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Aussie Leishman on right track for US Open date

Aussie Leishman on right track for US Open date

The Advertiser15 hours ago

Marc Leishman appears to be finding form at the right time with his US Open date on the horizon.
The Australian shot a four-under 67 at LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville on Friday to trail leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Germany's Martin Kaymer by one stroke after the opening round.
Leishman is in good knick after coming through qualifying at nearby Rockville by obtaining one of four slots available for next week's Open at Oakmont Country Club.
Tied for third, Leishman went on a birdie blitz on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes before making another on the 10th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Bogeys on the 12th and 15th stymied his progress before he rebounded with closing birdies on 17 and 18.
Like Leishman, DeChambeau is also in good shape before the defence of his US Open title.
He chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to his 66 and shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes.
His chip at No.14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup.
At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again.
"Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said.
"That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left.
"I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole."
Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final US Open next week.
Also on the same number are Spain's Jon Rahm, searching for his third career major win, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance, Indian Anirban Lahiri and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.
RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at three under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces.
Australian Cameron Smith is at one under while compatriots Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are both at four over.
RangeGoats lead the team competition at nine under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC.
Marc Leishman appears to be finding form at the right time with his US Open date on the horizon.
The Australian shot a four-under 67 at LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville on Friday to trail leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Germany's Martin Kaymer by one stroke after the opening round.
Leishman is in good knick after coming through qualifying at nearby Rockville by obtaining one of four slots available for next week's Open at Oakmont Country Club.
Tied for third, Leishman went on a birdie blitz on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes before making another on the 10th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Bogeys on the 12th and 15th stymied his progress before he rebounded with closing birdies on 17 and 18.
Like Leishman, DeChambeau is also in good shape before the defence of his US Open title.
He chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to his 66 and shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes.
His chip at No.14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup.
At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again.
"Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said.
"That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left.
"I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole."
Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final US Open next week.
Also on the same number are Spain's Jon Rahm, searching for his third career major win, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance, Indian Anirban Lahiri and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.
RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at three under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces.
Australian Cameron Smith is at one under while compatriots Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are both at four over.
RangeGoats lead the team competition at nine under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC.
Marc Leishman appears to be finding form at the right time with his US Open date on the horizon.
The Australian shot a four-under 67 at LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville on Friday to trail leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Germany's Martin Kaymer by one stroke after the opening round.
Leishman is in good knick after coming through qualifying at nearby Rockville by obtaining one of four slots available for next week's Open at Oakmont Country Club.
Tied for third, Leishman went on a birdie blitz on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes before making another on the 10th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Bogeys on the 12th and 15th stymied his progress before he rebounded with closing birdies on 17 and 18.
Like Leishman, DeChambeau is also in good shape before the defence of his US Open title.
He chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to his 66 and shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes.
His chip at No.14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup.
At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again.
"Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said.
"That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left.
"I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole."
Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final US Open next week.
Also on the same number are Spain's Jon Rahm, searching for his third career major win, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance, Indian Anirban Lahiri and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.
RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at three under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces.
Australian Cameron Smith is at one under while compatriots Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are both at four over.
RangeGoats lead the team competition at nine under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC.
Marc Leishman appears to be finding form at the right time with his US Open date on the horizon.
The Australian shot a four-under 67 at LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville on Friday to trail leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Germany's Martin Kaymer by one stroke after the opening round.
Leishman is in good knick after coming through qualifying at nearby Rockville by obtaining one of four slots available for next week's Open at Oakmont Country Club.
Tied for third, Leishman went on a birdie blitz on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes before making another on the 10th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
Bogeys on the 12th and 15th stymied his progress before he rebounded with closing birdies on 17 and 18.
Like Leishman, DeChambeau is also in good shape before the defence of his US Open title.
He chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to his 66 and shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes.
His chip at No.14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup.
At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again.
"Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said.
"That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left.
"I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole."
Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final US Open next week.
Also on the same number are Spain's Jon Rahm, searching for his third career major win, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance, Indian Anirban Lahiri and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.
RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at three under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces.
Australian Cameron Smith is at one under while compatriots Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are both at four over.
RangeGoats lead the team competition at nine under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC.

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Dolphins dazzle in 50-point demolition of Dragons
Dolphins dazzle in 50-point demolition of Dragons

Sydney Morning Herald

timean hour ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Dolphins dazzle in 50-point demolition of Dragons

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The so-called 'Wayne Bennett curse' has been spooked into oblivion. The only downside for the Dolphins, now in seventh on the ladder, was a knee injury to forward Max Plath on his return from a foot issue. The opening 40 minutes on Friday night was a pure rugby league clinic as the home side rocketed to a 28-2 half-time lead at Suncorp Stadium. The second half was just as good. The forwards and backs were punishing in defence, halves Kodi Nikorima and Katoa combined in a masterclass and to a man the Dolphins played scintillating attacking rugby league. The diabolical Dragons simply had no answer. The Dolphins had their previous biggest winning margin over St George Illawarra in a 38-0 victory last year but this record breaker was another level, surpassing the 44 points they had notched on two previous occasions. When second-rower Connelly Lemuelu stormed over for his second try four minutes after the break, Nikorima and Katoa had two try assists each. Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow then put the nail in the Dragons' coffin for a runaway try in combination with centre Jake Averillo, who was brilliant with three try assists. Katoa landed a 40-20 and then laid on a try for winger Jamayne Isaako's second try. Dolphins hitman Felise Kaufusi set the scene early with a back slam on centre Valentine Holmes to dislodge the ball. From that moment the Dolphins dominated. The depth of the Dolphins' attacking line was a sight to behold and it was star centre Herbie Farnworth who crossed for his 50th career try in the 11th minute after a sweeping right to left play. Winger Jamayne Isaako added a second in the right corner after a mirror image play for a 10-2 lead. Katoa was pivotal in both by going deep into the line to create space. He then beat three men and Nikorima raced away to score. A towering bomb by Katoa was expertly snaffled by Lemuelu for a 22-2 lead. 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Out with the young and in with the old: A mid-year All-Australian team with a difference
Out with the young and in with the old: A mid-year All-Australian team with a difference

Sydney Morning Herald

time2 hours ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Out with the young and in with the old: A mid-year All-Australian team with a difference

So, seven players aged 30-plus make this mid-year 22, as the AFL competition follows the trend of tennis – see Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams – and American team sports in which 35 is the new 30, and quarterbacks play until they can't walk. Selecting three of the forwards for this mid-year team – picked inclusive of round 12 performances (not this weekend's games) – was easier than usual. Cameron, Hogan, and Elliott (who has never been All-Australian) pick themselves and while some would push up Ben King, given his goal tally, Gold Coast's key forward hasn't shaped outcomes in the same way as Jezza and Jesse. King's teammate Ben Long, though, is another story. Loading Long, who has jagged 23 goals in his 10 games to round 12, has been a standout in a role that is not dissimilar to Elliott's – as a forward who can lead and mark, but is no mug on the deck and assists others in scoring. Dangerfield's impact as an explosive aerial and ground ball mid-forward can't be undersold, and if his hamstrings hold up, he should be headed for his record ninth All-Australian blazer. Riley Thilthorpe, a Tom Lynch-style key forward, is named at centre half-forward, allowing me to pick Cameron as a flanker, which reflects his freaky ground-level abilities. As the AFL's headband act, Bailey Smith has been omnipresent, his every gesture captured by cameras and dissected by pundits and the public. But, much as there is focus on his postings and postures, everyone must have cottoned on, so to speak, to the fact that Bailey's been nearly the AFL's peak midfielder – as the Brownlow odds suggest (he's one of the favourites). He has prospered mightily from Geelong's decision to deploy him in the middle, rather than the wing or as a high half-forward. So, @bazlenka – as he's known by his Instagram idolaters – is in the centre, in every sense, in this mid-year side. Hugh McCluggage isn't a wingman in 2025, as he enjoys his best season yet, but I've conveniently picked him – and Sidebottom – on the wings that they've vacated this year; no specialist wingman (eg. Ollie Dempsey) has done enough to warrant selection to this point. Gun midfielders, on the whole, have been less than dominant this year. Marcus Bontempelli missed the early games and could yet make the All-Australian side by season's end. Nick Daicos has been paramount to Collingwood winning some games, but has also been relatively subdued in three or four outings, having been more heavily tagged this year. Still, the younger Daicos is so brilliant that he's still up on the midfield leaderboard. I've picked him on the bench, behind Adelaide's super skipper Jordan Dawson – still underrated in Victoria – and his Gold Coast counterpart Noah Anderson. The numbers – in the form of the AFL's official ratings (Champion Data) – would rank Anderson as the competition's third-best performed player to round 12, behind only Bulldog Ed Richards and North's version of 'the Mountain' from Game of Thrones, Tristan Xerri. Richards gets a game in this side, with Nick Daicos, on the bench. It's conceivable that the rise of Ed Richards was a factor in Smith heading to Geelong, given the Dogs found it difficult to fit 'the Bont', Tom Liberatore, Richards and Bailey (plus Adam Treloar when fit) into the same centre square. Loading Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is making noises about re-signing with the Saints, and for their sake, let's hope that transpires. He's a superb play-maker from half-back, with further growth ahead, and was accordingly picked at half-back in my team. Bailey Dale, a rare half-back capable of garnering 40 disposals, is the other flanker in defence, edging out Fremantle's Jordan Clark, Collingwood's Josh Daicos, Lion veteran Dayne Zorko and others for that berth. The consistent Lachie Ash of GWS fills the remaining running defender spot (notionally back pocket). Teammate Sam Taylor, whom Matthew Lloyd compared to Glen Jakovich for influence, was picked at centre half-back. The key backs, as with the midfielders this year, haven't been as outstanding as in years past. Jacob Weitering of Carlton has put up respectable numbers – and lord help the Blues if he went down – but hasn't had a terrific season. Possibly the stiffest to miss the defensive spots are St Kilda's interceptor Cal Wilkie and Richmond's perennial gun Nick Vlastuin. I judged that Gold Coast's Collins had been marginally more effective, in a collectively superior defence. North people will wonder why Xerri hasn't made this team, since he is rated statistically better than Gawn (on Champion Data ratings) this year, and might view this as a plot against Shinboners. Loading Here's major difference: Xerri, while heroic in ruck battle and adept at winning clearances, doesn't fulfil one key performance indicator for ruckman and tall players – marking the footy (only 1.7 per game to round 12). Luke Jackson is aerially superior and more versatile – as shown when he played as a tall midfielder against the Suns last weekend. He gets the second ruck slot on the bench. The final interchange berth – there is no sub here – belongs to the spare midfielder, Freo's Andrew Brayshaw, who isn't as skilled as Bontempelli and Daicos, nor as powerful as Dangerfield, or as smooth-moving as McCluggage. But Brayshaw does two essentials exceptionally well – running and getting the footy.

Out with the young and in with the old: A mid-year All-Australian team with a difference
Out with the young and in with the old: A mid-year All-Australian team with a difference

The Age

time2 hours ago

  • The Age

Out with the young and in with the old: A mid-year All-Australian team with a difference

So, seven players aged 30-plus make this mid-year 22, as the AFL competition follows the trend of tennis – see Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams – and American team sports in which 35 is the new 30, and quarterbacks play until they can't walk. Selecting three of the forwards for this mid-year team – picked inclusive of round 12 performances (not this weekend's games) – was easier than usual. Cameron, Hogan, and Elliott (who has never been All-Australian) pick themselves and while some would push up Ben King, given his goal tally, Gold Coast's key forward hasn't shaped outcomes in the same way as Jezza and Jesse. King's teammate Ben Long, though, is another story. Loading Long, who has jagged 23 goals in his 10 games to round 12, has been a standout in a role that is not dissimilar to Elliott's – as a forward who can lead and mark, but is no mug on the deck and assists others in scoring. Dangerfield's impact as an explosive aerial and ground ball mid-forward can't be undersold, and if his hamstrings hold up, he should be headed for his record ninth All-Australian blazer. Riley Thilthorpe, a Tom Lynch-style key forward, is named at centre half-forward, allowing me to pick Cameron as a flanker, which reflects his freaky ground-level abilities. As the AFL's headband act, Bailey Smith has been omnipresent, his every gesture captured by cameras and dissected by pundits and the public. But, much as there is focus on his postings and postures, everyone must have cottoned on, so to speak, to the fact that Bailey's been nearly the AFL's peak midfielder – as the Brownlow odds suggest (he's one of the favourites). He has prospered mightily from Geelong's decision to deploy him in the middle, rather than the wing or as a high half-forward. So, @bazlenka – as he's known by his Instagram idolaters – is in the centre, in every sense, in this mid-year side. Hugh McCluggage isn't a wingman in 2025, as he enjoys his best season yet, but I've conveniently picked him – and Sidebottom – on the wings that they've vacated this year; no specialist wingman (eg. Ollie Dempsey) has done enough to warrant selection to this point. Gun midfielders, on the whole, have been less than dominant this year. Marcus Bontempelli missed the early games and could yet make the All-Australian side by season's end. Nick Daicos has been paramount to Collingwood winning some games, but has also been relatively subdued in three or four outings, having been more heavily tagged this year. Still, the younger Daicos is so brilliant that he's still up on the midfield leaderboard. I've picked him on the bench, behind Adelaide's super skipper Jordan Dawson – still underrated in Victoria – and his Gold Coast counterpart Noah Anderson. The numbers – in the form of the AFL's official ratings (Champion Data) – would rank Anderson as the competition's third-best performed player to round 12, behind only Bulldog Ed Richards and North's version of 'the Mountain' from Game of Thrones, Tristan Xerri. Richards gets a game in this side, with Nick Daicos, on the bench. It's conceivable that the rise of Ed Richards was a factor in Smith heading to Geelong, given the Dogs found it difficult to fit 'the Bont', Tom Liberatore, Richards and Bailey (plus Adam Treloar when fit) into the same centre square. Loading Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is making noises about re-signing with the Saints, and for their sake, let's hope that transpires. He's a superb play-maker from half-back, with further growth ahead, and was accordingly picked at half-back in my team. Bailey Dale, a rare half-back capable of garnering 40 disposals, is the other flanker in defence, edging out Fremantle's Jordan Clark, Collingwood's Josh Daicos, Lion veteran Dayne Zorko and others for that berth. The consistent Lachie Ash of GWS fills the remaining running defender spot (notionally back pocket). Teammate Sam Taylor, whom Matthew Lloyd compared to Glen Jakovich for influence, was picked at centre half-back. The key backs, as with the midfielders this year, haven't been as outstanding as in years past. Jacob Weitering of Carlton has put up respectable numbers – and lord help the Blues if he went down – but hasn't had a terrific season. Possibly the stiffest to miss the defensive spots are St Kilda's interceptor Cal Wilkie and Richmond's perennial gun Nick Vlastuin. I judged that Gold Coast's Collins had been marginally more effective, in a collectively superior defence. North people will wonder why Xerri hasn't made this team, since he is rated statistically better than Gawn (on Champion Data ratings) this year, and might view this as a plot against Shinboners. Loading Here's major difference: Xerri, while heroic in ruck battle and adept at winning clearances, doesn't fulfil one key performance indicator for ruckman and tall players – marking the footy (only 1.7 per game to round 12). Luke Jackson is aerially superior and more versatile – as shown when he played as a tall midfielder against the Suns last weekend. He gets the second ruck slot on the bench. The final interchange berth – there is no sub here – belongs to the spare midfielder, Freo's Andrew Brayshaw, who isn't as skilled as Bontempelli and Daicos, nor as powerful as Dangerfield, or as smooth-moving as McCluggage. But Brayshaw does two essentials exceptionally well – running and getting the footy.

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