Latest news with #qualifier
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong defender says team need better chemistry for crunch India Asian Cup qualifier
Yue Tze-nam has said Hong Kong needed to 'improve our chemistry' in time for their vital AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India at Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday. Supporter dissent towards Ashley Westwood following Thursday's 0-0 friendly draw with Nepal distracted from a performance low on quality and imagination in the final third. The city team have not scored in successive matches, following a sequence of 19 goals in five games. The otherwise impressive Yue blew one of Hong Kong's few clear-cut chances against the Nepalese, when he directed a 10-yard effort wildly off target. 'We didn't play as well as we can in the first half, or do enough to break through Nepal,' Yue said. 'For India, we need to improve our chemistry, and we need to be physically stronger.' The spotlight on Westwood's rift with fans also drew some attention away from Yue's return for a first start under the English head coach. A right-back by trade, he was pushed forward to fill the attacking role vacated by the injured Everton Camargo. 'I needed time to get used to it, but it was no problem – I will play wherever the coach puts me,' Yue said.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
China seek perfection in do-or-die World Cup qualifier clash against Indonesia
China will fight to stay alive in the hunt for a World Cup spot with hopes of a 'perfect performance' when they face Indonesia in a crucial qualifier on Thursday, coach Branko Ivankovic said. Advertisement China stand on the brink of elimination from World Cup qualification – a defeat at Indonesia's sold-out, 76,000-seater Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Thursday would end any chance of the Chinese team reaching the tournament for only the second time in their history. 'Tomorrow will be a massive game for us. I hope all the team will have a perfect performance,' Ivankovic told reporters ahead of the clash in Jakarta. 'We are well aware of the pressure playing in Indonesia's home stadium, and we've been preparing the players to turn that pressure into motivation. 'Indonesia has strengthened its squad with naturalised players, making this a difficult match for us. We need to stay focused and avoid any distractions.' Zhang Yuning scores China's second goal in their 2-1 win over Indonesia last October. Photo Reuters In their previous qualifier, China lost to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh despite having reignited their World Cup hopes with wins against Indonesia and Bahrain.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ryder Cup icon's son, 21, misses out on US Open spot in sudden death play-off after amateur produced sublime final round in Florida
Luke Poulter, the son of European Ryder Cup icon Ian Poulter, has missed out on a place in next week's US Open by the most brutal of margins after losing a sudden-death play-off in Florida on Tuesday. The 21-year-old amateur, a student at the University of Florida, fired a sublime, bogey-free 65 in his second round at Emerald Dunes Golf Club to finish tied for fourth at the 36-hole qualifier. With only four progressing to the season's third major at Oakmont, the world No 3,228 went on to be defeated in the shootout against Austen Truslow, an American who has eight PGA Tour starts to his name. Poulter, chasing his first major appearance barely a year after suffering a stress fracture in his back, finished ahead of Graeme McDowell and Nicolai Hojgaard, among other renowned professionals. He must now rely on withdrawals to make the 156-strong field at the US Open. 'I can't believe how impressive today's 65 was to get into that position,' Ian Poulter said. 'We keep using this as incredible experience and we keep getting better. An alternate spot but not sure what number it will be.' A day earlier, Tayler Weaver, another son of a sporting father, went a step further by sealing qualification. The 22-year-old, whose dad Jason rode more than 1,000 winners over his career as a jockey and is now a respected pundit, beat two-time major champion Zach Johnson to one of the five spots available at Piedmont Driving Club in Georgia. Like Poulter, Weaver has been blazing a path through the US college circuit after leaving home in Newmarket. He said: 'This is definitely up there with my biggest achievement. Playing in a major championship is a dream of mine and it still hasn't quite sunk in that I will be teeing it up at Oakmont.'
Telegraph
5 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Ian Poulter's son just misses out on US Open slot
The Poulter family came so close to once again being represented in next week's US Open. However, it was not Ryder Cup legend Ian who suffered play-off agony in the final qualifier for the season's third major – but his 21-year-old old son, Luke. However, there is still a slight chance that Poulter Jnr might tee it up at Oakmont as one of the primary reserves. It would be the least he deserves. Poulter staged a remarkable display at the weather-delayed shoot-out in Florida, showing the competitive gumption of his father to take American Austen Truslow – who not so long ago was a member of the PGA Tour – to sudden death in the fight to gain the last place in the field. In doing so, the University of Florida student left behind the likes of Rickie Fowler, Max Homa and Sergio García, who failed to get nearly so close in their respective 36-holers. To emphasise the level of Poulter's achievement, Nicolai Hojgaard played alongside him in the same qualifier. But the Dane, who made his Ryder Cup debut two years ago, could not live with his playing partner as he added a 65 to his morning 69 to reach 10 under par and give himself the opportunity of tackling Truslow for the final of the four spots on offer at Emerald Dunes, in West Palm Beach. After beginning the second round with an eagle and two birdies, Poulter looked likely to go through automatically. But after falling one short – Americans Justin Hicks, Phil Barbaree and Frankie Harris all advanced on 11 under – Poulter watched in despair as Truslow, a golfer best known for chipping one-handed, denied him a major debut. He must only take positives from this, however. Two other factors made his feat yet more special. First, he had to go through local qualifying just to reach this stage and the fact there were more than 10,000 entrants should put it in perspective. (Ian, now on the LIV circuit, did not enter, having not appeared in the US Open for three years). Secondly, Luke fractured his back last year and was forced out of the game for seven months. It was a huge and deeply worrying blow for an up-and-comer, who in his only previous start in a top-level pro-event – the Asian Tour Series in Newcastle in 2023 – finished in the top 25. But he remained resilient and when he celebrated his first college victory in March, a few months after he returned to competition, Poulter snr could not contain his emotions. 'We couldn't be more proud of Luke for his first collegiate individual event win,' Poulter posted on X. 'This means so much to him most importantly. Having to sit out for seven months last year with a fractured L4 [vertebra] was not easy. But hard work, an incredible mindset and a wonderful team of people around him to keep him focused and positive.' Blessedly, Poulter Jnr does not have much time to stew on this near miss. At the end of this week, he will attempt to channel his father's team-golf qualities when he plays for the Internationals in the Palmer Cup. The annual match against the Americans features university students and this year's three-day event takes place in South Carolina. There is another Englishman in the visiting side in Tyler Weaver and the highly rated 22-year-old was successful in his attempt to earn an Oakmont berth at a qualifier on Monday. Weaver boasts his own famous sporting father – the former jockey Jason Weaver.
CNN
5 days ago
- General
- CNN
Max Homa carries his own bag and falls just short of qualifying for the US Open
Max Homa stood out more than usual Monday in a US Open qualifier filled with PGA Tour players. He was the only one carrying his own bag. Homa didn't have a caddie and didn't feel like talking about it, regardless of how much attention it was getting on social media. He and his caddie of two months, Bill Harke, are no longer together, according to a person informed of the split who said only that Harke 'lost his job.' The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because word of the separation needed to come from Homa. And Homa didn't offer much insight. 'I'd much rather talk about the golf instead of all the questions about the caddie,' Homa said. 'I'm good. Just hoofed it 36.' As for the golf? 'It's going to probably be heartbreaking, but it's alright,' Homa said. 'I haven't carried my bag 36 holes in a while, so I'm a little tired.' He wound up hoofing it 38 holes. Homa's three-putt for par on his 36th hole at Kinsale put him in a five-man playoff for the final spot to get to the US Open. Cameron Young won it with a 12-foot birdie. Homa then lost a playoff for an alternate spot on the next hole. When asked about his attitude, Homa dropped one clue about the split. 'It seems to be better than when someone is standing next to me for some reason,' he said. 'I might need to walk by myself more. Maybe I just looked at it as a nice, peaceful walk. Probably got to battle some demons and have no one to lean on. Maybe that helps a little bit. There's no one … everything is me. The battle helped that a little bit.' The qualifier at Kinsale offered six spots to the US Open at Oakmont next week. Homa was around the bubble most of the day. He left a chip in the rough on his ninth hole of the second round and made double bogey, followed that with a bogey and then responded with two straight birdies. He looked to be safe with a second shot into 25 feet on the par-5 ninth hole, his last one. But the uphill putt turned around the hole and came back some six feet, and he three-putted for par to finish at 5-under 139. Homa didn't imagine being in this position a year ago when he was No. 10 in the world, but he has changed equipment and changed coaches. He split with his caddie of six years right before the Masters, and then he had no caddie at all. Homa said he never felt the fatigue because he was around the cutoff line all day, pushing forward. After he three-putted his final hole was when it started to hit him. He said not having anyone to consult over a shot led him to be a little more conservative, not a bad tactic on a course he doesn't know all too well. Asked one last time about the caddie situation, Homa whispered, 'I wanted to carry for 36 holes. Everyone is going to ask me that.' Homa is not entirely out of the US Open. He is playing the Canadian Open this week, though he likely would have to win to get into the top 60 and qualify.
