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Golf: US Open Crown To Spaun After Late Surge

US Open final leaderboard

-1 Spaun (US); +1 MacIntyre (Sco); +2 Hovland (Nor); +3 Hatton (Eng); Young (US), Ortiz (Mex), +4 Burns (US), Scheffler (US) Rahm (Spa); +5 Griffin (US), Henley (US)

Selected others: +6 Scott (Aus), Schauffele (US), Koepka (US); +7 McIlroy (NI); +8 Wallace (Eng), Spieth (US), +9 Rai (Eng); +11 Fitzpatrick (Eng); +15 Canter (Eng)

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American JJ Spaun overcame a flooded golf course, a 90-minute rain delay and the brilliance of Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre to win the US Open on a chaotic final day at Oakmont Country Club.

The 34-year-old, who needed a par on the last to win his first major, holed an incredible 64-foot birdie putt to win by two on one under.

MacIntyre, watching on a television, applauded and simply mouthed “wow” when the putt dropped. It was a terrific gesture at the end of an enthralling final round.

The 28-year-old from Oban had gone close to breaking his own major duck at a course that is generally regarded as the toughest in the world.

He started the day seven off the lead and was the only player from the overnight top-10 to break par in the final round. His sensational two-under 68 set the clubhouse target at one over par.

But Spaun birdied the 17th to get to level par and then produced his moment of magic on the final green to send the drenched masses surround the putting surface wild.

It was quite the turnaround by the Californian, who started the round one shot behind overnight leader Sam Burns, and bogeyed five of his first six holes to seemingly drop out of contention.

However, after torrential rain stopped play for an hour and a half, Spaun regained his composure to follow a front nine of 40 shots with a back nine of 32.

“I never thought I would be here holding this trophy,” he said.

“I’ve always had aspirations and dreams but a few months ago I didn’t know what my ceiling was and how good I could be.”

While Spaun was climbing the leaderboard, the ragged play of others added to the drama.

Burns, who had led after rounds two and three, drowned in the rain, alongside playing partner Adam Scott. They endured nightmare rounds of eight and nine over par respectively to finish well off the pace.

At one stage on the back nine, five players shared the lead at one over par, including England’s Tyrrell Hatton who played outstandingly for 16 holes but stumbled at the 17th and finished four back.

Four bogeys on the front nine derailed Norway’s Viktor Hovland but a level-par closing nine saw him home in 73 to claim third place on three over.

“I missed three five-foot putts and you can’t be doing that if you’re going to win a major championship,” said the European Ryder Cup player.

Spaun grows tall at rain-soaked Oakmont
Back in March, JJ Spaun was inches from landing a 31-foot birdie on the 18th hole to beat Rory McIlroy at The Players Championship. He was then defeated by the Northern Irishman in a play-off.

At the US Open, he went one better – from twice the distance – and he celebrated wildly before succumbing to his tears.

The putt ensured he was the only player to navigate 72 holes at brutal Oakmont Country Club under par – a fitting finish for the sole man to shoot a bogey-free round this week with his stunning 66 on Thursday.

And yet his final round was littered with bad breaks – and bogeys.

A horror start seemed to have cost him his chance at a career-changing title – his approach at the second hitting the flagpole before rolling 50 yards away, and then bouncing his ball off a rake at the fourth on his way to five bogeys in six holes.

But, while almost everyone else was speeding down the leaderboard, he showed remarkable composure after the rain break to haul himself back into contention.

Birdie putts from 40 and 22 feet lifted him into the lead and, after a bogey at the 15th, his stellar tee shot that found the green at the par-four 17th helped him secure another birdie. And the second best putter in the field by strokes gained sealed matters in style at the last.

“The weather delay changed the whole vibe for the day,” he said.

“A similar thing happened to me at the Players and I kind of leaned on that whole experience.”

Brilliant MacIntyre falls short as Hatton curses ‘bad luck’
Spaun’s birdie putt ended MacIntyre’s chances of winning but this stunning performance serves notice of his own major ambitions.

“I’m a guy that believes,” he said. “Having a chance to win a major is what I dreamed of as a kid.”

MacIntyre began the day at three over par and bogeyed two of his first three holes to slip to five over, nine shots adrift of the lead.

However, with Oakmont and the weather wreaking havoc on the scorecards of the leading groups, he began to climb the standings.

A 60-foot eagle at the fourth erased the early damage and, after play returned, he made further birdies at the ninth, 14th and 17th to set the clubhouse lead at one over par, a score good enough for solo second.

Before this tournament he was 11th in the qualification stakes for Europe’s Ryder Cup defence against the United States at the similarly fearsome Bethpage Black in September, a position that will now improve.

His game also looks in good shape for next month’s defence of his 2024 Scottish Open title and a tilt at the following week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Hatton, meanwhile, could not hide his frustration after his excellent championship was undone by finding the downslope of thick rough at 17.

“What happened on 17 is going to hurt a lot for a long time,” he said. “It was the first time I’ve been in contention in a major, and that was exciting.

“Unfortunately, I feel like through a bit of bad luck I had momentum taken away from me and it ultimately ended up not being my day.”

A bogey-bogey finish meant Hatton ended three over, one ahead of world number one Scottie Scheffler – who never threatened to seriously close the gap – and Jon Rahm who shot a three-under 67, the joint best round of the day.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy warmed up for his homecoming Open at Portrush by matching that 67 to finish at seven over par.

Bbc.com

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Boxing: Crocker-Donovan Rematch Gets World Title Status

The rematch between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan has been officially upgraded to a world title fight with the vacant IBF welterweight belt now on the line.

Promoters Matchroom Boxing confirmed on Thursday that the title previously held by American Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis would be the prize for the winner of the rematch.

The bout will be the first time two boxers from the island of Ireland have met in a world title fight.

A date and venue has yet to be confirmed but Saturday, 13 September has been floated as a potential date with Windsor Park, the home of the Northern Ireland football team, the preferred venue.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI in June, Matchroom Boxing chief executive Frank Smith said things were “moving the right direction” for the fight to take place at the football stadium and that talks with the Irish Football Association had been “positive”.

The first meeting between the pair on 1 March was a final eliminator for the IBF title and ended in controversial fashion with Crocker taking the win by disqualification in front of a 8,500 crowd at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

Donovan, who had twice previously been deducted points, was thrown out at the end of the eighth round for punching after the bell.

An appeal from Donovan’s team resulted in the IBF granting a rematch which would again serve as a final eliminator for the world title but with champion Ennis moving up to the light-middleweight, the belt became vacant.

Bbc.com

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Ahead Federation Election: Judo President, Oshodi Receives Support From Nasarawa Stata

The Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has assured President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, Dr. Musa Oshodi, of its support for his re-election bid.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, gave the assurance when he received the National President of the Judo Federation and his entourage who were in Lafia, the State capital, on Thursday, to solicit support.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary said, “We heard about your coming, and, and we have also heard about the good things you have done for us as a State, ranging from donations of sporting equipment to other supports, particularly to one of the aspiring daughters of our State, Esther Obile Allu, who is currently a certified International Judo Referee and Financial Secretary of the Nigeria Judo Referees’ Association.

“These are, indeed, proud moments for us as a State.

“As a State, we like continuity and advancement. We kindly request your further supports for our coaches and athletes to be at par with their counterparts around the world.

“On behalf of my principal, the Honourable Commissioner, who has directed me to receive you on his behalf, I want to thank you for the numerous pledges you have made to develop our Judo activities and personnel which align with the blueprint of the current administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule for sports and talent development in the State.

“Kindly consider Nasarawa State in your developmental programmes once you assume the function of your second tenure.

“Your leadership has supported and stood for Nasarawa State in sundry ways. It’s now only right to reciprocate the gesture by supporting your desire to vie again for the position of the President of the Nigeria Judo Federation.

“Rest assured that you have our full support for the next Federation’s election. We will also use our contacts and networks across other States to campaign for you so that you will emerge victorious at the end of the contest.

“Only by your victory can we benefit from your myriads of programmes for our State”, the Permanent Secretary remarked.

Speaking earlier, President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, Dr. Musa Oshodi, revealed the essence of his visit to Nasarawa State.

“Nasarawa is an important State to me, not because I am seeking re-election but because of things we have done together in the past and still doing today.

“The State has contributed immensely to judo development in the country, particularly to talent development, where one of your great ambassadors, Mrs. Esther Obile Allu, has continued to distinguish herself in the sport as she is about being the only female Nigerian recognized by the International Judo Federation as a certified referee – she is the latest and most up-to-date referee we have in the Nigeria Judo Federation today.

“In an ideal situation, a State with such passion for Judo development should be a stop-over spot for anyone who desires the best in this sport.

“I want Nasarawa State to benefit more under my leadership, which is why I have come to reveal some of the lofty packages I have for the State and its judo community.

“I kindly solicit your support to enable me emerge victorious next month when our election will hold”, the Lagos State-based Judo Federation President appealed.

Oshodi who is seeking a second, four-year tenure added that his second tenure would be characterized with massive infrastructural development, capacity building, and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with organisations and individuals around the world to move the Judo Federation in Nigeria to Category A from its current Category C in the league of the International Judo Federation.

He said he would ensure a National Judo Tournament is held in Nasarawa State in honour of Governor Abdullahi Sule in appreciation of his massive support to Judo development in the State and Nigeria.

Oshodi assumed office as President of the Nigeria Judo Federation about four years ago.

Directors and a few staff of the Ministry joined the Permanent Secretary in receiving the President and his team.

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Cycling: Healy Claims First Tour Stage; Van Der Poel Regains Yellow

Ireland’s Ben Healy produced a stunning solo break to win stage six of the Tour de France while Mathieu van der Poel regained the race leader’s yellow jersey.

Healy and Van der Poel spent most of the 201.5km hilly stage in an eight-man breakaway before the former attacked with 42km remaining.

The EF Education-EasyPost rider then pulled away to claim his first stage win on the Tour, crossing the line in Vire Normandie almost three minutes before Quinn Simmons and Michael Storer.

Dutchman Van der Poel came in about four minutes after Healy, followed by Tadej Pogacar at the front of the peloton, and the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider had done enough to take the yellow jersey back from reigning champion Pogacar by one second.

Healy was in the breakaway several times last year, when he finished 27th on his debut, and the 24-year-old said he targeted this hilly stage when the route was announced.

“Last year was a real eye-opener and it really made me believe that I could do it,” he said.

“It’s really incredible and [down to] hours and hours of hard work by so many people. To pay them back today is really amazing.”

Pogacar claimed the yellow jersey from Van der Poel after Wednesday’s time trial

There were six categorised climbs on the route from Bayeux, with the temperature rising to 27C, yet the peloton maintained a ferocious average speed of 47km per hour (29mph) over the first three hours.

Healy and Simmons were the first to go clear, with the likes of Van der Poel, British rider Simon Yates and Irish debutant Eddie Dunbar soon joining them in the lead group.

They were clear of the peloton for more than 100km and had a gap of almost four minutes when Healy made his move on the flat before the final three climbs.

By the start of the next climb, Healy led by 47 seconds, and he gradually increased his lead on his way to what was ultimately a comfortable win.

“Once I was in [the break] we really had to work for that gap,” Healy added.

“I knew I needed to get away from the group and picked my moment. I think I timed it well and hopefully caught them by surprise.”

It was Ireland’s 15th Tour stage win, by seven riders, and the country’s first since Sam Bennett won the last stage of the 2020 edition on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Dunbar made it two Irish riders in the first four on the stage while Van der Poel sat up and came in eighth, potentially saving energy for stage seven.

It is another hilly stage, covering 197km from Saint-Malo to Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan, where Van der Poel claimed his first stage win in 2021.

Stage six results