Latest news with #Garcia
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
The Open star unleashed furious rant in qualifying before making use of LIV Golf loophole
LIV Golf's Sergio Garcia has qualified for this year's Open championship at Royal Portrush, however he comes into 2025's event off the back of a tense qualifer last year LIV Golf star Sergio Garcia has qualified for this year's Open via a loophole, after his attempt at making last year's tournament ended in a furious tirade at officials. Garcia secured his place at the 2025 Open through the LIV Golf points list. This came after missing out initially. However, with members of the breakaway league gaining an invite via their individual season-long leaderboard for the first time, he made the cut. The R&A had announced earlier in the year that following the LIV Dallas event at the end of June, players who were not already exempt would be granted entry to Royal Portrush. As a consequence, a determined Garcia, who is fifth in the LIV standings, elected not to take part in the 36-hole Open Championship qualifier. He also decided against competing in any of the four qualifying events and instead chose to use his performances on the LIV Golf tour to lock him into The Open. Yet it was a far cry from 2024 where Garcia launched into a rant at R&A officials after losing his cool during qualifying. The Spanish star was forced to take part in the qualifying tournament after relinquishing his Open exemption due to his links with the Saudi Arabian-backed league. Garcia was the one to watch on the fairway and was trailed by a sizable crowd. However, events took a sour turn when he was made to wait to tee off while course marshals were busy waving the crowd on by. The 45-year-old ended up steering his drive into trouble and was clearly frustrated. Snapping at course officials he demanded: "It needs to be organised better." Garcia was then slapped with a warning for slow play which agitated him further, as he believed the sheer volume of fans in attendance were responsible for his lethargic pace. The warning pushed Garcia over the edge as he said: "You're right, we're always wrong." This year's development means that 2017 Masters Champion Garcia, who did not play at the US Open, will be participating in his first Open Championship since 2022, where he finished T68. The Open will go ahead on July 17 at Royal Portrush, with several big names failing to make the cut in qualifying. Northern Irish star Graeme McDowell, Sam Horsfield and LIV Golf's Adrian Meronk and Ian Poulter will all miss out. Speaking on the right of those playing in the LIV Golf league to feature in The Open, Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A, back in February said: "The Open is a global championship for the best men's golfers and each year we review our exemptions to ensure that we offer pathways into the Championship based on results achieved on the leading professional tours. "We acknowledge that players competing in LIV Golf should also have the opportunity to secure places in The Open through its individual season standings as well as existing pathways. "We are proud to offer a wide range of opportunities to qualify globally and look forward to seeing which golfers will emerge to take their place at Royal Portrush in July." Meanwhile Garcia, speaking at the LIV Dallas event at the end of June, said: "It's going to be my second time playing at Royal Portrush, and it's obviously nice. It's one of the goals that you have at the beginning of the year, to try to play as many majors as you can with the limitations that we get. "I didn't help myself very much the last three months, but I'm glad that I got enough work done in the first third of the year, I guess, in the first part of the season. I'm excited about it, and hopefully I'll play well."
Filipino Times
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
Coleen Garcia shares ethereal maternity portraits ahead of second child's arrival
Actress Coleen Garcia took to Instagram to share stunning maternity photos, showcasing her baby bump in an elegant floral-themed shoot. In the photos, Garcia is seen lying on a sofa surrounded by colorful flowers, dressed in a white bralette and a flowing skirt. 'Growing life, in full bloom,' she wrote in the caption. She added, 'Squeezed in a little shoot before things got busier. I'm a lot bigger than this now.' Garcia and her husband, TV host and performer Billy Crawford, announced in April that they are expecting their second child. The announcement came as the couple marked their seventh wedding anniversary. They were married in 2018 and welcomed their first child, son Amari, in 2020. Garcia last appeared in the thriller film Playtime, while Crawford recently served as a judge on The Voice Kids.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Real Madrid breakout star attract interest from Premier League
Gonzalo Garcia was one of the standout players in the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup. The youngster scored as many as four goals, helping Real Madrid secure a semifinal spot in the competition. He was also the only Real Madrid player to be included in the Team of the Tournament. Advertisement Garcia's breakthrough has led to major speculation over his future, especially considering the fact that he was close to leaving the club before the Club World Cup. Premier League clubs interested in Garcia Although recent reports suggests Real Madrid have closed the door on Garcia's exit following his breakthrough at the Club World Cup, it appears the forward is attracting interest from Premier League. According to Mundo Deportivo, a host of Premier League clubs are keeping close tabs on Gonzalo Garcia's progress, hoping to lure him away from Santiago Bernabeu. Will Gonzalo Garcia remain at Real Madrid this summer? (Photo by) Advertisement Sunderland, Leeds United and West Ham United are among the clubs interested in the services of Garcia. All of these three clubs are determined to sign Garcia for next season. However, they are aware that striking a deal could be difficult as the forward is closer to staying at Real Madrid than leaving the club. Real Madrid, for their part, are yet to make a final decision over Garcia's future but that could come soon as the club look to draw a roadmap for the young forward. Real Madrid will be aware that giving Garcia regular game-time will be difficult, especially with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo also fighting for places in the first-team. However, given Xabi Alonso's ability to nurture young talents, Los Blancos might just fancy keeping hold of the talented forward this summer.
New York Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Astros second-half storylines to watch, starting with trade deadline priorities
HOUSTON — Vibes and duct tape held the Houston Astros together across an adventurous first half that tested depth and, at times, defied logic. A transformative winter injected energy and athleticism the club has rarely shown during its golden era. Injuries threatened to render those efforts useless. Two members of Houston's season-opening rotation have undergone Tommy John surgery. A third hasn't pitched in a game since mid-April. Somehow, the pitching staff still boasts baseball's fifth-lowest ERA. Advertisement Yordan Alvarez missed the final 66 games before the All-Star break. Neither Christian Walker nor Yainer Diaz has an OPS above .690. Breakout seasons by Jeremy Peña and Jake Meyers buoyed the lineup in their absence. That both entered the break on the injured list is a fitting encapsulation of an otherwise excellent run. Here are three second-half storylines for an Astros team holding a five-game advantage in the American League West. The cavalry resides in West Palm Beach, Fla., where four pitchers the Astros presumed would play prominent roles in their season are in various states of recovery from significant injuries. Their progress will determine Houston's direction at the trade deadline and, perhaps, their destiny in October. Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia are coming back from Tommy John surgery. J.P. France had right shoulder surgery last June. Spencer Arrighetti fractured his right thumb in a freak accident in April at T-Mobile Park. Both Garcia and Javier have made minor-league rehab starts with the team's Florida Coast League affiliate, but will need at least a month more to build up as traditional starters. During the team's pregame radio show on Sunday, general manager Dana Brown said Javier is ahead of Garcia, but expressed hope that both pitchers would contribute in the second half. France and Arrighetti are still in the live batting practice phase of their recoveries, a step behind Garcia and Javier. It's difficult — if not impossible — to envision any of the four pitchers returning before the July 31 trade deadline, putting Brown in a precarious position. Houston could use starting pitching help, but if their internal reinforcements are back at full strength, the need may be mitigated. The more pertinent question Brown and his baseball operations officials must ponder: How effective can this quartet be? Javier boasts a career 10.1 strikeouts per nine and, at times, has been borderline unhittable. Garcia has a lifetime 3.61 ERA at the major-league level. Advertisement Still, Garcia hasn't appeared in a big-league game in 26 months. France has been absent since April 23, 2024, and Javier since May 21 of the same year. Bear in mind, too, that pitchers returning from reconstructive surgeries almost always require close monitoring. Arrighetti, at least, made two starts this season before a batted ball broke his thumb during batting practice. Perhaps his efficacy is the easiest of the four to project. The other three offer a far more complicated conundrum. Alvarez hasn't played since May 2, a 66-game stretch in which the Astros finished 40-26 with a .268/.329/.434 slash line, but faced myriad questions about Alvarez's prognosis and recovery. Diagnosed at first with a muscle strain in the top of his right hand, Alvarez has suffered two setbacks during his recovery. The first forced Houston to take more imaging, which revealed a 'small' fracture near the fourth metacarpal. Alvarez did not swing for about a month before being shipped to the Astros' spring training facility on June 29 to face live pitching. Alvarez took one day of live batting practice, reported a recurrence of pain and hasn't swung a bat since. Team officials remain optimistic Alvarez will return at some point this season. After his most recent setback, Alvarez received two injections from a hand specialist that, according to the team, confirmed the pain is unrelated to Alvarez's fracture. A news release from the Astros called the development 'encouraging news.' Still, the trajectory of Alvarez's recovery must prompt serious concern about his ability to play again at full strength this season. Alvarez is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Thursday, at which point doctors could clear him to resume swinging a bat. Before going on the injured list, though, Alvarez slashed just .210/.306/.340 across 121 plate appearances. Just seven of his 21 hits fell for extra bases, numbers that may have been altered by an injured hand Houston can't seem to heal. Advertisement At the very least, it would behoove Brown to enter the trade deadline without any expectations for Alvarez to contribute at his full strength, allowing him to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best. An ideal outcome is the Astros acquiring both by the July 31 trade deadline, but their paucity of prospect capital may force Houston's baseball operations department to hone its focus. The Astros finished the first half 29-29 in games not started by Hunter Brown or Framber Valdez, accentuating the importance of both aces and the vulnerability of Houston's rotation behind them. Rookies Colton Gordon, Brandon Walter and Ryan Gusto have held their own while Lance McCullers Jr. is in the throes of inconsistencies expected from someone who did not appear in a major-league game for 915 days. The foursome finished the first half with a 4.87 ERA. Whether any of them inspire confidence to start a playoff game — or something with similar stakes in September — is a question Houston's baseball operations officials must ponder over the next three weeks. Whether they are prepared to gamble on the health of Arrighetti, France, Javier or Garcia in their stead is another. Dana Brown has already reiterated his desire for a left-handed bat within a lineup that is one of the most unbalanced in baseball. No offense in the sport has fewer at-bats by a left-handed hitter, a byproduct of both Alvarez's extended absence and the team's curious roster construction since spring training. Adding an established left-handed bat that can either platoon in the outfield or play second base is the most direct way to upgrade Houston's injury-ravaged lineup. Welcoming Alvarez back would help, but his career-long success against left-handed pitching — while being surrounded by all right-handed hitters — will make opposing managers wary of deploying southpaws against the Astros. As it stands, Houston has taken just 642 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season. No team has fewer — an imbalance that could get exposed by the elite right-handed pitching that always appears in October. (Top photo of Cristian Javier: Logan Riely / Getty Images)
Chicago Tribune
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Eddington' review: Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, once upon an early COVID time in the West
This is where we are, as the lawman says in 'Eddington': 'We are in the center of it right now. We are in history.' This summer, in 2025, history can barely contain each new 24-hour blurt. It feels less like we're in history and more like we're choking on it. So we remember Shakespeare's perfect three syllables to describe dark political machinations. 'Out of joint,' Hamlet says of his country and his time. Like a dislocated shoulder. Ari Aster's 'Eddington' is not Shakespeare, and isn't trying, and half the time it can't be said to know what it's doing, or how to dramatize what it's going for. But I've seen it twice for the good stuff, and for the riddle-solving of why whole, frustrating chunks of this two-and-a-half-hour American fable compete with the rest of it. Aster has taken on one of the toughest challenges a writer-director can attempt: extremely recent history, out of joint and somehow present, not past. 'Eddington' is set in May 2020, three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, in a part of the world where personal freedoms trump the common good — which is another way of saying there's a lot of unmasked transmitters around town. Joaquin Phoenix takes the role of Joe Cross, sheriff of the (fictional) New Mexico town of Eddington. Part blunt-force satire, part topical, state-of-the-nation drama, 'Eddington' is also a Western, an early COVID-era Western at that, with the sheriff — a foolish mediocrity and the son-in-law of the previous sheriff, now deceased — squaring off against the town's mayor Ted Garcia, a crafty operator played by Pedro Pascal. Garcia, running for re-election, backs a controversial 'data center' construction project, which threatens to cripple the region's already drought-prone water supply. The First Nation tribal residents of this corner of New Mexico are fighting this development. Even without it, Sheriff Cross has unrelated and unresolvable issues with Mayor Garcia; years earlier Garcia may have had some sort of relationship with Louise (Emma Stone, underused, to say the least), now the sheriff's wife. The sexual trauma in Louise's past, and her present, rickety state, is something her husband does not have the emotional resources to confront. Both Eddington and 'Eddington' trade in soap opera-y secrets and subterranean conspiracies involving dirty law enforcement, incest, male sexual jealousy, good lawmen getting shafted, a small clutch Eddington's young Black Lives Matter protesters spouting newly acquired racial reckoning verbiage they barely comprehend, and so much more. In the immediate wake of the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis, things are getting hot all over. Eddington does not know how to deal with its present historical moment. Unhelpfully for 'Eddington,' the movie, Aster responds to the question of 'how to wrap this thing up?' with a wildly florid action climax. This pits the sheriff against anonymous killers, Eastwood style, but with pesky drones and shadowy corporate interests raising the stakes. The last 30 minutes of the film feel almost completely misjudged, and absurd, but not satirically effective; it's just a dive into adolescent Tarantino ultraviolence. But getting there, 'Eddington' is none of those things. It's particularly astute in Aster's little details and flurries of early COVID. Sheriff Cross isn't really having the whole masking thing, and Phoenix wisely keeps the character's bullheadedness realistic, not exaggerated. When the story begins, COVID has yet to officially arrive in Eddington. The pandemic is like the Black Lives Matter protests and the national violence so often flashed on TV screens and laptops; it's 'not a 'here' problem,' Cross says, partly to reassuring his own crumbling confidence. The filmmaker gave us the punishing family nightmare 'Hereditary,' the 'Wicker Man' riff 'Midsommar' and the half-wondrous, half-exasperating dreamlike odyssey 'Beau is Afraid.' With 'Eddington,' Aster has made a distinct period piece, nailing many woeful details about where we were five years ago. And where we are now. Too few American movies, ever, have caught current history successfully. And as London-based critic Damon Wise wrote about 'Eddington' in its Cannes Film Festival premiere earlier this year: 'How do you make a satirical movie about modern America when the news that comes out of there every day is quite literally beyond a joke?' This is the peculiar thing about 'Eddington': At Cannes, it apparently played like sledgehammer satire of both idiot conservatives and ridiculous, self-loathing liberals, and it still does, I suppose. Yet it's hitting differently now. When Aster lays off the easy comic despair in favor of more ambiguous and dimensional feelings, interactions and moments, 'Eddington' becomes the movie he wanted. His script has a million problems with clarity, coincidence and the nagging drag of a protagonist set up for a long, grisly comeuppance, yet 'Eddington' is probably Aster's strongest film visually, with cinematographer Darius Khondji creating the light and shadow for some sweeping, gently ironic evocations of Old West and Old Hollywood myth-making. The myths this time are not reassuring. 'Eddington' will probably age rather well — even, and perhaps especially, if Aster's explicit anticipation of martial law as America's next great experiment proves accurate. 'Eddington' — 3 stars (out of 4) MPA rating: R (for strong violence, some grisly images, language, and graphic nudity) Running time: 2:25 How to watch: Premieres in theaters July 18
