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Viñales hits back as Yamaha dominate on Day 4

Mar 12. 2021Maverick ViñalesThe Iwata marque make it a 1-2-3 on Thursday, with Bagnaia taking over in pursuit

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales shot to the top by the end of play on Day 4 of the Official MotoGP™ Qatar Test with a late 1:53.244, making it three Yamahas leading the way on Thursday as Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) both set 1:53.3s to cement their good form heading into the final day of pre-season testing, taking second and third overall. In terms of new tech, nothing too new was seen on Thursday but track conditions couldn’t have been more perfect for Day 4, handing riders a fantastic opportunity to get some crucial laps under their belts with time running out before the start of the season. Pitlane reporter Simon Crafar revealed that Yamaha have been looking excellent in race pace trim. One of those riders is of course Viñales and it was a busy day for the Spaniard, who had three bikes in his garage: his ‘standard’ one, a T1-plated carbon bike and the stunning white and red liveried package. Viñales was also once again seen doing plenty of practice starts at the end of pitlane and at the end of the day’s play, he set that table-topping time. The number 12 confirmed he is concentrating hard on his starts and the opening handful of laps, with a big race simulation coming on Friday. Teammate Quartararo did sit top in the closing stages but was edged down to P3 at the chequered flag, the Frenchman not quite going as quick as yesterday and now third on the combined times behind Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Viñales. “Many things” to test was the order of El Diablo’s day, Quartararo confirmed that he feels comfortable on the new chassis and the pace he has is “great.” He’s looking for another step on the final day. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was very pleased after Wednesday’s track action and was pleased with the new parts that Yamaha have been trying so far. On Thursday, The Doctor set his fastest lap of the test so far – a 1:53.993 – and is in good spirits, with Rossi saying he feels like “a real rider” again. Petronas Yamaha SRT Team Manager Wilco Zeelenberg confirmed that Morbidelli has been trying lots of different settings to enable him to get the feeling he had in 2020, and the man himself confirmed he’s “really happy” overall but, as always, there’s areas to work on during the final day.   Ducati’s fastest rider on Day 3 was Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and the Italian was another to set his best time of the test so far. Speaking on After the Flag, Pecco was happy with his 1:53.444 but admitted it was by no means a perfect lap. Bagnaia was a lot happier with his race pace though, the new factory Ducati recruit has been quietly going about his business and confirmed he used Ducati’s new aero package in Thursday’s race simulation. Second best Ducati was Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco. The Frenchman set the most laps of anyone on Day 4 – 71 – and ended the session in P9, with Zarco confirming that he worked a lot on race pace but had different feelings – not all good – than Wednesday. In addition, Zarco clocked an earth-shattering top speed of 357.69km/h down the start/finish straight – a new unofficial top speed record. A couple of places behind the number 5 was Miller and after setting the fastest time of the test so far on Wednesday, Thursday looked like it was a day working more towards race pace with P11 for the Australian. Miller confirmed that they never put a new soft tyre in and it was another great day, with the race simulation going well. He thinks still there are a couple of little things with the setup to aid him and Ducati in race trim though. Fastest of the rookies, despite a crash at Turn 16, was Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing). A 1:54.483 was set by the Spaniard, that’s over half a second quicker than he’d previously managed. 42 more laps are on the board for Martin who finished just 0.022s ahead of Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama Racing), the latter finishing P15 on another great day for the Italian. Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) also had a seamless day at the office by the looks of things, the tall Italian set a 1:55.022 to end Day 4 in P20, 1.778s away from Viñales’ pace. Overall, the three Moto2™ graduates have been looking great. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro finished P5 on the timesheets and was overall happy with his work. Stability and rear grip have been improved, as well as being able to go fast with used tyres so all remains positive in the Noale camp. Espargaro had a small crash at Turn 4 while teammate Lorenzo Savadori – who finished P23 on the timesheets – also suffered a crash at the same corner. Nevertheless, 40 more laps were completed by rookie Savadori. Team Suzuki Ecstar duo Joan Mir and Alex Rins finished line astern on the leaderboards in P6 and P7, respectively. It’s been a relatively quiet test for the World Champions – outwardly at least – but both Mir and Rins dipped into the 1:53s for the first time at the test, so judging from the timesheets at least, it looks to be going pretty well. The biggest news on Day 4 came from the Honda camp. In terms of updates on new parts, test rider Stefan Bradl, who recovered from a sore neck after his Day 3 Turn 2 crash, was seen debuting a new aero design for the Japanese manufacturer. The new-look design features some notable additions to the fairing, a big change from what we’ve seen before from HRC, who were already testing a different aero package earlier in the event with Bradl. It was another tough day in terms of crashes for Honda though. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) suffered a nasty highside on the exit of Turn 9, which resulted in the double World Champion picking up a small metacarpal fracture in his right foot. The Spaniard headed to the hospital for some mandatory checks, but fingers crossed it doesn’t see him miss too much track time. Bradl crashed at Turn 1 and early on in the day and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) went down at the opening corner for his first crash in HRC colours – thankfully for both Repsol-liveried riders, no injuries were picked up. Pol Espargaro was the fastest Honda on Day 3 and ended Thursday’s running in P10 after 65 laps as the Spaniard continues to impress ahead of the 2021 campaign. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) set his best lap on his 52nd and final circulation of the day too and it was P12 for the Japanese rider, one place ahead of Bradl in P13. KTM’s quiet Qatar Test continued on Day 4. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the quickest RC16 rider out there, setting a 1:54.691 – his best lap of the test so far. Factory teammate Miguel Oliveira was P18 with a best time of a 1:54.735 as both 2020 premier class winners continue their workload. In the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing ranks, 19th fastest Danilo Petrucci set his best time of the test so far too as he continues his adaptation from Ducati to KTM machinery. Petrucci crossed the line 49 times on Day 4, with teammate Iker Lecuona completing a further 40 laps. The latter suffered a crash at Turn 12, but the young Spaniard was perfectly ok. Another busy day in Doha draws to a close. Four days down, one to go. 2021 pre-season testing for the premier class will come to an end on Friday evening, it’s going to be a huge day for every rider, team and manufacturer. Keep up to date with it all across MotoGP™’s social media channels, via Live Timing and, of course, on After the Flag at 18:30 CET. Don’t miss any of the action on motogp.com! Bagnaia was the fastest Ducati on Day 4 Hands up if you’re fast! Aleix impressed again … and Pol was again the fastest Honda The World Champion puts in a few more laps as he prepares to defend the crown Petrucci is getting to grips with his switch to KTM

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One year later, THE PLAYERS returns to finish what it started

Mar 12. 2021Jay Monahan (Photo credit to Getty Images)

Jay Monahan never saw the opening action of the 2020 PLAYERS Championship, where Hideki Matsuyama raced out to an opening two-shot lead with a stunning 9-under 63.

Instead, the PGA TOUR Commissioner spent the first round of his organization’s flagship tournament holed up inside a boardroom at TPC Sawgrass, wondering what the future held in store not just for golf, but the world itself.

 The COVID-19 pandemic had finally breached the shores of the United States, and in just a few short hours, life would change as Monahan knew it. THE PLAYERS Championship would soon be over, as would the next three months’ worth of events on the PGA TOUR schedule.

 “As gut wrenching as it was at the time for the TOUR, our players, our fans and our community, it goes without saying that what we experienced that day would pale in comparison to what our world would experience in the coming days, weeks and months,” Monahan said. “That Friday morning, I had several parting thoughts, one of them being that, even though we had no clue what was to come, we would take what we were experiencing and turn it into a positive, something I feel our game does better than any other.”

 Exactly 362 days later, Monahan’s vision seems prophetic.

 The PGA TOUR Commissioner has no plans to spend this Thursday’s opening-round action at TPC Sawgrass inside a stuffy boardroom. Instead, he’ll be down on the Stadium Course, soaking in every last moment THE PLAYERS Championship has to offer.

 As Monahan well knows now, these days are no longer to be taken for granted.

 “I’ve always been there every single year for the first tee shot since I moved down here to serve as Executive Director of THE PLAYERS,” Monahan said. “Last year, for obvious reasons … was the one time I wasn’t there for it. I will be there on Thursday. I look forward to it. Just proud, most importantly, to be back here a year later, proud of our players, proud of all the caddies, everybody that has worked so hard to get us back to this point in time, and, candidly, to do so in a really inspiring way.

 “I think this is an important week for us every single year, but particularly so this year.”

 It seemed to be business as usual Tuesday as Monahan spoke at the podium, part of his annual State of the Tour address ahead of THE PLAYERS Championship. But as anyone who has followed the sport over the last 12 months understands, the circumstances around this year’s event are anything but normal.

 “It’s just nice to be back,” said reigning champion Rory McIlroy, who hoisted the last PLAYERS trophy in 2019. “It’s been a year since the world changed, and I think everyone here in terms of the players that are playing are just grateful that we’re back doing what we want to do, which is playing golf and trying to win tournaments.”

 Signs are everyone showing just how different this edition of THE PLAYERS is from season’s past, as reminders of the ‘new normal’—social distancing, mask-wearing, hand washing—are dotted throughout the course. And instead of a packed facility this week, TPC Sawgrass will admit just 20 percent of its maximum capacity, tickets for which sold out for all four competition days in a matter of hours.

“Having fans and having the energy is something that I’ve missed so much. I think it changes the golf tournament so much,” Justin Thomas said. “The pressure, the nerves, everything that goes into it, it just really makes it different. It makes it better, I think. It gives the tournament the atmosphere, the buzz, the adrenaline. It’s just everything about it is so fun.”

 Such rabid interest is an encouraging sign for the popularity of the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship, to be sure. But it’s also a sign of the burgeoning growing popularity golf discovered during the pandemic, as new and old fans alike took to their local courses in droves last year.

 “I’ve said it a couple times, but as we sit here today, more people have made golf their thing,” Monahan said. “Whether you’re playing nine, whether you’re playing 18, whether you’re chipping, whether you’re putting, whether you’re playing PGA TOUR 2K21, the game itself has served an important role. It’s been a respite. It’s helped people with their mental health and well-being, their physical health.

 “I think that when I look at what we’ve been able to do, to play 36 (PGA TOUR) events, to showcase the natural beauty of our sport, to inspire so many fans, I think in a lot of respects that has led directly to the renaissance that our game is undergoing.”

 Of course, there are still daily reminders that the world is not yet back to where it was.

 Just hours before Monahan took to the stage, the TOUR announced the cancellation of the RBC Canadian Open for the second consecutive year due to ongoing logistical challenges related to the pandemic. And it remains to be seen whether international travel will permit the playing of the much-anticipated three-week Asia Swing later this fall.

 “We’re hopeful. Obviously we’ve got events overseas with the Open Championship, you’ve got the Olympic Games, and we’re hopeful that, by the time we’re able to play in Asia, that we’ll be in a position to do so,” Monahan said. “But as we’ve demonstrated every step of the way, we’re going to spend a lot of time making certain that we have contingencies in place.

 “I think what ZOZO and C.J. did last year by hosting their events in the United States and staying on our schedule was remarkable. (As for) Canada, it’s really tough news to know that we’re not playing their national open two years in a row. We’re going to find a solution there.

 But despite all that, as Monahan sits here now, just mere hours until THE PLAYERS Championship makes its long-awaited return, he can’t help but smile.

 Things certainly appeared bleak this time a year ago. And yet, 48 of the world’s top 50 players are all right back in Jacksonville again this week, each hoping to raise one of the premier trophies the sport has to offer.

 For Monahan, that’s worth cheering for.

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‘Man-eater’ Arpichaya sharpens claws for inaugural Thai WPGA tournament

Mar 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Teen sensation Atthaya Thitikul and Kanyalak Preedasuttijit will be among star players teeing off at this month’s Phoenix Ladies Classic, the inaugural tournament of the Thai Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA).

The newly-established Thai WPGA has dangled Bt1 million in prize money to lure a strong field of 136 pros and amateurs to the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club Pattaya from March 26-28.

After the first two rounds of the 54-hole tournament, the top 60 players will advance to a final-round shootout for the rich prizes.

Registration for the tournament is open until March 15 for members of either a golf association or club. Ranking points will be awarded to participants and taken into account for entry into future Thai WPGA tournaments.

Atthaya and Kanyalak will be looking to exploit their familiarity with the Phoenix Gold course. Both rose to fame here by dominating the first three editions of the Thailand Ladies European Championship – Atthaya in 2017 and 2019, Kanyalak in 2018.

But they face stiff competition from upstart Arpichaya Yubol, 19, who made headlines by conquering the country’s top male pros to win the Thailand Mixed in Hua Hin last month. Other strong challengers include Chonlada Chayanun from Nakhon Ratchasima and LPGA player Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras from Roi Et.

The new Thai WPGA board members will be announced by its president Chanya Sawangchitr before the tournament on March 24.

The Phoenix Ladies Classic, sponsored by Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club Pattaya, P Overseas Steel Public Company Ltd and other partners, is designed to help local players sharpen their skills for the global stage. Visit www.thaiwomentour.com.

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Miller turns the tables on Quartararo as testing resumes in Qatar

Mar 11. 2021

The pace hots up in the desert as MotoGP™ gets back on track, with two familiar names beating the lap record at Losail International Circuit

After two days off, Wednesday welcomed the grid back down to business in Doha as the third day of official MotoGP™ testing got underway… and it was an absolute scorcher. The all-time lap record at Losail International Circuit fell first courtesy of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), but late on Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) hit back to go even quicker. The Australian stormed his way to a 1:53.183 to finish 0.080s ahead, making that a new – although unofficial, since it’s testing – lap record. Maverick Viñales made it two Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP bikes inside the top three in P3, although a couple of tenths further back.

Thankfully for all the riders and teams, the second leg of the Qatar Test was greeted by the best weather conditions we’ve seen since the paddock landed in Doha. The wind wasn’t causing issues, the sun was shining before setting and the riders were raring to get going again after two days on the sidelines.

At Ducati, Miller stole the headlines once again but after seeing the factory riders testing the intriguing new Ducati aero, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) was giving it a whirl on Wednesday. Judging by the timesheets – although not all his laps were with the new package – the Frenchman was feeling good as he slotted into fourth overall with exactly the same laptime as Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team). Zarco was “pretty happy” with the progress being made, and the Frenchman added that the GP21 has “huge potential” – promising signs for the Bologna factory.

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) ended Day 3 in P9 as the third fastest Desmosedici rider on track, putting in 51 laps as he ended the day 1.053s off Miller’s time. Bagnaia was concentrating on his longer run pace and made a big step compared to the first two days of testing; pleased with his work on Wednesday.

A little further down the ranks, Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) was the fastest rookie in P14, finishing ahead of Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol), Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) and Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) – impressive to say the least. The reigning Moto2™ World Champion was also just 0.120s behind nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and is settling into MotoGP™ life very well indeed.

The other two Ducati-riding rookies are looking great too. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) improved his previous best time by half a second and has been checking Miller and Zarco’s data, confirming that in “three or four corners” he could immediately go faster. Martin placed P19 with a 1:55.010, with Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) only three tenths behind Martin in P22.

In the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP camp, a new mudguard and front fork covers were getting put through their paces. Both Quartararo and Viñales were also doing back-to-back runs on the new and old chassis to get some final confirmation on whether any improvements have been made. The factory duo finished P2 and P3, with Viñales completing the most laps of anyone on Day 3. The Spaniard did suffer a crash at Turn 1 but rider ok, and he was also doing plenty of practice starts at the end of pitlane so it was a busy day.

Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli and Valentino Rossi both finished outside the top 10 as the Italians ended the day 1.1 and 1.4 seconds adrift of the best time, respectively, but the focus was not time attacks. Rossi’s main concern was the rear grip previously, and The Doctor said that the new chassis was much closer to the 2020 one, rather than the 2019 one. 

Meanwhile, Pol Espargaro’s adaptation to the Honda continues to be seamless. The Spaniard was leading the way at midday and eventually snuck into the 1:53s on just his third day on the RC213V. The number 44 is already only half a second shy of Marc Marquez’s official all-time lap record in Qatar. The new Repsol Honda kid on the block was also seen using Honda’s carbon bonded chassis and that could point towards that being chosen as the way forward. All in all, 53 laps were completed by Pol Espargaro on Day 3.

On the other side of the Repsol-liveried garage, Stefan Bradl’s day ended early after a crash at Turn 2 left the German with some pain in his neck. LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami also crashed, as did LCR Honda Castrol’s Alex Marquez, making it seven crashes between them in the Qatar Test. Nakagami was the quicker of the two and snuck into the top 10 though, and on a day where he tested some new items. The Japanese rider reported that they were working very well in some areas but that more time is needed, in his opinion, to confirm which chassis is the one to go with. He has a “much better” feeling on the bike than on Saturday and Sunday. Teammate Alex Marquez finished P15 on the timesheets. 

Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini once again ended the day towards the summit. The all-new RS-GP in the hands of the Spaniard ended the day P6, although the number 41 completed the lowest number of laps of any full-time rider – 31. A couple of technical issues and a small crash on new tyres hampered his day, and he’s hoping for fewer problems tomorrow to complete the programme and do a race simulation. MotoGP™ rookie Lorenzo Savadori completed 39 laps to finish the day 25th, another day of valuable track time for the Italian.

Down at World Champions Team Suzuki Ecstar, we saw an extra set of fairings on the side of their bikes, with Joan Mir and Alex Rins claiming P7 and P8 on the timesheets. Between them, 120 laps were put in by the 2021 GSX-RR as the Hamamatsu factory continue to rattle through their busy testing schedule in Qatar. The big focus so far has been a new chassis and we’re still no nearer to knowing whether Suzuki have fixed their main 2020 Achilles heel – one-lap pace. Will Thursday and Friday welcome some time-attacks?

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), meanwhile, was the leading KTM rider once again in P12. The gap between the Portuguese rider and Miller’s time was 1.343s and it’s fair to say it’s been a quiet test for the Austrian factory so far at the Losail International Circuit, with no hand shown. Oliveira’s teammate Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also suffered another crash at Turn 2, although he said he had started to get back a better feeling and just “seemed to be washing the front”. The South African was P20 but said the team have a good direction to work in. A new swingarm and mudguard – that test rider and MotoGP™ Legend Dani Pedrosa has been testing – has been spotted on Binder’s bike, with the KTM runners also using the new, skinnier fairing once again.

Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s Danilo Petrucci and Iker Lecuona were P17 and P21 on the timesheets respectively, with Lecuona suffering a small crash at Turn 2 early doors. Lecuona is expecting Thursday will be better and admits he need more time with the bike, but the Spaniard has tried many new parts during the test. And, whilst not a rookie, Lecuona’s first season was the shorter-than-normal 2020, so he’s still lacking the normal experience by this stage – as is Binder, despite taking KTM’s first premier class win in 2020.

The penultimate day of pre-season testing returns on Thursday afternoon from Losail International Circuit, so make sure to follow every lap with Live Timing from 12:00 CET. After that, there’s plenty of analysis, reaction and interviews on After the Flag LIVE at 18:30 CET, so tune in on motogp.com! What’s 0.080 between friends? A target for Quartararo to hit tomorrow Pol Espargaro seems to be settling in well … and Aleix’s pace is far from fading Rins was hard at work – and play – for Suzuki as the Hamamatsu machines ended the day close together Binder hasn’t had the easiest start to the season but says he’s starting to get in the groove

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Yodkaikaew sets trap for Chinese ‘Wolf Warrior’ in ONE Championship

Mar 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Thailand’s rising mixed martial arts star Yodkaikaew “Y2K” Fairtex is hungry to continue his incredible run at ONE Championship. He gets a shot at his fourth straight victory in the Circle when he takes on China’s Hu “The Wolf Warrior” Yong in his next outing.

Yodkaikaew and Hu lock horns at ONE: Fists of Fury III, broadcast from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Friday, March 19.

Honing his skills at Pattaya’s renowned Fairtex Training Centre, Yodkaikaew has studied Hu’s style, and believes he has the formula to secure a victory.

“I’ve watched his previous fights and I think he has pretty good hands. He comes in with some solid combinations, which I think plays right into my game. He’s got good power behind his punches, but I also see a lot of weakness in his striking,” said Yodkaikaew.

“I have no doubt my striking is better than his, since I’ve competed in muay Thai since I was young.”

An alumni of the prestigious ONE Hero Series in China, “The Wolf Warrior” is on a similar career trajectory. Hu has already won four straight bouts since joining the reality series in 2019, and appears to have no plans of stopping anytime soon.

But only one of these fighters will maintain his winning streak when the two face-off in the Circle. Yodkaikaew says he will do everything in his power to ensure it is him.

“If I get the chance, I will definitely knock him out, no question,” said Yodkaikaew.

“I’m going to pick my spots, create some openings, and finish him inside the distance. I’ve come up with a good game plan with my team, and we’ll be ready wherever this fight goes. But if it were up to me, yes I would love to finish him early.”

ONE: Fists of Fury III is the third and final instalment in the series.

In the main bout, ONE lightweight kickboxing world champion Regian Eersel defends his crown against hard-hitting No 2 contender Mustapha Haida, while ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion Janet Todd begins her quest for a second belt by taking on the No 4-ranked Alma Juniku in muay Thai.

Yodkaikaew is targeting a long and fruitful career in ONE Championship, which involves bringing home a ONE world title to Thailand. First, he must get past Hu, and “Y2K” is certainly not taking the challenge lightly.

“He’s a great knockout finisher as well, so I can’t be careless,” said Yodkaikaew.

“I have to go in there cautiously and do my best to capitalise on his mistakes. I want to keep winning in ONE Championship and see how far I can take my career.”

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Matsuyama primed for another challenge at the Players Championship

Mar 11. 2021Hideki Matsuyama (Photo credit to Getty Images)

Hideki Matsuyama would give anything to turn back the clock.

Twelve months ago, the Japanese golf star fired a career low 9-under 63 at The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass to lead the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship, only for the PGA TOUR’s flagship tournament to be cancelled hours later due to COVID-19.

The 29-year-old since regrets not utilizing his time better at home after the TOUR implemented a three-month shutdown, citing Bryson DeChambeau, who re-emerged all bulked up before powering his way to two eye-catching wins, including the U.S. Open, and last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.

But Matsuyama will still get his chance again at this week’s US$15 million star-studded event, which continues to deliver the TOUR’s golden standard in sports and entertainment, as well as showcase the strongest field in golf at the iconic Stadium Course.

The five-time TOUR winner said he did not think about what may have happened if last year’s tournament was not disrupted, choosing instead to look forward towards another opportunity to challenge for the prestigious PLAYERS title.

“I was able to play well last year but all of us were put in a pretty difficult position at that moment. I’m just looking forward to another opportunity to play well and compete,” said Matsuyama, who is the most successful Japanese golfer on TOUR.

“I enjoyed back-to-back top 10s (at The Genesis Invitational and WGC-Mexico Championship last year) but played very poorly at the Arnold Palmer (Invitational), so I wasn’t sure what to expect at THE PLAYERS and ended up playing very well in the first round. I recall putting in a new putter that week as I had been switching around to different putters and the putter I had worked very well. I was making little adjustments to my putting stroke and I was really hoping to maintain my form.”

Matsuyama’s track record at TPC Sawgrass, often regarded as the purest test in golf, suggests he can contend again. He finished T8 in 2019 and T7 in 2016 and registered three other top-25s in six appearances. His 63 before last year’s cancellation featured an eagle, eight birdies and one bogey.

His annual visit to the TOUR’s showpiece event along with seven consecutive appearances in the FedExCup Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship, is a reflection of Matsuyama’s sheer consistency. This season, he has one top-10 and five top-25s but the Japanese star longs to end a four-year winless drought.

“It means a lot each time I get to play. Obviously with THE PLAYERS, if you don’t make the top-125 in the FedExCup points list, you don’t get in. It shows how consistent I’ve been and it’s a goal of mine to one day become THE PLAYERS champion. It is on my list of tournaments I hope to win one day and if that’s something I’m able to accomplish, I’ll be extremely happy,” said Matsuyama, whose best result this season was a runner-up finish at the Houston Open.

 “Day-by-day, my game is improving and I feel good about my chances of winning this year. The most important thing is to have everything come together at the right time and I feel pretty good about my chances.”

As he reflected on last year’s shutdown, Matsuyama conceded he could have made better use of his time at home during the hiatus.“When the cancellation was announced, I felt it was understandable given the circumstance. I was not upset. I realised we were going to have some tough times ahead. At that time, it was reported the Masters was still going to take place so I decided to stay on in the States and practice at home (in Orlando), compete in the Masters before going back to Japan,” said Matsuyama.

“When reports (on the pandemic) started to get worse, I realized it was safer to go back to Japan. I had no idea when the season was going to resume and it was difficult to set up a schedule. Even if I did, I didn’t know if it was going to be good for me. Reflecting on the two months hiatus,  I regret that I could have utilized the time a little better. I should have made a detailed plan and focused on improving on the certain parts of my game.  

“You can really see the growth from DeChambeau. Looking at him, I feel I have wasted my time. I’m not comparing myself to other people, but when I look back, I think to myself that I should have done this training or worked on that part of my game. It’s not great to regret about the past. But I think it’s important to remember this feeling.”

HISTORY-MAKER KIM EYES NEW MILESTONES AS HE RETURNS TO THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

 Being the youngest victor of THE PLAYERS Championship holds great pride and joy for Korea’s Si Woo Kim. But the 25-year-old is hoping it will not remain the biggest highlight of his PGA TOUR career.

Kim was a surprise winner on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in 2017, where he became only the second Asian and Korean golfer after countryman K.J. Choi in 2011 to triumph in the PGA TOUR’s flagship tournament. He was just 21 years old at the time only nine months removed from his maiden TOUR title at the Wyndham Championship.

A mixture of injuries and indifferent form saw the Korean talent take nearly four more years to secure victory No. 3 at The American Express at PGA West (Stadium) in La Quinta earlier this year, and he is hoping the good times will keep rolling from now onward.

When he steps into the winners’ locker room at TPC Sawgrass this week, Kim said it will bring back happy memories. “It is very special. I feel THE PLAYERS is a major tournament. When I played here for the first time, it was a very special feeling. K.J. won as the first Korean and I had the next victory. It means a lot to me.

“I’m very proud of the youngest title, especially when it’s hard to do that at my age. I hope nobody breaks my record and I want my name to be remembered as a household name for golfers,” said Kim.

His journey to the PGA TOUR began at just eight years old, when his father, Du Ryu Kim, took him to the driving range in Seoul. Kim was instantly hooked as he tried to hit golf balls toward the pin flags.

“My father was a single handicap golfer and got me interested. When you see the flag as the target, I found it interesting to try to hit the flag. From there on, I knew I wanted to play on the PGA TOUR like Tiger (Woods) and K.J.,” said Kim.

Du Ryu added: “Every time I went to the range, he wanted to go with me. Si Woo was passionate about golf.”

As an amateur, Kim won the Korean Junior Championship four years in a row and made the national team when he was 16. From there his talents grew quickly, and he qualified for the PGA TOUR at 17 years, 5 months, 6 days old, becoming the youngest to graduate from the TOUR’s Qualifying School in 2012. However, he couldn’t become a full member until he turned 18.

He then played on the Korn Ferry Tour for two seasons and learned the ropes quickly. “The courses were not easy and players play aggressively, and you have to be 5-under to make the cut. It was hard for me at first to play like that as my usual score was around 2-under. Gradually I adjusted and learned and won in 2015 (Stonebrae Classic) and then got on the PGA TOUR in 2016,” he said.

He won in his rookie PGA TOUR season at the Wyndham Championship and then claimed a memorable victory at THE PLAYERS the following year, which was made famous for his driver of the deck shot on the 11^th hole during the final round. Also, he recalled nearly withdrawing before the start of the final round.

“My back tightened up after the third round. Thirty minutes before I teed off (in the final day), I had a little bit of a muscle problem in my back, so my physiotherapist helped ease the pain. It was still there but I didn’t feel it because of the pressure of the event,” recalled Kim.

“The last three holes have hazards and I had so much pressure even though I was leading comfortably. It was only after the second shot on 18 that I finally felt I could win. I’ve never felt so nerve-racking.”

With three career victories to his name, Kim sits only behind Choi, who has eight wins, as the Korean with the second-most number of titles. He hopes to keep enjoying the game as much as he can to secure more silverware.

“I got back into the winner’s circle after three years and eight months. After my last win at THE PLAYERS, I thought I could win more easily but I couldn’t do well and I had a difficult time and went through some disappointments. That was hard for me,” said Kim.

“With this latest win, I hope I can overcome whatever obstacles ahead of me, and now that I have some momentum, I will try and do well again. I just want to keep going out and enjoying my game and playing golf. I think the next win will come naturally,” said Kim.

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Thai sailors get Covid jab ahead of Olympic shot

Mar 10. 2021

By The Nation

The Thailand national sailing squad were vaccinated against Covid-19 at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi on Wednesday ahead of their mission to qualify for the Olympics.

Seven sailors and three coaches got the jab before heading to Oman to join the March 25 Mussanah Open Championship, the Asia and Africa Olympic Qualifier.

Two more windsurfing athletes will receive their Covid-19 jab on Thursday ahead of the Oman qualifier. Judo and boxing athletes will be next in line for Covid shots.

Japan’s Tokyo Olympic Games are due to be held from July 23 to August 8 this year after being postponed from last year.

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Yodkaikaew Fairtex Improving at Rapid Pace, Chasing World Title Aspirations in ONE Championship

Mar 10. 2021

30-year-old Yodkaikaew “Y2K” Fairtex has remained unbeaten in the ONE Circle so far in his professional mixed martial arts career. If the Thai striking sensation can continue his upward trajectory, he will inevitably find himself among the top fighters in his division.

The end goal, Yodkaikaew says, is carving his path towards ONE Championship gold, and representing his country of Thailand on the global stage as a world champion.

“I try my absolute best in every fight, and I’m always looking for victory. I appreciate the platform ONE Championship has given us to showcase our skills, and I’m excited to go back into the Circle and perform,” said Yodkaikaew.

“My ultimate goal is to earn a title shot and become champion. I think anyone who has the heart to step in the Circle is gunning for the same thing. I’m no different. I’m working very hard toward that goal.”

Yodkaikaew has collected three undeniably impressive victories on his resume since joining ONE Championship in July 2020 — a pair of knockout wins over John Shink and Alex Schild, as well as a close split decision over highly-regarded Japanese flyweight, Tatsumitsu Wada.

Those victories alone should warrant Yodkaikaew a sharp step up in competition, but “Y2K” says he is not rushing himself, and is happy with his development under the brightest lights of ONE Championship.

“I’m not in a big rush because there are a lot of great fighters in my division. I am ok with taking my time and developing myself at the right pace. I have a lot to improve on, so that’s what I’m focused on right now. If we’re being honest, I believe I’m still among the rising up-and-comers, just a beginner starting out his career,” said Yodkaikaew.

“One thing I can promise is that I will fight whoever they put in front of me. I never back down from a challenge. I train hard for every fight and I’m getting better each day.”

Yodkaikaew is set to return to action against China’s Hu “The Wolf Warrior” Yong at ONE: FISTS OF FURY III, a previously recorded event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore scheduled for broadcast on Friday, 19 March.

In the main event, ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Regian Eersel defends his throne against hard-hitting #2 contender Mustapha Haida, while ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion Janet Todd begins her quest for a second belt by taking on the #4-ranked Alma Juniku in Muay Thai.

Yodkaikaew knows what competing on the ONE Championship global stage means for his career, and that each victory will bring him closer to reaching his dream. He also wants to thank his Thai fans for all the support they’ve shown for him since he started.

“This opportunity to be able to do what I love as a career, it’s very important to my life,” said Yodkaikaew.

“I never dreamt to have come this far, and I’m very happy and proud of what I have accomplished. At the same time, I know the sky’s the limit. There’s so much I can achieve. I want to thank all the Thai fans for supporting me. I’ll do my best not to let them down.”

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Every Shot Live media information

Mar 10. 2021Xinjun Zhang (Photo credit to Getty Images)

China’s Xinjun Zhang is so used to watching THE PLAYERS Championship on television that he cannot wait to make his debut at the PGA TOUR’s flagship tournament on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass starting on Thursday.

The 33-year-old is only the second mainland Chinese golfer after Haotong Li to qualify for the US$15 million showpiece, which has over the years earned the golden distinction of representing the strongest field of any golf tournament in the world.

 “I haven’t thought about winning this event. I’m just hoping for a good result. I think if I can pull off a win, it will be a huge push for China’s golf development,” said Zhang.

 Li featured in THE PLAYERS in 2018 and 2019 when he qualified as one of the top-50 players in the world but missed the halfway cut on both occasions. Zhang, the lone mainland Chinese golfer on the PGA TOUR over the past two seasons, hopes to go one-better on his countryman.

 “I’m excited,” said Zhang. “It is the fifth major with a strong field. I used to watch THE PLAYERS live on TV and I also practiced at TPC Sawgrass regularly. I liked the golf course very much and I’ve been longing to have the opportunity to compete in this tournament. I look forward to having a good performance.”

 Zhang’s rise to prominence is inspiring. He grew up in a farming family in Shanxi and was introduced to the game in his late teens after working as a security guard at the local golf course. His natural talents quickly landed him in the Chinese national amateur team, and after turning professional in 2010, he earned his stripes by winning twice on PGA TOUR Series China. He eventually realized his American dream by earning his PGA TOUR card in 2018 through the Korn Ferry Tour, where he is also a two-time winner. Last year, he became the first mainland Chinese to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs.

As he was based near TPC Sawgrass in Jacksonville in 2020, Zhang enjoyed the opportunity to practice and play at the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course and is now hoping to put to good use his familiarity with the famed venue, which many regard as the purest test in golf.

 “The course requires a lot of shot-making. For example, you need to hit a draw on the second hole and 10th hole, and play a fade cut on the fourth. The layout requires driving accuracy and moving the ball both ways. It is no doubt very challenging and requires a player to be on top of his game in every aspect. I like to hit fades and draws, so I’m really looking forward to playing on this course,” said the father of two.

Without any hesitance, Zhang picked the signature par-3 17^th hole with the famous island green as the standout design in Dye’s masterpiece. “I’ve played the 17th hole many times. The feeling of actually playing the hole was different than what I have seen on TV. The green is much smaller than I thought. When there is no wind, it is not hard but when there is wind, it is challenging to control the accuracy and finding the right spot to land your ball,” said the Chinese standout.

He knows the odds are stacked against him in winning THE PLAYERS Championship in his first appearance. Only two players have won in their first attempt on the Stadium Course – Hal Sutton in 1983 and Craig Perks in 2002.

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Ironman Im has golden dreams of winning THE PLAYERS Championship

Mar 09. 2021Sungjae Im (Photo credit to Getty Images)

Korea’s Sungjae Im has likened THE PLAYERS Championship to the four majors in the world and says it is his ambition to hoist the prestigious golden trophy at least once in his burgeoning golf career.

The 22-year-old Im, who is currently the highest-ranked Asian golfer in the world at No. 17, will enjoy another crack at the PGA TOUR’s flagship tournament at The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass starting on Thursday.

It was a year ago that THE PLAYERS was cancelled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A three-month shutdown subsequently ensued, which proved untimely for Im as he was in imperious form following a maiden TOUR victory at The Honda Classic, a third place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and an opening 69 at TPC Sawgrass.

When the TOUR resumed play last June, the Korean talent needed time to regain his groove. But a runner-up finish in his Masters Tournament debut in November, followed by a tied fifth at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January signaled a return to his best form.

Such is his mood that Im, who has earned nicknames such as “Ironman” and “The Machine” for his work ethics and busy playing schedule, has his eyes set on THE PLAYERS and hopes to emulate countrymen K.J. Choi (2011) and Si Woo Kim (2017), the only two Asians who have triumphed at TPC Sawgrass.

“It is the biggest event alongside the four major tournaments,” Im said ahead of the US$15 million showpiece.

“Everyone wants to produce their best performance at THE PLAYERS. It was a bit disappointing that it got cancelled last year but hopefully I can play all four rounds with great scores this time around. Two Korean players have won at TPC Sawgrass, which has made me think that the course actually fits well to Korean players. I’ve got a feeling I can also compete for the top.

“When K.J. won THE PLAYERS, I was young and I couldn’t watch the live broadcast. However I watched the re-run right away.”

Im has been one of the revelations in the sport since breaking through on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2018 where he was named Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year. In his first season on the PGA TOUR a year later, he amassed an impressive seven top-10s and became the only rookie to qualify for the top-30 FedExCup Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship. He later capped the year with a stellar debut for the International Team in the Presidents Cup against the United States, where he delivered 3.5 points at Royal Melbourne, including a convincing singles victory over Gary Woodland.

With THE PLAYERS assembling the strongest field in tournament golf, Im said being the best of the best would be another feather to his cap. “If I get to win THE PLAYERS, it will definitely give me some pride. I hope to compete well with the talented players but as you know, it is very hard to do that in every event. However, I want to hold that trophy for at least one time in my career,” said Im, who is currently ranked 19^th on the FedExCup points list.

His limited experience at the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course has been bittersweet thus far. In his debut appearance two years ago, Im missed the halfway cut by one following rounds of 73 and 71, with his second round featuring an ace on the par-3 13^th hole and a double bogey at the signature par-3, 17^th hole famed for its island green.

“I remember the hole-in-one. The pin was almost positioned toward the left, near the water. I needed a birdie to make the halfway cut and then I decided to play aggressively. Luckily, my tee shot went near the pin, landed five feet past the flag and spun back into the hole,” said Im.

“The 17^th hole looks short but the pin location is crucial in your choice of play. It can be very difficult and being an island green, you need to play it safe, aim for the middle of the green, which will eventually help you make par. This strategy will help in making decent scores there.” 

Other Koreans joining Im in the elite field this week include Byeong Hun An, K.H. Lee, Sung Kang and Si Woo Kim.