Li keeps the heat on leading rookie Couvra in Turkey
France's Martin Couvra will take a two-shot lead into the weekend as he looks to win his first DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
The 22-year-old rookie started the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard but pulled clear of the chasing pack courtesy of a five-under 66 at Regnum Carya on Friday.
Couvra has impressed during his maiden campaign at this level, having already posted four top-10 finishes, including fifth at the Hainan Classic last time out.
"I'm really happy about my game today - it's always good to have a bogey-free round," said world No.247 Couvra.
At 11-under par, Couvra leads by two from South Africa's Wilco Nienaber (65), with Li Haotong (65) a shot further back in third.
The 29-year-old from Shanghai, China remains in contention to win his fifth European tour event after claiming the Qatar Masters in Doha in February.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (72) missed the cut on three over par, with Todd Clements (68) leading the British challenge on seven under in a tie for fourth.
The two Australians in the field both missed the weekend cut, with Daniel Gale (75) at even and Danny List (78) five-over the card.
With AAP.
France's Martin Couvra will take a two-shot lead into the weekend as he looks to win his first DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
The 22-year-old rookie started the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard but pulled clear of the chasing pack courtesy of a five-under 66 at Regnum Carya on Friday.
Couvra has impressed during his maiden campaign at this level, having already posted four top-10 finishes, including fifth at the Hainan Classic last time out.
"I'm really happy about my game today - it's always good to have a bogey-free round," said world No.247 Couvra.
At 11-under par, Couvra leads by two from South Africa's Wilco Nienaber (65), with Li Haotong (65) a shot further back in third.
The 29-year-old from Shanghai, China remains in contention to win his fifth European tour event after claiming the Qatar Masters in Doha in February.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (72) missed the cut on three over par, with Todd Clements (68) leading the British challenge on seven under in a tie for fourth.
The two Australians in the field both missed the weekend cut, with Daniel Gale (75) at even and Danny List (78) five-over the card.
With AAP.
France's Martin Couvra will take a two-shot lead into the weekend as he looks to win his first DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
The 22-year-old rookie started the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard but pulled clear of the chasing pack courtesy of a five-under 66 at Regnum Carya on Friday.
Couvra has impressed during his maiden campaign at this level, having already posted four top-10 finishes, including fifth at the Hainan Classic last time out.
"I'm really happy about my game today - it's always good to have a bogey-free round," said world No.247 Couvra.
At 11-under par, Couvra leads by two from South Africa's Wilco Nienaber (65), with Li Haotong (65) a shot further back in third.
The 29-year-old from Shanghai, China remains in contention to win his fifth European tour event after claiming the Qatar Masters in Doha in February.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (72) missed the cut on three over par, with Todd Clements (68) leading the British challenge on seven under in a tie for fourth.
The two Australians in the field both missed the weekend cut, with Daniel Gale (75) at even and Danny List (78) five-over the card.
With AAP.
France's Martin Couvra will take a two-shot lead into the weekend as he looks to win his first DP World Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya.
The 22-year-old rookie started the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard but pulled clear of the chasing pack courtesy of a five-under 66 at Regnum Carya on Friday.
Couvra has impressed during his maiden campaign at this level, having already posted four top-10 finishes, including fifth at the Hainan Classic last time out.
"I'm really happy about my game today - it's always good to have a bogey-free round," said world No.247 Couvra.
At 11-under par, Couvra leads by two from South Africa's Wilco Nienaber (65), with Li Haotong (65) a shot further back in third.
The 29-year-old from Shanghai, China remains in contention to win his fifth European tour event after claiming the Qatar Masters in Doha in February.
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald (72) missed the cut on three over par, with Todd Clements (68) leading the British challenge on seven under in a tie for fourth.
The two Australians in the field both missed the weekend cut, with Daniel Gale (75) at even and Danny List (78) five-over the card.
With AAP.
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West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Six Australians tee off in tough conditions at the US Open with Perth's Min Woo Lee given a marquee grouping
Six Australians step up to the tee box this weekend at what has been described as 'the world's hardest golf course', as they take on the US Open. Just two Australians have tasted glory in the 150-year history of the US Open, and none since Geoff Ogilvy in 2006. Perth's Min Woo Lee is coming off the bat of his first tour win this year, claiming the Texas Children's Houston Open in March, and has the tools to succeed. 2023 saw Lee finish tied fifth in the US Open, his only top 10 finish in a major to date. He will have to be perfect this weekend, the beast of Oakmont golf course is unforgiving with deep roughs, although Lee is known for his long and fast drives, the accuracy leaves something to be desired. That was evident earlier in the year during his first tour win, when he nearly choked the lead with a wayward tee shot going into the water on the 16th. Although his short game can more than make up for this, his prowess with a wedge has earned Lee the moniker 'Dr. Chipinski'. Another Aussie who might have a tough time with driving accuracy is Cameron Smith, who has notable struggles for driving accuracy and recent performances in majors since making the jump to the Saudi backed LIV golf. Jason Day, a two time runner-up for the US Open in 2011 and 2013, will look to finally get over the hump this time around. Other hot Aussie contenders include Marc Leishman, a Ripper GC teammate of Smith in LIV, and Cam Davis, who finished the first round of the PGA Championship in equal second before dropping back to a T19 overall position. While Adam Scott would look to pull up a major upset, the former world number hasn't notched a win on the tour since 2020. 'I've played a lot of US Opens now and I feel fairly confident in my ability to get it done, and I like where my game's at generally,' Scott told AAP earlier in the week. 'I have a quiet confidence.' The Aussies battlers will have a hard time trumping the favourites, including Scottie Scheffler, who is in a class of his own, coming into the US Open on a heater with three wins in his past four starts that include the PGA Championship. Fan favourite Bryson Dechambeau has proved that this major is his bread and butter, claiming the choccies twice and enters as the reigning winner. He gave fans an insight into how brutal the course would be on his YouTube channel, posting his practice round titled 'The World's Hardest Golf Course', and didn't undersell its difficulty. 'It wasn't designed to be fair, it was designed to be feared,' he said in the video. 'This course doesn't just challenge your game, it challenges your sanity.' It's not hard to see why the 2020 and 2024 winner holds the course in high regard, with Pennsylvania's Oakmont Country Club being donned by many as one of the hardest on the tour. Hitting fairways will be crucial over the weekend, with the tall rough stifling even the top pros on their best day. Greens keepers went in like a army of ants earlier in the week, using manual lawnmowers that are adjusted to keep the rough high and leave a lot to be desired for lies when a ball goes wayward. 'From what I've seen at Oakmont, if you're in the rough, you're going to be hurting your wrists,' Leishman said on Thursday. Even if the competitors tow the line and keep a clean sheet to avoid the daunting deep rough, it doesn't get any easier around the cup on lightning-fast greens. Each hole can bring a new challenge, including the infamous eight, coming in at 289y (264m), it's one of the longest par threes in the world. Many of the competition's top brass have commented on the absurdity of pulling out the big stick on a par 3, including West Aussie Lee, who was one of many who took to social media this week. 'Hey @USGA, someone put a 3 instead of a 4. Driver Pin High,' he said on X. The organisers clearly believe the Perth boy Lee has been elevated to star status, giving him a marquee grouping - the 26-year-old will play alongside a pair of major winners in Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka in the first two rounds. Australian's tee times first two days (AWST): Adam Scott: 7.18pm Thursday, 1.03am Saturday Cam Davis: 8.02pm Thursday, 1.47am Saturday Cameron Smith: 8.02pm Thursday, 1.47am Saturday Min Woo Lee: 1.02am Friday, 7.18pm Friday Jason Day: 1.36am Friday, 7.51pm Friday Marc Leishman: 1.58am Friday, 8.13pm Friday
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Tupou set to fire up and tame the Lions, say Wallabies
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The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Ex-Wallabies star Genia makes surprise call at 37
Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport." Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport." Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport."
