Latest news with #sportingevent
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Women's Open a 'massive step' for Wales
Wales. Golf. Porthcawl. Eyes from across the golfing world will be on the south Wales coastline this week as Royal Porthcawl hosts the AIG Women's Open. It is being billed as the biggest female sporting event ever staged in Wales, thanks to a combination of the tournament's status, its global reach and the fact that all the world's top players will be involved. For Gareth Bale, the football icon who is also a golf fanatic, the hope is that the staging of the Women's Open - the final golf major of 2025 - will have a long-term impact on the game in his homeland. "To have the largest women's sporting event ever to be held in Wales is amazing," Bale says. "It's a massive step in the right direction, especially for Welsh golf." Lydia Ko is the reigning Women's Open champion having seen off America's Lilia Vu - the victor in 2023 - to win at St Andrews in 2024. The New Zealander will be among the favourites this week, alongside a number of other contenders such as world number one Nelly Korda, from the USA, and Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul. Charley Hull and rising star Lottie Woad, for whom the Women's Open will be just a second event as a professional, are among those hoping to lead the charge for a first British winner since Georgia Hall's victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018. Ladies European Tour rookie Darcey Harry, a Royal Porthcawl member, will fly the flag for Wales as the 22-year-old plays just the second major of her young career. Australia's Grace Kim will aim for a second successive major victory having triumphed at the Evian Championship earlier in July, with fellow Australian Minjee Lee, Sweden's Maja Stark and Mao Sigao, of Japan, also looking for a second major success this year. "All those top players are going to be here and I think everyone in Wales will want to come out and witness some greatness," Bale says. 'There won't be any professional golf for me' Bale has played many of the world's finest golf courses – and describes Royal Porthcawl as being "right up there" with the best he has seen. The former Real Madrid forward has fine-tuned his own game since retiring from football in 2023, cutting his handicap from "three or four" when he was still playing to just 0.1 now. "I try to play twice a week if I can - if I can get another practice session it's always a bonus," he says. Should Bale get his wish, some of his time may soon be taken up by Cardiff City, with the 36-year-old involved in a consortium looking to buy the Bluebirds. As he speaks to BBC Sport Wales next to the 18th green at Porthcawl, Bale declines to comment on Cardiff as he focuses instead on golf. Fellow former professional footballers Jimmy Bullard and Peter Odemwingie are also fine golfers, with both making failed attempts to qualify for the men's Open Championship this summer. There has been speculation at times over whether Bale might fancy his chances in golf's professional ranks – but despite the fact that he is close to being a scratch player, he insists that is not going to happen. "When you are in golf and you see professional golfers play, compared to even your best stuff, it is nowhere near," he says. "Never mind just playing with your friends, they are doing it under the most severe pressure, in tournament conditions, in hard weather… so there won't be any professional [golf] for me. "But I love the game. I love watching it, I love growing it and that's why we are here." Hopes for Harry - and for more Welsh players to come Bale has explained previously how he hopes a sporting festival set up in his name will help produce more top-class Welsh professional golfers. Wales is short of golfing stars right now, though Harry's qualification – courtesy of her win at June's Hulencourt Women's Open in Belgium – means the home crowd will have one player to cheer at least. Bale's hope is that, in time, many more Welsh players will follow Harry's lead by making a mark in professional golf. "Everybody behind the scenes, with my golf championship, with Wales Golf, we are trying to promote golf, to get more kids playing golf," he says. "Hopefully in the future we will see more players like Darcey playing in these majors and hopefully winning them." Bale reckons experience of Porthcawl will be a "bonus" for Harry, who missed the cut as she made her major debut at the recent Evian Championship. "She is going to be very nervous but I am sure she is going to relish the opportunity, and hopefully she will have a bit more knowledge on the course than the rest," Bale says. As for who will emerge victorious, Bale believes the weather conditions will be significant. "If it's calm, the Americans maybe come into it a bit more," he says. "But if the wind blows and it gets a bit cold and wet, then I think the British, the Europeans, will come into it a bit more. "It's difficult to say, but someone's going to have to play very well to win here."
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Women's Open a 'massive step' for Wales
Wales. Golf. from across the golfing world will be on the south Wales coastline this week as Royal Porthcawl hosts the AIG Women's is being billed as the biggest female sporting event ever staged in Wales, thanks to a combination of the tournament's status, its global reach and the fact that all the world's top players will be involved. For Gareth Bale, the football icon who is also a golf fanatic, the hope is that the staging of the Women's Open - the final golf major of 2025 - will have a long-term impact on the game in his homeland."To have the largest women's sporting event ever to be held in Wales is amazing," Bale says."It's a massive step in the right direction, especially for Welsh golf." Lydia Ko is the reigning Women's Open champion having seen off America's Lilia Vu - the victor in 2023 - to win at St Andrews in New Zealander will be among the favourites this week, alongside a number of other contenders such as world number one Nelly Korda, from the USA, and Thailand's Jeeno Hull and rising star Lottie Woad, for whom the Women's Open will be just a second event as a professional, are among those hoping to lead the charge for a first British winner since Georgia Hall's victory at Royal Lytham & St Annes in European Tour rookie Darcey Harry, a Royal Porthcawl member, will fly the flag for Wales as the 22-year-old plays just the second major of her young Grace Kim will aim for a second successive major victory having triumphed at the Evian Championship earlier in July, with fellow Australian Minjee Lee, Sweden's Maja Stark and Mao Sigao, of Japan, also looking for a second major success this year."All those top players are going to be here and I think everyone in Wales will want to come out and witness some greatness," Bale says. 'There won't be any professional golf for me' Bale has played many of the world's finest golf courses – and describes Royal Porthcawl as being "right up there" with the best he has former Real Madrid forward has fine-tuned his own game since retiring from football in 2023, cutting his handicap from "three or four" when he was still playing to just 0.1 now."I try to play twice a week if I can - if I can get another practice session it's always a bonus," he Bale get his wish, some of his time may soon be taken up by Cardiff City, with the 36-year-old involved in a consortium looking to buy the he speaks to BBC Sport Wales next to the 18th green at Porthcawl, Bale declines to comment on Cardiff as he focuses instead on golf. Fellow former professional footballers Jimmy Bullard and Peter Odemwingie are also fine golfers, with both making failed attempts to qualify for the men's Open Championship this has been speculation at times over whether Bale might fancy his chances in golf's professional ranks – but despite the fact that he is close to being a scratch player, he insists that is not going to happen."When you are in golf and you see professional golfers play, compared to even your best stuff, it is nowhere near," he says. "Never mind just playing with your friends, they are doing it under the most severe pressure, in tournament conditions, in hard weather… so there won't be any professional [golf] for me."But I love the game. I love watching it, I love growing it and that's why we are here." Hopes for Harry - and for more Welsh players to come Bale has explained previously how he hopes a sporting festival set up in his name will help produce more top-class Welsh professional is short of golfing stars right now, though Harry's qualification – courtesy of her win at June's Hulencourt Women's Open in Belgium – means the home crowd will have one player to cheer at hope is that, in time, many more Welsh players will follow Harry's lead by making a mark in professional golf."Everybody behind the scenes, with my golf championship, with Wales Golf, we are trying to promote golf, to get more kids playing golf," he says."Hopefully in the future we will see more players like Darcey playing in these majors and hopefully winning them." Bale reckons experience of Porthcawl will be a "bonus" for Harry, who missed the cut as she made her major debut at the recent Evian Championship."She is going to be very nervous but I am sure she is going to relish the opportunity, and hopefully she will have a bit more knowledge on the course than the rest," Bale for who will emerge victorious, Bale believes the weather conditions will be significant."If it's calm, the Americans maybe come into it a bit more," he says."But if the wind blows and it gets a bit cold and wet, then I think the British, the Europeans, will come into it a bit more."It's difficult to say, but someone's going to have to play very well to win here."
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Childhood friends to take on Ottawa's first Ironman for cancer research
Participants get to swim, bike, and run throughout our great city in what is considered one of the most difficult sporting events in the world.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
British and Irish Lions set for debut at iconic 100,000-seat ‘greatest stadium on earth' first used nearly 200 years ago
THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS are set for a historic encounter in one of the world's most esteemed venues. The Lions will face Australia in their second test - after winning the first on Saturday in Brisbane - at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground. 5 5 5 5 5 And the big match is expected to be watched by a staggering capacity of 100,000. The legendary stadium, which opened way back in 1853, has hosted a series of sporting events in the past. That includes Aussie Rules, football, rugby league and of course cricket. And now it will host a British and Irish Lions Test match for the first time on Saturday. The crowd is expected to surpass the 84,000 that attended the Lions' deciders against Australia in Sydney back in 2001 and 2013. The Wallabies' stars are counting down the hours until they get to step on the "Mecca of sport". Rob Valetini told the BBC: "It's going to be really awesome for me. And Harry Potter added: "It is a Mecca of sport in my eyes." This comes after cricket legend Damien Fleming dubbed the ground as the "greatest sporting stadium in the world". Despite the fact Melbourne isn't known for rugby union, the locals love sport and the G so much that officials are confident both teams will enjoy a stunning atmosphere. The exact number of Lions fans attending the game is hard to pinpoint due to expats living Down Under. But it is estimated that more than 30,000 will make the long trip.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
FIFA World Cup 26 CEO discusses how Kansas City is preparing
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The World Cup comes to Kansas City in less than a year. Perhaps the largest sporting event in the world, spread out over five weeks. Kansas City is one of 16 North American host cities, with Arrowhead set to host six matches. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri The region will also be a base camp for up to three teams. As the weeks fly by, how prepared is the city when it comes to transportation, security, volunteers, and more? This week, FOX4 sits down with FIFA World Cup 26 CEO Pam Kramer to get some answers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
