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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I felt down.. I just didn't want to play' – Ex-Premier League champion nearly QUIT darts as he opens up on heartbreak
EMOTIONAL Jonny Clayton has revealed he came close to QUITTING darts as he struggled to cope with the death of his dad. The Welshman enjoyed an great run at the World Matchplay, reaching the semi-finals where he was then knocked out by James Wade in an all-time classic clash. Advertisement 2 Jonny Clayton has revealed he came close to quitting darts as he struggled to cope with the death of his dad Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 2 Clayton came narrowly close to making the final of the World Matchplay Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Their last four match went down as the longest ever semi-final in World Matchplay history , as 2023 runner-up Clayton fought back from 16-10 down to force a tiebreak. The Machine eventually won it 20-18 to set up a final clash with eventual winner who clinched glory with a 18-13 victory . Despite narrowly missing out on a shot at the trophy, there were plenty of positives for Clayton to take from an impressive week in Blackpool. The 'Ferret' thrashed world No.4 Stephen Bunting 16-7 to book his spot in the last four, which was his fourth major semi-final this year. Advertisement READ MORE DARTS NEWS But Clayton was prepared to walk away from darts altogether after a tough period following the But after beating Bunting, the 50-year-old revealed he has now rediscovered his love of the sport. He said: 'I've changed my mind! I've got the hunger back. I don't know what it is. I felt a bit down in darts , but I want to be one of the best. 'It hurts that I've dropped from world number five to nine with the rankings, but I'm climbing back up slowly. I want to be with the elite. Advertisement Most read in Darts Latest BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 'When you're there, people respect you more than what they do when you are further down the rankings. 'If you're not playing well, no matter your ranking, people pick up on it. Luke Littler sends Blackpool wild as he wins World Matchplay Darts 'But if you're playing well, it's a step in the right direction. I had to do a job against Stephen, and I did." Advertisement Clayton then opened up on how his tragic loss has affected him, as he admitted losing all motivation to play the sport. The former plasterer added: 'I don't think I have hit top gear here yet. "But I am back on the practice board and that is something I have not done for probably a year and a half. 'We all know two years ago with my dad passing I just did not want to play. Advertisement 'I have a smile back on my face now and I have two kids who want me to do well.' Clayton has certainly managed to bounce back this year, having picked up a Euro Tour title at the Dutch Darts Championship in May. He also narrowly missed out on glory at the World Cup of Darts, as he and Wales team-mate Gerwyn Price were beaten 10-9 in the final by Northern Irish pair Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney. The Welsh darts star is a four-time major winner, with all of these titles coming in 2021. Advertisement In one-year, Clayton tasted glory in the Premier League, World Masters, World Grand Prix and the World Series of Darts Finals.
Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
English star, 21, cruelly BANNED from bagging £58,000 winnings as she stuns field to win first-ever European Tour event
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ENGLISH golfer was cruelly DENIED from taking home a £58,000 cheque after winning the Women's Irish Open. Due to Lottie Woad's amateur status her first-place winnings have been awarded to Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, who finished second. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 English golfer Lottie Woad put on a masterclass to secure her first Ladies European Tour title 2 But the English golfer has been denied the £58,000 top prize due to her amateur status Woad carded a four-under final-round 69 to claim her first Ladies European Tour title in dominant fashion with a six-shot win. The 21-year-old made history as the first amateur player in three years to triumph on the Euro Tour, finishing on 21-under overall. Woad hit the front in windy conditions on Friday, extended her lead to seven strokes in Saturday's third round and made six birdies and two bogeys on Sunday to cruise home at Carton House. But, she won't see a penny of the prize money for her incredible performance, with the top prize instead going to the runner-up. READ MORE GOLF NEWS DRIVEN MAD Brooks Koepka smashes tee marker into fans during meltdown before withdrawing This is because the LPGA prospect's amateur status prohibits her from pocketing any winnings. If Woad held a professional tour card, she would've walked away five figures richer for her efforts. Despite being banned from the winnings, Woad said: "No, I'm not tempted to turn pro yet. I'm still trying to get my final two points for the LPGA. "I'm trying to get those and then we will see what happens after that. It means a lot to get the win." CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS A similar incident happened to fellow Brit Ollie Tarvet, 21, at Wimbledon last week. The tennis player couldn't accept £99,000 in prize money he earned for reaching the second round due to being a US college student. Two rushed to hospital after golf course fireworks display goes terrifyingly wrong near Taylor Swift's Cape Cod home Sagstrom, with a final round of 68, finished second with England's No19 Charley Hull (69) in fourth. She broke 70 across all four rounds to become the first amateur to win since Czech Jana Melichova clinched the 2022 Czech Ladies Open. She won the 2022 Girls Amateur Championship, then followed that up with victory at the Augusta National Women's Amateur last year. The Florida State University student is biding her time before hitting the big time.
The Irish Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
English star, 21, cruelly BANNED from bagging £58,000 winnings as she stuns field to win first-ever European Tour event
AN ENGLISH golfer was cruelly DENIED from taking home a £58,000 cheque after winning the Women's Irish Open. Due to Lottie Woad's amateur status her first-place winnings have been awarded to Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, who finished second. 2 English golfer Lottie Woad put on a masterclass to secure her first Ladies European Tour title 2 But the English golfer has been denied the £58,000 top prize due to her amateur status Woad carded a four-under final-round 69 to claim her first Ladies European Tour title in dominant fashion with a six-shot win. The 21-year-old made history as the first amateur player in three years to triumph on the Euro Tour, finishing on 21-under overall. Woad hit the front in windy conditions on Friday, extended her lead to seven strokes in Saturday's third round and made six birdies and two bogeys on Sunday to cruise home at Carton House. But, she won't see a penny of the prize money for her incredible performance, with the top prize instead going to the runner-up. READ MORE GOLF NEWS This is because the prospect's amateur status prohibits her from pocketing any winnings. If Woad held a professional tour card, she would've walked away five figures richer for her efforts. Despite being banned from the winnings, Woad said: "No, I'm not tempted to turn pro yet. I'm still trying to get my final two points for the LPGA. "I'm trying to get those and then we will see what happens after that. It means a lot to get the win." Most read in Golf CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS A similar incident happened to fellow Brit The tennis player Two rushed to hospital after golf course fireworks display goes terrifyingly wrong near Taylor Swift's Cape Cod home Sagstrom, with a final round of 68, finished second with England's No19 Charley Hull (69) in fourth. She broke 70 across all four rounds to become the first amateur to win since Czech Jana Melichova clinched the 2022 Czech Ladies Open. She won the 2022 Girls Amateur Championship, then followed that up with last year. The Florida State University student is biding her time before hitting the big time.
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
English star, 21, cruelly BANNED from bagging £58,000 winnings as she stuns field to win first European Tour event
AN ENGLISH golfer was cruelly DENIED from taking home a £58,000 cheque after winning the Women's Irish Open. Due to Lottie Woad's amateur status her first-place winnings have been awarded to Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, who finished second. 2 Woad carded a four-under final-round 69 to claim her first Ladies European Tour title in dominant fashion with a six-shot win. The 21-year-old made history as the first amateur player in three years to triumph on the Euro Tour, finishing on 21-under overall. Woad hit the front in windy conditions on Friday, extended her lead to seven strokes in Saturday's third round and made six birdies and two bogeys on Sunday to cruise home at Carton House. But, she won't see a penny of the prize money for her incredible performance, with the top prize instead going to the runner-up. This is because the LPGA prospect's amateur status prohibits her from pocketing any winnings. If Woad held a professional tour card, she would've walked away five figures richer for her efforts. Despite being banned from the winnings, Woad said: "No, I'm not tempted to turn pro yet. I'm still trying to get my final two points for the LPGA. "I'm trying to get those and then we will see what happens after that. It means a lot to get the win." A similar incident happened to fellow Brit Ollie Tarvet, 21, at Wimbledon last week. The tennis player couldn't accept £99,000 in prize money he earned for reaching the second round due to being a US college student. Two rushed to hospital after golf course fireworks display goes terrifyingly wrong near Taylor Swift's Cape Cod home Sagstrom, with a final round of 68, finished second with England's No19 Charley Hull (69) in fourth. She broke 70 across all four rounds to become the first amateur to win since Czech Jana Melichova clinched the 2022 Czech Ladies Open. She won the 2022 Girls Amateur Championship, then followed that up with victory at the Augusta National Women's Amateur last year. The Florida State University student is biding her time before hitting the big time.
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Damon Heta reveals he wanted to ‘run into the crowd and do something silly' at US Darts Masters
DAMON HETA revealed he considered running into the crowd during a stellar debut at Madison Square Garden. The World No.10 got his US Darts Masters campaign off to a flying start with a 6-1 demolition over Jim Long. Advertisement 1 Damon Heta considered jumping into the crowd after a storming display Credit: Getty Heta, 37, thumped in three 180s and hit 50 per cent of his doubles on the way to victory. Australian thrower He said: 'I had some fun up there. I don't know if you noticed. It was insane. You just wanted to hit 180s because the crowd wanted it. 'I denied them a few times, got booed a few times, but once I hit one, let it rain, let it pour, it was insane. Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS 'That was brilliant, that was electric. I just really enjoyed myself up there and that's what I wanted to come and do. My darts were flowing, so I was definitely happy to get the win on my first time here.' He added: 'I got confused there because it wasn't just your normal walk on. You had to start from the side and then walk in and there's no barricades, there's no nothing. 'I was like, oh, we're not just sitting there signing, we're just in the mix and there was a moment where I thought: You know what, I might just run into the crowd and do something silly! 'But then I think there might have been a fine and my wife said not to and I was like: Alright, I'll keep it simple and who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll keep the security on their guard!' Advertisement Most read in Darts CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Former World Cup winner Heta is proud to feature in the event after climbing the world rankings. He revealed: 'It's probably with reason. You've got to earn your spot, earn your ways and earn your time and, obviously, whether one or two dropped out and that's the way I got my spot, that's fair do's. 'Not the proudest moment of my life' - Darts star Rob Cross breaks silence on £450k tax issue that led to ban 'Even if I didn't get it, that's just fair play for the people that are here, they earned their ways and that's what it is. Advertisement 'When you get in those top echelons, you're not just there on or whatever, you're there because you've put in the hard times and you've done what you needed to do to get there. 'So I'm taking it for all that it is as well. I'm not taking it for granted.' Heta has been in good form this year as he picked up the Players Championship 13 title. He nearly clinched his second Euro Tour title but fell short to Nathan Aspinall in the final of the European Darts Open earlier this month. Advertisement
