Livingston should 'thrive' off underdog status, says Rudden
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Lee Westwood's mad dash from Dallas to Dundonald pays off as he rolls back the years to secure a place at The Open
Lee Westwood brushed off jetlag and a lack of sleep to clinch a place in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush later this month. The Englishman played in the LIV Golf event in Texas last weekend, before making a mad dash from Dallas to Dundonald to compete in final qualifying. He arrived in Scotland late on Monday night and was functioning on barely a couple of hours' sleep by the time he teed it up Tuesday morning. But the former Ryder Cup star rolled back the years in front of bumper crowds at the Ayrshire venue, carding two rounds of 70 and 67 to finish top of the pile on seven-under par. With the top five players securing a spot at Portrush, it was Scotland's Daniel Young, Spain's Angel Hidalgo and Sweden's Jesper Sandborg who also prevailed alongside Westwood. The final spot saw two Scots go head-to-head in a sudden-death play-off, with teenage amateur Connor Graham beating Paul O'Hara in dramatic fashion. Former World No 1 Westwood can now look forward to another crack at finally winning his first major and the grand old age of 52 - and he is confident he can compete. 'Yeah, it feels great, but I'm also really tired,' said Westwood. 'It's a while since I've played 36 holes in a day and I didn't really give myself the best chance in terms of preparation. 'I only made my mind up last week that I was definitely going to play. I didn't get in until seven o'clock on Monday night after flying from Texas. It's a strange route - Dallas to Dundonald. 'I had never played the course before, so walked it once I arrived. We got wet on the last four holes, good old Scotland raining on me. I think we got off the course about quarter past nine or something. 'But I ended up only getting an hour-and-a-half of sleep due to the jetlag. So, if I end up collapsing, you will know why. 'I've always said, The Open is the greatest championship in golf. As a British player, you get phenomenal support and I really enjoyed Portrush last time in 2019. 'I finished fourth and played nicely, so I'll be looking forward to going back there. For me, it's in the top three links courses in the British Isles. 'Qualifiers have won it before (Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie in 1999). I'm not necessarily going with any expectations but, of any major championships, I do think you can compete on links courses. 'Tom Watson proved that around Turnberry in 2009 and then Greg Norman a couple of years later at Royal Birkdale. 'I think if any form of golf gives seniors a chance, it's links golf because you get a bit of run on the ball and you have to use a bit of cunning and guile with the wind. 'I'm just looking forward to enjoying the week at Portrush and seeing a few old friends and enjoying that golf course.' This will be Westwood's 93rd major championship, the most appearances of any player without having won one of the game's biggest prizes. It will also be his 28th Open Championship. He can boast a stellar record, with five top-five finishes, although a Claret Jug has always narrowly escaped his grasp. It was something of a full circle moment for Westwood, with his first crack at Open qualifying back in 1994 ending in heartbreak at nearby Kilmarnock Barassie. 'I am 52 now, I'm not getting any younger,' he said. 'I was looking at the course next door (Barassie) and I think I tried to qualify around there in 1994. 'I remember hitting a sprinkler and bouncing through the back of the green and then losing out in a play-off. 'I qualified the following year in 1995 at Leven and then played something like 25 or 26 consecutive Open Championships, so it's nice to be back playing in it again after missing the last couple. 'I've finished second, I've finished third a couple of times, I've finished fourth a couple of times, I've had a lot of top 10s. 'I really enjoy playing links golf. It tests you like the week in, week out golf doesn't. You've got to use your imagination a lot more imagination around the greens. 'There's no walk like walking down the 18th in an Open Championship with the stands surrounding the 18th green.' After finishing one shot back from Westwood, Scotland's Young can now look forward to making his Open debut in a couple of weeks. 'I've played well around here before, so I feel quite comfortable on the golf course,' said the Perth man. 'I know the scoring never gets probably as low as people might think. It's a tricky enough course and they set up a few tricky enough pins today. 'So, yeah, you've just got to be pretty patient like I was this morning when I didn't probably have my best stuff. 'And then I strung together just a lovely round this afternoon. It's a big step in my career. 'I've got a big second half of the year coming up and hopefully I'll start with a good week at Portrush.' Hidalgo and Sandborg both finished on six-under and five-under respectively, with 18-year-old amateur Graham pipping fellow Scot O'Hara after a birdie at the first hole in a play-off. 'I am delighted,' said the youngster from Blairgowrie, who plays on the college circuit in America. 'It was pretty nervy in the play-off but, thankfully, I got the job done. There were big crowds following us (his group with Westwood and Jamie Donaldson). 'I managed to deal with the pressure I was under pretty good and that definitely helped me in the play-off.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Chelsea files: Blues dodge Club World Cup chaos by relocating while outcasts at home confused over pre-season return
CHELSEA have dodged a Club World Cup storm by setting up camp in Florida this week. The Blues decided to upsticks and move to Miami last week despite playing their last 16 game being held in Charlotte, North Carolina. That is 729 miles away. 6 After beating Benfica they will return to Philadelphia on Friday for a quarter final date with Palmeiras - the team they beat to win the 2022 CWC. Chelsea spent almost a week in Philly playing two group games but have decided to stay down South and bask in the sunshine of South Beach. And just as well, where last week it was blistering hot sunshine and humidity making it 'almost impossible to train' as boss Enzo Maresca put it, this week it is thunderstorms. Travel to Philadelphia has been severely hampered by torrential downpours and lightning in the skies above. Several UK journalists heading to Philly in advance of the team encountered serious disruption and delays to their journeys. Planes were grounded for hours because it was too dangerous to fly. LOAN RANGERS While Maresca and his squad are working away in Florida, those left behind are not sure when they're needed at Cobham. A number of players coming back from loan and up for sale this summer were not named in Chelsea's Club World Cup squad. Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Djordje Petrovic and Joao Felix all came back from loans and were omitted from the 28-man list. Wesley Fofana, continuing to recover from injury, was also left behind. The first team's pre-season will obviously be disrupted by the Club World Cup - with Maresca saying they may only have a week of preparations before the Premier League season should they go all the way in America. However, none of those back in England have been tipped off as to when they're needed for pre-season. Most Premier League clubs not involved in the Club World Cup will be back preparing for the new season from next week. 6 OUR HOUSE 'LONDON, IT'S OUR HOUSE' was the cheeky dig fired at Arsenal in a perfectly placed advert as part of a marketing campaign for Chelsea's new home kit. The advert in question is on display at the Arsenal tube station, just a short walk from the Emirates Stadium, and will be viewed by fans of the Gunners on a daily basis - though we can't imagine it's driving many sales in the area. The ad is in reference to Madness' song 'our house' heavily used in Chelsea's promotional material, and features a large image of Cole Palmer with his iconic long sleeves on in what looks like a school classroom. 6 STRAS-SING OUT BlueCo-owned RC Strasbourg are having the spine of their best team in years torn apart by those also in charge of Chelsea, and their fans are furious about it. Club captain Habib Diarra is on the verge of joining Premier League new boys Sunderland, player of the Season Djordje Petrovic has been recalled from his loan and looks set to be sold by Chelsea, while star midfielder Andrey Santos is highly rated at Stamford Bridge and will be a part of their squad for next season. To make things worse, Chelsea have signed their best young defender in Mamadou Sarr, with top goalscorer Emmanuel Emegha to join the Blues in 2026 in transactions that are essentially the same as moving money from your savings account to your current account. RC Strasbourg will almost inevitably receive some talented youngsters for their troubles, with future world beater Kendry Paez being the favourite to make an impact on loan in eastern France next season. But this idea is painful for fans of the club who aren't able to really feel connected to their team if they feel the ability to dream is taken from them. SunSport spoke to Alexandre, a spokesperson for the Strasbourg supporters federation about their star men being moved to the Premier League, and the feeling in France towards BlueCo after we took a trip there to uncover the darker side of multi-club ownership just a matter of months ago. They said: "My feeling as a fan is concerned, I think there are three kinds of situations, with an ascending degree of trouble. "A player like Diarra would have left anyway for an English club at some point. "That will help us reach a balance; it just means that BlueCo hasn't brought much in terms of financial stability… despite what is being advertised. Santos and Petrovic, we knew they were here to maintain or increase their value. "The cases of Sarr and possibly Emegha are even worse for us and for football overall. A club is using another club as a development team, which will distort the way a free market should function. "The fact that UEFA and FIFA are tolerating that is a f scandal. Multi-club ownership is ruining football as we knew it… We feel really bad about that." 6 RIGHT MAN FOR THE ROB To any Chelsea fan disappointed at the collapse of a deal for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, you may need a hand to hold when you hear this… But perhaps those in charge of The Blues are right to trust in Robert Sanchez. The Spaniard was the cause of many frustrations at Stamford Bridge last season, but finished the campaign strongly and has started the Club World Cup brightly too. In fact, Based on the xG of shots on target faced, Robert Sánchez prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the Club World Cup group stage, with three conceded from a 5.35 xG on target according to Opta. However, being a good shot stopper isn't all it takes to be a world class number one these days, and it's with the ball at his feet he seems to cost Chelsea. He has still shown flashes of that Robert Sanchez, but overall improved of late and will at least have done his value no harm if The Blues are to move him on and re-ignite an interest in Maignan. 6 BLUE BEAUTY Chelsea added another trophy to their cabinet this week, as they won the Amputee Cup for the first time. Captained by former soldier Mark Smith, who took six gunshots to the leg in a training exercise gone wrong in Canada in 2011, the Chelsea FC Foundation dominated the 50-minute final in a 2-0 win vs Everton in the community. Goals came courtesy of Darren Mitchell from the penalty spot and Jonathan Nyarko secured the win for the Blues, while winger Sofyan Filali picked up the Player of the Match award. TEEN SPIRIT Incoming teenager Estevao Willian will naturally attract plenty of interest when Chelsea face Palmeiras in the Club World Cup quarter-final. But there is another familiar face who could be lining up against The Blues. Former West Ham midfielder Felipe Anderson has been with the Brazilian club since last year and will surely be keen to rekindle some London derby spirit. The midfielder was once even linked with a move to Chelsea, while playing for Lazio after leaving the London Stadium - though the deal never materialised.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Jodie Burrage ponders trip to see boyfriend play for the Lions after SW19 exit
Jodie Burrage is contemplating a trip to Australia to cheer on rugby star boyfriend Ben White after fighting back tears following a distressing early Wimbledon exit. The British wild card began the week with good news when Scotland scrum-half White was a late addition to the British and Irish Lions squad for their series against the Wallabies. But her joy turned to despair on Tuesday following a comprehensive 6-3 6-1 first-round loss to American Caty McNally on her SW19 comeback. The 26-year-old, who missed much of last season due to injury, revealed she rolled an ankle at the All England Club just three days before the start of the championship and was visibly upset during an emotional post-match press conference in which she branded her performance 'shocking'. As her attention turns to the hardcourt swing in the United States, Burrage is considering flying out to support long-term partner White. 'It's a conversation I'm going to have to have with my team,' said Burrage, who is still scheduled to play doubles in south west London this week. 'Maybe considering my ankle and stuff, I might be able to. Obviously Australia is a very easy place to find tennis courts and train, so that's one thing going for me. 'I've been playing so many tournaments. I've been going week after week after week, so I do need some time training. That was always the case anyway. So maybe that will be there.' Toulon player White initially missed out on Lions selection before receiving a call from head coach Andy Farrell due to the injury withdrawal of Wales' Tomos Williams. The 27-year-old swiftly joined the squad in Brisbane, having been with the Scotland team in New Zealand – 11 hours ahead of Burrage in the UK. 'I was about to go to sleep, and he called me 10 minutes later and kind of was just looking at me down the phone, like with a grin on his face,' she said. 'I was, just, like, 'Oh, my God, what?' I was very, very happy for him to get that call. He'll do great. 'He's enjoying being with the Lions and it will be a very fun six weeks for him ahead.' Burrage, who would have faced five-time grand slam winner Iga Swiatek in round two, defeated McNally at Wimbledon two years ago. But hampered by the latest of a series of ankle problems, she was unable to repeat the feat on Court 18 and was eliminated by the world number 208 in an hour and four minutes. 'It's nowhere near 100 per cent,' she said of her ankle. 'My level today was shocking compared to how I've been playing the last few weeks. 'There's probably a few things going into that: wanting to do well this week at Wimbledon because I missed it last year, obviously what I just said about what happened on Friday (rolling her ankle), just everything. 'Sometimes you just have a bad day at the office, and sometimes your opponent has a very good one. 'I just wanted more from myself. I know the work that I've put in, and I felt like I deserved a better outcome than that.'
