Day 2 of PGTI meet in Mohali: Muthu takes solo lead
Chandigarh-based 24-year-old Umed Kumar (61-66), another overnight joint leader who is making his pro debut this week, returned a two-over 66 in round two to drop one spot and end the day in second place with a total of one-under 127.
Bangladesh's Md Razu (65-65) was placed third at a total of two-over 130.
The Forest Hill Golf and Country Club is a par-64 nine-hole course where the nine holes are played twice to comprise a round.
The cut went at 10-over 138. As many as 41 professionals made the cut to progress to the third and final round.
Muthu R, the overnight joint leader who is searching for his maiden professional title, made a slow start with two birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey over the first 12 holes where he struggled with his putting.
After being three-over for the day through 12 holes, 40-year-old Muthu made a splendid recovery with three birdies over the last six holes, landing his wedge shots within four feet on all three occasions.
Muthu R said, 'Since it was windy, it was tough to control the shots, which was reflected in the scores. My wedge-play and chipping were excellent for the second straight day. But it was an ordinary day with the putter for me. I missed a lot of short putts.'
He added, 'I managed to regain my momentum from the 13th hole onwards where I hit a terrific chip shot to set up a tap-in birdie. Thereafter, I played very well till the end. I now feel confident going into the final round.'
Umed made two bogeys during his second round of 66.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
16 hours ago
- Mint
Radhika Yadav murder: Neeraj Chopra reacts to tennis player's killing, says ‘...excellent examples of female athletes'
The murder of national-level tennis player Radhika Yadav has evoked a myriad reactions from the sporting community, including Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra. Radhika, 25, was shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, on the first floor of their house on Thursday, reportedly because he was mocked by villagers for earning a living from her tennis academy, which, in his eyes, diminished the family's dignity. The postmortem of the tennis player revealed that four bullets were removed from her body. "Four bullets were taken out from Radhika Yadav's body," said Dr. Deepak Mathur, a member of the medical team that conducted the autopsy, as reported by PTI. The tragic death of the Haryana-based tennis player has drawn condolences from athletes across the country. India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra also reacted to the incident, urging families to stand by one another to prevent such tragedies. The Olympic medallist highlighted that women athletes from Haryana are making the nation proud and emphasised that they should be celebrated and looked up to as role models. "I was speaking to a few people about this before. We already have some excellent examples of female athletes from Haryana doing wonders for the country. In families, you should support each other, and those (women athletes) who are doing well should be idolised and followed," NDTV quoted javelin star Neeraj Chopra as saying. Indian tennis players Sowjanya Bavisetti and Sharmada Balu also expressed their shock and grief over the tragic incident. "This is heart-wrenching. I only met her once at a tournament. She had the prettiest smile. I can't believe her own father could think of committing such a heinous crime. A whole life ahead of her has been taken away because of a stupid 'log kya kahenge' [what would people say]. Rest in peace, girl! May you get a better family in the next life," wrote Bavisetti on Instagram. Balu, a former national champion, wrote, "This is so heartbreaking and disturbing," on Instagram. During police interrogation, Deepak confessed to killing his daughter, saying that he had been upset after Radhika opened a tennis academy to coach children. "When I used to go to Wazirabad village to get milk, people used to taunt me, saying that I lived off my daughter's earnings. This troubled me a lot. Some people even questioned my daughter's character. I told my daughter to close her tennis academy, but she refused. This situation kept bothering me as it hurt my dignity. I was very troubled and stressed. Because of this tension, I took out my licensed revolver, and when my daughter Radhika was cooking in the kitchen, I shot her three times from behind, hitting her waist. I have killed my daughter," Deepak was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
News18
16 hours ago
- News18
Animesh Kujur Becomes First Indian Sprinter In Diamond League: 'On A Bigger Stage...'
Last Updated: Animesh Kujur, inspired by Usain Bolt, will be the first Indian sprinter in the Diamond League in Monaco, competing in the under-23 200m event against top athletes like Gout Gout. Inspired by the legendary Usain Bolt, Animesh Kujur is set to make Diamond League history in Monaco on Friday, becoming the first Indian sprinter to compete in the event. Kujur expressed his excitement to AFP after encountering Olympic 100m and 200m champions Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo during lunch on Thursday. He enjoyed taking a selfie with the duo, realising he was now mingling with the current sprinting elite. However, Kujur will not be racing against Lyles and Tebogo. He will compete in the under-23 200m event, which is part of an evening packed with top track and field stars. The favourite in Kujur's race is the highly-touted Australian teen prodigy Gout Gout, who is often compared to a young Bolt and is also making his mark among the elite athletes. 'I saw them in the dining hall," Kujur said about Lyles and Tebogo. 'I used to see them on Instagram only, not in reality. So when I saw them for the first time in my life, I went and took a photo with them. They're very nice. They said, 'Yeah, bro, come and let's take a photo'. I felt like, oh wow, I am on a bigger stage now. I have to act like a pro athlete." Kujur has been in exceptional form leading up to Monaco, setting national records of 10.18 seconds in the 100m and 20.27 seconds in the 200m. The 22-year-old, born in a tribal village in Chhattisgarh, a landlocked state in central India, credits his improved performance to a two-week camp in Switzerland. During the camp, he worked on body mechanics and his start out of the blocks with his coach Martin Owens from Odisha and Swiss-based bobsleigh performance coach Chris Woolley. 'Because of that, my time improved so much," he said, adding that competing away from domestic competition was also a significant factor. 'It's very nice that I'm competing with athletes who are faster than me. Whenever I compete with faster athletes, my times improve." With AFP Inputs view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 14:21 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Ignominious exit but Horner gave this F1 team wings
New Delhi: In the spring of 2005, a freckle-faced Christian Horner, only 31 years of age, had stepped onto the factory floor of a Formula 1 team based in Milton Keynes with an enormous responsibility on his inexperienced shoulders: to transform an unsuccessful Jaguar Racing into a headline-making Red Bull Racing. Former Red Bull Racing team chief Christian Horner. (AP/File) Twenty years and some grey hair later, Horner stepped on to the same floor on Wednesday morning to deliver his farewell speech after the Salzburg-based Red Bull board decided to remove the longest serving F1 team principal. In between, Horner transformed a team bought primarily to market an energy drink into one of F1s most successful with eight drivers' championships, six constructors' titles, 124 wins, 287 podiums and 107 pole positions. 'After an incredible journey of 20 years together, it is with a heavy heart that today I say goodbye to the team I have absolutely loved,' the 51-year-old said in a statement. 'Every one of you, the amazing people at the factory, have been the heart and soul of everything that we have achieved. Win and lose, every step of the way, we have stood by each other as one and I will never forget that. It's been a privilege being part of and leading this epic team and I am so proud of our collective accomplishments and you all.' Horner was given the reins of the team that had its origins in Stewart GP which lasted only three years (1997-99) before being bought by Jaguar. Despite five years (2000-2004) as a legendary British manufacturer, the team never finished above seventh in the constructors' standings when Red Bull decided to take over the struggling outfit. Under Horner, the base at Milton Keynes expanded three times in size, turning into a massive campus that not just had the car factory but also the wind tunnel for testing in addition to employing over 1,000 people to develop the two fastest cars in F1. As CEO, Horner helped bring in people crucial in turning the team with humble beginnings into world beaters. Car designers Adrian Newey and Rob Marshall, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley – all brought on board by Horner – were instrumental in developing the team. With former driver and motorsport executive Helmut Marko, Horner built the Red Bull Junior Programme which produced the likes of four-time world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen along with race winners Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly. He also oversaw the purchase of Faenza-based Minardi which turned into Toro Rosso, later AlphaTauri, and now Racing Bulls, turning it into a feeder team for Red Bull. Horner saw immense success with Vettel from 2010 to 2013 before Mercedes started dominating the hybrid era but once again it was his team that broke the reign of the Silver Arrows when Verstappen pipped Hamilton to the crown in an epic battle in 2021. The Dutchman went on to win the next three drivers' titles too. Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle has revealed that Horner wasn't given an explanation for his ouster and that the decision came as a shock for him. Yet there have been rumblings in the past year-and-a-half, especially since he was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female member of his team in February 2024. Though he was absolved in two separate investigations – one internal and the other external – accusations have lingered which could have been one the many contributing factors in his sacking. The Verstappen factor could have also contributed. Though the four-time world champion appears to have a good relationship with Horner, it is Max's father and former F1 driver Jos who has been publicly critical of the official. The junior Verstappen is unquestionably the hottest property in F1 today, winning the last four world titles with the last one coming in a car that clearly wasn't the fastest. This season, Verstappen has won the lion's share of Red Bull's points (165 out of 172) with no driver in the other seat being able to match up to his level ever since the departure of Daniel Ricciardo in 2018. It automatically gives his camp, comprising primarily his father and manager Raymond Vermeulen, a voice with weight which can control the proceedings in the team. To add to it, Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes over the past few weeks. If Verstappen decides to move it would prove to be disastrous for Red Bull, especially in the light of its technical team moving away in the last season or so. Newey has joined Aston Martin, Marshall to McLaren and Wheatley to Sauber. These departures have come in the face of the engine regulation changes in 2026, said to be one of the biggest in F1 history, which will see a revised and more environment friendly power unit and new active aerodynamics. Also for the first time, Red Bull will be producing their own engines with the help of Ford which will be a massive switch against giants like Mercedes and Ferrari. Though Red Bull have won two races this season, thanks to the genius of Verstappen, their car is nowhere close to McLaren, which has won nine of the 12 races this term. And traditionally, the best driver is always in the best car. Another issue that Horner has been unable to fix is the problem of the second driver who just cannot compete against Verstappen. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and now Yuki Tsunoda – none of them has been able to extract the maximum from the car as much as Verstappen which led Red Bull to lose the constructors' title both in 2021 and 2024 despite winning the drivers' crown. Another factor could be the demise of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in October 2022, someone who trusted Horner blindly. It is an open secret that since then a section of the Red Bull management wasn't keen to continue with the Briton. F1 is a complex business and the regular follower only gets to see the tip of the iceberg. We may speculate but may never know the real reasons for Horner's sacking. Nevertheless, Horner leaves a lasting legacy at the pinnacle of motorsport who, as pundit Karun Chandhok explained to Sky Sports F1, will be remembered for making a 'semi-serious, energy drinks fun team' into world champions.
