McIlroy will return to defend team title says Lowry
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Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
LIV Golf star shows true colours as he speaks about crowd reaction to Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy may have had to settle for finishing tied for seventh at The Open, but the wave of support for the Masters-winning superstar was unlike anything Tom McKibbin has ever seen LIV Golf star Tom McKibbin has claimed he has never witnessed anything quite like the reception given to Rory McIlroy at The 153rd Open Championship. McIlroy was unable to claim his sixth major at Royal Portrush, as he and his fellow competitors could only look on whilst Scottie Scheffler cruised to victory to take the Claret Jug. Nevertheless, the 36-year-old received a hero's welcome when he stepped onto the course, with locals desperate to catch sight of the Masters champion. The highly-regarded McKibbin, who endured a disappointing Open Championship after missing the cut on day two, has now praised the Portrush spectators for their steadfast backing of McIlroy, who eventually secured a T7 finish. The youngster's comments display that, even though the support was largely reserved for McIlroy, whose pleas he famoulsy ignored to sign up to LIV Golf this year, he was still ecstatic to see his compatriot be given such a reception. "Yeah, no, I didn't see the stuff on Sunday. I obviously seen it the first couple days, on the Friday," the 22-year-old said when questioned about the crowd's response to the Holywood-born star. "I think he was finishing up when we were on the 12th or 13th, so you could obviously see them from very far away, and the crowds were incredible last week. It was something I hadn't seen before, and it was really good, the support that they showed everyone." With speculation that future Open tournaments could return to Portrush – or Portmarnock – McKibbin was questioned about what teeing off at those venues for a major would mean to him, reports Belfast Live. "I think Portmarnock is a great links course, probably one of the best in the country, and again, it's a very sort of special, special place, special golf club with a lot of history," the Northern Irishman said. "It's a very pure form of golf. As all the rumors are, the Open there would be pretty cool, and to sort of have two Open venues on the island would be pretty cool." McKibbin has suffered from inconsistent form in the Saudi Arabian-backed circuit this year and blamed "silly" errors for his Open Championship woes. "It's been a frustrating last two days. I've played some really nice golf," McKibbin told BBC Sport. "I think it's the best I've played in the four majors I've played in. There was just a few silly mistakes. It's very frustrating with the way I think I've been playing. "I birdied the first and made some really nice chances, and to drop those shots that I didn't think were too poor of a shot, they were more of a mistake, that's what more frustrating than anything." McKibbin's switch to LIV notably grabbed McIlroy's attention, with the Northern Irishman urging him against joining the breakaway circuit. Nevertheless, McKibbin opted to proceed anyway and has since revealed he harbours no regrets about rejecting the PGA Tour, whilst also explaining how competing alongside stars such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau has sharpened his skills. "No, very happy," he told the Irish Independent in May when asked about any regrets over his move. "I've had a great time. Yeah, I'm very happy. I've been very fortunate to tee up alongside several stellar players who have shone in the majors and battle it out with them."
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘One of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history' – Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner slammed for coach decision
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JANNIK SINNER has rehired the fitness coach that played a key role in his failed drugs tests last year. Prior to winning Wimbledon this summer, Sinner, 23, served a three-month ban after twice testing positive for banned substance clostebol in March 2024. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Jannik Sinner has reunited with fitness coach Umberto Ferrara Credit: Getty 3 Sinner, 23, recently defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final Credit: Getty Sinner's explanation was that a spray purchased over-the-counter in Italy by fitness coach Umberto Ferrara had been used by physio Giacomo Naldi to treat a cut. Naldi is then said to have contaminated Sinner with the substance while massaging his feet. The world No1 was not initially suspended, and in August last year an International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) tribunal determined that he bore "no fault or negligence" for the contamination. Following the decision, Sinner axed both Ferrara and Naldi and went on to win the US Open and Australian Open. The Italian went on to hire Novak Djokovic's former fitness team Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio - but parted with both prior to his Wimbledon triumph. Sinner has since filled the vacancy by turning back to Ferrara, in a decision that has raised eyebrows among the tennis community. Former doubles Grand Slam champion Paul McNamee wrote on X: "Jannik Sinner rehiring Umberta Ferrara has to be up there as one of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history. You can afford to hire anyone in the world. Why oh why Jannik?" Sinner eventually served a three-month ban after this year's Australian Open following the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) decision to appeal the ITIA's previous verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Prior to the appeal reaching a courtroom, an agreement was reached between WADA and Sinner for the reigning No1 to serve a three-month ban - which enabled him to return in time for his home tournament in Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Upon axing Ferrara and Naldi last August, Sinner said: "I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them." Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner interrupted as umpire forced to make 'most Wimbledon announcement ever' Since then, Ferrara appeared to attempt to shift the blame towards Naldi during an interview with Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport. Sinner's fitness coach said: "I very clearly communicated to Naldi both the nature of the product, and the fact that it must not come into contact with Jannik for any reason." He then went onto add: "I suggested that he use it because he had a cut on his finger that wasn't healing and was affecting his work. I only allowed it to be used in my personal bathroom. "Naldi did not deny being told about it, but he said he did not remember." Confirming Ferrara's return to the team, a Sinner statement read: "Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect. "The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and U.S. Open. 'Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.' Sinner has withdrawn from next week's Masters 1000 event in Canada. The Wimbledon champion is next scheduled to appear in Cincinnati, before his US Open title defence begins next month.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Nick Kyrgios makes feelings very clear as Jannik Sinner causes new controversy
Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has reappointed former fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, who the men's world No.1 dropped after he tested positive for a banned substance Nick Kyrgios claims that the tennis world has been 'played' after Jannik Sinner reappointed the same fitness coach who he dropped in the wake of his doping scandal. Sinner, 23, confirmed on Wednesday that he'd reunited with Umberto Ferrara just weeks after winning Wimbledon for the first time. The Italian parted ways with both Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi last year following an investigation into his two positive tests for the banned substance clostebol. Tennis chiefs accepted that the substance had entered his system inadvertently during massages from Naldi at Indian Wells in March 2024. After agreeing a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, Sinner served a three-month suspension earlier this year. Critics like Kyrgios believe that the men's world No.1 got off lightly. The 30-year-old former Wimbledon finalist has been outspoken about the length and timing of Sinner's ban which allowed him not to miss a Grand Slam. After Sinner beat rival Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles final, Kyrgios posted an asterisk. On Wednesday, Kyrgios reacted to the news of Ferrara's reappointment. "Unfortunately this isn't @TennisCentel," he posted on X, referencing the popular parody news account. In a later post, Kyrgios said: "He got the same doc back. We have been played ladies and gentlemen." His post included three laughing emojis and five potato emojis. A statement from Sinner's team pointed to Ferrara's 'important role' in the four-time Grand Slam winners' development. "The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and US Open," it read. Should Jannik Sinner have received a bigger punishment? Have your say in the comments section. "Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level." Sinner, though, doesn't think that his reputation has been badly damaged by the scandal, suggesting that people have already 'forgotten' about the issue. When asked if he had any concerns about the reception he'd receive at Wimbledon, Sinner replied: "To be honest, no... I think people kind of have forgotten already a little bit what happened. "Of course, there are still things, but so many things, new notifications, whatever, coming. So that's the good and the bad of social [media] that something happens and people don't know anymore what happened yesterday. "In the other way, I have good relationship with more or less all players like I had before. Of course, in the beginning it was a bit different. People saw me in different ways. But I think they all saw that I'm a very clean player. "I never [had the] intention to do anything bad. I always try to be the best I can, having a good team around me. That's exactly what I try to do in the future. The things I can control, I will control, as I always say, also on the court and off the court. It was an incident, yes. It happened. But yeah, the result also says that I haven't done anything on purpose. It's all good."
