Friday 43 Sports Friday, September 13, 2019 Rookie of Year Im eyes breakthrough win as PGA Tour season begins

WASHINGTON: South Korea’s Im Sung-jae will Tiger Woods and newly minted PGA Tour Player make a quick turnaround from his Rookie of the of the Year Rory McIlroy among other top Year campaign when he tees it up at The Green- names. Until the game’s top players start to brier in the first event of the US PGA Tour’s swing into action, youngsters and veterans on 2019-20 season. The 21-year-old from Jeju the comeback trail have a chance to shine. learned Wednesday that he’d been voted Rookie This week sees 2018 US Amateur champion of the Year after making 26 cuts in 35 starts. He Viktor Hovland of Norway make his debut as a posted seven top-10 finishes, including three tour member after posting some impressive top-fives, and was the only rookie to reach the rounds after turning pro in June. Tour Championship. The next few weeks also offer players like Im “Being the first South Korean player, and and US veteran Bubba Watson a chance to even the first Asian player, to receive the award prove themselves worthy of a Presidents Cup is pretty special,” Im said Wednesday after his captain’s pick. pro-am round at The Greenbrier. International team captain Ernie Els and US “That’s incredibly significant for me. This will captain Woods will make their four selections to give me a lot of confidence down the road.” Im complete their 12-man teams on November 4 for said playing a whopping 35 tournaments in his the December 9-15 matchplay showdown at rookie season “wasn’t my initial goal. Royal Melbourne. “In your first year, you just want to get your For world number 10 Bryson DeChambeau, card for the next year — to survive, honestly.” the highest-ranked player in the field, the event Having done that in style he can set his sights is an opportunity to follow Woods’s instructions on a first tour win, and The Greenbrier in White to his President’s Cup players to keep sharp in Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, could offer a the buildup to the event. good opportunity. DeChambeau said he planned to play four The tournament, which disappeared from the tournaments before the Presidents Cup and will Im Sung-jae schedule last season before landing in its new be hoping for the same kind of early-season spot on the calendar, launches a fall swing that success he had last year when he won his first includes 11 tournaments before December. tournament of the campaign at TPC Summerlin will begin random testing of players’ drivers to although a new policy has yet to be outlined. After five events in the United States, the tour last November. ensure they conform to required specifications, Also new, the tour this season has reduced heads to Asia for a three-tournament swing that A season after changes to the global golf something the tour hasn’t done in the past. the number of players who will make the cut features the new Zozo Championship in Japan rules sparked debate and some controversy, a The Tour said in August it was reviewing its from the top 70 players and those tied to the top that is set to feature 15-time major champion few more changes are in store. The PGA Tour pace-of-play policy after renewed complaints, 65 and ties. — AFP

Europe’s Solheim Steeplechaser Cup captain counting Chepkoech off to on home advantage Doha with to upset USA maiden win in Kenya

GLENEAGLES: The USA have dominated the Solheim Cup, and will be aiming for a third successive victory when the 16th meeting NAIROBI: World 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beat- with Europe starts today at the PGA Centenary Course at Gle- GLENEAGLES: USA’s Lexi Thompson (L) and USA’s Brittany Al- rice Chepkoech secured a berth at the world championships neagles. But a number of arrows point in favour of Europe, and tomare attend a press conference ahead of the start of The Sol- in Doha with her first ever victory in the event on home soil the home team captain Catriona Matthew is hoping to mastermind heim Cup golf tournament at the Gleneagles Hotel in Gleneagles, at the Kenyan trials yesterday. her own memorable three in a row. Scotland, yesterday. — AFP The 28-year-old, who only made the transition to stee- This is the third time the biennial contest has been staged in plechase three years ago, has won five Diamond League Scotland, and Europe pulled off a massive shock at Dalmahoy in races this season and successfully defended her world best can be advantages. There is not quite so much expectation, so the title in Zurich on August 29. Chepkoech clocked a modest 1992 and then won again at a very wet Loch Lomond in 2000. team can play a little looser. Ally has fitted in very well and Stacy “I think home advantage does play a big part,” suggested 9:45:15 at the trials in Nairobi, ahead of 2015 world champion will be staying around to help from the sidelines.” Hyvin Kiyeng (9:45.20) and Celliphine Chespol in 9:45.25. Matthew, a Scot who has played in nine Solheims. Europe has three rookies in the side attempting to reduce the “A victory for Europe this week would go right to the top of The trio, who will try in Doha to wrest the world title from overall deficit that currently stands 10-5 in favour of the USA. American defending champion Emma Coburn, crossed the my list of achievements. “It would even top my British Open win But none is feistier than England’s Bronte Law. (in 2009). “I have always loved the Solheim Cup. It has always been line together in a show of unity. “Apparently, the USA are favourites, but I don’t know where But for Chepkoech, the victory held a personal signifi- my favourite week. As captain, I have been busier than I imagined that comes from,” said the 24-year-old. “I love matchplay and was — there is an awful lot to do — but I have thoroughly enjoyed the cance — it was her first 3000m steeplechase win in her na- in the winning Curtis Cup side at Nairn so have good memories tive Kenya since switching from road racing to the whole process.” USA skipper Juli Inkster steered her side to vic- of playing in Scotland.” The form of the most experienced player tory in Germany in 2015 and again on home soil two years ago. steeplechase in 2016. “It’s given me a great feeling, winning from either team — Suzann Pettersen — will be firmly in focus. my first race in Kenya,” she said. At the last world champi- But she has an inexperienced line-up and suffered a blow early in The 38-year-old Norwegian has had many moments of con- the week when former world number one Stacy Lewis — a two- onships in London in 2017, an inexperienced Chepkoech fin- troversy in her eight appearances. ished fourth, missing a medal. time major winner — pulled out with a back injury. She swore live on American TV on her debut in 2002 and was Ally McDonald stepped in as reserve, but it means half of the But since then she has dominated the field. In July, at a Di- embroiled in a row over whether or not a putt was conceded to amond League meet in California, Chepkoech finished well visiting side are Solheim rookies. “Six rookies, but six great rook- Alison Lee in 2015. Two years ago, she had to pull out with a back ies,” was how 59-year-old Inkster summed up the situation. “They ahead of the chasing pack with 8min 55.58 sec — the fifth injury. A year after giving birth to a son, and with only a couple of fastest time in history. — AFP may be new to this event, but they are all experienced players. playing appearances over the last 18 months, she was handed a “I also think that when we are playing away from home there shock wildcard by Matthew. — AFP