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24 SPORTS THURSDAY JULY 26, 2018 • THEEDGE FINANCIAL DAILY

No favour for US on Ryder Cup course

They will find a totally different proposition awaiting them in France
BY THIERRY TRANCHANT strategic play, while American long the trophy on European soil for the major champion Jordan Spieth was Watson and Spieth over to France

hitters like world No 1 Dustin John- first time in 25 years. finding out the hard way and had for a weekend ahead of the Brit-
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES son, Bubba Watson and even pos- Course director Paul Armitage, hit two iron shots into the water in ish Open.
(France): Big-hitting American stars sibly Tiger Woods will have to put watching the Americans on the Al- succession. Only two other Americans, Phil

may have to adjust their games away their drivers on the majority batros course during a Ryder Cup “There is only one way to play Mickelson and world No 3 Justin

when they defend the Ryder Cup of holes. practice session in mid-July, said some holes and if you don’t know Thomas, have already played the
against Europe in September on a The Americans regained the Ry- the Europeans will have a head start that, or don’t do that, holes like course this season.

tight, punishing course at Le Golf der Cup two years ago on a Hazel- in the Sept 28 to Sept 30 contest. the famous [par-three] 16th will Furyk said they will share their
National just outside Paris. tine track with forgiving fairways “The Europeans know the course eat you,” he added. knowledge with other potential

All 12 Europeans are certain to and slick greens, but will find a to- better. It’s a real advantage,” said US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk team members who cannot make

be familiar with the quirks of the tally different proposition awaiting Armitage. brought five US team hopefuls in- the trip before the Ryder Cup.

French set-up designed to favour them in France as they look to win He said that even three-time cluding two-time Masters winner — AFP
2019 RBC Serena claims ‘discrimination’ IN BRIEF
Canadian Open
pre-tournament over drug tests by US doping chiefs Martins has signed for
Atletico Madrid
notes MADRID: Portugal winger Gelson
Martins has signed for Atletico
PARIS: Serena Williams claimed she Williams returning against Kerber during Madrid as a free agent, the Span-

ONTARIO: The 2019 RBC Ca- is the victim of “discrimination” by their women’s singles final match on ish side said yesterday. “Our club
nadian Open will have a new US doping chiefs who are testing the twelfth day of the 2018 Wimbledon has reached an agreement with
date, June 3 to June 9, the her more than other players. Championships at The All England Lawn Gelson Martins, making him a
week prior to the US Open. At Wimbledon, Williams slammed Tennis Club in Wimbledon, south-west new Atletico player,” said a state-
Next year’s revamped sched- “shocking” treatment over excessive London, on July 14. Photo by AFP ment from last season’s La Liga
ule of 46 events features an targeting from testers in the run-up to runners-up. “The Portuguese at-

improved flow, with a ca- the second Grand Slam of the season. tacker, who arrives as a free agent,
dence of significant cham- And in a tweet yesterday, the 23- ing her anger about an unannounced has signed for six seasons.” Mar-
pionships for five consec- time Grand Slam winner reignited test in June where the tester refused tins rescinded his contract with
utive months starting with the discussion. to leave her Florida house. Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon
The Players Championship “It is that time of the day to get The 36-year-old battled back Williams said at the time, she last month, one of nine players
in March and ending with ‘randomly’ drug-tested and only from life-saving surgery after giving had been tested five times in June, to quit the club after an attack in
The Open Championship in test Serena,” she posted on her of- birth to get within touching dis- compared with one or none of May on a training camp by hood-
July, just prior to the start of ficial Twitter page. tance of an eighth Wimbledon title. some of her compatriots. ed supporters, some armed with

the FedExCup Playoffs. The “Out of all the players, it has However, the American suf- Athletes returning from a long sticks, in which Dutch forward Bas
three events in the FedExCup been proven I am the one getting fered a straight sets defeat by An- absence are often the subject of re- Dost was injured and the dressing
Playoffs will be contested in tested the most. Discrimination? gelique Kerber in the women’s peated drug tests, as they are seen room was vandalised. — Reuters
August, with the Tour Cham- I think so. At least I’ll be keeping final on July 14. as part of a higher-risk category

pionship being played from the sport clean #StayPositive,” she She had arrived at the tourna- than athletes in the flow of regular Asian Games adds omitted
Aug 22 to Aug 25. wrote. ment on the back of a report reveal- competition. — AFP teams into existing groups
Jhonattan Vegas is looking BENGALURU: The Asian Games

to win his third consecutive organisers have discarded plans
title at the 2019 RBC Cana- to redraw the men’s football
dian Open; the last player Chong Wei out of World Championships, Asian Games tournament and have instead
to win same event for three fit the United Arab Emirates
consecutive years was Steve (UAE) and Palestine into two
Stricker at the John Deere KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian bad- of the original groups, the Asian
Classic (2009-2011). minton star Lee Chong Wei has Chong Wei hitting a return Football Confederation (AFC)
Several perennial FedEx- pulled out of the World Champi- against Kento Momota of Japan has confirmed. The UAE and
Cup Playoffs participants are onships and Asian Games because during their men singles semi- Palestine were omitted from the
on the Top 125 bubble and of a respiratory illness, offi cials said final match at the Indonesia original draw earlier this month,

in the field with four weeks yesterday, after a gruelling schedule Open badminton tournament in leading the AFC to schedule a
remaining to qualify. Two of in recent months. Jakarta on July 7. Photo by AFP fresh draw to take place at its
the top four in the FedEx- The world No 2 has been advised headquarters in Malaysia yester-

Cup standings are in the field: to rest and undergo treatment after day. The Korean Football Associ-
Dustin Johnson (1) and Bub- competing in nine tournaments so ation said earlier that the plan for
ba Watson (4). far this year. a redraw had been scrapped fol-

Natives in the field looking The week-long World Champi- lowing the AFC’s meeting with
to end victory drought at Can- onships in Nanjing, China, begin on the organisers and the Olympic
ada’s national championship Monday while the Asian Games in Council of Asia. — Reuters
that dates back to 1954 (Pat Indonesia are from Aug 18 to Sept 2.
Fletcher) include RBC am- “[Chong Wei] is unwell and suf- Klopp hands Sturridge
bassador Adam Hadwin, who fering from a respiratory related dis- Liverpool lifeline
sits at No 61 in the FedEx- order,” the Badminton Association of LONDON: Jurgen Klopp said
Cup standings. Hadwin won Malaysia (BAM) said in a statement. Daniel Sturridge can be a “de-
the 2017 Valspar Champion- “For the time being, he cannot cisive player” for Liverpool after
ship and represented Canada undergo any intensive physical activ- impressive displays from the in-
at the 2017 Presidents Cup ity for a period of at least one month jury-plagued striker in preseason
playing for the Internation- and therefore we have to withdraw matches. Sturridge, 28, went to
al Team. Lee from his participation at the West Brom on loan in January
The top three players on BWF World Championships ... and but was injured early on and
the 2018 Mackenzie Tour the Asian Games.” managed just six appearances.
Order of Merit earn exemp- BAM did not give any further de- former world No 1, who has never Malaysian Open title. With 12 months left on his con-
tions into the RBC Canadian tails about the three-time Olympic won gold at either the World Cham- BAM president Norza Zakaria tract, it appeared Sturridge’s An-

Open. Three former Macken- silver medallist’s illness. pionships or the Asian Games during said he had met Chong Wei and field career was over, but he has
zie Tour Players of the Year Speculation had been mounting a stellar 17-year career. supports his decision to rest. looked sharp in his fi ve friendly
are in this year’s field: Mac- over the past week about the 35-year- His achievements this year “We do not want the pressure of games and Klopp, who became
kenzie Hughes (2013), Joel old’s health after he failed to show include winning the men’s sin- competition to impose a toll on his frustrated by the player’s unavail-
Dahmen (2014) and J J Spaun up for training. gles gold at the Commonwealth health. We look forward to his return ability last season, is prepared to

(2015). — PGA The development is a blow for the Games and clinching his 12th to competition, he told AFP. — AFP hand him a lifeline. — AFP