The 151st Open: Rory McIlroy says he’s ‘close as ever’ to end of major drought at Royal Liverpool
Sport
Rory McIlroy achieved a series of remarkable victories during his prime in golf. He clinched the US Open title in 2011 and followed it up with victories at the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014. Notably, in that same year, he secured the Open Championship title as well. However, despite these impressive wins, McIlroy has been unable to replicate the same level of success since then. As he prepares for his upcoming endeavors, it's noteworthy that McIlroy is set to participate in the Scottish Open ahead of the 151st Open Championship, scheduled to take place at Royal Liverpool from July 20th to 23rd. Golf enthusiasts can catch both these tournaments live on Sky Sports Golf, anticipating exciting performances from McIlroy and his fellow competitors.
2.46pm, UK, Wednesday 12 July 2023
Rory McIlroy insists he won’t get carried away with expectations for him to end his nine-year winless drought at The 151st Open next week.
McIlroy is among the pre-tournament favorites for the last men’s major of the year, live exclusively on Sky Sportsas The Open returns to Royal Liverpool for the first time since the Northern Irishman completed the third leg of his career Grand Slam in 2014.
The former world No. 1 produced a wire-to-wire win at Hoylake and added the PGA Championship a month later, but has since been unable to add to his four majors, despite posting 19 major top- 10 during that time.
The wait is almost over for the last men’s major of the year, with 24-hour coverage from the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool live from 20-23 July on Sky Sports Golf
“I sort of dealt with it [expectation] in Augusta this year,” McIlroy said Sky Sports. "I believed my game was in excellent condition, yet I couldn't deliver what was necessary during the initial days, and that was truly disheartening."
“I believe I gained valuable insights from that experience and simply participating in a golf tournament. 72 holes is a lot of time. A lot can happen. It’s a journey. It’s a journey of getting into the competition and being there on a Sunday afternoon, and there that’s a lot of shots to hit and a lot of golf to play.
Live DP World Tour Golf
Thursday 13 July 8:00
"Surpassing yourself is the worst thing you can do in this game."
McIlroy missed the cut at The Masters in April but has finished in the top seven in his last five world starts, including runners-up at the US Open last month, with the 34-year-old aiming to capitalize on the near miss there and at The Opened last summer in St Andrews.
"I'm actually closer than ever to winning another major," McIlroy added. My consistency, especially in the majors over the last couple of years, is much better than it has been in recent years.
See how Rory McIlroy missed first major in nine years after missing a shot at US Open at Los Angeles Country Club
“I’m really happy with that, but at the same time, I had a really good chance in St Andrews and I had a really good chance in Los Angeles a few weeks ago.
"It's evident that I need to consistently place myself in such scenarios. Repeatedly going through these moments and accumulating that experience, even if victories elude me, will be a constant companion every time I face similar opportunities."
Live DP World Tour Gol
Thursday 13 July 12:30
McIlroy returns to action this week at the Genesis Scottish Open, an event he sat out in 2022, with the world No. 3 looking to use the co-sanctioned event as competitive preparation ahead of next week’s major.
“I participated in four consecutive weeks of play and subsequently had a two-week break, during which I dedicated the entirety of the first week to complete rest," McIlroy explained. “I didn’t touch a club for a while after those four weeks.
Image:
Rory McIlroy is part of a strong field in Scotland where eight of the world’s top 10 are featured
“I just think to have some competitive golf under your belt, have a scorecard in hand and play. It’s not pure links in this place, but it’s linky enough conditions that at least you’re playing with some breeze and you’re maybe you are getting some images that you would get in a link course.
“All of these preparations will undoubtedly bode well as we look ahead to next week and the Open. But it’s still a great tournament and I can sort of score points on both sides of the pond looking further ahead to the end of the year for the FedExCup and Race to Dubai and everything in between. I think this week serves several purposes.”
Tune in to watch the Genesis Scottish Open live on Sky Sports throughout the entire week. Live coverage begins on Thursday with featured groups from 8am onwards Sky Sports Golf, in view of full coverage from 12:30. The Open is then live from July 20-23 onwards Sky Sports Golf.
Toto Wolff compares Mercedes’ W14 model to 2017 model and confirms focus will soon switch to 2024 challenger
Sport
Toto Wolff has dubbed Mercedes' W14 as "Diva 2.0," noting that it's more challenging to rectify compared to the 2017 car that initially earned that moniker. Wolff affirms that Mercedes will soon prioritize the development of their 2024 car. He emphasizes the need to draw inspiration from McLaren's progress as Aston Martin makes significant strides in performance.
5.39pm, UK, Wednesday 12 July 2023
Toto Wolff has labeled the Mercedes car another ‘diva’ and says the team has no choice but to shift focus to the 2024 challenger soon.
Lewis Hamilton finished third in Sunday’s British GP but was unable to pass McLaren’s Lando Norris for second as Max Verstappen took another win to extend his championship lead.
Mercedes are second in the Constructors’ Championship but 208 points behind Red Bull, while Hamilton is fourth in the Drivers’ standings, 134 points behind Verstappen.
With the Silver Arrows’ hopes of regaining the world titles already outdated, Wolff is set to focus on producing a title car in 2024.
“I think very soon, we have no choice,” said the Mercedes boss when asked when that switch would come.
“P2 or P3 basically has no impact on me and the team. It’s about going back and being able to win a world championship.
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton engaged in an epic battle for the Silverstone crowd following the safety car period.
“That won't occur this year, thus we must redirect our focus toward the next year. We should then anticipate the upcoming races, aiming to acquire knowledge, evolve, and ensure that we can carry those advancements into the following year."
"However, having stated that, the regulations remain unchanged, so persisting with this vehicle won't yield any new insights. It's a balance we must strike correctly."
Wolff had thought the British GP would offer one of the best results of the year for Mercedes, but Hamilton and George Russell qualified seventh and sixth respectively and while Hamilton finished on the podium, he received a huge boost by being able to make the his only pit stop under the Safety Car and therefore stay ahead of those who had already stopped.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were very impressed by the McLaren pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after the British GP at Silverstone.
Wolff says Mercedes can still beat Red Bull and Max Verstappen on track this year, but that the W14’s unpredictability and ‘diva’ characteristics – a term Wolff first used to describe fluctuating performance of the 2017 Mercedes car – is hindering them.
"I believed that Silverstone, given our track record, presented a stronger opportunity for a first win in 2023," Wolff stated."
"It's possible that there might be another circuit where our prospects are higher due to the changed characteristics of the car."
“I always believe we can beat Max. We have a good group of people, the best drivers and we just have to give them a more predictable car and not the Diva 2.0 and much more complicated than the first one.”
Wolff: McLaren and Aston Martin’s progress should be encouraging
Highlights from the British GP at Silverstone as Max Verstappen looked to secure a sixth consecutive win.
As they look to return to world championship contention, Wolff believes Mercedes should be encouraged rather than frustrated by the big leaps in performance that Aston Martin and now McLaren have made in 2023.
Aston Martin have emerged as a top team this year, while updates McLaren have made to their car in Austria and Silverstone have taken it from arguably the slowest car at the start of the season to second per merit last weekend.
Wolff explained, "The intriguing aspect of McLaren's resurgence is that within a single season, you can introduce upgrades that entirely transform the car's performance. We're not discussing mere fractions of a second, but rather a full second."
"It's beneficial for the sport when the correct actions lead to noticeable improvements – we've observed this pattern with Aston Martin consistently and now with McLaren throughout the current year."
Discover the funniest moments of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
“We’ve been struggling with our car for a year and a half trying to add performance, it’s arrived but it’s just taking away those little gains rather than taking a step like that.
“But I really see the positives. Basically I don’t care if we finish second or third, it’s important to find our way back to fight for wins and the world championship. While podiums are really happy for us to see that the car has potential, basically all eyes are on the grand prize and that’s why it’s exciting to see McLaren have been able to find a second in performance.”
Sky F1's Ted Kravitz offers insights on the British Grand Prix.
Will Mercedes follow Red Bull sidepod design in 2024?
The advances of Aston Martin and McLaren have come hand in hand with their cars being more visually similar to Red Bull, which remain unbeaten this season.
Mercedes ditched its ‘no-sidepod’ concept with a big aerodynamic upgrade package at the Monaco GP and Wolff has hinted the team is reevaluating whether to use a Red Bull-inspired design in 2024.
“The side panels and the bodywork make up just a part of the chassis. Clearly these seem to be very interesting solutions, but most of the performance goes through the floorpan and the diffuser and we haven’t seen how they interpreted the regulations and how they have the I did.
“So, in my opinion, it’s just the package. We see that the strong cars all look a bit the same when you look at them from the side and top down. And certainly that has played on our minds already back in the day. But maybe it’s just one more indication of where it’s going.
Karun Chandhok and Jenson Button analyze Lewis Hamilton’s seat position in his Mercedes.
“We already had the sidepod concept and the bodywork in the tunnel to see what avenues it would open up and how much it would add to performance. And the relative downforce loss, the way we measure it, was substantial.
“So it’s not something we wanted to pursue earlier in the year. We’ve changed our design direction, I think we have a great aero group led by (Technical Director) James (Allison) and I’m sure that will be a consideration given the step they took.”
Wolff also confirmed that Hamilton and Russell’s seating positions will be further back in the car on the 2024 Mercedes design.
“It’s definitely something we want to take off the table as a possible talking point,” Wolff said.
"Based on the data, we haven't identified any significant disparities from what the car is expected to perform, but these cars still retain an element of unpredictability, meaning the driver might encounter challenges."
#Toto #Wolff #compares #Mercedes #W14 #model #model #confirms #focus #switch #challenger
Stronger than ever Svitolina savoring Vondrousova’s test at Wimbledon
Sport
[1/4] Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, United Kingdom – July 11, 2023: Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina reacts during her quarterfinal match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek. REUTERS/Toby Melville
LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) – Ukrainian wildcard Elina Svitolina, after knocking out four Grand Slam champions during her fairytale run to the semifinals of Wimbledon following her maternity break, may believe the stars are finally aligning in the his quest for a first Grand Slam title.
At 28 years old, she has the opportunity to reach her inaugural major final by defeating the resurgent Czech player, Marketa Vondrousova, on Thursday. The former world number three noted that her altered career perspective following the conflict in Ukraine and her transition into motherhood in October has been beneficial.
“I tell myself I think I have fewer years ahead of me than behind me,” said Svitolina, who knocked down major winners Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin and Victoria Azarenka before knocking down another world number one Iga Swiatek.
“I have to try. I have no more time to waste. I don’t know how many years I will play more… You train for these great moments.
Svitolina, who returned to touring in April after giving birth to daughter Skai last October, said the Russian invasion of her country, which Moscow calls a “special military operation,” had changed her.
“The conflict has not only enhanced my physical strength but has also fortified my mental resilience. I no longer perceive challenging situations as disasters. There are worse things in life. I am calmer,” she added.
"Furthermore, I hold the belief that owing to my recent return to competitive play, I am encountering unique pressures.. I want to win. I have this huge motivation to get back on top. But I think having a child and the war has made me a different person.”
Vondrousova has endured routine outings at Grand Slams following her run at the 2019 French Open title clash, where she was beaten by Ash Barty, with the Olympic silver medalist’s career derailed by wrist injuries.
But “no rain no flowers” says a tattoo on her heavily tattooed arm and the 24-year-old Czech is once again showing glimpses of her best form and fighting qualities that could make her clash with Svitolina intriguing.
“We’ve played a few times, so we know each other,” said Vondrousova, who knocked out four seeds in the tournament.
“She’s a wild card, but she’s playing like a top 10. It makes no difference to me. I think in the semis you have to be ready for anything. It’s all inside.”
POWER V GUILE
In the other semifinal, second seeded Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka will meet Ons Jabeur in a match that will pit the raw power of the Australian Open champion against the precision and cunning of the Tunisian.
Sabalenka is currently enjoying a remarkable season, with her journey to the semifinals of Roland Garros after her significant achievement at Melbourne Park. She now aims to make significant progress towards securing her second Grand Slam title of the year.
But in Jabeur, she meets an equally determined rival who knocked out holder Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals to get revenge after losing to the Moscow-born Kazakh in last year’s title clash.
“He has a really good touch. Especially on grass courts, all his slices and drop shots work really well here,” said Sabalenka, who booked her place in the semifinals by beating American Madison Keys.
Sabalenka’s win will ensure she takes the world number one ranking from Swiatek, while Jabeur can remain in the hunt for a maiden major that will make her the first African woman and Arab player to win a Grand Slam singles crown.
“I think that’s the biggest motivation for her. "That's the reason she's performing strongly this season and particularly here at Wimbledon," Sabalenka added.
Jabeur, who lost to Sabalenka in the quarterfinals in 2021, said she needed to stay focused for what will be a different test.
“Aryna is more emotional than Elena, so maybe that could be a good or bad thing, I’m not sure. Let’s see,” Jabeur said. "I am getting ready and seeking retribution for what transpired two years ago."
Reporting of Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bangalore; Edited by Ken Ferris
Our standards: the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
#Stronger #Svitolina #savoring #Vondrousovas #test #Wimbledon
Nike’s openwork racerback dress takes center stage at Wimbledon
Sport
Whether you perceive it as a "perfect" dress or more akin to a criss-cross lampshade adorned with a doily, one undeniable fact about the Nike dress showcased at Wimbledon is its pervasive presence.
During Wednesday's Court 1 quarter-final match between Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka and American Madison Keys, both players donned the same Nike dress, featuring a cross-over top coupled with a double-layered openwork skirt.
Earlier in the week, Keys also encountered a clash with 16-year-old prodigy Mirra Andreeva, who likewise sported the ensemble during their last 16 games. This dress has also been observed on British No. Katie Boulter and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka are also among those who have worn the dress.
The sight of two players donning identical attire is undeniably peculiar, evoking a sense of Nike's ubiquity. In fact, I've received numerous messages and DMs questioning the rationale behind this dual display," remarked Laura Ward, the founder of the upscale tennis apparel brand EXEAT. It feels like showing up to a party in coordinated attire.
Katie Boulter also donned the same dress earlier in the week. Photo by Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Ward, however, offered praise for the dress itself, asserting that "the well-fitted bodice combined with the voluminous layered skirt creates an undoubtedly flattering silhouette." Glam Spin Tennis, a tennis-focused blog accentuating "style, fashion, and glamorous living," exclaimed, "The Nike eyelet dress is sheer perfection."
Following Aryna Sabalenka's remarkable 6-2, 6-4 victory over Madison Keys, Hikmat Mohammed, editor of Women's Wear Daily, characterized the dress as "bold" within the context of Wimbledon's traditional and stringent standards. "The fishnet dress exudes a playful and ruffled charm, with a touch of girlishness," she remarked. "Seeing two women from diverse backgrounds wearing it, one from Belarus and the other from the United States, feels like a gesture of sisterhood."
However, not all voices, particularly those less attuned to fashion, share this effusive sentiment on social media. British author Rose George, known for The Big Necessity, criticized the Nike dress, referring to it as a "criss-cross lampshade with a doily," deeming it quite ghastly. Another Twitter user, Pam Gunn, concurred, suggesting that "doilies are meant for afternoon tea, not athletic attire."
This isn't the first instance of the sports brand raising eyebrows at SW19. Back in 2016, their Wimbledon 'nightgown' stirred controversy as one of the most impractical sportswear choices, with notable players reportedly refusing to don the floating garment that unintentionally channeled Marilyn Monroe every time they took a shot. British tennis player Katie Swan, then 17, resorted to tucking it into her shorts during a match.
Katie Swan fell victim to the Wimbledon 'nightgown' phenomenon in 2016, known for its tendency to flutter. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
However, if an outfit is bothersome, lackluster, or even reminiscent of clumsily cut grandma's net curtains, the players are out of luck. As Karue Sell from My Tennis HQ pointed out, the majority of tennis players have limited choices once they've inked a deal with an apparel brand.
"Ultimately, the decision about a player's on-court attire boils down to financial considerations. Players tend to choose the brand offering the highest payment during negotiations," he explained in an article on the site.
Money undeniably plays a pivotal role. In 2018, Roger Federer famously parted ways with Nike after securing a 10-year, $300 million (£231 million) contract with Uniqlo. The brand seems to be aiming for a younger demographic now. Jannik Sinner, a 21-year-old who caught attention at Wimbledon by carrying a Gucci bag, recently inked a £150 million 10-year deal with Nike.
Having the same dress or outfit repeatedly showcased on our screens throughout the Wimbledon fortnight is a kind of recognition, as Ward pointed out. "Wimbledon stands as the apex of the tennis calendar, a tournament observed by audiences all around the globe," she remarked.
"The strategy they've adopted with this year's dress revolves around using texture and form to shine a spotlight on other brands present on the courts... and evidently, it has succeeded, given our shared captivation."
#Nikes #openwork #racerback #dress #takes #center #stage #Wimbledon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)