16/05/2026

SPORTS SATURDAY | MAY 16, 2026

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Trio top leaderboard in Cincinnati

SHORTS Rahm sorry for hitting volunteer with divot JON RAHM apologised to a volunteer at the PGA Championship after hitting him with a divot on the seventh hole in the first round at Aronimink. The two-time major winner from Spain intended to make an air swing in frustration after a poor shot but instead dug out a patch of grass that flew into the air and struck the volun teer. “I got a flier on my second shot that went long. It’s not a good spot,” Rahm said. “Just out of frustration, I tried to make an air swing, just over the grass, and I wasn’t looking, took a divot, and unfortunately, I hit a volunteer.” Rahm rushed over to apologise after the lump of grass struck the man in the shoulder and face. “Unfortunately it hit him in the shoul der and then the face, which I couldn’t feel any worse. That’s why I was there apologising.” Rahm intends to make amends with a further gesture. “I need to somehow track him down to give him a present because that’s inexcusable for something that could be completely avoid able,” Rahm said. “Whether it was my intention or not, it was just not good.” Higgo docked two shots for being late SOUTH AFRICA’S Garrick Higgo was penalised two strokes for being late to the tee during the opening round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club yesterday but ended the day just two shots off the lead with a 1-under 69. Higgo, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, was scheduled to tee off from the par-four first hole in the 7.18am local time, grouping along side former champion Shaun Micheel and Michael Brennan. The 27-year-old was on the practice putting green but not within the area defined as the starting point at his starting time. Thankfully for Higgo, he arrived at the tee within five minutes of his scheduled tee time. Had he shown up later, he would have been dis qualified from the tournament. “If you know me, then you know I am very casual and laid back,”Higgo said.“I thought I had time. I was obviously too casual, yeah. “If anything, I could have added maybe five minutes for the walk from the range to the tee,” he added. “I just cut it a little fine.” Higgo was glad the punishment was not heavier. “I was just happy they allowed me to tee off,” he said. “I was bummed when he said I had a two-shot penalty. I just said to myself, it’s going to be a great opportunity to shoot a low score.” Aggressive approach pays off for Lee MIN WOO LEE credited his fast start at the US PGA Championship to a change of mindset as he impressed on day one at Aronimink Golf Club. His 67 was his lowest start worldwide since February’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and has only been bettered in his 2026 season by a stun ning 62 at The American Express. The 27-year-old admitted it was an area upon which he wanted to improve and was delighted to see his processes bear fruit in Pennsylvania. “I think we’re all trying to get off to a good start,” he said. “I think over the last few months I haven’t done that. I think just a little bit of a mindset change, go out there and be aggres sive. “You know that saying of you can shoot your self out of a Thursday? I think I’ve nearly taken that too far and played a little bit conservative. I’m hitting the ball really good, so why not go at some pins and make some putts? “It’s great to start off well, I think it was kind of the right time to put the foot on the pedal a lit tle bit and hit some shots that needed to be more aggressive.”

RIO TAKEDA, Yoon Ina and Chella Choi shared the first-round lead in the LPGA Queen City Championship yesterday with top ranked Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul three adrift at “quirky” Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio. South Korea’s Yoon posted an eagle and five birdies in her 4-under effort. She was joined on 66 by com patriot Choi – who was 6-under with six birdies through 16 holes but closed with back-to-back

under par 69s.

70 Maketewah layout offered a unique challenge, especially in the day’s chilly, windy conditions. “I do think it’s quite a scorable golf course,” said Hull, whose round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-five seventh. “There’s a few little quirky holes out there that make it tricky, but I do think it is still quite scorable.” World No. 1 Korda and second ranked Jeeno, the marquee names in an event featuring seven of the world’s top 10, both settled for 1

bogeys – and Japan’s Takeda, who had five birdies and a bogey for her slice of the lead. The trio was one stroke in front of 15-time LPGA winner Ko Jin young of South Korea and Americans Lilia Vu and Amanda Doherty, with defending champion Charley Hull of England and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko a further stroke back on 68. Hull lifted the trophy last September, when the tourna ment was played at TPC River’s Bend. The world No. 6 said the par

Korda, who claimed her third title of the year at the Riviera Maya Open two weeks ago and hasn’t fin ished worse than second in six starts this year, opened with eight straight pars, eventually finding two birdies and a bogey. Jeeno, coming off her second title of 2026 at the Mizuho Americas Open on Sunday, had a wild ride with seven birdies – including five in a row from the seventh through the 11th – and six bogeys. – AFP

Scheffler in seven-way tie W ORLD NO. 1 Scottie Scheffler and former champion Martin Kaymer joined Aldrich Potgieter in a seven way share of the first-round lead at the PGA Championship yesterday at Aronimink Golf Club. “Winning the PGA in 2010 and the US Open, that is the ultimate feeling. No tournament, it doesn’t matter on what tour you can play, you can keep up with that. So having the opportunity every year now for the few more years is great,” he said. Jordan Spieth, taking his 10th crack at com pleting his collection of golf’s four major titles, held a share of the lead “Just didn’t quite finish the way I wanted to the last three holes, but under-par was a good score,” said Spieth. “It was blowing really hard, and it was cold this morning. The course played very, very difficult.” Former world No. 1 Spieth was two shots behind the leaders in a … as McIlroy struggles with five late bogeys at PGA Championship Also at the championship, Jordan Spieth got his bid to complete a career Grand Slam off to a solid start and Rory McIlroy struggled to find his form. late in his round before back-to-back bogeys dropped him to 1-under.

group that included Brooks Koepka, former champion Jason Day and LIV golfers Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith. McIlroy, in only his sec ond start since retaining his Masters title last a day where he struggled mightily off the tee and carded five bogeys on a six hole closing stretch after missing a number of makeabl e putts. “I just need to try to figure it out. I honestly thought I’d figured it out,” McIlroy said after using a month, was unable to get anything going on

Potgieter, who went off early from the back nine in chilly conditions before the sizeable crowds had gathered, made a pair of late birdies to card an opening 3-under 67 that left him level with Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee, Ryo Hisatsune, Scheffler, Kaymer and Alex Smalley. “There wasn’t a lot of people out there this morning on the first couple of holes. So it was nice to kind of get in my own little space and kind of get a groove in early on,” said Potgieter, who closed his round with a three-foot birdie. Former champion Xander Schauffele, Sahith Theegala, Max Greyserman and PGA Championship rookie Daniel Brown were all in the clubhouse one shot off the pace. Defending champion Scheffler battled back to 3-under after a bogey at the 14th dropped him down the leaderboard, responding with a birdie at the 16th before making pars at 17 and 18 to finish tied for the lead. “Yeah, I think the emphasis would be share of the lead. I think there’s like six or seven guys up there. I mean, it’s a really tight leaderboard. At this moment, it’s anybody’s tournament,” Scheffler told reporters. Kaymer, who won the PGA Championship in 2010, narrowly missed an eagle putt at his final hole, the par-five ninth, but tapped in for birdie to move back to 3-under and secure his place among the leaders. The 41-year-old German LIV Golf player said he cherished the chance to compete in majors, particularly with his US Open exemption having expired. JASPRIT BUMRAH made a winning start to his Mumbai Indians captaincy stint yesterday, as Tilak Varma hit 75 not out off 33 balls helped beat Punjab Kings by six wickets in the IPL. Jasprit stood in for the missing duo of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, as Tilak starred again for Mumbai, lifting his side from 88-3 to 205-4, and crossing the finish line with a ball to spare. Tilak hit six sixes and had Will Jacks (25 not out) for company at the end. Earlier, Punjab recovered to 200-8 after a mid dle-order collapse precipitated by Shadul Thakur’s 4-39. “One from one,” said Bumrah. “Both teams played good cricket and we really pulled it back well.” Azmatullah Omarzai’s 38 off 17 balls turned

Scottie Scheffler plays a shot on the 13th hole during Round One of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on Thursday. – AFPPIC

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describe his round. “Just sort of, once I get under the gun, it just seems like it starts to go a little bit wayward on me.” Bryson DeChambeau, who fin ished runner-up at the PGA Championship in the last two years, endured a nightmare

start to the year’s second major as he waited until his final hole to card a birdie for an opening 6-over 76. – Reuters

Fifth straight IPL loss for Punjab Kings

with four sixes and hit 50 off 29 balls. He added 57 off 35 balls with Cooper Connolly (21). Shadul applied the brakes as he picked four wickets in three overs. He had Prabhsimran caught in the 12th over, and bowled Shreyas two balls later. Punjab lost six wickets for 33, crashing to 140-7. Late carnage helped Punjab hit 63 runs in the final three overs and reach 200. Azmatullah struck 19 runs off the 18th over, then Xavier Bartlett scored 22 and 12 off the final two – the duo hit four sixes between them. Skipper Bumrah took no wickets and con ceded 35 runs in his four overs. – AFP

the game around for the Kings, but it did not suf fice. Fourth-placed Punjab, struggling to stay afloat in the top four, lost a fifth consecutive game, and must win both their remaining matches to make the knockouts. Mumbai are ninth with four wins in 12 games. “It is a tough pill to swallow.” said skipper Shreyas Ier.“But it was a great game of cricket and a well fought game. Put into bat, Punjab made a quick getaway with its openers putting on 50 off 33 balls. Prabhsimran Singh, who has been criticised on social media for being overweight, replied