WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 18 Tiger, Rory in spotlight at PGA AFP | St. Louis, United States tally right now,” Thomas said. “I was just so patient and calm.” iger Woods, Rory McIlroy Since 1980, only two players and 29 other major cham- have won the week before the Tpions began preparing for PGA and then captured the Wan- the spotlight of supergroup pair- amaker Trophy, Woods in 2007 KNOW WHAT ings as practice rounds open- and McIlroy in 2014. And not ing Monday for the 100th PGA since Woods in 2006-07 has an- Championship. yone won the PGA in consecutive McIlroy replaced An elite field with 98 of the years. world’s 100 top-ranked play- “Tiger has been a pretty big Tiger Woods as ers gathers at Bellerive Country influence for me,” Thomas said. the namesake for Club for the year’s final major “He motivated me to get where I EA Sports’ PGA tournament, which starts Thurs- am now. So it’s great to have him Tour golf game in day. back now.” 2014 Woods, a 14-time major cham- Woods briefly led on Sunday pion, tries to end a 10-year major at the Open Championship be- victory drought in his comeback fore sharing sixth after his best from spinal fusion surgery while final round in five years saw him three-time major winner Jordan share fourth at the US PGA Na- Spieth tries to complete a Career tional. Slam list that includes Woods, Grand Slam with a victory. But 51st-ranked Woods hasn’t Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Add on-form McIlroy, a four- seen Bellerive in 17 years so nine Player and Gene Sarazen. time major winner who was a holes of practice each day will be “When you have an oppor- runner-up at the Open Cham- critical in his search for an 80th tunity to do that, certainly it pionship, plus reigning Masters career victory and first in any weighs on you a little bit,” Spieth champion Patrick Reed, two- event in five years. said. “All I can do is embrace the Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy time US Open winner Brooks “I’ll take a look at the course challenge.” Koepka and reigning Open for feel more than anything,” Chile’s 164th-ranked Joaquin Championship winner Franc- champion Justin Thomas, 14- enth-ranked Jon Rahm and need a victory and Thomas no Woods said. “I need to get a feel Niemann, the youngest player esco Molinari of Italy and it’s time major champion Woods eighth-ranked Spieth play to- worse than a solo second finish. for the golf course now and how in the field at 19, could become clear to see why expectations in his first PGA Championship gether the first two days as do The last August edition of the the holes are playing. I need to the youngest PGA Championship are high for a thrill-packed final since 2015 and McIlroy are top-ranked Dustin Johnson and event before next year’s move get some reps on the greens and winner, breaking the mark set by major of 2018. grouped together for the first past Masters winners Bubba to May also has Thomas coming see what’s there.” a 20-year-old Sarazen in 1922. “I like the way the PGA sets it two rounds as are Molinari, Reed Watson and Adam Scott. off a win at the WGC Bridgestone Two-time major winner Zach up,” Koepka said. “It’s very diffi- and Koepka. Thomas and Rose could over- Invitational against a similar Chilean teen chases mark Johnson is joined in the field by cult. It’s a battle for sure.” World number three Justin take Johnson for world number world-class field. With a victory, Spieth would at Zach J. Johnson, one of 20 club Second-ranked defending Rose of England, Spain’s sev- one this week, but Rose would “I’m just in a great place men- age 25 join a select Career Grand professionals in the field. Serena Williams says struggling Venus survives Dolehide scare with ‘postpartum emotions’ Reuters | Totonto enus Williams avoided an Vupset at the hands of fel- low American Caroline Dole- hide, holding off the 19-year-old 7-5, 6-1 to claim her first round match at the Rogers Cup on Monday. Williams, coming off a dis- appointing quarter-final loss at the Silicon Valley Classic last week, fell down a break early but recovered to turn back her dangerous opponent. “I think she had a really great second serve,” Williams told reporters, of Dolehide. “I think Venus Williams in action I got a better feel for it in the second set. In the first set, I was late as Williams claimed 12 of iakova 6-4 6-4 while Goerg - still figuring it out.” the final 14 games of the match. es overcame Timea Babos 3-6 Dolehide displayed her full The only two other seeds in 7-6(3) 6-4. potential in March when she action during the opening day Among those yet to play are nearly took down world num- were ninth seed Karolina Plisk- top-ranked Halep and num- ber one Simona Halep at Indian ova and 10th seed Julia Goerges ber two Caroline Wozniacki of Wells. Against Williams, the who both won. Denmark. The top eight seeds young player lost momentum Pliskova beat Katerina Sin- all received first-round byes. Serena Williams Reuters | London I’m not doing enough for my City goalkeeper Hart signs for Burnley baby.” erena Williams was in a Williams said feeling over- AFP | London ton on Sunday. S“funk” last week because she whelmed was a normal part Both Pope and Heaton are felt her hectic schedule was not Last week was of being a new mother and ormer England goalkeep- also England internationals. leaving her enough time to care not easy for me. encouraged anyone struggling Fer Joe Hart has signed for Hart was at City for 12 years for her 11-month old daughter, Not only was I through a rough patch to stay Burnley from Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola made clear the 23-time grand slam cham- accepting some positive. with City chairman Khaldoon he would no longer be number pion said in a social media post tough personal “We have all been there. I Al Mubarak hailing his enor- one when we took over in 2016. on Monday. stuff, but I just work a lot, I train, and I’m try- mous contribution to the suc- “Joe Hart’s contribution to The 36-year-old American ing to be the best athlete I can cess of the Premier League Manchester City cannot be pulled out of the Rogers Cup was in a funk. be,” she said. champions. overstated,” Al Mubarak said in Montreal on Saturday citing Mostly, I felt like “However, that means al - The 31-year-old, who failed in a statement on Manchester “personal issues”, days after she I was not a good though I have been with her to make the England squad for City’s website. was beaten 6-1 6-0 by Johanna mom every day of her life, I’m not the World Cup, has signed a “His 12 years at the club has Konta in the first round of the SERENA WILLIAMS around as much as I would like two-year contract with Burnley seen him produce some re - Silicon Valley Classic, the most to be. for an undisclosed fee, the club markable performances and lopsided defeat of her career. “Most of you moms deal with said on Tuesday. Joe Hart heart-stopping saves that will “Last week was not easy for said postpartum emotions can the same thing. Whether stay- The arrival of Hart strength- live in the memory for a long me. Not only was I accepting last up to 3 years if not dealt at-home or working, finding ens Burnley’s impressive goal- Tom Heaton and Anders Linde- time to come. some tough personal stuff, but with. I like communication that balance with kids is a true keeping ranks following a dis- gaard for a starting spot under “His passion for and commit- I just was in a funk,” Williams best. Talking things through art. You are the true heroes. located shoulder sustained by manager Sean Dyche, with a ment to this club, evidenced by said in an Instagram post. with my mom, my sisters, my “I’m here to say: if you are Nick Pope at Aberdeen that will Europa League qualifier loom- a remarkable tally of 348 ap- “Mostly, I felt like I was not a friends let me know that my having a rough day or week — keep him on the sidelines for ing against Istanbul Basakse- pearances, means he will right- good mom,” feelings are totally normal. it’s ok — I am, too!!! There’s a time. hir on Thursday and a Premier ly be regarded as a City legend “I read several articles that “It’s totally normal to feel like always tomm!” Hart will be competing with League match with Southamp- in perpetuity.”.