#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392990?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Lewis and Munoz on top at Ladies Scottish Open

Aug 15. 2020

A pair of LPGA Tour veterans lead the field at -5 as the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open heads into the weekend.

Azahara Munoz (Credit to LPGA)

American Stacy Lewis shot the round of the day on Friday, closing with four birdies on the final four holes for a 5-under 66. Lewis, who came to The Renaissance Club off a top-10 finish at last week’s Marathon LPGA Classic, is no stranger to links golf, having won the 2013 AIG Women’s Open title at St Andrews.

“I’m really excited. It’s as good as my body has felt in a really long time,” said Lewis, a 12-time LPGA Tour winner who last reached the winner’s circle at the 2017 Cambia Portland Classic. “Just had more of an understanding of what’s going on and it’s all added up to some good golf so far.”

Lewis sits atop the leaderboard at -5 through 36 holes, tied with Spain’s Azahara Munoz. Munoz was bogey-free through 17 holes, but a stumble at 18 dropped her to -2 on the day and into Saturday’s final group alongside Lewis.

“I’ve been playing pretty good the last couple weeks,” said Munoz, whose only LPGA Tour victory came at the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship. “I just always feel I have to be a little patient and I think this week I’m doing a really good job at that. I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing, just try not to force things and just let it happen.”

Jennifer Song holds solo third at -4, with Amy Olson and Olivia Cowan tied for fourth at -3. First-round leader Nicole Broch Larsen followed Thursday’s -4 with a +2 on Friday and is one of four players tied for sixth at -2.

The cut came at +5, with 70 players advancing to the weekend. Notables to miss the cut include 2017 Ladies Scottish Open champion Mi Hyang Lee (+6), Scotland’s Catriona Matthew (+6) and 2019 AIG Women’s Open champion Hinako Shibuno (+14).

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is the first of two consecutive events in Scotland. Next week, the Tour heads to Royal Troon for the season’s first major, the AIG Women’s Open. 

AZAHARA MUNOZ MAKING THE MOST OF RARE SCOTTISH OPPORTUNITY

It’s been more than eight years since Azahara Munoz hoisted an LPGA Tour trophy, winning the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship in New Jersey. Halfway through this week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, the Spanish star has put herself in prime position to finally end that drought, tied for the lead with Stacy Lewis heading into the weekend.

“I’m feeling good. I’ve been hitting the ball really well,” said Munoz following her second-round 69. “Just been playing really steady, lots of fairways, lots of greens, and today I actually didn’t hit the ball as good as yesterday but still I was pretty much hitting every green or just off the green but putting. So I think that’s the key in this kind of golf courses, just don’t want to get in trouble and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Munoz is enjoying every second of this opportunity to play in Scotland, a chance that oddly came about because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I love Scottish golf. The only reason I’ve never come to this tournament is it’s always the week before the British and it’s my only chance to go home to Spain, so I always take the week off and go home and see my family,” said Munoz, who won the 2008 British Women’s Amateur title in Wales. “I grew up playing the British Girls’ and British Amateur, and we used to love coming over here and I love it. It’s where golf started, and it’s such a good challenge because you have to be so precise and I really like that.”

STACY LEWIS RIDES LOVE OF LINKS GOLF TO THE LEAD

It’s a different mindset when the wheels touch down north of Hadrian’s Wall. In America, Stacy Lewis is one of those players who acts like patience is an overrated virtue. One well-struck shot that ricochets into a bad spot and you can almost see the redness rise around her ears. But not in Scotland. Once she sets foot on the sandy soil of the linksland, Lewis becomes a different player.

“I truly love playing in Scotland,” Lewis said after firing a 5-under 66 on Friday to share the early second-round lead at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, a round that included four consecutive birdies from 15 through 18.

“I love links golf,” she emphasized again. “All the different shots you get to hit, the different weather. You have to battle the elements which we did yesterday. I was just, more than anything, excited to come play.”

Lewis, the last American to be ranked No. 1 in the world, has a storied history in the Home of Golf. In 2013, she won the AIG Women’s Open, her second major championship, on the Old Course at St Andrews with a shot that defined her career: a 5-iron at the Road Hole that stopped 3 feet away in the final round. But her love of the links golf goes back further than that.

ANDREA LEE RELISHING RETURN TO SCOTLAND AT #ASILSO

Andrea Lee is hitting her stride in her rookie year on the LPGA Tour. Last week at the Marathon LPGA Classic, the 21-year-old finished in a tie for fifth, guaranteeing her a spot in next week’s AIG Women’s Open, a goal she made when making her way to Toledo for the Tour’s resumption. After an even-par day after the second round of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Lee now sits tied for sixth heading into the weekend.

“Today the conditions were much nicer, but you know, still had to really stay patient out there, I had a lot of 30-, 40-foot putts for birdie and had to just lag them up there and two putt all of them and not be too aggressive. So kind of took the opportunities when I had them, made a couple birdies, but other than that, it was just a pretty steady round of golf today,” said Lee, who made two birdies on the front nine and hit 12 of 13 fairways.

This isn’t her first time visiting the Home of Golf; her most recent trip came while a member of the Stanford women’s golf team. Her coach Anne Walker, a Scottish native, tries to take her team to play in her home country once every four years, a treat that Lee reveled in. “It was so much fun. I mean, we played some of the best courses around. Got to play St. Andrews, one of the Gullane courses, Kingsbarns, and North Berwick, just to name a few, so it was quite the experience. So I’m excited to be back,” said Lee.

Lee said she thought of that experience when flying over for the ASI Ladies Scottish Open, and truly appreciates the opportunity in front of her while in North Berwick. “Yesterday, teeing off, I was like, it’s so cool, I’m in the Home of Golf and I’m in Scotland,” said Lee. “It’s just so cool to finally be out here and competing as a professional. So I’m really taking that all in this week and just trying to enjoy every moment.”

PLAYER NOTES 

Rolex Rankings No. 96 Stacy Lewis (71-66) 

• She hit eight of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 28 putts 
• This is Lewis’ 12th season on the LPGA Tour; she has 12 career victories, including major wins at the 2011 ANA Inspiration and the 2013 AIG Women’s Open 
• This is Lewis’ sixth event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for ninth at the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana  
• This is Lewis’ second appearance in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open since it became an LPGA Tour event in 2017; she tied for 33rd in 2017 
• Ranks eighth on the LPGA’s Career Money List with nearly $13 million in career earnings 
• Represented the USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, where she tied for fourth
• Her last victory came at the 2017 Cambia Portland Classic, where she donated her entire $195,000 winner’s check to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, matched by her sponsor KPMG
• Has held the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings for 25 weeks in her career
• A four-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) with a 7-12-2 overall record; served as a vice captain in 2019 after being forced to withdraw with a rib cage injury
• A two-time member of Team USA at the UL International Crown (2014, 2016) with a 3-3-1 overall record
• A 2008 graduate from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Finance and Accounting
• Gave birth to daughter Chesnee in August 2016

Rolex Rankings No. 51 Azahara Munoz (68-69)

• She hit nine of 13 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 30 putts
• This is Munoz’s 11th season on the LPGA Tour; she won the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship
• This is Munoz’s fifth appearance of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for 20th at the LPGA Drive On Championship
• This is her first appearance in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open
• Represented Spain at the 2016 Summer Olympics In Brazil, finishing T21
• Four-time member of the European Solheim Cup Team (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019) with an overall 4-6-1 record
• Member of the victorious Team Spain at the 2014 UL International Crown, posting a 3-1-0 record
• A 2009 graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in Psychology
• Won the 2008 British Women’s Amateur Championship at Royal St Davids in Wales

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392930?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Larson leads at Ladies Scottish Open

Aug 14. 2020

 Playing in her first LPGA Tour event since February, Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen returned a 4-under 67, including a tap-in birdie after a spectacular approach at No. 18, and sits stop the leaderboard at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.

LEADERBOARD (27 PLAYERS STILL TO FINISH)
	Player	To Par	Score
1	Nicole Broch Larsen	-4	67
T2	Emily Kristine Pedersen	-3	68
T2	Olivia Cowan	-3	68
T2	Jennifer Song	-3	68
T2	Amy Olson	-3	68
T2	Azahara Munoz	-3	68

“I had 26 putts, so that helps a lot. I didn’t hit it like super close but I made a couple of long ones, and I just tried to keep it in play,” said Broch Larsen, who played in the day’s second group and enjoyed relatively calm breezes compared to the afternoon’s steady winds. “I feel like that’s kind of the secret to links golf. Like you’ve got to just play the round and then you make your putt here and there, and yeah, I mean, then it’s 4-under.”

Heavy fog blanketed The Renaissance Club on Thursday morning, pushing back tee times by two hours. Play was suspended at 8:35 p.m. due to darkness, with 27 players (nine groups) yet to finish. The first round will resume at 8 a.m. on Friday, with the second round beginning on time at 6:30 a.m.

Broch Larsen has a one-stroke lead over five players, including her countrywoman Emily Kristine Pedersen. Pedersen opened with five birdies over her opening seven holes but lost her momentum with a double bogey at No. 8. She then parred her way in to finish at -3, where she is joined by Americans Jennifer Song and Amy Olson, Germany’s Olivia Cowan and Spain’s Azahara Munoz.

Danielle Kang, who came to Scotland having won the LPGA Tour’s last two events in Ohio, shot even-par 71 on Thursday and is tied for 22ndafter 18 holes. 2017 Ladies Scottish Open winner Mi Hyang Lee opened with a 3-over 74 and is tied for 65th, while 2018 champion Ariya Jutanugarn did not finish her round, sitting +3 through 12 holes.

2019 AIG Women’s Open champion Hinako Shibuno, playing in Europe for the first time since winning at Woburn, struggled on Thursday. Her opening-round 8-over 79 included six bogeys and a double bogey, putting the Japanese star into a tie for 126th going to Friday.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open is the first of two consecutive events in Scotland. Next week, the Tour heads to Royal Troon for the season’s first major, the AIG Women’s Open.

TIME AT HOME CRUCIAL FOR NICOLE BROCH LARSEN’S SUCCESS

Nicole Broch Larsen made the game look easy on the 18th green at The Renaissance Club. The 27-year-old from Denmark rolled her approach shot at the par-4 closing hole to just inches short of the hole, tapping in for -4 and earning the lead with 27 players left to complete the first round of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open.

This is just Broch Larsen’s second LPGA Tour competition of 2020, joining February’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. She used the pandemic-related break in the season to enjoy the most family time in Denmark that she can remember for a long time, and also worked hard on her putting and short game. That time at home? It certainly paid off today on the golf course.

“I’m a home person and I love being home. So to me, it’s definitely been a good period, even though I of course wanted to play tournament golf,” said Broch Larsen, who got engaged to boyfriend Kasper Estrup over the break. “For me personally, it’s been really good, and it’s not a different Nicole, but I feel like I’m in a better place and I felt that on the course today. I was more relaxed and whenever I hit a bad shot, I kind of moved on faster than normally.”

AMY OLSON BRINGS FRESH FEELS AND HOT PUTTER TO CHILLY SCOTLAND

It’s not like she spent the break in a tropical paradise. In fact, it snowed in Fargo, North Dakota, in May. But that didn’t deter or even dampen Amy Olson’s spirit. Nothing ever does. The 28-year-old, in her seventh season on the LPGA Tour, is still looking for her first career victory but remains the consummate happy warrior, a player who is universally kind and almost always upbeat.

She has also put together some stellar rounds in 2020 while adapting to a whirlwind of change.

She finished second at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open back in February, her best finish since September 2018 when she led the Evian Championship until the final hole and finished tied for second behind Angela Stanford. But after four great rounds Down Under earlier this year, Olson, along with everyone else in golf, hit the pause button. She went home to the frigid Midwest where she and her husband Grant (a football coach at North Dakota State University) weathered the unknown with grace and confidence.

“At first, I took (the hiatus) as being like a second offseason,” Olson said after opening with a 3-under 68 in the Aberdeen Standard Investment Ladies Scottish Open on Thursday. “It was probably five weeks without touching a club after things got canceled. So then once the weather started getting better in May, I started practicing again.”

Then she paused and said, “Honestly I was just playing more than practicing. I think that was good for me, not spending too much time working on technical stuff.”

For more from LPGA.com’s Steve Eubanks, visit https://www.lpga.com/news/2020/olson-brings-fresh-feels-and-hot-putter-to-chilly-scotland

GEMMA DRYBURGH SURVIVES EARLY ALARM FOR RED-HOT FIRST ROUND

The honor of striking the first tee shot went to Gemma Dryburgh, one of seven Scots in the field. However, due to a two-hour delay due to heavy fog that blanketed The Renaissance Club, that tee shot cracked through the sky at 8:30 a.m. rather than the regularly scheduled 6:30 a.m.

“There was a few people that came to the first tee, Aberdeen Standard staff, which was nice, just to have someone there,” said Dryburgh. “I did feel nervous. It’s always an honor to hit the first tee shot. I got to do it a couple years ago at Gullane, and that was about 6:45, or 6:30, as well. It was 8:30 today but felt like 6:30. I was nervous but I like feeling a bit of nerves. I think it focuses you, as long as you manage them well, which I think I can do now.”

Once Dryburgh finally hit the course, any trace of nerves or sleepiness quickly wore away. She bounced back from a bogey on No. 2 with four consecutive birdies at 5-8, and despite an unfortunate double bogey at No. 11, the 27-year-old from Aberdeen finished at -2 and is the low Scot heading into Friday’s second round in a tie for seventh. Playing early certainly gave Dryburgh a weather advantage, getting most of her round in before the afternoon winds picked up.

“The sun came out on 13, and it’s really nice now,” said Dryburgh. “The wind’s gotten up a bit, so I think it will play a bit tougher this afternoon. Our back nine definitely played tougher into the wind and stuff. But the last three holes are downwind, so there’s a few chances there, as well.”

SANDRA GAL BACK IN ACTION AT THE #ASILSO AFTER BREAK FROM GOLF

In 2019, Sandra Gal was not able to play the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, taking a medical leave before the event’s start. She took a break from playing once diagnosed with dormant Lyme Disease after fevers, headaches and fatigue filled most of her season. Gal planned to return to the LPGA Tour in March 2020 until the coronavirus pandemic kept her at bay and is now thankful to be able to compete this week in Scotland.

“I think it’s a bit unusual as a pro golfer to take such a long time off. We don’t do it unless we are forced to, right and I think I did so many different things in this off time that were not golf related and I really found a different perspective on my job and it really helps me I think right now to just appreciate it,” said Gal, who recorded a first-round 69 to sit in a tie for seventh.

Gal came out swinging in her first event in nearly a year. The butterflies in her stomach didn’t faze her as she went about the tournament like any other.

“I was nervous but it kind of felt good in a way to know, like it was a familiar feeling, and you don’t unlearn it to kind of deal with it I think, but I really, I was like, I don’t know how today is going to go and how this week is going to go,” said Gal. “I had a bit of wrist issues the last couple months and I couldn’t practice as much as I wanted to. So it was nice to just play well today and ease into it.”

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 69 Nicole Broch Larsen (67)

• She hit eight of 13 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, with 26 putts
• This is Broch Larsen’s fourth season on the LPGA Tour; her best finish is second at the 2019 CP Women’s Open
• This is Broch Larsen’s second event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she finished T21 at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
• This is Broch Larsen’s fourth appearance in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open since it became an LPGA Tour event in 2017; her best finish is a tie for 52nd in 2018
• Represented Denmark at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, finishing 36th
• Finished third on the LET Order of Merit in 2015 and earned Player of the Year honors
• Has one LET victory (2015 Helsingborg Open) and one Symetra Tour victory (2016 Symetra Tour Championship)

SOCIAL MEDIA: #DRIVEON

Tournament: @LadiesScottish; #ASILSO, #RuleTheLinks

LPGA: @LPGA, @LPGAMedia (Twitter), @lpga_tour (Instagram)

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392926?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

ONE Championship announces first six world champions to join the cast of ‘The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition’

Aug 14. 2020

 ONE Championship™ (ONE) announced the addition of an incredible line-up of ONE Championship athletes and World Champions who will join ‘The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition’ as special guest stars on ONE’s unique version of the hit reality television series.

ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera leads a superstar ensemble that includes ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee, ONE Flyweight Grand Prix World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Indian wrestling champion Ritu “The Indian Tigress” Phogat, “Super” Sage Northcutt, and ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan.

One athlete is expected to guest star per episode, and will participate in physical challenges that will test athletic ability and cardio endurance.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I am excited to announce the ONE Championship athletes and World Champions ready to join me on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition as special guest stars. Our athletes at ONE Championship are the backbone of our organization. They are real-life, modern day heroes who inspire the world with their incredible stories. Their discipline and wisdom will inspire and mentor our contestants. It is my honor to star alongside these amazing human beings on the show.”

Brandon Vera, ONE Heavyweight World Champion, stated: “It’s a huge honor to be selected as a guest star on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, one of the greatest shows ever. With Chatri [Sityodtong] leading the series, I know it’s going to be amazing. I’ve been dreaming of the possibilities and the many things I can learn from this experience. I’m really excited to be a part of the show and help in any way I can, especially in the physical endurance challenges. I get to go from the gym to the boardroom war tables, let’s make it happen!”

Angela Lee, ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion, stated: “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition is a great opportunity to bring together two very different worlds — martial arts and business, and I’m excited to see how those two worlds unite. I’m honored to be able to share my experiences, my talents, and my presence on the show. Being the youngest mixed martial arts world champion in history, I know I have a lot to offer the contestants as far as experience, and work ethic goes, and I can’t wait to impart some of my knowledge that could help them in their journey. As far as physical challenges go, I am ready!”

Xiong Jing Nan, ONE Women’s Strawweight World Champion, stated: “I always love interacting with fans, and now I am honored to have a spot on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. Whatever the challenges may be, whether they are athletic or business challenges, I’m up for it. Of course, I’m also open to learning as much as I can from Chatri, from the contestants, and from the many CEOs also appearing. Getting to share my experience as a World Champion, I can’t wait to get this started and offer what I can to the show. It’s a privilege to be selected among the athlete guest stars, and to be able to represent China globally on one of the biggest television shows in history is a dream come true.”

Ritu Phogat, Indian Wrestling World Champion, stated: “It feels really good to be selected to guest star on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. I feel honored and privileged to appear on the show with so many top leaders of the business world. As an athlete you are always part of a team, a team which consists of players, coaches, managers, doctors, and more, and everyone has their role and everyone helps each other to achieve common goals. Similarly in business, there are individuals with special skill sets and they come together and work together to achieve common and individual goals. It will be very interesting to observe, learn, and connect with my experience on The Apprentice. I’m also looking forward to participating in the physical challenges with the contestants!”

Demetrious Johnson, ONE Flyweight Grand Prix World Champion, stated: “The Apprentice is one of the biggest reality television franchises in history, and it is my absolute pleasure to appear on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. I have no doubt ONE Championship will put a very interesting spin on the traditional format. I’m looking forward to participating in all sorts of challenges, from physical endurance challenges to business challenges.”

Sage Northcutt, ONE Athlete, stated: “I’m so excited to be on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition. While martial arts is a lot different from the business world, I’m sure there are also many similarities. I’m excited to appear on the show and learn from Mr. Chatri, a martial artist and an entrepreneur. I’m also looking forward to participating in the physical challenges! I’m super competitive and, as always, I’m going to give it my all. I’m thrilled to be able to help bring the world of martial arts and business together.”

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition will invite sixteen (16) contestants handpicked from around the world to compete in a high-stakes game of business and physical challenges. The winner will receive a US$250,000 job offer to work directly under Sityodtong for a year as his protege in Singapore.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392925?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

World junior champion stuns top seed for National crown

Aug 14. 2020Kunlavut Vitidsarn 

By The Nation

Three-time world junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn continued his Giant-Killer’s role in the National Badminton Championships as he stunned top seed Kantapon Wangcharoen in three tough sets to win the men’s singles crown on Thursday.

Playing in front of the public for the first time as the government eased their protection against COVID-19, the teenager overcame a second game lapse to prevail over the world No 15  21-17 21-23 21-11.

The 19-year-old Kunlavut, world record holder of three straight World Junior Championships title, also upset world No 25 and second-seeded SItthikom Thamasin, the defending champion, n two sets in the semi-finals on Wednesday in the annual tournament which took place at Central Department Store Chaengwattana.

This is Kunlavut’s best show in the Championships after he reached the quarter-finals five years ago.

Phittayaporn Chaiwan

On the women’s side, there was a huge upset as 19-year-old Phittayaporn Chaiwan upended world No 15 and former champion Pornpawee Chorchuwong 21-16 21-16.

The Championships were also used to select players to represent Thailand in the Thomas Cup and Uber Cub in Denmark this October. 

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392874?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Pongsiri says improved skills will carry him to victory against Fujisawa

Aug 13. 2020Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit

Thai ONE Championship strawweight contender Pongsiri “The Smiling Assassin” Mitsatit is on the comeback trail, looking to bounce back strong after starting the year off on the wrong foot. 

Despite a recent skid which has seen him drop three straight, Mitsatit continues to pound away hard at the gym with his team at Tiger Muay Thai and believes his improved skills will carry him to victory in his next bout.

Mitsatit is scheduled to face ONE Warrior Series product Akihiro “Superjap” Fujisawa in a three-round catchweight contest at ONE: NO SURRENDER II, a closed-door, audience free event set for broadcast on Friday, 14 August in Bangkok, Thailand.

Knowing he needs to come well-prepared for his next outing, Mitsatit took the time out to study Fujisawa in order to craft a viable strategy.

“At first, when I knew that I had to fight Fujisawa, I didn’t know much about him. I heard his name, but I didn’t follow his fights before. So, I tried to search for his previous fights and study him as much as possible,” Mitsatit said.

“After I studied his fights, I can see that he has a good ground game, but not as good as some of the fighters I met before in ONE Championship. I think my striking is better than his, and that is my strong point.”

Mitsatit’s confidence in his striking abilities is well-placed. The 24-year-old has 10 victories to his name, 8 of which have come by knockout.

Against Fujisawa, however, Mitsatit must be prepared to grapple if necessary. Fujisawa has expressed interest in taking Mitsatit to the ground and testing his skills there. That being said, “The Smiling Assassin” feels he is ready should the action hit the mats.

“I prepared for this fight around a month ago with my coach George Hickman at Tiger Muay Thai,” Mitsatit says.

“I concentrated on attacking and defending by training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and also Muay Thai. I tried hard to develop my ground game together with my striking to make both stronger, especially my knee strikes and flying knees.”

ONE: NO SURRENDER II is ONE Championship’s second event in Bangkok since resuming its flagship event schedule. The headline bout features a bantamweight Muay Thai showdown between former ONE World Title challenger Saemapetch Fairtex and countryman Rodlek PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym.

A victory here would bring Mitsatit out of his slump, and put him back in the winner’s circle where he feels he belongs. Mitsatit’s ultimate goal remains to become a ONE World Champion, and he hasn’t taken his eyes off the prize.

“This win is really important to me because it will help me climb the ladder to a championship,” Mitsatit said.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392878?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Kang going for three-peat at #ASILSO

Aug 13. 2020

By THE NATION

Danielle Kang took the LPGA Tour’s resumption of play by storm, claiming back-to-back victories at the LPGA Drive On Championship and the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana. But that doesn’t mean she’s getting complacent.

The California native is still working hard on her game and walked off the course after today’s practice round at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open still trying to figure out the links-style layout at The Renaissance Club.

“I’m actually having a lot of thoughts on the golf course. It’s not something that I’m used to, at all. So it’s bringing a lot of difficult parts of my games into play, so I’m a little bit uncomfortable to be quite honest, but always got to learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” said Kang, who is making her tournament debut. “So yeah, the golf course, it’s tough for me, so it’s going to be definitely a test in every aspect of my game and I think that will be interesting.”

If Kang takes the victory this week, she would become the first player since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 to win at least three consecutive events. The list of other players to accomplish that feat is a who’s-who of some of the best names in the game – Lorena Ochoa, Inbee Park, Annika Sorenstam, Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Wright. For Kang to join that elite group, she’ll need to decipher this week’s challenge, and she’s more than up to that challenge.

“I’ve worked on a lot of different types of golf during this time, this off-time and I worked quite a bit playing in cold weather, trying to figure out how to play with layers on and I’ve been testing different things and trying to play different shots for links golf and all. But I think this golf course is a bit different from links golf, as well. It’s a bit American-style links golf, a little exaggerated here and there. So that’s the difficult part,” said Kang. “But like I said, I think I’ve just got to trust my game. I’m playing well and it’s going to bring me a lot of challenges and I’m going to have to make a lot of up-and-downs for pars out here, it just seems like it, no matter how great of an iron player you are, you’re going to have some up-and-downs you’re going to have to make. So I’m excited to see what this golf course hands me.”

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES FOR GEMMA DRYBURGH

As one of the seven Scottish players in the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Gemma Dryburgh would love nothing more than to hoist the trophy come Sunday at The Renaissance Club. Thanks to the Rose Ladies Series, a tour organized by Justin and Kate Rose following the pandemic-related shutdown, Dryburgh comes into the week in some of the best playing shape of her career.

Dryburgh won back-to-back Rose Series Ladies events at Buckinghamshire Golf Club and Royal St. George’s, the latter hosting its first women’s professional event after hosting The Open on 14 occasions. After completing a 14-day quarantine upon her return to the United States, Dryburgh tied for sixth at the LPGA Drive On Championship, the best result of her three-year LPGA Tour career.

“Obviously getting into competition again after lockdown, getting me sharp and just getting my game in good nick,” said Dryburgh, who played collegiately at Tulane University. “I think that really helped me going into the LPGA Drive on Tournament, and just had a really strong start.”

Dryburgh now sets her sights on The Renaissance Club, hosting its second consecutive Ladies Scottish Open. While she has yet to make a cut in the tournament, Dryburgh feels that this could finally be her year. She also gets the honor of striking the tournament’s opening ball, teeing off Thursday at 6:30 a.m. alongside Julia Engstrom and Azahara Munoz.

“It’s looking really good. The rough’s up compared to last year,” said Dryburgh. “It’s looking a lot narrower, which hopefully will suit me and the greens are much firmer than last year, so hopefully it stays that way. I quite like that.”

GEORGIA HALL READY TO #DRIVEON TO LSO SUCCESS

Everyone likes a tournament where she can just drive to the venue. It took eight hours for 2018 AIG Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall to drive from her home in Bournemouth, England, up to The Renaissance Club in Scotland. But it was definitely better than having to get on an airplane.

“I’m so happy to be in Scotland and to only just drive up for my first event,” said Hall with a laugh. “It’s great for me.”

This week marks Hall’s first LPGA Tour competition since February’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, as she opted to remain in England rather than fly to the United States for the two resumption events in Ohio. She kept her game honed through England’s strict quarantine by working out and practicing in her backyard and worked her way back into competitive form thanks for the Rose Ladies Series, where she won twice. Now she’s ready to resume her LPGA Tour season at one of her favorite events.

“Everyone always targets majors, but this is one of my favorite events of the year because it’s so close to home and I love playing links golf. So I don’t really treat it as like a warmup for next week. Both are just as important,” said Hall, who tied for 24th here in 2019. “This is my first kind of main event back, so I do want to get off to a good start but I’m not putting any pressure on myself. I’ll just go out there and stay calm and let kind of all my practice do the work.”

CHARLEY HULL COMES TO #ASILSO ON A ROLL

Charley Hull arrived at The Renaissance Club as one of the hottest golfers in the women’s game. The English player competed in all eight Rose Ladies Series events, capturing Order of Merit honors after taking two victories and five other top-10 finishes.

“It was a really, really good thing to play in,” said Hull, who also competed on the Clutch Pro Tour, a mini tour for both men and women. “It was on some really good golf courses as well because you never really get to play all the heathland golf courses in England. So it was nice to play them, and just a good warmup for the season.”

It’s now back to LPGA Tour competition for Hull, who last teed it up in January at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, where she tied for 11th. The Renaissance Club is a links-style course, running along the Firth of Forth and just next to Muirfield. Links courses are not necessarily Hull’s favorite layout, but the return to competition means that Hull wouldn’t rather be anywhere else. She’s even the rare golfer who is actually praying for a little rain to hit the course, as opposed to Wednesday’s perfectly sunny day.

“Last few weeks I’ve been hitting it really well and I’m just looking forward to (playing),” said Hull. “Obviously links golf isn’t my favorite – well, I like playing links golf but I don’t think it likes me, but I like American golf. I’m really looking forward to it. I kind of prefer playing links golf when the weather is a bit rainy and windy. It’s a lot of fun but there’s two good golf courses and the course is in great condition.”

MINJEE LEE EAGER TO ENJOY THE CHALLENGE OF LINKS GOLF AT THE RENAISSANCE CLUB

Minjee Lee has played some spectacular golf since the Tour’s restart in Toledo in July, earning a third-place finish at the LPGA Drive On Championship and placing fourth at the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana. After flying across the sea for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Lee said she’s been waiting for this week’s event on her calendar for some time.

“I really enjoy playing links golf. So Scottish Open was never off my schedule. I come here every single year that it’s been an LPGA event and I really enjoy it,” said Lee, who has finished in the top 10 of the Ladies Scottish Open since 2017.

The Australian is confident in her play, especially after recording two eagles at last week’s Marathon LPGA Classic. During the Tour’s hiatus, Lee said she focused on her swing, working hard at her ball-striking and driving abilities. She believes her hard work and improvement will continue to show as she adjusts to links golf in Scotland.

“I feel like I’ve been hitting it pretty solid and like I was talking about the first week, I was trying to work a little bit on my putting,” said Lee. “Over here it’s a little bit different because it’s slightly slower greens and probably you’ve got to play a little bit more of the wind. Just a little bit different conditions and trying to adjust to that.”

BY THE NUMBERS – ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN

The following statistics were compiled by Amy Mills, the LPGA’s senior manager of statistical research.

For the second consecutive year, The Renaissance Club will host the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open. The event was previously played in Scotland at Dundonald Links (2017) and Gullane Golf Club (2018). Since the event debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2017, there have been only five players whose combined score to par has exceeded -15, and just three more players in double digits (Carlota Ciganda, Yu Liu and Elizabeth Szokol at -11).

Best Combined Score to Par Since 2017
Minjee Lee	-25
Mi Jung Hur	-20
Mi Hyang Lee	-19
Ariya Jutanugarn	-17
Jeongeun Lee6	-16

A total of 14 players have made the cut in each of the last three Ladies Scottish Opens. Minjee Lee is the only player to record three top-10 finishes in these events (eighth, 2017; second, 2018; tie for sixth, 2019). After making the cut, Lee is -12 combined in the fourth round since 2017, and -18 combined over the weekend.

Minjee Lee Score to Par Since 2017
Year	Rounds 1-2	Rounds 3-4
2017	Even	-2
2018	-7	-5
2019	Even	-11

Over the previous three editions, Mi Jung Hur has averaged the most holes scored under par per round at 4.4 followed by Mi Hyang Lee at 4.3. Last year at The Renaissance Club, players who competed on the weekend had a 3.66 birdie or better average for the event.

Birdie or Better Average Since 2017 (Minimum Eight Rounds Played)
Mi Jung Hur	4.40
Mi Hyang Lee	4.30
Ariya Jutanugarn	4.25
Minjee Lee	4.08

Jodi Ewart Shadoff recorded a second-place finish last week at the Marathon LPGA Classic to continue her streak of top 10s on the season with three, her career-best on the LPGA Tour. Ewart Shadoff previously finished fifth at the LPGA Drive On Championship and in a tie for 10th place at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open earlier this year. Her accuracy off the tee (79%) along with putting have contributed to her performance.

Ewart Shadoff has averaged 1.74 putts per green in regulation and is making an average of 4.13 birdies per round, which ranks ninth on Tour. This will be her first playing at The Renaissance Club. Her best scoring performance in Scotland was at the 2017 AIG Women’s Open at Kingsbarns, where she finished second at -16.  

Jodi Ewart Shadoff’s Previous Four LPGA Tour Starts
Top-10 Finishes	3
Sub-Par Rounds	11
Scoring Average	70.07
Score to Par	-29

SOCIAL MEDIA: #DRIVEON

Tournament: @LadiesScottish; #ASILSO #RuleTheLinks

LPGA: @LPGA, @LPGAMedia (Twitter), @lpga_tour (Instagram)

TV TIMES (all times Eastern on Golf Channel)

Thursday, Aug. 13 – 7-11 a.m.

Friday, Aug. 14 – 7-11 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 15 – 7-11 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 16 – 7-11 a.m.

PAST CHAMPIONS AND RUNNERS-UP

2019: Mi Jung Hur, 264 (-20); Jeongeun Lee6 and Moriya Jutanugarn, 268 (-16)

2018: Ariya Jutanugarn, 271 (-13); Minjee Lee, 272 (-12)

2017: Mi Hyang Lee, 282 (-6); Mi Jung Hur and Karrie Webb, 283 (-5)

TOURNAMENT SCORING RECORDS

18 holes: 62, Tiffany Joh, first round, 2018; Mi Jung Hur, second round, 2019

36 holes: 128, Mi Jung Hur, 2019

54 holes: 197, Moriya Jutanugarn, 2019

72 holes: 264 (-20), Mi Jung Hur, 2019

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Can KTM keep the momentum at home?

Aug 13. 2020

By THE NATION

It’s been Ducati turf since the Red Bull Ring returned to the calendar. But there are some new Grand Prix winners in town…

Not since 2003 has there been a first win for a manufacturer in the premier class, but that’s exactly what KTM did at Brno as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) stormed the Czech circuit to write not one, not two, but a whole host of chapters in the record books. The rookie, winning only his fourth MotoGP™ race, joins Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa on the list of more recent debutants to have achieved that feat, and he became the first ever South African premier class winner in doing so. The timing could barely have been better for him to take KTM to the top step for the first time either, as we now head for their home turf at the spectacular Red Bull Ring.

Betting against Binder and KTM achieving the feat at some point would likely have afforded some pretty poor odds: the South African has never failed to impress with his impeccable record in Grand Prix racing, and the Austrian factory have been reeling in the frontrunners since they joined the MotoGP™ grid full time, sometimes in hundredths, other times in leaps and bounds that served as a warning shot for the rest of the field. But to do it fourth time out together really is something. Now the question is, can they do it again?

In the orange corner, there’s Binder, momentum, and a whole lot of data. Add to that the experience of Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), the first podium finisher for the marque, and the ever-improving Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), who took his best result at the time at the Austrian GP last year, there’s reason to believe it’s unlikely to have been a one off. It’s a big ask to go back to back though, and whilst they’ll be racing to win and knowing they can, there are a good few faces standing in their way in Austria.

Ducati have won every time MotoGP™ have raced at the track since it returned to the calendar, and the man who’s taken half those victories heads up the red corner: Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). Last year’s last corner move was one of the truly great moments in MotoGP™ history, and the track is made for the marque. 2020 is proving a season of tougher races so far, however, with the Borgo Panigale factory struggling slightly to replicate their form of the last few seasons. If there was ever a track to turn it around though, Austria would be it. So can Dovizioso get back on top? Can Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) get back in the mix? And what about Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), who only just missed out on a podium in the Spanish GP and was up there in Andalucia before a crash? Was Brno a blip for them?

If it was, it certainly wasn’t for Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing). The Frenchman took the team’s first podium, his first on a Ducati, was back on the box for the first time since Malaysia 2018, and did it from pole – via a Long Lap Penalty. One of the most spectacular moments of the race – not something often said – Zarco didn’t let it get in his way. And as we head for Austria, he’s on the bike that won last year…

Then we have the blue corner, and Yamaha. The Red Bull Ring doesn’t play to the strengths of the Iwata marque, and they’ve never finished higher than third. What will their approach be? Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) certainly had a tougher time of it in Brno as he came home seventh – his worst result since Malaysia last year – but the Frenchman stayed on, took the points and therefore still increased his Championship lead. There was no falling apart or silly mistakes to be seen despite the uphill struggle, and it’s only his second season. He’s also one of the Yamaha riders to have taken that best result of third place in Austria.

His teammate Franco Morbidelli, meanwhile, turned the tables and took his first premier class podium in Brno – bolting off the line and daring the rest to catch him if they could. Unfortunately for the Italian, Binder did, but it was the best we’ve seen from Morbidelli. And what can Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) do? He has shown some speed at the Red Bull Ring, both now and then – he’s been on the front row after MotoGP™ returned to the venue, and he took his first podium at the track in 1996. Then there’s Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)…

The Spaniard was second to Quartararo in the first two races of the year, and in serious touch in the Championship. But Brno was a seriously tough Sunday, with the number 12 eventually crossing the line in 14th. “Bounce back” will be buzzwords in Austria, but in terms of the title fight so far, it’s Quartararo at least that he needs to be keeping an eye on at a tougher track for Yamaha.

For Honda, Austria could likely prove a better venue than Brno, where all four riders seemed to struggle. After that difficult weekend – and still missing Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), who is once again replaced by Stefan Bradl – it will be an interesting one to see what they can do. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) has been the man ahead so far, but can recovering teammate Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) strike back? And what can Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) do, suffering as he is now from a serious points deficit to fellow Rookie Binder?

Finally, Suzuki and Aprilia will be facing down two different weekends ahead. For the Hamamatsu factory it could well be tougher as the track is a challenge on paper given the strengths of their bike, although Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) had a stunner in Brno despite still recovering from injury and will evidently not be stopped. His teammate Joan Mir suffered some back luck as he was swiped out, but Austria will bring better memories: he took his first Grand Prix win at the track in Moto3™, and then did it again the following year. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro will be looking to make life tough for them though, as Brno saw him equal the Noale factory’s best MotoGP™ qualifying and then take a top ten. With their 2020 machine, the Red Bull Ring likely looks pretty appetising for Aprilia…

In an era of hyperbole, Binder needed none in Brno to make some real history. Now it’s reset, reload and race at home for KTM – and another weekend of incredible battles is guaranteed. Find out if the orange machines can continue their rampage or if the field can hit back as the lights go out at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday the 16th of August at 14:00 (GMT +2).

MotoGP™ Championship Standings

1 Fabio Quartararo – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 59 2 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 42 3 Franco Morbidelli – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 31 4 Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team – Ducati – 31 5 Brad Binder – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM – 28

Will three be a magic number for Bastianini?

The ‘Beast’ went back-to-back, and now he’s very much the man to beat

After two race wins in a row for Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), the Italian has gone from dark horse to bone fide favourite in Moto2™. First in the heat of Jerez and then around the very different challenge of Brno, his two most recent performances have put him 15 points clear at the top of the table. If that wasn’t bad news enough for his rivals, the ‘Beast’ is excited about the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich: “My favourite part of riding is braking.” There’s plenty of that in Austria. That said, it wasn’t an easy ride to the win last time out, with Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) right on Bastianini’s rear wheel by the time the two crossed the line. Can the 2020 v2.2, super consistent Lowes go one better at the Red Bull Ring? He’s already fourth in the Championship and that’s despite missing the season opener. It’s unlikely to be a simple duel though, with Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) likely keen to hit back, and former Championship leader Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) too. The Japanese rider has had a season of two halves so far, with two podiums and then two tough races making it hard to call where he’ll shuffle into the pack in Austria… His teammate Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is another to watch, and both he and Nagashima have that home race pressure – or incentive – for the Red Bull-backed Ajo squad. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) is also making closer friends with parc ferme too, taking a first podium in the Andalucia GP. But to speak of first podiums is also now to speak of Joe Roberts after the American’s rostrum finish at Brno. He was so close in Qatar before a tougher time in Jerez, but the Tennor American Racing rider was right back in the fight at the front – after also going #BackToQatar on settings for Brno. Will his speed transfer to Austria now? He believes so, and two pole positions and a podium so far in 2020 back that up. Meanwhile, Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team Moto2) keeps reeling in the points. It was definitely a tougher weekend for the rookie in Czechia but he still keeps his place in the top five in the standings, and took another top ten. Teammate Hafizh Syahrin beat him for the first time this season in Brno as well so he’ll want to hit back. Can fellow Speed Up rider Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) and teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio move forward too? So far they’ve not shown the form expected after impressive 2019 campaigns. That’s true of a few, but there are plenty kilometres to go this season. 15 points is a good margin for error for Bastianini, although the Italian appears to not need any of it. Can he make it three in a row at the Red Bull Ring? Find out on Sunday the 16th of August  at 12:20 (GMT +2) as Moto2™ get ready for a showdown in Spielberg.

Moto2™ Championship Standings

1 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – 73 2 Luca Marini – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 58 3 Tetsuta Nagashima – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 55 4 Sam Lowes – EG 00 Marc VDS – Kalex – 46 5 Aron Canet – Inde Aspar Team Moto2 – Speed Up – 36 Arenas back in the driving seat ahead of Austria The Spaniard pulled clear in Czechia as he took another podium, but can the pack hit back at the Red Bull Ring? Brno had a little of everything in Moto3™, as we’ve come to expect. Drama for some title contenders, a classic freight train battle and a new Grand Prix winner to boot, it gave the fascinating 2020 season so far another shake and stir. Now we head for the Red Bull Ring for the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, the braking zones and overtaking opportunities will stage another sure-fire show. It’s Albert Arenas (Valresa Aspar Team Moto3) who arrives centre stage, now 18 points clear at the top despite the sizeable mistake of crashing out in the Andalucia GP. Although there’s plenty racing left to do in 2020, Arenas’ advantage is such that only Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) on 52 points and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) on 51 would be able to overhaul the Spaniard’s lead – and only if they were 1st or 2nd and Arenas took home another nil points. That seems unlikely, so the long game is now trying to stay ahead of him on Sunday and claw back that deficit bit by bit.  Impressive though that lead is, it’s actually Ogura who’s been the king of consistency so far: his 0 wasn’t his own fault. That bodes well for impressive Japanese sophomore, who has been pure class since he joined Moto3™ full-time last year with a rookie season that even included a podium to add to a ream of top ten finishes. He was incredibly close to the win in Brno, so he’ll be one to watch once again. McPhee should be an expected threat too, already back on the podium since his crash in the Spanish GP, and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) will be quick. The number 24 was on a roll before his crash in Brno, and seemed pretty mad about it in the gravel trap. He’s another, like Arenas and McPhee, who already knows how to win. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) can now add that claim to his CV too. His stunning first victory at Brno will see him heading into Austria with a little of that “Moto3™ Junior World Champion” pressure lifted from his shoulders. The Italian said he’s still looking to feel like he’s adapted fully to the Honda he’s riding in 2020, but could this be a turning point? And what about his teammate Jaume Masia, who has had the pace much of the time so far and then failed to deliver on race day? The likes of Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) have also been fast in many a session before not quite managing to execute in the race, so can they take a Sunday step in the right direction? And what about last year’s Red Bull Ring winner, Romano Fenati? The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team rider took the new Husqvarna’s best result yet last time out, and Spielberg staged his most recent, redemptive win… As ever, there’s a long list of names expected in that freight train at the front. Tune in for the Moto3™ race at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday the 16th of August at 11:00 (GMT +2) for another showstopper… the lightweight class never disappoint! Moto3™ Championship Standings 1 Albert Arenas – Valresa Aspar Team Moto3 – KTM – 70 2 Ai Ogura – Honda Team Asia – Honda – 52 3 John McPhee – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda – 51 4 Tatsuki Suzuki – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda – 44 5 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 36

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392875?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

India’s Lahiri excited to return to action on PGA TOUR after five-month lapse

Aug 13. 2020Anirban Lahiri (Credit to Getty Image)

India’s Anirban Lahiri is feeling like a kid in a candy store and it is for a very good reason.

 This week, the 33-year-old will tee up in his first PGA TOUR tournament in five months at the Wyndham Championship due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept him in his home country for an unplanned and extended period of time.

 “I’m feeling excited. It’s not something I’ve felt like in a long time,” Lahiri said. “It’s like going back to school after a summer vacation. It’s a good thing.”

 In March, he flew home to his native India to feature in his national Open, but the sporting world came to a grinding halt when the COVID-19 pandemic led to countries shutting borders and grounding international travel.

When the PGA TOUR resumed competition in mid-June after a three-month suspension, Lahiri was forced to sit out as he could not return to the United States. The upside though of being home gave him the opportunity to reset and rebuild his game from scratch with long-time coach Vijay Divecha.

 “I got to spend six weeks with Vijay which I haven’t done in like five or six years. It’s a big reset and I was able to work continuously with him,” said Lahiri, who has endured a lean spell of form where his last top-10 was at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in November 2018.

 “We basically disassembled the engine and put everything back together. In the last few years, I’ve only had the opportunity to see Vijay for short periods of time and those were often fixes.

 “This time, we have rebuilt from scratch and started with the assumption you don’t know how to play golf and have never held a club. We started with the grip, posture, the basics and fundamentals, and worked our way up. We deleted the good and the bad stuff, and it’s a clean slate. We’ve actually done this a few times previously to give ourselves a reset.”

 This week, he will put his game to a test with a third visit to Sedgefield Country Club, a Donald Ross design which was coincidentally the scene where countryman Arjun Atwal secured an historic victory at the 2010 Wyndham Championship, making him the first Indian winner on TOUR.

 “I like it as it’s an old school track, tree-lined and you have to shape shots,” said Lahiri, who played all four rounds in 2017 and 2019. “There’s a good mix of lengthy holes and shortish holes. If you get hot, you can make lots of birdies and do a lot of damage.”

 Lahiri remains in search of his maiden PGA TOUR title, having finished inside the top 3 on two occasions at the 2016 CIMB Classic and 2017 the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide.

 “I feel good about my game in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. I feel good about playing golf again. If you don’t play well for an extended period, it can work against you,” Lahiri said. “If you put in the good work, which I believe I have, you restart by building the confidence up again and I’m excited about competing.

 “I haven’t watched much of the golf since the restart which is a good thing as I would have missed it even more. But now that I’m back in America, I’m ready to go. I’m hungry. I love playing golf and I love competing. I’m ready to get out there and pushing myself,” he added.

 The Wyndham Championship is the final event of the Regular Season. The top 125 players from the FedExCup points list will qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs, comprising of THE NORTHERN TRUST, BMW Championship and TOUR Championship. The FedExCup winner will win US$15 million, the largest winner’s prize in golf.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392830?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Ariya and Moriya return to circuit this week at the 4th edition of Ladies Scottish Open

Aug 12. 2020

The Jutanugarn sisters will be back in actions for the first time since January as they tee off this week in the Ladies Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in Scotland.

Former world No 1 Ariya and her elder sister Moriya competed in only two tournaments on the LPGA in January: the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio and Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. Ariya finished at tied 67^th and 26^th in both events while Moriya enjoyed better results as she settled at tied sixth and 11^th.

Since then they had spent most of their time at home in Bangkok due to the COVID-19 break. Ariya has won 10 LPGA titles including the Ladies Scottish Open in in 2018, her latest victory.

After a successful outing in Toledo, Ohio, that resulted in back-to-back victories at the LPGA Drive On Championship and the Marathon LPGA Classic, Rolex Rankings No. 2 Danielle Kang headlines this week’s field along with Rolex Rankings No. 8 Minjee Lee, who comes off two top-four finishes.

In 2019, Mi Jung Hur came out on top with six birdies in her final nine holes to earn her first victory since 2014 and set the 72-hole tournament record at –20 in her four-stroke win. While Hur will not defend this week, past champions Moriya Jutanugarn (2018) and Mi Hyang Lee (2017) have made the trip to The Renaissance Club, as have 2019 major champions Hannah Green (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) and Hinako Shibuno (AIG Women’s Open). The 144-player field also includes 15 of the top 20 in the Race to Costa del Sol competing for the $1.5 million purse, as well as Rose Ladies Series Order of Merit winner Charley Hull.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ABERDEEN STANDARD INVESTMENTS LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN

• This is the fourth playing of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET; the event was first played on the LET in 1986
• For a fourth consecutive year, the Ladies Scottish Open will be contested at the same course as the men’s European Tour’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, which is set for October
• There are 34 countries represented in this week’s field, including seven players from Scotland
• This is the first of two consecutive events in Scotland, ahead of next week’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Troon
• The tournament is the final opportunity to qualify for the AIG Women’s Open

DESPITE NOT DEFENDING HER TITLE, HUR SUPPORTING ASILSO FROM AFAR

The 2019 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open was a breakthrough moment for Mi Jung Hur. After setting a tournament scoring record by finishing at -20, Hur took her first victory since 2014 and opened the floodgates to one of her best LPGA Tour season. Just six weeks later, Hur earned a second win at the Indy Women in Tech Championship and she did not miss a cut for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Hur will not defend her title this week at The Renaissance Club, opting to remain home in Korea due to travel concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Due to my win last year and good memories, I looked forward to returning to Scotland this year. It is definitely sad that I cannot return, especially since I won’t be able to defend my title. Nevertheless, I do want to thank Aberdeen Standard Investments and Visit Scotland for continuing to run the event,” said Hur. “Additionally, I want to thank the people who’ve been supportive of me and my decisions. And, of course, I wish the best of health upon those who will go to the event. Although I will be holed up here in Korea, I look forward to watching the event via TV and other media platforms and supporting from afar. Even though I can’t be a part of this great tournament this year, I will definitely go back and repay the fans for their support.”

CATRIONA MATTHEW ONE OF MANY READY FOR WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL GOLF’S RETURN TO SCOTLAND

As the LPGA and LET touch down in Scotland this week, players, caddies and staff at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open are determined to make the tournament a success by adhering to extensive health measures. Face masks and sanitizers can be found aplenty, with social distancing the new normal from the course to the clubhouse. These guidelines were key for players like major champion and Scotland native Catriona Matthew, who committed after learning of the tournament’s safety procedures.

“The players, I would say, are being very good at keeping their distance, wearing the face mask, hand sanitizing,” said Matthew. “Like anyone, I was nervous. There are a lot of players coming from other countries where perhaps the virus rates are higher but now you’re here and you can see it all happening. I think all the hard work that’s been done by varying different bodies is really paying off, and I feel very happy and excited to be starting play.”

Matthew kept active during the lockdown in her home country by using a Peloton to keep her competitive edge while staying healthy indoors. She is thrilled to be competing as a past champion of the Ladies Scottish Open, but Matthew isn’t the only one ready to watch the women tee it up again. Alan Grant, senior golf manager of Visit Scotland, said the Scottish government, Visit Scotland and Aberdeen Standard Investments worked hard to help bring professional women’s sport back to the Home of Golf.

“I think it’s great to see the return of not only women’s golf, but international women’s sport to Scotland and the U.K. this week and we are very proud of the role that Scotland has played in this, helping down the line of commitment across sport and society and you’re obviously building on the success that we had at the Solheim Cup last year,” said Grant.

“I must say, just really looking forward to playing in it. Obviously, it’s going to be different being for the local community this year that none of them can physically come and watch it, but as someone said earlier, hopefully people will be watching on television. I myself, I didn’t realize how much live sport I didn’t watch on TV until there wasn’t any. I was struggling to find things to watch,” said Matthew. “I think people are excited. I’ve been watching some of the men’s golf on television and I think people are just excited and it gives them something to watch on the TV and to have women’s golf, women’s sport up there will be good and I’m really looking forward to these next two weeks.”

THE GRACE OF LYDIA KO TRANSCENDS DISAPPOINTMENT – RON SIRAK

One of the perils of sudden success is that when adversity finally does arrive it can be so shocking that recovery is anything but immediate. Such is the case with Lydia Ko. When all you’ve known is success, the stumbles hurt all the more.

On Sunday, Ko was poised to win for the first time in more than two years at the Marathon Classic but under relentless pressure from Danielle Kang, the hottest player in women’s golf right now, Lydia was slapped by adversity, finishing one stroke back after a double bogey on the final hole.

The twin tournaments in Toledo – the Marathon Classic and the Drive On Championship – were swept by Kang as the LPGA returned after the COVID-19 interruption, giving her three wins in the last 10 months.

The outcome was not what Ko hoped for, but the way she handled her heartbreaking defeat shows her true character.

“It’s tough,” she said. “Obviously, not the finish that I had envisioned but Danielle played great today. Every time she made a mistake she fought back with a birdie, so credits to her,” said the 23-year-old New Zealander. 

To read the rest of Ron Sirak’s column on LPGA.com, click here: https://www.lpga.com/news/2020/ko-class-transcends-disappointment

ROLEX WOMEN’S WORLD GOLF RANKINGS – MOVEMENT IN THE TOP 10

With her wins at the LPGA Drive On Championship and Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana, Danielle Kang has secured the No. 2 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, becoming the highest-ranked American after her first win in Toledo.

The current average points differential between Kang and World No. 1 Jin Young Ko is 1.55 average points. It has been a year since the difference between the top two ranks was this small, as the average over the last 50 weeks was 2.54 average points. Ko has been ranked No. 1 for 55 consecutive weeks.

In her last seven starts on the LPGA Tour, Danielle Kang has recorded three wins, one second-place finish and two third-place finishes.

Danielle Kang Stats Since 2019 Buick LPGA Shanghai
Starts	7
Wins	3
Runner-up	1
Third-place finishes	2
Scoring Average	68.22
Score to Par	-94

Nelly Korda slipped to No. 4 after finishing T38 at the Marathon LPGA Classic, while Sung Hyun Park moved up to No. 3. Park has not competed on the LPGA Tour in 2020 and last competed on the Korean LPGA (KLPGA) in the 42nd KLPGA Championship back in May.

Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings As of 08/10/20
Rank	Player	Average Points
1	Jin Young Ko	7.9672
2	Danielle Kang	6.4160
3	Sung Hyun Park	5.5703
4	Nelly Korda	5.5507
5	Nasa Hataoka	5.2405
6	Sei Young Kim	5.0960
7	Brooke Henderson	4.8392
8	Minjee Lee	4.7976
9	Lexi Thompson	4.4284
10	Hyo-Joo Kim	4.4124

AIG WOMEN’S OPEN QUALIFYING INFORMATION

At last week’s Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana, 10 spots were available for the 2020 AIG Women’s Open, to be held Aug. 20-23 at Royal Troon in Scotland. The 10 spots were determined by the players with the 10 lowest scores after 72 holes at the Marathon LPGA Classic whowere not already exempt into the major championship, with tiebreakers to break any ties for the 10th spot. The following 10 players qualified: Emma Talley, Andrea Lee, Patty Tavatanakit, Maria Fassi, Kendall Dye, Sophia Popov, Kelly Tan, Peiyun Chien, Dottie Ardina and Lindy Duncan (winner of tiebreaker with Elizabeth Szokol and Matilda Castren).

At this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, there are no less than 21 spots allocated for players to earn their way AIG Women’s Open in lieu of a qualifying tournament, including a spot for this week’s champion if she is not already otherwise qualified.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392829?utm_source=category&utm_medium=internal_referral

Presidents Cup to return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in 2024

Aug 12. 2020

PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan announced today that the Presidents Cup will return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, when the Presidents Cup shifts internationally in 2024.

As host of the 2007 Presidents Cup, The Royal Montreal Golf Club will become the second international venue to host the Presidents Cup more than once, joining The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia.

The 2007 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club saw two legendary captains lead their respective teams for the final time, with four-time captain Jack Nicklaus guiding the U.S. Team to victory over three-time captain Gary Player and the International Team by a score of 19 ½ – 14 ½. Despite falling short, the highlight for the week for International Team fans was a Sunday Singles victory by Mike Weir over World No. 1 Tiger Woods, with the Canadian being supported by a massive and supercharged gallery of spectators.

“The people of Canada are some of the most loyal and passionate sports fans in the world, and given the overwhelming success of the Presidents Cup in 2007, it was a natural next step for the event to return to The Royal Montreal in 2024,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Our thanks go out to our global partners, Citi and Rolex, for making the Presidents Cup possible and to the leadership and membership of The Royal Montreal Golf Club, a venue that has already shown it can challenge and highlight the best players in the world. The Presidents Cup continues to grow and expand along with the global growth of our sport while leaving an indelible legacy of giving back throughout the world. I have no doubt that with the support of our fans, the corporate community and governments of Quebec and Canada and the City of Montreal, the Presidents Cup 2024 will continue to the positive trajectory of this event.”

As part of the news, Monahan announced a partnership between First Tee, Golf Canada and Golf Canada Foundation to launch First Tee – Canada. With plans to expand across the nation, the partnership will add First Tee’s youth development program to Golf Canada’s already impressive platform that reaches kids in schools and at golf facilities, helping to empower kids through a lifetime of new challenges and personal growth.

Founded in 1873, The Royal Montreal Golf Club is the oldest golf club in North America. Its Blue Course was designed by Dick Wilson and updated by Rees Jones in 2004 and 2005. In addition to hosting the Presidents Cup, The Royal Montreal has also held the RBC Canadian Open on 10 occasions, most recently in 2014.

“We are excited and more than pleased that we have been selected to host the Presidents Cup again, and we are thrilled that we will be welcoming the world’s best golfers to our club in 2024,” said Michael Richards, Chair of The Royal Montreal Golf Club’s bid committee. “Our club has experienced leadership and great members, and our goal is to make the 2024 Presidents Cup the best ever. With widespread support from leaders of the golf and business communities and from various levels of government and with the help of Tourisme Montreal, we are confident we will succeed.”

Graham DeLaet, Adam Hadwin and Mike Weir are the three Canadians who have competed in the Presidents Cup.

Weir, a five-time Presidents Cup participant, amassed a 13-9-2 record before spending the 2017 and 2019 Presidents Cup serving in the role of a captain’s assistant. Weir was famously drawn against Woods in his Sunday Singles match in 2007, which concluded with Weir winning the final two holes to capture the match, 1-up.  

“I was very proud to be part of the Presidents Cup as a player in 2007, and to see it come back after being so well-supported the first time just speaks to how passionate we are in Canada about golf,” Weir said. “The fan turnout was tremendous, and as a Canadian I am very proud to have the Presidents Cup come back.”

Weir, the first Canadian to compete in the Presidents Cup, was later followed by DeLaet, who made his debut for Captain Nick Price in 2013. DeLaet, 31 years old at the time, delivered an inspiring 3-1-1 performance at Muirfield Village Golf Club, which included a Singles match victory over Jordan Spieth.

“I can only imagine the roars that will be heard around Royal Montreal, especially if a few Canadians are on the team,” DeLaet said. “Having the Presidents Cup is such a great way to grow the game in Canada and it’d be nice to see the International Team lift the Presidents Cup on Canadian soil.”

Hadwin became the third Canadian to participate in the Presidents Cup after qualifying for the 2017 International Team at Liberty National Golf Club. He then returned for the 2019 team thanks to one of four captain’s picks from Ernie Els, which he converted into a 1-1-1 record at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

“This is huge for Canadian golf,” Hadwin said. “The state of Canadian golf could not be better and I think it is such an appropriate time to bring it back into Canada. There’s a good chance that a few of us could end up representing the International Team there at Royal Montreal, so that adds to the excitement as well.

“I feel like we have some of the best golf fans in the world in Canada, and to bring a world-class event up to Canada is big for them and I know they’ll be excited to have it back.”

Also announced, Ryan Hart has been named as Executive Director of the 2024 Presidents Cup. Ryan has worked at the TOUR’s Headquarters for over 3 years, most recently as the Tournament Director of THE PLAYERS Championship. Raised in Winnipeg, Canada, Ryan returns home where he previously ran The Players Cup on Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada for seven years while leading a local marketing firm. Ryan will be returning to Canada to lead the TOUR’s efforts over the next four years.

Tournament dates for the 2024 Presidents Cup will be announced at later date.