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Korea’s Im enjoys slice of Masters history with runner-up finish

Nov 16. 2020Korea’s Sungjae Im (Credit to Getty Images) 

Augusta, Georgia: Korea’s Sungjae Im produced Asia’s best finish at the Masters Tournament on Sunday with an impressive joint runner-up outing in his debut appearance at fabled Augusta National.

The 22-year-old Im eclipsed countryman K.J. Choi’s third place performance in 2004 with some glorious golf, closing  with a final round of 3-under 69 for a 15-under 273 total. He finished five strokes behind winner Dustin Johnson, who earned his maiden Masters victory and 24^th PGA TOUR title with a tournament record of 20-under 268.

Straight-shooting Im, who won The Honda Classic for his first PGA TOUR victory in March, started the day four back of Johnson and got to within one stroke of the lead with birdies on Hole Nos. 2 and 3 as Johnson bogeyed Hole Nos. 4 and 5. However, Johnson, the reigning FedExCup champion and world No. 1, simply shifted into a different a gear down the stretch to cruise home to an emotional win ahead of Im and Australia’s Cameron Smith.

“Finishing tied for second is unbelievable, and I’m proud of my game. This is definitely going to be a memorable Masters for me, not only because this is my first appearance, but my initial goal at the start of the week was just to make a cut and get into the weekend,” said a delighted Im.

As a young boy, Im grew up watching the Masters during the wee hours of the morning in Korea and his high finish ensured him a quick return to Augusta National when the tournament returns to its regular slot in April.

The talented Korean, who was the 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, made errors after getting to within one shot of Johnson through five holes where he dropped bogeys on Hole Nos. 6 and 7. Im birdied the eighth, 13^th and 15^th holes through some gutsy play to ensure his high finish and a footnote in Masters folklore.

“My iron accuracy definitely wasn’t up to par as I did play the first two rounds, but I was able to put it in places where I was able to have a good angle of getting close to the hole, so my scrambling was pretty good.

“On No. 6, I missed the green, and I tried to get it close with my approach shot but wasn’t able to. On No. 7, the wind was blowing more than I thought.  So that made it a little difficult for me to be accurate.

“Leading up to this week, I struggled with my putting a little bit. So I made a change with my putter, and this week, I putted so well, and that’s what made the difference. I also made some nice approach shots, which led to some good saves. So overall, I’m happy with my approach shots and putting in this week.”

He paid tribute to Johnson who coasted to a runaway victory with his imperious performance, which earned him a second career major title. Johnson also bettered the previous 72-hole record at the Masters held by defending champion Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth by two shots.

“Dustin definitely plays at another level. Dustin was long and accurate.  Just watching him play, he makes the game look so easy. I really enjoyed playing with him, but I didn’t want to think that I was competing with him today. I just wanted to focus on my game and try to finish as strong as I can,” said Im, who became the third-youngest player after Spieth and Woods to finish in the top five at the Masters.

Final-Round Notes – Sunday, November 15, 2020

Weather: Partly cloudy. High of 79. Wind SW 10-15 mph, with gusts to 20 mph.

Final Leaderboard

Dustin Johnson                       65-70-65-68—268 (-20)

Cameron Smith                       67-68-69-69—273 (-15)

Sungjae Im                              66-70-68-69—273 (-15)

Justin Thomas                         66-69-71-70—276 (-12)

Rory McIlroy                            75-66-67-69—277 (-11)

Dylan Frittelli                           65-73-67-72—277 (-11)

Things to Know

• Dustin Johnson wins the Masters Tournament by five strokes, his second major championship title and 24^th win on the PGA TOUR
• Johnson moves into a tie with Gary Player for 26^thon the all-time PGA TOUR wins list
• At 20-under 268, Johnson sets Masters Tournament scoring record for 72 holes
• Johnson has at least one win in each of his 14 PGA TOUR seasons, tying Tiger Woods for the third-longest streak to begin a career in TOUR history
• Johnson becomes the eighth player (ninth instance) to win the Masters after finishing runner-up the year prior
• For the first time in his major championship career, Johnson successfully converts 54-hole lead/co-lead to victory (now 1-for-5)
• Johnson, the reigning FedExCup champion, moves to No. 1 in the FedExCup standings
• Cameron Smith (67-68-69-69) becomes first player to record four scores in the 60s at the Masters

Dustin Johnson (Winner/-20)

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Ex-champs Pruchya and Kamonwan taste success after years out of the limelight

Nov 16. 2020Puchya Isarow and Kamonwan Buayam Former national players Pruchya Isarow and Kamonwan Buayam ended their long wait for singles titles, winning the men’s and women’s singles events at the Singha TATP Championship at the Impact Tennis Academy Muangthong Thani on Sunday.

Pruchya, the former national No 1, was given a tough fight by Krittin Koaykul before he prevailed 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-2) for the men’s trophy after almost three hours of a gruelling battle.

Kamonwan also took three sets to beat teenage qualifier Pimrada Jattavapornvanit 3-6 6-2 6-3.

It has been three years since the 25-year-old Pruchya had tasted singles success. He had been preoccupied with his studies in Sports Science at Chulalongkorn University and celebrated his Graduation Day only last month.

“It’s so amazing to have this feeling again,” said Pruchya, a former Davis Cupper. “I barely had time to focus on my tennis, as I had to study and complete an internship. Now that I have already graduated, I can concentrate on tennis again. And it has paid off,” said Pruchya, who also had reached the final of a tournament in Hua Hin last week.

Against Krittin, Pruchya was up and down throughout the match but regained his composure in the third set tie-break as his opponent began to fade away.

“I had so many breaks, but I wasted them. I had to rely on my first serve and to really stay focused to win the tie-break,” added Pruchya.

Kamonwan, 24, had been hampered with injuries for several years after winning two ITF titles in 2015. But she never gave up hope and finally ended her four-year title drought.

“I never stopped believing. I have to thank my parents and my team for helping me get through all the tough phases of my life,” she said.

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Joan Mir is the 2020 MotoGP™ World Champion

Nov 16. 2020

 Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) is the 2020 FIM MotoGP™ World Champion.

After six podiums and a victory in the Europe GP, the Majorcan was 37 points clear coming into take two at Valencia and nothing could shake the Suzuki rider. A seventh-place finish defended to the final corner assures him the crown, with Mir becoming the first Moto3™ Champion to win the premier class title and the first to win it for Suzuki in 20 years.

Mir’s path to glory began in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2013, where he took a podium as a rookie, before 2014 saw the Majorcan end the year second overall after a number of wins. In 2015 a full season in the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship awaited, where he came fourth overall but took four wins and a further three podiums as he fought for the title to the end. Late that same year, Mir also made his debut in the Moto3™ World Championship – qualifying fifteenth and then fighting for sixth as an injury replacement at Phillip Island. The Majorcan crashed out, but had already made an impression.

He joined Moto3™ full time for 2016 and immediately began to impress. Points first time out, a top five in his third ever Moto3™ race and then a first victory in Austria – from a first pole – saw Mir end the year fifth overall and as Rookie of the Year. That made the Spaniard a firm favourite for the title the following year and he didn’t disappoint, coming out guns blazing in 2017 to take the first two victories of the season.

More wins at Le Mans and Catalunya prefaced three victories in a row in Germany, Czechia and Austria, before another in Aragon set up the Majorcan’s first shot at the crown at Motegi. It wasn’t to be as Mir failed to score for the first time all season, but at Phillip Island he bounced back in style.

Upon his return to the venue where he made his debut only two years earlier, Mir was untouchable as he took his ninth win of the year and wrapped up the crown, becoming the 2017 Moto3™ World Champion.

Mir then moved to Moto2™ with the EG 0,0 Marc VDS team. As a rookie in the intermediate class, the Spaniard continued to impress as he took four podiums and ended the season in sixth, his trajectory and success having already called the attention of Suzuki. The Hamamatsu factory offered him a seat in MotoGP™ for the following year, and Mir accepted to join the premier class in 2019. First time out in Qatar, the number 36 impressed on his debut and took eighth before some tougher races followed. By Mugello he was back in the points in 12th, and at Catalunya he took sixth to begin a run of solid top eight finishes. That ended at Brno with a crash before the Majorcan also crashed at the post-race test in the Czech Republic, subsequently side-lining him from the Austrian and British Grands Prix through injury. Upon his return at Misano, Mir started scoring again and ended the year without a further DNF, taking a best result in his rookie year of fifth in Phillip Island and setting himself up for a sophomore year at the front – right at the front, as it would turn out. His rivals stop to congratulate Mir on the title The Majorcan in action In 2020 pre-season testing, Mir – and Suzuki – had many talking as the Hamamatsu factory put in some impressive performances, but fast forward a few months to Jerez as competition re-started and the duo had a tough first outing as Mir crashed out in the Spanish GP. Next time out the Majorcan took fifth to get some points on the board, before Brno saw another DNF dent his title hopes – but not for long. From Austria onwards, everything came together. A first MotoGP™ podium in second place prefaced an impressive performance in the Styrian GP where the race was Red-Flagged with Mir in the lead, that seeing him ultimately take fourth. The Majorcan bounced back with three podiums in a row in the San Marino, Emilia Romagna and Catalan GPs, gaining traction in the Championship, before another tough race in Le Mans briefly halted his momentum as Mir took 11th, lacking experience of the conditions. With key rivals Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) also fighting in the fringes of the top ten though, all was far from lost. MotorLand Aragon was up next and Mir was immediately back on the podium, taking two third places. With the first he also took the Championship lead and arrived into the Gran Premio de Europa as now the clear favourite for the crown, but there was something missing. That something was a first MotoGP™ win which, despite getting close, the Majorcan had not yet taken. That changed when the premier class headed out to race in Valencia for the first time in 2020 as Mir put in a sublime charge to the flag; cool, calm and collected to take a valuable 25 points and a MotoGP™ winner’s trophy – putting him 37 points clear heading into the penultimate race weekend of the season.  It was a tough Saturday in the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana as he qualified 12th, but as the lights went out for his first match point, the Majorcan soon got to work to move into the top ten. Next it was the top eight, and he only needed a handful of points as his closest challengers ended up off the podium. Mir kept it pitch perfect to assure himself the crown, taking seventh place and crowning himself the 2020 MotoGP™ World Champion. Mir has stood on the MotoGP™ podium more than any other rider this season (seven times), including a win at the European GP. This is this first time that a Suzuki rider took seven (or more) premier class podiums since Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000 (nine). He’s the first rider to clinch the premier class world title riding a Suzuki since Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000 (and the first ever in the MotoGP™ era). This is the seventh title for a Suzuki rider in the premier class.  Mir became the 10th different rider in the history of Grand Prix racing to win a Championship with Suzuki, along with: Kenny Roberts Jr. (500cc: 2000), Kevin Schwantz (500cc: 1993), Franco Uncini (500cc: 1982), Marco Lucchinelli (500cc: 1981), Barry Sheene (500cc: 1976, 1977), Dieter Braun (125cc: 1970), Hans-Georg Anscheidt (50cc: 1966, 1967, 1968), Hugh Anderson (125cc: 1963, 1965; 50cc: 1963, 1964) and Ernst Degner (50cc: 1962). Mir became the first rider to clinch the premier class world title having previously taken the Moto3™ Championship, and the first former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup rider to win the premier class crown. He is only the fourth different Spanish rider to take the premier class Championship, along with Alex Criville (1 title), Jorge Lorenzo (3) and Marc Marquez (6). Mir is the seventh-youngest rider to clinch a premier class World Championship, aged 23 years and 75 days old on race day of the Valencia GP, between Valentino Rossi (22 years and 240 days old) and Jorge Lorenzo (23 years and 159 days old). At the French GP, Mir took his third podium in three successive premier class races, becoming the first Suzuki rider to do so since Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000 (from Malaysia to Spain).    At the European GP, Joan Mir took his only win of the season so far, becoming the first premier class World Champion with the lowest number of wins during the season. Prior to Mir, the premier class Champions with the smaller number of wins were Leslie Graham (1949), Umberto Masetti (1950, 1952) and Nicky Hayden (2006), all of them with two wins.  Joan Mir is the first premier class World Champion without a single pole position during the season since Wayne Rainey back in 1992.  But first, a Prosecco shower JOAN MIR: “I will probably need a shower to understand the situation! It’s something I’ve been fighting all my life, since I was ten years old I had this dream and I never stopped until I got this title. So what can I say? I can start saying thanks to a lot of people who’ve stayed with me, not only this year but also in the past, to make me who I am and achieve this result. I want to thank first my family, and then Suzuki and the opportunity they gave me in 2018, and now in 2020 two years later I’m the World Champion! I didn’t expect it honestly, I expected it further in the future! But we’ve got the title and now it’s ours, so I’m happy!” How did he feel before lights out? “The important thing is that I was looking calm, and looked without pressure, but I wasn’t calm and without pressure I was just super nervous, which is not a bad thing! The truth is that this year was especially difficult because we didn’t just have pressure on track but also at home to not get the virus. It was especially difficult to manage, and thanks to all my crew who managed it in the perfect way.” When did he start to believe he could win the Championship? “Styria was the first race where I was really competitive, fighting for the victory. Probably after Misano and Barcelona, then I thought, ‘wait, maybe I’m not only fast in Styria and I’m able to maintain this feeling with the bike!’ For me that was the moment I realised I could do it.” And how does it feel to become the first Champion for Suzuki in 20 years, joining an incredible history? “For me, this was the reason to sign with Suzuki. For me, to win a title with any manufacturer is unbelievable and the main target, but I was quite brave in that moment to go with Suzuki because I didn’t expect this potential with the bike in the second year, I expected it further forward. For me to win with Suzuki has something extra, not just this year, but to get a title with Suzuki means something more than normal.” And what if, in his Moto3™ rookie year, he’d been told he’d be MotoGP™ World Champion just four years later? “I would have said you were crazy! Race by race, year by year I was getting faster and getting used to the bike quickly and it made my progression so fast, and that was the key to take the MotoGP title in my second year. We probably sacrificed a year in Moto2, I would have liked to spend two years there but that wasn’t ideal so we took the correct decision to come up to MotoGP after my first year in Moto2.” Mir (right) celebrates with Team Suzuki Ecstar manager Davide Brivio BIOGRAPHY First Grand Prix: Australia 2015, Moto3™ First pole position: Austria 2016, Moto3™ First podium: Austria 2016, Moto3™ First win: Austria 2016, Moto3™ Grands Prix: 85 (30 in MotoGP™) Wins: 12 (1 in MotoGP™) Podiums: 27 (7 in MotoGP™) Pole positions: 2 (0 in MotoGP™) Fastest laps: 6 (0 in MotoGP™) World Championships: Moto3™ (2017), MotoGP™ (2020) World Championship career: 2015: Moto3™ – Honda – 1 race – 0 points 2016: Moto3™ – KTM – 18 races, 144 points – 5th   2017: Moto3™ – Honda – 18 races – 341 points – WORLD CHAMPION  2018: Moto2™ – Kalex – 18 races – 155 points – 6th  2019: MotoGP™ – Suzuki – 17 races – 92 points – 12th  2020: MotoGP™ – Suzuki – 13 races – 171 points – WORLD CHAMPION From one Suzuki Champion to another: MotoGP™ Legend Franco Uncini (left) congratulates Mir Mir writes the latest chapter in Suzuki history … and Suzuki Ecstar wrapped up the Teams’ title

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Morbidelli and Miller stage a last lap thriller, Mir crowned MotoGP™ World Champion

Nov 16. 2020

 A stunning final lap scrap sees the Italian take his third win of the year after fending off Miller, with Mir taking seventh and with it the 2020 World Championship

Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) put on a spectacular duel in the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana as a tense race-long chess match turned into a final lap scrap for glory. It was decided by less than a tenth but it’s Morbidelli who comes out on top, gloves off to take his third win of the year and move up to second in the standings. Miller was forced to settle for second in the end, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) once again completing the podium. Slightly further back, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) made dreams a reality as he took seventh place and secured the 2020 MotoGP™ World Championship, with key rivals not able to do enough to stop the Majorcan’s history-making charge.

As the lights went out, Miller put in a characteristically good start to take the holeshot before then heading wide out of Turn 1, leaving Morbidelli in the lead as the Yamaha man kept it clean to take over. Pol Espargaro pounced for third ahead of front-row starter Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), but then some shuffles just behind pulled immediate focus.

First, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) had sliced through from P14 on the grid to seventh after a storming start, but things didn’t go so well for fellow contender Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT). The Frenchman struggled to get it stopped into Turn 6 on Lap 1 and dropped back – right back – before it went from bad to worse. Sadly, his title hopes were over, ‘El Diablo’ sliding out of the race and contention.

Meanwhile at the front, Morbidelli had the hammer down and Rins was up to fifth – one place gained ‘thanks’ to a crash for Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) as the day sadly came to an early end for the Frenchman after a good start and a battle with the number 42. And Mir? Mir was in eighth, but was getting into the groove and past Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) to set off after Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ahead of him.

Morbidelli rode on, Miller remained his shadow, and the two men kept edging away to make it a duel. It became a brief duel over third too as Nakagami homed in on Pol Espargaro, the Japanese rider once again showing some stunning pace. But the charge would end with disappointment as just as he struck, Nakagami slid out – leaving the KTM to take back third and now with a small cushion back to fourth.

The man in fourth by then was Rins, and with Suzuki’s late race pace of late, Pol Espargaro couldn’t afford to relax too much. But this weekend it seemed just off the podium was the maximum the Aragon GP winner could manage as he held station, two more KTMs on his tail. Initially the first was Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), but Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder was coming in hot. The South African was also keeping Mir at bay as the number 36 failed to make inroads into the gap, seemingly set to take the crown from seventh.

Back at the front, Morbidelli was steadfast but the Petronas Yamaha SRT rider wasn’t getting away as he had done for his previous wins. Miller was with him and gaining, gaining, until he was within touching distance with two to go. And over the line for the final lap, the Australian struck for the front.

Heading up the inside, the number 43 was past and it was game on – but he also headed wide. Morbidelli reacted to hug the apex and slice back through, the Yamaha back ahead and Miller reloading for another shot. That came not long after at Turn 4 as Miller chucked it up the inside, but Morbidelli snapped straight back to grab P1 again at Turn 5.

Down the back straight they went, the Ducati able to show a wheel but no way through. Miller then set himself up for a dive up the inside at Turn 11, but once again there was no way through as the duo got very close for comfort.

Attention then turned to the final corner, but Miller wasn’t close enough to lunge. Could the number 43 get the power down and use the extra grunt to scream past Morbidelli on the run to the line? It was his final chance at the win, but it wasn’t to be. Morbidelli emerged victorious for the third time this season after a magnificent boxing match, and the Italian now sits second in the Championship. Petronas Yamaha SRT are also the top Independent Team. The gap over the line was just 0.093 seconds, tantalisingly close, but it’s a great third podium of the season for Miller nevertheless. Pol Espargaro goes back-to-back in Valencia for his fifth podium of the year in third, another fantastic effort from the Spaniard in his penultimate race for KTM.

Rins’ comeback ride was impressive from P14, but the Suzuki man ran out of steam and eventually missed out on the podium by six tenths as he was forced to settle for fourth. The Spaniard did, however, help Team Suzuki Ecstar claim the Team Championship after a stunning year that’s seen both riders win and challenge for the crown, Mir ultimately taking it.

Binder got the better of Oliveira to return to the top five for the first time since the Austrian GP, and the South African also strengthened his grip on the Rookie of the Year title as he heads for the finale 20 points clear of Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Oliveira in sixth make it three KTMs in the top six too, and the Portuguese rider arrives on home turf in form.

Just behind the KTM duo, Mir took the chequered flag. Pandemonium raged on the pit wall as Suzuki witnessed their rider come across the line to win the 2020 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, the young Spaniard joining Barry Sheene, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr. as a Suzuki Champion. An incredible achievement from the sophomore, and the entire Hamamatsu factory, after a stunning season.

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Korea’s Im keeps himself in chase for Masters glory

Nov 15. 2020Sungjae Im (Credit to Getty Images) Augusta, Georgia: Korea’s Sungjae Im gave himself a chance at rewriting golf history after a 4-under 68 propelled him into joint second place following the third round at the Masters Tournament on Saturday.

The 22-year-old has continued to impress in his first appearance at Augusta National by shooting five birdies against a lone bogey for a 12-under 204 aggregate to lie four back of reigning FedExCup champion and World No. 1, Dustin Johnson.

Im will play in the final group on Sunday alongside Johnson and Presidents Cup International teammate, Abraham Ancer who produced a 69 for joint second place. Australian Cameron Smith also sits in second place after a 69.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei, who began the third round one off the lead, shot 72 and 74 respectively to fall off the pace and enters the final round in T10 and T15.

No Asian golfer has won the Masters, with Korea’s K.J. Choi coming closest with a third place finish in 2004. Choi has been a trailblazer for Asian and Korean golf over the past two decades with eight career PGA TOUR victories and has inspired the likes of Im to emulate his success. In fact, Choi  had told Im prior to the Masters that he had the game to succeed at Augusta National.

“My game is like a straight ball and a baby fade. Speaking to K.J. who used to have a lot of success out here, he said my type of shot-making will be very suitable at Augusta National,” said Im, who won his first PGA TOUR title at The Honda Classic in March.

With Johnson four ahead, Im plans to stick to his game plan in hope of upsetting the odds and rewriting a new page in Masters folklore. The Korean has looked right at home at Augusta National, sinking 19 birdies along the way. Johnson, who holds 23 PGA TOUR wins including one major title, has held the 54-hole lead/co-lead on 21 occasions on TOUR, winning 10 times He is however 0-for-4 when holding the 54-hole lead in the majors.

“From the tee box when I look down the fairway, visually I can see where to hit it and where not to hit it. That’s why I feel comfortable playing here. I watched the Masters growing up so many times it feels like I’m used to playing on this course even though it’s my first time. The course kind of suits not only me but the Korean players as well and I guess that’s why I’ve been maintaining my form. I want to stay composed and keep to my game plan and minimise my mistakes as much as possible and I’ll have a good finish.”

He remembers the days when he would wake up in the middle of the night in Korea to watch the Masters and has vivid memories of Tiger Woods’ famous chip-in birdie on the 16^th hole en route to his win in 2005. Im knows his fans at home will be staying up late to watch him on Sunday.

“If Tiger was playing, it’s not just me but a lot of golf fans in Korea would stay up to watch. I know a lot of people back home are staying up late and not sleeping to watch the Masters and to watch me perform. I want to stay composed and make sure I finish well so everyone will be happy,” said Im.

Im’s countryman Si Woo Kim carded a 73 for a share of 36^th place on 214 while Thailand’s debutant, Jazz Janewattananond shot a 75 to fall back in tied 44^th position alongside Korean Sung Kang, who settled for a third round 71.

The 29-year-old Pan, who is the first Chinese Taipei golfer to feature in the Masters since 2009, was disappointed he failed to keep up with the leaders after missing several birdie opportunities during his round which featured two bogeys and no birdies. “Today, I’m very happy to play in the weekend of my first Masters. The performance today though wasn’t very satisfactory. This is an opportunity to prove yourself. I got unlucky a few times and I’m going to try again tomorrow. This is a beautiful place and I’m going to recharge and make some adjustments,” said Pan.

Third-Round Notes – Saturday, November 14, 2020

Weather: Partly cloudy. High of 74. Wind ENE 5-10 mph.

Third-Round Leaderboard

Dustin Johnson                       65-70-65—200 (-16)

Sungjae Im                              66-70-68—204 (-12)

Abraham Ancer                       68-67-69—204 (-12)

Cameron Smith                       67-68-69—204 (-12)

Dylan Frittelli                           65-73-67—205 (-11)

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Morbidelli fights off Miller for pole, Mir faces first match point from 12th

Nov 15. 2020Franco Morbidelli  The Italian balances risk vs reward for a second MotoGP™ pole, with Quartararo 11th, Mir 12th and Rins 14th after a Saturday shake-up

Franco Morbidelli left it late, but the Italian pitched it to perfection to take his second MotoGP™ pole position at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana. Friday’s fastest Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was pipped to the post by less than a tenth, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) completing the front row once again – both men candidates to become that record-breaking tenth winner of the year and starting from the front. There were some big headlines slightly down the order too as Championship leader Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) took 12th, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) 11th and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) only 14th as none the top three in the standings managed to make it onto the first three rows… setting up another rollercoaster Sunday.

It began in a tense Q1 packed full of key players, including the men second and third in the Championship – Quartararo and Rins – as well as Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Big drama hit on the timesheets for Rins as he ended the session fourth and therefore 14th on the grid, and big drama hit on track for Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) as the Spaniard had a huge highside right in front of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Thankfully the South African took quick evasive action and the number 73 got to his feet, even able to head back out on his second bike. 

Binder, at the time, was top of the pile too and no one could overhaul his lap. He moved through along with Quartararo, with Rins left in 14th, Rossi 16th and Dovizioso 17th after a difficult session at the office for a good few famous faces.

After the first runs in Q2, it remained advantage KTM. Binder was on provisional pole and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in second as Mir languished down in tenth, but there was more to come. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) added to the KTM party next as he slotted into second once the final shootout was on, before Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) then suddenly shot straight to the top.

Still, it wasn’t done. Mir had got himself up to seventh but the man on the move was Miller as the Australian slammed in a lap that saw him take over on provisional pole, backing up his Friday speed with another impressive Q2. That was with two minutes to go and it seemed it could be his – but one man wasn’t quite done, and that man was Morbidelli.

The number 21 said Saturday, on an overcast day after some minor rain earlier on, was a balance between risk and reward and the Italian walked the tightrope to perfection. Right at the end of the session, his red sectors kept rolling and he eventually crossed the line to deny Miller by less than a tenth, taking his second MotoGP™ pole position ever and of the year. Nakagami then took his second front row in a week, slotting into third, making a front row with three different manufacturers, and not one of the top three in the title fight in sight…

Fourth went to an impressive Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) as he moved up to take over as the second Ducati in the session, with Pol Espargaro – last week’s polesitter – forced to settle for fifth. Sixth is where Viñales was eventually shuffled down to, but it’s a lot further forward than the Yamaha rider’s pitlane start for exceeding his engine allocation last weekend. What can he do?

Seventh saw Aleix Espargaro put his Aprilia Racing Team Gresini machine in the mix to head up the third row, ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) as the Italian continues to show solid speed at Valencia. Binder completes Row 3, the South African getting shuffled down late on, as did Miguel Oliveira as the Portuguese rider completes the top ten.

So where are the key players in the title fight? Rins’ work was over early as he didn’t make it out of Q1, but it couldn’t have been much better news for the number 42 as the flag flew for Qualifying 2. Mir is only two places ahead of him, in 12th and last in Q2, with Quartararo only managing one better. But then we’ve seen many a Suzuki comeback on Sunday as the Hamamatsu factory slice through the field…

A podium would be enough for Mir to lift the crown. Past that it’s a maths game – and everything will be on the line as the top three blast away from 11th, 12th and 14th.  Miller and Nakagami, meanwhile, have the chance to become that tenth winner from the front row – as do Zarco and Pol Espargaro right behind them. What will Sunday bring? Tune in to find out as MotoGP™ chase more history at 14:00 (GMT +1).

1 Franco Morbidelli* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 1:30.191 2 Jack Miller* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.096 3 Takaaki Nakagami* – LCR Honda Idemitsu – Honda – +0.222 *Independent Team rider Manzi masters Valencia to make MV Agusta history, Bastianini and Lowes outside the top ten The Italian takes a stunning first pole position as he pips home hero Garzo, with Marini 10th, Bastianini 12th and Lowes 18th – the Brit after a big crash on Saturday Not since 1976 in the 350cc class has an MV Agusta started a Grand Prix race from pole, but Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) changed that on Saturday at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana. He took his first pole position with a new lap record to head a front row split by just 0.076, with home hero Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) forced to settle for second and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) completing the top three. Of the top three in the title fight it’s Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) who starts furthest up the grid in 10th, with Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) 12th and Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in P18 after a big crash in FP3. In Q1 it was Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) who led the way, but the gap was infinitesimal for the Italian as Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) slotted into second just 0.004 back. Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) was closer still in third, 0.002 in further arrears, with Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) the fourth man through and still within less than half a tenth. That left Europe GP podium finisher Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) just missing out, and the Australian will be looking to move forward quick-sharp on Sunday. As Q2 began, a lot of eyes were on Lowes. After a huge FP3 crash, the Brit was back on track sporting a bandaged right wrist after being declared fit. His opening lap time was nearly four seconds down on Bo Bendsneyder’s (NTS RW Racing GP) 1:35.131 lap time, but that wasn’t the case for long. Garzo then took turn to lead the session before Fabio Di Giannantonio (MB Conveyors Speed Up) shot to the summit; Q1 graduate Simone Corsi then moving into third with eight minutes to go. Manzi was on a march though. The Italian was top of the tree by 0.004 over Di Giannantonio as Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) climbed to P3 soon after, puting three manufacturers sat on the front row in Moto2™ as the clock ticked down and down… The times were again incredibly close. Less than a tenth covered the top five before Marini slotted into fifth, just 0.095 off the top. Red sectors were everywhere though and soon there was another man on a mission: Garzo. A 1:34.431 came in from the Spaniard as Bezzecchi clawed his way up to P2, with Championship leader Bastianini still down in tenth with two minutes to go. Manzi then grabbed the spotlight for the second time. On his final lap, the Italian sliced round to claim provisional pole and break Garzo’s heart, making MV Agusta history with their first pole position since MotoGP™ Legend Giacomo Agostini in 1976 at Le Mans. Rookie Garzo’s second place is nevertheless his best yet in Moto2™, with Bezzecchi striking late to give both a scare as last week’s winner slotted into third. Di Giannantonio spearheads Row 2 in P4, and he’s joined by Jorge Martin and rookie Marcos Ramirez (Tennor American Racing). Schrötter eventually slipped to P7, just ahead of Q1 graduate Baldassarri as he returns to form to start from P8. Bendsneyder took ninth as the Dutchman got his third top 10 qualifying result of the campaign. Marini was under four tenths away from pole but ends up down in P10. However, importantly for the Italian, he’s ahead of the two riders ahead of him in the Championship: Bastianini will start P12 behind Corsi, three places better than last weekend but still far from ideal after another tougher session. Lowes, although cutting his gap to the top down and down, struggled in Q2 and immediately had ice on his right wrist when he was back in the box. The Brit has a salvage job on his hands from P18. Bastianini has the chance to win the title in Valencia. The easiest way is if he wins, Lowes doesn’t finish better than 11th and Marini no better than third. But can he do it? Watch how the Moto2™ title race unfolds at 12:20 local time (GMT+1) on Sunday afternoon as the penultimate race of 2020 gets underway! Moto2™ front row 1 Stefano Manzi – MV Agusta Forward Racing – MV Agusta 1:34.418 2 Hector Garzo – Flexbox HP 40 – Kalex +0.013 3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex +0.076

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Golf stars Areeya, Moriya and Kiradech infected with Covid-19 in US

Nov 14. 2020Ariya Jutanugarn (photo credit to Ariya Jutanugarn Facebook) Three Thai golf stars, including former world No 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, have tested positive for Covid-19.

Two-time Major champion Ariya, her sister Moriya and PGA member Kiradech Aphibarnrat were confirmed to have been infected earlier this week during their stay in Florida.

The 24-year-old Ariya, and Moriya, an LPGA winner, have already withdrawn from next week’s Pelican Women’s Championship in Florida.

“Although we have been very cautious, unfortunately Mo [Moriya] and I have tested positive for Covid-19. We are now self-isolating and working on tracing all those we have been in contact with,” the 10-time LPGA winner posted on her personal Facebook page on Saturday morning (Bangkok time).

The 2016 British Open and 2018 US Women’s champion, Ariya also wrote that her condition was improving though she had lost her appetite and had difficulty breathing.

Kiradech, winner of four European Tour titles, posted on his Facebook that he has been infected with the coronavirus since Tuesday.

“On Tuesday I wasn’t feeling great so I took a home Covid-19 test and unfortunately I tested positive. I am still experiencing some mild symptoms including fever and loss of taste so I am resting up at home in Orlando and will return to the Tour when I am back to full health,” he wrote.

Ariya is the most successful golfer in Thai history when she became the first from the nation to win an LPGA title in Alabama 2016. In 2018, she emerged the first-ever to sweep all major awards on the LPGA Tour: Player of the Year, Vare Trophy for Low scoring Average, Money Leader, Race to Season CME Globe Season Standings and Annika Major Award.

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Miller pips Nakagami by a tenth, Mir 12th on Friday

Nov 14. 2020

 The Aussie makes it two Fridays in a row, with the top two in the Championship outside the top ten on Day 1

Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) made it two Fridays on top in a row at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, the Aussie fastest in FP2 to pip Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) by less than a tenth. Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) completed an all-Independent Team rider top three, still within 0.120 off his teammate at the top. The top 19 on Friday were covered by just under three-quarters of a second.

Championship leader Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) didn’t have the smoothest start to his first #MatchPoint weekend, the number 36 ending the day in 12th and suffering what’s become an uncharacteristic crash in the afternoon – rider ok. Second overall Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) ended Day 1 in P16, meaning it’s advantage Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in the top three in the title fight as the Suzuki rider took ninth. 

FP1

After getting so close to the podium last weekend, it was Nakagami out the blocks quickest to top in FP1 as the Japanese rider ended the session just over a tenth ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT). Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) made it a Yamaha duo on the chase, improving late on to move up to third.

With the weather dry and not too cold, a huge improvement on a tough Friday at the European GP, the riders were down to business straight away. Morbidelli set the early pace with a 1:30.944, a substantial margin quicker than the race last Sunday. Nakagami then went fastest with just over 20 minutes to go, and he stayed there for the remainder of FP1, Viñales the only one making a decisive late move as he took third – and he’s out from under the cloud of the pending pitlane start that he dealt with last weekend.

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) rounded out the top five, with 0.341 covering the leading quintet. There were no crashes in FP1.

Mir was eighth, starting the day ahead of both of his closest challengers. Rins was 11th in FP1, whereas Quartararo was P16.

FP2

Miller moved from 12th to first in the afternoon, just ahead of Nakagami as FP1’s fastest man kept his presence at the top consistent. The afternoon also saw Bagnaia strike to take over in the top three, part of an impressive Ducati showing.

The session began with an immediate flurry of fast times as yet more dry track time greeted the premier class, with Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) leading the early stages of the afternoon session from Mir. These laps saw the Frenchman and Spaniard go fifth and six on the combined times to get within three tenths off Nakagami’s pace from FP1. Plenty of riders went quicker in the first half of the session though, and there was plenty left to play.

Nakagami was the first to really raise the stakes. On the soft rear, the Japanese rider put in in a 1:30.713 to go two tenths clear on the combined times, and 0.340 clear in FP2. Fellow Honda rider Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) wasn’t faring so well though. After a crash at Turn 2 early on, the number 73 was down again – this time at Turn 4. T4 then also bit someone else: Mir. The Championship leader suffered a rare crash at the left-hander, but he was able to get back out in the session.

The timesheets were still changing. Rins shot up to sixth before going better again as Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) joined fellow Ducati rider Zarco inside the top three. Pol Espargaro then shoved the Italian down to P4 but it was all happening with just over a minute to go. Next to move up was Bagnaia, into second. Finally, Miller struck. The Aussie was flying and took over at the top as the chequered flag waved.

Overall, that means Miller leads the premier class field on Friday, ahead of a consistent performance from Nakagami as he slots into second. Bagnaia joins his teammate in the top three; the Italian P19 after FP1 and making a big leap up the timesheets.

European Grand Prix polesitter Pol Espargaro ends Day 1 in P4, staying inside the top four and another consistent performer on Friday. Zarco’s handy FP2 sees the Frenchman finish Friday in P5, moving up from a P6 finish in FP1. Dovizioso took sixth by the end of play, ensuring there are four Ducatis in the top six on an improved Day 1 for the Borgo Panigale factory.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) claimed P7, demoting Morbidelli as the Italian ends the day in P8. He was one of only two to to not go quicker in the afternoon, the other being Maverick Viñales as he took tenth. Rins finished ninth to split the Yamahas on the combined timesheets.

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was P11 on Friday, ending the day just ahead of Mir as the Championship leader got shuffled down to P12. Add in a crash and it’s not going all his way so far, although with Rins not too far ahead and Quartararo in P16, it could be worse.

Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) ended Friday in P18 after a tougher day at the office, with an identical laptime to Alex Marquez as the rookie also looks for more on Saturday.

That’s a wrap on Day 1. Mir will be one praying for dry skies overnight as he looks to move straight through to Q2, as will Quartararo. Rins, on the other hand, would likely be a little more zen should the weather move in…

Tune in for FP3 at 10:55 local time (GMT+1) to see who’s heading through, before qualifying will then decide the grid from 14:50!

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Lineker stops Belingon with second-round TKO victory at ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III

Nov 14. 2020

 ONE Championship returned to the Singapore Indoor Stadium with another thrilling evening of world-class martial arts action. ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III, a previously recorded event broadcast globally on Friday, 13 November, featured compelling action from the world’s top mixed martial arts stars.

In the main event, Brazilian thunderbolt John “Hands of Stone” Lineker used a dynamic performance to stop former ONE Bantamweight World Champion and current #1-ranked contender Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon in the second round.

At the opening bell, Lineker and Belingon met at the center of the ONE Circle and looked to trade their heaviest shots. Belingon dazzled with his usual display of flashy spinning attacks and powerful combinations, while Lineker kept tight pressure and battered the Filipino with concussive hooks and uppercuts.

In the middle of the second round, a right uppercut to the temple dropped Belingon, and Lineker quickly swarmed his foe to earn the technical knockout victory. With the win, the Brazilian announced himself as a serious threat to reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes.

In the co-main event, former ONE Flyweight World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio of the Philippines put on a striking clinic against South Korea’s “Running Man” Song Min Jong. It was a vintage performance for the Team Lakay veteran, as Eustaquio dominated with a showcase of sharp counterstrikes. Song would look to employ his grappling, but Eustaquio used his experience to escape a ground battle. In the end, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Eustaquio to win by unanimous decision.

“King Kong Warrior” Fan Rong of China spoiled the mixed martial arts debut of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Yuri Simoes to win by unanimous decision after three rounds. Simoes hunted for takedowns all night, while Fan punished him with thudding counters. As the bout wore on, Simoes began to tire, and Fan capitalized by landing a plethora of thunderous strikes. By the final bell, Fan was clearly ahead on the scorecards, as he defeated the two-time ADCC World Champion.

In the night’s opening bout, Shooto Champion Hiroba Minowa of Japan overcame a furious start from #5-ranked strawweight Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang of the Philippines to earn a close split decision victory. Adiwang started the bout fast and caught Minowa with a deep kimura early on, but the Japanese phenom somehow survived. The 21-year-old Minowa then put on a grappling showcase in the second and third rounds, establishing control over Adiwang to win on the judges’ scorecards.

Official Results for ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III

Mixed Martial Arts – Bantamweight: John Lineker defeats Kevin Belingon by TKO (Punches) at 1:16 of Round 2

Mixed Martial Arts – Catch Weight (64.0 KG): Geje Eustaquio defeats Song Min Jong by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Mixed Martial Arts – Welterweight: Murad Ramazanov defeats Hiroyuki Tetsuka by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Mixed Martial Arts – Middleweight: Fan Rong defeats Yuri Simoes by Unanimous Decision (UD) after 3 rounds

Mixed Martial Arts – Strawweight: Hiroba Minowa defeats Lito Adiwang by Split Decision (SD) after 3 rounds

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Asia rises as Im, Matsuyama and Pan in title mix at the Masters

Nov 14. 2020Sungjae Im (Credit to Getty Images) ​​​​​​​Augusta, Georgia: Korean rising star Sungjae Im survived a marathon Friday by playing 28 holes to put himself in prime position for a dream victory in his Masters Tournament debut.

The 22-year-old Im, the 2019 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, returned to Augusta National early in the day to complete 10 holes of his first round in 6-under 66 before heading back out to shoot a second round 70 for an 8-under 136 total. He is one shot back of clubhouse co-leaders Dustin Johnson, Abraham Ancer, Justin Thomas and Cameron Smith.

 Japanese ace Hideki Matsuyama also stood at 8-under through 15 holes when the second round was suspended due to darkness while another Masters debutant, Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan was a shot back on 7-under in a share of ninth place after brilliantly negotiating 15 holes of his second round in 5-under, highlighted by an eagle and three birdies. Im, Matsuyama and Pan are bidding to deliver Asia’s first victory at the Masters where Korea’s K.J. Choi holds the best result by an Asian with a third place at the 2004 edition.

 The region’s other flagbearers continued their impressive run at the fabled tournament, which was hit by bad weather on Thursday. Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, playing in his first Masters, stands at 4-under through 15 holes of his second round while Shugo Imahira of Japan carded a 70 to lie in a share of 34^th place on 2-under.

 Defending champion Tiger Woods stands at 4-under through 10 holes of his second round, lurking ominously as he seeks a 16^th major victory and record-breaking 83^rd PGA TOUR title.

 The highly rated Im, who earned his first PGA TOUR title at The Honda Classic in March, converted a 10-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole upon the resumption of his first round before adding four more birdies against a lone bogey to come in 6-under. He fired six birdies against four bogeys during his second round of 70 which featured a chip-in birdie on the 15^th hole.

“Played 28 holes today … so I have to be honest that I am a bit tired now and I want to rest up and get ready for the weekend. I have played the other majors previously and it was valuable experience and I feel like I’m prepared this week,” said Im, whose best major finish from six appearances was a 22^nd place finish in the U.S. Open in September.

 He has felt right at home at Augusta National since arriving for the rescheduled Masters, which is traditionally held in April but was moved to this week due to the coronavirus pandemic. “I played 18 holes on Monday and I did feel the course suited my style of game and I approached the tournament with confidence,” said Im.

 In his ninth Masters appearance, Matsuyama, 28, put himself in position for a title tilt with birdies on Hole Nos. 2, 10, 13 and 15 before the siren blew at 5.30pm to signal the suspension of play. The five-time PGA TOUR winner has finished top-10 twice at Augusta National in 2015 and 2016.

 “I’m happy with the way I played today … I played better than I did yesterday so no complaints,” said Matsuyama. “There’s nothing in specific, just overall I’m playing good. The course played the same as yesterday and all I can do is go out and play my best.”

A day after turning 29 years old, Pan continued to shine. He opened his second round with five consecutive pars before striking a mighty five wood approach into the par 5, 15 hole to three feet for an easy eagle conversion. He birdied the next hole with an masterful tee shot to six feet, and picked up further gains on the first and second holes before the siren blew when he was on the eighth fairway.

 “Honestly I didn’t feel comfortable until I made eagle. I started on 10 which is a tough tee shot and I didn’t hit a great and had 210 yards in. I was able to convert a 15 footer for par. That was a big putt as mentally it gave me a lot of confidence,” said Pan.

 “I felt like I struggled at the beginning of the round, trying to give myself birdie chances but it didn’t work out the way I wanted to until the 15^th hole when I hit a great second shot for eagle. That was definitely a booster there. I love the way I scored these couple of days. Last night, I got back to my  stats and saw I hit a lot of greens and gave myself  lot of birdie chances from 20, 15 feet. I felt my game is good. Just keep working on the things I’m working on which has helped me get here.”

PARTIAL Second-Round Notes – Friday, November 13, 2020

Weather: Partly cloudy. High of 79. Wind NW 5-10 mph. Due to darkness, play was suspended for the day at 5:30 p.m. ET and will resume Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET. If no further delays occur, the third round will begin Saturday at approximately 10:30 a.m. ET.

Current Leaderboard

Abraham Ancer                       68-67—135 (-9)

Cameron Smith                       67-68—135 (-9)

Justin Thomas                         66-69—135 (-9)

Dustin Johnson                       65-70—135 (-9)

Patrick Cantlay                        70-66—136 (-8)

Sungjae Im                              66-70—136 (-8)

Hideki Matsuyama                   (-8) thru 15

Jon Rahm                                (-8) thru 12