Tom Kim the Presidents Cup ‘secret weapon’ for Internationals

International Team golfer Tom Kim hits his tee shot on the 15th hole during a practice round for the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. (USA TODAY Sports)
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Updated 22 September 2022
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Tom Kim the Presidents Cup ‘secret weapon’ for Internationals

  • Internationals assistant captain K.J. Choi said Kim “has quality and a strong mind. He’s very personable, very fun. He has good English, better than mine.”
  • Kim’s excitement is infectious, teammates said

CHARLOTTE: On the 12th hole at Quail Hollow on Wednesday during his final practice round for the Presidents Cup, 20-year-old South Korean star Kim Joo-hyung botched a math calculation.

“Is that college math?” teased Internationals assistant captain Geoff Ogilvy.

“Dude, I didn’t even graduate from high school,” Kim said.

The world No. 22 and youngest player on the global squad has been a joker to keep the locker room lighthearted as the Internationals prepare to face the US, who lead the rivalry 11-1-1 after eight consecutive triumphs.

Kim, nicknamed Tom for his youthful love of Thomas the Tank Engine, is the Seoul-born son of a teaching professional who grew up in Australia, the Philippines and Thailand and turned pro in May 2018 at age 15.

He finished third in last year’s Scottish Open, earned PGA playing rights for this past season and won his first PGA title last month in nearby Greensboro.

“Tom could be our little secret weapon,” said teammate Adam Scott. “He’s a confident young kid. He has won on the PGA Tour and this is the next challenge in his career. He’s obviously good enough to do it on the big stage. This is his first real opportunity.”

Kim, one of a record four South Koreans on the squad, accepts his role as a motivator with aplomb.

“I’m the youngest guy on the team and I’m a big jokester, so playing that role, I feel like I can bring good energy and enlightenment to the team,” he said. “When things get tough, I feel I can bring people up. That’s going to be my role.”

Compatriot Im Sung-jae, who delivered 3.5 points for the Internationals in 2019, is fine with the “baby” antics.

“He has got a great sense of humor, brings a lot of positive energy and obviously he’s the youngest player, so he’s kind of the baby,” Im said. “Brings a lot of humor to keep the energy very lighthearted.”

Kim has found a new audience for his humor.

“I just like to joke around a lot. I’m lucky enough that they don’t give me (abuse) for it,” he said. “It’s a great vibe, definitely enjoyable in the team room.”

That could carry over to the course if he is matched against US pal Scottie Scheffler, the top-ranked Masters champion.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to trash talk to Jordan Spieth. I’m not that close enough,” Kim said. “But I think Scottie, he gives me a really hard time. It would be fun if I could play with him. We’d probably give each other a hard time.”

Internationals assistant captain K.J. Choi said Kim “has quality and a strong mind. He’s very personable, very fun. He has good English, better than mine.”

That, Scott said, could be a key link in uniting players from all over the world.

“He’s going to help bring our team together even more,” Scott said. “It really helps integrate our team.”

“He’s obviously speaking perfect English,” 2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama said. “He’s mixing with the team really well. A great player. I feel like he’s got a great tee shot and short game.”

Kim’s excitement is infectious, teammates said.

“To just come in here with an energy like this is the biggest moment of his life, it kind of brings everyone else into that frame of mind,” said Australian Cam Davis.

“He’s super fluent and super funny so he really helps the whole team mesh,” said Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz. “That’s only going to help us.”


Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

Updated 16 October 2024
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Ronaldo frustrated as Scotland hold Portugal

GLASGOW: Scotland frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a 0-0 draw at Hampden on Tuesday to avoid losing five consecutive competitive games for the first time ever.
The home side needed a wonder save from Craig Gordon to deny Bruno Fernandes a winner in the closing stages, but held out to secure their first point in the top tier of the Nations League.
Portugal remain on top of Group A1 but were made to wait to book their place in March’s quarter-finals.
On his 216th international appearance, Ronaldo made his 200th start for his country, more than 21 years on from his first.
However, the 39-year-old failed to add to his 133 Portugal goals and stormed off the field at full-time ranting at the officials.
Scotland have won just one of their last 16 games — a 2-0 friendly victory over Gibraltar in June — and remain without a victory in a competitive match for over a year.
But Steve Clarke’s men battled hard to stop the rot in Glasgow.
Scotland even had the best chance of the first half inside the opening five minutes when Scott McTominay headed too close to Diogo Costa from point-blank range.
Portugal quickly took control of possession without creating clear-cut chances.
Francisco Conceicao spooned over early in the second period from Ronaldo’s lay-off.
Ronaldo then fired inches wide after making himself room for a shot amid a flurry of desperate challenges from Scottish defenders.
But it was Fernandes who had the best chance to claim all three points when the Manchester United captain’s powerful low strike was brilliantly parried by Gordon and collected at the second attempt by the 41-year-old goalkeeper.
Scotland are still on course for relegation from the top tier of the Nations League as they trail Poland, who drew 3-3 with Croatia, by three points with two games remaining.
Croatia sit second, three points behind the Portuguese, who they host next month.


More World Cup woe as Saudi Arabia draw a blank against Bahrain

Updated 15 October 2024
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More World Cup woe as Saudi Arabia draw a blank against Bahrain

  • Earlier, Australia had drawn 1-1 with leaders Japan in Saitama
  • Salem Al-Dawsari’s saved penalty proves costly

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia were held to a 0-0 draw by Bahrain in Jeddah on Tuesday in another disappointing performance and result in the third round of qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

A first-half missed penalty from Salem Al-Dawsari — his second in four games in Group C — proved costly and meant that the Green Falcons failed to climb above Australia into second place.

The Socceroos had earlier drawn 1-1 with leaders Japan in Saitama, to move on to five points, one above Saudi Arabia and five behind the Samurai Blue.

The match had given Roberto Mancini’s men the chance to move two points above Australia into second ahead of their meeting in Melbourne next month, but after collecting only one point now from two home games in Jeddah in the space of five days, the heat is on the Italian head coach.

In reality this was another plodding performance, albeit against well-organized, hard-working and physically strong opponents. There were few moments of quality and few chances.

Saudi Arabia started brightly, however, with Firas Al-Buraikan forcing an early save from Ebrahim Lutfalla after some smart attacking interplay, but there was an even bigger chance before long.

There was a lengthy VAR delay in the 13th minute as Marwan Al-Sahafi went down in the area under a challenge from Abdulla Al-Khalasi. After almost three minutes the referee, who had not originally pointed to the spot, went to the pitchside monitor and, almost inevitably, changed his decision. It looked like the right one and it gave Al-Dawsari the opportunity to settle the nerves at the King Abdullah Sports City and banish memories of his miss against Indonesia in the opening game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

The 2022 Asian Player of the Year also had to take his time and it was almost six minutes after the initial foul when he took the kick. It was not the best of penalties and Lutfalla stood his ground and then made a diving save to his left. The feeling of energy leaving the stadium was palpable.

It took the hosts some time to get going again and they could even have been behind at the break.

Bahrain’s best chance in the first half came in the seventh minute of added time as Al-Khalasi almost redeemed himself for giving away the penalty but, from the left corner of the area, his low shot was well-blocked by Ahmed Al-Kassar. The goalkeeper was in action moments later too, flying through the air to push away a ball that had come off the head of Al-Buraikan.

The Green Falcons had some half-chances early in the second half and had a rare opportunity with 11 minutes remaining. Abdullah Radif ran into the area and made space for himself, only to shoot tamely into the arms of the grateful Lutfalla.

Bahrain had to work even harder after 87 minutes when they were reduced to 10 men, the visitors having used all their substitutes before Sayed Hashim Isa went off injured.

Given the 11 minutes of added time, there was still hope for Saudi Arabia, especially after Al-Dawsari went down in the area under a challenge from the goalkeeper. The referee was not interested in the penalty, however, and, this time, neither was VAR.

Musab Al-Juwayr sent an enticing low cross into the six-yard box in the 101st minute but there was no one able to connect to win the game.

That was that, and only one team were celebrating at the final whistle and it was not Saudi Arabia.

To compound his misery, Mancini appeared to exchange words with angry fans as he left the pitch following the end of the match. There is a lot of work to do.


Bangladesh fires cricket coach for allegedly assaulting a player at World Cup

Updated 15 October 2024
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Bangladesh fires cricket coach for allegedly assaulting a player at World Cup

  • The board has served notice to the Sri Lankan and suspended him for 48 hours after which his contract will be terminated
  • Hathurusinghe, who has made no public comment, will be replaced by former West Indies cricketer Phil Simmons as head coach

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board fired national team coach Chandika Hathurusinghe on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting one of his players during last year’s 50-over World Cup in India.
“Hathurusinghe has two counts of misconduct,” BCB president Faruque Ahmed said Tuesday. “First is about an assault on a player. Secondly, he took too many leaves, more than what was in his contract.”
Ahmed said the board served notice to the Sri Lankan and suspended him for 48 hours after which his contract will be terminated.
“His suspension is for a 48-hour notice period, which we are not bound to give him, but we did it out of courtesy as he is an international figure,” Ahmed said. “We have suspended him, and with immediate effect afterwards he will be terminated.”
Former West Indies cricketer Phil Simmons, who has led Zimbabwe, Ireland, West Indies and Afghanistan as head coach in the past, will replace Hathurusinghe until the Champions Trophy in February next year.
The board did not give details of the alleged assault with some media reports saying Hathurusinghe had hit the player in question.
“The victim is not very comfortable about it, I will not mention his name,” Ahmed said. “This incident shouldn’t have happened.”
Ahmed also said Hathurusinghe’s absences exceeded three months, which “is also large part of his misconduct.”
“He informed us in a scattered way, in one or two emails, that he has to go home,” Ahmed said. “It can’t be for more than three months … so there was a serious breach in that regard.”
Hathurusinghe was appointed Bangladesh coach last year. Bangladesh recorded its most significant away win in test history when it routed Pakistan 2-0 in the two-match series. But soon after Bangladesh crashed to a 2-0 test series defeat in India and also lost the T20 series 3-0 last month.
Hathurusinghe has made no public comment.


Kylian Mbappe’s representatives say reports footballer faces rape probe are ‘false’ and a ‘slanderous rumor’

Updated 15 October 2024
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Kylian Mbappe’s representatives say reports footballer faces rape probe are ‘false’ and a ‘slanderous rumor’

  • Swedish public broadcaster SVT and dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet, citing unnamed sources, reported that Mbappe, 25, was a suspect in the case
  • Mbappe’s representatives at PR firm Patricia Goldman said: “These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable”

STOCKHOLM/PARIS: Allegations of rape against French footballer Kylian Mbappe are “totally false” and “a slanderous rumor,” his representatives said on Tuesday, following media reports that he was the subject of an investigation over an incident in a Stockholm hotel on Oct. 10.
Swedish prosecutors confirmed in a statement in response to the media coverage that a probe into an alleged rape at a hotel in central Stockholm had been opened, but did not identify a suspect.
Swedish public broadcaster SVT and dailies Expressen and Aftonbladet, citing unnamed sources, reported that Mbappe, 25, was a suspect in the case.
“A new slanderous rumor is starting to ignite the web,” a statement sent to Reuters by Mbappe’s representatives at PR firm Patricia Goldman said. “These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable.
“Kylian Mbappe will under no circumstances tolerate his integrity, reputation and honor being sullied by unfounded insinuations.”
Mbappe posted a link to a French media story on the matter on X and wrote: “Fake News!!!!“
The France national team captain and Real Madrid forward had been on a private trip to the Nordic country’s capital last week with a group of friends, Swedish media reported.
Mbappe and his friends left Sweden on Friday Oct. 11. A report of the allegations against Mbappe was made to police by an unidentified victim the following day, Expressen and daily Aftonbladet reported.
“In response to media reports about a suspected rape in Stockholm, the prosecutor can confirm that a criminal report has been submitted to the police,” the Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement on Tuesday.
Reuters could not independently confirm the identity of the alleged victim or the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.
Senior Prosecutor Marina Chirakova declined to comment further when reached by Reuters.
SVT and tabloid Expressen, citing unnamed sources, reported that the level of suspicion directed at Mbappe by investigators was “reasonable” — the lower of the two levels in the Swedish legal system. The higher level, “probable suspicion,” is usually required to have a suspect remanded in custody.
Mbappe trained with his Real Madrid teammates on Tuesday. The club did not immediately respond when asked if they were aware of the investigation and whether it had been contacted by the Swedish authorities.


France will host Israel in the Nations League ‘under usual conditions,’ French authorities say

Updated 15 October 2024
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France will host Israel in the Nations League ‘under usual conditions,’ French authorities say

  • The match at the Stade de France on Nov. 14 will be played “under the usual conditions for a Nations League match and will of course be open to the public”
  • Italy beat Israel 4-1 in the Nations League on Monday

PARIS: Israel’s Nations League soccer match against host France next month will take place in “usual conditions,” French authorities said Tuesday, a day after Italy hosted Israel in the same competition without incident despite security concerns.
Laurent Nuñez, the Paris police prefect, said in a statement that the match at the Stade de France on Nov. 14 will be played “under the usual conditions for a Nations League match and will of course be open to the public.”
Italy beat Israel 4-1 in the Nations League on Monday, with the game being played against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East which has spread to Lebanon after more than a year-long war in Gaza.
It was the first match Israel have played outside neutral Hungary this year. After the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7 last year, the national soccer team played in Kosovo and Andorra last November.
All Israel matches since then have been in Hungary, including last month’s game against Belgium in the Nations League after the Belgian Football Association refused to host the game for security reasons.