Marin Cilic beats No. 4 Jack Draper to lead the way for the 30-somethings at Wimbledon
The 36-year-old Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion and 2017 Wimbledon runner-up, stunned fourth-seeded Jack Draper 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in a second-round match on No. 1 Court to eliminate the top British player from the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
40 minutes ago
- New York Times
As LIV Golf reapplies for world ranking points, Bryson DeChambeau has ideas for how the league should change
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Changes could be coming to LIV Golf as the league again attempts to gain world ranking points, reapplying for Official World Golf Ranking recognition on Friday. LIV's biggest superstar, Bryson DeChambeau, thinks he knows what changes the start-up tour must make to be ranked against the world's best — a process that is integral for LIV players' ability to play in the four majors. Advertisement 'Definitely relegation for sure, more pathways into LIV,' DeChambeau said on Tuesday ahead of The Open. 'I think a global tour, more association to a global tour would be great for a feeder system into LIV. Those things, I think, could help quite a bit.' Currently, LIV players only receive world ranking points when they compete in the four major championships, as well as on the Asian Tour and DP World Tour. But if the latest OWGR application is accepted, the skill of LIV players would be much more accurately reflected in the world standings — for example, Jon Rahm is currently ranked No. 2 in DataGolf's rankings. He's No. 72 on the OWGR. 'I don't know, do you guys think we should get points? I would say that we've got some pretty good players over there,' DeChambeau continued. The 54-hole team-format league formerly applied for OWGR recognition under CEO Greg Norman, but their application was rejected in 2023. The conflicting interests of a team and individual competition happening simultaneously and the lack of a merit-based system to gain access to the tour were cited as shortcomings. Now, it appears that under newly instated CEO Scott O'Neil, those sticking points might have been reevaluated internally. It has long been rumored that LIV would need to connect with a feeder tour of sorts, so their model cannot be deemed a closed shop by the OWGR board. Phil Mickelson, a LIV member, recently shared a hypothetical question on X fueling that theory. Mickelson proposed that LIV's 14-event schedule become an elevated events series in participation with a full-field 35-event tour that operates year-round. 'Where would those additional players come from, and what would happen to the PGA Tour then?' Mickelson wrote. LIV's application will be evaluated by the OWGR board, which is led by newly appointed chairman, CBS analyst and former Masters champion Trevor Immelman. O'Neill's decision to resubmit undoubtedly implies that the league is considering significant changes that it was not previously open to. Advertisement The league's relegation system has also been murky since its inception. Players finishing outside the top 48 in the league's standings are in danger of losing their spot on LIV. Previously, team captains were exempt from this process, but that rule was done away with in 2024. Ian Poulter, a captain, and Mito Pereira are in danger of being relegated if they don't improve their status this season.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Underrated Golfers May Steal Thunder At 2025 Open Championship
Cameron Young may not be one of the favorites but he has the game to find glory —. (Photo by Andrew ...) and perhaps a title — at The Open Championship. The Open Championship is golf's final major of the year, and the top golfers in the world will meet at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for one of the sport's most demanding setups. This links course is not in the usual rotation of courses used for this most traditional event as it hosts the tournament for just the second time since 1951. Royal Portrush is more than 7,300 yards long, has brutally narrow fairways, pot bunkers and undulating greens that will test the best golfers in the world. Even casual golf fans know that big names like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Xander Schauffele are the favorites in the tournament. One or more of these golfers is likely to be in the mix by the time Sunday's final round reaches its climax. However, the unique setup of Royal Portrush and the challenging weather conditions – rain and wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour are likely – should give multiple underdogs a chance to show off their skills and rise to contender status. Here's a look at five underrated golfers who could make a deep run for the title of 'Champion Golfer of the Year.' Cameron Young Young has done very well in past Open Championships that includes two top-10 finishes. He had one of his best showings at the U.S. Open this year when he finished tied for fourth. He regularly elevates his game in golf's major championships. Young is still looking for his first career victory on the PGA Tour or internationally, but he has seven runner-up finishes and has also finished in the top five 12 times. The 28-year-opld from Scarborough, New York ranks 37th in the FedEx Cup points. He is a sharp putter who ranks 11th in shots gained on the green and he averages 4.05 birdies per round. He is also a strong enough driver to be a factor off the tee at Royal Portrush. Corey Conners The Canadian's biggest strength is his elite ball striking, which should mean that he will be accurate from tee to green. The 33-year-old has two career wins and five top-10 finishes in 2025. He ranks 14th in FedEx Cup points. Conners is not a big hitter as he averages 296.6 yards off the tee, but he is very accurate and he excels when he is forced to scramble from the rough. Conners has never risen to the occasion at any of the Majors, but he is playing well this season and The Open Championship tends to give a true opportunity to those looking for a breakthrough. Sepp Straka of Austria may be ready for a breakthrough victory in the final major tournament of the ... More year. (Photo by) Sepp Straka If you don't think Straka has been playing well this season, you have missed one of golf's most interesting stories this season. Straka has two wins this season while adding six top-10s, and that may be enough to help him rise to the occasion after missing the cut at the Masters, the PGA and the U.S. Open. He is third in FedEx Cup points and a decent showing in the opening round could give him the confidence needed to contend. Straka's greatest strength comes on approach shots as he ranks fourth on the tour in that area. As a result, he also excels at making greens in regulation. He leads the tour with an average of 4.52 birdies per round, but he struggles with his distance off the tee. Russell Henley Henley is another golfer who is going to get the job done because he keeps the ball in the fairway but is not going to overwhelm the field with his driving distance. He has won one event on the PGA Tour so far this season, but his consistency is exemplified by his eight top-10 finishes. The 36-year-old Macon, Georgia native is fifth in FedEx Cup points this season. He made the top 10 at the U.S. Open and he finished tied for fourth in last year's Open Championship. He has earned more than $9.3 million this season. Viktor Hovland Hovland could raise his profile dramatically if he could manage to earn the title at Royal Portrush. He is widely respected by the game's top players and closest observers, but he needs to come through with a championship effort in a major tournament. He has the all-around game to do just that and has been known for his ability to string birdies together. The 27-year-old from Oslo, Norway has one win this season and ranks 22nd in FedEx Cup points. He has earned more than $35.6 million in his career. Hovland ranks 18th with an average of 4.18 birdies per round. Long approach shots – 200 yards or more – are his strength. However, when Hovland is in the rough, he has a tough time scrambling. That last factor could become a problem for him at The Open Championship.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
2025 Open Championship long shots, sleepers and prop picks: Jordan Spieth comeback?
The 2025 Open Championship is a tournament for long shots. Shane Lowry won at this year's host course, the Royal Portrush Golf Club, in 2019 as a +8000 long shot before he teed off in Round 1. He wasn't a favorite to win before Round 2 or Round 3 before becoming the overwhelming favorite heading into the final round. Advertisement The betting favorite hasn't won the Open Championship since Jordan Spieth won in 2017. Three of the last six winners of the Open Championship have had odds equal to or longer than +6000 to win. The biggest long shot to hit the board during that time is Brian Harman, who won in 2023 as a +12500 longshot when Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy were the favorites going in. The betting favorites are once again Scheffler (+500) and McIlroy (+700). While they are arguably the two best golfers on the planet at this moment, I think we can all agree that no one is so dominant that it's not worth looking at long shots who could hit the board. We are coming off a long-shot win at the U.S. Open with J.J. Spaun (+15000) beating out Adam Scott (+15000) and Sam Burns (+8000). Picking the right long shot can give a profitable hedge bet during the tournament, like we did in this column with Sam Burns as a pre-U.S. Open long shot. That hedge to Spaun proved to be a nice bankroll builder heading into the later part of the season. Jordan Spieth (+6000) is returning from an injury and may be a little sleep deprived after welcoming a new baby into the family this week. Even with those issues, picking up my eighth-ranked player for the week at +6000 is too good to pass up. Spieth has had a very good ball-striking year, even with his big tee-shot misses factored in. He has gained strokes on approach in four straight measured events, and he has gained strokes around the green in six straight measured events. Players only made it up and down from off the green at just over 50 percent here in 2019, while getting up and down from the sand only 37 percent of the time. Spieth can pick up an advantage on most of the field in both of those categories. Cameron Young (+8000) has three straight made cuts and two top-eight finishes in his three tries at the Open Championship. He has been playing better lately with two top-four finishes in his last four tournaments. Young has yet to win on the PGA Tour despite contending on multiple occasions. He seems calmer at the end of majors than he does in the other tournaments, where he is usually favored to win against whomever he is battling. Advertisement Aaron Rai (+9000) hits over 74 percent of his fairways while hitting almost 70 percent of his greens in regulation. He has been very good around the greens this year, picking up almost 1/3 of a stroke while his putter has continued to be hit-or-miss. I can see Rai pulling a Spaun this week, even if he doesn't quite have the firepower that Spaun possesses. Cameron Smith (+10000) won the Open Championship at St Andrews as one of the darlings of the betting world. We saw his odds shrink during the run-up to that major, and it still felt good cashing in +2000 tickets if you missed the early boat. Smith has struggled in major championships since he moved to LIV Golf, but he has been playing better lately. He has gained strokes on approach, around the green and with his putter in each of his last two tournaments. He was among the leaders here in 2019 before struggling on Sunday, and could be a nice surprise at this price with his around-the-green and putting game. Nick Taylor (+15000) hits over 65 percent of his fairways, and he hits the green in regulation at over 71 percent. He has missed one cut since the Houston Open with seven top-25 finishes. He won the Sony Open in January and has the iron game to win any golf tournament around the world. Yes (-145): Emiliano Grillo pulled off this feat in 2019, and I have been getting crushed betting against hole-in-ones at every major championship. What better way to wake up on the East Coast than to the news of a hole-in-one hitting at the Open Championship while I was fast asleep. Jon Rahm (+230) finished T11 here in 2019 and was in a solid position to make a run on Sunday before faltering with a Sunday 75 that sent him outside of the top 10. He has three top-seven finishes at the Open Championship since 2019, and he has gained strokes across the board in his last two Open Championships. He is going to win an Open Championship during his career, and this might be his best opportunity. He finished second at LIV Andalucia after a furious comeback on Sunday. He gained strokes across the board for the week and looked to be in complete control of his game. Advertisement Viktor Hovland (+500) has one glaring hole in his game (around the green), but it won't keep me from believing in him this week. Hovland has been lights out with his approach game of late. He has gained over 6.3 strokes on approach in three straight tournaments, which even includes a withdrawal through injury at the Travelers. He has three top-13 finishes at the Open Championship in his career. Matt Fitzpatrick (+650) was in the mix for a decent finish at Royal Portrush in 2019 before fading on Sunday to a T20. He has been in excellent form lately, and by contending at the Scottish Open on Saturday and Sunday, he helped me cash a nice hedge ticket on my New Jersey native fave, Chris Gotterup. Fitzpatrick has gained strokes off the tee, on approach and around the green in three straight tournaments. Rory McIlroy (-135) famously missed the cut here in 2019 after being the pre-tournament story all week. He proved the old saying that you can't win a tournament on Thursday, but you can lose it. He comes into this week in a better frame of mind since he won the career grand slam at the 2025 Masters. He needed to reevaluate his goals and motivations, and it seems he has focused a lot of his efforts on the Open. He struggled with his driver on Thursday at the Scottish Open, but settled down the rest of the week and made up for it on the greens, where he has gained almost 14 strokes combined over his last two tournaments. Xander Schauffele (+225) has been inconsistent for most of the season. He has struggled with his putter and has been inconsistent with his driver. He popped last week with his irons by gaining over nine strokes on approach. He is just a little bit off with his putter, but he doesn't look lost like Daniel Berger looks right now. Schauffele is the defending Open Champion, and he has never missed a cut at it. His ability to hit multiple shots off the tee and his excellent hands around the green mean he will be a factor more often than not. Sepp Straka (+350): After missing the cut at St Andrews, Straka finished T2 and T22 the last two years at the Open Championship. He is having his best year on the PGA Tour and is coming off a week where he gained over 10 strokes combined around and on the greens at the Scottish Open. Adam Scott (+250) has missed one cut at an Open Championship since finishing second in 2012. He has two top-15 finishes in the last three years. He is in excellent form coming in, gaining over 10 strokes combined on approach over his last three tournaments. Cameron Young (+300) Nick Taylor (+375 — Shop this number) Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy: McIlroy (+138) Advertisement Ludvig Åberg vs. Bryson DeChambeau: Åberg (+110) DeChambeau has struggled at the Open Championships outside of St Andrews. The slow greens and the luck of the rolls and bounces seem to be too much for him to handle at times. Åberg has been inconsistent this season, but he has gained strokes off the tee and on approach in five straight tournaments. He has struggled mightily around the green, but bounced back at the Scottish Open last week. Tommy Fleetwood vs. Shane Lowry: Fleetwood (-145) Robert MacIntyre vs. Viktor Hovland: Hovland (-125) Collin Morikawa vs. Matt Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick (+105) Betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Jordan Spieth: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
