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Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Lowry accepted 2-shot British Open penalty over fear of ‘cheat' backlash
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland - Shane Lowry said he feared a social media backlash if he did not accept a two-stroke penalty at the British Open on July 18. The Irishman was handed the sanction after he finished his second round, which left him at level par for the tournament, for his ball apparently moving as he made a practice swing on the 12th hole. Rules officials relied on television evidence from one angle that zoomed in on the ball, even if Lowry could not see it with the naked eye. 'I was in there with the rules official and wasn't arguing my case, but I'm disappointed that they don't have more camera angles on it,' said Lowry, who is back at the scene of his sole major win at Royal Portrush back in 2019. 'The one zoomed in slow motion – they're trying to tell me if it doesn't move from the naked eye, if you don't see it moving, it didn't move. I told them I definitely was looking down towards the ball as I was taking that practice swing, and I didn't see it move. 'I'm still not sure, to be honest, whether it was or not, but I had to take the penalty because I can't have my name talked about or tossed around like that, and I just get on with it.' The footage had been highlighted on social media before Lowry was handed the penalty. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died Opinion A modern interpretation of Islam in Indonesia fuels a push for 'global Muslims' Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area 'If the ball moved and I caused it to move and it moved, it's a two-shot penalty,' added the world number 18. 'The last thing I want to do is sit there and argue and not take the penalty and then get slaughtered all over social media tonight for being a cheat.' Lowry was playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler, who shot to the top of the leaderboard with a brilliant 64 to sit at 10 under par after the opening two days. Scheffler hailed Lowry's reaction after the American was also left unconvinced by the television replay. 'Ultimately in golf it's up to the player, and I felt like Shane was put in a pretty tough situation there when they were zooming in on his golf ball. In the rough it's hard to tell,' said the three-time major champion. 'It was a very tough spot for Shane to be put in. He handled it really well. It's obviously very frustrating. It's frustrating for me as a competitor of his and a player to watch him after kind of deal with that because the last thing you want to be known in the game of golf is somebody who cheats. 'I'm not going to state a strong opinion here in the media on whether or not I thought he deserved the penalty, but all I'm going to say is it was a very tough situation for him to be put in, and I thought he handled it really well.' AFP
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Spain show experience to shrug off Swiss challenge at Women's Euros
BERN - Spain missed two penalties and struggled to break down Switzerland in their Euro 2025 quarter-final on Friday but the world champions leveraged all their experience to score twice in the second half to set up a showdown against either France or Germany. With a raucous crowd roaring on the hosts, the Spaniards were unusually sloppy despite dominating possession in the first half, and it took goals from substitute Athenea del Castillo and Claudia Pina in the second to finally get them over the line. "It is true that many times we are used to winning the first parts (of games) very quickly but in real football it is not like that. In real football, you play 90 minutes, especially when you're in the European championship," Spain playmaker Aitana Bonmati told reporters. "The truth is that Spain has brought out a bit of that maturity, that insistence that I think is important, because it's not easy in the quarter-finals and in the end that was the mentality that the team had," defender Laia Aleixandri said. "The semi-finals were up for grabs and I think that weighs heavily. You had to be very careful in the back, because we always say it -- we attack with many players and Switzerland was very good, but I think that in the end we have been mentally very strong, not only me but the whole team," she added. The Spaniards formed a guard of honour for their Swiss hosts as they left the field, and the Spanish players promised they would celebrate as they waited to find out who they will face in the semi-final in Zurich on Wednesday. "It's a party, dancing, singing, as it should be. It's a step to the semi-finals, I think we have to enjoy it now. One way or another, we will find out our opponent," Aleixandri added. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Fabulous Fitzpatrick fuels English hopes at Open after dazzling 66
Jul 18, 2025; Portrush, IRL; Matt Fitzpatrick tees off during the second round of The 153rd Open Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland - Matt Fitzpatrick raised hopes of a first English winner of the British Open for 33 years with a masterful five-under-par 66 to move second at the halfway point at Royal Portrush on Friday. Many have come close since Nick Faldo lifted the Claret Jug for the third time in 1992, with the likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood all falling just short. When Fitzpatrick curled a 23-foot par-saving putt into the hole at the 18th in late evening sunshine, it kept him top of the leaderboard on nine under and although he was dislodged by Scottie Scheffler he will head into the weekend with high hopes. "Giving myself an opportunity to win the golf tournament, but there's still a hell of a long way to go," the Sheffield-born world number 59 Fitzpatrick told reporters. "Obviously the aim of the game is to stay in it for as long as possible and hopefully you can pull away right at the death. "I'm 50% there. We'll see what the weekend brings." His weekend will start by going toe-to-toe with world number one Scheffler in the final pairing on Saturday after the American showed he meant business with a brilliant 64 on Friday, the lowest round of the week so far. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital It will be a formidable test for 2022 U.S. Open champion, whose best Open finish to date is a tie for 20th six years ago. Fitzpatrick, 30, said the English drought does not add any pressure on his shoulders, insisting three-time major winner Scheffler will be expected now to go on and claim his Open triumph. "He's going to have the expectation to go out and dominate. He's an exceptional player. He's world number one," Fitzpatrick said. "We're seeing Tiger-like stuff. "I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me obviously I hope I'm going to have some more home support than him, but it's an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year." Fitzpatrick has not won since 2023 but after a slow start to this season appears to have emerged from his slump. He finished eighth at the PGA Championship and recorded top-10 placings in his last two events, including fourth at the Scottish Open last week. A first-round 67 gave Fitzpatrick a share of the overnight lead and on Friday he got on a roll with eight birdies firing right into contention. "I felt like every facet of my game was on today and I felt like I really played solid," he said. "To take advantage of the opportunities I had out there was obviously really positive." REUTERS
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
France favourites but Germany have the will, says coach Wueck
BERN - Germany's group stage at the Women's Euro may not have gone to plan but the eight-time winners have put all the setbacks behind them as they get ready to face France in the quarter-finals, coach Christian Wueck said on Friday. Germany were thrashed 4-1 by Sweden and had defender Carlotta Wamser sent off in their final Group C game in a sub-par performance that saw them finish second in the standings. That set up a blockbuster clash between Germany and France, who Wueck considers as favourites for Saturday's showdown in Basel. "If you look at the raw numbers, the French won nine points in the group stage, we won six, that's why I think the French are the favourites," Wueck told reporters. The Germans have had five days to get over the unexpected defeat by the Swedes, who are heading home before the Germans after losing their quarter-final 3-2 on penalties to England on Thursday. "It's incredibly important that the disappointment from that (group) game against Sweden is now gone," Wueck said. "I think we've managed to ensure that we're not just looking forward to this quarter-final, but that we're approaching this knockout phase in such a way that it's now really clear to us that the performance on the pitch will decide whether we stay in the tournament or not." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital Wueck said he expected his players to give a much better account of themselves when they meet France at the St Jakob-Park Stadium to decide who will take the last spot in the semi-finals. "I know that the euphoria and the will to go into this game is definitely there now. That's why it was good ... that we had so much time to process the match against Sweden," Wueck said. REUTERS
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Cut made, now McIlroy excited for weekend charge at Open
Golf - The 153rd Open Championship - Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland, Britain - July 18, 2025 Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during the second round REUTERS/Russell Cheyne PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland - Home favourite Rory McIlroy achieved the first part of his mission at Royal Portrush on Friday -- making the cut. Now the 36-year-old cannot wait for the weekend's battle as he seeks a second British Open title. "I'm excited for that opportunity. I didn't have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I'm very excited, the five-time major champion said after a two-under 69 second round kept him firmly in the mix fore the Claret Jug. McIlroy arrived at Portrush this week desperate to banish the demons of 2019 when, on the course he used to play as a child and where he broke the course record aged 16, he endured a nightmare, missing the weekend after a first-round 79. His opening round 70 was a roller-coaster ride of birdies and bogeys in which he found only two fairways. Blessed with calmer conditions for his second round, McIlroy again mixed good with bad in front of the huge galleries who flocked to cheer on the local hero. Having holed a birdie on the first, he scrambled for par on the second after nearly driving out of bounds, bogeyed the par-three third following a misjudged tee shot, birdied the fourth and bogeyed the fifth before settling down. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital He tapped in a birdie at the 12th and triggered a huge roar as a 17-foot putt for birdie disappeared at the 14th. It was not exactly a Rory charge but at three-under the Masters champion is only a handful of shots off the lead. "Another solid day. A couple under, improved a little bit on yesterday, hit it in play a little bit more off the tee, which was nice to have some looks out of the fairway," said McIlroy, whose Augusta win this year finally completed his career slam. "It was a good day. I feel like I maybe could be a couple closer to the lead, but overall I'm in a decent position heading into the weekend." After showing flashes of his best so far, McIlroy said he will have to find another gear if he is to be challenging down the stretch on Sunday, especially off the tee where his accuracy ranks 148th out of the 156 starters. "I know what I need to do to get the best out of myself in an environment like that," he said. "I've been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there. "I'm going to need to have it all under control and have it sort of all firing over the weekend to make a run." REUTERS
