Latest news with #TourCard
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Cameron Menzies on trading plumbing for the oche as Scottish darts ace eyes up European Open glory
The Scottish star has opened up on his career hopes as he raids into last 16 of the tournament in Leverkusen, Germany Battling Cameron Menzies reckons he'd have got the sack if he didn't quit work to pursue his darting dream. But the Scottish star says he can still go back to the plumbing graft if doesn't fulfil his ambitions of competing consistently and regularly with the best in darts. Menzies produced another outstanding display to defeat defending champion Dave Chisnall and move into the last 16 of the European Darts Open. His career is taking off and he is having even more board time having recently given up his previous post. The Ayrshire ace is reaping the rewards, but said: 'I only quit my job as I got to the point it was either quit or sacked as I was never there. 'They gave me a choice. I was letting them down as I was travelling mental. I'm never home and I don't know how the Premier League players do it. It gives me more time to practice. Now I've got time it's good. Now there's no excuses. Now it's up to me. 'I'll give it two years, if it fails me I can go back. I'm quite lucky as I can get a job because of my trade. But it's working well. My most important aim is keeping my Tour Card. 'But the way it's worked out for me is I've done better than I thought than I would.' Menzies won a decider against Chisnall after fighting back and, speaking to DartsNews, he said: 'I'm making darts quite hard, as soon as I go like 4-1 down or 4-2 down or whatever it is, you kind of just go bugger it and then you start flowing because I'm quite a fast player so you start getting the rhythm because you think you're going to lose sometimes. 'Next thing the 140's and 180's start coming in so at the start of the game I was trying too hard. I was dropping too short a lot. I done it later on as well but I kind of thought 4-1 down I'm going out. 'That's darts for you though. I'm my own worst enemy, I get caught up in my head a lot. That one I wouldn't say it was fighting spirit I'd say there I just thought I was getting beat. 'I know myself personally and I'm sure a lot of players are the same, you can rattle off three or four legs playing awesome. 'You've seen it on stage with the best players in the world, they do it more common than me that's why they're there. They can rattle off three or four legs with no reply. You can't compete with that. 'I know sometimes I can do that. I kind of felt I did what I had to do yesterday to get to the Saturday. So this is a bonus. 'I've known Dave even before I was a PDC player. So I've known Dave for donkeys (years). Dave done a thing in my village, the only exhibition we've ever done was Dave and he was great so I respect Dave. He's a big scorer. He can score with the best of them if not better.' 'Maybe not the best of throws with his snatch. But Jocky Wilson was exactly the same. Chizzy is Chizzy, he's a great player and a great person. I'm buzzing to beat him. I want to make the European finals as I've never done it.' Menzies now faces Ritchie Edhouse and said: 'Ritchie's maybe not been as good as he was last year. He had a cracking game there. He won the European finals last year, he can play. 'If you 90 in the rankings and down they all can play. We all can beat each other. The best players in the world can just do it more frequently. If I don't step up, I'll be out. I need to play well to win that game.'
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
LIV Golf star shows why he ignored Rory McIlroy's plea at PGA Championship
Tom McKibbin's professional career has gone from strength to strength since he burst onto the scene in 2021, and his earnings from LIV have dwarfed the sum he won at the US PGA Tom McKibbin earned a modest £30,000 from his debut at the PGA Championship, a stark contrast to the millions he's made with LIV Golf. McKibbin burst onto the professional scene in 2021, and after only a few years on the DP World Tour, he secured his Tour Card and was offered the chance to shine on the PGA circuit for 2025. However, an offer from rival LIV lured him away, despite the appeals of legendary compatriot Rory McIlroy. Both were present at Quail Hollow, but neither could match the eventual winner Scottie Scheffler. While the American pocketed £2.6 million for his victory, both Northern Irishmen left approximately £30k richer, with McKibbin trailing McIlroy by one shot in a tie for 50th place. This prize money pales in comparison to the sums McKibbin has been earning on the breakaway LIV, suggesting that his decision to ignore McIlroy's advice and choose the Saudi-backed circuit may have been the right move. Since making his LIV debut in Riyadh, McKibbin, as part of the Legion XIII team, has participated in seven events, with his best finish coming in Hong Kong - where his -11 final score saw him tied for sixth place, reports Belfast Live. Over these appearances, both individual and team prizes have seen him walk away with a staggering £3.2m, which significantly overshadows the money he took home at the USPGA and other major tournaments. McKibbin's first two major appearances tell a similar story to the one at Quail Hollow last weekend, tying for 41st at the 2024 US Open, and 66th at his first Open Championship, earning small rewards for both outings. The young golfer from Holywood, who recently sidestepped McIlroy's advice at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, is keen on the LIV Golf League's appeal to youthful drive and ambition. McIlroy, who developed his craft at the same club as McKibbin, had previously said: "No one knows exactly how much he's going to get. What I would say is, there is still a ton of money to be made on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. "There is so much money in the game, and some would argue too much money in the game for the eyeballs that we attract. I think that for whatever the benefit may be, I don't think it's worth the sacrifice to what he's potentially going to give up." Yet, McKibbin who trailed just behind McIlroy in North Carolina, shared his reasoning for the switch, saying: "It was definitely in my mind, but to me I wasn't in any [majors or Ryder Cup ] anyway. The opportunity to play with these guys out here more often and more consistently was definitely a huge factor. "I'm not in those majors anyway at the moment so that really didn't bother me too much. Being young and 22 I've watched this last couple years since [LIV] started. "It's something I really like to watch. Something very different. It appeals to more people my age. "The opportunity to learn from some of the best players in the world week in, week out is something that appealed very nicely to me. I liked the whole concept of everything."
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
World Cup winner shows true colours with comments about Luke Littler
In just a short time as a professional, Luke Littler has had an everlasting impact on the sport of darts, and World Cup champion John Henderson has made his thoughts known Darts star John Henderson has lauded the impact of Luke Littler as he prepares to take on social media stars in a popular influencer event. The fan-favourite Scotsman fell out of the PDC's ranks in 2024, having graced the Premier League in his hometown of Aberdeen to the chorus of bagpipes and partnered Peter Wright to World Cup glory. After losing his Tour Card, Henderson sought match practice on the MODUS Super Series and hasn't looked back. MODUS has been home to many a budding professional in its time, and none have climbed higher than The Nuke, who won back-to-back Super Series titles in 2023. Now, with Littler having inspired not only a younger generation, but also thrust the sport into such limelight that influencers have started to produce darts content, Henderson will once again partner with a social media star at the oche and credits the teenage sensation for the game's growth. "If somebody would have said I would be playing influencers 10 years ago, I'd have laughed at it," admitted Henderson, speaking as he prepares to star at the MODUS Super Series Influencer Darts Showdown live exclusively on Pluto TV. "I think, obviously, the Luke Littler effect has helped that side of things, like the youngsters coming through. But the event seems to work. "The public love watching it, and it's good to see some of the professionals getting involved and playing with them, and it's just such a relaxed day. "It's good for the sport as well. I think it gives the audience something different to watch. What he [Littler] has done, you know, in the past 12 months, everybody's thinking, 'Oh, I want a piece of that.' "Obviously, Luke Littlers only come along every so often, but it really has progressed as the younger generation coming through, everybody's buying dartboards now. "There are academies up and down the country. It's all good for the younger generation coming through. Luke has certainly put his mark on the sport, there's no question about that." Henderson, 52, alongside the likes of fellow pros Robert Thornton, Mervyn King, and Richie Burnett, will take to the MODUS stage alongside a set of social media personalities, with 12-year-old wonderkid Jayden Walker also in action on Sunday. "I did one of the first ones, played with AngryGinge. They're kind of very relaxed, and it was a very good day out," continued Henderson, who has previously been partnered with YouTuber AngryGinge, a friend of phenom Littler's. "I really enjoyed the last one, so it's good to see some of these guys that have never thrown a dart before. Good fun, and it's not too serious. "Obviously playing in the week, on the MODUS, you've got your serious head on, then Sunday comes, and you can just chill out and enjoy the company. "They're very young lads and they've got some very interesting backgrounds, so it's good to chill out, just have a game of darts and have a wee chat with them."
Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Luca Brecel admits he's 'not that interested' in winning World Snooker Championship
Luca Brecel has claimed he is 'not that interested' about winning the World Snooker Championship and is simply looking to 'entertain' fans at the Crucible with his style of play Former world title holder Luca Brecel has made it clear that bagging a second title at the Crucible isn't his top priority. Instead, the Belgian is determined to wow fans with his dazzling style of play. Having flirted with losing his Tour Card earlier this season, Brecel needs a strong performance at the Crucible to avoid slipping further down the global rankings. After clinching the World Snooker Championship in 2023, snatching victory from Mark Selby with an 18-15 win in the final and securing Belgium's first world champion crown, Brecel has found the going tough post-celebration. Despite questions surrounding his recent form, Brecel remains nonchalant, choosing to focus on delighting the fans rather than purely chasing wins, and admitting that victory in Sheffield is not priority No. 1. In conversation with Midnite, the 30-year-old likened his approach to snooker to football's maestro Ronaldinho, famed for his spellbinding skill on the pitch. "I just don't really think a lot about winning tournaments and stuff like that. I just like playing the game. I'm more of a Ronaldinho type of player in snooker," admitted Brecel. "So, it's all about just entertaining and fun! And also having a nice life around it, that's more important to me! So yeah, no pressure," he further explained. "I've not really thought about the possibility of winning a second world title. I'm not that interested in it. If it happens it happens, but if it doesn't, then it's all good. "I'm always going to be an outsider. If I play well, then anything can happen, you know, but I can also lose easily in the first round. That's just my game because I play really attacking, but if it works then I can win it. "I feel much more experienced coming in as a past winner but less pressure as well. It is going to be difficult to win the tournament but I'm playing well and we'll see how it goes." The snooker star is set to begin his World Championship quest against Ryan Day on Wednesday, with a potential clash against Judd Trump in the third round if both manage to navigate through their initial matches, reports the Express. Much like the reigning, but soon-to-be dethroned champion, Kyren Wilson, Brecel suffered a shocking deciding frame upset against David Gilbert in 2024 when returning to the Crucible to defend his crown. Since then, the baize hasn't exactly been friendly to the Belgian, though with a player of his raw talent, it would likely be foolish to underestimate Brecel, who has placed no further pressure upon himself this time around. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
