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Griffin takes three-shot lead American tops leaderboard at PGA Procore Championship in Ryder Cup tune-up

BEN GRIFFIN led the charge of US Ryder Cup players at the PGA Procore Championship yesterday, firing a 6-under 66 to seize a three-shot lead over Russell Henley and amateur Jackson Koivun. Griffin, a captain’s pick to make his Ryder Cup debut when the Americans host Europe at Bethpage Black this month, is looking more than ready for the biennial match play showdown. He carded six birdies without a bogey at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California, to build a 14-under total of 130 heading into the weekend. “I wouldn’t even say my mindset’s been Ryder Cup,” Griffin said, although 10 of US captain Keegan Bradley’s players are in the field this week. “I’ve been pretty focused on this golf tournament. Without a doubt, off the golf Chanettee up by two in Ohio

bound, had six birdies in a 4-under 68 for an 11-under total of 133. He was joined in second by top-ranked amateur Koivun, who carded a 6-under 66. Koivun’s round was highlighted by an eagle at the par-five 12th, where he landed his 270 yard second shot from the fairway within three feet of the pin. He added five birdies with two bogeys – one when he was out of bounds off the tee. “I was pretty pleased with my iron shots… my approaches are pretty good,” said the 20-year-old Auburn University star who led the United States to victory over Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup amateur match play last week. “A little disappointed in my driver, but still put me in some spots where I

course hanging out with the guys and stuff, there’s been some Ryder Cup presence, but once I get on the first tee, I’m thinking I’m trying to play well here… trying to hit a lot of fairways and simple stuff.” So far, it’s working. Griffin teed off on 10 and birdied the par-five 12th, 15th and 18th, with a 21-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th for good measure. He picked up two more birdies coming in and said that while he’s not looking ahead too much, just being selected by Bradley has him playing with less pressure. “It’s not like on the golf course I felt anxious, but definitely in between rounds I was more anxious,” he said. “I really have nothing to lose this week.” World No. 4 Henley, also Ryder Cup

could still score from, so can’t be too mad about that, and my putting was pretty good today, too,” added Koivun, who is trying to improve on his best PGA Tour finish of fifth at the Wyndham Championship. “It’s just all learning,” Koivun said of his PGA Tour experiences. “I’m trying to do it as quickly as I can before I turn pro, whether that’s the end of this year, end of next year.” US Ryder Cupper JJ Spaun, the reigning US Open champion, was five shots off the pace, sharing fourth place with Lanto Griffin after carding a 68 for 135. Griffin signed for a 2-under 70. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who will spearhead the US challenge at Bethpage Black, was in a group sharing 13th after carding a four-under 68 for 138. – AFP

Matsuyama leads Ryder Cup trio at Wentworth

Bethpage Black course in suburban New York. “I’ve always said it’s a bucket list event for me. I can’t deny it or hide from it,” said Englishman Rose at the prospect of winning on home soil. “I’ve got a great weekend ahead of me. More choppy weather coming so it’s going to be little bit see what happens. But I’m feeling comfortable. You’ve got to stay aggressive. Hammer down.” Rory McIlroy was in danger of missing the cut after bogeys at three of his opening five holes. A run of five birdies in seven holes around the turn ensured the Northern Irishman did make the weekend but a double bogey at the par-five 18th left McIlroy nine shots off the lead. Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard was the only member of the 11 European Ryder Cup players in attendance to miss the cut. Matt Fitzpatrick is at seven under, two shots ahead of Tyrrell Hatton. Jon Rahm is a further shot back at 4-under, with Shane Lowry alongside close friend McIlroy at 3-under. Recently-crowned PGA Tour Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre are 10 shots off the lead at 2-under par. – AFP

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA leads European Ryder Cup trio Justin Rose, Ludvig Aberg and Viktor Hovland by one shot at the halfway point of the DP World Tour PGA Championship at Wentworth. The Japanese carded a brilliant 8-under par second round of 64 that included two eagles and five birdies to lead at 12-under par for the tournament. Rose and Hovland, who eagled the 18th for the second day running, followed their opening round scores of 67 with a 66, while Aberg carded a 69 despite bogeying the 17th.

“I was so lucky,” she said. “I didn’t see the ball like get in the hole but a guy screamed and he points like it’s in the hole.” Chanettee answered her first bogey of the week at 17 with birdies at the par-five 18th and par-three fifth. “I really like this golf course,” Chanettee said. “The greens are firmer so it’s pretty challenging.” After missing the cut at the Women’s British Open last month and in three of her past four events overall, Women’s PGA Championship runner-up Chanettee got a boost from some advice to stand a bit closer to the ball by compatriot Wichanee Meechai. “She just gave me a hint a little bit because I ‘cannot’ hit the ball – I had lost a lot of confidence,” Chanettee said. “I know golf can’t be perfect but I just wanted it to be better.” Three adrift were American Gigi Stoll, who was second Friday but fired a 69 yesterday in quest of her first LPGA victory, Sweden’s Maja Stark and 12 time LPGA winner Kim Sei young of South Korea. A pack on 135 included world No. 2 Nelly Korda while defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand fired a 69 to stand on 139. – AFP

THAILAND’S Chanettee Wannasaen fired a 4-under par 68 to hold her two-stroke lead after yesterday’s second round of the LPGA Queen City Championship. Chanettee, who opened with a 63 Friday, fired an eagle, three birdies and a bogey to stand on 13-under 131 after 36 holes at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati, Ohio. “The golf course is not that tough, but we can make a bogey so easy,” Chanettee said. “You still need to concentrate.” Thailand’s world No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul fired a bogey-free 64, making birdies on six of the last eight holes including four in a row from 13 to 16. “Just rolling really well on the back nine,” she said. Jeeno shared second on 133 with Germany’s Olivia Cowan and England’s Charley Hull, who both shot 65. “I just played pretty steady from the get-go,” Hull said. “Took advantage of some good birdie holes, hit it close and holed some good putts.” The 21-year-old Chanettee seeks her third career LPGA crown after wins at Portland in 2023 and last year’s Dana Open. Chanettee began on the back nine and birdied the par-five 11th then eagled the par-four 13th.

“It’s my first time playing Wentworth. I wasn’t expecting that I would play this good, so I’m very happy with my round today,” said former Masters c h a m p i o n Matsuyama. The form of

Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen. – AFPPIC

Rose, Hovland and Aberg is a boost to their Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, just two weeks before Europe attempt to defend the trophy at the

Philipsen wins Vuelta sprint, leader Vingegaard gains bonus

pushed through and when I saw the finish line it was really nice. We will try to repeat on Sunday. It’s been a tough three weeks.” Vingegaard, closing in on his first Vuelta triumph after twice winning the Tour de France, lost some seconds in Friday’s time trial but extended his lead over Almeida with a sneaky attack in the centre of Salamanca. Britain’s Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) retained third place overall and Australia’s Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) is fourth overall. – Reuters

realistic chance for Almeida to catch Vingegaard. With no chance for the sprinters to battle it out since he won stage eight in Zaragoza, Philipsen seized his opportunity with a lung bursting sprint on an uphill drag to the line after being perfectly set up by his team. “It was a really tough finish and after 11 days not going this deep it hurts,” Philipsen told TNT Sport . “The final 250m was more flat but before that the team did amazing. “I was struggling in the middle but I

resist Philipsen as he crossed the line in second place with Venezuela’s Orluis Aular (Movistar) third. Vingegaard (Visma–Lease a Bike) finished safely in the bunch after picking up an unexpected four bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint in Salamanca, 60km from the finish as main rival Joao Almeida was caught napping. Saturday’s penultimate stage is a brutal mountainous route featuring more than 4,000 metres of climbing, offering the last

BELGIUM’S Jasper Philipsen made it three wins at this year’s Vuelta a Espana as he sprinted clear at the end of stage 19 while overall leader Jonas Vingegaard added four seconds to his advantage over Joao Almeida yesterday. After 160km of relatively flat riding in west central Spain, Philipsen (Alpecin Deceuninck) burst to the front near the finish and never looked like being caught. Denmark’s Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) was the first to make his move but could not