Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy is set for a stunning return to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship where he has his sights focused on winning his first Falcon Trophy.
McIlroy, who has teed off his season in Abu Dhabi for the past seven years and has been a three-time runner up in the UAE capital, says he’d love to finally conquer the event during its 10 year anniversary celebrations. And with a recent stretch of success behind him that has brought two major wins, McIlroy believes he can continue the scintillating form into his season opener in January at Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s National course.
“Over the past few months I have been mentally strong and I feel very good about my game at the moment,” said McIlroy, who will attempt a career grand slam at Augusta in April next year.
“Greatness in golf is winning Major Championships but after playing in Abu Dhabi for so many years and having come so close in the past, I would love nothing more than to win at the event’s 10 year anniversary. That would be something very special and would mean a lot to me.”
McIlroy has enjoyed an incredible run of form this summer, clinching three huge back-to-back events in the Open Championship, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship to revive his position as the world’s top golfer. And with the Ryder Cup only weeks away, McIlroy’s magic touch will be called upon again as Europe shapes up to attempt a third consecutive victory in one of the world’s greatest sporting contests
The 25-year-old, however, narrowly missed out on bagging his first Falcon Trophy in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, after suffering a two-shot penalty to lose the joint-lead at the end of day three. McIlroy eventually shared second place with Phil Mickelson as Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal kept his nerve and added his name to the Championship’s history books.
McIlroy has experienced his share of ups-and-downs on the challenging course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. With another two runner-up results in 2011 and 2012, and third place in 2010, the Ulsterman has come nail-bitingly close on several occasions. The exception came in 2013 where he and Tiger Woods unexpectedly failed to make the cut.
“Rory’s presence will add to what promises to be the Championship’s most exciting year yet as we look to assemble another amazing line-up of the world’s top players to celebrate our tenth anniversary,” said Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which owns and organises the Championship.
“Abu Dhabi has come to mean a lot to the players over the years and we are so pleased to be welcoming Rory back for such an important milestone in the event’s history.”
HSBC Global Head of Sponsorship & Events Giles Morgan said: “HSBC’s ambition is to open up the world of golf. That is exactly why we are involved in golf and in this tournament. I believe we are fulfilling our ambition in Abu Dhabi and by working closely with our partners, this Championship has evolved into an unmissable event which appeals to absolutely everyone."
Tailored package details for the 2015 Championship, which will be held from Jan. 15-18, are available from www.golfinabudhabi.com. Championship packages include five nights’ accommodation in one of Abu Dhabi’s leading hotels, two rounds of golf on Abu Dhabi’s Championship courses, season passes to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship as well as an array of stunning tourism attractions. To top this off, all those who book packages will enjoy a complimentary clinic with a world top 30 player.
McIlroy to play Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
McIlroy to play Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Testing time for Pakistan cricket on and off the pitch
- In the last 2 years, Pakistan cricket has experienced 4 coaches, 3 PCB heads, 3 captains and changes to domestic cricket formats
From the outside, Pakistan’s cricket appears to be a mess. What it must be like inside, one can only guess. The latest downturn was a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which secured its first-ever victory over Pakistan in that format on Pakistani soil.
In both matches the home team worked its way into superior positions, only to lose grip. Pakistan has failed to win any of its last 10 home Tests, drawing four and losing six. The next visitors are England in October. Uncertainty has surrounded the venues for the three Tests.
This is because much-needed renovation work is taking place at international venues in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan in preparation for the International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy which Pakistan is due to host in March 2025. It will be the first time the country has hosted an ICC event since 1996, when it co-hosted the ODI World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. Since then, international cricket in Pakistan has been sparse, especially after the attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009. The Trophy is a mini-ODI World Cup, consisting of the eight top-ranked teams in the 2023 ODI World Cup. These will be Pakistan, India, Australia, England, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, New Zealand and South Africa. Pakistan is the holder of the Trophy, having defeated India at the last time of asking in 2017.
It was always going to be a bone of contention over whether India’s team would be allowed to travel to play in Pakistan. It has not done so for 16 years, since the Asia Cup in 2008, when an MS Dhoni-led side lost to Sri Lanka in the final played in Karachi. It remains India’s last fixture in Pakistan, whilst India’s last bilateral series in the country was in 2006. The decision-making process for future visits to Pakistan has just become more complex.
Jay Shah, serving as secretary of the BCCI and president of the Asia Cricket Council, will take over as chair of the ICC in December. As is well known, he is the son of the minister of interior in India. Constitutionally, the ICC chair’s role is independent. It will be a big test for Shah if he can fulfill this obligation. The geopolitics of cricket and Asian cricket, in particular, is now subject to a new dynamic. Shah’s replacement as president of the ACC is unknown as yet. There are strong rumours that it could be the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister.
The potentially strong involvement of the interior ministers of both countries in the decision-making process is an intriguing one. Pakistan will not want to forego its hosting opportunity, especially as it is spending more than $45 million on stadium upgrades, as well as additional funding for the women’s game. How cruel it would be if that opportunity was to be pulled away at short notice.
Furthermore, in an attempt to enhance the standard of domestic cricket, the PCB has introduced a champions one-day cup for the 2024 season. It aims to provide a competitive platform for emerging talent and a bridge between domestic and international cricket. Five regional teams will compete between Sept. 12-29 in Faisalabad in a single league format, with top teams advancing to knockout stages. Neither of the current national captains have been made captains of a regional team. However, previous captains and a current vice-captain have been. The motives for this have not been explained, but stability does not appear a consideration.
Rumours abound that the current test captain, Shan Masood, may be replaced. He provided one explanation for Pakistan’s defeat by Bangladesh: “Whatever format you play is the format for which you will produce players. You cannot play more T20 cricket and get Test players.” This deserves to be unpacked.
At first sight, he seems to be suggesting that players should be developed according to the format to which they are most suited. Alternatively, he could be suggesting that if the focus is fixated on playing T20 cricket, particularly by those younger players coming into the game, then the future development of a sufficient number of those able to succeed at Test cricket will be diminished. He went on to say: “You cannot prepare for science and then sit for a maths exam. If you are being tested for maths, you study maths. To play red-ball cricket, you must play red-ball cricket.”
There is logic in this, but there will be those who disagree. They will point to examples of players who have succeeded across all formats. They will point to the transfer of attacking skills and mindsets from T20 to Test cricket. An example has been England’s approach to Test cricket since 2022, the so-called “Bazball.” Entertaining, bordering on recklessness and met with ridicule in some quarters, it has produced mixed results.
These were on show this week in England’s final Test of a three-match series against Sri Lanka. The team’s approach has been widely condemned as complacent, sloppy and disrespectful to both the opposition and to the format of Test cricket. It led to defeat but, seemingly, not much contrition. England will head to Pakistan under a slight cloud to face an opponent in disarray, both on and off the pitch.
There is still time for Pakistan to regroup its playing composure through the new tournament and a “connection camp” meeting on Sept. 23. This is designed to initiate a comprehensive evaluation of every facet of domestic and international cricket. Skeptics abound, pointing to chronic issues of instability that ride on the whims of politicians and affect the PCB’s management. In turn, these are reflected on the field.
In the last two years, Pakistan cricket has experienced four coaches, three PCB heads, three captains and changes to domestic cricket formats. It will be fascinating to witness how the frenzy of England’s approach to Test cricket matches up against the febrile and chaotic nature of Pakistan’s political-cricketing environment.
Kuwait football federation suspends bosses over Iraq match chaos
- Kuwait Football Association expressed ‘deep regret’ for ticketing and other logistical problems that marred the game on Tuesday
- The federation said it had suspended its secretary-general, Salah Al-Qanai, and public relations boss Mohamed Bou Abbas
KUWAIT: Kuwait’s football federation has suspended one of its top bosses and its PR chief over failings that left fans in sweltering temperatures for hours during a World Cup qualifier against Iraq.
In a statement late Wednesday, the Kuwait Football Association expressed its “deep regret” for ticketing and other logistical problems that marred the game at the 60,000-capacity Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium on Tuesday.
It also said it would launch a probe into the shortcomings, which resulted in fans fainting in temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) as they pleaded with staff for water, with videos of the incidents shared on social media.
Ticketing problems also meant some fans without tickets were allowed in, while others who had purchased tickets were refused entry.
The federation said it had suspended its secretary-general, Salah Al-Qanai, and public relations boss Mohamed Bou Abbas over the “unacceptable events.”
China’s Football Association bans 43 people for life after corruption investigation
- The official Xinhua News Agency said a two-year investigation uncovered a series of online gambling, match-fixing and bribery
DALIAN: China’s Football Association has banned 43 people for life over allegations of match-fixing and other forms of corruption in the latest effort to weed out graft in the country’s notoriously underperforming team sport.
The official Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday reported that Zhang Xiaopeng, a top police official, attended a news conference at Dalian to release details of a “two-year investigation that uncovered a series of online gambling, match-fixing and bribery cases.”
Xinhua said 120 matches in domestic leagues, 128 criminal suspects, and 41 clubs were implicated in the investigation. Of those banned, 38 were players and five were officials working for various clubs.
Former Chinese internationals Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, and Gu Chao were among those to receive life bans from the sport.
Other players and officials were given shortened bans, including foreign players lured to China by the promise of high salaries.
South Korean Son Jun-ho, who played for China’s Shandong Taishan FC, and Ewolo Donovan of Cameroon, who formerly played for Heilongjiang Ice City, were given five-year bans.
Son’s activities “seriously violated sports ethics and sportsmanship, causing a significant negative impact on society,” according to the federation’s statement.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to make China a football superpower, but the men’s teams haven’t found much traction. Pledges to build new pitches and hire staff have fallen short as the economy struggles to regain its feet following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan trounced China 7-0 last week to open the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. It was China’s most lopsided loss against Japan, a geopolitcal rival in Asia.
The Chinese men’s team was playing Saudi Arabia at Dalian later Tuesday in its second World Cup qualifier in five days.
China still has a shot at reaching the expanded, 48-team World Cup in 2026, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. But even with the larger field, China still might not make it past the continental qualifying stage.
China has qualified only once for the World Cup. losing all three group games in 2002.
China is currently No. 87 in the FIFA world rankings for men’s teams, just below Curaçao (population 150,000), and just above of Equatorial Guinea (1.7 million).
Tottenham midfielder Bentancur charged by FA after offensive comment about South Koreans
- The FA says it is alleged Bentancur has “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words
LONDON: Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was charged with misconduct by the English Football Association on Thursday, three months after making an offensive comment about South Koreans in relation to a remark about Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min.
Appearing on a Uruguayan television show in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, “Sonny’s?” He added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because “more or less they are all the same.”
Bentancur apologized to Son on Instagram, saying it was a “very bad joke” and he would “never disrespect you or hurt you.”
The FA said it is alleged Bentancur has “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.” The FA said it constituted an aggravated breach because it included “reference to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”
Bentancur has until Sept. 19 to respond, but remains available to play.
Davis Cup: US, Spain, Italy and Britain win their opening group matches
- The No. 3-ranked Alcaraz clinched victory for Spain against the Czech Republic in Group B when Tomas Machac retired injured with the score at 6-7 (3), 6-1
- Brandon Nakashima beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (3) after Reilly Opelka defeated Cristian Garin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to give the Americans a winning 2-0 lead over Chile in Group C
VALENCIA, Spain: Less than two weeks after his shocking second-round exit at the US Open, Carlos Alcaraz was staring at another upset when a set down in his opening group-stage match for Spain in the Davis Cup Finals on Wednesday.
This time, Alcaraz turned things around — though he needed some help from his opponent.
The No. 3-ranked Alcaraz clinched victory for Spain against the Czech Republic in Group B on Wednesday when Tomas Machac retired injured with the score at 6-7 (3), 6-1 in Valencia. It gave Spain an unassailable 2-0 lead, with Roberto Bautista Agut having already defeated Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (1), 6-4, and Alcaraz then partnered with Marcel Granollers-Pujol to win the doubles in three sets and wrap up a 3-0 victory.
They were Alcaraz’s first matches since losing in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp — who was ranked 74th — at Flushing Meadows.
Spain joined the US, defending champion Italy and Britain in gaining victories on Wednesday.
Brandon Nakashima beat Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (3) after Reilly Opelka defeated Cristian Garin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to give the Americans a winning 2-0 lead over Chile in Group C in Zhuhai, China.
Those two singles matches lasted in excess of five hours and the US brought in Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram for the doubles, which they won 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) against Tomas Barrios Vera and Matias Soto to seal a 3-0 sweep.
“It was truly an epic day of tennis for both teams, everyone showed a lot of heart, a lot of guts,” US captain and retired doubles great Bob Bryan said. “I don’t think it’s ever happened in Davis Cup that all matches went to the third-set breaker . . . historic day. Just feeling very, very proud of the players.”
The US, which has a leading 32 Davis Cup titles but none since 2007, is bidding to reach the quarterfinals for the second time since the Davis Cup Finals were introduced in 2019. In the qualifiers this year, the Americans defeated Ukraine 4-0 on neutral ground in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Italy didn’t need top-ranked Jannik Sinner, the newly crowned US Open champion, to begin its title defense with a 2-1 win over Brazil in Group A in Bologna.
Matteo Berrettini beat Joao Fonseca 6-1, 7-6 (5) before Matteo Arnaldi gave Italy an unassailable 2-0 lead by beating Thiago Monteiro 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5). Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo won the doubles for Brazil, beating Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in three sets.
“It was a great, great feeling. I’ve been missing this kind of feeling for so long for so many reasons,” Berrettini said. “The Davis Cup, the tournament in Rome, it felt like almost a first time.”
Britain also established a 2-0 advantage over Finland in Manchester, England, in Group D thanks to wins by Dan Evans and Billy Harris.
Evans beat Eero Vasa 7-6 (3), 6-2 and Harris, the guy who once lived out of a van while playing tennis tournaments around Europe, defeated Otto Virtanen 6-4, 7-6 (4).
“He (Vasa) was playing so freely in the first set and I did well to weather the storm and find a way to win,” Evans said. “That’s what you have to do in the Davis Cup.”
It finished 2-1 for Britain after Virtanen teamed with Harri Heliovaara to beat Evans and Neal Skupski 7-6 (4), 7-5 in doubles.
The four groups are playing in four cities this week to qualify for the Final 8 knockout stage to be held in Malaga, Spain, in November. The top two countries in each four-team group will advance.
In opening play on Tuesday, Belgium beat the Netherlands 2-1, Australia defeated France 2-1, Germany — playing without No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev — beat Slovakia 3-0 and Canada defeated Argentina 2-1.
