Latest news with #Masters
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Blazing mad Brooks Koepka smashes up tee box, withdraws from LIV event and sets alarm bells ringing for The Open
American star lost his temper at LIV Dallas and worries his fans pre-Open Blazing Brooks Kopeka smashed his way out of LIV Dallas in an outburst which set alarm bells ringing again ahead of Royal Portrush. The American star stormed off the course during Friday's first round of the event with illness cited as the reason for his eventual withdrawal with four holes to go. Koepka had already looked sick when he cracked a tee-box marker in visible rage after another wayward shot at the ninth. The five-times Major winner slammed his club into the deck at first before subsequently whacking the marker out of the ground and in the direction of the LIV crowd. It was a brutal moment ahead of his trip across the Atlantic for the 153rd Championship and have acted to dim hopes which had had risen following the US Open that better times may lie ahead and the real Koepka might be about to shine in Northern Ireland. Koepka's struggles at the biggest events in recent times has been sad for his fans to witness with the man who was the most-fearsome character in Major golf cowed. His history isn't unknown. In a six-year spell between 2017 and 2023, he won three PGA Championships, two US Opens and recorded six other top-five finishes. During one outrageous stretch through the 2019 season, Kopeka didn't finish outside the top four in any of the Majors and once famously stated that they were the 'easist' to win. Injury problems were clearly amongst the biggest reasons why the run stuttered, but the switch to LIV didn't initially halt him as he blasted back to victory with that fifth Major win at PGA Championship coming just two years ago. He made the US Ryder Cup team in Rome. However, following that success at Oak Hill, it went rapidly downhill. Last year, Koepka was unable to strike a blow as he failed to secure a Top 20 in any of the Majors and the descent continued into this term. At Augusta, while Rory McIlroy was making history to win his career Grand Slam and, importantly, match his rival's mark of five majors, Kopeka was already long gone having missed the Masters cut. That wasn't his first missed Masters weekend, but it was a different story with the PGA. The three-time winner of the Wanamaker Trophy had never done less than four rounds in his 12 previous appearances in the event until he got to Quail Hollow, but that record was crushed by a bruising dismissal following rounds of 75 and 76 leaving him nine-over par. Spats with fans and pictures of him buying beer in a supermarket made more headlines than his golf, yet at Oakmont a fortnight ago, there were signs of life. The opening-day 68 to be amongst the leaders at the end of a tough start at Oakmont put him back in a place where he'd once lived. Subsequently, rounds of 74 and 73 snuffed out any opportunity of him grabbing the trophy, but the Sunday 71 lifted him back-up into a tie for 12th place behind JJ Spaun and offered a first Top 20 finish at a Major in two long years. With Royal Portrush to come, the prospect of the 35-year-old rising even higher and continuing the ascent at the iconic Irish venue was a tantalising one, yet now the doubts return. It remains to be seen how much the illness played a part in his wayward scoring and loss of temper in Dallas less than three weeks from The Open, or whether the simple fact is that Oakmont offered merely a rare and brief glimpse of the old Koepka.
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Stephen Hendry comments on Shaun Murphy's snooker rule change proposal
Stephen Hendry comments on Shaun Murphy's snooker rule change proposal Snooker icon and Eurosport pundit Stephen Hendry has thrown his support behind Shaun Murphy's latest call for a rule change, but only under specific circumstances Stephen Hendry isn't totally against Shaun Murphy's suggestion (Image: Alex Pantling, Getty Images ) Shaun Murphy has found an ally in Stephen Hendry following his plea for a snooker rule change. The reigning Masters champion is well known for voicing his bold views and regularly suggesting ideas to enhance the sport's appeal. Murphy is particularly keen on the idea of adding a spot to the cue ball to indicate the level of spin applied during play. While spots are common in other cue sports, they are notably absent in snooker. The Magician has used a spot on the cue ball on his YouTube channel, where he shares coaching techniques and strategy advice. He said during one video: 'I'm going to keep using the spotted cue ball because we're getting some really good feedback about that. 'You guys are loving seeing the spin, how the spin manipulates the cue ball and what it's actually doing. It's great that you can see it with one of these. Article continues below 'You know what? I actually think we should be using one of these in tournament play. "I think that you should be able to see this when we're playing. Think about this, snooker, currently, is the only table sport and cue sport that doesn't use one of these. "They are using it in billiards, they're using it in nine-ball, they are using it in everything. Maybe it's time that snooker moved on, just so you guys can see what's happening." Murphy has called for snooker to make several changes (Image: Getty ) Now, snooker legend Hendry has weighed in on the subject. When asked by Neil Robertson for his thoughts on the idea on Hendry's Cue Tips YouTube channel, the seven-time world champion said he would be in favour of it being applied at certain tournaments - but crucially not all. 'I think there'd be room for it in one tournament but I wouldn't like to see it rolled out in everything,' explained Hendry. 'A lot of players wouldn't like it because they'd see the unwanted side they put on the ball.' Article continues below Murphy has also suggested a host of other changes to shake up the sport, including implementing a shot clock and axing the foul and miss rule. He stated at this year's Welsh Open: "I just find it so weird that we have a rule in the game that allows players to have a sighter. In my opinion, the miss rule needs to be taken out of the game altogether. I don't like the rule at all." Meanwhile, Murphy began the new season with a crushing 5-0 victory over 14-year-old tour newcomer Michal Szubarczyk to qualify for the televised stages of the Wuhan Open in late August.
New York Post
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Brooks Koepka withdraws from LIV Golf event after tee-box mashing meltdown
It was a wild turn of events for Brooks Koepka. Koepka stormed out of the first round at the LIV Golf Dallas tournament on Friday after smashing a tee box marker in visible frustration and then withdrawing due to illness. The five-time major champion opened the day poorly, carding triple bogeys on the fifth and seventh holes at Maridoe Golf Club and standing 6-over par by the front nine. Advertisement And that seemingly angered him. His boiling point came on the ninth hole after an errant drive where Koepka angrily slammed his club into the ground and then struck the tee box marker that flew toward the crowd, though it appeared that no one was hurt. Advertisement Following that outburst, Koepka continued to struggle, bogeying the 10th and 13th holes. He ultimately withdrew from the tournament during the 14th hole, citing an apparent illness. Brooks Koepka of the United States walks to the third green during the first round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 12, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Getty Images LIV Golf announced that Luis Carrera would replace him in the Smash GC team, and noted that while Koepka's individual score would not count, he could still return to contribute late this weekend if he chooses to. Advertisement Koepka later acknowledged that the past few months had been difficult. He previously missed cuts at both the Masters and PGA Championship and has now gone nine consecutive majors without a top-10 finish. 'From the first weekend in April until about [the beginning of June], you didn't want to be around me,' Koepka said earlier this month. 'It drove me nuts. It ate at me. I haven't been happy. It's been very irritating.' Advertisement Brooks Koepka of the United States reacts during the third round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 14, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Getty Images As LIV Golf Dallas moves into the weekend, some eyes will be fixated on whether Koepka will return to the course following the incident and his withdrawal. Koepka, who turned 35 in May, reached three years competing on the LIV Golf circuit this month.
NBC Sports
16 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Cole Hammer: 'Right thing' to turn self in for advice-giving, resulting in pair of DQ's at KFT event
Cole Hammer had never been disqualified from a tournament in his life. Until Friday, that is, when the 25-year-old Korn Ferry Tour pro called what ended up being a rules violation on himself during this week's Memorial Health Championship in Springfield, Illinois. Hammer's admission to rules officials eventually resulted in the disqualification of both Hammer and Hammer's playing competitor, Nelson Ledesma, after it was determined that Hammer had violated Rule 10.2a, which prohibits players from giving or asking for advice from anyone other than their caddie. The incident occurred during Thursday's first round on the par-3 17th hole at Panther Creek Country Club. Hammer had just hit 4-iron onto the green on the 232-yard hole and was watching his ball still in motion when he started walking toward his bag. That's when, according to Hammer, he crossed paths with Ledesma's caddie, Nico Torres, who then flashed four fingers, a universal signal for, '4-iron?' 'Out of instinct, I flashed '4' as well,' Hammer told via phone on Friday afternoon. 'It was a heat-of-the-moment thing, and I didn't think a whole lot about it until after the round.' That evening, Hammer reached out to a few peers for their opinion. Most felt like he was in the clear. After all, the rule against giving advice is often broken in professional golf, and usually without punishment. When caddies for Brooks Koepka and Gary Woodland were scrutinized by those who felt they violated the rule during the 2023 Masters – rules officials determined they did not – Golf Channel analyst Paul McGinley called advice-giving 'not a serious breach among players,' adding, 'This is common practice on Tour. Whether you like it or not, it's common practice. It happens in every professional tournament around the world. It's not obvious always, so blatant.' One well-known PGA Tour veteran even texted Hammer on Thursday night, saying, basically, This happens every single day on Tour. But even then, Hammer was unsure that he could simply brush it off. 'I feel like I know the rules really well, and I've always tried to uphold them to the best of my ability,' Hammer said. 'It just didn't sit right with me last night, and when I woke up this morning, I felt compelled to go talk to the rules official and tell him what had happened.' Hammer sought out KFT rules official Claudio Rivas, who told Hammer he would get back with him after gathering more facts and meeting with chief referee Jordan Harris and a USGA representative to determine the proper course of action. Hammer shared with Rivas that he also didn't know if Torres had even seen his hand signal. Hammer added that he didn't alert Ledesma or Torres at the time because he didn't want to cause unnecessary worry if there ended up being no infraction. 'I didn't think that they would be disqualified,' Hammer said. 'I just thought since I was the one who gave the sign that I would be disqualified. And I thought that was worst-case scenario.' Rule 10.2a fully states: During a round, you must not: 1. Give advice to anyone in the competition who is playing on the course; 2. Ask anyone for advice, other than your caddie; 3. Touch another player's equipment to learn information that would be advice if given by or asked of the other player. The penalty is usually the general penalty of two strokes, but because Hammer and Ledesma had already signed their scorecards – Hammer for a 2-under 69, Ledesma for 73 – they were subject to disqualification under Rule 3.3. It took several hours for a final decision to be made, with the disqualification not coming until Hammer and Ledesma were six holes into their second rounds. Hammer had made a bogey to drop to 1 under while Ledesma was still 2 over for the tournament; the cut line is currently projected at 4 under. The Korn Ferry Tour confirmed the reason for disqualification but did not provide further details. Ledesma's response to which was then translated to English: 'The decision made is the correct one, according to the rules. I can't do much with it except accept it.' Ledesma added that Torres was 'shocked by the situation,' but accepted the mistake. 'I feel a lot better now that I at least got it off my chest because it was weighing me down,' Hammer said. 'It's just unfortunate that it's a caused a little storm around the tournament.' As for Hammer, he entered the week No. 73 in points. His T-23 last week in Wichita, Kansas, snapped a string of six straight missed cuts. Ledesma, 34, is No. 102 in points. 'This is something that's so abnormal to experience in a tournament, so I'm almost just going to have to cast it away like nothing happened,' Hammer said. 'It's a learning experience, and I think I'm in a better head space having called it on myself. … I'm by no means depressed about the outcome or nervous about the next stretch. If anything, I can play with a clean slate and a clear conscious and hopefully continue the play that I had in Wichita. 'There are plenty of events left, and I felt like doing the right thing and protecting the game would be better for me in the long run.'
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Tiger Woods looks almost unrecognizable as golf legend is spotted in rare public appearance watching son Charlie
GOLF legend Tiger Woods looked almost unrecognizable in a rare public appearance. The Masters legend was spotted watching son Charlie in a tournament earlier this week. Advertisement 4 Tiger Woods during a tournament in 2024, where he smiled on the course Credit: Getty 4 Woods looked a lot different earlier this week, with fans spotting his tiny legs Credit: GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST 4 Woods, who is fighting back to fitness after a ruptured Achilles, was watching his son Credit: GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST The 49-year-old has suffered a number of health and injury issues in recent years. And fans were left concerned by his latest look at the 41st annual Nicklaus Junior Championship. That was at the Tequesta Country Club in Florida. Woods was in full dad mode looking to see his 16-year-old son qualify for the US Junior Amateur earlier this month. Advertisement That was at the Eagle Trace Golf Club qualifier in Coral Springs, Florida. However, the former world number one looked quite frail as his heads into his veteran years this week. He was seen in shades and a hat with a grey beard, and a lot different to his playing days. And fans took to social media after spotting the 15-time major winner, particularly his legs. Advertisement Most read in Golf "Sad to see Tiger," one said. Another added: "His lower body looks old." I played golf with Tiger Woods but he was a ghost behind the scenes - his romance with Vanessa Trump surprised me A third commented: "Nice to see Tiger out walking and watching Charlie play." A fourth noted: "Both of his legs look like twigs compared to the rest of his body. Advertisement "Don't think he'll be able to fully come back anymore to playing PGA Tour events and contending." And one said: "Achilles rupture is no joke." 4 Charlie went on to finish 6th in the 122-man field at the tournament. Advertisement Woods hasn't played in a PGA Tour event since missing the cut at The Open in July 2024. However, he did play in his and Rory McIlroy's indoor TMRW Golf League earlier this year. He has been dealing with a number of medical setbacks. In March, he announced he had ruptured his left Achilles. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun Woods, now dating Vanessa Trump, also had his sixth back surgery in 2024. And in 2021, he almost lost his right leg after a car crash.
