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Daily Mirror
17 minutes ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Rory McIlroy told to change character as Open champion's dad makes £296m claim
The Open Championship gets underway at Royal Portrush on Thursday, with 2014 champion Rory McIlroy among the major contenders to get his hands on the Claret Jug The 153rd Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush this weekend, with Rory McIlroy in serious contention to win on home soil. However, Xander Schauffele will be a tough man to beat as he defends his title in Northern Ireland. McIlroy is in top form for his homecoming, having just finished second in the Genesis Scottish Open. Twelve years after first winning the Claret Jug, the 36-year-old is back in fray and has received some sage advice from two former champions. One previous Open winner is eager to see McIlroy triumph but is acutely aware of the pressure on his shoulders this weekend. Another wants to see the world No. 2 opt for the light-hearted approach following a tricky few months. In other news, Schauffele's father has disclosed the hefty price it would take for his son to abandon the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. And the figure might not be what the organisers of the Saudi-funded series were hoping for. £296m LIV claim made by star's dad Despite many stars leaving the PGA for lucrative deals with LIV, Schauffele has remained loyal to the tour that made him famous. However, this loyalty was tested when the Californian was offered between £112million and £148m to join the deserters. These figures were mentioned by Stefan, Schauffele's dad, as well as his long-time swing coach and agent, in a recent interview with The Times. But according to Schauffele Sr, even doubling that offer wouldn't have been enough to persuade his son to leave. "They could've doubled the money and we still wouldn't do it," said Stefan. For the Schauffele family, securing the ranking points needed to qualify for major championships remains the top priority. Given this stance, there's may be no realistic sum LIV could present that would tempt Schauffele, who pocketed £2.3m for his Open triumph last year, to abandon the PGA Tour. The defending Open champion will once again put his reputation on the line as he attempts to become the tournament's first consecutive winner since Padraig Harrington in 2008. Open winner offers McIlroy guidance Speaking of Harrington, the Irishman feels for McIlroy as he arrives at Royal Portrush carrying enormous expectations. Having ended his major drought this year and completed the career Grand Slam by capturing the Masters, he's now in excellent form and competing in familiar territory. Everything appears perfectly positioned for the Northern Irish sensation to mount a serious challenge on a course he knows intimately. However, Harrington warned of the potential pitfalls that can emerge when things seem almost too favourable. "Yeah, poor Rory, everyone seems to build up the pressure on him being the favourite," he told BBC Sport. "But if you want to be at that level the pressure's always going to be on you. Clearly, he knows Portrush very well, he'll have the support and there's no doubt we'd love to see an Irish winner." McIlroy's recent runner-up finish at the Scottish Open has quelled the drama surrounding his driver. And Padraig Harrington believes McIlroy is set for more major wins, regardless of this weekend's outcome. "Him going with the Masters' jacket, I think it's enough for him to just swan around and wave to the crowds," the three-time major winner opined. "He doesn't have to win. The people always want him to win the next major or whatever, but it doesn't have to be this one. I know it would be nice to be Portrush, but he'll win plenty more majors." McIlroy told to lighten up After his victory at Augusta, which ended an 11-year drought for a major title, McIlroy seemed on top of the world. However, trouble soon followed when his Masters-winning driver was deemed to be non-conforming with regulations at the PGA Championship. Forced to abandon his most reliable club, McIlroy faced a series of disappointing performances. And in order to deal with any outside pressure coming his way, six-time major champion Lee Trevino suggested McIlroy should handle such situations with a sense of humour. "He's going to the tee, these guys are full of Bud and they're saying, 'Rory, is this driver legal?' You don't need that s***," he told The Times. "He could have used some humour. I'd have said, 'I'm trying to be No1, and if I can get another five or six illegal clubs in this bag, I'm going to try.'" Perhaps that's not McIlroy's approach, as he'd rather allow his performance on the fairways speak for itself. And having rediscovered his form with the driver, The Open could be precisely the right moment to prove his point.
Fox Sports
35 minutes ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Sports betting roundup: Wimbledon favorite Iga Swiatek delivers for bettors in women's final
Associated Press Iga Swiatek took in a big share of the money and delivered a big win in the Wimbledon final. Swiatek won her first title at the All England Club on Saturday by beating Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the women's final. In the men's final on Sunday, Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Trends of the Week At the BetMGM online sportsbook, Swiatek (-275) was a big favorite in the final. She took in 37% of the bets and 57% of the money. Going into the tournament, Swiatek was +700. She was +350 before the quarterfinals and +190 before the semifinals. In the men's field, both Sinner and Alcaraz were -110. But 56% of bets and 58% of money came in on Alcaraz. In the futures market, 51% of the money was on Alcaraz. In the WNBA, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever routed the Dallas Wings 102-83. Indiana was a 10.5-point favorite and took in 70% of the money. Clark's over 17.5 points prop was the most bet of the day. She finished with 14 points. Upsets of the Week Going into Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates had lost eight games in a row, and the Minnesota Twins were -190 on the moneyline with 90% of the money coming in on them. Pittsburgh was able to snap its streak with a 2-1 win thanks to a run in the top of the ninth. Chris Gotterup (+10000) won the Scottish Open for his first career PGA Tour victory. He finished at 15 under, which was good for a two-shot win over two players, including Rory McIlroy. He took in only 0.1% of the money in pre-tournament outright winner betting. Coming Up Monday night is the MLB Home Run Derby. As of Monday morning, Cal Raleigh has the best odds to win at +275. Behind him are Oneil Cruz (+350), James Wood (+400), Matt Olson (+800), Brent Rooker (+850), Byron Buxton (+900), Junior Caminero (+1000) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (+1400). The most money (26%) is on Wood. ___ This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook. ___ AP sports: recommended Item 1 of 3
USA Today
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Shane Lowry returns to Royal Portrush where a large mural honors his 2019 British Open win
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Shane Lowry is glad he doesn't have to drive by his mural this week, which is located on the side of a house about a par 5 away from Royal Portrush and was unveiled a year ago ahead of the 153rd British Open. And, yes, he has received plenty of pictures of the mural depicting him hoisting the Claret Jug after winning the 2019 British Open at Royal Portrush. No need to send them to him anymore. 'Everyone that comes up here sends me pictures standing beside it. Some of them I can't say what they were doing in it,' he said on Monday during a press conference. 'But it is very special. I've done something special in my life.' Lowry didn't know what to make of the mural at first. He doesn't look at himself as someone worthy of being celebrated as a national hero. He's just Shane. 'I'm just myself. I just happen to be OK at golf and lucky enough that I got to achieve some pretty cool things. Honestly, that's how I feel about it,' he said. Lowry also knows that six years have come and gone ad he hasn't added to his major title. He only has one PGA Tour victory since – a team title with Rory McIlroy at the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Having won at Portrush in a rout by six strokes was the culmination of a lifetime dream and he celebrated into the wee hours of the morning. Video of him singing at the Harbour Bar and elsewhere went viral. 'I've always been a firm believer that when you win, you need to try and celebrate those victories. So I did that that night,' he said. But what he achieved here in 2019 is in the past. He's enjoyed being home in Ireland for the past three weeks for the first time since Christmas and set up shop last week in Waterville to practice. He ticked off rounds he played at Portmarnock, The Island, Baltray, Waterville, Hogs Head and Adare Manor. 'So I've played some of the best courses we have in the country,' he said. The only problem? He said he's been playing too well. When he won in 2019, he was down in the dumps and feeling rotten about his chances until he went for a drink with his coach, Neil Manchip, who set him straight. So, Lowry has a pretty good idea what he needs to do to prepare properly. ' I just need to play shit for the next couple of days, and I'll be all right,' he cracked. 'No matter what I done then, it doesn't give me any God-given right to do anything special this week. I just need to get my head down on Thursday morning and get after it and see what happens.'
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Chris Gotterup Put on the Clock at Scottish Open Had His Blood Boiling
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The not-so-famous PGA Tour pro, Chris Gotterup's win at the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday was a result of boiling blood. The 25-year-old American outdueled Rory McIlroy with his final-round of 66 to claim the second Tour title and a ticket to next week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Additionally, his 15-under-par win also earned him a $1.575 million paycheck and a new Electrified GV70 courtesy of Genesis. But the path to the trophy was not an easy one. The Easton, MD native was warned over slow play on the back nine. Chris Gotterup had his 'blood going' before Scottish Open win After a bogey on the first hole, Gotterup bounced back with five birdies until drama unfolded. "We got warned on like 13 for pace, which was a little odd because we were waiting all day," he explained after signing his name to the winner's list. NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 12: Chris Gotterup of the United States looks across the 18th green on day three of the Genesis Scottish Open 2025 at The Renaissance Club on July 12, 2025 in... NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 12: Chris Gotterup of the United States looks across the 18th green on day three of the Genesis Scottish Open 2025 at The Renaissance Club on July 12, 2025 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by) More Getty Images "Then on 15, I got individually timed, which was shocking. That got my blood going a little bit more than it was already going trying to win a golf tournament" Interestingly, the adrenaline spike didn't rattle him but pushed him forward. Gotterup quickly responded with a 10-foot birdie on the par-5 16th, the hole he'd failed to birdie all week. "I talked all week about how I didn't birdie 16... I made it and I felt like that was the point where it was my tournament to lose". The underdog's emotional post-round interview with Amanda Balionis captured the weight of the moment. "I'm not going to be able to keep it together," he said, wiping his eyes. When asked again what it meant, he added, "Yeah, thanks for getting me to cry again". As we all know, the crowd was madly behind Rory McIlroy, and Gotterup too felt it deeply. "I definitely was the villain out there a little bit. There was a lot of 'Rory' and not many 'Chris.' I felt like I was ready and prepared mentally. It feels great," he expressed later. "Rory is one of the best to ever do it," he added. "Happy I edged him out. Amazing." This win, he said, felt like validation. "They are both very special," Gotterup said, comparing it to his 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic win. The win was made sweeter by two things. First, because of his former college coach, who flew in from Europe at the last minute. "He believed in me way before a lot of other people did, besides my parents. For him to be here and see that unfold is pretty cool." Secondly, for a pure class act from Rory McIlroy. As Gotterup signed his scorecard, the 2023 Scottish Open winner sat beside him and offered a quiet pat on the back, a gesture of respect from one champion to another. Now, it is off to McIlroy's home, Northern Ireland, for the Open Championship. More Golf: Scottish Open: Nico Echavarria's Sick Hole-in-One Lands Him a Car
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Lynch: New LIV boss Scott O'Neil sounds a lot like Greg Norman. That's not a compliment
Like most visitors to the Open at Royal Portrush, Scott O'Neil will probably pick up a few choice phrases particular to Northern Ireland. He may already be familiar with some given that his employees as CEO of LIV include several players and caddies from these parts, though it's doubtful they've told him to 'wind your neck in.' Translation: give it a rest, zip it, just hush. Like his predecessor, Greg Norman, O'Neil sounds like a man energetically trying to manufacture for his organization a reality that doesn't exist and suggest a momentum it doesn't enjoy. On a recent podcast hosted by one of his paid supplicants, O'Neil said that LIV will be the dominant global force in golf. 'I think the PGA Tour will always have the stronghold in the US … and I think we'll be the dominant player in the world.' His assertion went both unchallenged and unexplained. If there's a single metric that points toward such a rosy future, evidence of it was neither offered nor requested. About the only yardstick O'Neil did cite was marital harmony. 'We had a lot of wives — I'd say, no fewer than a dozen — come up independently, unsolicited, and say, 'My husband's never been happier. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it.' That's nice.' Pay and perks do make guys happy about having dropped anchor, as it were. O'Neil went on to mention that he's friends with Brian Rolapp, the newly appointed CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises and Jay Monahan's de facto successor. He said Rolapp would likely be unable to accept his invitation to attend a LIV event because it would become too much of a circus — understandable since LIV tournaments are known for a sober focus on competition — but he expected they'd catch up at the Open, which Rolapp isn't actually attending. By the time O'Neil added that he and his opposite number 'go to the same church' (as in Latter-day Saints, not as in the same structure), the sweaty desperation for relevance was all too apparent. Which is wholly on brand for LIV these days. Take the circuit's decision last week to resubmit an application to be recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking. When LIV's first bid was rejected in October 2023, the OWGR made clear that field size, the lack of a cut and playing only 54 holes weren't barriers. It was the absence of meritocracy — limited pathways and players being exempt from relegation, no matter how execrable their performances — and the staging of team and individual events simultaneously. 'LIV Golf is committed to working together with the Official World Golf Ranking and its board to ensure the very best players are competing in the game's most prestigious events,' O'Neil said in a statement. 'We are confident our application addresses the outstanding questions that exist to support a more global, all-encompassing, and accurate ranking system. We are hopeful the review and approval process can progress ahead of the 2026 major season.' Nothing about specific material changes by LIV to address non-compliance, more a haughty call for the rules to be rewritten and quickly. An absence of particulars is typical of LIV announcements that are intended to simulate success that doesn't exist by any commercial measurement. Like last week's deal with HSBC, a company with significant interests in Saudi Arabia. HSBC will become LIV's official banking partner — just totting up the league's losses should guarantee employment for many — but there was no detail on the deal's duration (other than 'multi-year') or a suggestion that money was changing hands. HSBC will be a 'presenting partner' of a segment in LIV broadcasts which, the press release noted, 'has a potential reach of over 875 million households across more than 120 international markets.' The 'potential' in that claim is working harder than Donald Trump's haircare product. O'Neil declined to be drawn on LIV's player contracts, some of which expire later this year, notably Dustin Johnson's. His obvious lack of motivation notwithstanding, expect Johnson to be re-signed with much fanfare. It will be yet another purely performative exercise, a sleight of hand designed to create a narrative that LIV is doubling down when it's really just trying to buy time in hopes that Rolapp and the PGA Tour's board decide to compromise their product by incorporating LIV's as part of a deal they don't need. Anything to imply a lengthy runway ahead for LIV that isn't supported by economic tailwinds. As the locals might say in Portrush, catch yourself on, Scott.
