner’s interest is terminated by a three-quarter vote, all other team owners’ interests are automatically terminated as well,” NBA spokesman Mike Shelly said. Sterling’s attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, responded by saying: “We do not agree with the league’s self-serving interpretation of its constitution, its application to Shelly Sterling or its validity under these unique circumstances. We live in a nation of laws. California law and the United States Constitution trump any such interpretation.” The league banned Donald Sterling for life over racist comments and NBA commissioner Adam Silver is urging owners to force him out.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa on Sunday inspired a 3-0 win against Preston North End that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four. Villa are to face Crystal Palace — 3-0 winners at Fulham on Saturday — in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium in London. Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that
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