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DP World Tour: Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson clinches Open Championship spot with emotional BMW International Open win | Golf News

On: July 7, 2024 By: admin

An emotional Ewen Ferguson clinched a spot at the Open Championship after winning the DP World Tour’s BMW International Open in Germany.

Scottish player Ferguson’s two-stroke stroke victory in Munich left him as one of the highest five players in the top 20 on the Race to Dubai – alongside Jesper Svensson, Laurie Canter, Nacho Elvira and Matteo Manassero – who were not otherwise exempt for the 152nd Open at Troon between July 18-21.

The 28-year-old finished on 18 under par after a four-under 68 on Sunday, with England’s Jordan Smith – who shared the lead with Ferguson after three rounds – and Australia’s David Micheluzzi tied for second on 16 under.

Ferguson, who revealed after his second round that he was glad simply to be playing again following recent bouts of vertigo, told Sky Sports in a teary interview: “I honestly can’t believe it.

“The last four holes I felt like I was in a dream, I just didn’t think this was actually happening. It was crazy. I was hitting it so well, hitting it so much further than usual.

“I wanted to do it for my dad, my mum, my sister, my brother at home. I love them so much and every shot I hit was with them in mind.

“It’s such a hard game. I’ve been moaning like mad the last two months with also being sick. [This win] is so much weight off my shoulders. I’m so happy.

“The Open Championship is a tournament that everyone wants to play in and I feel like I could do well there and the Scottish Open next week too. It’s such an exciting time for me.”

Ferguson hopes to practice with Fleetwood ahead of Open

Ferguson later revealed that he had been planning to contest final qualifying for the Open Championship on Tuesday, but felt he was playing well enough to secure a place either in Munich or via the Genesis Scottish Open.

He added: “I didn’t want to tire myself out. I felt like I could maybe win this week or maybe finish in the top 10 in Scotland and get my own spot that way, so we decided to pull out of Open qualifying.

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“It’s obviously a really good decision. It kept me fresh and I’m here with the trophy. I actually got a text from Tommy Fleetwood saying well done so I said to him, let’s get a practice round in [at the Open] so I’m looking forward to that.”

Ferguson’s victory was his third on the DP World Tour and first since the ISPS Handa World Invitational in August 2022, which came five months after his maiden triumph at that year’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Micheluzzi finished birdie, birdie, eagle to earn his share of second spot alongside Smith, whose title hopes were effectively ended when he found the water off the 16th tee as he tried to drive the green.

Scotland’s Connor Syme and England’s Matthew Southgate finished in joint fourth on 14 under with Southgate making an eagle at the sixth hole.

Watch the Genesis Scottish Open live on Sky Sports Golf from 8.30am on Thursday July 11. Then catch the 152nd Open Championship live on the same channel from 6.30am on Thursday July 18.

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Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner secure second round spot after winning openers | Tennis News

On: July 1, 2024 By: admin

Carlos Alcaraz endured an early test in his Wimbledon title defence but the Spaniard quelled the challenge of Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 6-2 to move into the second round on Monday.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, seeded third this year, came through in two hours and 22 minutes against Lajal, also 21 but ranked 266 places lower.

The Estonian sported dreadlocks pulled back in a pineapple-style ponytail on his Wimbledon debut.

He took a chunk out of the three-time Grand Slam winner with a break of serve in the opening set.

Lajal broke Alcaraz again early in the next set but he was unable to make the advantage count and his opponent broke back to love immediately before pouncing again in the 11th game.

With the momentum having swung, Alcaraz, who last month added the French Open to his Wimbledon and US Open titles, hit straight back and continued to reel off the points for a two-set lead.

He raised his game further in the third to break with a superb backhand cross-court winner and he never looked back from there to close out the victory.

“He played a really good match,” said Alcaraz. “Obviously he surprised me a little bit because I hadn’t seen him too much.

“He’s young, he’s my age and I’m sure I’m going to see him really soon on the tour and play him more often.

“But I’m really happy to get through and get my first win on Centre Court this year.”

Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev strode confidently and cheerfully into the second round with an assured 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over American Aleksandar Kovacevic on his favourite Court One.

“I’ve still never lost on Court One so hopefully I can play a lot more matches on this court,” a smiling Medvedev told an appreciative crowd in an on-court interview.

“Last year I said it was unfortunate I had to go to Centre Court for the semis and I lost.”

Sinner subdues feisty Hanfmann to advance at Wimbledon

Jannik Sinner wobbled midway through his Wimbledon first-round clash with unseeded German Yannick Hanfmann but the world No 1 recovered to seal a 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3 win on Monday and book a meeting with fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini.

The Australian Open champion used his powerful serve and forehand to good effect against Hanfmann as he breezed through the first set on the back of a solitary break and got his nose in front early in the next.

Hanfmann hung on and heaped pressure on Sinner’s serve but was unable to find a way through and the 22-year-old top seed moved two sets ahead.

The world number 110 flipped the script to go 4-0 up in the third set as Sinner appeared to be belatedly hampered by a nasty fall, and the German cupped his ear amid huge cheers after forcing a fourth set with a neat volley.

There was to be no comeback, however, as Sinner rediscovered his rhythm under the lights on Court One to break for a 3-1 lead and held firm from to close out the match.

Sinner, who lifted his first title on the sport’s slickest surface at Halle two weeks ago, could face another tricky test against Berrettini after the 2021 runner-up beat Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 7-6(3) 6-2 3-6 6-1.

Gauff cruises into second round

World number two Coco Gauff advanced to the second round with a convincing 6-1 6-2 win over compatriot Caroline Dolehide.

On the eve of this year’s grass-court championships, Gauff admitted she had been “in a dark place” following her opening-round exit in London last year but armed with the knowledge that things “couldn’t get any worse” this time round, she was simply unstoppable against her 51st-ranked rival.

“Last year I lost in the first round and it was very tough for me, that’s why I am a little emotional and that’s why I was happy to turn it around,” Gauff told the crowd on court.

The 20-year-old, now a Grand Slam champion having won the US Open in September, dropped only one point on serve during a formidable first-set performance.

Such was her confidence she conjured an incredible cross-court lob into the far corner which she greeted with a one-armed salute as the Centre Court crowd jumped to their feet to roar their approval.

The world No 2 kept up the barrage of winners in the second set and despite overcooking a forehand on her first match point, she made no mistake on her second.

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.

Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.

T20 World Cup: Jos Buttler’s England make timely statement by pulverising USA for semi-final spot | Cricket News

On: June 23, 2024 By: admin

In a game of small margins, Jos Buttler ensured his side wouldn’t be left teetering on the edge of semi-final qualification.

Instead, the England skipper showcased his breath-taking, solar panel-breaking, batting abilities, hitting an unbeaten 82 off 38 balls, to catapult his team into the penultimate stage of the T20 World Cup, and take the lead in the Group 2 table.

But this victory wasn’t solely a tale for the batters.

Earlier, England’s bowlers set up the platform for a rapid victory bowling USA out for 115 on a dry pitch in Barbados, with Chris Jordan taking a hat-trick in the final over, in his hometown, in front of former Barbadian cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, for the first time in England’s Men’s T20 internationals.

“It was quite a statement,” said Sky Sports Cricket’s Ian Ward.

“I know it was just the United States of America and England are expected to beat sides like them, but the way it was finished off by the captain was some statement.

“Some of the striking from Jos Buttler was magnificent, especially on a pitch that dried out significantly. England, historically, can sometimes stumble a little bit when those pitches get tired but they won the game in some style today.

“It has not been smooth sailing, as we know, but England have done it, and you compare and contrast that with South Africa who have won all of their games so far but if they lose this evening, they’re out of the T20 World Cup.

“If you go back to the 50-over World Cup in 2019 when Eoin Morgan’s side won, they stumbled as well. They had a position where they had to win all their remaining games to qualify and they did.

“And if you go back to the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, the same thing happened here. England had their backs against the wall and they found a way of winning.

“It’s an underlying strength of this side and if there’s any question marks about them, it stems from what happened in India, but I think lessons from that disastrous World Cup have been learnt.”

England’s Harry Brook vowed to give USA a “a good battering” ahead of their clash, a sentiment that certainly resonated in how their team obliterated the associates.

It only took Buttler 9.4 overs to pulverise USA as he smashed seven sixes, one of which broke the solar panels at the Kensington Oval, and four boundaries.

“Topping the group and net run-rate was on my mind,” Buttler admitted in the post-match press conference.

“Once we got through the first overs it was really about trying to target this side with the wind.

“I think we’ve got great options for our team. We chose Jordan because we wanted the all-rounder capabilities and he executed that fantastically, a World Cup hat-trick is a great effort.

“Really important to take this form into the semi-finals, I’ve been feeling good all year, I’m hitting the ball well and it’s nice to get that confidence.

“It’s important for me to look after my own game as well, as much as trying to be a captain and have a broad view, I’m still one of 11 and have to do my job.”

Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.

T20 World Cup: Nasser Hussain says England still in decent spot after South Africa loss, must not take USA lightly | Cricket News

On: June 22, 2024 By: admin

Nasser Hussain reflects on England’s seven-run defeat to South Africa in St Lucia at the T20 World Cup, a result that leaves Jos Buttler’s side needing victory over USA in Barbados on Sunday as they look to reach the semi-finals…

England fought hard and fielded brilliantly but I think South Africa won the game in the powerplay [scoring 63-0 compared to England’s 41-1].

That was the best time to bat on a slow, slightly drier pitch and Quinton de Kock was brilliant in that period.

South Africa took 21 off a Jofra Archer over which meant they were ahead before it started to become more difficult to bat.

England lost but it is not all doom and gloom as they already have Super 8s points on the board after beating West Indies.

It leaves England a little bit vulnerable, there is pressure on with the USA match being must-win, but they are playing good cricket and if they take that to Barbados they should be okay.

However, USA will want to cause another upset after beating Pakistan earlier in the competition and they are a very good side so you play them with the same force you play Australia, South Africa or whoever.

You give them the respect they deserve, try to win the game and then perhaps think about your net run-rate as qualification could come down to that.

England get combinations right as South Africa show their steel

Bowling-wise I think England have now gone for the right combination bringing Reece Topley into the side after he didn’t start the tournament, but the two trump cards are Archer and Adil Rashid.

Rashid is having such a good tournament and, while he doesn’t always get four or five wickets, he gets key wickets and very rarely goes around the park.

He is a huge asset as he can bowl in any phase of the game.

I know Archer went for one big over against South Africa but he is someone who regularly nails his yorkers and he was superb in that 16th over against West Indies, conceding only four runs.

As for South Africa, they kept their nerve.

They have won some close games in this tournament and they are unbeaten, winning six from six, and playing good cricket.

Against West Indies, England had one or two bowlers they could attack but in this South Africa bowling line-up they all have a role to play and are highly disciplined.

Ottneil Baartman got it wrong in one over, bowling full tosses, but Keshav Maharaj bowled beautifully with his left-arm spin, bowling slowly at times.

South Africa’s fielding was also superb, with Aiden Markram’s catch to dismiss Harry Brook in the last over with 14 needed probably the game-changing moment.

Brook is a real talent – not just one for the future but for the here and now. He is elegant off-side and leg-side.

He came in at a difficult time at 61-4 and whereas other batters had struggled, he didn’t struggle at all.

What’s next?

England head to Barbados to play USA on Sunday (3.30pm UK and Ireland), while South Africa travel to Antigua to face West Indies on Monday (1.30am).

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Xander Schauffele: Rory McIlroy in ‘tough spot’ after US Open heartbreak due to intense microscope | Golf News

On: June 18, 2024 By: admin

As someone who has held the unofficial title of ‘best player yet to win a major’, Xander Schauffele can empathise with Rory McIlroy’s decision not to compete at this week’s Travelers Championship.

On the heels of missing a pair of short putts over the final three holes on Sunday to finish second by a stroke to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open, McIlroy left Pinehurst No 2 without speaking to reporters and announced the following day that he will not play again until next month’s Scottish Open.

McIlroy’s decade-long major drought will endure at least until at The Open Championship in July. Meanwhile, Schauffele is still riding the high of his first major title triumph at last month’s PGA Championship.

Until surviving DeChambeau by a stroke at Valhalla Golf Club, Schauffele had a reputation for struggling to close on final-round leads.

“As a competitor, all of us have had our highs and lows to a certain degree. It’s a tough spot,” Schauffele said when asked Tuesday how much empathy he has for McIlroy’s current situation.

“I’m sure him and his team are discussing what happened and sometimes you just need to step away from it all and really try and be as objective as possible, because you’re very much in the moment there and it obviously didn’t go his way.

“He needs some time away to figure out what’s going on.”

McIlroy has been criticised for bolting Pinehurst and returning home without speaking with reporters after Sunday’s final round. He issued a statement on Monday congratulating DeChambeau and announcing that he will be taking a break from golf for a few weeks.

The Northern Irishman acknowledged that it was “probably the toughest” day of his professional career, but vowed to show resilience when he returns for the Scottish Open followed by The Open at Royal Troon.

“It’s different for everyone. It’s hard to for me to compare my losses to his losses,” Schauffele said. “I would say his, he’s under a bit more of a microscope. When things are going really well people are all over him, and unfortunately when things don’t go your way people are all over him.

“So, there’s a microscope on him on why he didn’t win and things of that nature and he’s going to have to answer those questions at some point and he will, because he always does. So, for me, I wear them pretty hard, but sometimes it’s nice to just get back on the horse and compete.”

Schauffele is coming off a T7 at the US Open, the seventh top 10 in the last eight individual starts for the world’s No 3-ranked player entering the final signature event of the year.

Schauffele also secured one of the four spots on Team USA for the Paris Olympics, where he will defend his gold medal come August.

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“It’s super special,” he said. “It’s always an honour to represent your country in any given tournament or event, so it was a really cool thing I was able to share with my family after winning the gold medal, and qualifying was my first goal this year. It’s a very hard team to qualify for, as you guys have seen on this US side.

“That was a really big goal of mine to get back and really looking forward to competing again.”

Watch Xander Schauffele at this week’s Travelers Championship, which you can watch live on Sky Sports Golf from Thursday at 5pm. Stream the PGA Tour, majors and more with NOW.

US Open 2024: Who is in the field and how have players qualified for their major spot at Pinehurst No 2? | Golf News

On: June 10, 2024 By: admin

Former major champions Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia will both continue their lengthy streaks of US Open appearances after being confirmed as late additions to complete the field at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2.

The USGA had already confirmed 150 of the 156-man line-up for this week’s major, live from Thursday on Sky Sports Golf, with Scott earning his place based on his world ranking and Garcia qualifying as one of four alternates from Final Qualifying.

Scott’s run of 91 consecutive major appearances was under threat after he lost out in a play-off to compatriot Cam Davis during Final Qualifying earlier this month, although gets in despite dropping from 60th to 61st in the latest Official World Golf Rankings.

The Australian becomes exempt via that top 60 category because world No 59 Grayson Murray has been removed from the qualification list after his death last month, meaning Scott will now compete in his 23rd consecutive US Open.

Robert MacIntyre is the other late addition based on his world ranking, having jumped inside the world’s top 50 with his breakthrough PGA Tour success at the RBC Canadian Open, with the Scotsman now set for his third US Open appearance.

Garcia agonisingly missed out on progressing through Final Qualifying when he lost a seven-man play-off for six spots, although now gets his spot as the first alternate from that event in Dallas. The Spaniard will now make his 25th consecutive US Open start, which ties him for 10th on the all-time list.

The former Masters champion is one of 13 LIV Golf players now scheduled to tee it up in this week’s major field, while amateur Brendan Valdes, Otto Black and Maxwell Moldovan were the other alternates from Final Qualifying to be added to the US Open line-up.

Wyndham Clark returns as defending champion after last year’s one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy, chasing his fifth major victory and first since 2014, while world No 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives as pre-tournament favourite after five PGA Tour wins in his last eight starts.

PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele chases back-to-back major titles and Bryson DeChambeau looks to impress after his runner-up finish at Valhalla last month, while Tiger Woods features at the US Open for the first time since 2020 after being given a special exemption by the USGA to feature.

Who is in the US Open field?

Correct as of June 10; USA unless stated; (x) denotes amateurs

Byeong Hun An (Kor)

Ludvig Åberg (Swe)

Sam Bairstow (Eng)

Parker Bell (x)

Sam Bennett

Daniel Berger

Chrisiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa)

Akshay Bhatia

Otto Black

Zac Blair

Keegan Bradley

Gunner Broin (x)

Jackson Buchanan (x)

Dean Burmester (Rsa)

Sam Burns

Brian Campbell

Patrick Cantlay

Frankie Capan III

Jon Chin

Luke Clanton (x)

Wyndham Clark

Eric Cole

Corey Conners (Rsa)

Cam Davis (Aus)

Jason Day (Aus)

Santiago de la Fuente (Mex) (x)

Bryson DeChambeau

Thomas Detry (Bel)

Nick Dunlap

Nico Echavarria (Col)

Austin Eckroat

Harris English

Tony Finau

Matt Fitzpatrick (Eng)

Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)

Grant Forrest (Sco)

Rickie Fowler

Ryan Fox (Nzl)

Sergio Garcia

Lucas Glover

Max Greyserman

Emiliano Grillo (Arg)

Chesson Hadley

Adam Hadwin (Can)

Stewart Hagestad (x)

Brian Harman

Tyrrell Hatton (Eng)

Russell Henley

Jim Herman

Harry Higgs

Rico Hoey

Tom Hoge

Nicolai Hojgaard (Den)

Max Homa

Billy Horschel

Rikuya Hoshino (Jpn)

Beau Hossler

Viktor Hovland (Nor)

Mark Hubbard

Mackenzie Hughes (Can)

Sungjae Im (Kor)

Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn)

Stephan Jaeger (Ger)

Benjamin James (x)

Casey Jarvis (Rsa)

Carter Jenkins

Dustin Johnson

Takumi Kanaya (Jpn)

Sung Kang (Kor)

Riki Kawamoto (Jpn)

Martin Kaymer (Ger)

Si Woo Kim (Kor)

Tom Kim (Kor)

Bryan Kim (x)

S.H Kim (Kor)

Chris Kirk

Kurt Kitayama

Frederik Kjettrup (Den)

Jake Knapp

Brooks Koepka

Ben Kohles

Matt Kuchar

Min Woo Lee (Aus)

Eugenio Lopez Chacarra (Esp)

Justin Lower

Shane Lowry (Irl)

Robert MacIntyre (Sco)

Willie Mack III

Peter Malnati

Matteo Manassero (Ita)

Richard Mansell (Eng)

Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)

Logan McAllister

Denny McCarthy

Ashton McCulloch (Can)

Michael McGowan

Rory McIlroy (NIrl)

Tom McKibbin (NIrl)

Mac Meissner

Adrian Meronk (Pol)

Phil Mickelson

Maxwell Moldovan

Francesco Molinari (Ita)

Edoardo Molinari (Ita)

Taylor Moore

Omar Morales (Mex) (x)

Collin Morikawa

Chris Naegel

Alex Noren (Swe)

Matthieu Pavon (Fra)

Taylor Pendrith (Can)

Victor Perez (Fra)

Chris Petefish

J.T Poston

Seamus Power (Irl)

Colin Prater (x)

David Puig (Esp)

Jon Rahm (Esp)

Aaron Rai (Eng)

Charles Reiter

Brandon Robinson Thompson (Eng)

Robert Rock (Eng)

Justin Rose (Eng)

Isaiah Salinda

Gordon Sargent (x)

Carson Schaake

Xander Schauffele

Scottie Scheffler

Adam Schenk

Jason Scrivener (Aus)

Taisei Shimizu (Jpn)

Neal Shipley (x)

Greyson Sigg

Webb Simpson

Cameron Smith (Aus)

Jordan Spieth

Sepp Straka (Aut)

Adam Svensson (Can)

Andrew Svoboda

Hiroshi Tai (Sin) (x)

Nick Taylor (Can)

Sahith Theegala

Justin Thomas

Davis Thompson

Brendon Todd

Brendan Valdes (x)

Erik van Rooyen (Rsa)

Joey Vrzich

Tim Widing (Swe)

Wells Williams

Gary Woodland

Tiger Woods

Brandon Wu

When is the US Open on Sky Sports?

Sky Sports continues to be the home of the US Open, with over 45 hours of live coverage of the four tournament days from June 13-16 and lots of extra tournament programming throughout the week.

“Live from the US Open” will bring eight hours of build-up, interviews, analysis and practice action on Tuesday and Wednesday of tournament week, with coverage getting under way from 2pm each day, before round-the-clock coverage from each of the four tournament rounds.

Coverage from the first two rounds begins from 12.30pm on Thursday and Friday, with over 12 hours live from both days, with the action starting at 3pm on Saturday and 2pm on the final day.

Who will win the third men’s major of the year? Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday June 13 from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more with NOW.

Tag: spot

DP World Tour: Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson clinches Open Championship spot with emotional BMW International Open win | Golf News

Ferguson hopes to practice with Fleetwood ahead of Open

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Wimbledon: Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner secure second round spot after winning openers | Tennis News

Sinner subdues feisty Hanfmann to advance at Wimbledon

Gauff cruises into second round

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

T20 World Cup: Jos Buttler’s England make timely statement by pulverising USA for semi-final spot | Cricket News

T20 World Cup: Nasser Hussain says England still in decent spot after South Africa loss, must not take USA lightly | Cricket News

Score summary – England vs South Africa

England get combinations right as South Africa show their steel

What’s next?

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Xander Schauffele: Rory McIlroy in ‘tough spot’ after US Open heartbreak due to intense microscope | Golf News

US Open 2024: Who is in the field and how have players qualified for their major spot at Pinehurst No 2? | Golf News

Who is in the US Open field?

Live US Open Golf

Live US Open Golf

When is the US Open on Sky Sports?