Shaun Murphy thanks Peter Ebdon for helping him perform ‘complete 180'
Shaun Murphy believes he is well-placed to become a multiple world snooker champion after cruising through this year's first round with a 10-4 win over qualifier Daniel Wells.
The 42-year-old admitted he felt his days of contending for major titles were numbered after a decade-long 'triple crown' drought that followed his first Masters title win in 2015.
Murphy credits his link-up with another former champion, Peter Ebdon, with sparking an impressive mid-career revival that culminated in him sweeping to his second triumph at Alexandra Palace at the start of this year.
MURPHY SECURES A DOMINANT WIN!
The Magician defeats Daniel Wells in the opening round in Sheffield, hitting three centuries!#HaloWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/qlfepOlfr0
— WST (@WeAreWST) April 23, 2025
Murphy said: 'The hunger and desire never goes anywhere, but sometimes you can just lose your way in life and sport and certainly working with Peter has helped me refocus on the things that make a difference.
'Champions don't think like everyone else, and I think for a little while I'd started to think like everyone else. I'd forgotten what it was like to win the big ones, and thought I'd become a bit of a draw-filler in the majors.
'As far as the big tournaments were concerned, I thought those days were gone. But winning the Masters and my work with Peter has totally changed that. I've had a complete 180. Whether it works this week or not, I don't know, but I believe again and I think that makes me dangerous.'
Murphy, who won his world title as a qualifier in 2005, was close to his flamboyant best against Wells, a Crucible debutant who far from disgraced himself as he hit three centuries including a nerveless clearance of 131 in the second frame of the match.
Murphy fashioned a 7-2 overnight lead and despite taking the opening frame of the day he was denied a swift finish by consecutive knocks of 115 and 68 from Wells.
A clearance of 133 in the 13th frame – Murphy's third hundred in a high-quality clash that yielded a total of 14 half-centuries or better – nudged him closer to the finish line, and a subsequent 71 finished the job and set up a last 16 meeting with either Judd Trump or Zhou Yuelong.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Former LIV player receives sponsor invite into hometown Rocket Classic
James Piot will finally play his hometown PGA Tour event. The 26-year-old Piot, who grew up just outside Detroit in Canton and starred at Michigan State, received a sponsor exemption into this week's Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club. Piot got the call on Monday morning, just before he was set to tee it up in the Rocket Classic's open qualifier at Fieldstone Golf Club in Auburn Hills. 'For it to actually happen is the coolest thing in the world,' Piot told the Detroit News on Monday. 'It's awesome. Just the fact I finally get to play in the Rocket Classic, it's a dream come true. Ever since the event was created on the schedule, I wanted to be a part of it.' This will mark Piot's first PGA Tour start in over three years. He competed in four Tour events, plus the Masters and U.S. Open, in 2022, a year after he won the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont. But Piot's Tour future – including a likely invite into the Rocket – was put on hold when he opted to join LIV Golf for the league's inaugural season in June 2022. Piot also competed the following season on LIV, but after finishing 47th in points, just inside the open zone, his contract was not renewed by the HyFlyers, the team captained by Phil Mickelson. Piot's PGA Tour suspension ended in October 2023. He has played mostly on the Asian Tour since his LIV stint ended, but earlier this year he Monday-qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour's Lecom Suncoast Classic, where he missed the cut.
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
Masters Winner Sounds Off on Keegan Bradley's Ryder Cup Hopes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Golf fans eagerly await the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, which is less than 100 days away. Team USA was embarrassed two years ago in Rome and will look to avenge that loss. The loss prompted a switch at captain, with Keegan Bradley accepting the role. One of the biggest talking points had been whether Bradley would become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. On Sunday, Bradley pulled off an amazing comeback to win the Travelers Championship. While doing so, he showed grit, pure emotion, and the clutch gene, all things a captain typically looks for in choosing players. CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 22: Keegan Bradley of the United States reacts to his birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship 2025 at TPC River Highlands on June... CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 22: Keegan Bradley of the United States reacts to his birdie putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship 2025 at TPC River Highlands on June 22, 2025 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by) MoreAfter the win, CBS Sports analyst and 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman chimed in on the topic. "You can not even start an argument with me trying to explain that he [Keegan Bradley] is not one of the 12 best American golfers in the world. In my opinion, he is one of the top six or seven." "You can not even start an argument with me trying to explain that [Keegan Bradley] is not one of the 12 best American golfers in the world. In my opinion, he is one of the Top 6 or 7."@TrevorImmelman discusses the possibility of Keegan Bradley being Captain and playing for… — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 22, 2025 Bradley previously disclosed that he would only play if he were to automatically qualify. In order to do that, he would have to finish in the top six of the American Ryder Cup standings. Entering the week, the New England native was 17th in the Ryder Cup rankings. Following Sunday's victory, he is projected to move into ninth. With the top six automatically qualifying, that leaves six spots for the captain to decide upon. He is surrounded by players such as Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Andrew Novak, Brian Harman, Harris English, and Maverick McNealy. Of those players, Bradley is the most distinguished with eight PGA Tour victories. Only he and Harman have won a major championship. But knowing the momentum and passion that the European squad will bring to New York, Bradley might make the most sense. What do you think? Should Keegan select himself if he doesn't already qualify? Let us know in the comments below. More Golf: Viktor Hovland Withdraws from Travelers with Latest Injury
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Keegan Bradley's Wife Jillian Bradley Fueled His Success At Travelers Championship
Keegan Bradley's Wife Jillian Bradley Fueled His Success At Travelers Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Travelers Championship delivered drama till the end, with the final round setting up a tight leaderboard late on Sunday. As fans watched the action unfold at TPC River Highlands, it was a battle among the best, with Keegan Bradley in the mix. Tied with Tommy Fleetwood near the top of the standings, Bradley was chasing his second Travelers Championship title and showing once again why he remains a force on the PGA Tour. Advertisement With seven PGA Tour wins under his belt, Bradley's game continues to impress, but behind his success is a strong support system led by his wife, Jillian Bradley. The couple met in 2012 and began dating soon after. By 2015, Keegan proposed to Jillian in their home state of Vermont, and a year later, they tied the knot. 'Still coming down from the happiest weekend of my life,' Jillian wrote after their December 2016 wedding. Keegan Bradley lines up a putt on the ninth hole during the third round of the Travelers Championship golf Streicher-Imagn Images Jillian, who was born and raised in Vermont like Keegan, has always been a steady presence. A graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University, she's more than just a cheerleader. She once caddied for Keegan during the 2015 Par 3 Contest at the Masters, a moment she described as exciting and unforgettable. Keegan himself shared in the Netflix series Full Swing, 'Jillian is the real champion of our family, she holds us all together.' The couple now has two sons, Logan and Cooper, who were even handed mini trophies after Bradley's Travelers win in 2023. That moment, Keegan said, was beyond special. 'For them to be able to feel the excitement of this and be here and feel it, I can't put a price on that.' With his family by his side, Bradley continues to chase greatness, on and off the course. Advertisement Related: Tommy Fleetwood's Wife Clare Fleetwood Has Surprising Role in His Career This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
