Young gun clinches astonishing come-from-behind win
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Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Leishman finishes strong to chase leader Meronk in LIV
Marc Leishman birdied four of his last six holes to claw his way into contention after the opening round of the LIV Golf tournament in Hemel Hempstead. The Australian was even par on the front nine before storming home with birdies on the 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th for a four-under 67. He is two behind a trio of leaders comprising Adrian Meronk of Poland, Chilean Joaquin Niemann and Branden Grace at Centurion Club. Meronk used a run of five birdies in six holes for his 65. Bubba Watson is in a three-way tie for fourth place at five under with Englishman Lee Westwood and Carlos Ortiz of Mexico. The group of four joining Leishman at four under, tied for seventh overall, comprises England's Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton, and American Caleb Surratt. Meronk was a mere one under through seven holes after a bogey five at the sixth. He had consecutive birdies at Nos.8 and 9 before making par on the par-five No.10. He then rattled off three consecutive birdies, including the last at the 639-yard, par-5 13th hole. After winning the season-opening event at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February, Meronk has his game back on track. "It's nice to be in this position again, obviously getting off to a good start this season," Meronk said. "Finally I'm enjoying myself on the course and playing good golf again, which is quite exciting. It's great to be back in this position, and I'm really looking forward to this weekend and to three more tournaments this year." Niemann had four birdies on the front nine and finished off a bogey-free round with a par on the final five holes of the day. With three events remaining in the season after this week, all in the United States, Niemann sits atop the player standings. "I think I'm on a really privileged situation to be on the top of the rankings and being chased by Jon (Rahm) and Bryson (DeChambeau)," said Niemann, who has won four times this season. "It just makes me a better athlete. I like that pressure. I like playing like that. I've just got to try my best." Grace was at seven under on the day before a bogey at the par-4 15th hole. He finished his round with three consecutive pars. Watson was set to join the leaders at six under until a bogey at the 244-yard, par-3 17th hole. He entered the week 31st in the overall standings and is in the "Open Zone" as relegation approaches, but well above the "Drop Zone" line. "There's a lot more stress, 100 per cent," Watson said. "... There's a lot of having to step up and hit great golf shots because they know what's on the line to be in an elite league like this. "They want a contract. They want to be able to play here next year, so there's a lot of stress out there for sure." Westwood is in 45th place in the overall standings and much improved after a strong showing in the LIV event at Virginia in June. "Golf is the type of game where you feel like you've finally got it and it doesn't give you the score that you think you should do, right? It never quite lets you," Westwood said. "But then that final round (at Virginia), I shot nine-under I think, and that was kind of the trigger to give me some confidence that the good stuff I was working on on the range and on the putting green and on the short game area was paying off score-wise." Australian Cameron Smith is at three under and in a tie for 11th with Lucas Herbert a shot further behind. Smith at one stage was five under and tied second but was cruelled by back-to-back closing bogeys. Matt Jones is at one under and equal 24th.
The Australian
a day ago
- The Australian
Verstappen commits to Red Bull until 2028 despite Horner departure
Max Verstappen insisted on Thursday that Christian Horner's shock departure as team boss of Red Bull will have no impact on his future plans. The four-time world champion, who has been linked with a move to Mercedes next year, suggested that he expects to stay with Red Bull until the conclusion of his current contract in 2028. The Belgian Grand Prix will be Red Bull's first since the departure of Christian Horner. Speaking to reporters in the paddock ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, one of his 'home' races as he was born in Belgium and his mother is Belgian, the 27-year-old Dutchman said he was concerned only with improving the speed and performance of his car. The rest, he said, was not of great interest to him, adding that past tensions between Horner and his father Jos Verstappen had no bearing on decisions about his future. Asked if Horner's exit after 20 years as team boss made it more probable that he would stay at Red Bull next year, Verstappen said: 'No, it doesn't. Not really.' He said the well-publicised discord between his father and Horner was never a problem. 'People can have a difference of opinion and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem. 'You need to have differences in opinion. Now, we will work in a different direction and I am excited about it and I don't think it will matter at all for the decision over my future. Horner reacts to Verstappen winning in Belgium in 2023. 'The only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can and try and be more competitive this year, a little bit, but for sure with the new regulations next year.' Verstappen had earlier welcomed the appointment of Frenchman Laurent Mekies, promoted from junior team Racing Bulls, as Horner's successor and clearly sensed that it could usher in a stronger technical and engineering focus at the team. 'I had already quite a few meetings with Laurent as well, you know. The last two weeks have been quite intense,' he said. 'I'm equally excited for the team now moving forward because that's what we have to do.' Verstappen gave an oblique response when asked if he had a decision to make about his future. 'There is also the possibility of not waking up tomorrow and so there is no driving. 'Life is unpredictable and, in general, I am happy with where I am at... 'The target was that when I signed my deal, I would drive here until the end of my career.' Verstappen will be hoping to end the speculation and give both the team and new boss Mekies a boost with a convincing performance this weekend on his favourite circuit. The Dutchman finds himself in the unaccustomed position of third in the drivers' standings, behind leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, both of McLaren.
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Belgian Grand Prix: Red Bull, Max Verstappen move on from Christian Horner
Max Verstappen insisted on Thursday that Christian Horner's shock departure as team boss of Red Bull will have no impact on his future plans. The four-time world champion, who has been linked with a move to Mercedes next year, suggested that he expects to stay with Red Bull until the conclusion of his current contract in 2028. Speaking to reporters in the paddock ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, one of his 'home' races as he was born in Belgium and his mother is Belgian, the 27-year-old Dutchman said he was concerned only with improving the speed and performance of his car. The rest, he said, was not of great interest to him, adding that past tensions between Horner and his father Jos Verstappen had no bearing on decisions about his future. Asked if Horner's exit after 20 years as team boss made it more probable that he would stay at Red Bull next year, Verstappen said: 'No, it doesn't. Not really.' He said the well-publicised discord between his father and Horner was never a problem. 'People can have a difference of opinion and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem. 'You need to have differences in opinion. Now, we will work in a different direction and I am excited about it and I don't think it will matter at all for the decision over my future. 'The only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can and try and be more competitive this year, a little bit, but for sure with the new regulations next year.' Verstappen had earlier welcomed the appointment of Frenchman Laurent Mekies, promoted from junior team Racing Bulls, as Horner's successor and clearly sensed that it could usher in a stronger technical and engineering focus at the team. 'I had already quite a few meetings with Laurent as well, you know. The last two weeks have been quite intense,' he said. 'I'm equally excited for the team now moving forward because that's what we have to do.' Verstappen gave an oblique response when asked if he had a decision to make about his future. 'There is also the possibility of not waking up tomorrow and so there is no driving. 'Life is unpredictable and, in general, I am happy with where I am at... 'The target was that when I signed my deal, I would drive here until the end of my career.' Verstappen will be hoping to end the speculation and give both the team and new boss Mekies a boost with a convincing performance this weekend on his favourite circuit. The Dutchman finds himself in the unaccustomed position of third in the drivers' standings, behind leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, both of McLaren.
