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Thanawat becomes first Thai to be named in line-up for English Premier League game

Apr 04. 2021

By THE NATION

Leicester City midfielder Thanawat Suengchitthawon became the first Thai to be included in an English Premier League game line-up when his name appeared for the match against Manchester City on Saturday.

The 21-year-old was selected by manager Brendan Rodgers in the reserves list when the Siamese Foxes hosted the match at the King Power Stadium.

Thanawat, a midfielder in the Leicester under-21 team, is the first player from Thailand to feature in the English top flight league. He, however, was not sent into the field where the hosts lost to the Citizens 0-2.

Born in Suphanburi province to Thai parents, Thanawat moved to live with his mother in France at a young age and subsequently received dual citizenship. He represented Nancy II (a French League II team) from 2017-20 before joining the former EPL champions last year.

“I’ve been training with the first team for two months. Everything has gone well. I’ve got to train with the first team’s players and have learned a lot of techniques from them. It’s been a valuable experience,” said Thanawat.

Meanwhile, prior to the game, LFC players paid tribute to former club president Vichai Srivaddhanaprapha who would have turned 63 today. The team placed flowers in front of Vichai’s Memorial Garden located within the stadium compound.

Vichai, who contributed to the team’s unprecedented EPL title victory in the 2015-16 season, died in a helicopter accident in October 2018.

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Martin storms to stunning maiden pole in Doha

Apr 04. 2021

The rookie pulls out some magic on Saturday to take his first premier class pole position, ahead of Zarco and Viñales

Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) achieved something special on Saturday at the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha. After stealing the headlines early last Sunday with his stunning start, this time around it was a stunning qualifying session as the Spaniard took his first ever premier class pole position. He joins an exclusive club in doing so for only his second MotoGP™ race, with the other members comprising only Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and MotoGP™ Legend Casey Stoner, so the Pramac Racing rookie is in some fast company. Martin also has a tenth and a half in hand over teammate Johann Zarco as Pramac Racing made it a 1-2 on the grid for the Doha GP, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) taking third – as he did last week on his way to the win… On a windy day in Doha, Q1 saw some big names fighting to move through, including – once again – reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). But Mir got the job done and with a more clinical show of speed this time around, topping the session to head through alongside Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). And so, the time to fight it out for pole was nigh. As Q2 began, it was a familiar name making his presence felt. Martin put in a 1:53.892 straight out the traps to impress early, before Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) briefly deposed him. Shadowing Mir, however, Martin hit back quick with a 1:53.597 as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) slotted himself into P2, just 0.017s behind Martin’s early benchmark. After the first couple of flying laps, Martin, Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was the provisional front row, with Morbidelli and the Ducati Lenovo Team duo of Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller on the second row with just over five minutes remaining. World Championship leader and Qatar GP winner Viñales was a whole nine tenths off in P9 – just behind Mir, who was down in P8. But soon the field rumbled back out for their second runs, and it was Viñales first on a mission.  Despite a couple of moments for the number 12, he shot from P9 to P1 with under two minutes to go and it was clear there was more in the locker. Sure enough, Viñales was over a quarter of a second up on his next flying lap. He then nailed Sector 2, nailed Sector 3 and taking the chequered flag, the Qatar GP winner extended his advantage to 0.330s.  Attention then turned to Martin, however, as the rookie was up by 0.015s in Sector 2. It was his final shot at it too, and he seemed the last rider on the roll needed to depose Viñales. In the final sector though, Zarco suddenly gained over two tenths to snatch provisional pole by an absolute whisker – 0.004s – but Martin wasn’t done yet. Out on his own without a tow, in classic Martin style, the new kid on the MotoGP™ block stormed across the line and did it. A tenth and a half clear, it was provisional pole with only Miller and Quartararo in the hunt. Could either spoil the party? Not quite. Firing their way to the chequered flag, neither worried the front row although both improved their times to grab P4 and P5 respectively. A little history is therefore made in Doha as the ‘Martinator’ shows us how it’s done, with Zarco making it Saturday Night Fever for Pramac Racing in a 1-2 for the team. Viñales once again lines up P3 at Losail, and he’ll be looking to repeat his season opening feat – just maybe this time without the Ducati armada swamping everyone at the start. Spearheading Row 2 is Miller, who will have wanted more but already proved how quickly he can make up that ground last week. The Australian also suffered a wobble in Q2, so a Row 2 start is a job well done. Quartararo’s fifth place was less than the Frenchman would have expected, but it’s another solid session for the number 20 to get back in the fight at the front. Sixth was another rider who would have wanted a little more after taking pole last week: Pecco Bagnaia. He’ll want to get the most from Ducati’s stellar starts and move up from there. Leading the third row is Aleix Espargaro after another fantastic performance. With the Yamahas and Ducatis looking strong in Qatar, starting P7 – one place higher than last week – is yet another job well done for the Noale factory. Joining the Aprilia rider on Row 3, meanwhile, are both Team Suzuki Ecstar riders: Alex Rins sits 0.040s ahead of teammate Mir as the GSX-RR duo finish 0.6s shy from pole position. Judging by their progress last weekend on race day, there’s plenty to come from the Hamamatsu factory. Rounding out the top 10 is Morbidelli, the Italian just 0.009s from the third row, with leading Honda rider Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) and fastest KTM Oliveira completing the Q2 graduates in P11 and P12 respectively. So where’s Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT)? P21 after one of the Doctor’s worst days at the office, so he’ll be looking for a lot more on Sunday. That’s it from a history-making qualifying, and if Martin gets anything like the start he did last Sunday, then he’ll be into Turn 1 with a couple of hours in hand. He says he’s aiming for the top six though, whereas Zarco is very definitely aiming for the win from second. With Viñales exactly where he was last week though, will history repeat itself? Don’t miss second of the action as the lights go out for MotoGP™ at 20:00 local time (GMT+3) on Sunday! And click here for full qualifying results. MotoGP™ front row 1 Jorge Martin* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 1:53.106 2 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.157 3 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.161 *Independent Team rider MotoGP™ front row L-R: Zarco, Martin and Viñales Jorge Martin: “It’s difficult to describe my feelings. On the first run I was behind Mir and I felt super confident, I was catching him so fast and I thought, ‘ok I need to be behind a faster bike’. I was hoping to be behind Pecco but he wasn’t pushing a lot so I thought, ‘ok it’s my time to push, time to demonstrate who I am’. And for sure I didn’t expect to get pole! I expected to be top four, top five, and when I finished the lap and I was up there in first.. it’s unbelievable. I want to thank my family and my team, they’re working great and we’re a family in in the box after just a month. This is so great! Tomorrow is another day to learn, because for sure it’s not my day to win, but if we can fight for the top six it would be great and I’d be super happy.” Zarco: just a tenth and a half off his teammate … and Viñales was even closer than that Martin celebrates a wheeeeeelie good lap Lowes denies Gardner for second Losail pole The Brit makes it two from two, but this time it’s Gardner in close company as the two prepare for another showdown Last weekend’s race winner Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) once again brought his A-game to the table when it mattered at the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha, with the British rider and Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) going head-to-head for pole position and the number 22 coming out on top. Lowes’ 1:59.055 sees him head the grid by nearly a tenth and a half, but with Gardner in second on take two in the desert it’s the man who proved Lowes’ closest rival last weekend starting right alongside him. Another familiar face from the fight at the front in the Qatar GP, Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46), completes the front row in P3. There was early drama in Moto2™ Q1 as Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) missed out on a place in the top four, with reigning Moto3™ World Champion Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team) slamming in a personal best lap on his final flyer that was good enough for P3. That demoted Vierge to P5 and out of Q2. Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) topped the first part of qualifying with a 1:59.592 though, moving through ahead of Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), Arenas and Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing). Gardner was the early pacesetter once Q2 got underway, but the times were down on Q1’s best efforts. Red sectors then lit up the timing screens as a big reshuffle took place, with Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team) leading the field from Bendsneyder. Bezzecchi took control of the session next with a 1:59.736, but the times would tumble again. Gardner hit back, Lowes did the same and Dixon made his way up into second. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) soon split the Brits to grab P2, but the Free Practice pacesetter was three tenths down on Lowes – and just 0.002s ahead of Dixon. Fighting back, Bezzecchi slipped into P2 with just over two minutes left, before Gardner muscled his way back into second. A red second split then popped up for Gardner as Lowes backed out, so all eyes turned to the number 87… Gardner was also up in Sector 3, but could he keep it going all the way to the line? Not quite! The Aussie just lost ground and despite improving his time, pole went to Lowes for the second week in a row. After Gardner started much further back on his way to second in the Qatar GP however, a front row is mission partly accomplished, as it is for Bezzecchi in P3. Raul Fernandez ends his second Moto2™ qualifying session in P4, another fantastic job by the rookie, and he’s joined on Row 2 by Q1 graduate Dixon. A late charge from rookie Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) seals a brilliant P6 for the Japanese rider as he makes a big leap up the timesheets on take two in Doha, even getting the better of third place Qatar GP finisher Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) as the Italian is forced to head up Row 3. Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) and Canet slot in behind Diggia, with Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) completing the top 10 in Q2. Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP 40), Arenas, Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), American rookie Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) and Bendsneyder complete the fastest 15 on Saturday. Click here for full results! The grid is set and so is the stage. Can Gardner, Bezzecchi or anyone else stop Lowes from making it two out two at Losail? We’ll find out on Sunday at 18:20 local time (GMT+3)! Moto2™ front row: 1 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 1:59.055  2 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +0.137 3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – +0.272 Moto2™ front row L-R: Bezzecchi, Lowes and Gardner Sam Lowes: “It was a good day for me, we changed the bike back after we tried something yesterday and I’ve felt good all day. It’s nice, it was sort of a different session. Last week I went out and tried to get into a rhythm in qualifying but today with the wind it was difficult to be as consistent so I knew I just had to make the best lap I could and then see. In the end I’m really happy and i think we can have a great race from there tomorrow.”   Masia makes it count to take Moto3™ pole The Qatar GP winner snatches it late, with Garcia and Alcoba next up but some pitlane starts switching up the grid He left it late but Qatar GP race winner Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will start from pole at the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha after a last dash to the top, the Spaniard taking it from Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Gaviota Aspar) by less than a tenth as the Championhip leader proved the only rider under the 2:06 mark. Garcia was second quickest but will start from pitlane due to a penalty, with third quickest in Q2, Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3), therefore set to start second. His teammate Gabriel Rodrigo was fourth fastest but bumps up onto the front row. The pitlane start penalties played their part deciding the Moto3™ grid even before qualifying did, with seven riders – including Garcia – given the punishment for their riding in FP2 on Friday evening. The rest are Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride), Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Riccardo Rossi (BOE Owlride), with a few in Q2 and a few in Q1, complicating life somewhat for those looking to move through. Once Q1 was underway though, it was the experienced head of Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) who topped the first qualifying session with a 2:06.925, a tenth faster than Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia and Xavier Artigas. Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PrüstelGP) got the job done to earn the final place in the top four and with the windy conditions making a big difference, slipstreaming – an ever-present factor in the lightweight class – was even more important than before. Once they headed back out for Q2, Garcia was the early pacesetter but Migno was soon at the summit. The Italian, lapping with the Leopard duo and Dupasquier, then improved on his second lap to go over a tenth clear of Garcia with seven minutes to go. Izan Guevara (GASGAS Gaviota Aspar) was provisionally on the front row too, with the likes of John McPhee, his Petronas Sprinta Racing teammate Darryn Binder and World Championship leader Masia languishing outside the top 10. The fun and games started as the riders headed out for their second runs though, with everything coming down to the final three minutes and a one-lap dash for the entire 18-strong field. As they thundered over the line, Garcia was the first to take to the top but almost immediately, Masia snatched it back by less than a tenth. Just behind them, Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 duo Alcoba and Gabriel Rodrigo were able to propel themselves to P3 and P4, with McPhee and Binder also improving in the same gaggle of riders. But no one could beat Masia’s laptime. That leaves the Championship leader top of the pile in the perfect position to try and complete the double on Sunday, although pole is nearly two seconds off last week, the challenge was a different one in the conditions. Garcia heads for pitlane despite going second fastest, with Alcoba and Rodrigo therefore locking out the front row.  . Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) heads the second row, with Andrea Migno alongside him as the Italian slipped to sixth fastest but fifth on the grid. Last week’s polesitter Binder and teammate McPhee didn’t have the best Q2 but were P7 and P8, and both move up a place in the penalty shuffle: Binder completes Row 2 as McPhee spearheads Row 3. Rookie Pedro Acosta was the ninth fastest man in Q2, but the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider also has a pitlane start so it’s two positions gained for those directly behind him. The first of those was 10th fastest Izan Guevara who will start eighth, ahead of Jason Dupasquier as the Q1 graduate was 11th quickest and moves up to complete the third row.  Row 4 has two Qatar GP winners at the helm in the form of Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) and Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power), with Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) moving up to 12th on the grid as Fenati and Nepa join Garcia and Acosta in pitlane. Artigas does, however, have to do two Long Lap penalties in the race after his incident in the Qatar GP. Click here for full results! That’s it from another classic Moto3™ shootout, and it’s early points leader Masia who continues to lay down the marker in 2021. With pitlane starts and penalties coming back to haunt many on Sunday, it promises to be another phenomenal Moto3™ encounter so tune in at 17:00 local time (GMT+3). Moto3™ top three 1 Jaume Masia – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 2:05.913 2 Sergio Garcia – GASGAS Gaviota Aspar Team – GASGAS – +0.099 3 Jeremy Alcoba – Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 – Honda – +0.245 Moto3™ top three L-R: Garcia, Masia and Alcoba Jaume Masia: “You can see, it’s a really windy day and this morning I didn’t push at 100% because it was dangerous and would have been a stupid risk to take. But now I’m really happy for this pole position, we will keep working on this line and I’m ready for the race tomorrow.”

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Up-and-coming Paphangkorn leads by one @ ANA Inspiration

Apr 03. 2021Paphangkorn “Patty” Tavatanakit (Photo credit to LPGA)Moriya follows two strokes

ANA INSPIRATION LEADERBOARD
	Player	To Par	Score
1	Patty Tavatanakit (THA)	-9	66-69—135
2	Shanshan Feng (CHN)	-8	67-69—136
3	Moriya Jutanugarn (THA)	-7	68-69—137

Moriya Jutanugarn (Photo credit to LPGA)

For the second consecutive day, Paphangkorn “Patty” Tavatanakit settled any major championship nerves to hold the ANA Inspiration lead after a second-round 69 to sit at -9 overall. The 2010/21 Tour rookie, who holds a 36-hole lead for the first time in her career, rebounded from a bogey on her first hole (No. 10) with a slam-dunk eagle on No. 15 followed by a birdie on No. 16 to pick up momentum making the turn.

“It was a little — the wind was a little off the right. I’ve got 115 to the hole I think and the pin was pretty front. I only have five on, so — and it was kind of windy. The greens are firm, so I wasn’t going to play the short number, the front number. So I told my caddie, I was like, I’m just going to hit like a 107 shot. Everything is going far right now. It’s probably going to land a little further, which it did, and just slam dunk in there. It was really good shot, a little bit of a draw spin in,” said Tavatanakit of the eagle. “I could feel it like moving right to left and towards the hole. I looked good and then I heard like (making noise) and it was a good feeling.”

Tavatanakit went on to birdie holes 2 and 4 but struggled with her putting on No. 7 as the winds picked up on Friday evening. Settling for two pars to close out the day, Tavatanakit said she’s up for the challenge of contending for her first LPGA Tour title.

“(I’m) pretty confident, but nothing too, you know, getting ahead of myself. I don’t want to do that. That’s a red flag right there. You don’t want to be — that to be in good position on the weekend,” said Tavatanakit, who won three times on the Symetra Tour in 2019. “Just keep doing what I’m doing and stay patient, stay with the present. I been doing that pretty well today. Just listening to different kind of sounds out there and just being in my own world.”

Close behind is Shanshan Feng after a second-round 69 to sit in solo second at -8. Feng persisted through a roller-coaster of a front nine, carding four birdies and three bogeys before making the turn. Staying patient turned out to be the key for the two-time major champion, who closed with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.

“I didn’t really expect myself to shoot a bogey-free round yesterday, so I expect on this course, especially my first tournament coming back, I am going to have some mistakes. And so, you know, I just missed a few fairways and few up and downs and so I made some bogeys. I was very like fine with it because I expected it,” said Feng. “But I felt really happy that after that, I mean, I started to hit more fairways on the back, so be able to hit more greens and have more birdie chances. Coming back on the back nine I think was pretty well done.”

Feng, who said she slept for 14 hours Thursday night, said she was more happy about playing again on Tour and making the cut then being in contention at the season’s first major.

“I didn’t really focus on how I was playing. I was trying to find out, you know, the same feeling like how I was reacting on the course and if I was enjoying everything on the course,” said Feng. “Yesterday people said coming into this booth they couldn’t tell if I shot 5-under or 5-over, so still the same. I mean, all I can say is that I really enjoy the whole time on the course. Doesn’t matter if I was playing well or not.”

Moriya Jutanugarn, who carded her career-best finish at Mission Hills Country Club in 2018 (T6), is third at -7. “It was another pretty solid round for me. You know, just have to be a lot of patient out there. Seems like the wind blowing starting this morning and it’s just make it different,” said Jutanugarn. “Just like trying to be patient out there and just take it when I can.”

Charley Hull and Anna Nordqvist are currently tied for fourth at -6, with six major champions in a tie for sixth at -5: Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Sophia Popov, Georgia Hall, Jin Young Ko and defending champion Mirim Lee.

A total of 71 players made the cut at +1, tying the record for the lowest cut in ANA Inspiration history, last recorded in 2018. The lone amateur in the field, 2020 Women’s British Amateur Champion Aline Krauter, will miss the weekend after finishing +3 overall.

TRIO OF KOREAN MAJOR CHAMPIONS IN THE HUNT HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND 

The flurry of names tied for sixth includes three notable Korean compatriots who have all made the jump into Poppie’s Pond – defending champion Mirim Lee, who won the 2020 championship in a playoff; Jin Young Ko, who took a three-stroke win in 2019; and Inbee Park, a four-stroke winner in 2013.  

A second ANA Inspiration title could vault Park back to the top of the Rolex Rankings, a position she has held for 106 cumulative weeks over her illustrious career. It would move her past Ko, who has held that spot for all but four weeks since she hoisted the Dinah Shore Trophy in April 2019. As expected, Park is not remotely focused on Sunday’s outcome. She has her eyes on the course and the temperature, which could reach triple digits over the weekend. 

“It’s just the heat that we have to watch out for,” said Park, who shot 69 on Friday. “The course is going to play firm and fast, which is a good thing, and obviously you just going to have a lot of energy to play in this heat.” 

The temperatures have firmed up a perfectly groomed Dinah Shore Tournament Course and also garnered Ko’s full attention as she heads into the weekend. “It’s going to be firmer than last two days,” said Ko. “I will focus on my game, on the course and I will just enjoy.” 

For Lee, a strong finish would go far in helping her qualify for Team Korea at the Tokyo Olympic Games in August. Currently No. 31 in the Rolex Rankings, Lee needs to pass at least six of her countrywomen to potentially lock in a spot on what is perhaps the toughest team to make in the entire Games. It would seem that her second-round 70 was a step toward both a successful title defense and a trip to Tokyo, but Lee was focused more on how she could continue to improve heading into weekend action. 

“My downswing is a little bit behind,” said Lee. “That’s why ball is going left to right and right to left. So might fix it today.” 

ROLEX RANKINGS WORLD NO. 1 PROJECTIONS

Note – There may be additional possibilities with tie scenarios and separate projection scenarios would need to be run to check. 

No. 2 Inbee Park

• Win
• Solo second and have Jin Young Ko finish solo 10th or worse

No. 3 Sei Young Kim

• Must win and have Jin Young Ko finish solo 48th or worse and Inbee Park finish third or worse

No. 4 Nelly Korda

• Must win and have Jin Young Ko finish solo 46th or worse and Inbee Park finish third or worse

MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PUSH ANNA NORDQVIST TO EXCEL 

“These are the ones that motivate me to go practice every day. If you get a little taste of it, it’s just such an incredible feeling.” 

A two-time major champion at the 2009 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and 2017 Amundi Evian Championship, Anna Nordqvist is driven by major championships. With the 50th ANA Inspiration at hand, she is showcasing her brand of golf that typically comes out during major championship weeks. 

In 12 career starts at Mission Hills Country Club (including this week), Nordqvist has never missed a cut and earned six top-20 finishes. On top of that, she has played the weekend in 80% of the 56 major starts in her career, with 15 top-10s. 

“I keep working hard and try to put myself in the same position again [and again],” said Nordqvist, who fired a 2-under 70 on Friday to reach -6 overall at the ANA Inspiration halfway point. “I feel pretty solid with my game and like it’s trending in the right direction. That’s really all I can do. I’m very happy with the game.”

INJURY CAN’T HOLD BACK CHARLEY HULL ON A FAVORITE COURSE 

The Dinah Shore Tournament Course has historically been very kind to Charley Hull. The English star is competing in her eighth ANA Inspiration, dating back to her first appearance as an amateur in 2012. That debut performance brought her “worst” finish to date, a tie for 38th. Since then, Hull has never finished worse than 26th, including a runner-up finish in 2016, and revels in taking to the difficult track at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains. 

“I first played in this event I think when I was 15 years old, as an amateur and my dad was here with me. I just really love it,” said Hull, whose lone LPGA Tour victory came at the 2016 CME Group Tour Championship. “I just like it because it’s quite a tight golf course and the rough can be thick and the greens are firm. I feel like that suits my game because I hit the ball quite high and I’m able to stop it where others find it quite hard.” 

Hull missed the 2020 ANA Inspiration after being diagnosed with COVID-19 during the standard pre-tournament testing process. She had hoped that 2021 would go off without a hitch, but she sprained her ankle while out for a run last week in Carlsbad before her final round of the Kia Classic. Thankfully for Hull, it was more a case of injured pride and she sits in a tie for fourth heading into the weekend as she searches for her first major title. 

“Beware the injured golfer they say. Yeah, I literally went for a 5K run, fell over a pothole and banged my chin. I was more embarrassed at the time. It didn’t really hurt. Carried on with my 5k, played 18 holes at the Kia, and wasn’t until after, until I sat down for an hour and I stood up and couldn’t walk on it,” said Hull of her mishap. “I rang my friend Jason who used to work for me as a physio. He told me to ice it and I listened to him and it worked a lot, then the guys here have been strapping it up for me. Feels loads better.” 

EUBANKS: POPOV AT HOME NEAR THE TOP

It’s every week now. Since Sophia Popov won the AIG Women’s Open last summer, she hasn’t missed a single cut. That’s a nice story, one worth mentioning. But she’s even better than that. Popov seems like a regular now on the front page of the leaderboard, a fixture on the Golf Channel leaders graphics, always at or near the top.

This ANA Inspiration is no exception. Once again, a quick gander down the board shows the ebullient 28-year-old a stone’s throw from the lead going into what is supposed to a boiling hot weekend at Mission Hills.

“Yeah, it’s nice talking to you guys every week,” she said at her post-round press conference on Friday after shooting 69 in windy conditions to reach 5-under par. “I know things are going well (when you want to talk to me).”

Popov came into the desert with two top-10s in four starts this year. She was a Saturday hiccup at the Kia Classic away from perhaps making it three out of four. And in major championship conditions with firm, fast greens and gnarly rough – anything but fun – Popov continues to smile and joke and engage. She’s stress-free, like every round is a Wednesday pro-am.

“I’m just a lot calmer out there,” she said of her positive vibe. “I’m enjoying myself. I’m hitting good shots. I wouldn’t even say every part of my game is 100% right now. But I think the confidence is really giving me that little edge. When a round could go one way it’s going the other way just because I feel like I don’t have a lot to lose. I’m not sure why I feel like I’m in that position, but I think I am. I’m just kind of going out and creating as many chances as I can and going along and trying to make birdies.”

Even without her game at 100%, Popov has had one bad hole in two rounds, a double bogey at the seventh in round one. Since then, she’s played her last 29 holes with seven birdies and no bogeys.

“If it’s stress-free and you’re making a lot of pars, that always feels good,” she said.

To read more of Steve Eubanks’ column on LPGA.com, click here: https://www.lpga.com/news/2021/popov-at-home-near-the-top

Player Notes

Rolex Rankings No. 103 Patty Tavatanakit (66-69)

• She hit eight of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
• Her 135 is the lowest 36-hole score of her LPGA Tour career, besting the 137s she shot at the 2020 Marathon LPGA Classic and the 2020 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
• Tavatanakit is a 2020/2021 LPGA Tour rookie; her career-best finish is a tie for fifth at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open (as an amateur) and at the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA
• This is Tavatanakit’s fourth event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for fifth at the Gainbridge LPGA
• This is Tavatanakit’s third appearance in the ANA Inspiration; her best finish is a tie for 26th in 2019 as an amateur
• Named the 2019 Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year on the Symetra Tour
• Played collegiately at UCLA, where she was a seven-time winner and two-time WGCA First-Team All American

Rolex Rankings No. 35 Shanshan Feng (67-69)

• She hit nine of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, with 27 putts
• Her 136 is her lowest 36-hole score at the ANA Inspiration, besting the 139 she shot in 2014
• This is Feng’s 14th season on the LPGA Tour; she has 10 career victories including a major title at the 2012 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, with her most recent victory coming at the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• This is Feng’s first LPGA Tour event since the 2019 CME Group Tour Championship; she remained home in China during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season
• This is Feng’s 11th appearance in the ANA Inspiration; she has two top-10 finishes, with a best finish of sixth in 2014
• Bronze medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, representing the People’s Republic of China
• Became the first player from China, male or female, to be ranked No. 1 on Nov. 13, 2017; held the position for 23 weeks
• Started the Shanshan Feng Golf Academy in 2017, to provide opportunity for Chinese children to learn the game

Rolex Rankings No. 43 Moriya Jutanugarn (68-69)

• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens, with 28 putts
• Her 137 is her lowest 36-hole score at the ANA Inspiration, besting the 139 she shot in 2017
• This is M. Jutanugarn’s ninth season on the LPGA Tour; she has one career victory, coming at the 2018 HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open
• This is M. Jutanugarn’s second event of the LPGA Tour season; she missed the cut at last week’s Kia Classic
• This is M. Jutanugarn’s 10th appearance in the ANA Inspiration; her best finish is a tie for sixth in 2018
• Earned 2013 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, recording six-top-20 finishes and defeating Caroline Masson by just one point
• With sister Ariya, is one of three sister duos to both win on the LPGA Tour, along with the Kordas and the Sorenstams

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Miller heads Ducati armada in Doha

Apr 03. 2021

The Australian bounced back in style to top the timesheets on Friday, ahead of teammate Bagnaia and top Independent Team rider Zarco

Day 1 of the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha saw one marque very much lay down a marker, with four Ducatis ending the day in the top five. The fastest was Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the Australian bounced back from a more difficult first race of the season to top the timesheets, putting in a 1:53.145 to pull three tenths ahead of teammate Francesco Bagnaia in second. Third went to Qatar GP podium finisher Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), with the Frenchman less than a tenth further back and top Independent Team rider. His rookie teammate Jorge Martin impressed in fifth to make it that four out of five for Ducati, with only Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) able to spoil the Borgo Panigale party as he took fourth.

With conditions likely to make improvements difficult in the afternoon heat of FP3, gaining automatic entry to Q2 was the name of the game and that led to a classic last dash shootout at the end of FP2. First though, there was setup work to be done and after a couple of faster efforts from Bagnaia and Martin, most settled into working for the race. With just under 20 minutes to go, however, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) shot first as the Japanese rider started making moves on brand-new rubber, taking over in P2 and less than a tenth away from Bagnaia.

Martin, not looking like a rookie at all on the GP21, then moved back into P3 with 15 minutes to go and it was game on for time attacks. The Spanish rookie then put in another impressive lap and improved his time to go P1, but the Pramac rider’s time at the summit lasted about five seconds as Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) then landed the first 1:53 of the day and we strapped in for a barnstorming final 13 or so minutes of action on Friday evening.

Quartararo soon demoted Rins to P2 before Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) moved the goalposts, a 1:53.646 putting the RS-GP rider nearly three tenths clear of the pack. Despite two mechanical issues in FP1, Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) next slotted himself into P2 before Miller, who was on a quick lap, stole the spotlight. Not for all the right reasons though, as the Australian was up with red sectors before having a huge moment out of Turn 14 that rattled him out the seat. He stayed on but headed into pitlane, down in P19 with only five minutes to go.

The turnaround was quick, however, and once back out Miller was firing on all cylinders. Half way around his flying lap, the number 43 was four tenths up and looking to lay down a serious benchmark, with the advantage only getting bigger in the latter half of the lap as Miller put himself 0.501s clear with a minute to go, luckily just avoiding the yellow flags waved for a Nakagami crash at Turn 7.

The final flying laps then saw plenty of movement, but none of it would be in front of Miller. Bagnaia, Zarco and Martin propelled themselves into the top five as the two Qatar podium finishers also avoided the yellow flags, this time for an Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) crash at the final corner. Further back on the road there was bad news for World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) too, with both needing to find time to break into the top 10… and both failing to find enough.

At the end of the shuffle then, it’s advantage Ducati with Miller, Bagnaia and Zarco at the top, with Jorge Martin hanging on to an impressive fifth. Quartararo slips into P4 as top Yamaha, with FP1 pacesetter Aleix Espargaro taking sixth despite not heading out for a final time attack, that first flier enough.

Morbidelli enjoyed a better evening to end up P7, and there were no issues for the Italian in FP2 as he got in some smoother sailing. Just 0.014 behind the Petronas Yamaha SRT rider is Rins, with the top eight covered by half a second. 

World Championship leader Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) only just squeezed into the top 10 in P9 with a late effort, with Marc Marquez’s replacement – and Honda test rider – Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) doing another fine job in P10 to break some hearts, not least those of Mir and Rossi. The reigning World Champion is P13, and Rossi exactly a tenth behind him in P14 as Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) slotted into 11th and 12th respectively.With Saturday afternoon conditions likely to make a laptime harder to find, the likes of Mir and Rossi face a challenging Day 2 in Doha. Will they be heading through to Q1? Tune into MotoGP™ FP3 at 15:15 local time (GMT+3) to see if anyone is able to find improvements, before the fight for pole position gets underway at 20:00 local time. MotoGP™ Friday top five: 1 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 1:53.145 2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – +0.313 3 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.392 4 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.438 5 Jorge Martin* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.448 *Independent Team rider Second week running, Bagnaia was second quickest in the Ducati 1-2 Top Independent Team rider Zarco backed up his podium with third on Friday Fernandez fires past Diggia to go fastest on Day 1 The rookie continues his sensational form as he tops Friday in Doha by over half a second Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continues to take the Moto2™ class by storm as the rookie ended Friday at the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha over half a second clear of his rivals, a sensational 1:58.541 seeing the Spaniard pull clear of second-placed Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2). Fernandez’s teammate and Qatar GP podium finisher Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completed the top three. It didn’t take long for the times to immediately be quicker than a very warm FP1, and leading the way in the early stages were two rookies: Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Raul Fernandez. It didn’t last long though, as FP1 pacesetter Di Giannantonio stuck in a 1:59.058, with Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) joining the Italian in the top three. The session was then fairly quiet in terms of improvements, with plenty of riders figuring out race settings rather than searching for a quick lap time. The ever-impressive Raul Fernandez then went two tenths quicker than Sam Lowes’ (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) pole time from last weekend with just under four minutes to go though, a lap that put him over half a second clear of the pack. Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) made it two rookies inside the top five too as there were a few movers down the bottom end of the top 14, but no one was troubling Raul Fernandez at the top. The young Spaniard remained over half a second clear of Di Giannantonio to head into qualifying day as the rider to beat and by some distance, with Qatar GP podium finisher Diggia enjoying a good day at the office to take P2. Gardner beat fourth place Bezzecchi by just 0.020s, and then it’s only 0.005s back to fifth place Roberts as the timesheets got incredibly tight. Two more rookies impressed next up, with sixth-placed Ogura and eighth-placed Vietti sandwiching World Championship leader Lowes as the Qatar GP winner ended the day in seventh. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) – despite an early crash at Turn 6 – were able to comfortably grab places in the all-important top 14 as they complete the top ten, with those provisionally on for a place in Q2 concluded by Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP 40), Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team), Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and rookie Cameron Beaubier (American Racing), who recovered from a small tumble in FP1. That means some big name riders may miss out on an automatic place in Q2, with conditions likely to be more difficult for a time attack in FP3. Petronas Sprinta Racing pair Xavi Vierge and Jake Dixon are two of those, with Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up), Tom Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) and his teammate Bo Bendsneyder also having tricky Friday evenings. Can they turn it around on Saturday? Make sure to tune into Moto2™ FP3 at 14:20 local time (GMT+3) to see if any improvements are made, ahead of qualifying at 18:25. Moto2™ Friday top five: 1 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 1:58.541 2 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex – +0.517 3 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +0.647 4 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – +0.667 5 Joe Roberts – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – +0.672   Binder fends off Garcia by just 0.040 on Friday It’s close on Day 1 in Doha as Moto3™ ends in a mad dash for the line With an automatic slot in Q2 on their minds, the Moto3™ field left it late to try and make one last dash count in FP2 at the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha… but many didn’t even make it to the line in time. That left Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) on top of the pile, although the South African held onto it by 0.040 ahead of Sergio Garcia (GASGAS Gaviota Aspar Team) as the Spaniard just made it over the line to improve. Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) slots into third, another key name from the front group in the Qatar GP making his presence felt on Friday. Pretty good conditions welcomed Moto3™ back on track at Losail International Circuit, and after a scorching FP1 it all came down to pushing for that laptime in FP2. Binder did just that to put in a time around seven tenths off his Qatar GP pole lap, with quiet then falling in the final few minutes as the field filed back into pitlane. Filing back out, however, is where the idea of a last dash came undone as many didn’t manage to cross the line in time to set that final fast lap. The result? A few key names out of position, including Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) set to miss the cut in P15 and Qatar GP frontrunner Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in P27. Behind Binder, Garcia and Rodrigo at the top though, John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) ends Friday in fourth as he got back up to the sharp end following bad luck in the Qatar GP, and fellow veteran Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completes the top five. Qatar winner Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) slots into sixth overall ahead of rookie sensation Izan Guevara (GASGAS Gaviota Aspar Team), with 2020 Rookie of the Year Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) in P8 as he moved up from ending FP1 very out of position in last place. Second superstar rookie and Qatar GP podium finisher Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was ninth and safely holding onto a provisional place in Q2, with Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) – the first rider out in the freight train dash – completing the top ten. Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride) and Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP) were 11th and 12th, with the last of those currently moving through to Q2 comprising two former Qatar GP winners: Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) and Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3). Can anyone improve in the hotter conditions of FP3? Find out at 13:25 (GMT +3), before qualifying for the lightweight class from 18:25. Moto3™ Friday top five: 1 Darryn Binder – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda –  2:04.781 2 Sergio Garcia – GASGAS Gaviota Aspar Team – GASGAS –  +0.040 3 Gabriel Rodrigo – Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 – Honda – +0.112 4 John McPhee – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda – +0.187 5 Tatsuki Suzuki – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda – +0.242

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Moriya, Ariya take on world’s best golfers at Honda LPGA Thailand next month

Apr 02. 2021

Ariya Jutanugarn

Seventy of the world’s top women golfers will tee off in the Honda LPGA Thailand 2021 at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course as scheduled on May 6-9, organisers confirmed on Friday.

This year’s tournament is being held behind closed doors in line with Covid restrictions but will be broadcast live on all four days.

Thai sisters Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn will take on a strong field of US, European and Asian stars led by South Korea’s Amy Yang, winner of the 2019 edition here, and compatriot and world No 1 Ko Jin-young.

Joining them will be teen sensation Chanettee Wannasaen, 16, who won the qualifying event.

The tournament will be held in Covid-safe conditions with all participants quarantined, helping to promote Thailand as a safe destination as it prepares to welcome back international tourists.

“Even though we are in a different situation from previous years, the Honda LPGA Thailand still plays an important role in raising the standards of the country’s golf tournaments as well as inspiring the young Thai golfers and all those who have a passion for and an interest in golf,” said Noriyuki Takakura, president and CEO of Honda Automobile (Thailand).

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Rookie Paphangkorn leads a stroke at ANA inspiration

Apr 02. 2021Paphangkorn “Patty” Tavatanakit  (Photo credit to LPGA)

Jutanugarn sisters fall two shots back

Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn (Photo credit to LPGA) 

With the 50th edition of the ANA Inspiration officially underway, 2020/21 LPGA Tour rookie Paphangkorn “Patty” Tavatanakit rose to the top of the 119-player field in Rancho Mirage, Calif., to lead by one stroke at -6 in her third appearance at the major championship.

Her bogey-free 66 was her career-best 18-hole score at Mission Hills Country Club and her best round since a third-round 66 at the Gainbridge LPGA.

“It was a pretty calm and relaxing day today. I just stuck to my game plan and didn’t get too greedy out there. I know it’s a major, it’s tough, the course is really tough,” said Tavatanakit. “I was just being really patient and I was waiting for putts to drop, and they did on the back nine.”

The 21-year-old started the day with two birdies on her front nine, picking up the pace at the turn and closing with four birdies in her last six holes. Tavatanakit, who has never led or co-led after the first round before in her young LPGA Tour career, said she’s still processing what it takes to continue grinding toward the top of the leaderboard.

“Today, even though it’s a 6-under, it was not a perfect golf. It was, I mean, a lot out there, but I would take that any day. Golf is not a perfect sport,” said Tavatanakit, who has already earned a top-five and top-15 finish this season. “I feel like just growth into being in contention and just keep learning, keep being in it. Eventually like I’ll be able to finish it out. It doesn’t have to be this week. I have a long career ahead of me, and I’m just going to keep playing the way I’m playing.”

The 2019 ANA Inspiration low amateur isn’t running away with the competition just yet, with Tour winners and major champions hot on her heels. Fellow Tour rookie Leona Maguire and 2012 KPMG Women’s PGA champion Shanshan Feng sit one stroke back in a tie for second at -5. Feng, playing in her first event since the 2019 CME Group Tour Championship, carded a first-round 67 and said she had little expectations in her first round back on Tour.

“Last year was a difficult year for everybody, and I just made a decision at the middle of the year to go back to China and maybe take some time off with my friends and family at home. And I really enjoyed the whole time over there, but of course I missed play. So I started to practice like maybe a few months ago. Tried to come back little earlier but I couldn’t because on the visa,” said Feng. “I would say that I’m mentally very fresh because this is my first tournament in, I don’t know, 13, 14 months I guess. So I am mentally very fresh and I feel like my body is maybe back to like 25. Not quite 18, but back to maybe like 25, so able to get through the 18. I’m feeling good.”

Megan Khang, who recorded her first sub-70 round at the ANA inspiration with her 68, is tied with Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn and Anna Nordqvist for a share of fourth. Defending champion Mirim Lee is among eight players in a tie for eighth at -3 and said she didn’t have too many nerves as she made her way through the Dinah Shore Tournament Course.

“It was great today and then I play better. I play better and then I had couple like miss shot, but I made lots of par and then birdies,” said Lee. “Putting is good and then irons, irons better, and then still drives is a little bit challenge but not bad.”

Michelle Wie West, competing in her first major championship since the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and giving birth in 2020, carded a first-round 70 and is T16 along with 14 other players.

“We came into the day like, okay, no stress today, easy golf, and the first couple holes were not easy golf. So I am just happy to see my name on the first page of the leaderboard. That’s really special to me. Been a long time since I’ve seen that,” said Wie West, who recorded four birdies and two bogeys on Thursday. “It was fun today making putts out here. I have a lot of great memories, my first one being 18 years ago. I was kind of looking back yesterday. This place a really special to me and I’m just glad to be here. What a great day.”

MAJOR LPGA HOMECOMING FOR SHANSHAN FENG 

Nov. 24, 2019. It has been 494 days since Shanshan Feng last teed it up in an LPGA Tour event, thanks to a season lost from the pandemic. With the option to skip the season and not lose her LPGA Tour status, Feng, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, spent a year at home in the People’s Republic of China, enjoying time with her friends and family and living a quiet life. 

But in recent months, the urge to get back on the course grew. Feng pulled the clubs back out a few months ago and after finally getting a U.S. visa, she rejoined the LPGA Tour with a bang, carding a bogey-free 67 in Thursday’s first round of the ANA Inspiration, the first major of the professional golf season.  

“ANA was the earliest I could make and I’m so glad that I can be here,” said Feng after the round. “Doesn’t matter how I really played. My goal was to actually enjoy the whole process, whole time on the course with my boss – I mean my caddie, Mercer (Leftwich) – and also my teammates in the group. So I really enjoyed the whole time.” 

The self-proclaimed “old rookie” didn’t show many signs of rust on Thursday, cruising around the Dinah Shore Tournament Course alongside Nelly Korda and Mel Reid. Reid’s caddie, Ryan Desveaux, recounted a classic Shanshan story, saying the jokester cried “bye bye ball” as an errant tee shot came oh-so-close to the water on No. 6.  

As usual, Feng brushed off the down points and focused on the many positives to take from her grand return to play. 

“I know what it takes to play well in the tournament, and I really did work to get my distance back because I did lose some distance,” said Feng. “At the same time, just commit to myself to say, ‘Hey, even though maybe I’m not as long as the other girls are,’ but actually the course plays shorter that way because my balls release so much.” 

But the pressing question remains – with no golf on her schedule, how did Feng spend the last year and a half? Well, even major champions struggle with finding ways to pass the time. And as happens to so many of us, the answer nearly inevitably is edible. 

“After you get up, you think about what you want to eat for breakfast. After breakfast, you think about what you want to eat for lunch. Then after lunch, you think about what you want to eat for dinner. Just boring life,” said Feng, followed by her trademark bellow of laughter. 

LEONA MAGUIRE BRINGS THE HEAT IN THE DESERT 

“It was nice to start birdie, birdie and get some momentum heading into the round.” 

Leona Maguire started the 2021 ANA Inspiration like she never left Riverside County. Seven months ago, the 2019 Symetra Tour graduate captured a T18 result at Mission Hills Country Club and rekindled the momentum today. Over her last three competitive rounds on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course, Maguire is 12-under par following a 5-under 67 this afternoon. 

“I finished strong over the weekend last year. Came here for the first time as an amateur [in 2016] when I was still in college. It’s just a fun place,” said Maguire, who hit 12 greens in regulation on Thursday. “It is a really good test. You have to drive the ball well, hit your irons in the right places. It’s nice to come back to a course that I’ve been to before and did well on last year.” 

The demands of this course and this major championship no doubt suit Maguire’s eye. Combine that with the work she has focused on in practice leading up to events and her offseason training, the 26-year-old seems to have cemented a formula for success in her 13th career major start. 

“I have been working really hard on my wedges, so relying on them and playing to my strengths [there],” Maguire said. “I added some yardage over the winter as well. It’s interesting to see some of the numbers into greens we had last year compared to this year. Definitely helps going in with a little bit of a shorter club into the greens, especially when they’re so firm. Helps the ball stop and you can get close to some of the pins rather than having to play a little bit more conservative like I have in the past. 

“A lot of gym work and some speed work with my coach [over the winter]. Changed to the new Ping 425 driver and changed shafts on my irons as well, back to the graphite KBS shaft. There was plenty of protein and all that. Kinetica is one of my sponsors, sports nutrition company, so they helped as well.” 

EUBANKS: TAVATANAKIT PERFORMANCE NO SURPRISE TO THOSE WHO KNOW HER

It surprises no one who knows her. Unfortunately, that is still a relatively small number of people.

Patty Tavatanakit, the 21-year-old second-year rookie out of UCLA, shot a ho-hum 6-under 66 on Thursday at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course to take an early first-round lead over an impressive list of contenders, including Shanshan Feng and Rolex Rankings No.1 Jin Young Ko. Those who have watched Patty T., as she’s known informally, said, “Of course she did.” This is, after all, a player who won three times on the Symetra Tour in 2019; a player who is so powerful and physically gifted that she can almost overpower a course; and a player who, playing on a sponsor’s exemption at the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic as a 19-year-old, shot a tournament record 11-under 61.

Still, with the abbreviated 2020 schedule and a lot of players choosing to stay in their home countries for most of last year, many of her LPGA Tour peers (and a fair number of fans) are seeing her or perhaps hearing her name for the first time.

On Tuesday, for example, Jin Young Ko walked over and introduced herself to Patty on the 10th tee. The two had signed up for a practice round at the same time. A minute later, Ko hit a hybrid into the middle of the fairway and was surprised to turn around and see Patty at the back of the tee box with a driver in her hand. A second later, Patty blasted a towering tee shot that was barely on its way down when it cleared a bunker 250 yards downrange. Ko’s eyes widened and she looked back at her caddie as if to ask, “Who on earth is this?”

The world will know soon enough. Tavatanakit is the real deal, a player who reached every par-5 on Thursday, three with irons and one with a 3-wood. On the 18th, she didn’t hesitate to pull 6-iron from 175 despite being in the rough. Strength and a ball-flight that would bring a smile to Rory McIlroy’s face makes those kinds of decisions easier. Patty hit her second shot to 10 feet and barely missed a closing eagle.

“It’s pretty much a long par-4,” Patty said. “I just wanted to hit the green. I don’t care about anything else. It’s a pretty wide green and I had a 6-iron, so it’s always nice to have a higher ball flight into that green. I was able to stop it just about pin high.”

Watch her in person and you can’t believe that you haven’t heard of her. But she’s young. The performances haven’t matched up with the gifts so far. Patty only had one top-10 in 2020 to go with seven missed cuts and more ups and downs than the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. So far in 2021, she’s had a T5 at the Gainbridge LPGA at Lake Nona in Florida but missed the cut by a mile last week at the Kia Classic.

“Basically, it’s still my rookie year so there is a lot to learn,” she said on Thursday after her 66. “Everyone is good out here, so you have to show a lot of respect to the other players, too. It’s not like, oh yeah, I dominate the course. I still have to execute. I still have to hit good shots. I still have to play smart. I can’t ever get ahead of myself out there because literally anyone could shoot low numbers and sneak up there really quickly.”

SIRAK: MICHELLE WIE WEST TURNS BACK TIME AT ANA INSPIRATION

This is where it all began for Michelle Wie West, so it’s the perfect place to resume the story. At just 13, the hard-hitting Hawaiian with the silky-smooth swing tied for ninth in the 2003 ANA Inspiration. Nearly two decades later and two years removed from competition, she dazzled with a 2-under 70 Thursday as the 50th anniversary ANA began.

Wie West, who missed the cut last week at the Kia Classic in her first competition since June 2019 following maternity leave and COVID-19, trails Patty Tavatanakit’s 66 by four strokes. Wie West’s game has always felt at home at Mission Hills, site of six of her 14 top-10 finishes in majors, including runner-up in the 2014 ANA, the same year she won the U.S. Women’s Open. Wie West didn’t have her best stuff on Thursday, but her up-and-down game bailed her out time and again.

After going out in even-par 36 – one birdie and one bogey – she ripped off three birdies in a row, beginning on No. 1 – her 10th hole of the day. Except for a short miss for par on No. 6, her putter was rock-solid all day.

“I am just happy to see my name on the first page of the leaderboard,” Wie West said, her smile as radiant as in 2003. “That’s really special to me. Been a long time since I’ve seen that. I have a lot of great memories, my first one being 18 years ago. This place a really special to me.”

In that 2003 ANA, Wie West shocked the cynics by remaining in contention into the back nine of the final round. Then on No. 11, she had a 15-foot eagle putt that would have pulled her within one-stroke of the lead. But a three-putt exposed the inexperience of youth and she made four more bogeys to close with a 76.

Still, the exuberance of her youth won hearts while the maturity of her game garnered respect. On the week, she averaged 286.3 yards off the tee – best in the field.

“It feels weird,” Wie West said about the memories of 2003. “You know, looking back, I was a kid. I still feel like a kid. Having a baby definitely puts a different perspective on everything. I’m more excited to go home and see her than I was about my round, to be honest.”

Player Notes

Rolex Rankings No. 103 Patty Tavatanakit (66)

• She hit eight of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens, with 32 putts
• Her first-round 66 is her lowest round ever at the ANA Inspiration and is tied for the second-lowest round of her career, behind the 61 she shot in the fourth round of the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• Tavatanakit is a 2020/2021 LPGA Tour rookie; her career-best finish is a tie for fifth at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open (as an amateur) and at the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA
• This is Tavatanakit’s fourth event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for fifth at the Gainbridge LPGA
• This is Tavatanakit’s third appearance in the ANA Inspiration; her best finish is a tie for 26th in 2019 as an amateur
• Named the 2019 Gaelle Truet Rookie of the Year on the Symetra Tour
• Played collegiately at UCLA, where she was a seven-time winner and two-time WGCA First-Team All American

Rolex Rankings No. 129 Leona Maguire (67)

• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, with 25 putts
• Her first-round 67 is her lowest round ever at the ANA Inspiration and is tied for the lowest round of her career
• Maguire is a 2020/2021 LPGA Tour rookie; her career-best finish is a tie for fourth at the 2020 ISPS Handa Vic Open
• This is Maguire’s fourth event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for sixth at the LPGA Drive On Championship
• This is Maguire’s third appearance in the ANA Inspiration; her best finish is a tie for 18th in 2020
• As an amateur, represented Thailand at the 2016 Summer Olympics, finishing 21st
• Four-time WGCA First-Team All-American, three-time ACC Player of the Year, two-time WGCA and ANNIKA National Player of the Year, two-time runner-up at the NCAA National Championship for Duke University

Rolex Rankings No. 35 Shanshan Feng (67)

• She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 27 putts
• Her first-round 67 is tied for her second-lowest round at the ANA Inspiration, following the 66 she shot in the opening round in 2014
• This is Feng’s 14th season on the LPGA Tour; she has 10 career victories including a major title at the 2012 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, with her most recent victory coming at the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• This is Feng’s first LPGA Tour event since the 2019 CME Group Tour Championship; she remained home in China during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season
• This is Feng’s 11th appearance in the ANA Inspiration; she has two top-10 finishes, with a best finish of sixth in 2014
• Bronze medalist at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, representing the People’s Republic of China
• Became the first player from China, male or female, to be ranked No. 1 on Nov. 13, 2017; held the position for 23 weeks
• Started the Shanshan Feng Golf Academy in 2017, to provide opportunity for Chinese children to learn the game

Rolex Rankings No. 49 Megan Khang (68)

• She hit 10 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens, with 27 putts
• Her first-round 68 is her lowest round at the ANA Inspiration and her first-ever round here in the 60s
• This is Khang’s sixth season on the LPGA Tour; her best finish is a tie for third at the 2017 Blue Bay LPGA
• This is Khang’s fourth event of the LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for eighth at the LPGA Drive On Championship
• This is Khang’s sixth appearance in the ANA Inspiration; her best finish is a tie for 26th in 2019
• Member of the 2019 U.S. Solheim Cup Team, posting a 0-2-1 record

Rolex Rankings No. 43 Moriya Jutanugarn (68)

• She hit eight of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens, with 25 putts
• Her first-round 68 is her third-lowest round at the ANA Inspiration, following the 66 she shot in the third round in 2018 and the 67 she shot in the fourth round in 2019
• This is M. Jutanugarn’s ninth season on the LPGA Tour; she has one career victory, coming at the 2018 HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open
• This is M. Jutanugarn’s second event of the LPGA Tour season; she missed the cut at last week’s Kia Classic
• This is M. Jutanugarn’s 10th appearance in the ANA Inspiration; her best finish is a tie for sixth in 2018
• Earned 2013 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, recording six-top-20 finishes and defeating Caroline Masson by just one point
• With sister Ariya, is one of three sister duos to both win on the LPGA Tour, along with the Kordas and the Sorenstams

Rolex Rankings No. 26 Ariya Jutanugarn (68)

• She hit nine of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, with 27 putts
• Her first-round 68 is her third-lowest round at the ANA Inspiration, following the 65 she shot in the final round in 2018 and the 66 she shot in the third round in 2015
• This is A. Jutanugarn’s seventh season on the LPGA Tour; she has 10 career victories, including major titles at the 2016 AIG Women’s Open and the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open
• This is A. Jutanugarn’s second event of the LPGA Tour season; she tied for 21st at last week’s Kia Classic
• This is A. Jutanugarn’s ninth appearance in the ANA Inspiration; she has three top-10 finishes, with a best showing of fourth in 2016 and 2018, and has never missed the cut
• Swept all five major season-ending awards in 2018 – Rolex Player of the Year (clinched with three events left in the season), the Vare Trophy, the Money Title, the Race to the CME Globe and the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award; she is the first person to win all five awards since the latter two were introduced in 2014
• Represented Thailand at the 2016 Summer Olympics, but withdrew from the competition
• With sister Moriya, is one of three sister duos to both win on the LPGA Tour, along with the Kordas and the Sorenstams
• Has been No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings for a cumulative 26 weeks

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Sports Science Centre reopens after B1-billion renovation

Apr 02. 2021

By THE NATION

The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) on Thursday reopened the Sports Science Centre located in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district after the centre had been closed for one year for renovation.

“The renovation that cost around Bt1 billion has turned the Sports Science Centre into a fully equipped sport complex that could help boost athletes’ physical abilities as well as promote the health of the general public,” said an SAT representative. “The centre also will serve as a training facility for athletes before they compete in national or international sport events.”

The new Sports Science Centre features:

– Physical training room

– Physiology laboratory

– Physical rehabilitation room

– High altitude environment training room

– Biomechanics laboratory

– Sport psychiatry laboratory

– Sport nutrition clinic

– Sport technology laboratory

– Sport medicine centre

The Sports Science Centre was established on April 1, 1966 with Prof Auy Katesingh as the first director. The reopening on Thursday marks its 55th anniversary.

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Rodtang looks to win over American fans at ‘ONE on TNT I’

Apr 02. 2021Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon

Four-time ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon of Thailand is primed and ready to enter the biggest fight of his professional career — not because of the opponent he faces in the Circle, highly-rated former WMC Muay Thai World Champion “Mini-T” Danial Williams. But because of the sheer magnitude of the event at hand.

Rodtang and Williams lock horns at “ONE on TNT I,” the first of a four-part event series scheduled for live broadcast on Wednesday, April 7 (Thursday, April 8 in Asia) from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. It’s a non-title Muay Thai bout at a catchweight of 61.5kg.

For the first time in his career, Rodtang will perform in front of millions of fans in the United States, with the show airing on prime time.

“I’m happy, and honored to be fighting on this card. It’s the first time I can perform in front of a live American audience, and I’m excited. I can’t wait until fight night. As usual, I will try to make the fight a fun one for fans. I always come to entertain and impress. I want to showcase my full capabilities in this fight,” Rodtang told ONE Championship.

“I don’t care if I win or lose. What matters to me is putting in the effort and giving it all I have in every fight.”

Rodtang joined ONE Super Series, ONE’s all-striking arm, in 2018. Since then, he’s remained unbeaten, capturing the Muay Thai World Title in the process, while putting together a thunderous run through the ranks featuring highlight reel performances and frightening knockout power.

He’s hands down one of the most exciting fighters in the promotion. But very little fans from outside of Asia are familiar with his career, let alone know how to spell his name. 

That’s all about to change, according to the 23-year-old Thai superstar.

“Obviously there’s a lot of pressure on me in this fight. Millions of people will be watching around the world. ONE Championship has a collection of the best Muay Thai fighters in the world, but they chose me to be on this card, to represent this sport. It’s a huge opportunity for me, but it’s also a huge responsibility,” said Rodtang.

“Fans in the United States don’t know me yet. They don’t know who I am. They don’t know my name, or what I can do in the ring. I’ll make sure that after this fight, they will know who I am, a hundred percent. I want to give them the most exciting fight they’ve ever seen.”

The “ONE on TNT” series will air every Wednesday in the United States from April 7 for four weeks. Each week will include a preliminary card digitally streamed exclusively on the Bleacher Report App and B/R Live from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, followed by three main card fights televised exclusively on TNT in the U.S. at 10 p.m. ET. It will be available in Thailand on Thursday 8 April on ONE Super App, ONE Championship youtube and AIS Play at 7:30 AM

The stacked April 7 card will also feature a main event showdown between ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix, and 12-time UFC World Champion Demetrious Johnson who challenges reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes. Also on the card is the return of former UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez who faces #2-ranked lightweight contender Iuri Lapicus in the co-main event.

Rodtang promises his fans back home in Thailand a resounding win on his biggest stage yet.

“To all my fans, I’m coming for an impressive victory, one that you will enjoy watching. I’ll bring the victory back home to Thailand,” said Rodtang.

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“Everyone will be faster”: riders get ready for take two

Apr 02. 2021

Less than a week after the first race weekend of the season, it’s time to go again for the TISSOT Grand Prix of Doha.

 This time, the pre-event Press Conference welcomed Qatar GP winner and therefore Championship leader Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), alongside Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins as we gear up for another stunner in the desert.

Maverick Viñales: “It’s never perfect, it’s difficult to be perfect on all tracks and we still have to improve, do something different this weekend. Not every weekend is the same, we saw it last year when we had two weekends in a row, everything changed a lot. So we have to be ready for every situation. But we have good potential and we’ll try to fix it if we can’t go at the maximum.

“I think all the riders can make a step, we’ll also try to make a step; it’s important to improve day by day. For sure all the riders sitting here, and the top ten, will be faster, so we will try to also be faster. And then we’ll see. I think what we could understand from the first race is that the tyre demand here is very high and we need to manage it well so we’ll work on that this weekend.”

And is it now easier to overtake with the Yamaha?

“It’s too soon to say, we just rode on one track, we need to ride on many other tracks to understand if the bike has  the right potential and consistency to fight for something bigger, but we found the bike is working well straight away, and this is something. For example for me there are points where I can’t overtake, but a few others where my bike is strong. Some strong, some weak but to understand where you can pass and what your strong points are. But I think it’s too early to talk about that because we only raced on one track and next we go to Portimao where we struggled a bit last year, so we’ll see there what improvements we’ve made in Qatar.”

Johann Zarco: “I think it’s as Maverick said, the consumption for the tyre is hard to manage, staying second and with Pecco, trying to follow Maverick, helped me a lot to be competitive to the end. Even Mir at the end overtook me but almost at the end of the last lap so I could overtake him again. Pecco I think he won’t want to lead again to save the tyres… this is the key point I think, the leader may have more problems in the second half but at the same time we need to be fast, so let’s see how to manage Sunday. Our target is to have more possibility like Maverick did to be fast at the end of the race and fight with him, or anyother rider. And be able to fight for victory and not the podium.”

Should Ducati be worried if they don’t win in Qatar?

“If we don’t get victories here in Qatar, we don’t need to be worried because we’re so competitive and if we can be in the top three all race and finish on the podium it’s a good sign also for the future. We don’t need to worry, but the target is to win and we know we have chance to do it, We have to find some solution to have the chance in the race to not struggle too much with the rear tyre.”

Francesco Bagnaia: “I think if I’m first at the first corner again I’d try to lead again! But over these days I was asking myself if it’s better to manage the tyres better with slower pace, but if I think I was going slowly, for sure Yamaha or Suzuki would have overtaken me and made their pace. Looking at the result of two years ago we were faster by eight seconds in this race, so the pace was strong and very demanding for the rear tyre for sure, and the wind which was pushing you wide and the only way to turn the bike was with the rear tyre.

“For sure it was more demanding, but looking at the data now we know where to work, and also following the Suzuki and Yamaha we’ve understood good things that for sure can help us this weekend and it looks like the forecast will be the same for Sunday with a lot of wind, so I think we’ll arrive more prepared. Never say never for the result because like Maverick said, last year in the second races it was always different. In Misano the pace was half a second faster so you don’t know, but I think we can fight again for the victory.”

And what about Ducati being worried?

“I think the same, we’ve seen Yamaha and Suzuki were very competitive like us, in the first part of the race we were very competitive and opening a gap. We were losing time in some accelerations that cost us the race. But for me we don’t have to worry, we know this track is good for us but it’s good for other bikes too, we have the possibility to win, but we have the possibility to win at other tracks too, like last year. Sometimes I was struggling at a track and Johann was fast or Jack was fast, and sometimes I was fast and the others were struggling so we know the package is competitive and we know the chance to win or finish in the top three is possible. This year the objective will be to be competitive and consistent in every situation and on every circuit.”

Joan Mir: “It was a difficult weekend because I struggled a lot to find the correct feeling with the front, I was having a lot of problems and it was making everything really difficult. Hopefully in Warm Up we found something interesting and I got a better feeling again, and I was able to make a good race The start wasn’t the best but then I started to recover positions over half the race, and then in the last laps I tried to manage it the best way I could. I overtook Pecco, and then Zarco was really good closing the gaps… and then this was the key I think for him I overtook him in the last sector but I was a bit too optimistic probably and went a bit wide at the last corner, which didn’t help to arrive second at the line…

“I expect to change the qualifying or the first laps of the race a bit, we were really strong in the last part but we also closed the gap a lot and we used more of the tyre than normally what we would have to. It will be important to start with the front group and then manage the race with them and see in the last laps of the race where we are, which is the main goal for this weekend.”

Is the Suzuki one of the best bikes still straight out the box, despite not racing in Qatar in 2020?

“It’s true but we also need to work to improve our bike. Last year we showed in the second race always good potential, I remember for example in Austria and Aragon, we always in the second races found something more, and that I think is positive to have two races for us, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Fabio Quartararo: “Honestly it was a tough race because as soon as I overtook Jack, I had great pace but felt immediately the drop of the rear tyre and I had to slow a little on the pace, but then automatically my rear tyre was spinning a lot. But I think it’s also great because in last year in that situation I would have dropped many positions but I found a new way of trying to make good laptimes, braking so hard but it was tough at the exit of Turn 6, that was one of the worst points but it’s good because we have the data of the winner from last weekend. We saw some points where I was really aggressive almost for nothing, so I will try to be a bit smoother this weekend and I think it will help a lot.”

And the same question as to Maverick – is it now easier to overtake with the Yamaha?

“I think at this track we have strong points, our drive is fast, when I overtook Jack at corner 15 he struggled to overtake me at the first corner and I think there are some points here like Turn 6 and Turn 10, where we don’t have many meters of acceleration and it’s helping us to make a move. Like from 5 to 6 is short, from 9 to 10. These are the type of corners where our bike is really strong, but to make a move from turn 3 to 4 is difficult because it’s more in the acceleration. But I’m feeling great and can make strong moves. Let’s see on the next tracks but I feel good on the front and I think it’s a positive point for our bike.”

Alex Rins: “Talking about last weekend, I think we did a good race but in the end sixth was not enough for us. We need to improve small things that I did during the race, and the target is clear I think, as Joan says… we have good pace, the machine to get to the front so let’s improve the start, because also my start last week was a disaster! Let’s improve the start and try to fight for the top positions at least from the beginning, keep the tyres and see what strategy Ducati will make because now Pecco already led one race and he knows I think the way to di it now! So let’s see.”Is the Suzuki one of the best bikes still straight out the box, despite not racing in Qatar in 2020?“It’s not a disadvantage, it’s true when we arrived at the track we had a good base and we were able to ride fast from the beginning but we still need to work. It’s easy to arrive at one time, but improving that time is not so easy. As Joan says, the second races for us were going well last year so let’s push at this double race. In my case I studied the race well with my crew chief to see where I’m able to improve, and I’m ready.” Top photo L-R: Quartararo, Zarco, Mir, Viñales, Rins and Bagnaia Viñales had a pretty much perfect start to the season Bagnaia impressed with his first factory podium … and just defeated Mir to take it Zarco was the top Independent Team rider after impressing in second Quartararo will want to move up this time around … as will Rins as he faded slightly first time out

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PFL launches 2021 campaign

Apr 02. 2021

Pro Football Hall of Famer and PFL Athlete Advisory Board Member Ray Lewis Narrates New Television and Digital Campaign Spot

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) launched the 2021 season kickoff campaign “MMA’s League is Back,” narrated by pro football Hall of Famer and Athlete Advisory Board member, Ray Lewis.

Ahead of the season debut on April 23, PFL Studios created the 60-second spot to rally the 550 million MMA fans around the world as they await the return of the first and only the league to present the sport in a true season format. The promo is part of a larger campaign, “More Than A Fight,” which will be unveiled throughout the season.

The campaign embodies the ethos of PFL and its unique format, as the league’s world-class athletes journey through the regular season and playoffs, each aiming to earn a shot in the championship bout. Every time a fighter steps inside the PFL cage, it’s “More Than A Fight,” as it represents an opportunity for glory, a world championship, and the $1 million prize. The campaign is being distributed across digital, social, and linear platforms, with each video containing the voice of Lewis, who’s intensity and determination resonates throughout the creative.

“PFL’s season format is a game-changer in MMA,” said Lewis. “Every fight means something, and it accelerates the level of intense competition. April 23 – it’s on!”

Last week, Lewis was appointed to the newly formed PFL Athlete Advisory Board, which will be responsible for advancing the sport of MMA globally, identifying and recruiting new talent as well as further evolving the PFL’s fighter-first culture and mission. MMA legend and PFL broadcast team member Randy Couture joins him on the board, with their combined experience and unmatched expertise accelerating the league forward. 

“The “MMA’s League Is Back” creative embodies the PFL brand, previewing the star-studded roster and what fans around the globe can expect this year,” said PFL CEO, Peter Murray. “This will undoubtedly be our biggest season yet, as we have elite fighters from more than 25 countries around the world, the best broadcast team in the sport, and a primetime platform when we return to action April 23 on ESPN.”

The creative for the campaign was developed by PFL Studios, led by Chief Digital Officer, Dan Ghosh-Roy, conceptualized by Global Marketing Manager, Goldyn Belgarde, and designed by Art Director, Juliana Barcia. The promo was produced by the agency, Mr. Wonderful.

The upcoming season of the PFL is shaping up to be the league’s most exciting yet, with some of the biggest names in MMA set to make their highly anticipated debuts. Former world champions such as Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis and Claressa Shields will all step into the PFL cage for the first time this season, in addition to returning champions Kayla Harrison, Lance Palmer and Natan Schulte looking to defend their crowns.

In addition to the league’s world-class roster of fighters, the PFL is also set to introduce even more innovations to the sport of MMA via the SmartCage, which gives fans access to real-time statistics known as Cagenomics.

With the addition of world-class talent – from elite fighters to established business executives – and partnering with industry-leading brands such as Anheuser-Busch InBev, GEICO, CarParts.com and Socios, the PFL continues to accelerate its global expansion. Sports fans across more than 160 countries around world will be able to tune in to the league’s highly anticipated return on April 23 in Atlantic City, NJ.

ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE

Professional Fighters League (PFL) is the first and only to present MMA in the sports-season format where individual fighters compete in Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship.  PFL is the innovation leader with the PFL SmartCage delivering viewers on-screen fight analytics and real-time prop bets.  PFL Roster is second to none with 25% of its fighters ranked in the top 25 in their weight-class.  All PFL 2021 Season events are live primetime on ESPN2/ESPN+ in the U.S. and available on leading broadcast and streaming outlets in 160 countries worldwide.