Why sport is playing against the clock when it comes to the climate crisis October 26, 2021 It is becoming increasingly apparent that the climate crisis touches everything and sport – often played outdoors and shaped by the weather – is, not surprisingly, no exception. Winter sports are in serious trouble. Alpine glaciers and skiing seasons are rapidly shrinking. Not a single event on last year’s biathlon circuit could proceed without using [...]
Sam Torrance: Even players as good as Rory McIlroy need self-belief too October 18, 2021 Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick would have organised all of their schedules around trying to peak at the Ryder Cup last month. So even though they were part of a European team that was heavily beaten, it is no huge surprise to see them playing well soon afterwards. McIlroy bounced back with victory over a [...]
20th PGA title: Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy wins CJ Cup in Las Vegas October 18, 2021 Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy has won the CJ Cup in Las Vegas, shooting a last round of six-under 66 to win by a stroke from American Collin Morikawa. Starting the day two shots off the pace, McIlroy showed a cool head throughout to end on 25-under par and join the select club of golfers to [...]
Sam Torrance: Hard working Rafa Cabrera Bello deserves return to form October 11, 2021 Rafa Cabrera Bello is one of the hardest workers on and off the course so his first win in four years, at the Open de Espana on Sunday, is well deserved. He hadn’t even finished in the top 10 at an event since January, so the omens weren’t good when he began the final round [...]
The fairway for women October 6, 2021 The decision to allow women to qualify for the Open Championship has been welcomed by Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam and major winner Jose Maria Olazabal. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which governs the game, has changed the entry criteria for the oldest tournament in the world to let leading women qualify on an [...]
Why athletics needs a silver bullet in the form of private investment September 30, 2021 The results are just in, and they don’t make for easy reading. World Athletics posted a small financial surplus in 2020, but only because Russia coughed up a fine for its doping misdemeanours. W hat’s worrying is the long steady decline in the reserves of track and field’s governing body. For the sake of the [...]
Sam Torrance: USA’s record Ryder Cup win was the best I’ve seen September 27, 2021 This turned out to be a tough Ryder Cup for Europe, who were outplayed, out-thought and out-fought by the USA. The Americans were simply magnificent, sublime from Friday morning all the way through to Sunday evening. It was the best Ryder Cup performance I’ve seen in my career. Dustin Johnson led the way for the [...]
Five things we’ve learned from the USA’s Ryder Cup landslide September 26, 2021 The USA reclaimed the Ryder Cup in record breaking fashion on Sunday night, completing a landslide 19-9 victory over Europe that had looked in prospect from the first morning. Open champion Collin Morikawa clinched the half point needed to ensure victory by finishing all-square in his match with Viktor Hovland, before the Americans won Sunday’s [...]
Sam Torrance: Europe gel as a team and that’s why they can win Ryder Cup again September 23, 2021 If not quite the great team of 1981, there is no denying that this US Ryder Cup line-up is extremely strong. And on paper, there is nothing that isn’t in the Americans’ favour. Whistling Straits is their venue, the course will be their set-up, and there will be even fewer European fans than usual. But [...]
Whistling Straits: the Ryder Cup course explained September 22, 2021 Whistling Straits will host the 43rd Ryder Cup this weekend, a year later than planned due to the pandemic. It’s the first time the course, in Wisconsin, has hosted the tournament. Where is it? Whistling Straits resort in Haven, Wisconsin, was established in 1998 after plans for a nuclear power plant on the site, an [...]