logo
Leishman off the Open leash but Adam Scott is doomed

Leishman off the Open leash but Adam Scott is doomed

Yahoo18-07-2025
Marc Leishman has been let off the leash after being frustrated by the slow pace of play at the British Open -- and the result has been the best round yet by any of the nine-strong Australian contingent at Royal Portrush.
While his veteran compatriot Adam Scott was doomed to an early exit after three double bogeys in his worst Open round in more than two decades, Leishman rose at 4am, teed off at 6.35am and enjoyed firing a second-round, three-under-par 68 on Friday.
The 41-year-old Victorian had bemoaned the snail-like crawl during an interminable first round in Northern Ireland, complaining he felt like he'd been on the Dunluce links "for about 12 hours" amid constant snarl-ups through slow play.
Playing in the first group of round two, Marc Leishman is three-under for the day through nine. pic.twitter.com/qjztKd3Fic
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2025
But freed up among Friday's very first group out, the LIV Golf veteran, who'd been two-over-par overnight, enjoyed a dazzling run of five birdies in the first dozen holes to move momentarily to within a shot of the lead.
Two bogeys at the next two holes, including a horrid shank off the tee at 13, checked his magisterial progress but he still became the first Australian to shoot in the red at this 153rd Open.
A decade on from his 2015 St Andrews near-miss when beaten in a playoff, Leishman was one under for the tournament, up into the top 20, having shot up over 50 places from his overnight position.
And he ended much cheerier than on Thursday when he'd finished with a bogey.
"I was obviously pretty frustrated last night when I came in here," he told reporters.
"I always say to my wife, 'if I've had a bad day on the course, just give me 10 minutes, and I'll be good' ... I think you got me about the eight-minute mark!"
Having got up at 4am - "I set the alarm as late as possible, I love my sleep," he sighed - Leishman could at least enjoy an afternoon treat with conditions forecast to be trickier.
"Happy to be watching it on TV. I'll probably have a pint or two of Guinness and enjoy my afternoon," he smiled.
On a good morning for scoring, Dane Rasmus Hojgaard and US former champion Brian Harman edged into the lead at six under midway through their rounds, with Briton Tyrrell Hatton a shot behind.
But while the swiftly changeable conditions on the County Antrim coast were at their mildest with 10-15mph winds, Portrush still proved fiendish for Scott, who'll miss the cut in his 25th successive British Open and 97th straight major appearance.
Having started out as joint-leading Aussie alongside Cam Smith, after a first-round 72, Scott had been hoping to celebrate his eve-of-tournament 45th birthday with another stirring crack at winning the Claret Jug.
But as soon as he made double-bogey on the short third, having struggled to extricate himself from the wet rough, he was on the backfoot. He dropped four more shots in three holes around the turn, including another double-bogey six at 11 after driving into some bushes.
His misery was compounded with a third double at the par-3 16th and a bogey at the last as he finished with an eight-over 79 - his worst round at the British Open since his 82 at Royal St George's 22 years ago - and a tournament total of nine over.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool takes HUGE step forward
Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool takes HUGE step forward

Yahoo

time14 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool takes HUGE step forward

The trump card that can deliver Isak to Liverpool Everyone is talking about the money the Reds have spent so far this summer, and let's be clear - it is extraordinary - but it's signing Isak on top of our spending remains a genuine possibility this summer. And the reason is because of players like Luis Diaz and Nunez, who are expected to bring in a significant amount when they are sold. Moves for the Uruguayan are being considered for around £50-60m and while the club would make a loss with that figure, it's still not a small transfer fee. Now that Ekitike is at the club, Liverpool could decide to keep Nunez, which would mean Arne Slot still has two strikers to call upon, without any more money being spent, which be a frugal idea. But a fee for Nunez could help go towards bringing in Isak and the impact of Diaz's possible move is also going to be huge. He's a player that Liverpool could quite easily be without next season since Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz can play at left-wing and Rio Ngumoha is already showing promise.

Sarina Wiegman says Euro 2025 ‘craziest' run of tournament matches in her career
Sarina Wiegman says Euro 2025 ‘craziest' run of tournament matches in her career

Yahoo

time14 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Sarina Wiegman says Euro 2025 ‘craziest' run of tournament matches in her career

England boss Sarina Wiegman concedes Euro 2025 is the 'craziest' run of tournament matches in her managerial career. The Dutchwoman's defending champions are now just one win away from their second major trophy, but will need to seek revenge on Spain – who beat them in the World Cup final two summers ago – to secure back-to-back European titles. To reach this point, the Lionesses have leaned on late heroics, a never-say-die attitude, a sprinkle of luck and the wisdom of a head coach described by her Football Association boss as priceless, one who has now led teams to an unprecedented five consecutive major-tournament finals. 'In this environment you have challenges all the time. Before the World Cup, we had challenges with players who were injured,' said Wiegman. 'Of course, we prepare a lot and we know the players really well. We think of scenarios, 'Who is the first player to select? Who is the second?'. You're prepared for challenges. 'But in this tournament, it has been the craziest one with how the games went. That has been different.' Wiegman was forced to navigate through tumult even before the tournament started. The shock retirements of Euro 2022-winning goalkeeper Mary Earps and attacking midfielder Fran Kirby were followed by veteran defender Millie Bright – who captained England at the 2023 World Cup – withdrawing from selection to prioritise her physical and mental health. 'Of course, the challenge ahead of the tournament – whether players are available or not – the result is the same as an injured player or a player who is not available,' said Wiegman. 'You have to move on to what you want and who is ready to compete.' Some of those primed to do battle were expected – like Lucy Bronze, the 33-year-old now seven-time major tournament veteran Wiegman hailed as 'one of a kind', after she sparked England's stunning quarter-final comeback over Sweden with a late goal, then emphatically netted the winning penalty with the Lionesses' seventh try. But surprise standouts have also emerged in Switzerland, perhaps none so powerfully as 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang, twice England's saviour with equalisers in their quarter and semi-final comebacks. Speaking to Agyemang, who has won three of her four England caps at this tournament, or 21-year-old Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones, paints a picture of Wiegman as a maternal figure, particularly for her seven major-tournament debutants. 'Yeah (I feel like a mum)', agreed Wiegman. 'You know, sometimes when people say about 'the girls' I think, are they meaning my daughters, or are they meaning my team. 'So that's tricky, I'm kind of a caring person so I need to, maybe that's the part, I care about them but at the same time I'm the coach, I'm making these hard decisions at the moment so sometimes you should leave that caring and leave it up to them. 'They're grown-up women! But at least a mum should care.' Wiegman is under contract until after the 2027 World Cup. On Thursday, FA chief Mark Bullingham said she was 'not for sale' and 'no price at all' would be tempting enough to allow her to be prised away. And while she admits some of the attention is 'awkward', Wiegman added: 'Of course I find it very special too. But I do believe that everyone plays his or her part in the success. 'What I'm trying to do is bring people together in the best possible way, players and staff and the people around me are really, really good. And if they perform at their highest level, then the chance of winning a game is the highest possible. And that's what I'm trying to do. 'I think I'm pretty good at bringing people together, but without the quality, you're not going to win a tournament.'

Manchester United Women's analyst Lawrence Shamieh set to join Tottenham
Manchester United Women's analyst Lawrence Shamieh set to join Tottenham

New York Times

time17 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Manchester United Women's analyst Lawrence Shamieh set to join Tottenham

Manchester United Women's analyst Lawrence Shamieh is set to join Tottenham Hotspur in a reunion with new head coach Martin Ho. Shamieh has been with United since October 2022 when he joined from Tottenham, where he was the lead performance analyst for the women's team from 2021 to 2022. Upon joining United in the same role, Shamieh became coach analyst in February 2025, where he has been was part of the team's scouting and recruitment set-up as well as the tactical analysis. Advertisement Shamieh's time at United overlapped with Ho, who was United's assistant coach from February 2020 to June 2023. According to sources familiar with the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, Shamieh is in the process of leaving his role at United to re-join Tottenham. Ho was appointed Tottenham head coach earlier this month. Previously the head coach of Norwegian side SK Brann, he was formerly an assistant at both Everton and United. He also spent a spell as the head coach of Liverpool's Under-21 women's team. Ho replaced Robert Vilahamn, who departed the club after two years last month on the same weekend that Ange Postecoglou was sacked by the men's side. If Spurs can get the deal over the line, this is a very savvy appointment and testament to the mission that the club are embarking on in their new era under Ho. Shamieh is regarded among United's coaching staff and players, with many considering him one of the most important members of Marc Skinner's coaching staff when it came to scouting and tactical analysis. For United, this is a big loss. Shamieh is the second staff departure for United this summer, with assistant Charlotte Healy taking over as head coach of Bristol City. Shamieh represents the next step in Tottenham's mission to rebuild after a disappointing Women's Super League season in which they finished the season on a 10-game winless run from January, recording an 11th-place WSL finish, just one place from the foot of the table and relegation. Vilahamn led Spurs to a top-six Women's Super League (WSL) finish and the club's first-ever FA Cup final, which they lost to Manchester United, in the 2023-24 campaign. In the proceeding summer, the team saw the departures of head of women's analysis and recruitment Zoe Mattheson (formally Matthews) and women's performance analyst Alexander Adams, who joined NWSL's Gotham FC and Leicester City men's team respectively. Shamieh's potential appointment would crucially help to recover from those departures.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store