Latest news with #qualifying
New York Times
39 minutes ago
- General
- New York Times
Carrying his own bag, Max Homa fails in bid to qualify for U.S. Open
The thing about 'Golf's Longest Day' is that it can get even longer. Not only did Max Homa experience the annual agony of U.S. Open final qualifying Monday, but he added an extra hurdle to his day by carrying his clubs for 36 holes in regulation play and then for two more thanks to what would be an unsuccessful playoff. Advertisement More than eight hours of walking did not earn Homa a spot in next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. The seven-time PGA Tour winner found himself loading up a Cobra carry bag and hoofing it in a tournament for the first time in years. He has recently dropped out of the top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and without an automatic berth into the major championship, Homa needed to earn one of the six spots up for grabs in the Columbus, Ohio, qualifier to play his way into the field. Ten separate 36-hole qualifiers were held around the country Monday, with hundreds of players vying for those coveted U.S. Open invitations. Forty-seven made it through, including amateurs, past PGA Tour winners, and a dentist and former Oakmont caddie, Matt Vogt. It looked like Homa might have a chance to get through at the Columbus qualifier, held at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club, after he posted an opening-round 3-under 69. He floated around the qualifying bubble for the rest of the day until his 36th hole, a reachable par-5, where he three-putted for par. A birdie would have been an automatic in. Instead, Homa entered a sudden-death playoff with those at 5-under: Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler, Eric Cole and Chase Johnson. Young birdied the first playoff hole to snag the spot. Erik Van Rooyen, Bud Cauley, Lanton Griffin, Justin Lower and Harrison Ott also made it to Oakmont from the Columbus qualifying site. But Homa was the only golfer on the course sans caddie. He carried his bag after recently splitting with his caddie, Bill Harke, per the Associated Press. Before working with Harke, Homa had his childhood best friend, Joe Greiner, caddie for him. Greiner recently walked away from the job after teaming up with Homa for nearly a decade. '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.' Homa told the AP on Monday. Homa's game has been a matter of peaks and valleys since tying for third at the 2024 Masters. A gnarly concoction of equipment changes, swing remodeling and mental demons has contributed to the struggles. He performed well at the Masters again this season — a T12 finish — but has since failed to crack the top 30 in a PGA Tour event. 'To be completely honest — I don't know what I'm getting out of this,' Homa told The Athletic on the Sunday of the PGA Championship. 'But it's my job. So I'll keep trying and hopefully something great happens.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- General
- Reuters
Netherlands 'obligated' to top World Cup qualifying group, says Koeman
June 3 (Reuters) - The Netherlands are obligated to win their World Cup qualifying group, coach Ronald Koeman said on Tuesday as they began preparation for their opening Group G clash against Finland in Helsinki on Saturday. It will be their first match in their bid to qualify for next year's finals in North America, followed by a second fixture on Tuesday when they host Malta in Groningen. The Dutch belatedly kick off their qualifiers because they played in the Nations League quarter-finals in March where they drew twice with Spain before being eliminated on penalties. "Maybe it is easier to play football against Spain," Koeman told a press conference. "Because no one expects anything from us then. "Finland and Malta are different types of opponents. We will have more of the ball, and they try to stop us. "We are obligated to finish first in this group, but we do not underestimate anyone and we need to bring the energy that we have shown in our last few matches." The group also includes Lithuania and Poland, who top the standings after two wins in March. The winners qualify for the World Cup while the runners-up advances to a playoff competition. "We want to be good for all the matches and perform much more consistently," Koeman said. "We have shown that against one of the best countries in the world, which gives us confidence." One problem Koeman admitted, however, was the lack of a recognised centre forward. "We don't have top strikers now. I don't know what is coming through the ranks with the 15-16-year-olds, but it is clear that at the moment we do not have the classic striker of the past. Players like (Patrick) Kluivert, (Klaas-Jan) Huntelaar, and (Ruud) Van Nistelrooy. You don't see players like them around anymore." Koeman is not sure who would lead the line in the qualifiers over the next week. "It will probably be Memphis (Depay) or Wout (Weghorst) at the top of the attack," he said. "But (Cody) Gakpo and (Donyell) Malen are all possibilities in that position."
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Amateur Tyler Weaver books spot at US Open
British amateur Tyler Weaver has secured his place at the US Open, while Max Homa and Rickie Fowler failed to qualify. Homa, who finished tied for third at the 2024 Masters, has struggled this year, recently splitting with his caddie and carrying his own bag at the qualifying event in Columbus, Ohio. Cameron Young claimed the final spot in a five-man play-off that included Homa and Fowler, while South Africa's Erik van Rooyen topped the leaderboard to qualify. Qualifying hopefuls played 36 holes across 10 venues in the US and Canada to compete for 47 spots in the US Open. Matt Wallace secured a spot in Ontario, providing a potential Ryder Cup boost for England.
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 hours ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Qatar Fighting to Keep World Cup Dreams Alive, Says Lopetegui
Qatar are within "touching distance" of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and will go all out against Iran and Uzbekistan over the next week to keep their dream alive, says new coach Julen Lopetegui. Qatar, who hosted the 2022 World Cup but have never reached the tournament via the qualification route, cannot finish in the top two in Group A to earn an automatic berth in 2027 but can still secure a spot in the playoffs for teams finishing third and fourth. The Gulf side are currently fourth on 10 points, four ahead of Kyrgyzstan. Former Spain and Real Madrid coach Lopetegui takes charge of Qatar for the first time when they face group leaders Iran in Doha on Thursday before they close out the third round by visiting second-placed Uzbekistan on June 10. "Qatar has never qualified for a World Cup through the qualifiers before, and it's a dream we're determined to fight for," Lopetegui told FIFA's website in an interview published on Tuesday. "It's within touching distance. We've got two games left to play, both of which will be incredibly difficult, and in quick succession. "However, despite all the difficulties, we're determined to give it our best shot to earn ourselves another chance of qualifying in October." Qatar have enjoyed considerable continental success in recent years, winning back-to-back Asian Cup titles, but Lopetegui said they are in a transitional phase and still finding their feet. "There's no doubt in anyone's mind that this generation has achieved some very impressive things in the Asian Cup," added the Spaniard, who was appointed coach in May. "However, generations come to an end, and now we need to turn our attention to starting the process again, which will be no mean feat. While we do that, we'll be doing our best to compete, which is the most important thing in the short term."
Arab News
9 hours ago
- General
- Arab News
Qatar fighting to keep World Cup dreams alive, says Lopetegui
Qatar are within 'touching distance' of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and will go all out against Iran and Uzbekistan over the next week to keep their dream alive, says new coach Julen Lopetegui. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
