
Scheffler shows 'em how
THE world of golf was again illuminated by the craftsmanship of Scottie Scheffler, who is making the game look like an art – this time so eloquently illustrated on his way to a first British Open title.
The American, a long way ahead of the rest, is the world No. 1 and judging by the way he has dug his heels in, he'll be there for so time yet.

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New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
China's Pan puzzled after shock 200m free exit at swimming worlds
SINGAPORE: China's Pan Zhanle said he was "not sure what happened" after crashing out in the heats of the 200m freestyle at swimming's world championships in Singapore on Monday. Pan, the 100m freestyle Olympic champion and world record holder, finished only 22nd fastest in 1min 47.46sec to miss out on the top 16 who qualify for the semi-finals. "I felt OK yesterday but today's swim felt completely different," said Pan, whose time was way outside his 200m best of 1:44.65. "I'll have to keep working hard and make adjustments, I'm not sure what happened and I'm not happy with this time." Romania's David Popovici, the 200m Olympic champion, cruised through fastest in 1:45.43 ahead of American Luke Hobson (1:45.61) and Britain's Matthew Richards (1:45.66). Pan said it would not knock his confidence for the 100m. "The 200m and 100m are two different events," he said. American legend Katie Ledecky breezed through fastest in the 1500m freestyle, an event where she holds the best 23 times in history. A day after taking bronze behind Canada's Summer McIntosh in the 400m freestyle, Ledecky touched in 15:36.68, more than 10 seconds quicker than Australia's Lani Pallister and Italy's Simona Quadarella who were second and third. Australian backstroke great Kaylee McKeown eased through the 100m heats third fastest in 58.27sec. She said she was determined to enjoy herself after getting "way too caught up" in the occasion at last year's Paris Games. The four-time world champion McKeown swept the women's backstroke events at the last two Olympics and, now 24, vowed to do things on her own terms. "I'm the happiest I've ever been and coming into this championships I just want to enjoy myself," she said. "I got way too caught up in Paris with the pressure and the nerves, and sort of let that overtake the enjoyment that comes with swimming. "This year I'm just taking a step back and doing what I want to do for once and not doing what everyone else wants me to do." Regan Smith was the fastest qualifier in 58.20 to be quickest, followed by American team-mate Katharine Berkoff in 58.55. McKeown said she was mindful of her physical condition after injuring a shoulder before a recent training camp as she looks towards competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. "I have a few little injuries as well so I've just got to really manage myself so I can make it to LA," she said. France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard was fastest in the men's 100m backstroke in 52.30, followed by Russian Kliment Kolesnikov (52.27) and Hungary's Hubert Kos (52.60). Ireland's Mona McSharry topped the timesheets in the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:05.99, just 0.02 ahead of Germany's Anna Elendt with Japan's Satomi Suzuki a further 0.12 back. - AFP


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Cha Eun-woo covers Demon Hunters song 'Free' with movie's lead actress
SEOUL: The wait is over for fans eager to hear the collaboration between South Korean singer-actor Cha Eun-woo and American actress Arden Cho. On July 27, Netflix released a video of their duet for the song 'Free' from the streaming platform's hit animated movie 'KPop Demon Hunters' (2025). The film follows the members of Huntrix, a fictional K-pop girl group, as they battle to save the world from soul-stealing demons, all while competing with Saja Boys, a fictional K-pop boy band from the demon world. "This cover of Free by Huntrix has officially pierced my heart," Netflix posted on Instagram, extending thanks to the two stars. In the film, the romantic ballad is sung by the characters Rumi, the leader and lead vocalist of Huntrix, and Jinu, the leader of Saja Boys. Cho, best known for her roles in the American supernatural series 'Teen Wolf' (2011 to 2017) and the legal drama 'Partner Track' (2022), voices Rumi, with Korean-American singer Ejae providing the character's singing voice. Jinu is voiced by Canadian actor Ahn Hyo-seop, and South Korean singer Andrew Choi provides his singing voice. K-drama idol Cha was reportedly the inspiration behind Jinu. Cho, 39, also posted a video on her Instagram and YouTube channel on July 26, showing her chatting with Cha, 28 – a member of K-pop boy band Astro – about their duet. He is set to begin his mandatory military service on July 28. "I'm here with one of my awesome 'dongsaeng' (Korean for younger sibling or friend)," she said. Cha mentioned they were introduced about five years ago by a South Korean producer who worked on some of his shows. He has starred in K-dramas such as 'My ID Is Gangnam Beauty' (2018), 'Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung' (2019), and 'True Beauty' (2020 to 2021). "When I was in America, she introduced me to a lot of cafés and restaurants," Cha said of Cho. Cho remarked that Cha resembles Jinu, adding: "And I thought it'd be really fun and special if we did a collaboration." Cha also said that Cho resembles Rumi, a sentiment shared by many of his celebrity friends in South Korea. "We were texting about 'KPop Demon Hunters', and when we were talking about the movie, I mentioned I was coming to Korea to do some press," Cho explained. "We were like, wouldn't it be fun if we covered it?" Cha stated he loves all the songs from the movie, especially 'Free'. Cho added that her fiancé is a huge fan of Cha's. She announced her engagement on social media in April without revealing his name.


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
American Smith fastest in 100 backstroke heats, Ledecky dominates 1,500
LONDON: World record holder Regan Smith was fastest in the women's 100 metres backstroke preliminaries at the world championships in Singapore on Monday as the American laid down an early marker in her upcoming battle with Australia's Kaylee McKeown. The pair have built up quite the rivalry, with McKeown completing a triumphant defence of her Olympic 100 and 200 backstroke titles when the two faced off in Paris last year, with Smith having to settle for silver in both events. Smith came into the world championships as the top seed in the event ahead of five-times Olympic gold medallist McKeown and posted a time 58.20 on the second day of competition at the Singapore Sports Hub. American Katharine Berkoff was second quickest with 58.55, while 2023 world champion McKeown's time of 58.57 put her in third heading into the semis later on Monday. In the men's event, world record holder and Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon was given a scare as he only squeaked into the semi-finals with the 13th-fastest time in the heats. Frenchman Yohann Ndoye-Brouard was fastest, touching the wall in a personal best 52.30, with Russian Kliment Kolesnikov, competing as a neutral athlete, second quickest with 52.57. Italian Ceccon's time was 1.35 adrift of Ndoye-Brouard's mark. American great Katie Ledecky put the disappointment of missing out on the 400 freestyle title on Sunday behind her with a strong swim in her signature event – the lung-bursting 1,500 freestyle. The 28-year-old, who is the world record holder and has won five world titles in the event, posted a time of 15:36.68, which was more than 10 seconds quicker than Australia's Lani Pallister, the winner of the second heat. Ireland's Mona McSharry posted 1:05.99 to go through fastest in the women's 100 breaststroke heats, nearly half a second ahead of defending champion Tang Qianting of China, who was seventh quickest (1:06.45). World record holder Lilly King was well off the pace but scraped through in 15th almost a second down on McSharry's time. There were few surprises in the men's 200 freestyle as Olympic champion David Popovici of Romania turned up the heat in the final 50 to put down a time of 1:45.43. American Luke Hobson qualified second fastest in 1:45.61 but China's Pan Zhanle failed to progress, the 100 freestyle Olympic champion and world record holder trailing in 22nd in the heats. "I'm not sure what happened, and I'm not happy with this time," Pan said. "But it won't affect my upcoming races. The 200m and 100m are two different events." In the evening programme, all eyes will once again be on Canadian powerhouse Summer McIntosh as she goes for her second gold of the meet in the women's 200 individual medley, while China's 12-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi is also in action.--REUTERS