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Study: GA city among top 15 most challenging cities for allergies

Study: GA city among top 15 most challenging cities for allergies

Yahoo20-03-2025
A new study from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America identified the top 100 U.S. metro areas where it's challenging to live with seasonal allergies.
One Georgia city cracked the top 15, but it's not Atlanta.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The study lists Augusta at No. 12 with a score of 80.37. Atlanta meanwhile came at No. 40 with a score of 73.19.
AAFA said it calculated scores using the following factors: tree, grass and weed pollens; allergy medicine use; and the number of allergy specialists.
Augusta ranked worse than average in the pollen and medical use categories, but had an average rating for the allergy specialists. Atlanta meanwhile had an average ranking across the board.
Tree pollen season typically runs from late February to June. The metro Atlanta area typically sees the most extreme numbers around March or April. You can see the daily pollen count for Atlanta on the WSB-TV Weather App. It's free to download.
Here are the top 15 most challenging places to live with seasonal allergies, according to the study.
Wichita, Kansas
New Orleans, Louisiana
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Memphis, Tennessee
Little Rock, Arkansas
Raleigh, North Carolina
Richmond, Virginia
Greenville, South Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Augusta, Georgia
Dallas, Texas
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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‘As a result of that naivety, I almost died': South African golfer's tumultuous journey to The Open
‘As a result of that naivety, I almost died': South African golfer's tumultuous journey to The Open

CNN

time18-07-2025

  • CNN

‘As a result of that naivety, I almost died': South African golfer's tumultuous journey to The Open

Blustering weather and a punishing coastal links course have combined to serve up the ultimate test for the game's best golfers at this week's Open Championship. And while world No. 68 Christiaan Bezuidenhout may not boast a ranking to rival Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy, he is as well equipped as any in the field to stay the course. A strong start has put the South African in the mix heading into the weekend of the 153rd edition of the major at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, a far cry from the beginning of the 31-year-old's own life. At the age of two, while playing with friends in the street, Bezuidenhout drank from a bottle of Coke that had been emptied and replaced with rat poison. 'As a result of that naivety, I almost died,' he wrote in a blog for the European Tour in 2019. 'The hospital had to pump my whole stomach to get rid of all the poison, but the poison affected the whole nervous system in my body.' One long-term consequence was the development of a stutter, which in turn led to childhood battles with anxiety and depression as Bezuidenhout – growing up in the small farming town of Delmas, 58 miles east of Johannesburg – withdrew from 'anything and everyone.' 'I was basically just living in my own world because I was always scared of having to engage in conversation,' he said. 'Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to get rid of a stammer – you just have to learn to adapt and work with the stammer to control it the best you can.' His blossoming golf talent saw junior trophies accumulate, but that too brought its challenges. Seeking to combat the 'dread' of public speaking necessitated by winning a tournament, a 14-year-old Bezuidenhout was prescribed beta-blockers to tackle anxiety. He used the medication throughout his amateur career across the next seven years, but while competing in the Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush in 2014, Bezuidenhout was told he had failed a drugs test and had been suspended for two years as a result. The 20-year-old had declared to tournament organizers in advance that he was taking beta-blockers for his stutter. While the sanction was later reduced to nine months after an appeal, Bezuidenhout was left 'inconsolable.' 'The worst part of it all were all the stories that came out from people in the golf industry and supposed close friends back home,' he wrote. 'I was accused of using it to better my performances, which really hurt me and my family. A lot of nasty things were said and I was known as the guy banned from golf for a drug-related incident. 'I was aware of how labels like that are hard to shake off and I reached a very low point in my life.' Yet since coming back and turning professional in 2015, Bezuidenhout's trajectory has been overwhelmingly upwards, culminating in a superb opening round four-under 67 that earned him an early share of the lead. 'I've been putting a lot of work in on my swing,' he told reporters on his return to the clubhouse Thursday. 'I've been going through some swing changes and stuff – it's nice to see that paying off.' He arrived on the Causeway Coast a three-time European Tour winner, his place in the field for a 20th career major start comfortably secured by his participation in the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship. Though still chasing a first win on the sport's top circuit, he has, bizarrely, cashed a winner's check, which he received for his runner-up finish at the American Express last year as victor Nick Dunlap was unable to claim prize money due to his amateur status. Bezuidenhout is pacing to challenge his career-best major performance, a tied-12th finish at the US Open last month, despite a second round two-over 73 on Friday that saw him lose ground on the leading pack. A weekend charge could add to his country's storied history at The Open, with South African golfers lifting the Claret Jug 10 times, though not on the two previous occasions that Portrush hosted the major. Bobby Locke won four times during a dominant stretch in the 1950s, before Gary Player notched three victories of his own. A 28-year barren run ensued before Ernie Els triumphed in 2002, 'The Big Easy' adding another in 2012 after compatriot Louis Oosthuizen had powered to glory at St. Andrews two years prior. CNN's Ben Church contributed to this report.

The South African golfer who ingested rat poison as a two-year-old and is in the mix at The Open Championship
The South African golfer who ingested rat poison as a two-year-old and is in the mix at The Open Championship

CNN

time18-07-2025

  • CNN

The South African golfer who ingested rat poison as a two-year-old and is in the mix at The Open Championship

Blustering weather and a punishing coastal links course have combined to serve up the ultimate test for the game's best golfers at this week's Open Championship. And while world No. 68 Christiaan Bezuidenhout may not boast a ranking to rival Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy, he is as well equipped as any in the field to stay the course. A strong start has put the South African in the mix heading into the weekend of the 153rd edition of the major at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, a far cry from the beginning of the 31-year-old's own life. At the age of two, while playing with friends in the street, Bezuidenhout drank from a bottle of Coke that had been emptied and replaced with rat poison. 'As a result of that naivety, I almost died,' he wrote in a blog for the European Tour in 2019. 'The hospital had to pump my whole stomach to get rid of all the poison, but the poison affected the whole nervous system in my body.' One long-term consequence was the development of a stutter, which in turn led to childhood battles with anxiety and depression as Bezuidenhout – growing up in the small farming town of Delmas, 58 miles east of Johannesburg – withdrew from 'anything and everyone.' 'I was basically just living in my own world because I was always scared of having to engage in conversation,' he said. 'Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to get rid of a stammer – you just have to learn to adapt and work with the stammer to control it the best you can.' His blossoming golf talent saw junior trophies accumulate, but that too brought its challenges. Seeking to combat the 'dread' of public speaking necessitated by winning a tournament, a 14-year-old Bezuidenhout was prescribed beta-blockers to tackle anxiety. He used the medication throughout his amateur career across the next seven years, but while competing in the Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush in 2014, Bezuidenhout was told he had failed a drugs test and had been suspended for two years as a result. The 20-year-old had declared to tournament organizers in advance that he was taking beta-blockers for his stutter. While the sanction was later reduced to nine months after an appeal, Bezuidenhout was left 'inconsolable.' 'The worst part of it all were all the stories that came out from people in the golf industry and supposed close friends back home,' he wrote. 'I was accused of using it to better my performances, which really hurt me and my family. A lot of nasty things were said and I was known as the guy banned from golf for a drug-related incident. 'I was aware of how labels like that are hard to shake off and I reached a very low point in my life.' Yet since coming back and turning professional in 2015, Bezuidenhout's trajectory has been overwhelmingly upwards, culminating in a superb opening round four-under 67 that earned him an early share of the lead. 'I've been putting a lot of work in on my swing,' he told reporters on his return to the clubhouse Thursday. 'I've been going through some swing changes and stuff – it's nice to see that paying off.' He arrived on the Causeway Coast a three-time European Tour winner, his place in the field for a 20th career major start comfortably secured by his participation in the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship. Though still chasing a first win on the sport's top circuit, he has, bizarrely, cashed a winner's check, which he received for his runner-up finish at the American Express last year as victor Nick Dunlap was unable to claim prize money due to his amateur status. Bezuidenhout is pacing to challenge his career-best major performance, a tied-12th finish at the US Open last month, despite a second round two-over 73 on Friday that saw him lose ground on the leading pack. A weekend charge could add to his country's storied history at The Open, with South African golfers lifting the Claret Jug 10 times, though not on the two previous occasions that Portrush hosted the major. Bobby Locke won four times during a dominant stretch in the 1950s, before Gary Player notched three victories of his own. A 28-year barren run ensued before Ernie Els triumphed in 2002, 'The Big Easy' adding another in 2012 after compatriot Louis Oosthuizen had powered to glory at St. Andrews two years prior. CNN's Ben Church contributed to this report.

‘As a result of that naivety, I almost died': South African golfer's tumultuous journey to The Open
‘As a result of that naivety, I almost died': South African golfer's tumultuous journey to The Open

CNN

time18-07-2025

  • CNN

‘As a result of that naivety, I almost died': South African golfer's tumultuous journey to The Open

Blustering weather and a punishing coastal links course have combined to serve up the ultimate test for the game's best golfers at this week's Open Championship. And while world No. 68 Christiaan Bezuidenhout may not boast a ranking to rival Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy, he is as well equipped as any in the field to stay the course. A strong start has put the South African in the mix heading into the weekend of the 153rd edition of the major at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, a far cry from the beginning of the 31-year-old's own life. At the age of two, while playing with friends in the street, Bezuidenhout drank from a bottle of Coke that had been emptied and replaced with rat poison. 'As a result of that naivety, I almost died,' he wrote in a blog for the European Tour in 2019. 'The hospital had to pump my whole stomach to get rid of all the poison, but the poison affected the whole nervous system in my body.' One long-term consequence was the development of a stutter, which in turn led to childhood battles with anxiety and depression as Bezuidenhout – growing up in the small farming town of Delmas, 58 miles east of Johannesburg – withdrew from 'anything and everyone.' 'I was basically just living in my own world because I was always scared of having to engage in conversation,' he said. 'Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to get rid of a stammer – you just have to learn to adapt and work with the stammer to control it the best you can.' His blossoming golf talent saw junior trophies accumulate, but that too brought its challenges. Seeking to combat the 'dread' of public speaking necessitated by winning a tournament, a 14-year-old Bezuidenhout was prescribed beta-blockers to tackle anxiety. He used the medication throughout his amateur career across the next seven years, but while competing in the Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush in 2014, Bezuidenhout was told he had failed a drugs test and had been suspended for two years as a result. The 20-year-old had declared to tournament organizers in advance that he was taking beta-blockers for his stutter. While the sanction was later reduced to nine months after an appeal, Bezuidenhout was left 'inconsolable.' 'The worst part of it all were all the stories that came out from people in the golf industry and supposed close friends back home,' he wrote. 'I was accused of using it to better my performances, which really hurt me and my family. A lot of nasty things were said and I was known as the guy banned from golf for a drug-related incident. 'I was aware of how labels like that are hard to shake off and I reached a very low point in my life.' Yet since coming back and turning professional in 2015, Bezuidenhout's trajectory has been overwhelmingly upwards, culminating in a superb opening round four-under 67 that earned him an early share of the lead. 'I've been putting a lot of work in on my swing,' he told reporters on his return to the clubhouse Thursday. 'I've been going through some swing changes and stuff – it's nice to see that paying off.' He arrived on the Causeway Coast a three-time European Tour winner, his place in the field for a 20th career major start comfortably secured by his participation in the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship. Though still chasing a first win on the sport's top circuit, he has, bizarrely, cashed a winner's check, which he received for his runner-up finish at the American Express last year as victor Nick Dunlap was unable to claim prize money due to his amateur status. Bezuidenhout is pacing to challenge his career-best major performance, a tied-12th finish at the US Open last month, despite a second round two-over 73 on Friday that saw him lose ground on the leading pack. A weekend charge could add to his country's storied history at The Open, with South African golfers lifting the Claret Jug 10 times, though not on the two previous occasions that Portrush hosted the major. Bobby Locke won four times during a dominant stretch in the 1950s, before Gary Player notched three victories of his own. A 28-year barren run ensued before Ernie Els triumphed in 2002, 'The Big Easy' adding another in 2012 after compatriot Louis Oosthuizen had powered to glory at St. Andrews two years prior. CNN's Ben Church contributed to this report.

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