Kentucky Derby 2025 preview: Admire Daytona
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
6 hours ago
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda pull away from the field at Women's British Open
PORTHCAWL, Wales -- Miyu Yamashita started and finished with short birdie putts and was flawless in between as she posted a 7-under 65 on Friday to build a three-shot lead over Rio Takeda going into the weekend of the Women's British Open. The Japanese players, both among the top 15 in the women's world ranking, played in the same group at Royal Porthcawl and put on a show in the second round, matching great shots and big putts along the way that left the rest of the field far behind. Takeda was the only player within seven shots of Yamashita. Nelly Korda (72) and rising English star Lottie Woad (70) were among the top 10 on the leaderboard and still nine shots behind at the halfway point. Woad was on the cusp of contention until a triple bogey on the par-4 16th. 'There was a lot more good in it than bad,' Woad said. 'Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit.' Yamashita was bogey-free and did most of her damage with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn as she took advantage of an early start before stronger wind arrived. 'I didn't make any particular adjustments to my swing, but the wind was strong, so I think shots are important, as well as club selection and the direction I aim at the target,' Yamashita said. 'So things like that are important, so I played while keeping in mind the image I've been practicing so far.' Takeda, whose two LPGA titles include the Toto Japan Classic last year before she was a member, was slowed by a pair of bogeys. Takeda atoned for that with a superb approach into the par-5 ninth that settled within tap-in range for eagle. She shot 69. 'I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow,' Takeda said. Yamashita, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Saturday, was at 11-under 133. Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland and Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand each shot 69 and were tied for third at 4-under 140, along with American Lindy Duncan (70). The cut was shaping up to be at 2-over 146. Brooke Henderson of Canada was right on the cut line until missing a 4-foot par putt on the windblown 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole. Also missing the cut were world No. 4 Ruoning Yin (77(, Rose Zhang (76) and U.S. Women's Open champion Maja Stark (78). Korda remains the No. 1 player in women's golf despite not winning this year, and she now faces a tall order with a nine-shot deficit for the last 36 holes. 'Honestly didn't really capitalize on anything in the calmer conditions on the front nine, then kind of got really windy on the back,' Korda said. 'Made a few more mistakes but bounced back with some birdies. Overall, I'm not going to complain with even par.' Woad made the best run at the Japanese duo until one swing and one nasty lie cost her. She had a 3-wood for her second shot into a strong wind on the par-4 16th. It sailed to the right into thick grass. Her first hack moved the golf ball only a few inches. She had to take a penalty shot for an unplayable lie, got that one on the green and two-putted for a triple bogey. She closed with two pars for a 70, a score that otherwise would seem satisfactory. 'I'd certainly take it now, but not when I was standing on the 16th tee,' Woad said with a smile. 'Yeah, just got to try to play well over the weekend. It's pretty packed, so I can move up a bit.' Everyone is chasing Yamashita, who led the Japan LPGA money list in 2022 and 2023 while winning five times in each of those seasons. She also finished one shot out of a playoff for the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics last year. For now, she is thinking only about keeping her rhythm in the wind. 'I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now. I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind,' Yamashita said. 'So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out.'
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
Tatsuro Taira vs. HyungSung Park prediction, pick: Will new star emerge at UFC on ESPN 71?
Can unbeaten Park pull off flyweight upset in short-notice headliner? MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 71 main event between former middleweight champion Tatsuro Taira and HyunSung Park. Tatsuro Taira UFC on ESPN 71 preview Staple info: Supplemental info: HyunSung Park UFC on ESPN 71 preview Staple info: Supplemental info: Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park point of interest: Flyweight fisticuffs The main event on ESPN features an impromptu flyweight fight between Tatsuro Taira and HungSung Park. Park was initially slated to face Steve Erceg in the same arena the following week, but with Amir Albazi being forced to withdraw from this weekend's main event just one week out, the UFC – as they often do to fill their relentless schedule – was forced to pivot with this last-minute schuffle. It's unfortunate that the first event headlined by Asians in the UFC happened accidentally, but this should be a solid matchup, all things considered. Taira, who was originally scheduled for this Saturday, has steadily been improving his striking game. Fighting to his frame and stylistic sensibilities, Taira will typically look to play all the way in or all the way out when it comes to his operating range. At distance, Taira looks to set up long straight shots off his in-and-out movement. When feeling in stride, Taira will attach solid kicks to his combinations (particularly off of his lead side). Taira has also demonstrated a solid ability to strike into collar ties, which provides him opportunities to land knees and elbows in close. That said, the Japanese fighter will need to respect the power of Park. A decent-sized flyweight who fights from a more compact boxing stance, Park displays a solid striking acumen when standing. Whether Park's utilizing his underrated low kicks or is launching a steady dose of jabs, the Korean fighter seems very comfortable in the pocket. And when feeling in stride, Park is good about catching shots with his parries and returning in combination. When Park can punch his way into collar tie situations, "Peace of Mind" is quick to feed knees and uppercuts into the equation, typically to the midsection. Park's propensity for bodywork should serve him well against Taira, but it's the wrestling that'll likely be the crux of this fight. Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park point of interest: Winning the wrestling Considering both the stylistic dynamic and the fighting terrain, winning the wrestling will arguably be paramount for both parties this weekend. A talented back-taker who is steadily rounding out his surrounding skill set, Taira appears to have no illusions as to where his bread is buttered. Not only is Taira patient when it comes to setting up his shots, but the Japanese fighter does not seem easily discouraged when failing on his first attempt. Akin to great MMA grapplers like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Taira looks to be perfectly content with using his first shot to drive his opposition toward the octagon walls. From there, Taira will chain to and from single-legs to trip takedowns that allow him to drag the fight into his world. However, I'll be curious to see how Taira's takedowns stack up with Park's wrestling. Despite not coming from a traditional wrestling base and having a more limited sample size than his counterpart, I've been very impressed by what I've seen from Park, thus far. Defensively, Park's head appears to be in the right place regarding his responses. From underhooks and hand fighting to the awareness of his hips, Park appears to be very well-trained. Offensively, Park – akin to a lot of Korean fighters – prefers to fish for his takedowns from the clinch. The 29-year-old looks incredibly strong in closed quarters and shucks by to the back like it's second nature. Usually utilizing energy-efficient takedowns, Park is good about immediately transitioning to mount positions by executing incredibly tight chair sits. And once Park has the back on his opponent, he shows little fat in his finishing process as far as his submission game goes. Park also seems to be very conservative when it comes to giving back exposure, but those sensibilities will be tested to another level this Saturday. Taira may still be developing large parts of his game, but the 25-year-old's back-taking abilities are potent beyond his years. Whether Taira is looking for rear-naked chokes or baiting escapes that lead to armlocks, the native of Japan will be extremely dangerous anytime he attaches himself to Park. Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park odds The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Japanese fighter, listing Taira -355 and Park +270 via FanDuel. Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park prediction, pick Between the hype on Taira and the fact that Park is stepping in on short notice, I can totally understand the betting spread listed above. That said, I suspect that this fight will be more competitive than the odds indicate. Even though Park wasn't training for a 25-minute fight, he was already in town and prepped to face a top flyweight on the August 9th card the following week. And when I strip out the intangible noise and just look at the fight from a style's perspective, I see Park potentially presenting some real problems for everyone's favorite Japanese prospect. Don't get me wrong: Taira is the deserved favorite, and him handing Park his first pro defeat should surprise no one. However, if Park's wrestling and submission defense is as good as I suspect, then I believe he can make this a close and competitive fight. When two back-takers meet (a la Kevin Lee vs. Michael Chiesa), I typically side with the better wrestler, not the better back-taker, to win. It's an unpopular pick that has a high chance of making me look more foolish than usual, but I can't go against what my eyes are seeing in this spot. I'll take a flier on Park to survive the early storm and pull away down the stretch via superior striking and bodywork. Prediction: Park by decision Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park start time, how to watch As the main event, Taira and Park are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
NBC Sports
9 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Japan's Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda pull away from field at AIG Women's Open
Relive the biggest moments and top shots from second-round action at the 2025 AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl Golf Course, the LPGA Tour's final major of the season. PORTHCAWL, Wales — Miyu Yamashita started and finished with short birdie putts and was flawless in between as she posted a 7-under 65 on Friday to build a three-shot lead over Rio Takeda going into the weekend of the AIG Women's Open. The Japanese players, both among the top 15 in the women's world ranking, played in the same group at Royal Porthcawl and put on a show in the second round, matching great shots and big putts along the way that left the rest of the field far behind. Takeda was the only player within seven shots of Yamashita. Nelly Korda (72) and rising English star Lottie Woad (70) were among the top 10 on the leaderboard and still nine shots behind at the halfway point. Woad was on the cusp of contention until a triple bogey on the par-4 16th. 'There was a lot more good in it than bad,' Woad said. 'Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit.' Yamashita was bogey-free and did most of her damage with four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn as she took advantage of an early start before stronger wind arrived. 'I didn't make any particular adjustments to my swing, but the wind was strong, so I think shots are important, as well as club selection and the direction I aim at the target,' Yamashita said. 'So things like that are important, so I played while keeping in mind the image I've been practicing so far.' Takeda, whose two LPGA titles include the Toto Japan Classic last year before she was a member, was slowed by a pair of bogeys. Takeda atoned for that with a superb approach into the par-5 ninth that settled within tap-in range for eagle. She shot 69. 'I was able to play calmly today, and I hope to focus on my game and play calmly again tomorrow,' Takeda said. Yamashita, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Saturday, was at 11-under 133. Chiara Tamburlini of Switzerland and Pajaree Anannarukarn of Thailand each shot 69 and were tied for third at 4-under 140, along with American Lindy Duncan (70). The cut was shaping up to be at 2-over 146. Brooke Henderson of Canada was right on the cut line until missing a 4-foot par putt on the windblown 17th, and then failing to make birdie on the par-5 closing hole. Also missing the cut were world No. 4 Ruoning Yin (77), Rose Zhang (76) and U.S. Women's Open champion Maja Stark (78). Korda remains the No. 1 player in women's golf despite not winning this year, and she now faces a tall order with a nine-shot deficit for the last 36 holes. 'Honestly didn't really capitalize on anything in the calmer conditions on the front nine, then kind of got really windy on the back,' Korda said. 'Made a few more mistakes but bounced back with some birdies. Overall, I'm not going to complain with even par.' Golf Channel Staff, Woad made the best run at the Japanese duo until one swing and one nasty lie cost her. She had a 3-wood for her second shot into a strong wind on the par-4 16th. It sailed to the right into thick grass. Her first hack moved the golf ball only a few inches. She had to take a penalty shot for an unplayable lie, got that one on the green and two-putted for a triple bogey. She closed with two pars for a 70, a score that otherwise would seem satisfactory. 'I'd certainly take it now, but not when I was standing on the 16th tee,' Woad said with a smile. 'Yeah, just got to try to play well over the weekend. It's pretty packed, so I can move up a bit.' Everyone is chasing Yamashita, who led the Japan LPGA money list in 2022 and 2023 while winning five times in each of those seasons. She also finished one shot out of a playoff for the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics last year. For now, she is thinking only about keeping her rhythm in the wind. 'I haven't particularly worried about expected scores until now. I'm always thinking about competing for a high ranking in each tournament, and I just played with my day in mind,' Yamashita said. 'So I'm glad that my score and ranking worked out.'
