McIlroy falters in PGA while Aussies struggle too
Masters champion Rory McIlroy has quickly found himself on the back foot in his quest to follow up his historic Augusta triumph with victory in the season's second major at the 107th US PGA Championship.
Fresh from achieving his career slam of winning all four majors, the Northern Ireland ace provided an anti-climactic opening at his banker Quail Hollow course in Charlotte, struggling to a three-over par 74 among the early wave on Thursday.
It already left the 36-year-old having to play catch-up as surprise American leader Ryan Gerard set a hot pace, recording a five-under 66 to hold the early clubhouse lead by a stroke.
Behind the 25-year-old came a quartet on four under - veteran European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, New Zealander Ryan Fox, American Alex Smalley and Germany's Stephan Jaeger.
While McIlroy already lies eight adrift, the early Australian contingent also didn't have a great morning, with former champ Jason Day ending up with a two-over 73, while Min Woo Lee shot 74 and Karl Vilips a poor 78.
McIlroy's play-off victory over Justin Rose at Augusta in April made him just the sixth man to complete the career grand slam and it was expected to free him up for a spectacular assault at the venue where he has enjoyed so much success and holds the course record.
But at the North Carolinan course where he won his first PGA Tour title in 2010 and has since claimed three more victories, including last year, the man of the moment could only hit three fairways in regulation and flirted with the water with pulled tee shots in an uncharacteristically sluggish display.
His playing partners in an early morning 'super group' Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler, also made hard work of it as they started from the 10th tee, with the remarkable sight of all three suffering double bogeys on the 16th, where the two American luminaries both found the water.
World No.1 Scheffler, though, battled back to finish handily placed at two under while defending champ Schauffele was one over.
The 47-year-old Donald showed them the way with a splendid bogey-free 67 while there was delight too for Fox, son of former All Blacks' World Cup winner Grant Fox, who capitalised in grand fashion after securing his place in the field last Sunday by winning his first PGA Tour title at Myrtle Beach.
Gerard, who played collegiate golf for North Carolina, was left a mite frustrated after his lead could have been ever bigger if not for dropping shots at his last two holes after having recorded four straight birdies and an eagle in his first six holes after the turn.
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The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Injured Huni counts cost of world title near-miss
Justis Huni faces more surgery and a long road back to the heavyweight summit after a cruel 10th-round knockout robbed him of one of Australian boxing's great triumphs. The Brisbane heavyweight's valiant bid for the WBA interim world title was ended in devastating fashion by English star and favourite Fabio Wardley on Sunday morning (AEST). The 26-year-old had stepped in on five weeks' notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller, and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Indeed, two judges had Huni ahead 89-82 and a third had scored the fight 88-83 through nine rounds before Wardley's "one-in-1000 punch" sent Huni to the canvas. Huni was soon back on his feet and looked steady, but English referee John Latham was quick to wave the Australian away and leave his camp furious. Huni, who fell to 12-1, still collected a rumoured sum of about $1 million. But it's now Wardley (18-0) in the box seat as the primary challenger to the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois's undisputed title fight in July. Manager Mick Francis believed his man wasn't given the full 10-count, and also revealed Huni had battled nerve pain in his surgically repaired elbow in the week of the fight. But Francis told AAP an official protest would amount to little and that Huni would likely need surgery to correct the issue before considering his return to the summit. "Pretty disappointed in how quickly the referee waved it off," Francis told AAP. "Justis won a lot of fans and was putting on a clinic, but he walked into a one-in-1000 punch and what's done is done now. "He was always up against it; they were looking for any excuse to give (Wardley) the fight. "Considering he's been stopped (by a knockout) it doesn't help things. "Justis probably needs six months to himself, then it's maybe three, four more fights (to be back in a similar position).'' Boasting a glittering amateur career, including World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. Huni insisted he hadn't flown more than "10,000 miles" not to try to cause an upset, and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed left the Briton looking completely lost. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," a gracious Huni told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. "He's a great boxer, some great skills, and he showed me everything he had tonight." Justis Huni faces more surgery and a long road back to the heavyweight summit after a cruel 10th-round knockout robbed him of one of Australian boxing's great triumphs. The Brisbane heavyweight's valiant bid for the WBA interim world title was ended in devastating fashion by English star and favourite Fabio Wardley on Sunday morning (AEST). The 26-year-old had stepped in on five weeks' notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller, and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Indeed, two judges had Huni ahead 89-82 and a third had scored the fight 88-83 through nine rounds before Wardley's "one-in-1000 punch" sent Huni to the canvas. Huni was soon back on his feet and looked steady, but English referee John Latham was quick to wave the Australian away and leave his camp furious. Huni, who fell to 12-1, still collected a rumoured sum of about $1 million. But it's now Wardley (18-0) in the box seat as the primary challenger to the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois's undisputed title fight in July. Manager Mick Francis believed his man wasn't given the full 10-count, and also revealed Huni had battled nerve pain in his surgically repaired elbow in the week of the fight. But Francis told AAP an official protest would amount to little and that Huni would likely need surgery to correct the issue before considering his return to the summit. "Pretty disappointed in how quickly the referee waved it off," Francis told AAP. "Justis won a lot of fans and was putting on a clinic, but he walked into a one-in-1000 punch and what's done is done now. "He was always up against it; they were looking for any excuse to give (Wardley) the fight. "Considering he's been stopped (by a knockout) it doesn't help things. "Justis probably needs six months to himself, then it's maybe three, four more fights (to be back in a similar position).'' Boasting a glittering amateur career, including World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. Huni insisted he hadn't flown more than "10,000 miles" not to try to cause an upset, and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed left the Briton looking completely lost. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," a gracious Huni told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. "He's a great boxer, some great skills, and he showed me everything he had tonight." Justis Huni faces more surgery and a long road back to the heavyweight summit after a cruel 10th-round knockout robbed him of one of Australian boxing's great triumphs. The Brisbane heavyweight's valiant bid for the WBA interim world title was ended in devastating fashion by English star and favourite Fabio Wardley on Sunday morning (AEST). The 26-year-old had stepped in on five weeks' notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller, and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Indeed, two judges had Huni ahead 89-82 and a third had scored the fight 88-83 through nine rounds before Wardley's "one-in-1000 punch" sent Huni to the canvas. Huni was soon back on his feet and looked steady, but English referee John Latham was quick to wave the Australian away and leave his camp furious. Huni, who fell to 12-1, still collected a rumoured sum of about $1 million. But it's now Wardley (18-0) in the box seat as the primary challenger to the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois's undisputed title fight in July. Manager Mick Francis believed his man wasn't given the full 10-count, and also revealed Huni had battled nerve pain in his surgically repaired elbow in the week of the fight. But Francis told AAP an official protest would amount to little and that Huni would likely need surgery to correct the issue before considering his return to the summit. "Pretty disappointed in how quickly the referee waved it off," Francis told AAP. "Justis won a lot of fans and was putting on a clinic, but he walked into a one-in-1000 punch and what's done is done now. "He was always up against it; they were looking for any excuse to give (Wardley) the fight. "Considering he's been stopped (by a knockout) it doesn't help things. "Justis probably needs six months to himself, then it's maybe three, four more fights (to be back in a similar position).'' Boasting a glittering amateur career, including World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. Huni insisted he hadn't flown more than "10,000 miles" not to try to cause an upset, and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed left the Briton looking completely lost. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," a gracious Huni told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. "He's a great boxer, some great skills, and he showed me everything he had tonight." Justis Huni faces more surgery and a long road back to the heavyweight summit after a cruel 10th-round knockout robbed him of one of Australian boxing's great triumphs. The Brisbane heavyweight's valiant bid for the WBA interim world title was ended in devastating fashion by English star and favourite Fabio Wardley on Sunday morning (AEST). The 26-year-old had stepped in on five weeks' notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller, and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Indeed, two judges had Huni ahead 89-82 and a third had scored the fight 88-83 through nine rounds before Wardley's "one-in-1000 punch" sent Huni to the canvas. Huni was soon back on his feet and looked steady, but English referee John Latham was quick to wave the Australian away and leave his camp furious. Huni, who fell to 12-1, still collected a rumoured sum of about $1 million. But it's now Wardley (18-0) in the box seat as the primary challenger to the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois's undisputed title fight in July. Manager Mick Francis believed his man wasn't given the full 10-count, and also revealed Huni had battled nerve pain in his surgically repaired elbow in the week of the fight. But Francis told AAP an official protest would amount to little and that Huni would likely need surgery to correct the issue before considering his return to the summit. "Pretty disappointed in how quickly the referee waved it off," Francis told AAP. "Justis won a lot of fans and was putting on a clinic, but he walked into a one-in-1000 punch and what's done is done now. "He was always up against it; they were looking for any excuse to give (Wardley) the fight. "Considering he's been stopped (by a knockout) it doesn't help things. "Justis probably needs six months to himself, then it's maybe three, four more fights (to be back in a similar position).'' Boasting a glittering amateur career, including World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. Huni insisted he hadn't flown more than "10,000 miles" not to try to cause an upset, and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed left the Briton looking completely lost. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," a gracious Huni told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. "He's a great boxer, some great skills, and he showed me everything he had tonight."
Courier-Mail
19 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Justis Huni world title fight results, highlights: Huni dominates entire fight, but is knocked out in the 10th round by Fabio Wardley
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News. Justis Huni has suffered a heart-breaking 10th round knockout defeat to Fabio Wardley, floored by a stunning right hand after absolutely dominating their interim WBA heavyweight world title fight. Huni's team will lodge a formal complaint, saying their fighter wasn't given a long enough count to regain his feet. Huni was arguably up seven rounds to two in his late-notice world title fight, putting in a perfect performance in front of Wardley's home fans in Ipswich. A devastating power puncher though, Wardley pulled off one of modern boxing's greatest comebacks, landing a perfectly timed right hand to Huni's chin halfway through the 10th round. Huni struggled back to his feet, but referee John Latham waved it off, handing the Aussie his first professional loss. Tasman Fighters promoter Mick Francis will lodge an official complaint about Latham's count. 'It's devastating for Justis,' he said. 'We are putting in a formal protest. 'The referee never gave Justis a standing ten count. How does that not happen? 'Justis got to his feet and he was in control of the fight. He should have been given the chance to fight on. 'They knew Wardley was behind on the cards. Justis was on the verge of a massive boilover and becoming a world champion. 'He boxed Wardley's ears off - just as he predicted he would.' The Queenslander had answered the call to take on highly-fancied Wardley on just five weeks' notice after American Jarrell Miller pulled out of the world title bout. Huni was dominating the fight before the knockout. Picture:He had a disrupted build-up though, battling through an arm injury in the final week and a half before the fight. Huni was a class above Wardley for all but the final split second, with the Englishman landing the punch of a lifetime to become a world champion. 'That's my curse,' Huni said moments after the loss. 'I even said, it only takes one split second to switch off and it happened tonight. 'Credit to Fabio and his team. He's a real champion. 'He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win. He deserved it.' Huni was classy in defeat, and was even spotted comforting members of his own team in the dressing room afterwards. Wardley was a huge favourite, and admitted he was out-boxed for most of the fight. 'Justis Huni's a great operator,' Wardley said. 'I should've performed better in some of those rounds. Sometimes that's the way it goes. We pulled one out of the bag. Wardley pulled one out of the bag. Picture: Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images 'He's a great boxer. Great skills and he showed me everything he has tonight. He pulled out all sorts of tricks. I didn't expect to bank rounds like that with Justis.' Huni's speed and movement were on display early on, while Wardley threw with maximum power from the opening bell. The underdog was tagged with a short right hand in the very last second of round one, appearing to stumble slightly on his way back to the corner. Huni forced the pace in the third, going to Wardley's body, before the Englishman fought back in the final minute of the frame. The former Australian heavyweight champion, Huni silenced the rabid home crowd by the fourth round as Wardley tired and started taking more left hooks to the head. Huni's nose was bloodied by a well-timed jab in the fourth, but the Aussie maintained his attack on Wardley's body. A clearly superior boxer, Huni kept tagging Wardley through the middle rounds, and was lighter on his feet. Meanwhile, Wardley looked increasingly gassed with every passing minute. It took just a split second for Wardley to turn the fight on its head though, landing flush with a brilliant short right hand as Huni pounced in. Originally published as Heartbreak for heroic Justis Huni in devastating 10th round world title fight knockout
The Advertiser
20 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Aussie Huni suffers shock KO in UK showdown
Australian heavyweight Justis Huni's valiant bid for the WBA Interim world title has been ended by devastating 10th-round knockout to rising English star Fabio Wardley. The 26-year-old from Brisbane had stepped in at short notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Boasting a glittering amateur career, including a World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. He demonstrated his firepower from the off, causing Wardley real problems with powerful combinations, mercilessly targeting the body as he racked up round after round on the judges' scorecards. Huni insisted he hadn't flown over 10,000 miles not to try to cause an upset and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed continued to cause problems as the tiring Briton battled to contain his opponent going into the tenth. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right-hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," Hunis told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it. Thank you Ipswich for the opportunity to perform here, I'm grateful." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie for his performance. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. I should've performed better in some of those rounds. "He's a great boxer, some great skills and he showed me everything he had tonight. I didn't expect to bank rounds like that with Justis. I hurt him a bit in the first round and maybe I had too much confidence early on." Australian heavyweight Justis Huni's valiant bid for the WBA Interim world title has been ended by devastating 10th-round knockout to rising English star Fabio Wardley. The 26-year-old from Brisbane had stepped in at short notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Boasting a glittering amateur career, including a World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. He demonstrated his firepower from the off, causing Wardley real problems with powerful combinations, mercilessly targeting the body as he racked up round after round on the judges' scorecards. Huni insisted he hadn't flown over 10,000 miles not to try to cause an upset and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed continued to cause problems as the tiring Briton battled to contain his opponent going into the tenth. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right-hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," Hunis told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it. Thank you Ipswich for the opportunity to perform here, I'm grateful." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie for his performance. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. I should've performed better in some of those rounds. "He's a great boxer, some great skills and he showed me everything he had tonight. I didn't expect to bank rounds like that with Justis. I hurt him a bit in the first round and maybe I had too much confidence early on." Australian heavyweight Justis Huni's valiant bid for the WBA Interim world title has been ended by devastating 10th-round knockout to rising English star Fabio Wardley. The 26-year-old from Brisbane had stepped in at short notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Boasting a glittering amateur career, including a World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. He demonstrated his firepower from the off, causing Wardley real problems with powerful combinations, mercilessly targeting the body as he racked up round after round on the judges' scorecards. Huni insisted he hadn't flown over 10,000 miles not to try to cause an upset and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed continued to cause problems as the tiring Briton battled to contain his opponent going into the tenth. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right-hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," Hunis told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it. Thank you Ipswich for the opportunity to perform here, I'm grateful." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie for his performance. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. I should've performed better in some of those rounds. "He's a great boxer, some great skills and he showed me everything he had tonight. I didn't expect to bank rounds like that with Justis. I hurt him a bit in the first round and maybe I had too much confidence early on." Australian heavyweight Justis Huni's valiant bid for the WBA Interim world title has been ended by devastating 10th-round knockout to rising English star Fabio Wardley. The 26-year-old from Brisbane had stepped in at short notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Boasting a glittering amateur career, including a World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. He demonstrated his firepower from the off, causing Wardley real problems with powerful combinations, mercilessly targeting the body as he racked up round after round on the judges' scorecards. Huni insisted he hadn't flown over 10,000 miles not to try to cause an upset and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed continued to cause problems as the tiring Briton battled to contain his opponent going into the tenth. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right-hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," Hunis told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it. Thank you Ipswich for the opportunity to perform here, I'm grateful." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie for his performance. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. I should've performed better in some of those rounds. "He's a great boxer, some great skills and he showed me everything he had tonight. I didn't expect to bank rounds like that with Justis. I hurt him a bit in the first round and maybe I had too much confidence early on."
