Putnam, who won his first PGA TOUR event the Barracuda Championship on August 5 – the same day that voting began for the MetLife MatchUp – kept the good vibes going by calling on a large social media network to encourage fans to vote for him and his support for the College Golf Fellowship.

“I can’t thank my fans and fellow supporters of the College Golf Fellowship enough for all that they’ve done,” said Putnam. “It has been an amazing month. I not only fulfilled a dream by winning my first PGA TOUR event at the Barracuda Championship, but I was able to donate $750,000 to a charity that is very dear to me by winning the MetLife MatchUp. I look forward to the 2019 MetLife MatchUp and trying to qualify again.”

The MetLife MatchUp is a season-long competition spanning 13 select PGA TOUR events. At each of those tournaments, it pitted two players against one another in a fan vote to determine who successfully navigated a tough situation on the golf course. A player was crowned at each designated tournament, scoring $20,000 for his charity of choice while advancing to the final vote. The contest culminated with fans voting the grand prize winner and donating $750,000 to his chosen charity.

Bubba Watson won the inaugural MetLife MatchUp in 2017. Stay tuned to PGATOUR.COM/MetLife for additional details on the 2019 MetLife MatchUp program.

About MetLife MatchUp

The MetLife MatchUp is the driver of MetLife’s Official Marketing Partnership with the PGA TOUR that runs through 2020. As the Official Life Insurance Company of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions” since 2013, MetLife added a second category in 2017 of “Official Worksite Benefits Sponsor of the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions.”

The 13 events in the 2018 MetLife MatchUp include: Waste Management Phoenix Open, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro- Am, Genesis Open, RBC Heritage, Valero Texas Open, Wells Fargo Championship, AT&T Byron Nelson, Ft. Worth Invitational, FedEx St. Jude Classic, Quicken Loans National, A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, John Deere Classic and the RBC Canadian Open.

Mourinho is at the front of the firing line with odds on him being the first Premier League manager of the season to lose his job already being slashed after two consecutive defeats.

However, the Portuguese is far from the only culprit with United’s slide on the field dating back to Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

Here, AFP Sports looks at three things that have gone wrong for the 20-time English champions.

Not so special anymore

Mourinho introduced himself to English football as “the special one” when taking charge of Chelsea for the first time 14 years ago.

He backed up that bravado by delivering back-to-back Premier League titles. Mourinho’s aura and tactical discipline also inspired a title win in his second spell at Stamford Bridge, a treble at Inter Milan and broke Barcelona’s La Liga hegemony under Pep Guardiola for Real Madrid.

Yet his third season’s second time round at Chelsea and Madrid ended acrimoniously and a third campaign at United already looks like heading the same way.

In contrast to the exciting brand of football offered by Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea under Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino and Maurizio Sarri, Mourinho’s conservative tactics seem outdated and at odds with United’s tradition under Ferguson.

Moreover, whereas Mourinho used to staunchly defend his players, at United he has routinely criticised his squad in public.

Spurs fans goaded Mourinho with cries of “You’re not special anymore” and his rant at the media as he stormed out of his post-match press conference demanding respect for his record of winning three Premier League titles did little to quell the feeling he is living off past glories.

United only in name

Mourinho’s sour mood hasn’t been reserved just for his players, but also the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward for a perceived lack of backing in the transfer window.

Woodward deemed there not to be value in the market for a host of centre-back targets identified by Mourinho and questioned whether they were any better than the five already in United’s squad.

The opinion of a former banker overruling an experienced manager on football matters has already seen United investigate the possibility of appointing a director of football as a middle man between the two roles for the first time.

Woodward also insisted neither Paul Pogba or Anthony Martial were for sale despite a troubled relationship between the manager and both players.

Pogba, who cost United a then world record £89 million ($116 million) in 2016 claimed he would be fined for revealing his true feelings after the first game of the season as his agent Mino Raiola appears to be agitating for a move with Barcelona interest.

Martial was fined by Mourinho for not returning to the club’s pre-season tour of the United States after the birth of his second child and didn’t even make the bench for Monday’s defeat.

Misspent fortune

Woodward has been accused of having divided loyalties after United’s share price hit a record high last week despite the club’s on-field troubles.

Yet, while American owners the Glazer family remain unpopular among many fans, United have spent lavishly in the transfer market in recent years.

The problem is a reported £700 million investment in transfer fees alone since Ferguson retired has been largely wasted.

Big money signings Angel di Maria, Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are no longer with the club.

Luke Shaw, Juan Mata, Martial, Pogba and Alexis Sanchez have also failed to hit the standards they showed at previous clubs to lure United’s interest in the first place.

Wawrinka, the 2016 winner who missed last year’s tournament as he underwent two knee surgeries, swept to a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium to repeat his opening round triumph over Dimitrov at Wimbledon.

“The last time I played on this great court, I won the title so it was great to be able to come back and play again,” said the 33-year-old Swiss.

“The level was really high, there were lots of emotions out there.

“It’s always tough to play your best in the first round.”

Wawrinka, the former world number three, now down at 101, shrugged off having to take a medical time-out early in the third set.

“It was very humid and I felt something. I am just coming back from injury so you never know how your body will react.”

Wawrinka will next face either Ugo Humbert of France or Colin Altamirano of the United States for a place in the last 32.

It was the kind of Grand Slam history Halep could have done without as she tried to expunge the memory of her first round loss to Maria Sharapova at Flushing Meadows last year.

But the Romanian, who broke through for a first Grand Slam title at the French Open this year, had no answer for Kanepi’s power.

The Estonian fired 26 winners to Halep’s nine, and even her 28 unforced errors weren’t enough to derail her challenge as she cut the rallies short and remorselessly punished Halep’s second serve.

“I thought I just have to be aggressive and try to stay calm,” said Kanepi, whose run to the quarter-finals last year is just one of her six trips to the last eight in majors — although she has never gone farther.

The victory let some light into a tight quarter of the draw that also includes 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, seven-time Slam winner Venus Williams and two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza.

Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 

For Halep it was a swift end to the dream of a second major title to go with the French Open she won in June.

The Romanian, whose number one ranking is not in jeopardy, had no excuses.

“I cannot say much about this match, just that I didn’t really feel the ball,” Halep said. “But also, she played really strong and pushed me back, so it was tough.”

Kanepi took the match by the throat with a run of five straight games in the opening set. She was up 3-0 in the second before Halep dug in to force it back to 4-4.

“I think I didn’t go that much anymore for my shots. That’s why it came to 4-4,” Kanepi said. “So I thought I have to hit more aggressive again, and I tried to do that.”

It worked. Up 40-15 in the ninth game, Halep was unable to hold serve and Kanepi efficiently served out the match, earning a standing ovation from a fickle crowd on the new Louis Armstrong Stadium court that had been chanting for Halep as she mounted her comeback challenge.

“It felt really good,” Kanepi said of the ovation, admitting she was a little miffed by the earlier support for Halep.

“I was thinking about that, why they cheer so much for her, because normally they cheer for the underdog.”

Halep said she wasn’t caught off guard by Kanepi, who beat Caroline Wozniacki in Tokyo back in 2011 when the Dane was ranked number one in the world.

“I expected her to play like that, without fear and hitting the balls really strong,” said Halep, whose defensive posture gave Kanepi all the room she needed.

“I can be aggressive when I want to, because she defends a lot. I had time to be aggressive,” said Kanepi, who earned a second-round meeting with Swiss qualifier Jil Teichmann, a 6-3, 6-0 winner over Dalila Jakupovic in her first appearance in a Grand Slam main draw.

Thailand’s top golfers have all signed up to appear in a Christmas challenge against Japan which is being modelled on the huge success of the Europe-USA Ryder Cup.

The top two Thai men, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee, plus the top two women, Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, will headline the Kingdom’s challenge in the inaugural Amata Friendship Cup at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chon Buri from December 21 to 23.

The visitors have already confirmed their line-up will include Japanese No 2 and world No 43 Satoshi Kodaira, as well as 14-time Japan Tour winner Hideto Tanihara.

The new tournament sees Thai legend Boonchu Ruangkit and former LPGA player Virada Nirapathpongporn facign up as Thailand’s captains against 32-time Japan Tour winner Naomichi “Joe” Ozaki and Miho Koga.

Each team will consist of 12 players – five professional men, five pro women and one male and female amateur. The format will follow that of the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup; a 3-day competition comprising of team-based and individual sessions, with each team amassing a single points per match.

World No 33 Kiradech Aphibarnrat will spearhead the local team, backed up by former Thai No 1 Thongchai, the women’s world No 2 Ariya Jutanugarnand her sister Moriya, plus Pornanong Phatlum, the runner-up at the recent Ricoh Women’s British Open, and amateur sensation, 15-year-old Atthaya Thitikul.

Ozaki and Koya unveiled a powerful team including world number 40, Satoshi Kodaira, along with Japan’s top female and world number 15 Nasa Hataoka. They will be joined by the current number 1 and 3 players on the Japan Tour, Ryuko Tokimatsu and Kodai Ichihara, as well as PGA and European Tour regular Hideto Tanihara.

“This is one of the proudest days of my career and one I believe will have a great impact for golf, bringing together mixed teams in this exciting nation vs. nation team format,” said Boonchu.

Former Thai No 1 Virada said: “We have some of the most exciting players on all tours around the world right now and to bring them together as one team will be something every golf and sports fan in Thailand and Japan will love seeing.”

Moriya Jutanugarn, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Ariya Jutanugarn

Ozaki, who captained the Asian team to two wins over Euope in the 2009 and 2012 Royal Trophy (Europe v Asia), said: “We are ready for this exciting challenge and will be doing all we can to ensure we do our country proud and put up a strong performance.”

According to Arsa Sarasin, Chairman of the Tournament Committee and Chairman of the Board of Amata Spring Country Club, the tournament aims to organise a new dynamic event that will make an impact on golf in Thailand.

“Our ambition is threefold; celebrate and embrace the special relationship between Thailand and Japan; provide an exciting opportunity for young up-and-coming golfers to compete side by side with their heroes, and finally, to allow Asia’s best men and women to compete together for the same prize,” Arsa said.

The two teams’ full line-ups will be announced later.

Competition schedule

Friday, 21 Dec 2018

Mixed Foursomes (Morning session)

Mixed Fourball (Afternoon session)

Saturday, 22 Dec 2018

Mixed Foursomes (Morning session)

Mixed Fourball (Afternoon session)

Sunday, 23 Dec 2018 Singles

 At 74 years, one month and 26 days, Chodchoy is now the oldest Thai to win an Asiad medal, breaking the previous record of Praprut Chaithanasakun, who won a gold in English billiards in the 2002 Busn Games when he was 72.

“I never think I’m old,” Chodchoy, President of the Asia Pacific Bridge Federation, said. “I have been with the younger teammates since they were in the juniors. We didn’t expect to come this far but after peparing for a long time, we understand each other better and have better teamwork.”

Photo Credit to Asia Cuo Goa Facebook 

She also said that bridge should be promoted more among senior citizens in order to help them sharpen their brains.

“Bridge helps elderly people to work on their brains, use concentration and strategise game plans,” she said. “I would like to invite elderly people to play bridge not only to keep their brains working but also to socialise.”

 The 33-year-old fighter, who had never survived the first rounds in his past two Games had no problem in booking his first Games last-eight spot.

“I came into to the fight with a game plan advised by my coach. He’s a southpaw with long arms. So I was well prepared for his style,” said Chatchai, who won the Asian Championship title on home soil three years ago and the SEA Games gold medal in Kuala Lumpur last year.

“With this win, I’m not afraid of anyone any more. I will be ready for my next bout,” added the inspired Chatchai after his win over the 27-year-old rival, winner of the World Championships in Hamburg 2017.

Chatchai next fights North Korea’s Jo Hyo Nam for a bronze medal at 2pm on Tuesday. Joining him in the quarter-finals is Wutthichai Masuk who beat Bakhodur Usmonov of Tajikistan 4-1.

The news was not so good of other fellow Thais, however.

Light flyweight Yurachai Wuttichai was eliminated by Chinese Wu Zhonglin 5-0 and middleweight Aphisit Khankhokkhruea lost by the same score to Kazakh Abilkhan Amankul.

Elsewhere, the women’s handball team, in their first ever semi-final in the Games, lost to six-time champions South Korea 40-13 and will play the bronze medal match against either China or Japan on August 30.

In pencak silat, the Thai men’s team took bronze with a score of 448, while Indonesia won the gold with 465 points, followed by Vietnam (450).

It was the fourth medal for the country’s pencat silat team after they won the men’s class C, and J and women’s class D bronzes.

In women’s volleyball, Thailand completed their group A domination with a 3-1 win over Indonesia, the first set they have dropped in the competition. They will next play a fourth-placed group finisher from Group B on Wednesday.

There was also success in women’s weightlifting, where Duangaksorn Chaidee took bronze with a lift of 280kg in the over-75kg category.

The two countries are technically still at war but it did not stop their weightlifters exchanging warm greetings and posing for photos together as eight days of competition at the Jakarta International Expo drew to a close.

South Korea finished a distance behind their neighbours from across the fortified border with three silvers and two bronzes.

“Although our rankings were different in the medals table, I think we have shown the world that the people of Korea are the greatest as one,” Kim said.

“I was worried I would be the only one not to do it, but since I won the gold medal I am very happy,” said Kim after completing North Korea’s record haul of eight of the 15 golds on offer. They also bagged a silver and a bronze.

Kim enjoyed a comfortable win in the heaviest women’s class of +75kg with a total of 291kg as the secretive nation doubled their previous highest Asian Games weightlifting best of four golds set at Incheon 2014.

South Korea’s Son Young-hee took the silver on 282kg and Thailand’s Duangaksorn Chaidee the bronze with 280kg.

– Giant hat-trick –

Earlier Behdad Salimikordasiabi became only the third weightlifter in history to complete a hat-trick of Asian Games wins.

Salimikordasiabi, the 2012 Olympic champion in the men’s superheavyweight (+105kg) class, vanquished controversial doping cheat Saeid Alihosseini in a battle of the Iranian giants.

Salimikordasiabi, who won gold at Guangzhou 2010 and Incheon 2014, battled his countryman lift-for-lift in a two-horse race for gold.

In claiming his third gold Salimikordasiabi matched South Korean superheavyweight Kim Tae-hyun, who won in the 1990, 1994 and 1998 Asian Games, and Iranian great Mohammad Nassiri, who won lightweight categories in the 1966, 1970 and 1974 Asiads.

“I’m so happy that after Mohammad Nassiri I am only the second man from Iran to win three gold medals in the Asian Games,” he told AFP after his winning total of 461kg.

The pair could not be separated after both opened with a snatch of 208kg, but it was Salimikordasiabi who prevailed with his final clean and jerk of 253kg, removing his shoes and belt and kneeling to kiss the stage in thanks.

Alihosseini controversially took silver ahead of Salimikordasiabi in the 2017 world championships in Anaheim in his first competition after returning from an eight-year doping ban.

The 2012 Olympic champion Salimikordasiabi revealed he been hampered by a leg injury that required surgery after last year’s Worlds in the Californian city.

“After my operation I’ve had a very bad feeling here,” he said pointing to his left knee.

“It had been very hard to train. I don’t know how I won. I was determined to do my best. That’s why I give thanks to God.”

Alihosseini failed with his final attempt at 254kg on Monday and had to settle for silver on 456kg.

Alihosseini was originally banned for life from weightlifting for repeated positive tests for anabolic steroids. He was reprieved in 2017 when his suspension was changed to 12 and then cut to eight years.

Rustam Djangabaev of Uzbekistan, fourth in last year’s world championships, was edged into bronze after a lifetime best clean and jerk of 252kg took him to 455kg, just 1kg adrift of Alihosseini.

Sheriff Mike Williams named the suspect of the shooting at a Madden 19 American football eSports tournament as 24-year-old David Katz from Baltimore, Maryland.

“There were three deceased individuals at the scene, one of those being the suspect, who took his own life,” Williams told reporters.

He said local fire and rescue transported nine victims — seven of whom had gunshot wounds — to local hospitals, while another two people who were shot took their own transportation to hospital.

Williams said Katz was a competitor in the eSports tournament and used “at least one handgun” to carry out the shooting.

Madden is a hugely popular multi-player video game based on the National Football League, which in a statement said it was “shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific tragedy.”

The tournament at The Landing entertainment and shopping complex — a regional qualifier for finals in Las Vegas with a $25,000 prize — took place at the GLHF Game Bar.

Sheriff Williams said the shooting occurred inside the Chicago Pizza restaurant in the complex around 1:30 pm (1730 GMT).

Earlier on Twitter, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office had urged people hiding in locked areas of The Landing to stay in place and call 911 to make their location known.

‘Traumatized and devastated’

In disturbing footage apparently captured as part of a livestream on video gaming website Twitch, several gunshots could be heard in the background, before the stream disconnected.

Twitch removed the video, but it remained available on social media. Police said they were in possession of footage capturing the incident.

“This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved,” Madden’s creator, EA Sports, said in a statement.

CompLexity Gaming, one of the gaming teams, said its player Drini Gjoka was grazed on the hand.

“We’re obviously shocked and saddened by this afternoon’s events. Our player, Drini, was hit in the thumb but is going to be fine. He managed to escape and run down the street to a nearby gym,” director Jason Lake told AFP.

Gjoka tweeted: “I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second.”

Another player, “DubDotDUBBY,” said a bullet had grazed his head.

“I feel fine, just a scratch on my head. Traumatized and devastated,” he tweeted.

Germany-based SK Gaming also confirmed their player known by the handle “JoelCP_” was safe.

“Our thoughts are with everyone that had to be part of such a horrendous event,” it said.

The professional gamer known as “oLARRY2K,” of Bucks Gaming, was said to have been shot in the chest, according to several social media users, including one describing herself as his mother.

‘We cannot accept this’

Survivors of February’s high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, expressed sorrow at news of another mass shooting in the state.

“Once again, my heart hurts and all of me is so angry. We cannot accept this as our reality,” said Delaney Tarr, one of the organizers of the student-led March for Our Lives movement.

Florida has suffered multiple shootings in recent years: 49 were killed in a June 2016 attack on a gay nightclub, while 17 were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earlier this year.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio said that the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating Sunday’s shooting.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said he had offered state support in the aftermath, and that President Donald Trump had offered “any federal resources needed.”