British pair showed mettle at US Open June 23, 2009 ON THE GREENS WITHSAM TORRANCE LUCAS GLOVER may have taken the US Open title this week, but there was cause for cheer for Ross Fisher and Rory McIlroy. Englishman Fisher continued his encouraging form by finishing fifth at Bethpage Black, and was still fighting it out with the leaders until the very end. Prodigious Northern [...]
Benitez defends 17m Johnson June 23, 2009 FOOTBALL: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has defended the decision to spend £17.5m on Portsmouth and England full-back Glen Johnson. The outlay means Benitez is likely to have to sell in order to buy more than one other player, but the Spaniard said: “Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more. We were looking for [...]
Hammers land Chilean Jimenez June 23, 2009 FOOTBALL: West Ham last night completed the signing of Inter Milan forward Luis Jimenez on a one-year loan after a successful appeal for a work permit. The Chilean, 25, who joins with a view to a permanent transfer subject to a medical, lacks the recent international caps needed for a permit. But a Hammers appeal, [...]
Henderson ‘very disappointed’ June 23, 2009 HORSE RACING: Leading trainer Nicky Henderson said yesterday he was awaiting a full explanation after being hit with a doping charge. He faces a ban of up to five years after being found guilty of administering a banned substance to Moonlit Path in February. Henderson, who denies the charge, said: “I’m obviously very disappointed. We’re [...]
Glover rockets up world rankings June 23, 2009 GOLF: US Open winner Lucas Glover has climbed 53 places to 18th in the world rankings following his triumph at Bethpage Black. The American won by two shots from Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes. England’s Ross Fisher, meanwhile, who finished fifth, has pulled out of this week’s BMW International Open.
Williams not ready to end Lions career June 22, 2009 BRITISH and Irish Lions winger Shane Williams has admitted that tonight’s game against the Emerging Springboks could be his last in a Lions shirt. Williams has failed to live up to his IRB player of the year accolade in South Africa and insists he needs a big performance if he is to force his way [...]
Dragon Bird gets 16 months June 22, 2009 RUGBY LEAGUE: Catalans Dragons captain Greg Bird has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after being found guilty of hitting his girlfriend with a glass. The 25-year-old Australian was granted bail pending an appeal. Bird’s girlfriend had written him a character reference to persuade the court to give him a lenient sentence. The pair [...]
Hamilton eyes German progress June 22, 2009 FORMULA ONE: Britain’s Lewis Hamilton is hoping constructors McLaren make a “huge improvement” at the next formula one meeting in Germany in three weeks’ time. Hamilton finished 16th at Silverstone on Sunday but the team remain confident of “an end of season push”.
Record-breaking suits get nod June 22, 2009 SWIMMING: World governing body FINA have reversed their decision to ban controversial hi-tech racing suits. The X-Glide and Jaked 01 were two of the 348 suits reviewed by FINA after more than 100 world records were broken in 18 months.
World Twenty20 “a big hit” June 22, 2009 CRICKET: ICC president David Morgan has declared England’s hosting of the World Twenty20 “an overwhelming success”. Organisers sold more than 96 percent of tickets, making the tournament more commercially successful than the inaugural event in South Africa in 2007.