20/07/2025

theSun on Sunday JULY 20, 2025

SPORTS 11

Scheffler holds lead at Portrush

Koepka, Scott face tough realities at Open THE cut line at the Open Championship fell at 1-over par, allowing exactly 70 players to make the weekend at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

China’s Haogong Li (67) share third place at 8 under. “I’m not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy,” Harman said. “I know that I’ve got the game to do it, and it’s

WORLD No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made sure to take full advantage of Friday’s conditions when it was feasible during the second round of the Open Championship. Dodging rain at times, Scheffler shot a 7 under-par 64, moving into the top spot at Portrush, Northern Ireland, in his bid for a second major championship of the year. “Fortunately, it didn’t pour the whole time,” Scheffler said. “We only had mabe four or five holes where it was really coming down, and I was able to take advantage of the holes where we had some good weather.” Scheffler is at 10-under 132 at the tournament’s midway mark, leading England’s Matt Fitzpatrick by one stroke. Fitzpatrick shot 66 in the second round at Royal Portrush Golf Club. Scheffler played the front side in 4 under and added four birdies and a bogey on the backside. He has won three times this year, with the PGA Championship in May his second title of the season. “I felt like I hit a few more fairways than I did (Thursday), hit some really nice iron shots, and was able to hole some putts,” Scheffler said. Fitzpatrick had only seven pars on his card, mixing in eight birdies and three bogeys. “I felt like every facet of my game was on today and I felt like I really played solid,” Fitzpatrick said. “To take advantage of the opportunities I had out there was obviously really positive.” 2023 champion Brian Harman (65) and

A few of the more notable names to miss the cut will be kicking themselves for more reasons than one. Brooks Koepka (75-74, 7-over par) was a never a factor near the cut line Friday, making his lone birdie of the day on the 17th hole following four

just a matter of executing and staying in my own head.” Li said he was pleased by remaining

Bethpage Black after his 2023 major win helped him make the team that went to Rome. Koepka entered the week 72nd in the points; the top six after Aug 17 automatically qualify, and captain Keegan Bradley will have plenty of better performing options for his six selections. For contrast, Koepka’s former rival turned LIV Golf compatriot Bryson DeChambeau entered the week fifth in the US points race thanks to his strong performance in majors in the current two year cycle. DeChambeau shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to rally to make the cut on the number. Adam Scott of Australia flamed out Friday with an 8-over 79 that included three double bogeys and just one birdie. At 9 over, he finished close to the bottom of the 156-man leaderboard. The 45-year-old doesn’t have Ryder Cups to worry about, but Scott may miss the FedEx Cup playoffs altogether after his latest meager performance. He was 84th in the standings entering the Open; only the top 70 qualify for the first playoff leg at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in three weeks’ time. – Field Level Media

bogeys. The five-time major champion continued the worst major slump of his career.

near the top. “I think every athlete has been working really hard to get to this point,” he said. “Yeah, just hopefully have another solid weekend.” First-round co leader Harris English (70), Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard (68), England’s Tyrrell Hatton (69),

Since hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy for the third time at the 2023 PGA Championship, Koepka has just two top-20 finishes at majors and missed three out of four cuts this year for the first time in his career. Because his LIV Golf

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre (66) and last weekend’s Genesis Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup (65) all are at 5 under. Other notables included US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (67) and Masters champion Rory McIlroy 69) of Northern Ireland being among five golfers tied for 12th place. They’re both at 3 under going to the weekend. – Field Level Media

competitions do not earn him points in the US Ryder Cup team rankings, Koepka is all but certain to miss this fall’s contest at

Scottie Scheffler. – REUTERSPIC

Imperious Pogacar

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Defending champion extends TDF lead with dominant time-trial win

TADEJ POGACAR powered to victory in an uphill time trial on stage 13 of the Tour de France on Friday to stretch his lead in the race to more than four minutes. Jonas Vingegard and Remco Evenepoel clung on to their places in the overall top three, but this 10.9km time-trial triumph was defending champion Pogacar’s second crushing win in two days. Pogacar was last down the start ramp of the 171 riders setting

finished over two minutes ahead of main rival Vingegaard. “I was feeling good all day, from when I got up. I was planning to go all in from start to finish and that’s what I did,” said Pogacar, who won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021 and 2024. Pogacar had a sticker of the Hulk comic book superhero on his bike but s a i d

after the stage his hero was Spi der-Man. “Hulk though, he’s the one you don’t want to make angry,” said Pogacar. By the time he finished stage 13 at the Peyragudes Altiport where the opening scene of the James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies” was shot, Pogacar was 36 seconds faster than Vingegaard, while Primoz Roglic was third at 1min 20sec. Evenepoel was overtaken close to the line by Vingegaard, but said he was too tired to care. “I was drained,” he said, slumped in a chair. “I didn’t give a damn when Jonas went past.” “I just wanted to finish. To be honest I’m relieved it’s over,” said the double Olympic champion. Most riders warmed up for the time trial wearing ice jackets to combat the sizzling 30°C temperature at the foot of the climb. At 1580m altitude the ride remained beneath the clouds and below the treeline, but even atop the hill it was punishingly hot. – AFP

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yellow kit, the 26 year-old Team UAE rider was faster from the off, despite his exertions from the previous day, when he

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