Scott Murray's Blog, page 27
September 29, 2023
Ryder Cup 2023: Europe 6½-1½ USA – day one, as it happened
Luke Donald’s team whitewashed the holders in the morning, then snatched a couple of halves to increase their lead late in the afternoon, on a dramatic day at Marco Simone
Collin Morikawa’s opening shot is a nervy one. His drive sails off towards the gallery on the right, and clanks some poor dude upside the head. His ball nestles in thick rough … though not as thick as the rough Sepp Straka finds down the left of the hole. That was even more jittery, and won’t have settled the Austrian debutant’s nerves any. Meanwhile the US captain Zach Johnson is taking the barracking his team are copping from the home gallery in good spirit: “Fans are the engine behind the Ryder Cup, whether here or back home,” he tells Sky with a smile. “The energy, the passion, makes it special.”
Rahm/Hatton A/S Scheffler/Burns (2)
1UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (1)
Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa
Ryder Cup 2023: Europe v USA, day one – live
Collin Morikawa’s opening shot is a nervy one. His drive sails off towards the gallery on the right, and clanks some poor dude upside the head. His ball nestles in thick rough … though not as thick as the rough Sepp Straka finds down the left of the hole. That was even more jittery, and won’t have settled the Austrian debutant’s nerves any. Meanwhile the US captain Zach Johnson is taking the barracking his team are copping from the home gallery in good spirit: “Fans are the engine behind the Ryder Cup, whether here or back home,” he tells Sky with a smile. “The energy, the passion, makes it special.”
Rahm/Hatton A/S Scheffler/Burns (2)
1UP Hovland/Aberg v Homa/Harman (1)
Lowry/Straka v Fowler/Morikawa
September 26, 2023
Netherlands 2-1 England: Women’s Nations League – as it happened
The Dutch took advantage of English mistakes to get back into Group A1 contention
2 min: Carter goes down, having taken a whack in the face during an aerial challenge. She’s up again quickly enough, accusing Martens of sharp practice. The referee tells her to get on with it.
Smiles all round as the little car trundles on to deliver the match ball … then a knee of inclusion and love … and then England get that ball rolling. The reigning European champions take on the team they deposed! Love that little car.
Continue reading...September 24, 2023
Solheim Cup 2023: Europe 14-14 USA, singles – as it happened
Team USA looked set for victory until Caroline Hedwall and Carlota Ciganda rallied late to ensure Europe retained the cup
Europe need something to happen … and Leona Maguire provides it on the 2nd! She rakes in a 30-foot birdie putt to level up her match with Rose Zhang. Meanwhile back on 1, Anna Nordqvist sends a garden-variety wedge to 12 feet, while Jennifer Kupcho half-fluffs her chip from the rough at the back, leaving herself a long birdie putt. Slight advantage to the Swede.
Jennifer Kupcho up next on the 1st tee. She’s been up and down this week, but has always played aggressively, and there’s no change in approach here. She takes driver and finds the rough at the back of the green. Anna Nordqvist doesn’t have the power game to reach the green so sends a 3-wood down the right. And off they go on their journey.
Continue reading...September 23, 2023
Solheim Cup 2023: Europe 8-8 USA, day two – as it happened
From four down after the morning session on Friday, Europe are back on level terms after taking the day-two fourballs 3-1
Maja Stark chips to six feet at 1, and Linn Grant steers in the right-to-left slider. Birdie, and an opening statement by the European duo. “What does it say that Caroline Hedwall is still not getting a match?” wonders Richard Hirst. “Her confidence must be taking a battering.” The 34-year-old Swede certainly hasn’t been on top of her game in recent years – her tie for 66th at the recent British Open was the first time she’s made the cut at a major in four years – but she’s a captain’s pick so for that reason alone it’ll be a surprise if she doesn’t get a run-out this afternoon. Either way, Hedwall has a world of experience to fall back on, having become the first player in Solheim Cup history to win all five of her matches, back in 2013. So all is not lost.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (3)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (3)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 1UP (1)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (1)
Solheim Cup 2023: Europe v USA, day two – live
Maja Stark chips to six feet at 1, and Linn Grant steers in the right-to-left slider. Birdie, and an opening statement by the European duo. “What does it say that Caroline Hedwall is still not getting a match?” wonders Richard Hirst. “Her confidence must be taking a battering.” The 34-year-old Swede certainly hasn’t been on top of her game in recent years – her tie for 66th at the recent British Open was the first time she’s made the cut at a major in four years – but she’s a captain’s pick so for that reason alone it’ll be a surprise if she doesn’t get a run-out this afternoon. Either way, Hedwall has a world of experience to fall back on, having become the first player in Solheim Cup history to win all five of her matches, back in 2013. So all is not lost.
Pedersen/Ciganda A/S Vu/Kupcho (3)
1UP Nordqvist/Maguire v Thompson/Khang (3)
Hall/Boutier v Korda/Corpuz 1UP (1)
1UP Stark/Grant v Kang/Lee (1)
September 22, 2023
Solheim Cup 2023: Europe 3-5 USA, day one – as it happened
A wild to-and-fro opening day included a session whitewash, a hole-in-one, a dramatic shank, and a determined afternoon fightback by the hosts
For the benefit of folk who fancy getting up on the downswing this weekend but don’t always follow the greatest sport in the world, we usually cut and paste the following explainer. Hey, if it’s worth reading once, it’s worth reading a dozen times. Here we go ...
The Solheim Cup is a matchplay event. Each match is worth a point. There are 28 points available over the three days, so the first team to get to 14.5 points will win the Cup. Should the scores be tied at 14 points apiece, Europe will retain the trophy as current holders.
Continue reading...Solheim Cup 2023: Europe v USA, day one – live
For the benefit of folk who fancy getting up on the downswing this weekend but don’t always follow the greatest sport in the world, we usually cut and paste the following explainer. Hey, if it’s worth reading once, it’s worth reading a dozen times. Here we go ...
The Solheim Cup is a matchplay event. Each match is worth a point. There are 28 points available over the three days, so the first team to get to 14.5 points will win the Cup. Should the scores be tied at 14 points apiece, Europe will retain the trophy as current holders.
Continue reading...September 19, 2023
Milan 0-0 Newcastle: Champions League – as it happened
Newcastle earned a precious point in this season’s group of death, while Rafael Leão made an early bid for slapstick miss of the season
3 min: Loftus-Cheek probes down the right and wins a throw deep in Newcastle territory. Baby steps for Milan after that 5-1 humiliation at the hands of Inter.
2 min: Milan spend the opening moments stroking it around the back in the our-house-our-rules style.
Continue reading...September 1, 2023
Luton 1-2 West Ham: Premier League – as it happened
West Ham pooped the Kenilworth Road party to go top of the Premier League
2 min: Burke sends a long speculative pass down the right. Adebayo and Morris buzz around and win a couple of throws. Doughty flings it in. West Ham can’t clear. Chong curls a cross in from the left and it drops to Barkley, who sends a bobbling effort miles wide left. Nevertheless, that’s a bright start by the hosts.
Luton get the game underway. Appropriately, the gloaming above Kenilworth Road is the brightest orange.
Continue reading...Scott Murray's Blog
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