I Dig Sports
LPGA stars at Evian preparing for back-to-back majors in back-to-back weeks
How do you go about trying to win back-to-back majors in back-to-back weeks?
If you are Jessica Korda, you look for every small advantage you can find with the Evian Championship this week and the AIG Women’s British Open next week.
“Maybe more room service,” Korda said. “And less going out and mingling with players.”
It’s going to be a taxing week of intense concentration for players trying to get into contention in both majors.
“It’s more mentally challenging, I think, than physically,” Korda said.
With LPGA commissioner Mike Whan wanting to remedy the weather challenges Evian has faced since it moved to September in 2013 to become the LPGA’s fifth major, he moved the event back to its July date. The move, temporarily, causes the problem of back-to-back majors. This will mark the first time since 1960 than women’s majors have been played in back-to-back weeks, according to the LPGA. There were, however, back-to-back majors in 2011, with a week off in between. Yani Tseng won the LPGA Championship that year and So Yeon Ryu took home the title at the U.S. Women’s Open.
“It’s definitely going to be difficult to focus for these two weeks,” Rolex world No. 1 Sung Hyun Park said.
There’s a lot more that can be won these next two weeks than major championship trophies. An entire season can be defined. There’s a load of Rolex World Rankings points, Rolex Player of the Year points, money and Solheim Cup points to be won this week and next.
The men think their major championship season was condensed this year, with four majors in four months. The LPGA is playing four majors in 10 weeks.
It’s not ideal, especially with back-to-back majors, Park says.
“Players are definitely more physically strained and have to focus double the amount,” she said.
But if somebody gets hot, it could be a beautiful thing for that player. Somebody could virtually lock up the Rolex Player of the Year Award and, perhaps, the money title, these next two weeks.
Back-to-back major championship victories is a big ask in the women’s game these days, with winning two majors in a single season becoming an increasingly tougher challenge. The last 11 majors have been won by 11 different players. Nobody has won two majors in a single year since Inbee Park did so four years ago. Nobody has won back-to-back major championship starts in a single season since Park won three in a row in 2013.
With Evian moved to July, there’s hope improved weather will make the challenge less rigorous. Bad weather has plagued the event since its move to September. Warm weather is forecast this week, but there is a chance of weekend thunderstorms.
The event was shortened to 54 holes because of bad weather its first year as a major and again two years ago, when the finish was played through hail and hard rain.
Korda’s enjoying the warmer weather this week.
“The atmosphere here is amazing,” Korda said. “Moving it to this time year, I think it'll be even better. We won't have to be worried about the weather as much and hopefully play four great rounds out here.”
Former UT-Arlington golf coach cited for sexual harassment
ARLINGTON, Texas - Former University of Texas at Arlington golf coach Stuart Deane was found responsible for sexual harassment through inappropriate comments to some of his female athletes, according to a Title IX investigation.
Deane resigned as the university's golf director before the investigation was completed in October, according to documents obtained by the school newspaper , The Shorthorn. He was placed on administrative leave last August, a day after a former player emailed the university president detailing some allegations.
Rogge Dunn, Deane's attorney, said he took sworn statements from 14 people refuting the allegations against Deane. Dunn said the investigation was unfair.
''This was a rush to judgment,'' Dunn said. ''The Title IX investigator had an ax to grind. For 14 different people to take the time and swear to something under penalty of perjury I think speaks volumes about his character and innocence.''
One former female athlete said she transferred because she was offended by an inappropriate sexual comment from Deane. The former coach denied making the statement.
''The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to the safety, security and well-being of all UTA students,'' university President Vistasp Karbhari said in the statement to the student paper. ''When presented these serious allegations, the university immediately initiated an investigation and took measures to protect our students.''
The report says Deane admitted to allegations of drinking alcohol and driving on school-sponsored trips. Deane said he didn't drink excessively or drive recklessly.
Deane, an Australian, has 14 career appearances on the PGA Tour. He has made the cut twice.
TORONTO -- The 3-year-old boy hit by a foul ball in Cleveland last weekend is showing no signs of serious injury, the Indians said Tuesday.
The boy, identified by the team as Henry, was hit by a line drive off the bat of Indians All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor in the sixth inning of a 5-4 win over Kansas City on Sunday. An adult holding the child left the seating area immediately afterward.
The Indians said in a statement the boy was released from a hospital on Sunday evening.
"The Indians organization and Francisco Lindor are very thankful Henry is doing well," the team said Tuesday.
Protective netting at Progressive Field runs to the end of each dugout. Lindor's line drive landed several sections beyond the netting and was about 12 to 15 rows into the stands.
On Monday, the Chicago White Sox became the first team in the major leagues to extend protective netting from foul pole to foul pole for their game against the Miami Marlins.
The Washington Nationals were among other teams to announce this season that they planned to extend their netting. It was in place at Nationals Park on Monday when the game against Colorado was rained out.
Several fans, including a 2-year-old girl in Houston, have been injured by foul balls this season.
Commissioner Rob Manfred recently said extending protective netting down foul lines is a ballpark-to-ballpark decision because of differing configurations. Before the 2018 season, MLB introduced regulations mandating netting extend to the far end of each dugout.
WASHINGTON -- Nationals ace Max Scherzer is expected to return from the injured list Thursday.
"He felt good today," manager Davey Martinez said of Scherzer, who threw a bullpen session Monday prior to the opener of a four-game series between the Nationals and Rockies getting rained out. That contest has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday, with the finale coming Thursday afternoon.
Assuming Scherzer doesn't suffer any setbacks between now and then, he would take the hill in the finale.
Scherzer has been dealing with an inflamed bursa sac below his right shoulder and has not pitched since July 6, when he tallied 11 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals. One week later, the Nats placed him on the injured list, retroactive to July 10.
On Tuesday, Martinez said the Nationals considered the calendar for the remainder of the regular-season schedule, as well as the postseason, before landing on Thursday as the likely return date for Scherzer.
"We actually sat down and looked at the schedule, and that's basically how we came up with Thursday," said the Nats' second-year skipper. "I went all the way 'til the wild-card game. I'm hoping that we're not the wild-card team. But we sat down and mapped everything out from that day."
Washington began the day 6.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East, and in possession of the top wild-card spot in the NL. If Scherzer is able to go on Thursday, he would then line up to start in all three of his team's remaining series against the Braves, as well as in Washington's lone remaining series against the third-place Phillies. He'd also be in position to take the mound in a potential NL wild-card game.
A three-time Cy Young winner, Scherzer has been one of the game's most durable hurlers, having made at least 30 starts in all 10 of his full seasons since debuting in 2008. Since signing a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Nationals prior to the 2015 season, the 34-year-old righty had made only one other trip to the injured list, in August of 2017.
This season, Scherzer is 9-5 with a 2.30 ERA. In 129.1 innings, he has recorded 181 strikeouts, most in the National League. In June, prior to hitting the shelf, he went 6-0 with a 1.00 ERA and was named the NL Pitcher of the Month.
Atlanta Open: Dan Evans beats Jason Jung to reach round two
British number three Dan Evans coasted into the second round of the Atlanta Open with a 6-1 6-1 win against Taiwanese qualifier Jason Jung.
The 29-year-old world number 55, who reached the third round at Wimbledon this month, needed only 57 minutes to beat the 30-year-old world number 138.
In the pair's first meeting, Evans, seeking his maiden ATP title, served out to win on his third match point.
He plays American Tennys Sandgren or Moldovan sixth seed Radu Albot next.
The player to cause arguably the biggest surprise was Korea Republic’s Lee Migyu; bronze medallist at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta. Competing in women’s singles class 3, she accounted for China’s Li Qian, the no.3 seed, the four times world champion. Lee Migyu in her one and only match of the day, succeeded in five games (11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 14-12).
Defeat for Li Qian but hopes of progress to the main draw are still alive. In her opening match of the day, she accounted for India’s Sonalben Patel (11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-3). Li Qian is no relation to the reigning European champion by the same name or the young lady crowned world junior champion in 2003. Staged on the second day of play, the contest between Lee Migyu and Sonalben Patel will decide the final order.
Third seeds suffer
Likewise in women’s singles class 8 there was a surprise; Mao Jingdian and Huang Wenjuan, the respective top two seeds, duly completed their initial group phase matches unbeaten but there was defeat for colleague, Li Guiying, the no.3 seed and bronze medallist at the 2018 Asian Para Championships. She lost to India’s Suwarti Suwarti (11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9) and had to settle for second place in the group. Suwarti Suwarti remained unbeaten to reserve first position.
Problems for the third seeds; in women’s singles class 6 it was the same scenario but the outcome more acute. Macao’s Lam Oi Man was beaten by Korea Republic’s Moon Sungkeum (11-9, 11-8, 11-6) and by Iraq’s Najlim Al Dayyeni (11-6, 11-8, 11-3); the end result elimination. Moon Sungkeum and Najlim Al Dayyeni now meet to determine first place in the group.
Notable casualties, in women’s singles class 11, the casualty was even more notable. Hong Kong’s Ng Mui Wui, gold medallist at the 2018 Asian Para Championships and bronze medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, experienced defeat. After overcoming Thailand’s Phimolphan Deetam (11-5, 11-2, 11-5), she was beaten by Korea Republic’s Seo Yanghee (8-11, 10-12, 17-15, 11-9, 11-9). Seo Yanghee and Phimolphan Deetam confront each other to determine the final group order.
Biggest upset
Surprises amongst the leading names in the women’s singles events; there were also unexpected outcomes in the counterpart men’s singles competitions but not to the same extent.
Undoubtedly, the biggest casualty was Korea Republic’s Cha Sooyong; competing in class 2, after overcoming Thailand’s Thirayu Chueawong (11-5, 11-6, 11-8), he was beaten by Iraq’s Ali Al-Saedi (11-4, 11-9, 11-9). One match remains for each of the four players in the group.
Similarly there were defeats against the odds for Korea Republic’s Kim Kiyoung in class 5 and Japan’s Koya Kato in class 11. Kim Kiyoung, the no.3 seed and bronze medallist at last year’s Asian Games, was beaten by China’s Liu Fu (11-6, 11-8, 3-11, 11-3) and had to settle for second place in his group.
Meanwhile, for Koya Kato, after accounting Thailand’s Narongsak Paengjai (11-2, 11-5, 11-4), it was defeat when facing Korea Republic’s Chou Jaehyeon (11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3).
Otherwise, for the leading names it was a day without defeat; play in the individual events continues on Wednesday 24th July.
SONOMA, Calif. – The field is set for the annual Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle featuring the very best in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category.
This race-within-a-race pits the top eight riders in the class against each other as they compete for a $25,000 prize on July 27 during the 32nd annual NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
Former world champions Eddie Krawiec, Matt Smith, Andrew Hines, Angelle Sampey and Hector Arana Sr. comprise five of the eight competitors who earned the most bonus points during qualifying between the annual events. Also among the elite eight are Hector Arana Jr., Angie Smith and Ryan Oehler.
Unlike previous years, the final standings (led by Krawiec) will not determine first-round matchups in this exciting battle. First-round pairings will be decided on stage during a pre-race ceremony only moments before competition begins. The riders will each select a special Mickey Thompson tire. The inside of each tire will be numbered one through four. The riders who select tires with the same numbers inside will be paired up against each other for the opening round.
Current world champion M. Smith won this iconic event in 2018 when he defeated Krawiec in the final round, providing a big boost of momentum going into the Countdown to the Championship and setting him on a positive course that stretched through the remainder of the season. Krawiec and his teammate Hines have been dominant forces in Pro Stock Motorcycle so far this year and each competitor understands how the Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle can set the stage for success in the countdown.
This year’s competition also marks a milestone for females in the sport as this is the first year to have more than one woman among this elite field. A. Smith and Sampey have both competed in the Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle in years past and both plan to be the first woman in NHRA history to bring home the $25,000 prize from this specialty race.
Introductions and tire flips for pairings for the Mickey Thompson Tires Pro Bike Battle take place at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday followed by the first round at 1:15 p.m. The semifinals follow at 4:15 p.m., with the final round slated for 5:30 p.m.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Front Row Motorsports has swapped the crews on two of its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams.
Crew chief Mike Kelley and his crew will now service the No. 38 Ford driven by David Ragan and Seth Barbour and his crew will now work on the No. 36 Ford driven by rookie Matt Tifft.
Personnel changes to the No. 36 of @matt_tifft and No. 38 of @DavidRagan will take place this weekend at @poconoraceway and remain in effect for the duration of the 2019 season. pic.twitter.com/zMBG0YIt7Y
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) July 23, 2019
Combined Ragan and Tifft have only earned one top-10 finish this season. Tifft earned his lone top-10 result during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona Int’l Speedway, when he finished ninth. Ragan’s best finish so far this year was 15th during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.
KNOXVILLE, Iowa – With a little more than a week left in the battle for the Priority Aviation $20,000 Sponsorship, Carson McCarl continues to maintain his position at the front of the pack.
The cut off for donations/memberships towards your favorite race team/driver end at 6 p.m. CST on Wednesday, July 31.
It is still a very close race and no driver is out of the running. McCarl currently holds the lead in the race for the sponsorship over Lance Dewease and McKenna Haase.
The opportunity benefiting the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum for a $20,000 sponsorship from Priority Aviation is available to any driver competing at Knoxville in August at either the 360 Nationals or 410 Nationals.
Currently, 20 drivers have taken advantage of the contest. McCarl leads Dewease, Haase, Bill Balog, Sammy Swindell, Tyler Courtney, Tanner Holmes, Jac Haudenschild, David Gravel, Sheldon Haudenschild, Scott Thiel, Austin McCarl, Parker Price-Miller, Craig Dollansky, Clint Garner, California’s Mason Daniel, Kyle Larson, Chad Kemenah, Joe Beaver and Shane Stewart.
All that sprint car teams and fans need to do is have their prospective members or donors visit www.SprintCarStuff.com and order a membership there, or contact the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum and request membership packets or make a donation. If ordering online, specify your driver or race team in the “Notes” section on the final page.
The museum can ship membership and donation information out for the drivers and teams to pass out at their races in July. The driver or team with the highest amount of donations returned to the museum before July 31, will receive the $20,000 sponsorship funding.
All funds collected will go towards paying off remaining construction costs on the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower. Memberships start at $25 per year, but any donation amount will be accepted. So everyone can afford to help out their favorite race team and the museum.
For more information on the Priority Aviation $20,000 Knoxville Nationals Sponsorship, please call the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum at 1-800-874-4488.
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
