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Claudia Perez Villalba prevails in Lima, joins elite company in Tokyo 2020 qualification
Inexperienced Mexican steals the show
A remarkable story, Mexico’s Claudia Perez Villalba travelled to Lima with the odds against her, after all she was competing in what was only her fourth professional tournament!
However, her lack of international exposure didn’t stop her from causing a storm in the Peruvian capital as she topped the women’s singles class 7 podium to seal her entry for next year’s Paralympic Games.
Success in Lima, Claudia Perez Villalba is certainly one of the standout names heading to Tokyo and will be joined on the plane by a whole host of international stars – Here are just a few names to note:
Melissa Tapper (AUS)
Australian superstar Melissa Tapper sealed her qualification after successfully retaining the women’s singles class 6-10 gold at the 2019 ITTF Para Oceanian Championships in Darwin with a straight games success against fellow compatriot Andrea McDonnell.
At Rio 2016 Tapper made history by becoming the first athlete from Oceania to qualify for both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games – she will be looking to make even more headlines at Tokyo 2020.
Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh (EGY)
At the 2019 ITTF African Para Championships in Alexandria, Egypt’s Mohamed Sameh Eid Saleh beat Nigeria’s Isau Ogunkunle to men’s singles class 4 glory to qualify for Tokyo. A magnificent feat and a historic one too as he becomes the first African to reach the Paralympic Games for a fifth time!
Eid Saleh’s highlight Paralympic Games moment came in 2012, claiming the class 4 bronze medal in London and will be eyeing up more silverware in 2020.
Feng Panfeng (CHN)
Just over a month back at the 2019 ITTF Asian Para Championships in Taichung, China’s very own Feng Panfeng took home the men’s singles class 3 top prize with victory over Zhai Xiang at the final hurdle.
Paralympic Class 3 champion at Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016, Feng Panfeng is aiming to make to four in a row in Tokyo and now has the opportunity to pull it off after securing his spot at the 2020 Games.
Plenty of places still up for grabs
Overall 21 further players will add their names to the entry list for Tokyo 2020 at the upcoming 2019 ITTF Para European Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden from Monday 16th to Saturday 21st September.
Alongside the 21 qualifiers from the European Championships, four players from Oceania have already sealed their tickets to the Paralympic Games with 14 from Africa, 21 from Asia and 15 from Pan America are also on the invitation list following the conclusion of the respective continental championships.
The remaining spots will be made up of successful athletes at Paralympic Qualification events in 2020, world rankings positions and wildcards – in total 208 athletes will be in action at Tokyo 2020 (174 male and 106 female).
Full details in relation to the qualification system can be found here.
Ben Te'o's Toulon switch stinks, says former England back Ugo Monye
Ben Te'o's decision to call time on his England career by moving to French side Toulon "stinks", says former England back Ugo Monye.
The New Zealand-born centre, 32, signed a short-term deal with the French Top 14 side shortly after being left out of Eddie Jones' World Cup squad.
It means Te'o, who was involved in an off-field altercation at an England camp earlier in August, cannot be called up as an injury replacement.
"I'm disappointed," said Monye.
"I think it is borderline disrespectful. For me, playing for your country is the pinnacle. It is something that millions of people dream of doing and only a few get a chance to do so.
"You can't come and swear allegiance to the country and then the moment things get a bit bumpy, catch the next flight to the south of France. It doesn't sit well with me at all."
Te'o switched from rugby league to union in 2014 and won his first England cap two years later.
Since then, he had been continually picked by Jones but the former British and Irish Lion is now reportedly set to play for Japanese side Sunwolves after his Toulon contract is finished.
Te'o was without a club after leaving Premiership side Worcester at the end of last season, but Monye does not think this excuses his behaviour.
"I know he doesn't have a club and he doesn't have finance, but I'm sure he could have offered his services to a Premiership club as a World Cup joker, he could have got a club," he added on BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union Weekly.
"There are those sitting on standby waiting for a phone call and keeping fit because the World Cup is something they all want to be part of. After the patience and investment that was put into him, to effectively stick his fingers up to the Rugby Football Union is not great.
"England have been great to him and my understanding is that he did not make a phone call to let them know he was off to Toulon, I think that is poor."
'Willi Heinz will want to be number one'
Te'o's absence from the World Cup squad came as a surprise to some, as did Gloucester scrum-half Willi Heinz's inclusion in the 31-man group.
England head coach Jones tried out several number nines as back-up for starter Ben Youngs and eventually settled on 32-year-old Heinz before the World Cup warm-up matches began.
And after Youngs put in a shaky performance during England's 57-15 win against Ireland, experienced England scrum-half Danny Care, who was left out of the squad, said Heinz "is not there to make up numbers".
"If he is in the best form as a scrum-half between him and Ben, he is gong to play," added Care.
"I think Ben would understand that. I think Ben would have to play quite poorly and Willi would have to play well when he came on for that to happen.
"But Willi Heinz will want to be number one. If Ben has another game like at the weekend, then you never know, Willi is knocking on the door and will be asking questions of the coaches."
Vunipola set to miss England's final World Cup warm-up
Mako Vunipola is set to miss England's final Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Italy with a hamstring injury.
The prop suffered a small tissue tear against Ireland, shortly after making his long-awaited comeback from another hamstring problem.
He is only expected to be out for around 10 days which shouldn't affect his involvement in the World Cup.
Exeter's Ben Moon has been called up as cover ahead of the match at St James' Park, Newcastle on Friday 6 September.
Moon is part of the squad flying to Treviso on Wednesday for another warm-weather training camp, with Charlie Ewels, Matt Kvesic and Joe Marchant - who are not part of the World Cup squad - also involved.
Meanwhile England still hope wing Jack Nowell will be fit to travel to the World Cup, despite Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter admitting he was "touch and go" for the showpiece in Japan.
Despite cautious optimism from the England camp, Nowell's recovery from the ankle injury suffered in the Premiership final in May has been far from smooth.
Earlier this month, the player admitted he pushed himself "too hard" in a bid to be fit for the World Cup.
England had expected him to feature in part of this month's warm-up schedule, but now accept he will only be available for the opener against Tonga on 22 September at the earliest.
With Ruaridh McConnochie also recovering from injury, Jonny May, Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga are the only fit wingers in the squad.
DUQUOIN, Ill. – The Illinois boys – Springfield’s Kelly Kovski and El Paso’s Ryan Unzicker – are headed to the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds to carry on their momentum from their last appearance in the ARCA Menards Series.
Both spent the entire day among the top 10 throughout the first of two annual dirt track races on ARCA’s 20-race schedule, with Kovski coming across the stripe sixth and Unzicker finishing ninth at the Illinois State Fairgrounds despite a last-lap spin off of turn four.
Both drivers are noted dirt track experts. Kovski has years of experience racing dirt modifieds in Illinois, while Unzicker is one of the Midwest’s top dirt late model competitors.
They know how to get around a dirt oval as well as anyone, but the fact that both are still hunting for their first series victory shows just how hard it is to transition from the purpose-built modifieds and late models to the heavier, bulkier ARCA cars.
It also highlights just how competitive it is at the front of the ARCA field.
“It is really tight at the front of the field for these ARCA races right now,” Unzicker said. “It doesn’t really matter if some of these young kids have any dirt experience or not. They are really talented and they’re going to pick up on it really quickly. Sometimes all they need is a 30-minute practice session and they’re set.”
ARCA’s two traditional dirt races have always been a challenge for those without a lot of dirt experience. Over the years, the dirt has allowed drivers who didn’t have a lot of success on pavement to find a path to victory lane.
Dirt specialists like the late Dean Roper, Billy Thomas, and Bob Hill have all scored victories on the Magic Mile at the DuQuoin State Fair.
But to prove Unzicker’s point, drivers like Parker Kligerman, Grant Enfinger, and Austin Theriault have scored wins in ARCA’s dirt races without a lot – or any – previous dirt track experience.
“It can be a challenge for them when the track is wet and heavy and we’re really moving dirt,” said Unzicker. “But come race time, the track has taken a lot of rubber and it has really slicked off. It’s almost like you’re on pavement then. You aren’t out there sliding around. You are driving it like it’s an asphalt car.”
Unzicker didn’t have the day he was looking for in his first ARCA Menards Series appearance of 2019 two weeks ago at Springfield.
However, that doesn’t temper his optimism for his next run at DuQuoin on Saturday night.
“We had a great car in practice,” he said. “We were the fastest by far all day long. We had made some changes that worked really well for practice and qualifying when the track was still tacky, but when the feature started they didn’t work at all. They weren’t anything we could undo on a pit stop so we were stuck with it. I think when we get to DuQuoin you’ll see what we’re really made of. I always had better results at DuQuoin than I do at Springfield anyhow.
“It’s only two weeks after Springfield so I am already used to the car and the driving style,” Unzicker added. “I don’t have to readjust to it after a year away from it.”
Unzicker recently won his 100th career late model feature and won the season championship at Fairbury American Legion Speedway.
With all that success, why does Unzicker take time away from his late model and continue to chase that ever-elusive ARCA Menards Series dirt victory?
“We’re missing a couple of big late model races to be at DuQuoin on Saturday night,” he said. “With Springfield being on a Sunday and DuQuoin having been on a Monday for so long, it was pretty easy to fit these two races into our schedule. We didn’t usually have to miss too much with the late model. But the move to Saturday night at DuQuoin means we’re going to miss a couple of late model shows we usually would have been able to make. I always want to broaden my horizons as a driver, though.
“I am really blessed to be able to race with my team and Hendren Motorsports. We’re competitive with the big teams,” Unzicker added. “We don’t have all the resources of some of those other teams. But I think we can do it.
“I really would like to think we can go to DuQuoin and pull one off.”
MADRID, Spain – The provisional calendar for the 2020 MotoGP World Championship season was revealed to the public on Wednesday, featuring 20 races between March and November.
A notable addition to next year’s schedule, subject to an FIM homologation, will be the Finnish Grand Prix on July 12 at the KymiRing.
The PTT Grand Prix of Thailand will move from the 15th round of the championship to be the second race of the year next season, rolling off on March 22.
All 19 of the races from this year’s MotoGP schedule return on next year’s provisional calendar.
Preseason tests will be held Nov. 19 in Valencia, Spain; Nov. 26 in Jerez, Spain; Feb. 7 in Sepang, Malaysia and Feb. 22 in Lusail, Qatar.
Marc Marquez is the current MotoGP point leader with seven races remaining, holding a 78-point margin over Andrea Dovizioso.
Provisional 2020 MotoGP Calendar
Date – Event – Track
March 8 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail Int’l Circuit
March 22 – Thailand Grand Prix – Chang Int’l Circuit
April 5 – Grand Prix of the Americas – Circuit of the Americas
April 19 – Argentinian Grand Prix – Termas de Rio Hondo
May 3 – Spanish Grand Prix – Jerez Circuit Angel Nieto
May 17 – French Grand Prix – Le Mans Bugatti Circuit
May 31 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo del Mugello
June 7 – Catalan Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
June 21 – German Grand Prix – Sachsenring
June 28 – Dutch Grand Prix – TT Circuit Assen
July 12 – Finnish Grand Prix – KymiRing
Aug. 9 – Czech Grand Prix – Automotodrom Brno
Aug. 16 – Austrian Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring
Aug. 30 – British Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit
Sept. 13 – San Marino Grand Prix – Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Oct. 4 – Aragon Grand Prix – MotorLand Aragon
Oct. 18 – Japanese Grand Prix – Twin Ring Motegi
Oct. 25 – Australian Grand Prix – Philip Island
Nov. 1 – Malaysian Grand Prix – Sepang Int’l Circuit
Nov. 15 – Valencia Grand Prix – Circuit de Valencia-Ricardo Tormo
Dietrich Holds Steady In National Sprint Rankings
CONCORD, N.C. — Danny Dietrich remained at the top of the National Sprint Car Rankings for the second consecutive week.
Dietrich, who has won 13 features this season, raised his number of starts to 63 races and as a result, lowered his average finish to 3.7
Dietrich leads World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series driver Brad Sweet, who has also won 13 features, and ranks second with an average finish of 4.0 in 56 races.
World of Outlaws point leader Donny Schatz (4.420) is third, while Knoxville Nationals winner David Gravel (4.680) ranks fourth.
Rounding out the top five in the national rankings is Central Pennsylvania regular Logan Wagner, wo has a 5.720 average finish in 25 starts.
Kyle Larson made his 20th start of the season and entered the top 10 in ninth position.
Dietrich leads the Eastern region on the strength of 13 victories, while other regional leaders are Buddy Kofoid (Great Lakes), Billy Balog (Great Plains), David Gravel (Northwest), Dominic Scelzi (West), Jacob Patton (Mid-America) and Carl Bowser. (Ohio-PA).
One hundred and 13 drivers have combined to win 291 features run through August 25.
Charges Against Dippel Dropped In New York Court
WALLKILL, N.Y. – NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series driver Tyler Dippel and Young’s Motorsports officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the charges against Dippel following his Aug. 18 arrest in New York state have been dropped.
Dippel released his first statement since the news broke on Aug. 23 that he had been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR under the sanctioning body’s code of conduct clause.
Additional details were revealed on Monday that Dippel’s suspension was the result of a traffic stop in Dippel’s hometown of Wallkill, N.Y. – where he was pulled over for traveling in excess of 80 mph – that ultimately led to a search of his vehicle, subsequent arrest and charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
Dippel offered an apology on Wednesday and recounted the entire sequence of events publicly for the first time.
“I would like to start by apologizing to my fans, Young’s Motorsports, NASCAR, Gander Outdoors, our partners, and my family and friends for the grief this situation has caused. Due to an ongoing investigation we have not been able to speak on the topic until today,” wrote Dippel in his prepared statement. “On Aug. 18, while driving home from the Orange County Fair Speedway, I was pulled over for changing lanes without (a) proper signal. The trooper asked my passenger and myself if we had been using drugs and we responded with “no” – because we hadn’t. The trooper continued to question us and then asked to search the vehicle, [and] I gave him my consent, as I had nothing to hide.
“In the back of my truck was a friend’s backpack, who was not with us, containing his prescription medication. Because it was in my vehicle, I was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance,” Dippel continued. “Upon my appearance ticket, I contacted NASCAR within hours to inform them of the situation. Due to the NASCAR rule book and code of conduct, they ruled to suspend me indefinitely. I respect their decision.
“Early this morning, at the Town of Wallkill Court, the charges against me in this case were dismissed. We presented proof that the prescription was not mine, and the person that the prescription belonged to accepted responsibility for leaving them in my vehicle. I, along with my team, will work closely with NASCAR to hopefully be reinstated, so I can be back in the Young’s Motorsports No. 02 Chevrolet. I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Dippel has competed in all but one of the 18 completed Truck Series events this season, with a best finish of third at Michigan Int’l Speedway on Aug. 10 during the regular season finale.
He missed the playoffs and currently sits 13th in Truck Series points, after being replaced by D.J. Kennington for Sunday’s race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park due to his suspension.
Goalie Cam Ward returned to the Carolina Hurricanes on a one-day contract Wednesday, and then he called it a career.
Ward, 35, retired from the NHL after a 14-year run that saw him lead the franchise to its only Stanley Cup championship in 2006. He was the first rookie goalie to accomplish that feat since Patrick Roy of the Montreal Canadiens in 1986, and he became the first rookie to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP since goalie Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1987.
Pen to paper.
Cane for life. pic.twitter.com/dY2MsAZLP3
— Carolina Hurricanes (@CanesNHL) August 28, 2019
Cam Ward has signed a one-day contract and will officially retire as a Carolina Hurricane!
More Info » https://t.co/k3Ott16NOj pic.twitter.com/WXds0dFQyZ
— Carolina Hurricanes (@CanesNHL) August 28, 2019
His legacy with the Hurricanes extends beyond that championship. Ward retires with the franchise records for career regular-season games played (668), wins (318), winning percentage (.557), shutouts (27) and saves (17,261).
He started 29 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season after leaving the Hurricanes as a free agent and went 16-12-4 with a 3.67 goals-against average and .897 save percentage. The latter two numbers were his worst since his rookie year.
He finishes with a 2.70 GAA and .909 save percentage for his career. His 334 career wins ranks him sixth among active goalies.
After a season away from Raleigh, Ward said it was important to come back home to retire.
"It was an honor and a privilege to wear the Hurricanes jersey for 13 years," said Ward. "Throughout it all, what stayed clear to me was my love for this organization, this city and this fan base. It is why my family and I call Raleigh home, and will continue to call it home. I appreciate all of the support the fans gave me throughout the highs and the lows. I thank you."
Ward was selected 25th overall in the 2002 NHL draft by Carolina.
Punch Shot: Favorite moments, biggest surprises of the Tour season
The PGA Tour season has come to a conclusion and our GolfChannel.com writers are here to reflect.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF THE SEASON (NON-TIGER MASTERS WIN DIVISION)?
RYAN LAVNER: Rory McIlroy’s second-round charge at The Open. Funny, because the most memorable moment of the season also came after the biggest letdown – when McIlroy roped his opening tee shot of the Portrush Open out of bounds, leading to a quadruple-bogey 8 and a first-round 79 that torpedoed his chances of winning the most important major of his career.
But then came Friday, and McIlroy’s spirited run on the back nine, with five birdies in a seven-hole stretch to scare the cut line and create pandemonium for the locals. He gave himself birdie opportunities on each of the last two holes, but ultimately he fell one shot short and blinked back tears afterward. Even in a crushing defeat, McIlroy produced some of the most electric golf we saw all year.
REX HOGGARD: It didn’t have the star power of Tiger Woods winning the Masters or the emotional appeal of Gary Woodland’s victory at the U.S. Open, but Shane Lowry’s convincing triumph at Royal Portrush had so much more. The Open’s return to Northern Ireland for the first time in more than a half century was perfect, from the course conditions to the crowds, and the Irishman’s performance provided the sentimental finish.
RANDALL MELL: “I got this!” Amy Bockerstette’s words echoed from the famed 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale near year’s start all the way to Pebble Beach and the U.S. Open in the summer. Gary Woodland told us he carried more than her words with him. He carried the attitude his friend with Down Syndrome showed making par alongside him during the Waste Management Phoenix Open pro-am. We heard him say as much after he pulled off the most delicate of chip shots, on the surface of the 17th green, to save par under pressure on the Sunday of his U.S. Open victory.
“She’s meant everything for me from a mental standpoint,” Woodland said after winning his first major championship. “Her attitude, her love of life, love for the game and her positive energy is so contagious.” The viral video nature of Bockerstette’s par in Scottsdale, the most engaged video ever on the PGA Tour’s Facebook page, stands testament to that.
WILL GRAY: It may not have had the biggest impact in real time, but Bryson DeChambeau’s 2-minute putt during the second round of The Northern Trust is a moment that could have significant consequences in the coming months and years. DeChambeau’s deliberate approach drew criticism from all angles, and it became a talking point that overshadowed an otherwise unremarkable event. But the fact that the incident drew fellow Tour pros out of their comfort zone and led to some pointed (and public) stances means it might just be the moment that gives actual progress to the movement to crack down on slow play.
BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE SEASON?
LAVNER: Class of 2019’s early success. Every year, it seems, golf’s next young star is sent off into the pro world with big dreams and even bigger expectations. Maybe it’s Patrick Rodgers and Ollie Schniederjans. Or Beau Hossler. Or Norman Xiong. This summer it was the Big 3 of Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa. I’d covered all of them extensively over the past few years, and I knew that they were future standouts, certainly, and Wolff in particular seemed to possess a starry quality that would endear him to golf fans.
But no one could have predicted so much success so quickly: A win for Wolff, then a win for Morikawa, and now a Tour card for Hovland. Against the best players on the planet, these studs – just a few months removed from college golf – were able to earn status for next season and beyond. So impressive.
HOGGARD: Nothing Phil Mickelson does should be a huge surprise anymore, but his victory in February at Pebble Beach qualified as a shocker. Although it was Lefty’s fifth triumph at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, it was very much a surprise given his play in the months before and after his 44th PGA Tour victory.
MELL: Tiger Woods’ victory at the Masters was one of the most magical triumphs of any PGA Tour season, but that made the disappointment that followed as surprising as it was frustrating. He practically disappeared, competitively. His long breaks, his sparing play and his discomfort when he did play, that wasn’t what so many expected to follow.
It continues to spawn conjecture about how much motivation he may have left in his gas tank, and how many miles he may have left in his still ailing body. This week’s news that he required arthroscopic knee surgery to repair cartilage damage further fuels concerns over how much magic he’s got left.
GRAY: Jordan Spieth has been asked for months what he might take out of a lean 2019 season, and he’s constantly spun it forward in an effort to build a foundation. But this season will likely end up being a giant question mark for the three-time major champ, as he struggled wildly at points with his long game and largely squandered one of the best putting years of his career. Spieth narrowly missed East Lake last year and was expected to bounce back, but he found himself toiling around the 150 mark in FedExCup points as recently as May.
A top-10 burst that included a T-3 finish at Bethpage seemed to signal a turnaround, but in hindsight those results appear all the more remarkable given the valleys that surrounded them. Spieth has the innate talent to turn things around in a blink, but that talent only made his inability to create any sense of rhythm more bewildering.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR?
LAVNER: Brooks Koepka. Name the only player who won a major, a World Golf Championship event and another Tour title; who placed in the top 4 in every major; and who also finished in the top 3 in the season-long FedExCup. The year, again, belonged to King Koepka, and every Tour player knows it.
HOGGARD: On Sunday at East Lake, Justin Thomas was asked who should win the PGA Tour Player of the Year award. After a lengthy explanation of the merits of McIlroy’s season, which included three victories and 14 top-10 finishes, he concluded by saying that Koepka will win the Jack Nicklaus Trophy. McIlroy’s consistency was impressive, but majors are the ultimate barometer of success.
MELL: Major championship victories almost always distort the math in battles for PGA Tour Player of the Year honors, and it’s no different this year with Koepka and McIlroy vying for the award. They each won three times, but Koepka’s PGA Championship title and his remarkable consistency in this year’s majors (T-2, W, 2nd, T-4) trump McIlroy’s impressive overall consistency. Majors are like gold bricks on the scale we use to measure excellence in the game. As formidable as McIlroy’s Players Championship and Tour Championship titles were, and as meaningful as his Vardon Trophy is, they aren’t quite as golden as what Koepka delivered.
GRAY: McIlroy had the big payday, but the Player of the Year award should remain in Koepka’s possession. Put aside the fact that McIlroy would likely pay $30 million to trade his season for Koepka’s, which included a major and a WGC versus McIlroy’s Players and FedExCup titles. Koepka’s ability to shine on the biggest stages – all while professing that those are the only stages he really cares about – was remarkable. Only five men finished ahead of Koepka in a major this year, he came within a whisker of a nearly unprecedented three-peat at Pebble Beach and authored a largely dominant title defense at the PGA. McIlroy’s stat line was impressive, as were his brightest moments. But Koepka is the alpha of 2019.
BEST NON-MAJOR TOURNAMENT?
LAVNER: 3M Open. What a pleasant surprise, with the inaugural event getting a significant boost with newcomers Wolff and Morikawa going head-to-head in the final pairing and the polarizing Bryson DeChambeau in hot pursuit. On the back nine the young pros combined for a whopping nine birdies and an eagle, with Wolff’s walk-off 3 cementing his status as one of the game’s next superstars.
HOGGARD: The season finale wasn’t supposed to be this good with the new strokes-based scoring and a field that didn’t include Woods, but it proved to be the year’s most compelling tournament (non-major). The new format delivered a final pairing of Koepka and McIlroy, the year’s two best players, vying for a $15 million payday. The Tour Championship might be contrived, but that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining.
MELL: The Players Championship was as medicinal as it was exhilarating. The riveting, action-packed finish couldn’t have been better timed with the start of the year mired in an unseemly rift between PGA Tour pros and the USGA. McIlroy’s victory delivered so much Sunday fun, putting the focus back on competition itself, instead of all that ugly squabbling over the revamping of the Rules of Golf. Though a growing effort was underway behind the scenes to remedy player relationships with the USGA, the page seemed to turn with the action at TPC Sawgrass, with all the drama sweeping over us like a freshening breeze.
GRAY: McIlroy’s season will likely be defined by the wins he tallied at TPC Sawgrass and East Lake, but his game was never more electrifying than during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open. McIlroy turned a tight leaderboard into a coronation with a final-round 61 that looked for a while like it was going to threaten sub-60 territory. Throw in other highlights, like Brandt Snedeker’s second-round 60 at Hamilton and Graeme McDowell’s monster par save on the final hole to punch his ticket to Royal Portrush, and you have a compelling event.
But with McIlroy at the top, donning a Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors jersey in celebration, and Shane Lowry notching a T-2 finish that would appear to have more importance a couple weeks later, and you have one of the best tournaments of the year.
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