Sports Tuesday, February 26, 2019 17 Johnson holds off McIlroy to win 20th US PGA Tour title AFP six birdies in seven holes before MEXICO CITY a bogey at 18 -- but it wasn’t enough to catch red-hot John- DUSTIN Johnson captured son, who posted five of his six his 20th US PGA Tour title on birdies on the back nine. Sunday, firing a five-under par Johnson has won at least 66 to beat Rory McIlroy by five one US PGA event in 12th con- strokes in the final round of the secutive years, with his 20th WGC-Mexico Championship. career win coming in his 246th The 34-year-old American start. finished with a 21-under 263 Englishmen Paul Casey and total to win this event at the Ian Poulter shared third on 273, Club de Golf Chapultepec for shooting 65 and 68 respectively the second time in three years. in the fourth round, with Thai- “It clicked. I hit it really land’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, well this week,” Johnson said. who fired 68 to join the pack 10 “It means a lot, to get 20 wins off Johnson’s pace. out here is very difficult. To do Sergio Garcia, Patrick Cant- it before I turn 35 is pretty in- lay and Cameron Smith shot credible. identical 70s and shared sixth. “This is a big win for me. It Justin Thomas had the gives me a lot of confidence for round of the day with a nine- the rest of the year. I feel like under 62 which left him ninth. the game is in good form right He had four consecutive birdies now.” on numbers 10-13 and fash- McIlroy closed with a 67 ioned nine birdies over his first thanks to a sizzling back nine -- dozen holes. Al Adaid Desert Challenge organisers and representatives of sponsors after a press conference in Doha on Monday. Al Adaid Desert Challenge draws largest participation More than 500 cyclists & runners register for the one-day event on March 1 American golfer Dustin Johnson after winning the World Golf Championship Mexico 2019 at the Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK BIGGEST Qatar and the region are al- On behalf of Jassim Ali A. City on Sunday. (EPA-EFE) DOHA ways keen on being part of it. al Muftah, CEO of Doha In- The event is counting as The surance Group, Ayed Hekmat, THE fitness culture in Qatar, We have already regis- Qatar National Cross Country General Manager of Doha combined with passions for tered more than 500 Championships, with biggest Takaful said: “We are proud biking and running, has lifted cyclists and runners, number of Qatari nationals, of our partnership with the India eves clinch the Al Adaid Desert Challenge while the entries are including some females, on Al Adaid Desert Challenge for to new levels as more than 500 still open. The UCI start line.” the second year in a row, spe- participants have shown their Class 3 event is also Al Adaid Desert Chal- cially after the huge success England ODI series interest to contest on March 1 carrying $50,000 in lenge is organized by Qatar of the 2018 edition. Support- at the Sealine course. Cyclists Center in association ing events that encourage our IANS duo of Shikha Pandey (4/18) Dr. Jamal Rashid al Khan- prize money” with Qatar National Tourism community to practice sports MUMBAI and Jhulan Goswami (4/30) ji, Al Adaid Desert Challenge Dr Jamal Rashid al Khanji Authority (QNTC) and is sup- comes in line with Doha In- ripped through the English Managing Director, Thani al ported by the Ministry of surance Group’s vision and INDIA rode on an all-round line-up to bundle them out for Zaraa, Deputy Secertary-Gen- race in the one-day event was Culture and Sports and the reflects the pioneering spirit effort to thrash England by a paltry 161 in 43.3 overs. eral of the Qatar Cycling and included in the UCI calendar those aged 12-15 years old can Qatar Cycling and Triathlon that defines us. The Al Adaid seven wickets in the second After being reduced to Triathlon Federation, Ayed as the Class 3 event in 2017 compete in a 5-km contest on Federation. Desert Challenge provides us match of the International 14/3, Natalie Sciver (85) sta- Hekmat, General Manager and has been growing rapidly a specially-designed route. Rashed al Qurese from with a unique chance to con- Cricket Council’s (ICC) Wom- bilised the innings by raising of Doha Takaful, and Manar ever since. Khanji also added, “We QNTC commented: “The Al tribute to Qatar’s efforts in en’s Championship and take a brief 30-run fourth wicket Khalifa al Muraikhi, Direc- Once again Khor Al Adaid have completed our prepara- Adaid Desert Challenge, now developing the sports tourism an unassailable 2-0 lead in tor PR and Corporate Com- region will provide a spectacu- tions to host another success- in its fourth edition, has been sector and hosting interna- the three-ODI rubber at the Smriti steadied the munications in Ooredoo, held lar setting for the event offer- ful edition of the Al Adaid successful in attracting local tional sports events.” Wankhede Stadium here on a press conference and gave ing the participants the spec- Desert Challenge. Thanks to contestants as well as cycling Manar Khalifa al Murai- Monday. innings through a 73-run details of the event here on tacular desert and sea views of the support of our sponsors enthusiasts and adventure khi of Ooredoo said: “We’re Chasing a below-par 162, partnership with Punam to Monday. Qatar’s most impressive natu- and partners the event will seekers from all over the world delighted to be sponsoring the India broke little sweat with lay a solid foundation for “The 2019 Al Adaid De- ral wonder. Cyclists will follow see a record number of par- in different categories. Sports 2019 edition of the Al Adaid opener Smriti Mandhana (63) the Indian chase. sert Challenge will be the big- a 38.5-km route and will need ticipants and offer a total prize tourism is one of the six key Desert Challenge. Supporting leading the charge in the com- gest ever in the history of the to cross seven sand dunes on money that puts it among the areas of our National Tourism community sporting events is pany of skipper Mithali Raj (47 stand with Tammy Beaumont event in terms of participants their way to the finish line, top events of this category all Sector Strategy 2017-2023 and a key part of our corporate so- not out) and Punam Raut (32) (20) before combining with and total prize money. We while runners will cover a around the world.” we continue to work with our cial responsibility strategy, es- to reach the target comfortably. Lauren Winfield (28) to form have already registered more distance of 26.7 kms crossing “Also, we’re planning to partners locally and abroad to pecially when the event show- Despite the early loss of the biggest partnership of the than 500 cyclists and run- four sand dunes in the pro- revamp the event completely grow the country’s sports tour- cases the beauty of our country Jemimah Rodrigues for a 10- innings (49 runs). ners, while the entries are still cess. The cycling also serves and take it to next level under ism sector through such sports and all it has to offer. We look ball duck, Smriti steadied the But the departure of Win- open. The UCI Class 3 event is as the final stage of the Qatar the UCI terms. We want to events and raise country’s pro- forward to an exciting race and ship stitching together a 73-run field reduced England to 93/5 also carrying $50,000 in prize National MTB Cross-Country make host it over three or four file internationally.” some excellent performances partnership with Punam to lay and with the Indian bowlers money,” Khanji informed me- Championship. days so that the participants The event is sponsored under tough conditions from a solid foundation for the In- sticking to a disciplined line, dia persons. The organisers have also who wish to come from differ- by Doha Insurance Group, all the participants.” dian chase. the tourists started falling like After a modest start in planned two races for kids ent places in the world have Ooredoo Qatar, Doha Takaful, With the event getting Just when things were go- nine pins before being skittled 2011 by Qatari Chain Reac- at the finish line camp to of- a longer duration to stay and Rayyan more popular each year, the ing India’s way, Punam depart- out for a meagre score. tion cycling group, the event fer youngsters a chance to get compete,” he added. Water, Chevrolet Qatar, organisers are now offering ed but Smriti went on to bring started to get the support their first taste of mountain Thani al Zaraa, the QCTF Doha Bus, Dama Sports Wear, only last chance VIP registra- up her 15th ODI half-century BRIEF SCORES: of Qatar Cyclists Centre in biking and provide an ideal Deputy Secertary-General, Garmin Qatar, Rasen Sports, tion for a very limited number and in the company of Mithali England 161 (Natalie Sciver 85; Shikha 2015. Next year, it was re- family atmosphere. Kids aged said: “The Al Adaid Desert Hotel Royal Riviera Doha, Ho- of participants. For more in- carried the hosts near the fin- Pandey 4/18, Jhulan Goswami 4/30) lost to branded as the Al Adaid De- 7-11 years old can take part Challenge is an amazing event tel St Regis Doha, Qatar Red formation please visit: www.