Since the Red Bull Ring and Austria returned to the calendar in 2016, only Ducati have won there. And that means, therefore, that reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is yet to conquer Spielberg. Will 2019 be the year?

The signs look good. Marquez has only put together two better runs of podium finishes in his entire premier class career, and the number 93 seems to have turned up the wick of late. But no one is ever invincible; that’s already been proven this season at the Circuit of the Americas. And Marquez’ record in Austria is quite different.

So will it be Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) becoming the first repeat winner since the Red Bull Ring returned? His 2017 victory against Marquez was one of their many classic duels and the Italian was back on the podium at Brno after a more difficult few races. And then there’s teammate Danilo Petrucci, now a Grand Prix winner after that stunning victory at Mugello, and he could make it four different riders in a row to win for the Borgo Panigale factory. More than points, this weekend is pride on the line.

And can Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) get in the fight? He was on the podium at Brno for the second time this season and, earlier in the year, was the only man to have overtaken Marquez for some time. He’s top Independent Team rider too, having pulled out some breathing space on Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) in the standings, who incidentally hits a milestone of 150 Grands Prix. Crutchlow could also be one to watch in Austria, having come home just off the podium last season and the Honda remaining a match for the Ducati…

Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), meanwhile, could face a more difficult weekend. Honda and Ducati have ruled in Austria and the Suzukis, like the Yamahas, may need to pull something special out the bag to contend. But to finish first, first you must finish and the Spaniard was back on it at Brno after two uncharacteristic crashes from podium contention before summer. What can he do? And can Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and teammate Maverick Viñales – who hits 150 GPs – create any magic in the mountains? Yamaha were a force to be reckoned with at the Brno test, but Austria is a very different venue.

The man on top at that test though was Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), and the rookie often doesn’t seem to play by the formbook of the factory team. Leading Rookie of the Year comfortably, he’ll likely have his sights set more on Crutchlow and Miller ahead of him in the Independent Team rider standings. But he’ll have to contend with teammate Franco Morbidelli, who will be eager to bounce back from a crash that was no fault of his own, and fellow Independent contenders like Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini).

And then, of course, there’s the home manufacturer: KTM. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) just can’t seem to stop impressing and has been one of only two riders to have scored in every race this season – the other being Petrucci. He’ll want to put on the show of the season on the Austrian factory’s home turf, especially after losing out on the chance last season through injury. And teammate Johann Zarco, fresh from taking KTM’s first front row last time out, will be out to prove a few things too. Can Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and teammate Hafizh Syahrin showcase some pace as well?

There’s a lot on the line in Austria. Marquez can tick that last empty box? Will Ducati can keep their dominant run? And, can it prove another stunner of a showdown in Spielberg? Find out on Sunday 11th August in the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich.

Championship standings1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) – 210

2 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) – 147

3 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA – Ducati) – 129

4 – Alex Rins (SPA – Suzuki) – 114

5 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) – 91

Moto2™ aiming to hit back against Marquez in Austria

Can anyone stop the Championship leader?Another weekend, another win. Alex Marquez (EG0,0 Marc VDS) obliterated Brno, and even worse news for those closest to him in the standings was the two rookies who followed him home: Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up) and Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), who were on incredible form to take their first podiums in the intermediate class. Because after a crash for Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) to boot, Marquez has a 33-point lead and some serious momentum.

So who can take the fight to the Championship leader? Last year Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) did for the podium, with Marquez dramatically crashing out at the final corner in their battle. Marini is one of only three riders in the class, along with Marquez and Lüthi, who has a podium in Austria. He’s also one of only two riders, along with Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP), who’s scored in every race this year. Can any of them upset the steamroller? Or what about Brno’s impressive rookies? Can they keep their momentum going?

There’s also Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) and Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) who are equal on points in third and fourth in the Championship respectively, and both have been key threats at times this season. And what about Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40)? He ruled the early part of the season and has now slipped down to sixth overall. Can he take home a bigger haul of points from the Red Bull Ring?

At the Red Bull Ring, though, the clue is in the name as to who will probably be pushing the hardest: Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder. He took two podiums before the summer break and the South African will want to bounce back from a crash at Brno in some style at the home race for both the team’s title sponsor and manufacturer KTM. His teammate, Jorge Martin, will also be looking for some glory after the exploits of his fellow rookies last time out.

The freight train Marquez rolls on to the Red Bull Ring with the number 73 very much in the driving seat ahead of the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. Can his rivals haul him back in? Find out on Sunday 11th August.

Championship standings1 – Alex Marquez (SPA – Kalex) – 161

2 – Tom Lüthi (SWI – Kalex) – 128

3 – Augusto Fernandez (SPA – Kalex) – 110

4 – Jorge Navarro (SPA – Speed Up) – 110

5 – Marcel Schrötter (GER – Kalex) – 107

Canet vs Dalla Porta rolls into the Red Bull RingThe gap remains three points but now it’s the Spaniard at the top. Will Austria shuffle the pack?Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) struck back in style after the summer break, once more the man with the momentum and the Championship lead. But Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) did follow him home by just tenths and took another second place, his consistency this year becoming somewhat of a trademark. And so, as we head into the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, it’s still just three points in it.

Last year’s podium finishers have all moved into Moto2™ and the best either rider has achieved at the track is a fifth place, so neither is a specialist. But they do have the best finishes of the Moto3™ grid barring Albert Arenas (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team), who has a P4 to his name, so it’s a solid foundation to give both some confidence. It’s also a track where the lightweight class haven’t crossed the line in a group of riders separated by mere thousandths, so history shows there’s chance to bolt and find some breathing space – exactly what each is looking for in the standings.

Another rider high on confidence heading into Austria, however, will be Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) as the Italian put in an unbelievable comeback at Brno. Forced to start from pitlane after a problem on the grid, the man third in the Championship cut his way through from dead last to get into the battle for the podium. The fairy-tale didn’t end in a rostrum finish but it was only five tenths off the win in fifth; a fairly serious statement of a ride.

And then there’s the likes of Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers), on the podium again in Czechia, and Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai), who was only just off it. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was on the front row and never got to show his pace after his startline incident. Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) will want to bounce back from failing to score, as will the likes of Qatar winner Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia), who crashed out.

The fight for Rookie of the Year is also heating up after a DNF for leader Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46), with Japanese rider Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) now within striking distance of the Italian after some solid consistency and form. He’s now had three top six finishes in the last four races and Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) isn’t far off Ogura, either.

Fernandez will also have some more company in the box this weekend: home hero Max Kofler wildcards with the Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team, gaining more experience. There’s nowhere better than one of the most beautiful tracks in the world and there’s no place like home.

See how the Red Bull Ring shuffles the pace on Sunday 11th August at 11:00 (GMT +2), as Canet vs Dalla Porta heads into round 11.

Championship standings1 – Aron Canet (SPA – KTM) – 148

1 – Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA – Honda) – 145

3 – Niccolo Antonelli (ITA – Honda) – 98

4 – Tony Arbolino (ITA – Honda) – 93

5 – Jaume Masia (SPA – KTM) – 78

A special discount and privileges are being offered for “early bird” applications from today until August 14, organisers said.

A large number of cycling events are included, ranging from individual and team speed trials, off-roading and even non-competitive cycling, with the Siam Country Club offering extremely beautiful scenery and landscapes.

The Festival Village zone will feature booths from famous brands and other activities, along with food and drinks. There is also a BMX Pump Track zone that is open to everyone.

For more information, visit www.bangkokbankcyclefest.com.Bangkok Bank cardholders will get discounts of 20-25 per cent.

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Ko received the honor thanks to her wins at the ANA Inspiration and The Evian Championship – her first two career major championship victories – and an impressive third-place finish at the AIG Women’s British Open on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Ko joins Michelle Wie (2014), Inbee Park (2015), Lydia Ko (2016), So Yeon Ryu (2017) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2018) as winners of the prestigious award, which will be presented to Ko at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla., in November.

“I’m happy, just honored and very happy to win this award,” said Ko, who follows in the footsteps of her compatriots Park and Ryu as a RAMA winner. “I will keep that (RAMA) trophy in my room! Annika is just a legend. When I grew up playing golf, I watched always Annika and Se Ri (Pak). This is amazing! Now I’m looking forward to next year at the majors. Who knows if I can win three or four majors in one year? Nobody knows, so I will try.”

Points for the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award are awarded at all five major championships to competitors who finish among the top 10 and ties. To take home the award, a player must also win at least one of the five majors. Jeongeun Lee6 (U.S. Women’s Open Championship), Hannah Green (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) and Hinako Shibuno (AIG Women’s British Open) were the other players to qualify this season.

Heading into the AIG Women’s British Open, the final LPGA major of the year, only RAMA standings leader Ko (with 120 points), Lee6 (70) and Green (60) were still in the running for the 2019 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, but Ko was firmly in the driver’s seat. Green’s bid faltered early when the Australian opened with a 1-over 73, effectively leaving Ko and Lee6 to vie for the award over the last three rounds at Woburn Golf Club. Both players were in contention for the AIG Women’s British Open with just nine holes to play on Sunday but Lee6’s challenge ended with a double-bogey at the 12th and she wound up in a tie for ninth place.

Ko has produced remarkably consistent form on the 2019 LPGA Tour, winning three times and recording six other top-10 finishes. Her three victories (Bank of Hope Founders Cup, ANA Inspiration and The Evian Championship) are the most by a single player on Tour this season and she leads the Tour in official money, the Race to the CME Globe, scoring average and greens in regulation.

With her third win of the season at The Evian Championship last week, Ko moved back to No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, a spot she held for 12 weeks during April, May and June of this year. She is the fifth player from the Republic of Korea to reach the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Rankings.

“I’m happy, I played well today,” said Ko, a five-time winner on the LPGA Tour. “I felt I can win again today and this week, because I know about the winning feeling because I felt it last week. My feeling was, ‘Yeah, I can do it.’ I was really positive. So a little bit pressure to me. I wanted to try to get the ANNIKA Award. That’s why I played last week and this week.”

Ko clinched her first LPGA Tour victory as a non-member at the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship, a breakthrough that earned her LPGA Membership for the 2018 season. She then began her LPGA Tour career in style, triumphing at February’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open to become a Rolex First-Time Winner and only the second player ever to win in her debut event, emulating Beverly Hanson (1951 Eastern Open). Ko went on to record 12 other top-10 finishes in 2018 and clinched Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors with four events remaining in the season.

This year, Ko has been even more impressive. She claimed her third LPGA Tour title at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in March before landing her first major crown at the ANA Inspiration the following month with a commanding three-stroke victory. Major number two came at The Evian Championship last week where Ko came from four strokes back after 54 holes with a composed display to win by two shots.

Sports Authority of Thailand governor Kongsak Yodmanee chaired a meeting on Monday at which everyone involved in the preparations compared notes on the event, which is expected to draw visitors from around the world.

Kongsak said organisers had prepared a large number of concurrent activities for Thai and overseas motorsports fans.

“We were highly successful the first year, both in terms of the organising and in promoting tourism,” he said. “Last year’s event was the ‘talk of the world’ and the finale was when the Thai Moto GP event was voted the Best Grand Prix of the Year.”

Chang Circuit managing director Tanaisiri Chanwittayarom said this year’s event promises more entertainment, with music concerts, muay thai bouts and motorsports retail shops in abundance. Among the sponsors setting up booths are PTT, Chang, Honda, Yamaha and the Siam Commercial Bank.

“Motorsports fans who have not purchased tickets should hurry, because right now all the tickets for the grandstand have been sold and there’s not much left for the side stands and cheering zones for drivers such as Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez,” he said.

Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, playing in her first tournament outside her homeland, was the winner after putting a dramatic downhill birdie on the 18th to close with a four-under-par 68 for an 18-under total and edge past American Lizette Salas by a single stroke.

Shibuno, the 20-year-old nicknamed “Smiling Cinderella”, earned $675,000 for her fairytale victory, while Salas took the $409,838 runner-up prize.

Moriya started off the final round at five-under-par and lost a stroke in the first nine holes, but came back with four birdies in the last nine to jump from joint 18th to joint 11th.

Meanwhile, Ariya started off on Sunday at six-under-par, fired four birdies and succumbed to two bogeys.

The sisters each won $74,090, along with others tied in 11th – world No 4 Min Jee Lee from Australia, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Masson of Germany.

Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul was the top-performing amateur, finishing at four-under-par 284, while Pavarisa Yoktuan also carded a 284 to finish in T29 ($33,882).

Porn-anong Phetlam finished in T44 with a 287 ($18,431), while Jasmine Suwannapura finished in T57 with a one-over-par 289 ($12,789).

Known as Smiling Cinderella for her mega-watt grin that captured the hearts of everyone at England’s Woburn Golf Club, the 20-year-old fearlessly nailed an 18-foot birdie on the 72nd hole to win the AIG Women’s British Open by one stroke over American Lizette Salas. Shibuno’s improbable win came in her first competition ever outside of her native country.

“A trophy is a trophy, so I can’t really compare to Prince Charming, but this is definitely the most valuable trophy I’ve ever received,” said an overwhelmed Shibuno.

With the win, Shibuno became the second Japanese player, male or female, to win a major championship, joining Chako Higuchi, who won the 1977 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Should she choose to join the LPGA Tour, she can accept immediate LPGA Membership, making 2019 her rookie season, or defer that Membership to the 2020 season.

Shibuno started the final round two strokes clear of the field, but a double bogey at No. 3 changed the complexion of the round. As many as five players were tied for the lead throughout the final round, with Salas, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jin Young Ko, Ashleigh Buhai and Jeongeun Lee6 all staking their claims on the title. Lee6 dropped out of contention with a double of her own at No. 12, while Buhai’s 2-under 70 was not enough to keep up with the firepower around her.

The tournament ultimately came down to Shibuno, Salas and Ko. Ko hoped to become just the seventh player in history to win three majors in a single season, but her birdie putt at 18 came up inches short, leaving her in third at -16. Tied with Shibuno at -16, Salas’ 5-foot birdie putt at No. 18 hit the cup and heartbreakingly lipped out.

“I told myself, ‘You got this. You’re made for this.’ I put a good stroke on it,” said Salas. “I’m not going to lie – I was nervous. You know, I haven’t been in that position in a long time. Gave it a good stroke. I controlled all my thoughts. It just didn’t drop.”

Shibuno joked that her only worry on 18 was “if I were to shank this second shot, it would be very embarrassing.” Instead, she easily reached the green in two, and as Salas kept warm on the practice putting green, Shibuno rammed home the winning birdie putt.

“I was looking at the board all the time, and knew my position, where I stood in the tournament,” said Shibuno. “That was also true before the putt on the 18th and I was also thinking about if I were to make this putt, how I was going to celebrate.”

On the strength of a final-round 67, her best final round of 2019, a surging Morgan Pressel finished fourth at -15. Buhai rounded out the top five at -14. Defending champion Georgia Hall shot a 1-over 73 on Sunday to finish tied for 35th.

OH SO CLOSE FOR SALAS

After opening with birdies at three of her first four holes, it looked like Lizette Salas could run away with the AIG Women’s British Open. Instead, it all came down to one putt. Her birdie putt on 18 hit the hole and lipped out to the left, giving her a final-round 65 and opening the door for Hinako Shibuno to earn major glory with a winning birdie of her own.

“I take away a lot of positives. We had a game plan at the beginning of the week and we stuck with it. We fought, every single day, and to play alongside the No. 1 player in the world and to play the way I did, I’m really happy,” said Salas, who has already clinched a berth on the 2019 USA Solheim Cup Team. “Obviously I could have finished a little better, and it stings a little bit. But I’ve just been working so hard this entire year. I’m so proud of my team.”

PRESSEL POSTS CAREER-BEST AIG WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN RESULT

It’s been 262 LPGA tournaments since Morgan Pressel has visited the winner’s circle, last tasting victory at the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic, and even longer since her lone major victory at the 2007 ANA Inspiration. Pressel posted four birdies and an eagle to give herself a shot at the title on Sunday at the AIG Women’s British Open. With a lone bogey on the 18th she carded a final-round 67, her lowest final round of the 2019 season, and finished fourth for her best result in a major championship since taking third place at the 2015 ANA Inspiration.

“Just a lot goes back to confidence,” Pressel said Sunday at Woburn Golf Club. “A couple years ago, I didn’t know where the ball was going. So it’s a little bit easier to play when you can stand over it and have a general idea of where it’s going to end up.”

It’s safe to say Pressel’s result this week caught the eye of Team USA Solheim Cup Captain Juli Inkster. Pressel is a veteran of five USA squads, but missed the team in 2017 for the first time since she turned professional. With just two tournaments left before Team USA is finalized after the CP Women’s Open, it’s crunch time for players to make their case.

When asked about the likelihood of receiving one of Inkster’s two captain’s picks, Pressel joked, “The only time it’s on my mind is I wonder how long it’s going to take somebody to ask me about it.

“I was out here trying to win major championships. Solheim Cup, it is what it is. I haven’t played particularly well over the last two years, but…whatever happens, happens.”

JIN YOUNG KO WINS 2019 ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD

Jin Young Ko, of the Republic of Korea, has won the 2019 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award (RAMA), which recognizes the player who has the most outstanding record in all five major championships during the current LPGA Tour season.

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Ko received the honor thanks to her wins at the ANA Inspiration and The Evian Championship – her first two career major championship victories – and an impressive third-place finish at the AIG Women’s British Open on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Ko joins Michelle Wie (2014), Inbee Park (2015), Lydia Ko (2016), So Yeon Ryu (2017) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2018) as winners of the prestigious award, which will be presented to Ko at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla., in November.

“I’m happy, just honored and very happy to win this award,” said Ko, who follows in the footsteps of her compatriots Park and Ryu as a RAMA winner. “I will keep that (RAMA) trophy in my room! Annika is just a legend. When I grew up playing golf, I watched always Annika and Se Ri (Pak). This is amazing! Now I’m looking forward to next year at the majors. Who knows if I can win three or four majors in one year? Nobody knows, so I will try.”

CME GROUP CARES CHALLENGE – SCORE 1 FOR ST. JUDE

The CME Group Cares Challenge is a season-long charitable giving program that turns aces into donations. CME Group will donate $20,000 for each hole-in-one made on the LPGA Tour in 2019, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

No holes-in-one were made this week at the AIG Women’s British Open There have been 18 made prior to the week and a total of $360,000 has been donated thus far in 2019.

LEADERS TOP 10 COMPETITION

The LEADERS Top 10 competition awards a $100,000 bonus to the LPGA player with the most top-10 finishes through the completion of the event held immediately prior to the CME Group Tour Championship. In the event of a tie in total top-10 finishes, the award will go to the player with the most official wins, followed by most second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc., until the tie is broken.

Jin Young Ko and Nelly Korda both finished in the top 10 at the AIG Women’s British Open and moved into a tie for first with nine top-10s along with Hyo Joo Kim. Danielle Kang and Brooke Henderson follow, both with eight top-10 finishes.

The 21-year-old top seed from Hangzhou put up a stunning performance by frustrating the Thai No 1 with her relentless retrievals to win the exhilarating final in 61 minutes.

“I was under pressure coming into the final against a Thai player but I managed to pull through,” said Chen, the current All England champion. “I really have to thank the Chinese fans who came here to support me today,” added the Chinese after her fifth win of the year. She had won the China Open, the All England Open, Swiss Open and Australia Open on her way to Bangkok.

Ratchanok, winner of the title here in 2013 and 2017, faltered in front of 4,000 home fans.

“I knew it wouldn’t be an easy final. She always stays calm whenever we play. I tried to step up the pace but I made mistakes,” said Ratchanok, the world No 7. “I made mistakes at crucial points. I was not happy with my game today. It was not my day,” said Ratchanok. She also apologised to the home fans for letting them down.

Ratchanok, however had some consolation when her special supporter Napis Tortungpanich, the SEA Games gold medallist in shooting, presented her a bouquet of flowers after the match.

Chou Tien Chen

In men’s singles final, the in-form Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan outlasted Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong 21-14 11-21 23-21 for his second title of the season after the Indonesia Open two weeks ago. The word No 3 has improved his career record against his rival to 10-4. He has won five BWF World Tour titles.

In men’s doubles, India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty scored a shock victory over the third-seeded Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen of China 21-19 18-21 21-18.

In mixed doubles, second-seeded Wang Yi Lyu and Huang Dong Ping of China beat Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino of Japan 24-22 23-21.

In women’s doubles, Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto of Japan beat Du Yue and Li Yin Hui of China 21-19 14-21 21-13.

SHIBUNO STORMS INTO LEAD AT AIG WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN

. Making her LPGA Tour debut and playing in her first event outside of Japan, Shibuno leads at -14, a two-stroke advantage over South African Ashleigh Buhai as she heads into the final round of her first major championship.

“It’s definitely exceeding my expectations,” said Shibuno. “I came in wanting to make the cut, so right now I feel like I’m doing something very incredible.”

The 20-year-old started the day three strokes behind Buhai and played her front nine at +1 with one birdie and two bogeys. She turned on the jets on the inward nine, returning in 6-under 30 with birdies at 10, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 18 to wrap up the lead.

“I was pretty upset after the three-putt bogey on the ninth,” said Shibuno. “But after the second shot on the 10th hole, I was able to bring myself back.”

Playing alongside Shibuno in the final group, Buhai was 3-under through 11 holes. But she three-putted for bogey at No. 12, her first dropped shot since the 11th hole on Thursday, and added two more bogeys at 13 and 16 to finish at even-par for the day and -12 under for the tournament.

“I played my first nine holes probably the best ball-striking I could have had. Hit really good shots,” said the 30-year-old South African. “Turned 2-under, birdied my 10th to go to 3-under and hit two poor wedge shots on 11 and 12, normally my strong point. Let the three-putt rattle me on No. 12. I’m still here, two shots behind going into the final round playing in the final group. If you told me at the beginning of the week, I would have taken it.”

Rolex Rankings No. 2 Sung Hyun Park sits in in third at -11 after a bogey-free 4-under 68 on Saturday. Fresh off a disappointing 4-over final round at last week’s Evian Championship, the two-time major champion knows what it will take for her to secure her third different major title.

“I really did want to win a major this year, so I was a little greedy, so the play was a little messy,” said Park, who has wins at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. “But this week, I would like to play a little more patiently and as much as I’m in a good position right now, I’d love to play well tomorrow.”

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, who is trying to become the seventh player in the history of professional golf to win three majors in the same season, is tied for fourth at -10. She is joined by Americans Lizette Salas and Morgan Pressel. Salas has already clinched a berth on the 2019 USA Solheim Cup Team, while a good finish from Pressel could help her secure a captain’s pick to represent the USA after missing the team in 2017.

Defending champion Georgia Hall stumbled on Saturday, shooting 2-over 74 and falling into a tie for 27th at -4.

WITH A WIN

Hinako Shibuno would be the second player this decade to win in her first major appearance, joining Hyo Joo Kim (2014 Evian Championship)

Shibuno would become the second Japanese player to win a major championship, joining Chako Higuchi, who won the 1977 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship; no male Japanese player has won a major championship

Shibuno would become the 26th player to win an LPGA event as a non-Member; she would be able to accept immediate LPGA Tour Membership (making 2019 her rookie season) or defer Membership to the 2020 season

Ashleigh Buhai would become the second South African player to win a women’s major championship, joining Sally Little, who won the 1980 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 1988 du Maurier Classic; seven male South African players have won major championships

Buhai would become the season’s fifth Rolex First-Time Winner and the third player of 2019 to win a major as her first LPGA win, joining Jeongeun Lee6 (U.S. Women’s Open) and Hannah Green (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship)

Sung Hyun Park would earn the eighth win of her LPGA Tour career and become the second three-time winner of the 2019 season, joining Jin Young Ko

Park would earn her third major title, joining the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship; she now needs wins at the ANA Inspiration or Evian Championship to complete the Career Grand Slam and victories at both to complete the Super Career Grand Slam (only seven players have completed the Career Grand Slam and only Karrie Webb has completed the Super Career Grand Slam)

Jin Young Ko would join Pat Bradley, Ben Hogan, Inbee Park, Tiger Woods, Mickey Wright and Babe Zaharias as the only players to win three professional majors in a single season

MORE THAN A WIN ON THE LINE FOR MORGAN PRESSEL

It’s been 262 LPGA tournaments since Morgan Pressel has visited the winner’s circle, last tasting victory at the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic. Sunday at the AIG Women’s British Open could change that stat. After a third-round 6-under 66, including a closing run of three straight birdies, Pressel is tied for fourth at -10, just four strokes off the lead.

“The confidence that I have in my golf swing right now allows me to play that way,” said Pressel when asked about her aggressive play on Saturday. “The greens aren’t super-firm so you can take dead aim on some shots, and my distance control, especially on the back nine with the irons was really stellar.”

This week’s performance is also just as much about next month’s Solheim Cup as it is about her play at Woburn. Pressel is a veteran of five USA squads, but missed the team in 2017 for the first time since she turned professional. Her season has been a see-saw affair of good performances and missed cuts, but a good finish this week could put her in the conversation for one of Juli Inkster’s captain’s picks, especially to balance out what will be a rookie-heavy crew for the Americans.

“It would be amazing. I’ve been fortunate enough to be on five teams. I missed it last time and that was difficult,” said Pressel. “I really am happy that I’m playing well, playing much better this year, even for myself, and obviously to have the opportunity to wear red, white and blue would be great. Maybe giving Juli something to think about.”

CHARLEY HULL REIGNITES TITLE HOPES WITH BIRDIE FLURRY AFTER THE TURN

Local favorite Charley Hull reignited her AIG Women’s British Open title bid with a stunning run of four birdies in five holes after the turn, a brilliant recovery after she had bogeyed two of the first eight because of one bad shot and one loose one. Her homeward nine of 4-under 32 left her at -9 overall, five strokes off the pace heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I didn’t really feel like I played that badly on the front nine,” Hull said after shooting a 2-under 70 in the third round. “Probably hit one bad shot on the par 3, the eighth, where I fatted my tee shot, but apart from that I feel like I played pretty well. On the second hole (the par-five 2nd), I hit a good drive and not a bad second shot but had a 5-iron in, plugged into the bank and didn’t manage to get up and down.”

Asked how she had managed to turn things around after the turn, Hull replied: “I hit some good putts on the front nine and wasn’t really holing anything and I said, ‘Gosh, I could be a couple under on the front nine, so if I hit it as good as I hit it on the front nine and make a couple putts, I’ll do well.'”

Hull, a member at Woburn since age 11 who has been playing in front of several of her friends and family this week, plans to enjoy herself as much as possible in the final round as she seeks a second career win on the LPGA Tour. “Just going to go out there and have fun. Treat it like another day at the office and pretend I’m out there with my friends playing golf. I’m hitting it well. I’m putting well and I’ve just got to be confident tomorrow.”

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 46 Hinako Shibuno (66-69-67)

• Shibuno is playing in her first AIG Women’s British Open and first-ever LPGA Tour event
• She is a 20-year-old rookie on the JLPGA; she has two victories on that tour in 2019, including a major win at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup
• Shibuno is trying to become the second Japanese player to win a women’s major championship, joining Chako Higuchi, who won the 1977 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship

Rolex Rankings No. 123 Ashleigh Buhai (65-67-72)

• Buhai has held LPGA Tour Membership since 2008; her best finish is second at the 2017 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• This is Buhai’s 18th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for 11th at the Pure Silk Championship presented by Visit Williamsburg
• She is competing in her 12th AIG Women’s British Open; her best finish is a tie for 30th in 2017 at Kingsbarns, while she tied for 47th at the 2016 championship held at Woburn
• She spent 2010 to 2013 on the Ladies European Tour, where she has three career victories
• Buhai represented South Africa at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she finished 50th

Rolex Rankings No. 2 Sung Hyun Park (67-70-68)

• Her 205 is her lowest 54-hole score at the AIG Women’s British Open; she previously shot 206 in 2018 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes
• Park is in her third season on the LPGA Tour; she has seven career victories, including two major victories at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2018 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
• This is Park’s 14th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she won the 2019 HSBC Women’s World Championship and 2019 Walmart NW Arkansas presented by P&G and has four other top-10 finishes
• She is competing in her fourth AIG Women’s British Open; her best finish is a tie for 15th in 2018 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, while she tied for 50th at the 2016 championship held at Woburn

ROLEX WOMEN’S WORLD GOLF RANKINGS PROJECTIONS

Two players have a mathematical chance to overtake Rolex Rankings World No. 1 Jin Young Ko (T4 after third round) based on their finish at the AIG Women’s British Open.

No. 2 Sung Hyun Park (third after third round)

• Win
• Solo second and have Jin Young Ko finish solo third or worse
• Solo third and have Jin Young Ko finish solo fifth or worse
• Solo fourth, have Jin Young Ko finish solo seventh or worse and Lexi Thompson does not win
• Other scenarios as low as a solo-11th finish with associated finishes by Jin Young Ko and Lexi Thompson

No. 3 Lexi Thompson (T37 after third round)

• Win, have Jin Young Ko finish solo sixth or worse and Sung Hyun Park finish solo fourth or worse

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

In the race for the top-ranked American, two players have a mathematical chance to overtake Rolex Rankings World No. 3 Lexi Thompson.

No. 10 Nelly Korda (T18 after third round)

• Win and have Lexi Thompson finish solo third or worse
• Solo second, have Lexi Thompson finish solo 31st or worse and Jessica Korda does not win

No. 16 Jessica Korda (T32 after third round)

• Win and have Lexi Thompson finish solo seventh or worse

RAMA WINNER TO BE DECIDED SUNDAY AT AIG WOMEN’S BRITISH OPEN

The final LPGA major of the year – the AIG Women’s British Open – will decide the winner of the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award and it’s a three-woman race involving Jin Young Ko, Jeongeun Lee6 and Hannah Green. Ko, the winner of last week’s Evian Championship, is in the driver’s seat and is guaranteed the award with a top-six finish.

With last week’s win Ko, who also won the ANA Inspiration, now has 120 points while Lee6 has 70 and Green 60. If Lee6, who won the U.S. Women’s Open, takes the Women’s British Open and Ko finishes sixth they tie atop the standings with Ko winning the award on the tie break.

If Green, winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, triumphs at Woburn Golf Club and Ko finishes outside the top 10 at AIG, they tie atop the standings with Ko winning the award on the tie break.

If there is a tie, the award goes to the player with the most majors but in this case both would have two. The next tiebreaker is the most second-place major finishes. If that is the same number, they go to third-place finishes and so on until the tie is broken.­­­

After the third round of the AIG Women’s British Open, Ko is tied for fourth, Lee6 is tied for 10th and Green is tied for 27th.

Front row L-R: Miller, Marquez and Zarco
Do not adjust your set: Marquez two seconds clear for Moto2™ poleThe Championship leader turned the screw in Q2 and timed it to perfectionAlex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) is on pole for the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky, but there’s much more to the headline than that. The number 73 timed it to perfection on a difficult, mixed track to take two seconds out his closest challenger, Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), and pick up where he left off in Germany. Lowes starts second after a nevertheless impressive session, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) completing the front row in third…four seconds adrift.

Earlier there was plenty of drama in Q1, with Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) moving up to lead Bo Bendsneyder (NTS RW Racing GP) and Brit Jake Dixon (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) in third, with another impressive performer in fourth as Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) joined them to move through. Some first timers, some wet weather specialists…and everything to play for in Q2.

The rain was easing off in the second session and times tumbled. After the first five minutes, the top four were the Q1 graduates, with Marco Bezzecchi leading the way, but there was plenty more to come.

Baldassarri took the leap to dry tyres, swiftly followed by Marquez. Then Bo Bendsneyder took a light tumble at Turn 1, rider remounting, as Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Sam Lowes started to attack. But it was Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up) who took over at the top at that stage, with Friday’s fastest impressing in the very different conditions, and it was clear that whoever set their flying lap last would be making some serious gains as it continued drying out.

It came down to Marquez vs Lowes, with each sector making it increasingly clear that the number 73 was about to absolutely obliterate the opposition. And that he did, although it was also true of Lowes with everyone else.

A late lap from Lorenzo Baldassarri secured him third on the grid and a front row for the first time with Qatar, although the deficit was sizeable it proved enough. Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) blasted in a lap right at the end to head up row two, turning the tables on compatriot rookie Giannantonio to just pip him on Saturday, with Marco Bezzecchi in sixth making it an all-Italian second row as he took his best Moto2™ grid position since joining the class.

Marcel Schrötter  was seventh as he aims for back-to-back podiums, with Bo Bendsneyder in eighth ahead of fellow top performer Jake Dixon. Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) completed the top ten.

So where’s Championship challenger Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP)? Down in P12 despite his previous wet weather win at Brno. He’ll be looking to move forward on Sunday, as will Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in 14th, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) 16th and returnee Mattia Pasini (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 down in 24th….

Marquez seems on an unstoppable roll of late. But race day is set to dawn dry, and the number 73 had serious company before the conditions changed. Can he do it again? Find out when the lights go out on Sunday at 12:20 local time (GMT+2).

Front row L-R: Lowes, Marquez and Baldassarri
Arbolino ahead of the curve for pole in CzechiaItalian takes pole in wet qualifying to celebrate his birthday in style

World No 7 Ratchanok, who has won the tournament twice, in 2013 and 2017, relied on her repertoire of shots and experience to subdue her up-and-coming opponent after a tough 80-minute battle to enter the final.

“I have to admit that Pornpawee was playing so well, maybe even better than I was,” the Thai No 1 said. “She came into the match with a good game plan and hit from everywhere. I just proved mentally tougher at crucial points,” said Ratchanok.

The Thai hope will be eyeing her third Thailand Open crown when she world No 4 Chen Yufei of China on Sunday. The Chinese top seed cruised past Sayaka Takahasi of Japan 21-16 21-19. She leads her Thai rival 8-2 in head-to-head clashes.

“Of course, I want to win in front of the home fans. But I need to recover quickly and study her game more before the match tomorrow. I’m just so happy to pull it off today,” she said.

In men’s doubles, reigning world champions Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen of China beat Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe of Japan 21-13 22-20 to set up a final showdown with India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty who ousted South Koreans Ko Sung Hyun and Shin Baek Cheol 22-20 22-24 21-9.

In women’s doubles, Japanese duo Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto beat Chang Ye Na and Kim Hye Rin of South Korea 21-19 21-19. They face Du Yue and Li Yin Hui of China who stopped the run of South Koreans Lee So Hee and Shin Seung Chan 14-21 21-19 22-20.