Uihlein leads LIV Golf in Jeddah by 1 shot from Koepka

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Updated 19 October 2022
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Uihlein leads LIV Golf in Jeddah by 1 shot from Koepka

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY: Peter Uihlein takes a one-shot lead going into the final day of the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah after a 7-under 63 in the second round on Saturday.

The American made seven birdies and one eagle to compensate for a double bogey on the 13th hole at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.

Uihlein took over from previous leader Brooks Koepka, who had a 3-under-67.

Sergio Garcia (64) and Charl Schwartzel (67) were three strokes off the lead.

This is the seventh and final LIV Golf Invitational for individual and team play.

The last event of the inaugural season will be in Miami in two weeks for four-man teams.

LIV Golf is funded by the Public Investment Fund, but this is the first tournament held in Saudi Arabia after previous events in London, Portland, Bedminster, Boston, Chicago and Bangkok.

Garcia said his days on the European Tour could be over after he was fined by the circuit for pulling out of a tournament.

The 2017 Masters champion and Ryder Cup stalwart said he felt “more welcomed and loved” on LIV, where he has been one of the star attractions in its debut season.

Spain’s Garcia, 42, was reportedly fined by the European Tour for failing to medically explain his withdrawal from last month’s BMW PGA Championship after an opening round of 76.

“I don’t know. As of now, it doesn’t look like it. But we’ll see,” the 16-time European winner said, when asked if he would play on the tour again.

“At the end of the day I want to play where people want me, where people are excited to have me and where I feel like I’m welcomed and loved.

“And right now that’s here, that’s LIV and I’m very excited about it.”

Garcia has three top-10 finishes in six events so far on the lucrative circuit, which has split golf and angered the established tours by poaching top players for exorbitant fees.

The Spaniard, who is also a team captain in the 54-hole, no-cut series, is tied for third on nine-under-par 131 behind leader Peter Uihlein at this week’s $25 million Jeddah Invitational.

Victory in round three on Sunday would earn him at least $4 million — more than double the $1.98 million he pocketed for his famous win at Augusta five years ago.

Garcia wore shorts and a left-knee brace at par-70 Royal Greens in King Abdullah Economic City, and said he would have a scan next week to see if he needs meniscus surgery.

“It might need a little clean-up or something. I’ll know more next week when I have a proper MRI and take a look at it,” Garcia said.

“It sucks because I’ve been very fortunate with injuries throughout my career, I’ve been very healthy, and to play through one it’s not the most enjoyable thing.”

Uihlein had an eagle-birdie finish to edge ahead of fellow American and team-mate Koepka by one shot at the top of the leaderboard on 12-under 128.

He said he preferred the team format — where players can also win money depending on their collective scores with three team-mates — compared to the “lone wolf mentality” of the US PGA Tour.

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, who shares third with Garcia and won the opening LIV tournament in London, said it was impossible to compare the new circuit with the “prestige” of a major victory.

“The Masters, winning a green jacket is the biggest achievement that you can do in our game, I believe,” he said.

“I won a lot of money, it was fantastic,” Schwartzel added.

“But I cannot compare it to winning a green jacket.”


Semifinals’ lineup complete as historic wheelchair tennis debuts at Abu Dhabi Open

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Semifinals’ lineup complete as historic wheelchair tennis debuts at Abu Dhabi Open

  • Tauson, Bejlek, Alexandrova and Baptiste secure semifinal spots, while Eala and Tjen advance in doubles
  • Crowd favorite Eala exits after straight-sets defeat by Alexandrova

ABU DHABI: Thursday saw a landmark achieved at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open as wheelchair tennis made its groundbreaking debut alongside a decisive quarterfinal sweep that saw Clara Tauson, Sara Bejlek, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Hailey Baptiste advance to the semifinals.

Tauson beat McCartney Kessler in an impressive performance, while Czech qualifier Bejlek dropped just two games to dispatch British No. 2 Sonay Kartal. Alexandrova, the highest seed remaining in the tournament, ended Alexandra Eala’s run in straight sets, before Baptiste overcame Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.

“McCartney played some good tennis, but I also played well,” said Tauson. “She was hitting some very good winners, but I kept my cool, kept fighting and that helped me a lot today. It’s great to be in the semifinals.”

In the doubles semifinal on ADCB Court 1, Eala and Janice Tjen delivered an impressive performance in front of packed crowds to defeat Cristina Bucşa and Shuai Zhang in straight sets.

“We were trying to be aggressive and have fun,” said Eala. “When you have a good relationship with your partner, you’re not afraid to go with your gut. If you make errors, it’s okay because you have that chemistry and you’re willing to try what feels right.”

Away from the main draw action, history was made as the tournament launched its inaugural Mubadala Wheelchair Tennis Invitational presented by the WTA Foundation, becoming the first standalone WTA event to feature wheelchair tennis.

The three-player tournament saw wheelchair tennis legend Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands defeat Maria Angélica Bernal of Colombia in today’s opening match, securing her place in Saturday’s final against world No. 1 Yui Kamiji of Japan.

Off the court, the day delivered inspiring moments for fans and the community. Wheelchair tennis stars Griffioen, Bernal and Kamiji hosted a clinic with Heroes of Hope — the UAE’s non-profit sports academy — with children welcomed onto the court for an unforgettable experience. Slovak star Tereza Mihalikova spent time with schoolchildren, signing autographs and taking photos, while Bejlek engaged with fans through an exclusive Q&A at the Mubadala Hospitality Pavilion.

Nigel Gupta, tournament director at organizers MARI, said: “Today has been historic for wheelchair tennis. The inaugural invitational has already captured the imagination and having Yui and Jiske heading to Saturday’s final showcases the extraordinary level of this sport. “Alongside that, the quarterfinals produced the kind of brilliant tennis we expect at this level, setting up compelling semifinals matchups tomorrow in both the singles and doubles.”

The semifinals will take place on Friday. On Stadium Court, the doubles semifinal begins at 4 p.m. with Mihalikova and Nicholls facing Eala and Tjen. Baptiste then takes on Alexandrova in a singles semifinal, followed by Bejlek clashing with Tauson. On ADCB Court 1, Sofia Kenin and Desirae Krawczyk battle Alexandrova and Maya Joint in the other doubles semifinal.

The Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open final takes place on Saturday, Feb. 7.