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No fans, no claps as Woods moves into solo lead at Zozo
CHIBA, Japan – Following Thursday’s frenzy when 17,000 fans crowded onto Narashino Country Club to get a glimpse of Tiger Woods, Saturday’s second round of the Zozo Championship was surreal and subdued.
After Typhoon Bualoi washed out play Friday, officials closed the course to spectators for Round 2. It was a dramatic contrast to what players had expected, particularly Woods.
“When you make a putt and you kind of put your hand up, you're like, hmm, don't really need to put your hand up because there's no one clapping,” said Woods, who leads Gary Woodland by two strokes following his second-consecutive 64.
This is the second time Woods has played in front of an empty house during a PGA Tour event. Officials closed Congressional during the third round of the 2012 AT&T National after an overnight storm damaged dozen of trees.
There was a lighthearted moment early in Woods’ round when fans crowded behind a fence behind the fourth tee.
“I was a little startled when they were yelling because we didn't expect it,” Woods said. “We heard them there at [No. 4], we heard them at 13. They were on the outside, but they were trying to be a part of the event and tomorrow they get to do that.”
Officials are expecting a sellout crowd of 20,000 for Sunday.
Zozo leader Woods to be tested physically by demanding finish in Japan
CHIBA, Japan – During Tiger Woods’ comeback in 2018, Woods talked of incremental accomplishments that tested his fused back and fueled his confidence. He will have another one of those moments Sunday at the Zozo Championship.
Because of Friday’s washout due to Typhoon Bualoi, players are scheduled to play until darkness Sunday, which for Woods means 27 or more holes on a left knee he had surgically repaired in August.
“It's just going to be a long day,” Woods said following his second-consecutive 64 Saturday that lifted him to a two-stroke lead. “That's nice going into a long day like tomorrow because it's going to be a bit of a test physically and mentally to play for, what, up to 10 hours.”
Players won’t be re-paired after the third round and Woods will likely have about nine holes remaining on Monday to finish the event. The key for the 43-year-old will be staying loose like he did during the second round when play slowed at the par-5 14th hole.
“You could see all the players, they're talking, being fidgety, moving around, stretching,” Woods said of the wait that lasted nearly 20 minutes. “I think tomorrow's going to be the same thing. We're going to hopefully not have too long a break between rounds, go right back out there and get after it.”
Woods is scheduled to tee off for Round 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday with Gary Woodland and Keegan Bradley.
'That was different': Players take advantage of shortened 'par 4' at Zozo
CHIBA, Japan – After historic rain, it came down to an IT problem.
Torrential rain from Typhoon Bualoi dropped nearly 10 inches of rain on Narashino Country Club on Friday and maintenance crews worked through the night to make the course playable. The layout drained well with the exception of the par-4 10th hole, which turned into a lake overnight and wasn’t playable.
The hole was shortened to about 150 yards, but because of the difficultly of changing par on the circuit’s scoring system, it remained a par 4.
The move unsurprisingly skewed scoring wildly. Viktor Hovland, playing in the day's first group off No. 10, made eagle, one of 16 made on the round. The hole also yielded 52 birdies, eight pars and no bogeys or worse.
“I mean, I started on a par 4 that was only 150 yards, so that was different. That's one of the hardest driving holes out here, so that's not a drive you want to start on,” said Gary Woodland, who birdied No. 10 and at 10 under is alone in second place behind Tiger Woods. “Fortunately, today we had a little 9-iron, which was great.”
The water had already receded before play was completed Saturday, and officials anticipate playing the normal tee, which puts the hole's yardage back at 376 yards, for the final two rounds.
Craig Young and Mark Adair demolish Nigeria to put Ireland in playoffs
Ireland 67 for 2 (O'Brien 32, Ajekun 1-10) beat Nigeria 66 for 9 (Adedeji 19*, Young 4-13, Adair 2-10)
Craig Young's 4 for 13, his T20I career-best returns, and Mark Adair's 2 for 10 locked up Ireland's place in the playoffs of the men's T20 World Cup qualifiers as Nigeria were restricted to 66 for 9 before the target was knocked off with 13.5 overs to spare for an eight-wicket win in Abu Dhabi.
Ireland, who pulled off their quickest T20 chase on the day, might even top Group B, but need Jersey to upset Oman on Sunday to produce a tie at 4-2 at the top of the table, with the automatic berth for the group winner at the T20 World Cup decided on net run-rate.
Gareth Delany and Adair made the early inroads for Ireland after Nigeria decided to bat first at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. A googly from Delany bowled Daniel Akejun in the second over before a run out off Delany's bowling got Ireland their second, Sulaimon Runsewe sent packing by George Dockrell. Adair claimed Daniel Gim in the fifth prodding away from his body for an edge behind to make it 13 for 3.
Nigeria crawled to 33 for 4 by the halfway stage before Young made his first strike, bowling Chimezie Onwuzulike after he was late into a drive. His second came in the 17th when Isaac Okpe was fooled by a slower ball to be the bowled. Two more fell in the 19th when Sylvester Okpe became the third batsman to have his stumps knocked back by Young and Vincent Adewoye skied a slog to cover where Dockrell took a catch.
With Ireland keen to lift their net run-rate above Oman to keep the door open to finish atop the group, Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien attacked throughout the Powerplay.
Stirling made 11 before he edged behind driving hard at Okpe in the third over but O'Brien kept clearing the infield for six boundaries in his 32 off 17 balls before he fell in the sixth, bowled by Akejun backing away to drive over cover. Delany and Adair teamed to knock off the final 13 runs with the winning runs coming via three leg-byes.
Nigeria have a final chance at a consolation win over Hong Kong on Sunday.
Tamim Iqbal opts out India tour, Imrul Kayes called up
Tamim Iqbal has opted out of Bangladesh's upcoming tour of India as his wife is expecting their second child later this month, and the national selectors have called up Imrul Kayes as his replacement for the three T20Is. It is, however, not clear whether Imrul will stay on with the touring party for the subsequent Test series too.
Tamim, who is also nursing a rib injury, was named in the T20I side, but had informed the BCB that he might have to skip the second Test, in Kolkata from November 22, to be with his wife. He has since decided to be with his wife for the weeks heading up to the delivery date too.
"Tamim had informed us earlier that he would miss the second Test in Kolkata but now he will be with his wife for the coming weeks," chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.
Tamim missed Bangladesh's home Test against Afghanistan and the T20I tri-series - with Zimbabwe as the third side - last month, after requesting for a break from all cricket following Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka in July. He returned this month in a first-class match for Chittagong Division in the National Cricket League, before picking up the injury ahead of the second game.
Tamim becomes the second player to miss out on the India tour after Mohammad Saifuddin was ruled out with a back injury. No replacement has been named for the allrounder yet.
Wing George North says his World Cup form has been "mixed" but believes Wales are in a stronger position than ever to reach a first final.
Wales face South Africa in Sunday's semi-final in Yokohama.
North, 27, is Wales' third highest try-scorer of all-time with 39 but has crossed only once in four matches in Japan.
"Mixed if I'm honest. Obviously this is the biggest stage and where you want to be playing your best rugby," he said.
"I've not been playing badly but not to where I want to be.
"But to say where we are now in a semi-final and to be part of it is something special."
Along with Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies and captain Alun Wyn Jones, North is one of four players starting against South Africa who were in the Wales team which lost 9-8 to France the last time they reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2011.
That was a particularly agonising defeat, with Wales falling just short despite having captain Sam Warburton sent off during the first half in Auckland.
Since then, Wales have won three Six Nations titles - including two Grand Slams - and topped the world rankings for the first time.
Now, having beaten France in the quarter-final last Sunday, North thinks Wales are more experienced and better equipped than they were in 2011 to become the first Welsh side to qualify for a World Cup final.
"I think this one has got a better feeling about it," the Ospreys wing added.
"From our point of view, we're chuffed to be here, thrilled to be one of the last four standing. In 2011 we went into it as a bit of an unknown and got there by sheer determination and belief.
"This time it feels like we've earned our place. Obviously the France game wasn't as clean or as clinical as we were hoping but I think Biggs [Dan Biggar] said it: we're in a semi-final so from our point of view, we've got the belief to push on now.
"Any time you mention a World Cup, whether you've played in one World Cup or whatever stage you get to, is huge.
"But to get to a semi-final is massive. It's certainly one of the biggest games of my career and my life.
"Hopefully we can go out and perform and have an even bigger one next week."
With course closed, fans line up outside gates to catch glimpse of Zozo
After Typhoon Bualoi dropped nearly 10 inches of rain on Narashino Country Club on Friday, the course was closed to spectators for Saturday's second round of the Zozo Championship.
But that didn't stop the fans from showing up.
Television cameras and photos showed spectators lined up outside the fences, many with cameras and GoPros trying to catch a glimpse of the action.
Woods (64) moves into solo lead midway through Zozo Championship
Despite a day off because of a typhoon, Tiger Woods was able to keep his momentum and move into the solo lead Saturday at the Zozo Championship in Japan. Here’s what happened in Round 2 at Narashino Country Club:
Leaderboard: Tiger Woods (-12), Gary Woodland (-10), Keegan Bradley (-8), Hideki Matsuyama (-8), Corey Conners (-7), Daniel Berger (-7), Xander Schauffele (-6), Matthew Wolff (-6)
What it means: It wasn’t Thursday’s nine-birdie effort, but seven second-round birdies were enough to give Woods the same score, a 6-under 64, and the solo lead. Woods was just 1 under on his round at the turn before birdieing the 140-yard, par-4 10th hole, which was shortened significantly after Typhoon Bualoi dumped nearly 10 inches of rain on the course Friday. Woods added birdies at Nos. 11, 13, 17 and 18, the latter coming on a two-putt birdie, to build a two-shot cushion at the midway point.
Round of the day: The soft conditions played right into the hands of Bradley, who carded eight birdies to shoot 7-under 63, the round of the tournament so far and the best for Bradley since the first round of the RBC Canadian Open last June.
Best of the rest: Collin Morikawa took advantage of the 140-yard, par-4 10th hole, which was shortened because of standing water, and began his second round with eagle. The Cal product went bogey-free in posting a 6-under 66, which was equaled by the bogey-free Conners and Sungjae Im, who was 7 under through 12 holes. Also eagling No. 10 was Rory McIlroy, who was among those to shoot 65. That group also included Viktor Hovland, who improved on his opening 75 by 10 shots.
Biggest disappointment: It’s not often a player makes an eagle and three birdies and still shoots 76, but that’s exactly what Joel Dahmen did Saturday to drop to 8 over for the tournament.
Main storyline entering Sunday: Get ready for a lot of golf. The plan is to get 27 holes in Sunday before finishing up the final round on Monday. The players will not be re-grouped between the third and final rounds, which means we’ll get Tiger Woods and Hideki Matsuyama in the final threesome alongside Gary Woodland. Will the large and enthusiastic crowd be rooting for the home favorite Matsuyama or the legend Woods? Woods' last 36-hole outright lead came at the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone, which he won. Woods has won each of the last three tournaments in which he's held the solo lead through two rounds.
Shot of the day: Woods cut a nice approach into the par-4 17th to set up his sixth birdie of the day.
Rebekah Vardy, Gary Lineker lead social media reaction to Leicester record
Friday was supposed to be ho-hum Premier League fixture between Leicester and Southampton. What ensued was anything but ordinary as Leicester fired nine goals against 10-men Saints to break the record for biggest away margin of victory and equal the biggest ever margin of victory in the Premier League. Here is how social media reacted to the Foxes record-breaking hammering of Southampton at St Mary's.
To no surprise, hat-trick hero Jamie Vardy's wife Rebekah, who has been in the news lately in relation to her feud with Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen, has weighed in...
It's...... Jamie Vardy #9 ??
— Rebekah Vardy (@RebekahVardy) October 25, 2019
Now on to some records...
2 - Leicester have become only the second side in Premier League history to have two players score a hat-trick in the same game (Pérez and Vardy), after Arsenal in May 2003 - also against Southampton (Pennant and Pires). Double. pic.twitter.com/ddUo6dyMF2
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 25, 2019
9 - Leicester have recorded the biggest-ever victory by an away side in an English top-flight league match in the 131-year history of the Football League. Supreme. pic.twitter.com/7VXJIYiGiW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 25, 2019
WHAT A NIGHT FOR THE FOXES.
Leicester beat Southampton 9-0, tying the Premier League record for biggest win. They also broke the record for biggest PL away victory. pic.twitter.com/atXkOxOTSy
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 25, 2019
The two biggest margins of victory in Premier League history had one common denominator: Schmeichel.
That is because Leicester 'keeper Kasper's father Peter played in the other nine-goal win, manning the net for Man United against Ipswich Town in 1994-95. Crazy!
What a fantastic performance by @kschmeichel1 and his @lcfc team for winning 9-0 at Southampton. If anyone had to equal our @ManUtd record from 94/95 I'm proud and glad that it was you????
— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) October 25, 2019
There was no shortage of cheek on Twitter after the result either as Man City took a dig at rivals Man United, Southampton kept it short and not so sweet and our own James Tyler chose to kick the Saints while they were down.
Leicester scored 9 goals in 90 mins
Man United have 10 PL goals in 810 mins
— MCFC Tickets (@TicketsMcfc) October 25, 2019
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 25, 2019
This is more embarrassing for Southampton than when they signed Ali Dia
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) October 25, 2019
More United trolling: Former Fox Harry Maguire won't like this stat following his big-money move to Old Trafford...
Leicester City: 2nd in the table after selling Harry Maguire to Man Utd.
Crystal Palace: 6th in the table after selling Wan-Bissaka to Man Utd.
Man Utd: 14th after buying them.
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) October 25, 2019
Leicester seem proud of themselves and who can blame them after a historic night:
Joint-biggest-ever #PL win ✔️
Biggest-ever away #PL win ✔️
Nine goals ✔️
Two hat-tricks ✔️Who enjoyed that one? pic.twitter.com/4ZazaMBwrq
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 25, 2019
NINE
What an incredible performance from the lads...not a bad way to start the weekend was it?
Safe tourney home everyone ? @LCFC pic.twitter.com/Y7aZzkBnoW
— Jamie Vardy (@vardy7) October 25, 2019
What a night!!!?
— Ndidi Wilfred (@Ndidi25) October 25, 2019
That one was for the boss! ????? love this team!!! @LCFC pic.twitter.com/8OnxlNVRoq
— Ben Chilwell (@BenChilwell) October 25, 2019
Former Fox and current BBC pundit Gary Lineker weighs in...
9-0 and the biggest away win in the history of the Premier League goes to @lcfc. What a time to be alive. ?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 25, 2019
Welp, this tweet from Southampton's official twitter feed last week didn't age well...
? #itfc https://t.co/E3e0CHGR8A pic.twitter.com/7aichBSv9p
— Ipswich Town FC (@IpswichTown) October 25, 2019
At least Ipswich, who previous held the infamous record for worst defeat seem welcoming...
? #itfc https://t.co/E3e0CHGR8A pic.twitter.com/7aichBSv9p
— Ipswich Town FC (@IpswichTown) October 25, 2019
WBBL round-up: Kapp takes hat-trick, Scorchers scorch chase
South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp took a hat-trick to set up a big win for the Sydney Sixers over the Melbourne Stars at Hurstville Oval. Kapp bowled Madeline Penna and Nicola Hancock before trapping Holly Ferling lbw to complete her three-in-three as she claimed overall figures of 3 for 16. There was a strong South Africa flavour to the first half of the match as Mignon du Preez (44) top-scored for the Stars while Dane van Niekerk struck with her first delivery and collected 2 for 18 in her first appearance of the season for the Sixers. The chase was completed with nearly three overs to spare as Ellyse Perry eased to an unbeaten 39.
The Adelaide Strikers dug deep to defend 113 against the Hobart Hurricanes at Allan Border Field. It came down to the Hurricanes needing five off two balls with Nicola Carey, whose 39 was the highest score of the match, on strike against Sophie Devine. Carey connected well into the leg side, but didn't quite have the distance to get over Katie Mack who took a well-judged catch near the rope. Legspinner Amanda Jade-Wellington, who received an on-ground wedding proposal last week, took two key wickets including an excellent delivery to remove Fran Wilson. In the first innings, Australia quick Tayla Vlaeminck had stood out with a rapid display as she claimed 2 for 18, but in the end Sarah Coyte's late surge to hit 24 off 13 balls where most others struggled to hit a run-a-ball proved vital.
Amy Jones and Meg Lanning almost beat their own record in a commanding opening stand against defending champions Brisbane Heat as Perth Scorchers cantered to a nine-wicket in the second game of the day at Allan Border Field. Jones (60*) and Lanning (56) added 129 for the first wicket and had looked set to earn the win themselves which would have overhauled their 144-run stand against the Adelaide Strikers last season as the record in a 10-wicket chase. Beth Mooney had led the Heat's innings with 67 off 55 balls but after Maddy Green fell at the end of the 15th over the last five overs brought just 40 runs.
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