Scott Murray's Blog, page 20
April 12, 2024
The Masters: day two at Augusta – as it happened
“I don’t have the slightest clue where that ball went.” That’s never the greatest sign, is it? Yes, it’s the ever-entertaining, ever-commentating Jordan Spieth, coming off the back of birdie at 13 as he sets about repairing a round that started dismally with double bogey at Tea Olive. He’s +1 at the moment, but he’s just sent his second down the bank at the back of 14. Fortunately his caddie was keeping an eye on the ball, and Spieth has a Seve-esque ability to wriggle out of the tightest spots, but that’s going to be a testing up and down. Meanwhile Nicolai Hojgaard pars the last and signs for a 67.
-7: DeChambeau (F)
-6: Scheffler (F)
-5: Hojgaard (F)
-4: Willett (F), Homa (15)
April 11, 2024
The Masters: day one at Augusta – as it happened
Danny Willett joins the leading bunch with birdie at the par-five 8th. He’s on the fringe in two and nearly drains the long eagle putt. Meanwhile Phil Mickelson’s competitive juices are still flowing despite that cold start: birdie at the short par-four 3rd and the three-time winner, last year’s surprise joint runner-up after that final round of 65, is level par again.
The honorary start. Twenty minutes before Erik van Rooyen hit the first competitive stroke of the 2024 Masters, the legendary trio of Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson took their ceremonial tee shots. Between them: 246 years, 11 Masters. All three sent their little dappled orbs down Tea Olive to great cheer; Player, the oldest of the three at 88 but the youngest at heart, followed his shot with an elegant swivel and high kick that would pop out the hip of many a man half his age.
Continue reading...April 6, 2024
Brighton 0-3 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened
Arsenal reclaimed top spot in the Premier League after an efficient victory at the Amex
3 min: Brighton contribute to the thrust and parry with an attack of their own, Enciso winning a corner with a purposeful run down the left. And when that’s taken …
1 min 3 sec: Odegaard makes to swing in the free kick, but dummies. Everyone resets in the middle, and Brighton are caught out. Odegaard delivers this time, and Gabriel should power home a header from six yards, but clanks it wide left. What a huge chance for the fastest of starts!
Continue reading...April 2, 2024
West Ham 1-1 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened
The goals were traded early but a hotly contested London derby remained entertaining for the most part
1 min: Spurs start in the no-nonsense style, Maddison almost immediately attempting to release Son down the middle. Emerson is on point to intercept and put a stop to their scheme.
Tottenham Hotspur get the ball rolling. It is tipping down.
Continue reading...February 28, 2024
Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United: FA Cup fifth round – as it happened
Leeds gave them a game, but Chelsea bounced back from League Cup heartache to book a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup
A big old friendly hug between Poch and Farke, then the whistle goes to start the match. Chelsea get the ball rolling. They’re kicking towards the Shed in this first half.
The teams are out! A fine old-school atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, if you factor out the light show and flamethrowers. Both sets of supporters raise the noise to 11 on the old pre-match-pints-o-meter™, and of course the Harry J All Stars blast out of the speakers. Chelsea are in royal blue, Leeds pristine white pink, and we’ll be off in a minute!
February 24, 2024
Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle: Premier League – as it happened
Newcastle were unable to cope with Arsenal’s quality at the Emirates
The teams are out! Live prime-time Saturday night football always feels a bit odd, but at least the kick-off time has given everyone plenty of opportunity to source lubricant, and the atmosphere on Ashburton Grove is wonderful as a result. Arsenal in their red and white, Newcastle in black and white. We’ll be off in a minute or two!
More hot line-up chat, this time from the other side. Charles Antaki writes: “Go on then, if we’re allowing ourselves comments on the line-ups - always a pleasure until reality strikes. My ha’porth: in spite of some lovely recent games Trossard was near invisible against Porto, so plugging in Jorginho and shuttling Rice a bit more forward sounds good. Cue collapse of midfield, blankness at left inside forward and general gah.”
Continue reading...February 22, 2024
Roma 1-1 Feyenoord (agg 2-2, pens 4-2): Europa League – as it happened
Roma beat Feyenoord for the third season in a row to make it through to the last 16
4 min: It’s all a bit frenzied at the moment. Nobody’s settled yet. Multiple-pass sequences at a premium.
2 min: The crowd are giving it plenty. Feyenoord keeper Wellenreuther tries to draw some of the heat by taking an age over a clearance. Nice idea, in theory. Bedlam, bedlam, bedlam.
Continue reading...February 21, 2024
Napoli 1-1 Barcelona: Champions League last 16, first leg – as it happened
The stakes were high but the quality was low, as strikes from Robert Lewandowski and Victor Osimhen enlivened an otherwise sub-par affair
5 min: Koundé crosses from the right to force the first corner of the game. Nothing comes of it for Barcelona, but the visitors have started very confidently. The home fans are already resorting to irritated whistling.
4 min: Gundogan brings down a long ball 30 yards from goal, spins, then feeds Yamal to his right. Yamal curls a confident shot over the bar.
Continue reading...February 20, 2024
Inter 1-0 Atlético Madrid: Champions League last 16, first leg – as it happened
Marko Arnautović missed a couple of big chances, but kept going and scored the winner to give last year’s runners-up a slim advantage
2 min: Darmian chases what looks like a lost cause down the right and manages to whip the ball towards the near post. Thuram is strangely uninterested in attempting to connect. Oblak gathers. A strange start to the match.
1 min: Mkhitaryan has an early nibble at the ankles of Griezmann, who was thinking about racing off down the right flank. It could have been a booking. It’s not even a foul.
Continue reading...February 17, 2024
Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened
Rodri rescued a point for the champions after Raheem Sterling’s first-half strike
Chelsea get the ball rolling. Breaking news: it’s raining in Manchester!
The teams are out! City in sky, Chelsea in second-choice navy: it’s a blue day. Suggs has a song for that; shame none of them are sporting titfers, because Nick Heyward’s azure-influenced work is much better. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes.
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