Thailand’s 2020 MotoGP race scrapped over virus fears
Aug 01. 2020
By THE NATION
Organisers have cancelled this year’s MotoGP race in Thailand due to Covid-19 concerns, but plan to resume hosting the event in 2021.
The third edition of MotoGP Thailand was originally scheduled for Buriram in March but later postponed to October before being cancelled along with races in Malaysia and Argentina.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of the Argentina, Thailand and Malaysian Grands Prix this season, and they will be very much missed on the 2020 calendar,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP.
He confirmed, however, that five MotoGP series will be held in Thailand starting from next year.
“[O]ur new agreement will see MotoGP racing in Thailand and Buriram until at least 2026,” he said, adding that another race in Europe had been added to the 2020 calendar.
Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez won the inaugural edition in Thailand in 2018 and successfully defended his crown 12 months later.
Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup to return to racing in 2021
Aug 01. 2020
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have announced the cancellation of the 2020 OR Thailand Grand Prix and 2020 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Previously postponed, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and resulting complications have now sadly obliged the cancellation of each Grand Prix to be confirmed.
Both events were set to host a round of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, and the cancellations of the two Grands Prix also oblige the cancellation of the corresponding ATC rounds at the same events.
The previously postponed ATC Round alongside ASBK, set to be held at The Bend Motorsport Park in Australia, will also not be able to take place in 2020, as Australian borders are expected to remain closed until the end of the year.
The previously postponed Malaysian ATC Round alongside MSBK, set to be held at Sepang International Circuit, would therefore be the only event remaining from the original 2020 calendar. However, due to travel restrictions for staff and riders who travel from across Asia and Europe to each ATC event, this round must regrettably also be cancelled.
Therefore, the 2020 ATC would only consist of the single round that has already taken place at the Grand Prix of Qatar in March. Given it is only two races, this cannot be classed as a full ATC season. Consequently, FIM Asia and Dorna sadly announce that the 2020 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup must be cancelled.
However, every rider who was set to compete in the Cup this season will automatically have an available spot on the 2021 grid. Any remaining places in the 2021 Cup will be filled by riders from national championships or racing schools across Asia and Oceania, with competitors chosen by the ATC Selection Committee. This is due to the fact that the 2021 Selection Event, set to be held before the Malaysian GP in October at Sepang, cannot take place this season.
A 2021 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup calendar will be announced following publication of 2021 dates or calendars for the Championships alongside which the ATC often race, such as MotoGP™, MSBK and ASBK.
In 2020, the focus for the riders will now move from on-track battles to virtual workshops aimed at improving some important skills off the bike. These CHAMPS Virtual Workshops focus on communication and social media, as well the importance of the English language for those who are not native speakers. The first two workshops took place mid-July, with more organised for the coming weeks as the grid gear up for 2021. The ATC will also continue to have a vibrant presence on social media, and the homepage of the Cup will continue to publish updates on current events, as well as showcase the best of the ATC and some of the closest racing on two wheels.
The organisation of the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup would like to extend a special thank you to all the partners, sponsors and people who make the ATC possible. One of the most successful paths on the Road to MotoGP™, the Cup has already helped to foster some incredible talents that now line up in the Moto3™ and Moto2™ World Championships, with pole positions, podiums and Grand Prix wins to their name.
The ATC very much looks forward to continuing this journey when we return to race in 2021.
Jul 31. 2020Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles makes a leaping catch of Danny Jansen’s ninth-inning fly ball during the Nationals’ defeat of the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-4, at Nationals Park on Thursday, July 30, 2020. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by John McDonnell
By The Washington Post · Jesse Dougherty · SPORTS, BASEBALL
WASHINGTON – A bullpen combination of Ryne Harper, Sam Freeman, Javy Guerra, Tanner Rainey and Daniel Hudson doesn’t sound, at first mention, like a winning bingo card. But that’s who relieved for the Washington Nationals on Thursday, and the Nationals held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-4, in another road game in their own park.
The Blue Jays, shunned from Canada for 2020, had their upcoming weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies postponed. Word officially came in the third inning, right as the Nationals’ bullpen was beginning to stretch. The Nationals are familiar with shifting circumstances, having had an upcoming trip to Miami entirely wiped out.
Teoscar Hernandez unsuccessfully slides toward second base on a steal attempt as Washington Nationals Carter Kieboom, playing the shift, gets the tag during the Nationals’ defeat of the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-4, at Nationals Park on Thursday, July 30, 2020. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by John McDonnell
That’s life in baseball during a pandemic: an ever-evolving schedule and odd winning formulas. Erick Fedde was lifted after 3 1/3 innings, then had his shaky outing erased by the patchwork bullpen and the Nationals’ bats. The offense collected 13 hits and was keyed by Starlin Castro and Carter Kieboom. It all helped the Nationals improve to 3-4.
“I always say that I believe in these guys,” Nationals Manager Dave Maritnez said, nodding to the offense’s slow start to the summer. “They’ll get it. They’ll start hitting the ball.”
Because the Miami Marlins are shut down for the rest of this week and the Nationals won’t travel to face them, Washington’s next game will be against the New York Mets on Tuesday. Martinez is calling it a “mini all-star break.” They will simulate innings this weekend, hoping to stay fresh by hitting and pitching against each other.
But what Martinez really wants is for his club to get healthy. Juan Soto is expected to work out Saturday after testing positive for the novel coronavirus July 23. The District of Columbia will clear him only after he stays isolated for at least 10 days, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline for anyone who contracts the virus. And beyond Soto, who has yet to play this season, the Nationals have been without first baseman Howie Kendrick, starter Stephen Strasburg and reliever Wander Suero.
Kendrick, 37, missed a second straight game with upper-back stiffness. Strasburg, 32, missed a second straight start and has dealt with nerve irritation in his right hand throughout July. He threw a mix of his pitches on flat ground Thursday and, as Martinez put it, is “not feeling that little nerve issue anymore.”
Suero went on the injured list for undisclosed reasons July 13. He has been throwing in Fredericksburg, Va., with the other alternate players, but his cutter velocity has yet to tick up. Martinez also revealed that reliever Will Harris is dealing with groin soreness, something the Nationals hope to fix while their schedule is paused.
In the meantime, the Nationals had to wrestle Thursday with Blue Jays starter Hyun-jin Ryu. The left-hander leaned on his change-up and slider, an attempt to keep the Nationals off-balance and guessing. But they were able to juice his pitch count in the early innings, starting with Castro’s 12-pitch at-bat in the first. Then they jumped on Ryu throughout.
“I would love to play another game tomorrow. We’ve had some success the last couple days” Kieboom said. “I know we would all like to kind of build off of that and keep going, because we’re heading in the right direction.”
The early support was needed – Kurt Suzuki’s two-run double in the third and Michael A. Taylor’s two-run homer in the fourth to give the Nationals a 4-1 lead – once Fedde’s start took a sharp nosedive. His command wavered in the fourth when, in the span of three batters, he yielded a solo homer, a single and a walk. That led Martinez to come get Fedde, who threw just 57 pitches before Harper jogged in.
Harper, acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Twins this offseason, has been equally durable and efficient. This was already his fourth appearance in seven games. After he stranded Fedde’s last two runners, the Nationals stretched their lead back to three runs on Asdrúbal Cabrera’s RBI double. Castro, who finished with three singles and a double in five at-bats, scored on the hit. Kieboom, in his second start at third base, added two singles and two walks. He has reached base in six consecutive plate appearances.
Harper soon polished off his second multi-inning effort of the young season. He says he can throw every day thanks to a shoulder program that keeps his right arm perpetually loose. He uses a curveball about 50% of the time. He can also make it move in a half-dozen directions, giving him multiple pitches for the price of one.
To end his outing in the fifth, he elevated an 88-mph fastball that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bounced to short for a double play. That the pitch was well over the plate, and right where Guerrero should handle it, showed the deception of Harper’s stuff. Not one for theater, he clapped once into his glove while exiting. He has allowed no runs in five innings and struck out a third of the batters he has faced. Only two relievers in baseball have shouldered a heavier workload.
“His ability to mix up pitches and throw strikes,” Martinez said of what’s impressed him most with Harper. “He very seldom gets behind on a hitter.”
After Harper came two journeymen in Freeman and Guerra. And after Guerra, who pitched around a solo homer in the seventh, came Rainey and Hudson for the finish. The pair have already emerged as the manager’s most-trusted relievers this season, even with Will Harris and Sean Doolittle in the bullpen.
Rainey allowed a homer to Teoscar Hernández, his fourth of the series, but settled down to avoid more danger. Then Hudson entered, Victor Robles crashed into the wall to make a leaping catch behind him, and, soon, a double-edged break began.
At least Angela Stanford can laugh about her week’s first hiccup.
STANFORD READY FOR SOLHEIM CUP PREVIEW
The 20-year LPGA Tour veteran drove nearly 1,200 miles from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, to Toledo, Ohio, for the LPGA Drive On Championship, but the trip got off to an interesting start. Just 15 minutes down the road, she realized that she had forgotten some very important items – her golf clubs.
“I had packed for a couple other trips throughout those five months, but really when I had to turn around to go back I was like, Oh, this is real,” said Stanford during a pre-tournament press conference on Thursday. “This is not like a fun golf trip. It’s time to tee it up and go.”
With clubs now firmly in tow, Stanford is relishing the LPGA Tour’s return to competition at the LPGA Drive On Championship. The week at the famed Inverness Club not only marks a return to competition after nearly four months, but it gives players an early sneak peek at the 2021 Solheim Cup venue. Stanford will be paying close attention to the course’s match-play aspects as she will work with Captain Pat Hurst as an assistant captain for Team USA.
“Looking forward to all feedback from all the Americans. I love seeing it, too. We played it yesterday for the first time and I was just blown away. It is so cool. There are so many things you can do it with. You can play it from long, short. I love that it’s going to play firm and fast this week,” said Stanford, a six-time Team USA veteran who earned the winning point in 2015. “Just there is so much to it, and I knew right away why it’s been a major golf course and held championships and why it’s a Solheim course. You have to think on every situation off the tee, into the greens, and around the greens.”
Stanford will play her first two rounds alongside Solheim Cup hopefuls Amy Olson and Madelene Sagstrom, with the group spending Saturday’s second round mic’ed up for the Golf Channel broadcast.
Meanwhile, Over the past three weeks, the LPGA implemented the first phase of its COVID-19 testing process.
A total of 205 players and caddies were tested prior to traveling to the Symetra Tour’s FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, Michigan which took place July 24-26. One Symetra Tour Member, Fatima Fernandez Cano, tested positive and withdrew from the event. She has since recovered and has been cleared to return to play.
The LPGA Tour conducted 233 pre-travel tests of players and caddies prior to them departing for this week’s LPGA Drive On Championship. One LPGA Tour Member, Marina Alex, and one caddie tested positive during this phase of testing. Alex, who is asymptomatic, was withdrawn from this week’s tournament and the caddie, who was only scheduled to work this week’s event, did not travel. Following a 10-day quarantine period, Alex is expected to return to competition at next week’s Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana.
During pre-tournament on-site testing this week at the LPGA Drive On Championship a total of 233 players and caddies were tested. One player, Gaby Lopez, tested positive and two tests are still pending after initial testing was inconclusive. Lopez has withdrawn from the event, has self-isolated and has been working with Tour and local health officials on contact tracing.
NEW CLUBS FOR NELLY KORDA
Not only is Nelly Korda seeing a new course this week, she’s teeing it up with a whole slew of new clubs in her bag. Korda, who celebrated her 22nd birthday on Tuesday, is changing clubs for the second time in 2020.
“At the start of the year I wasn’t really playing well. My first three events I was kind of dealing with club changes, not sure what I wanted to put in the bag,” said Korda. “I completely changed my clubs again since then, so I was really kind of tweaking with everything.”
Korda competed in three of the season’s first four events before the Tour went on hiatus due to COVID-19. She opened the season with a 10th-place finish at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions but could not find her groove over the next few weeks. So the three-time LPGA Tour winner decided to use the unexpected downtime to again revamp her club selections.
“Last time I played, the only clubs that are the same in my bag are my two hybrids and my 3-wood and maybe my driver,” said Korda, who is still making her final decision on whether to play her old Callaway Epic driver or put the new Mavrik in her bag. “Everything is different.”
REGARDLESS OF KANG’S FINISH AT DRIVE ON, SHE’S A WINNER AT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Before the inaugural Drive On Championship, Rolex Rankings No. 4 Danielle Kang tried living as normal a life as she could despite a pandemic. Part of that normalcy was keeping her golf game intact, but also continuing her volunteer work at Las Vegas’ Three Square Food Bank. Kang actually created the Challenge Each Other project as a means of raising money for the worthy cause.
“I realized that people would have a lot of kids. They get two meals a day out of elementary schools or middle schools and high schools, and the schools being shut down I didn’t know where they would get their meals and I felt it would be a bit more difficult,” said Kang. “So Maverick (McNealy, her boyfriend) and I were quarantining and we were just thinking we could make a little bit of a difference. It was a lot of fun. We asked to donate $1 per person, and we raised over $3000. So $1 equals three meals; that’s 9000 meals we made, so we were really happy.”
Now ready to finish out the rest of her eighth year on Tour, Kang is looking forward real competition, not just a fun round with friends.
“I never stopped competing. I always play with my brothers and my friends. I love to play, so some things I’ve missed about not be out here is the competition,” said Kang, who will play her first two rounds alongside Anna Nordqvist and Jennifer Kupcho. “I’m really excited to be able to play against the best women’s golfers around the world. That’s something that I’ve really looked forward to. Glad to be back.”
THOMPSON READY TO TAKE ON INVERNESS
Last week, Lexi Thompson was battling it out against the men at a Minor League Golf Tour event as a final tune-up before the LPGA Drive On Championship. She came in second but didn’t have a clue until after the final putt.
“I was obviously playing well, but I didn’t know the position that I was in. When I missed the putt on the last hole I went over to my dad and I’m like, ‘What was that for? Like what position was I? Was I winning or losing?’ He was like, ‘That would’ve tied.’ Ah, whatever. Of course,” said Thompson. “I wanted to play well. I wanted to keep in the zone of making birdies and playing aggressive.”
The Rolex Rankings No. 9 has spent the last few months of the Tour’s hiatus in her Florida home, spending some much-needed time with family while continuing to practice and train for the inevitable restart. As the first tournament since February approaches, Thompson said it couldn’t have come soon enough.
“[The return] probably felt real a few weeks ago. I was like, ‘All right. Let’s get ready. Let’s really focus on the things I need to improve on in my game,’” said Thompson. “Honestly, the whole quarantine I was working hard on my game. I was just kind of making sure I was ready for whenever we did restart.”
Now with Inverness ahead of her, Thompson said she’s up for whatever the course decides to throw her way this week.
“I love challenging golf courses. It is a very tough golf course,” said Thompson. “It is playing very firm and fast. It’s in great shape. It’s all about placement. If you play for the right amount of bounce-out, especially in the fairways and into the greens, I think it’ll be a lot of par holes. If you hit it to the middle of the green, just take your 2-putt and get off the hole. I think you can make some moves out there, and then on the few birdie holes that you can access pins, you have to take advantage of those.
“It’s a great layout. We’ll see how the weather is, how burnt out it gets throughout the week or how firm they want it to play, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s a good, challenging golf course.”
INVERNESS CLUB WOWING LPGA TOUR PLAYERS
As the LPGA Tour resumes its 2020 season with the inaugural LPGA Drive On Championship, Inverness Club has quickly emerged as one of the week’s brightest star. The course, which opened in 1903, is hosting its first LPGA Tour event since Betty MacKinnon and Betsy Rawls teamed to win the 1954 Inverness Invitational, and has hosted numerous PGA Tour and USGA major championships.
This week, it’s the LPGA Tour’s turn to traverse the famed Donald Ross design.
“It’s super nice. I mean, on 18, it’s crazy,” said Rolex Rankings No. 2 Nelly Korda. “I’ve never seen this. Like even the way they cut their grass here, it gives you such a major championship feel when you’re out there. It’s crazy. It’s super nice though.”
“I do think it’s certainly a challenge. We did go out there today and mentioned something along the lines of it being a U.S. Open standard golf course,” added Bronte Law. “Especially after not playing in a while kind of being thrown in at the deep end, per se, is something that I think will definitely be a challenge; but one that I think everyone here is ready for and ready to be back playing.”
Beyond this week’s competition, Inverness Club will return to the women’s golf schedule when it hosts the 2021 Solheim Cup next September. USA Solheim Cup stalwart Lexi Thompson often practices at Inverness Club while in Toledo for the Marathon LPGA Classic and is looking forward to finally seeing the golf course in competition mode.
“To be able to have this as like a tune up to be on this great of a golf course, it’s pretty unbelievable,” said Thompson. “And also to have Solheim Cup on it next year, it gives us a little insight and get to know the golf course to hopefully be on that team next year. I was very excited just to hear that we were playing golf again, and even more excited that we’re playing a golf course like Inverness.”
LPGA FEATURES RENEE POWELL GRANTS IN POWELL’S HOME STATE AT LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP
On Monday, the LPGA Tour announced the first five recipients of the newly established Renee Powell Grant. The $25,000 grant program honors Renee Powell’s lifelong commitment to golf and will help assist current and prospective LPGA*USGA Girls Golf sites create partnerships and outreach opportunities with youth organizations serving Black girls.
“This is a start. You always have to start somewhere,” said Powell, the second Black player on the LPGA Tour. “It’s great because I think we will continue to see more and more young Black girls involved in golf.”
Thanks to the support of the golf industry’s Race Fore Unity in June, the LPGA Foundation raised $50,000 toward the Renee Powell Grant, which will provide access, instruction, equipment and additional expenses required to be introduced to the game of golf and stay engaged with the sport. Through this effort, the LPGA Foundation will further its commitment to creating an engaging, safe, inclusive and diverse environment to empower, inspire and transform the lives of all women and girls through the game of golf.
PROMEDICA PARTNERS WITH LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
ProMedica, a mission-based, not-for-profit health and well-being organization today announced that it has teamed up with the LPGA Drive On Championship to raise national awareness of the social determinants of health (SDOH) and the impact they have on health outcomes.
The LPGA Drive On Championship will take place in Toledo, Ohio at the Inverness Club July 31 – August 2. The event will be televised on the Golf Channel nationwide all three days. During the event, ProMedica will air several nationally televised messages aimed at explaining:
The social determinants of health
How they affect health outcomes
The disparities associated with them
The social determinants of health are the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact health risks and outcomes. They include factors such as food insecurity, financial strain, housing, behavioral health, transportation, violence risks, and childcare. While these needs already have been critical in many communities, they are now being intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thidapa and Patty represent Thailand as the LPGA returns since February
Jul 30. 2020Thidapa Suwannapura
By THE NATION
The LPGA Tour is back. After 166 days, the 2020 season resumes with consecutive events in Toledo, Ohio, starting with the inaugural LPGA Drive On Championship at Inverness Club.
The Tour last teed it up in February at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, the fourth tournament of 2020, for a break of 166 days.
Rolex Rankings No. 2 Nelly Korda highlights this week’s event as the highest-ranked player in the field. The three-time LPGA Tour winner is joined by three others in the top 10 of the Rolex Women’s World Rankings: fellow Americans Danielle Kang (No.4) and Lexi Thompson (No. 9), as well as Australian Minjee Lee (No. 8). Along with Korda, Kang and Thompson, the American and European players in the field will all get a sneak peek at Inverness Club, which will host the 2021 Solheim Cup.
Two Thais Thidapa Suwannapura and Patty Tavatanakit will represent Thailand in the tournament as they are based in the US. The Kingdom’ s top players Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, however, decided to remain in Thailand in due to COVID-19 concerns.
Meanwhile, LPGA Tour Member Gaby Lopez tested positive for COVID-19 and has withdrawn from this week’s event. Lopez has self-isolated and is working with Tour and local health officials on contact tracing.
“I was very excited to get back to playing on Tour after this long break and while I’m disappointed that I’ll have to wait a little longer, I am glad that I was able to get tested and to make sure I do not put anyone else at risk,” Lopez said. “I am self-isolating and will be following all the CDC and LPGA guidelines to get back to competing on Tour in a safe manner. I’m feeling good and looking forward to when I can return to playing on Tour.”
Following guidance from the CDC and our medical directors, LPGA protocols will require Lopez to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days. On the 10th day, she will take another saliva test and undergo a medical evaluation to determine if she is cleared to return to competition.
The LPGA will have full pre-tournament testing results for the LPGA Drive On Championship later this week.
FRESH OUT OF COLLEGE AND BACK FROM BAHAMAS, ROOKIE VALENZUELA IS READY TO PLAY
On the Wednesday before the Drive On Championship, the first event of its kind in LPGA Tour history and the first event back since the pandemic halted the season, 2020 LPGA Tour rookie Albane Valenzuela feels refreshed after six months at home in the Bahamas and is excited to finally start her LPGA career.
“Just spent time there with my family. Moved there two years ago, so that’s really home base for me. And just practicing there at Albany with my brother, my dad as well. So just been nice to be home for a long period of time and try to do some different things,” said Valenzuela, who received tips on playing Inverness Club from her brother Alexis, who competed in the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur held on the famed layout. “I worked out a lot. I spent a lot of time with friends. Went to the beach and just got my mind a little bit away from golf, and still practiced hard, so took advantage of the long time period.”
In a way, the pandemic was a boon for Valenzuela, as she took advantage of the unexpected break to graduate from Stanford University. Halfway through her senior year, she finished sixth at LPGA Q Series and decided to make the jump to the LPGA Tour. But when COVID-19 sidetracked her rookie year, the 2016 Swiss Olympian took advantage of her island time by finishing the three classes needed to claim her diploma.
“I thought a lot about my decision even throughout quarantine. Had I not made that decision maybe I would not be able to turn pro even next year,” said Valenzuela. “Just kind of crazy thinking I had this one-time opportunity to turn professional, and I took it. Maybe that’s a life-changing career decision I made. So it’s been kind of crazy, but at the same time, so grateful I got to finish my degree, graduate from Stanford. I mean, that was my dream also, is just to complete my studies, and to have that opportunity to be on the LPGA and a Stanford graduate, I mean, I could not ask for more.”
Her dream was always two-fold, though, with a degree in Political Science and a career on the LPGA Tour. On Friday, the 22-year-old will get to safely jumpstart her career all over again.
“I think everyone was getting ready to get back on tour and I think really the LPGA took the time to set everything ready, took all the right measures, to get back on tour, and I think it was kind of reassuring to see what the PGA Tour has done before us,” said Valenzuela. “I think it really gave us confidence to see that we could really get back out there and feel safe and be protected.”
LAW REJUVENTATED IN TIME FOR THE LPGA TOUR’S RESTART
Bronte Law found out that the LPGA Tour was starting to postpone U.S. events due to COVID-19 on March 12, her 25th birthday. She had just flown to Arizona from her home in England after taking advantage of the Tour’s cancelled Asia swing in February to spend time with family.
Three days later, she was on a flight back across the pond, where she stayed in England until quarantining in the United States before the LPGA Drive On Championship. “I felt like it was the best choice to make to fly back to the U.K.,” said Law. “At the time I thought, you know, maybe two months or something. You know, it was obviously a lot longer than that in the end. But had time with my family that I would never have gotten, and I’m very grateful for that. I try and look at all the positives.”
Law spent most of her time following the U.K.’s strict quarantine procedures, where she had to adjust her practice and lifestyle. There was only one hour of exercise outside a day and one trip to the grocery store a week. With a gym at home, Law said she also maintained her practice schedule thanks to a net in her backyard and virtual coaching lessons.
Once courses reopened, Law competed in the Rose Ladies Series, organized by PGA Tour player major champion Justin Rose and his wife Kate. The pair created the mini circuit to create opportunities for British female professionals to continue playing during the pandemic, an effort that Law greatly appreciated.
“It’s incredible what they’ve done. I cannot thank Justin and his wife enough for what they’ve shown, the importance of women’s golf,” said Law. “We don’t want it any less than the guys do. I think that’s the huge thing that people often forget, is we work as hard as them and we don’t necessarily get the opportunities that they have. But we are willing to do whatever we can to get those, and I think for him to show that and to give the girls in the U.K. that opportunity to, in a time like this, kind of show what they’re made of is really incredible.”
As Law sets her sights on Inverness, she said this week is more than just a tune-up tournament, as she’ll be trying out the site of the 2021 Solheim Cup. Law said she’s determined on returning next year with the European Solheim Cup team.
“I think I played here actually three years ago in a pro-am when I was playing at Marathon. Even then just playing it, I was like, ‘Wow, this is a really good golf course.’ Obviously hadn’t even played in my first Solheim Cup then when I was thinking that, but I knew I wanted to be here. Solheim is definitely something that I know I want to be a huge part of my career,” said Law. “This will be a really good test I think. It gets a little windy out there and there is lots of elevation changes in places. You have to be smart for sure. I think thinking your way around, and in terms of it being a match-play course, there be a lot of great golf on show for sure.”
LPGA FEATURES RENEE POWELL GRANTS IN POWELL’S HOME STATE AT DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP
On Monday, the LPGA Tour announced the first five recipients of the newly established Renee Powell Grant. The $25,000 grant program honors Renee Powell’s lifelong commitment to golf and will help assist current and prospective LPGA*USGA Girls Golf sites create partnerships and outreach opportunities with youth organizations serving Black girls.
“To us, [Drive On] means our personal and our organizational commitment to leave this game even better than we found it, to make golf even more enjoyable and inviting to all people in the future,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “That’s why we hope you’ll join us at the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf program that is quite literally changing the face of the game and inviting more girls into this game than ever in the history of golf.”
Thanks to the support of the golf industry’s Race Fore Unity in June, the LPGA Foundation raised $50,000 toward the Renee Powell Grant, which will provide access, instruction, equipment and additional expenses required to be introduced to the game of golf and stay engaged with the sport. Through this effort, the LPGA Foundation will further its commitment to creating an engaging, safe, inclusive and diverse environment to empower, inspire and transform the lives of all women and girls through the game of golf.
Tiffany Joh, who took part in the Race Fore Unity event, posted a photo on Instagram in support of the Grant with a personal anecdote about being a young Asian girl and the importance of representation on screen. “Representation matters, and I hope that in the future, the game of golf represents how beautifully diverse we collectively are,” she said in her caption.
“The Race Fore Unity was about a month ago, and it’s so exciting to see all the work that Morgan (Pressel), Jeehae (Lee), and Henni (Zuel) put come into fruition,” said Joh. “I think back to growing up and not seeing a lot of Asian women on TV playing sports, and that really changed the day I saw Se Ri Pak taking off her shoes and hitting that iconic shot out of the water at Blackwolf Run. LPGA players like Cheyenne Woods and Mo Stackhouse are such great role models and I see them making that same kind of impact on the next generation and it’s so exciting to watch.
“Representation is so important, especially for a young girl, and I hope that the legacy that we pass onto the next generation of golfers is one that nurtures inclusivity and embraces diversity.”
THE LPGA RETURNS WITH DRIVE ON SPIRIT – COLUMN BY RON SIRAK
Never underestimate the feistiness of the LPGA. Since the Founders created the Tour in 1950, it’s fought for recognition and respect, battling those who demean women’s sports as well as economic realities. But always the LPGA has forged ahead with a Drive On spirit. There is no reason to think that won’t be the case when it comes to COVID-19.
When 144 players tee off on Friday in the Drive On Championship at the Inverness Club it will be not only be the return of competitive golf at the LPGA Tour for the first time in 166 days, it will be the first page in the next chapter of a remarkable 70-year history. And if the past is prologue, the Tour will return stronger than ever.
In those early days, the players went everywhere to promote their Tour – minor league baseball games, boxing matches, anywhere sports fans congregated. They would not listen to those who said their idea would not work. That’s what Commissioner Mike Whan means when he tells today’s players to “act like a Founder.” The LPGA is yours – act accordingly.
HUMANITY AND HUMILITY ARE HALLMARKS OF LEADERSHIP FOR CHARLOTTE THOMAS
The fallacy about first impressions is that everybody can fake it for a minute or two. Seldom do first impressions capture an individual’s true essence, the depth and complexity that make us all human. Impressions, first or otherwise, are just that: snapshots, frozen instances in time. The full measure of a person is who they are around the clock.
According to those who know her best, second-year LPGA Tour player Charlotte Thomas wouldn’t need to worry about not making a great first, second or third impression. The 27-year-old is selfless, humble, inquisitive, and empathetic all the time. It’s her nature. It’s who she is.
You can ask anyone, like then Assistant Coach of Washington University’s Women’s Golf program Andrea VanderLende who knew she had met not only one of her players, but one of the program’s captains when recruiting Charlotte. “Definitely…to potentially be our next team captain,” VanderLende said. “You’re always scouting who’s going to be on the team when they come in. Sometimes they grow into those roles and sometimes it’s very obvious right away. You’re always looking for those kinds of people on your team.”
That certainty, to have Charlotte on her team based on her personality and charm, nearly faded when VanderLende went to watch her play.
On July 20, the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings (WWGR) Board of Directors today announced a plan to resume the rankings with a temporary modification which focuses on the individual athlete and the weeks when she competes.
The Rankings were paused the week of March 16, 2020, as professional women’s golf remained inactive due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No WWGR affiliated Tours competed until the week of May 11, at which time the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) resumed tournament play. Since the week of May 11, the KLPGA has completed seven WWGR tournaments, with the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Japan (JLPGA) completing one.
With the modification, on a week an athlete competes, her individual points, average points and divisors will continue to change and age based on her performance and her overall position on the Rankings will be reflected based on that performance. On a week when an athlete does not compete, her individual points, average points and divisors will not change or age. However, her overall position on the Rankings could shift based on the performance of other athletes who are competing.
Sitthichai expects even better version of Superbon in rubber match
Jul 30. 2020Superbon
By THE NATION
The all-important rubber match in any series aims to break a tie between two evenly-matched competitors. When Thai superstars Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Superbon meet each other in the ONE Championship ring for the first time in their storied careers, it will be to settle the score once and for all.
The two will meet in a ONE Super Series Kickboxing Super-Bout at ONE: NO SURRENDER, scheduled for Friday, 31 July in Bangkok, Thailand.
It’s ONE Championship’s first live show since February. The event, which will be held in a closed-door, audience-free venue, features some of the most exciting martial arts talent from Thailand.
“It’s both an honor and a privilege to be able to join ONE Super Series and compete against some very big names. I am very much looking forward to my debut,” Sitthichai told media recently, just weeks ahead of the blockbuster event.
“I know fans from all over the world will be watching, so I want to put together a performance that will inspire them and give them hope. Coming into this third fight against Superbon, a win will put this rivalry behind me. I’m ready to go.”
Sitthichai first met Superbon in early 2016 scoring an emphatic second-round knockout over his rival. A right hook put Superbon down and out in the World MAX Tournament Semi-Finals. Sitthichai ended up winning the tournament with a win over Enriko Gogokhia on the same night.
Months later, Superbon exacted vengeance, claiming a hard-earned unanimous decision victory in a much-anticipated rematch with Sitthichai.
This time around, Sitthichai believes he knows what to expect from his foe, and will make the necessary adjustments to come out on top.
“Superbon has shown great improvement everytime we stepped in the ring with each other. This is going to be the third time we fight, so I’m expecting he’s even better. It’s not an easy fight for me. Superbon is always confident and always comes with a better performance than the last,” said Sitthichai.
“I would like to test his defense a little bit and maybe be a little aggressive. However, I think I’m much faster than him. Speed is my best weapon, and I think it’s a huge advantage.”
Sitthichai is currently working hard in training everyday in lieu of their high-profile showdown in Bangkok. He’s leaving no stone unturned and wants to come out on top when the two tango in the ONE Championship ring for the very first time.
“I’m super excited for this fight, because I’m competing against another Thai warrior like myself. It’s great to compete with Superbon again. The first time, I won. The second time, he made some key adjustments so he won. We’ll see what happens in this third fight,” said Sitthichai.
“Right now, I’m almost a hundred percent ready. My physical condition is very good now. I’m preparing very well for his high kick. I’ll do my best. I want to make my debut fight in ONE Championship a memorable one.”
ONE: NO SURRENDER is ONE Championship’s first live event since February. The promotion deliberated carefully on safety protocols, and made the necessary adjustments to its operations.
The main event features a rubber match between reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon, and the challenger, former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Baby Shark” Petchdam Petchyindee Academy.
In the evening’s co-main event, defending ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy will put his World Title on the line against legendary “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex.
Coronavirus outbreak in Major League Baseball casts pall over other reopenings
Jul 29. 2020
By The Washington Post · Brady Dennis, Chelsea Janes · NATIONAL, SPORTS, HEALTH, BASEBALL, HEALTH-NEWS
One after another this week, more than a dozen Miami Marlins players and coaches tested positive for the coronavirus, leaving Major League Baseball scrambling to quell an outbreak just days after its reopening experiment began.
And one after another, school officials, business owners and everyday Americans trying to figure out what is safe were left to ponder another demoralizing data point demonstrating the fraught nature of efforts to inch back toward normalcy.
After all, if pro sports teams – with their relatively limited number of participants, robust testing and detailed safety protocols – could not evade the virus, what hope is there for students returning to classrooms or workers returning to offices?
“Look how quickly it spreads, even with all those precautions being taken,” said Dan Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. “Now, imagine an environment where you have hundreds of young kids present.”
Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, described the Marlins debacle as a “canary in the coal mine.”
“When you have a covid-19 forest fire going on in your country, you would expect to see this kind of transmission occur,” he said. “This is going to continue until we get this under control, as other countries have done.”
The virus has shown an ability to spread anywhere humans assemble, from church gatherings to family reunions to bustling bars. To assume that will suddenly cease, Osterholm said, amounts to wishful thinking. “People are basically trying to defy the laws of viral gravity,” he said. “But this is going to keep happening.”
Professional sports is one of the few industries with enough funding and personnel to suggest it might have been able to defy those laws. But as the Marlins case demonstrates, even elaborate safety plans are not airtight, especially not in a community with raging transmission. If a player were exposed, he might not know it until a test result comes back, which means he could participate in a day or two of activities while contagious.
By contrast, most schools and offices that open will not be testing students or staffers at all, let alone every other day. Unless children have a reason to be tested for the virus – for instance, because they have a fever or other symptoms – parents and teachers may never learn that they have been exposed until the virus has already spread. One infected co-worker could easily infect others before symptoms appear.
Andrew Noymer, an associate professor of population health and disease prevention at the University of California at Irvine, predicts that incidents like the Marlins outbreak will be replicated throughout the country in coming months.
“If this were the first time we’ve seen an outbreak like this, I would say, ‘Gosh, what terrible luck,’ ” he said. “But there are anecdotes flying fast and furious on social media about outbreaks happening in similar settings.”
He and other experts say that while office workers and schoolteachers probably will not be shuttled on shared buses or planes, struggles like the Marlins’ are likely to plague reopenings across the country – particularly with schools.
“The hardest policy problem in America today, bar none, is opening schools,” Noymer said.
While professional athletes may be younger and healthier than the general population, that does not mean they are less likely to become infected. Similarly, while young children appear less vulnerable to the severe effects of covid-19, scientists still do not fully understand why a small group gets very sick, or how readily an asymptomatic child might transmit the virus.
Some districts are planning hybrid reopenings, with a portion of students in the building at any given time. Some universities are pondering whether to resume in-class instruction in the fall. Reducing the numbers of students, they hope, will allow them to practice social distancing and avoid spreading the virus. But many school leaders fear that these precautions may not be enough.
The result has been a tug of war as the Trump administration pressures schools to reopen and many teachers and administrators argue that high rates of community transmission in some places make such moves reckless.
Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran issued an emergency order earlier this month requiring all schools to open for in-person learning five days a week. Last week, the Florida Education Association filed a lawsuit arguing that the order is unconstitutional, because it “disregards the health and safety of millions of students and educators across the state and propagates the spread of the virus in our communities.”
The union argues that local school districts should be able to make decisions based on the state of the outbreak in their communities.
Blake Beckett, who teaches sixth-grade language arts at a K-12 school in Gainesville, Fla., said outbreaks across the state, including the one involving the Marlins, confirm her concern for the health and safety of her students and colleagues as some plan to return to the building in the fall.
At the same time, she said, “I’m worried about students whose families need them to be on campus, but they might be full of fear and anxiety about exposure. I believe teachers will be struggling with that same emotion. I’ve never in my life looked at a student and been afraid of them. I’m worried, subconsciously, that might be a dynamic at play because of what we know about the virus and exposure.”
Jana Billman, a first-grade teacher near Jacksonville, did not seem flustered by the Marlins outbreak. She said she is confident in the safety measures her district has taken and believes teaching students coronavirus prevention measures will not be much different from teaching them the usual age-appropriate basics.
“We’re going to wash our hands. We’re going to set an alarm and wipe down our desks,” Billman said. “I’m a common-sense kind of person. If a student has a cancer patient at home or has asthma, I’m going to be extremely careful with that student. We’re not going to be stupid about this.”
The business world, too, is wrestling with a shifting sense of risk that changes each time an incident like the Marlins outbreak occurs.
Neil Bradley, executive vice president of policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said different industries will have different experiences with the virus and take different steps to control it.
Implementing safety measures such as social distancing has proved more disruptive for businesses that require bringing people together – restaurants, convention centers and hotels, and professional sports, for example – and those where employees must work on site and sometimes in tight quarters, Bradley said.
Retail stores also require in-person interaction, but Stephanie Martz, who has been heading up reopening efforts for the National Retail Federation, said she does not think they share the same risks as sports teams, schools or businesses that require more prolonged proximity.
“Retailers in particular can take a bunch of steps to make sure that the possibility of having an outbreak is nearly eliminated,” Martz said. “It will, of course, never be zero. But you can make sure it gets driven down as close as possible.”
MLB thought it also had taken every conceivable step to avoid infections. But the Marlins and their brush with the coronavirus are not an outlier, Osterholm said.
“It just shows how infectious this virus is,” he said. “They are a harbinger of things to come.”
Professional fighters league CEO Murray taps top media executive to lead communications
Jul 29. 2020
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has named Loren Mack Vice President of Corporate Communications. Mack, with over 15 years of experience in media and sports, becomes the latest hire to join a growing list of top sports, media and entertainment executives for the first organization to present Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) through a Regular Season, Playoff and Championship format.
Mack, a New York native who will be working out of the PFL’s Las Vegas office, brings a wealth of experience in media and sports to this one-of-a-kind league. He will handle all levels of corporate communications within the PFL with added focus on continuing to develop the PFL brand and leveraging his extensive international background to further expand the league’s global reach.
Peter Murray, Chief Executive Officer of PFL, leads one of the top executive teams assembled in sports today, including Executive Producer and 16-time Emmy winner George Greenberg, President of Fighting Operations Ray Sefo, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs Jim Bramson and Chief Digital Officer Dan Ghosh-Roy.
“As the most innovative and fastest growing league in the world, the PFL continues to expand to a global scale,” Murray said. “Loren Mack brings a wealth of experience and drive to the league; we’re thrilled to have him join the team. He will play a pivotal role in continuing to build the brand in the United States and abroad through impactful storytelling.”
“With a world-class list of fighters, I look forward to contributing my abilities to an already remarkable group associated with the PFL,” Mack said. “Having been in this profession for over 15 years, I have never seen a bigger opportunity in MMA than with the PFL. They have re-imagined the way we consume live sports content by establishing an innovative format to crown season-long champions and I am looking forward to continuing to help develop the remarkable stories of the athlete roster.”
The PFL is available on ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes, along with 160 countries through international distribution partnerships. The PFL has quickly become the most innovative league with the use of SmartCage™ technology to deliver real-time fighter data and analytics, referred to as Cagenomics™.
Symetra Tour Returns to Longbow Golf Club for inaugural Founders Tribute from Aug 14-16
Jul 29. 2020
By THE NATION
The third stop on the 2020 “Road to the LPGA” takes the Symetra Tour to Longbow Golf Club in the Grand Canyon State for the inaugural Founders Tribute. The event is named in honor of the 13 women that established the LPGA in 1950 to pave the way for female golfers.
The Founders Tribute is the second tournament of the Symetra Tour’s return to play following a four-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at Battle Creek Country Club in Battle Creek, Mich., from July 24-26, was the official restart to the 2020 season.
“FireKeepers Casino Hotel and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi were honored to be the first stop back for the Symetra Tour and these professional women golfers,” said Kathy George, the Tournament Director and FireKeepers Casino Hotel CEO. “The protocols and back to play plan the Tour had in place, in conjunction with the FireKeepers Casino Hotel protocols, were very thorough and met all local CDC guidelines and state regulations. We are looking forward to following the players throughout the rest of the 2020 season starting with their next event in Arizona.”
The same back to play protocol will remain in effect for the Founders Tribute and is one of the many reasons Visit Mesa is excited to host the Symetra Tour. Mesa offers the opportunity to experience the beauty of the desert with all the comforts of home. Known as “City Limitless,” the geographic location of Mesa allows for majestic views of the Superstition Mountains, picturesque drives into Tonto National Forest and unforgettable experiences of local culture.
“Visit Mesa is extremely excited and honored to welcome back the Symetra Tour to Longbow Golf Club this August for the inaugural Founders Tribute,” said Suzanne Cecil, Director of Sports at Visit Mesa. “Mesa has a long history in hosting notable and highly competitive golf championships. We are confident that Symetra Tour athletes will be challenged by, yet relish their time on, a true desert course such as Longbow.”
Greeting the 144-player field in Mesa, Ariz., is a total purse of $125,000. Individuals are set to compete in a 54-hole stroke play format with a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The winner’s share for the event is $18,750.
University of Arizona alumna Krystal Quihuis (Tucson, Arizona) is eager to compete in her home state and is looking forward to playing the desert course where she has found success before.
“When the new tournament schedule came out, I was thrilled to see we had a tournament in my home state, especially at Longbow Golf Club,” said Quihuis. “I won the AJGA’s PING Heather Farr Classic in 2013 and it brings back great memories. I’m looking forward to playing in this prestigious event, and I am very excited to see my friends from the Tour in Arizona.”
Action gets underway at 7:00 a.m. MST all three days with play starting off No. 1 and No. 10 tees in each round. A trophy presentation on No. 18 green is set to follow final round play.
Lenovo™ will be the Title Sponsor of the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini
Jul 29. 2020
By THE NATION
Lenovo will be the title sponsor for the 2020 Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, marking the first time Lenovo is the lead partner at a major motorsports event. Officially named the Gran Premio Lenovo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini, the event will be held from the 11th to 13th of September at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
Lenovo technologies including high-performance ThinkPad™ laptops, ThinkCentre™ desktops and ThinkStation™ desktop PCs; sleek ThinkVision™ monitors; powerful Lenovo Legion™ laptops, versatile accessories and ThinkSystem™ servers are used by Dorna throughout all the Grand Prix weekends. The Lenovo technology will enable the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship to broadcast to hundreds of millions of fans around the world. As the title sponsor at Misano, Lenovo will be the most prominent brand throughout the event, with an eye-catching presence at the start bridge, the podium, the press conference backdrops, the last corner and more.
Recognised for its technological innovation and high quality, Lenovo has been MotoGP™ Technical Partner since signing a multi-year sponsorship deal with Dorna in 2019. The global technology company provides solutions from supporting day-to-day office operations to analysing computations from high-tech sensors, like the gyroscopic 4K cameras on each prototype MotoGP machine. Furthermore, the Lenovo brand is a highly visible part of each race weekend, from on-screen graphics to prominent banners in the pitlane at each circuit. Since 2018, the Lenovo Legion gaming brand has also been a vital technology partner contributing to the record-breaking success of the MotoGP™ eSport Championship.
“Professional motorsports have an amazing ability to connect fans and deliver an uplifting experience,” said Luca Rossi, Senior Vice President, Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. “As many around the world turn to the Gran Premio Lenovo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini event, we’re proud to sponsor the Grand Prix with Lenovo’s smarter technology and deepen our growing partnership with Dorna Sports.”
Pau Serracanta, Managing Director at Dorna Sports said, “We are delighted to announce Lenovo as the title sponsor of Misano, both because we are strengthening our collaboration with one of the world’s top companies in computing and because the Lenovo brand will take top billing in front of so many fans. Our partnership with Lenovo is a source of great pride for MotoGP, and I very much look forward to a bright future as we continue to work together.”
Washington Nationals center fielder Victor Robles makes a leaping catch of Danny Jansen’s ninth-inning fly ball during the Nationals’ defeat of the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-4, at Nationals Park on Thursday, July 30, 2020. MUST CREDIT: Washington Post photo by John McDonnell
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