16/08/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | AUG 16, 2025

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Masterclass in Maryland Hot putter carries MacIntyre to three-shot lead at BMW Championship R OBERT MACINTYRE used a red hot putter to birdie the last six holes and surge to a three-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood in the US PGA Tour BMW Championship in Maryland yesterday. Two-under after his second bogey of the day on 12, MacIntyre poured in a 66 foot birdie putt at the par-three 13th to launch his scoring closing run. Jude Championship. Scheffler, whose four victories this season include major triumphs at the PGA Championship and the British Open, got off to a strong start with three birdies in the first four holes.

New twist to Verstappen’s Mercedes move MAX VERSTAPPEN was seen visiting Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, on his luxury yacht this week. The pair have been holidaying off the coast of Sardinia during the Formula One summer break. This isn’t the first time rumours have circulated about secret meetings between the two while away from the race track. Just a few weeks ago, social media was abuzz with photos allegedly showing Wolff boarding Verstappen’s private plane, but it soon became apparent that these images were doctored. However, fresh photos have surfaced showing the duo together on a plush yacht. One image captures Verstappen, shirtless and clad in a white towel with dark stripes, standing next to Wolff dressed fully in white, as they engage in a jovial conversation. It is believed that these photos are authentic and confirm that Verstappen and Wolff did indeed meet while vacationing near the Mediterranean island. Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver, has also been spending time in the vicinity, although he hasn’t been photographed with Verstappen or Wolff. This rendezvous comes after months of speculation that Verstappen might leave his Red Bull team to join Wolff’s Mercedes squad. The Austrian has long admired the Dutchman, having unsuccessfully attempted to sign him as a promising teenager before he rose to become a four-time F1 champion. Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until 2028, although it’s widely known that his agreement includes performance clauses which could allow him to exit early if not fulfilled. In the meantime, while neither currently has a Mercedes contract for 2026, the team is expected to maintain its current line-up of team leader George Russell and rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli. It will be intriguing to see what length of contract is agreed with both of them, as both are pushing for long-term extensions, but Mercedes want to keep their options open in case Verstappen becomes available next year. – Express Newspapers

He followed with a 40-footer at 14 and a 17-foot birdie at 15. He fired out of the rough to 12 feet at 16 and curled in that birdie putt, then drained a 22-footer at the tough par-three 17th.

After back-to-back bogeys at nine and 10 he birdied three of his last four, drilling a 16-foot putt at 15 and a five-footer at 16 before draining a 26-foot birdie at the last. Scheffler said the course was “significantly softer” after the storm delay. “Golf course definitely got a bit easier but did a good job of taking advantage of the holes I had left,” Scheffler said. Fifty players are in the field this week and Scheffler, the leader in the playoff points race, is already assured of making it into the 30-player field for next week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta. Rory McIlroy, world No. 2 and second in the playoff standings who opted to skip the first playoff event, carded an “awful” even par 70 that featured three bogeys and three birdies. “Drove the ball terribly,” the Northern Ireland star said. It was a tough day for Justin Rose, who edged Spaun in a playoff for the St. Jude title in Memphis on Sunday. Two-under through 10, he found the water at both 11 and 12 on the way to a bogey and double-bogey and carded a 1 over 71. – AFP

McIntyre delivered a masterclass on the rain-soaked greens at Caves Valley after an afternoon thunderstorm halted play for more than two hours. “The last six holes is probably as good as I’ve ever putted in a stretch of holes, just so consistent,” MacIntyre said after posting an 8-under 62. “When you

MacIntyre capped his round with a five-foot birdie at 18. MacIntyre, who finished runner-up to JJ

Spaun at the US Open in June, said he’d learned during the final round rain delay at Oakmont and kept himself warmed up during yesterday’s delay. “It came at a tough time, but it gave the course a little more to us,” he said. “The greens were really slick early on when they were dry. “When I went back out, they felt a little bit slower, a little bit smoother.” Fleetwood had five birdies in an round, bouncing back after a late fade on bogey-free

get the eye on, it’s free flowing and it’s nice.” His late burst carried him past world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler – who was in the clubhouse on 4 under 66 and ended the day alone in third. Fleetwood overtook him with a 33-foot birdie at 18 to cap a 65.

impressive

Sunday saw him come up short in his latest bid for a first US tour title at the St.

Robert MacIntyre. – AFPPIC

Qualifier Atmane stuns Rune

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FRENCH qualifier Terence Atmane toppled another top-10 player in Holger Rune yesterday to line up a semifinal showdown with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at the Cincinnati Open. Atmane followed up his victory over fourth-ranked Taylor Fritz with a 6-2, 6-3 win over ninth-ranked Rune. The 23-year-old will now face the ultimate test against defending champion Sinner, who said he “felt great” as he thrashed Felix Auger Aliassime 6-0, 6-2. “I don’t think any words

minutes as he claimed an eighth victory in a row at this event and his 30th match win this season. “I felt great on the court today, you could see that,” said the Italian, who turns 24 today. “But every

Terence Atmane. – AFPPIC

day can be different. Let’s see what I can

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do in the semis.” “I served well today, that was the key for me,” Sinner said. “I had a small drop in the second set and I’m happy that I broke back. “He moves and serves well, he’s difficult to play.” In the day’s only other men’s match, fifth-seeded Ben Shelton – coming off a title in Toronto – posted a 6 4, 6-4 victory over Jiri Lehecka to book a quarter final clash with third-seeded Alexander Zverev. French Open champion Coco Gauff, the women’s second seed, booked her quarterfinal berth with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Lucia Bronzetti. “I could have maybe made some more first serves in that second set, but overall I had a lot of aces and unreturnables,” said Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion who went on to win the US Open title that year. “I’m happy considering where (my serve) was last week.” The American next takes on seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who crushed 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-1, 6 2. – AFP

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can describe how I feel right now,” the 136th ranked Atmane said after blasting 22 winners past Rune, 14 of them off his powerful lefty forehand. “ I t ’ s

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Petaling Jaya (Five-day week)

will move inside the top 100 in the rankings for the first time. here in the semifinals of a Masters 1000, breaking into the top 100. It means a lot to me.” Wimbledon champion Sinner, who powered through a rapid-fire opening set and bounced back quickly after dropping serve to open the second. Sinner prevailed in a brief 71 “I cannot believe it. Being He will face a formidable challenge in

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