Fireworks on Bastille Day…
They also highlight the strong presence of the Australian contingent, noting the collaboration and resilience shown by riders.
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The Age
34 minutes ago
- The Age
Pro tip: The Australian golf courses that emulate the rugged British Open
Tiger Woods kept his assessment of the 16th hole at Royal Portrush short when asked for his view ahead of the 2019 Open championship. 'That's hard,' Woods told the Belfast Telegraph. His response shows the regard the pros hold for the 216-metre, tournament par-three hole; it's no surprise there's plenty of respect for one that goes by the name 'Calamity Corner'. It is not to be messed with at any time, let alone in the final stretch of a major tournament. But as the Open returns to the rugged, often windswept, course in Northern Ireland this week, golfers will have to navigate it on the biggest stage. If the links course was a ski field, this hole would be one of the more dangerous runs on the mountain, to be navigated carefully once each day and only spoken about when all four runs are complete. Get your line wrong, and you can be fighting for your golfing life within minutes. 'You just try to hang on' The beautiful course, set in the wild dunes on the edge of the spectacular Atlantic coast in Antrim, is named the Dunluce Course, after the nearby Dunluce Castle. The castle provided the exterior shots for House Greyjoy of Pyke in Game of Thrones. Dunluce is as wild and unkempt as a sailor's sentence, with several great holes nestled into the dunes where fescue grass can either bounce a golf ball up towards undulating greens or hide it like plankton swallowed up by a fish. When the wind blows, it is a crosswind on most holes, forcing the professionals into decisions they don't usually need to consider. The 57 bunkers on the course are like fly traps. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, competing this week, is not afraid of such conditions, but he knows what's in store. 'The whole golf course is absolutely beautiful to the eye, but it also plays absolutely brilliantly,' he said. 'You've got holes that you've got a chance, and then you've got holes that you just try to hang on.' Some regard the fifth, 'White Rocks', as both beautiful and perilous. Players have a view out over the ocean as they walk towards the green, which sits on the edge of a cliff. But go too long here, and you'll need to abseil down to find your ball. Still, it's a driveable par four, so the pros will chase the flag hard. The middle holes will sort the contenders from the pretenders. But then they will be confronted with a daunting reality: whatever they hope to achieve, it will all come down to navigating Calamity Corner. It's golf's version of the Hillary Step, the sheer and sometimes fatal vertical rock face that was the final challenge to reaching the top of Mount Everest. The local experience Australia's nine-man contingent is preparing to be greeted by strong winds and rain on the first tee of the 153rd iteration of the Open, and leading Australian hope Lucas Herbert compared Portrush to the National at Cape Schanck in Victoria and Barnbougle in Tasmania. Herbert tees off at 4.52pm Thursday (AEST), while 2022 champion Cameron Smith will tee off in the third group at 3.57pm. Former world No.1 and 2015 PGA Championship winner Jason Day will be one group behind at 4.08pm. NZ Open winner Ryan Peake will play alongside six-time major winner Phil Mickelson at 4.19pm, Marcus Leishman at 8.19pm, and 2013 US Masters champion Adam Scott starts at 9.09pm. Elvis Smylie plays alongside Sergio Garcia at 9.20pm, Min Woo Lee, who broke through for his first win on the PGA Tour in Texas earlier this year, tees off at 11.37pm and Curtis Luck is in the second-last group at 1.05am Friday. Herbert, who plays alongside Smith and fellow Victorian Leishman on the LIV tour, was relaxed during his Wednesday afternoon practice round, on a rare still, sunny day at Portrush. 'It's a strong test, this golf course,' Herbert told this masthead as he walked off the 18th green. 'I think they've had four or five days of heat so it's quite firm and fast, the course is playing the way they want it to. 'It's got some vibes of the National, definitely a Barnbougle sort of feel, maybe even Seven Mile Beach for those of your readers who have been down there. 'It's very exposed, it's a thick wind. It doesn't have to blow very hard here for the ball to be affected quite a lot. And obviously the elements come into it so much, it becomes exponentially more difficult once it starts raining and blowing, which, on the north coast of Northern Ireland is usually more likely than not.' He isn't wrong. Winds of 25km/h and eight millimetres of rain is forecast for the coastal town on Thursday, which could suit the likes of Herbert, who has a reputation for one of the purest ball strikers in the world. The 29-year-old finished tied for 15th at St Andrews in 2022, the year Smith saluted for the claret jug. 'It's nice to get back in the majors. We always get great support from Australians. Of all the countries that get behind their own players, I think Australia does it the best. 'It's nice to be back on everyone's radar and hopefully a good chance to compare myself with some of the best players in the world.' Gone with the wind Calamity Corner was part of a course redesign in 1932, by Harry Colt. It hasn't changed since then – although, when the course was upgraded for the 2019 Open (the last time it was held at Royal Portrush), it went from being the 14th hole to the 16th. From the tee, the green is just over 216m, and there are no bunkers. But the slightly elevated green sits beyond a daunting ravine on the right of those hitting off. The drop is mountain goat steep, the grass ready to put its foot on your ball's throat and hold it down. Hitting to the right is not an option unless golfers want to make a bogey or worse. Out here, with no water to allow a drop and no stance to play a chip to an unseen flag, they have no friends except self-recrimination. That's why golfers go left and are not fussed if they go a little short of the green, nestling into Bobby Locke hollow. The patch of grass is named after the South African star who apparently decided ahead of the 1951 Open, played at the same course, to hit his ball into that area every time he stood on the 16th. From there, he figured he could make par. He did, every time – no small achievement, considering that par was made only 41 per cent of the time in the 2019 edition. Two-time major winner Bryson DeChambeau said he thinks about multiple things when he stands over the ball. The heavy wind is so relevant he is studying what impact wind will have on shots he plays. 'Once that ball gets going with that wind, it's 'sayonara',' DeChambeau said. Masters winner Rory McIlroy could argue that missing the cut in 2019 came down to his first hole and the 16th on day one of the tournament. He hit his tee on to the green at 16 only to make four putts to record a double bogey. It was a calamity. But he'll be back this year, and McIlroy is the one the crowds have come to see, sharing local favourite status with 2019 winner Shane Lowry. He will bring Irish charm to the links course rather than technical efficiency, even as DeChambeau is trying to apply science. Loading 'You need to show quite a lot of artistry to do well here,' McIlroy said. The stage has been set for the 153rd Open; nine Australians will be venturing on to Royal Portrush with plans that will be lucky to last past the first hole. If any of the nine are still in contention at Calamity Corner, we will collectively hold our breath. Sam McClure travelled to the British Open with the assistance of Golf Australia.
Perth Now
39 minutes ago
- Perth Now
'Non-stop action': boxing great Pacquiao primed again
Manny Pacquiao is promising fight fans an all-action, triumphant comeback when he returns to the ring chasing yet more boxing history in Las Vegas. Almost four years after his 62nd, and what most thought was his last bout, the legendary eight-division world champ will take on Mexican Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight belt on Saturday night (Sunday AEST). The Pacquiao-Barrios showdown shares top billing with Australian superstar Tim Tszyu's WBC super-welterweight world-title rematch with Sebastian Fundora on what US promoters are spruiking as the card of the summer in America. "I'm pretty sure that this coming Saturday there's going to be a lot of action and the fans will be happy, and that's my goal to make the fans satisfied," Pacquiao said. "I know Mario is a champion. He's a good fighter also, but on Saturday night our job is to give fans entertainment, like a real fight." The 46-year-old Filipino feels rejuvenated and insists ring rust won't be a factor. "I'm enjoying training camp as much as I did when I was 26 or 29 years old. The motivation to train hard and the discipline are the same," Pacquiao said. "I mean, it's because I've been away from boxing why I'm still interested and passionate about fighting." The vaunted veteran retired from boxing in 2021, had a stint in the Philippine Senate from 2016 to 2022 and an unsuccessful 2022 presidential bid. His remarkable record, as well as his status as the only eight-division world champ, also includes being the oldest welterweight strap holder at age 40 in 2019. Sunday's blockbuster will mark Pacquiao's 16th time headlining at the iconic MGM Grand. "I cannot imagine that I am still fighting here in the Grand Arena after 24 years. It's a blessing," Pacquiao (62-8-2) said while embracing his rare underdog tag. "In so many of my fights I was the underdog, and I surprised them. Manny always brings surprises." Barrios (29-2-1) has only respect for Pacquiao but says there will be no sentiment shown once the bell goes. "Manny is a very likeable person. I can't think of anything bad to say about him other than he's facing me for my title," the 30-year-old said. "At the end of the day, he's just another man in there. He's another opponent trying to take my title, regardless of everything he's accomplished and given to the sport. "I believe I'm in my prime right now and I'm trying to show that come Saturday, so you know. "I've been preparing for 12 rounds of non-stop action." With Reuters. This AAP article was made possible by support from No Limit Boxing.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Shock detail in Julian McMahon's death certificate adds mystery to actor's final months amid Scientology link bombshell
An stunning detail in Julian McMahon's death certificate has fueled further speculation about the actor's mysterious final months of his life, after a Scientology link emerged following his death at the age of 56. The Australian-American Nip/Tuck did not have a funeral, reported on Thursday after obtaining the star's death certificate. McMahon's body was instead quietly cremated in Clearwater, Florida, where he died as an inpatient at the Morton Plant Hospital on July 2. His death certificate stated Florida's family-owned Eternal Cremation Services handled the actor's body. A spokesperson for Eternal Cremation Services told "there was not" a funeral held anywhere for McMahon and could not confirm whether his wife, Kelly, attended his cremation at Palm State Crematory. It's been revealed he died from lung metastasis linked to head and neck cancer, according to the Pinellas County cremation approval report obtained by with no autopsy report understood to come. The development follows the location of McMahon's death, Clearwater, raising questions from social media users about why the actor was in the city, where the Church of Scientology is widely known to dominate. Adding mystery to his presence in the city where the church is headquartered, McMahon's address on his death certificate is listed as a residence on Ventura Boulevard, Encino, California. However, this is a building reportedly home to a showbiz accountancy firm and two other businesses, not residences. And there do not appear to be any property records linking McMahon and Kelly to the Clearwater area. The celebrity couple previously lived in a home in Hollywood Hills before selling it for $2.18 million USD ($3.3 million AUD). It's understood Scientology members own a large portion of real estate in Clearwater, home to A-listers who follow the controversial religion, including, most famously, actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta. One commentator recently took to X to question, 'Why was Julian McMahon in Clearwater when he died? Like, that's Scientology city.' "The only celebrities that do are usually Scientologists. Surprised, that's for certain!" another person said. Other people quelled the link as the debate continued on Reddit, where one person said McMahon just simply "loved the beach". "I don't see him being involved with Scientology," another person said. McMahon's career took off with his role as Cole Turner in the hit supernatural television series Charmed from 2000 to 2003. After Charmed, he gained wider recognition from 2003 to 2010 as plastic surgeon Dr Christian Troy in the medical drama Nip/Tuck. On the big screen, McMahon is best known for playing Marvel villain Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four (2005) and its 2007 sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer. His other film credits include Premonition, RED, Paranoia, You're Not You, Swinging Safari, and, most recently, Australian film The Surfer opposite Nicolas Cage. The only son of former Prime Minister Sir William McMahon is survived by his wife Kelly, an author, and his daughter, Madison (Maddy) McMahon, 25, whom he shared with his ex-wife, model and actress Brooke Burns.
