Latest news with #ply
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Rory McIlroy walks the talk as he prepares to clock air miles to grow golf globally
Rory McIlroy tees off on the third hole during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. PHOTO: IMAGN IMAGES Even before he became only the sixth man to complete golf's career Grand Slam with a win for the ages at the Masters Tournament in April, Rory McIlroy already had a voice in the game, and a big one too. He often spoke with candour, boldness and purpose on issues that mattered especially during his time as a policy board member on the PGA Tour, and along with Tiger Woods, he is among a rare few who is highly respected by his peers and the sport's administrators. The main thing is – McIlroy walks the talk. When LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, emerged on to the scene a few years ago and lured some big stars with millions, the world No. 2 from Northern Ireland stayed loyal to the PGA Tour and backed it up with his reasons. 'It's not for me,' McIlroy said candidly. 'I'm too much of a traditionalist. I love winning golf tournaments and looking at the trophy and seeing that Sam Snead won this trophy or Ben Hogan or Gene Sarazen or Jack Nicklaus or Gary Player, Tiger Woods, Nick (Faldo), whoever it is. The people that came before me.' While the United States is now his second home and primary playground, the 36-year-old is sticking true to his word about the need for him and other stars to ply their trade internationally and reach out to new fans. At the start of 2024, he spoke passionately about the importance for golfers to broaden their horizons and help maintain the momentum of golf's growth and participation data around the world, which picked up pace following Covid-19. 'If everyone is talking about growing the game,' McIlroy said in 2024, 'especially if these investors are going to come into our game and they want a return on their capital, I think everyone needs to start thinking more globally around it.' He will live up to those very words, with three big overseas trips confirmed for the end of the year. The five-time major champion has committed to the Australian Open in 2025 and 2026, and he will tee up in the inaugural DP World India Championship in October. Earlier this week, McIlroy confirmed a return to November's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, with all three tournaments sanctioned by the DP World Tour. The announcements are massive boosts for local organisers, with Kapil Dev, an Indian cricket legend turned golf administrator, saying it is 'a landmark moment for Indian golf and its fans'. McIlroy will become the first reigning Masters champion to tee up at historic Delhi Golf Club from October 16 to 19 and will no doubt be a crowd-puller, as was reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau who proved to be a hit at the International Series India on the Asian Tour earlier this season. Such is McIlroy's mega appeal that it was reported Golf Australia pulled off the biggest single day of ticket sales in the event's 121-year history a day after it was announced he would play at Royal Melbourne from December 4 to 7. He won the Australian Open in 2013, a tournament where past champions include Sarazen, Arnold Palmer, Nicklaus and Player. The Australian Open has always been regarded by McIlroy as one of golf's jewels, and he hopes his two-year commitment will deliver new impetus for golf in the sports-mad nation. 'The success of the Australian Open is important for the global game, and I'm incredibly confident it will thrive again this year,' he said. Melbourne has previously staged the Presidents Cup in 1998, 2011 and 2019, with all three events generating a combined economic impact of more than A$121 million (S$100.8 million), and over 315,000 spectators, including 47,000 visitors to the state of Victoria. Throughout his career, McIlroy has traversed the international airways to compete on golf's finest fairways and has triumphed in places like Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai, and made appearances in countries like Japan and even Malaysia. Not only will he showcase his extraordinary talent which has earned him 29 wins on the PGA Tour and 19 titles on the DP World Tour, he is expected to spend some valuable time with junior golfers. 'I'm excited to not only tee it up in India for the first time but also visit a country that I've always wanted to explore,' said McIlroy. 'I've always enjoyed playing a global schedule and as I have previously said, there is tremendous potential to grow golf further in the country. This is a great opportunity, and I can't wait to play in front of Indian golf fans.' With McIlroy walking the talk, the impact of his appearances in India, Abu Dhabi and Australia will be astronomical. The writer has worked in marketing and communications for the PGA Tour and Asian Tour over the last 25 years. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Heavy vehicles ignore ban, jam Ghodbunder highway
Thane: Motorists faced major inconvenience as hundreds of heavy freight vehicles clogged the Ghodbunder Highway, defying restrictions imposed on their movement for four days to facilitate prompt repair work of the highway stretch at Gaimukh Ghat. The Thane traffic police banned all heavy and multi-axle freight vehicles from using the highway in both directions from Saturday to Monday midnight, as two lanes at the ghat were shut for repairs. However, many transporters — particularly from JNPT, Nashik, and Mumbai — apparently ignored the advisory, causing a massive pile-up at the mouth of the highway at Majiwada starting Friday night. This compelled the authorities to allow the trucks to ply toward Borivli, a move that backfired when these vehicles got stuck in the ghat section, leading to an 8-km tailback stretching to Kapurbawdi by morning. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The situation worsened when several truck drivers abandoned their vehicles on the highway, further reducing lane availability and disrupting traffic. "The restriction for trucks was meant to prevent congestion at the repair site, as multi-axle trucks would struggle with frequent lane switching. But our plan failed," a senior traffic official admitted. "We deployed extra personnel and diverted stranded trucks from the Borivali-bound lanes to take U-turns at Manpada, Anand Nagar, and Waghbil junctions. We also tracked down truck owners and warned of legal action if vehicles weren't cleared." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Despite fewer vehicles on Saturday morning, office-goers still faced delays. Hemant Gupta reported being stuck for hours, stating, "Heavy vehicles were supposed to be banned, but they were everywhere. No updates, no traffic cops advising commuters." Neha Thakker was stranded at Owala for 45 minutes and had to cancel a meeting in Borivali. While the city limits remained clear by evening, motorists Jayant Bhat and Keyur Gondalia complained of congestion at the repair site even by evening. Transporters, already frustrated by frequent delays, claimed they were given too little time to plan alternate routes. The Ghodbunder Highway is a crucial connector for traffic between Gujarat, Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, the Konkan region, and Nashik, with over one lakh vehicles using it daily.
NZ Herald
24-04-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Black Caps: What does New Zealand Cricket's American investment mean for the future of tests?
The move will allow NZC a vehicle to allow top Kiwi players to ply their trade in the lucrative franchise league, at a time when the national organisation faces a fight to keep its best and brightest centrally contracted. Significantly, the move also gives NZC a pathway for up-and-coming coaches to take part in a franchise T20 setting, and gain experience that could be vital for the national set-up. However, while the move will be beneficial both financially and practically for NZC, given Major League Cricket is valued at more than $200 million, questions will be asked about what makes way. Cricket is already struggling to reach a balance between the international game and the franchise circuit. With the number of franchise competitions increasing, and the number of matches with it, there have been fears for the future of test cricket. In 2019, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced the World Test Championship as a means of keeping the purest format relevant, in two-year cycles culminating in a final to determine a winner. And yet, six years on and approaching the tournament's third decider, it's hard to gauge whether the World Test Championship has yielded the desired results, despite the five-day format being as competitive as it's ever been. Earlier this year, reports revealed discussions between Australia, India and England's respective administrators, exploring the possibility of introducing tiers of test cricket. This week, Wisden – colloquially referred to as cricket's bible – used its annual almanack to criticise the administration of the international game and the World Test Championship as a 'shambles'. Financially, it costs most nations more money to stage a test match than the revenue they earn from doing so. Barring cricket's 'big three' of India, Australia and England, test cricket is largely funded by the financial windfalls of the shortest format. New Zealand is not spared from that. But, Weenink explains, the national organisation's expansion into T20 will allow for test matches to continue to thrive. 'Kiwis still love test cricket first and foremost – as do I,' Weenink told the Herald. 'Test cricket, I think, is actually in a good space. 'The World Test Championship – for all the issues around the format – has actually worked, in terms of generating interest in test cricket. 'We see that test matches in New Zealand are extremely well supported, and they will continue to be. 'I don't think New Zealanders as a whole 'like' T20, but they are slowly beginning to realise how important it is for the cricket ecosystem. 'Without T20, we probably wouldn't have test cricket. It very much supports the other forms of the game. Kiwis probably don't quite get how big and important the T20 game is, but it is absolutely critical to the future of cricket full stop, including test cricket.' Regardless, Black Caps supporters might have to endure a bit of short-term pain for long-term gain as far as tests go. The calendar year of 2025 will see New Zealand play just five tests: two away to Zimbabwe, and three at home to the West Indies in the Kiwi summer. That came after the recent home summer, where three tests against England was all fans had before a diet of white-ball cricket – albeit largely as preparation for the ICC's Champions Trophy in February and March. Weenink, though, promises that test cricket will by no means take a back seat as far as the Black Caps' fixture list goes. Advertise with NZME. 'These schedules are put in place years in advance. The following year, we've got an absolute bumper year of test cricket. 'We have a test against Ireland, three against England in England. We have the West Indies come here for two, Australia for four and Sri Lanka for two. 'There might only be five coming up this year, but the following year we've got a huge amount. 'Test cricket in New Zealand is thriving. Financially, it is still a challenge, and white-ball cricket will continue to subsidise it.' Closer to home, investing in Major League Cricket will also benefit New Zealand's domestic stage. At present, New Zealand is the only major cricketing nation without a franchise league model. Instead, the Super Smash is made up of the six major associations – Auckland, Northern Districts, Wellington, Central Districts, Canterbury and Otago. Advertise with NZME. And while that might mean NZC competes on an uneven playing field in terms of having a leading T20 product, it has allowed one full generation of players to progress into a world-leading Black Caps side, with signs another is on the way. Financially, it would be a huge task to change that without heavy outside investment, most likely in the form of private equity. And while Weenink rules nothing out, including an entry into Australia's Big Bash League, this move will give NZC scope to see what is possible at home, through the financial windfall that could follow. 'This is us dipping our toes in the water and looking to diversify our revenue streams,' Weenink added. 'Nothing is off the cards, including potentially putting a team in the Big Bash, if that came up. 'We see this as complementary. In one sense, it is the chance to have our cake and eat it too. 'We're investing in a domestic franchise, it just happens to not be in New Zealand. The revenue that we're going to earn we're going to invest in cricket here. 'So far, we haven't had to privatise or franchise the Super Smash. The issue with the Super Smash is that we're a small market, our time zones are not friendly to India. 'However, we're still going to look at what we do with the Super Smash. As part of our strategic plan, we need to continue to look at all parts of our business – including the Super Smash – and say is there a better way to run it? 'We'll be continuing to do that, making this investment doesn't stop us doing that.' NZC's move follows similar developments with Australian state sides and Indian teams. The Washington Freedom are backed by Australia's New South Wales Cricket, while the San Francisco Unicorns have the same relationship with Cricket Victoria. Outside of those two teams, Indian Premier League sides Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings own teams. Still, as is the case with any investment, NZC's venture can be seen as a risk. While the US is the largest commercial market, other sporting sides have struggled to break ground outside traditional American sports. In particular, Major League Rugby has seen multiple teams fail financially, including Rugby New York, which had a heavy New Zealand influence. In contrast, though, Major League Soccer has flourished, backed largely by expat communities from South and Central America, and a growing support of local fans. And it's that expat community that NZC will bank on when 2027 rolls around. 'Like any investment, we did full due diligence on who we're investing with, what we're investing in, and what the risks and opportunities were,' Weenink said. 'We looked at other sports, the difference for cricket – we think – are a couple of things. 'There's been the recent World Cup there, there's the 2028 Olympics in LA, which will be a huge springboard for cricket in the USA. 'Thirdly, it's actually already a very lucrative and large cricket market. There's 25 million South Asian diaspora there, who are pretty well-heeled. 'After India, I understand, it's the most lucrative cricket market globally. It may not necessarily ever become a mainstream US sport, but there's a big enough ex-pat population where cricket is part of their fabric to make it a lucrative and compelling market.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Depraved' sexual predator who raped woman and secretly filmed others is jailed
A 'depraved and calculating sexual predator' who raped a woman and secretly filmed three others in his home has been jailed for 10 years and seven months. Craig France, 33, would deliberately pursue women in the Peterborough area late at night, before luring them to 'after-parties' at his home, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. Once there, France would ply his victims with drink before committing sexual offences against them, offences which he filmed and photographed. Cambridgeshire Police said that there may be other victims who have yet to be identified. They said France, of Hammonds Drive, Fengate, Peterborough, admitted at an earlier hearing at Cambridge Crown Court to rape, sexual assault, three counts of voyeurism and exposure. He was sentenced at the same court on Monday to 10 years and seven months years in prison, police said. He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Detective Constable Em Scates, who investigated, said: 'It's clear France is a depraved and calculating sexual predator and a danger to women.' Police said France targeted young women at nightclubs and took them to his home where he had set up hidden cameras. France recorded himself carrying out sexual acts on some of his victims while they were unconscious or sleeping. His offending came to light in August last year after a woman reported he had raped her two years previously, and she later became aware he had filmed it. The victim had been given a shot of 'sambuca' by France, while they were in his garden, and the next thing she knew, she woke up in his bed with no recollection of what had happened, but knew something untoward had taken place, police said. Officers found more than 6,000 images and videos of several unidentified women who were secretly filmed at his home between March 2022 and September 2023. They also found the video which showed the victim being raped by France, while she appeared to be 'lifeless'. It showed France carrying the victim, who was unable to stand, before dropping her in a hot tub and then dragging her on a concrete floor. A further three victims were identified from the videos and images. Officers also found a clip where France was naked in daylight by the side of a road in the Broxbourne area of Hertfordshire. Andrew Young, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Craig France is a deplorable predator who targeted young women and established their trust, before ruthlessly exploiting them. 'By filming and photographing the offences, France built up an extensive set of images which were stored in his phone, all kept for his own sexual gratification. 'He and he alone is to blame for his disgusting offending.'
