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TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2017 SPORTS

Aaron Lennon returns to South Africa skipper du Swansea’s Korean star Ki training after treatment Plessis to miss first Test faces early season lockout

LONDON: Former England international Aaron Lennon LONDON: South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is to miss the first Test LONDON: Korean international midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng dealt a blow to returned to training with his side Everton yesterday with England which gets underway in three days due to family reasons, Swansea yesterday as the Premier League side announced he would miss almost two months after being detained by police for a ‘stress-related Cricket South Africa announced on their website yesterday. The 32- the start of the season due to a knee injury. The 28-year-old-who incident’. The 30-year-old former United and Tottenham Hotspur year-old batsman-who became only the fourth South African to score a Swansea signed from Celtic for £6million ($7.8m, 6.9m euros) in 2012 — star-who won the last of his 21 caps in 2013 — was photographed in the century on his Test debut in 2012 — returned home for the birth of his is to remain in South Korea after undergoing an operation on the knee he gym training. “Fantastic to see Aaron Lennon back at Finch Farm,” tweet- first child last week, but will be unable to return in time for the opening injured in a recent 2018 World Cup qualifier against Qatar. “He ed Everton FC Photos referring to the club’s training facilities. match of the four-Test series. “Faf’s wife gave birth to their first child will remain in South Korea to continue his rehabilitation, Lennon-who won the 2008 League Cup with Spurs-was last week but the difficult nature of the delivery has delayed his return before returning to Swansea after Paul Clement’s squad detained by police under the Mental Health Act in early to the UK,” said South Africa team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee. return from their pre-season tour to America,” read a state- May. Lennon had not played for the club since February “The mother and baby have settled at home but he will be unable to ment on the club website. The club’s medical team have been 11th but Everton-who paid Spurs £4 million ($5.2 million, make it back in time to take part in the first Test match. “He will link up out to South Korea to assess him following the operation. 4.5 million euros) in September 2015 for his services-sup- with the squad in the UK later this week.” Cricket South Africa said on Although no date has been set yet for his return to action, the ported him throughout the time he was treated. Under Friday that Du Plessis will wait until his wife, Imari, and baby are settled injury is not expected to keep him out long-term. Swansea, the Mental Health Act, police can detain people to assess at home before traveling to Britain. The first match of the four-test who preserved their Premier League status by the skin of whether they need urgent treatment for a mental series starts on Thursday at Lord’s. Opening batsman Dean Elgar-who their teeth last term, are hopeful of strengthening their health disorder and if they are a risk of harm to has seven Test centuries to his credit-will captain the side in Du Plessis’ midfield in the coming days with Spaniard Roque Mesa themselves or others. — AFP absence. — AFP who plays for Las Palmas. —AFP

Tearful Stanley ends drought with PGA National playoff win

POTOMAC: Kyle Stanley wiped away tears Australians Curtis Luck and Marc Leishman while pondering five years of struggle and and Americans Ben Martin, Keegan Bradley, doubt that ended Sunday with his playoff Johnson Wagner and Spencer Levin. victory over fellow American Charles Howell to win the PGA National. After both LAIRD IN BRITISH OPEN fired four-under par 66s at TPC Potomac to Howell had some consolation despite stand atop the leaderboard after 72 holes failing to end his decade-old win drought, on seven-under 273, Stanley parred the joining Stanley, Laird and Kang in qualify- first extra hole to capture his second PGA ing for the British Open, the season’s next crown, the first coming 135 starts ago at major event teeing off July 20 at Royal the 2012 Phoenix Open. Birkdale. “Majors are really special so it will “There was some doubt there for a little be really fun,” Kang said. “I’ll be fine with the bit,” Stanley said. “It’s no fun. You question wind, but I’m not really used to that links- whether you are ever going to make it style course.” “To play it anytime is special,” back.” Tears trickled down his cheek. His Laird said. “It’s my favorite tournament.” It’ll voice cracked, then halted, as he spoke, be Howell’s first major start since the 2015 seeking the right words to sum up his per- PGA Championship and Stanley’s first severance to sustain his career the past few major since the 2013 PGA. seasons. “British Opens are a lot of fun,” Stanley “I wish I didn’t cry so much,” Stanley said. said. “You have to get creative and play a “It just feels so good to put the work in and non-technical style of golf I think I play real- see the rewards. I think that’s where most ly well.” Stanley, who lost his only other PGA of the emotion is coming from.” playoff in 2012 at Torrey Pines, prevailed In the dramatic playoff on the par-4 18th after a back-nine shootout that had 12 hole, Stanley was in the right rough off the leaders within three strokes. Stanley tee in the playoff but found the greenside opened with a bogey but began a run of rough, chipped to four feet and made the three birdies in four holes at the fifth, sink- putt after Howell had missed his par bid. ing 10-foot putts at six and eight. He added “I’m thrilled,” Stanley said. “It’s very special a three-foot birdie putt at the par-5 10th to get a second win... I knew it was just a and a tap-in birdie at 14. Howell grabbed a matter of time.” share of the lead by sinking a 27-foot eagle Howell, coming off a 10-week layoff with chip at 14, the 299-yard hole that surren- a fractured rib, has not won in 293 PGA dered the most eagles of any par-4 hole on OLYMPIA FIELDS: Danielle Kang raises the championship trophy after winning the Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament at Olympia starts since taking a playoff over Phil tour this year. Fields Country Club, Sunday, in Olympia Fields, Ill. —AP Mickelson at Riviera in 2007. “I’m a bit shocked,” Howell said. “I can’t believe how WATNEY TIES MARK WITH 64 well I played. I started hitting balls eight or Fowler was foiled by a botched chip and GOLF nine days ago. I came in here quite rusty. a poor putt to double bogey 14, the week’s I’m glad to be back and hopefully can stay easiest hole. “Making nine birdies is a really healthy.” good thing because it’s hard to give your- Ninth-ranked Rickie Fowler made a self those opportunities,” Fowler said. Danielle Kang wins KPMG career-high nine birdies but the US star also Nick Watney matched the course record made two bogeys and a double bogey to of 64 set by US compatriot Russ Cochran in settle for a share of third with Scotsman 2010. “There was nothing groundbreaking, Martin Laird on 275. South Korean Kang no ah ha moment,” Watney said. “I was Women’s PGA Championship Sung was in a pack sharing fifth on 276 that doing a lot of good things. Today it all came included Sweden’s David Lingmerth, together.” —AFP OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill: From a young age, Danielle odds that my first win is a major? Pretty sure he her around right after the win. Dustin Johnson Kang’s parents instilled in her the belief that any- had something to do with it. It’s just incredible. But texted “That’s how you’re supposed to play, con- thing was possible. Even major championships. I know that he was there, because I felt - I felt him grats,” and Wayne Gretzky and Caitlyn Jenner - two Kang birdied the final hole to win the KPMG with me every day, and I still do.” buddies from her days at Sherwood Country Club Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday for her It was another great finish for the LPGA Tour’s in California - also reached out. first LPGA Tour title, edging defending champion second major of the season. Henderson beat Lydia While she got some great support from her Brooke Henderson. Ko in a playoff last year at Sahalee in Washington. friends this weekend, it was some sage advice from Kang bogeyed the tricky par-3 17th, and The 24-year-old Kang trailed Henderson and brother that set the tone for her breakthrough win. Henderson closed with two birdies to move into a Chella Choi by one after she bogeyed the par 4 Feeling overwhelmed after her last practice round, tie for the lead, coming up just short on a 30-foot 10th. But Kang moved in front with four straight Kang called Alex, who plays on the Web.com Tour, eagle putt on the par-5 18th. But Kang responded birdies on Nos. 11-14, getting hot with her putter to help formulate a game plan. He told her to “just with two solid shots to get to the green in two, and at the right time. blast it down.” “Alex is the one that I called to map then two-putted for the victory. “I just told myself it Kang also had a clutch 21-foot par putt at 16 on out the golf course. He’s one of the people that I was my week. It was my day,” Kang said. Kang lost her way to a 4-under 68 and the winner’s check of lean on for everything,” Kang said. her father, K.S., to cancer in 2013, but her mother, $525,000. Her previous best finish in a major was a Worked out quite well. Kang posted four rounds Grace Lee, was one of the first people to congratu- tie for 14th in the 2012 US Women’s Open. in the 60s. She had just five bogeys, with each of late her on the victory. She also face-timed with Henderson closed with a 66 to finish a stroke back. them coming in the final two rounds. brother Alex, an instrumental figure in her per- Choi, who was tied with Kang for the lead coming Thompson looked ready to make a charge, formance at Olympia Fields, after the trophy pres- into the day, was third at 10 under after a 71. beginning with three birdies and no bogeys on her entation. Kang’s father caddied for her when she “Really, she won this, and I was just trying to front nine. But she sputtered down the stretch. won the US Women’s Amateur in 2010 and 2011. make it a little bit closer and maybe force a playoff Thompson contended for the first major title of the She keeps a journal where she writes messages but like I said, I played great and I wouldn’t really year, but was penalized for a controversial rules to her father. “If I could wish anything, I would wish take anything back,” Henderson said. violation and lost to So Yeon Ryu in a playoff in the that my dad saw me won,” said Kang, wiping tears Mi Hyang Lee (67), Amy Yang (68) and Sei Young ANA Inspiration. The top-ranked Ryu shot a 72 in from her eyes. “I think that it’s been a really difficult Kim (68) tied for fourth at 9 under, and Lexi the final round at Olympia Fields and tied for 14th. road for me the past four or five years. It’s life, Thompson (69) and Inbee Park (68) were another “The back nine, I think I honestly got really though, you pick yourself up and you have to keep two strokes back. tired,” Thompson said. “I don’t really know what hit working hard at it, and then believe in what you’re Kang’s first victory in her 144th LPGA start was a me. Overall the whole week, I played very well. Just doing, and not letting yourself down. popular one in some high-profile circles. Michelle missed a few putts that I needed to make, and kind “I just know that he’s here for it. What are the Wie, one of Kang’s closest friends on tour, followed of my wedges let me down a little bit.” —AP

Perry wins US Senior Open by 2 strokes over Triplett

PEABODY: Kenny Perry withdrew from the US Tom Lehman and Fred Couples each shot 69 to every golf course that he plays. Therefore, if his Senior Open last year after two rounds with a tie for fourth at 8 under. Perry’s 264 was three putter is working, he’s going to make a lot of swollen knee and doubts about whether he strokes better than the U.S. Senior Open record birdies.” Salem also hosted the tournament in would ever play again. set by Hale Irwin at Saucon Valley in 2000 and 2001, when Bruce Fleischer won at even par. But POTOMAC: Kyle Stanley holds the trophy after the Quicken Loans National golf tour- A year later, he walked away with a gold matched by Perry in Omaha in 2013. Perry was overnight rain before the first three rounds soft- nament, Sunday, in Potomac, Md. Stanley won in a playoff. —AP medal around his neck and a silver trophy. the only player to shoot under par in each of the ened the greens, and Triplett and Jobe each took “I thought I was done. I thought, ‘Retirement four rounds at the 6,815-yard Donald Ross- advantage with rounds of 62 - matching the felt pretty good,’” Perry said Sunday after shoot- designed course. lowest score ever in a PGA Tour Champions ing a 2-under 68 at the Salem Country Club for a “That’s Kenny Perry. That’s the kind of player major. “Today was probably how they wanted Team NZ funding boost record 264 total and a two-stroke victory over he’s always been,” Lehman said. “When he gets the golf course to play all week,” said Jobe, who Kirk Triplett. going, he really gets going. He makes a lot of played his other three rounds at a combined 1 “I didn’t think I would ever be holding a tro- putts. He hits it so long that he shortens up under. “It was hard out there.”—AP after America’s Cup win phy again,” said Perry, who claimed his fourth major on the senior tour and his second US WELLINGTON: The New Zealand govern- “But we are not holding out an open Senior Open. “That’s how golf is: When you win ment announced NZ$5.0 million ($3.7 cheque book for Team New Zealand to you never think you’re going to lose. And when million) in funding yesterday to help the get whatever they want.” Economic you lose, you never think you’re going to win country’s America’s Cup-winning yacht- Development Minister Simon Bridges again.” Starting the day a stroke behind Triplett ing team retain key personnel after their said that when New Zealand hosted the but five ahead of the next-closest competitor, victory. Prime Minister Bill English said America’s Cup in 2000 and 2003 it gener- Perry pulled away from his faltering playing the money would help keep together the ated about half a billion dollars each time partner on the front nine and closed with 12 Team New Zealand syndicate that for the local economy. “This investment straight pars to finish at 16 under. claimed yachting’s oldest trophy last of NZ$5.0 million will go some way Triplett, who tied the tournament record with week with a crushing 8-1 win over Oracle towards protecting the valuable intellec- a 62 in the opening round, had four bogeys on Team USA in Bermuda. While the syndi- tual property, experience and skills that the front nine and another on the back. He shot cate is a private entity, English said a con- rest with key team members,” he said. 71, saving par on No. 18 after hitting his tee shot tribution of public funds was appropriate “While the location for the 36th into a flower pot along the fairway. given the next regatta in 2021 was likely America’s Cup has not been decided yet, “It was definitely match play,” Perry said. to be held in Auckland. we do know that hosting a regatta in “Once I got three up on him, I knew if I kept “We are in boots-and-all in the sense New Zealand has the potential to gener- pounding fairways and greens, he was going to that this is a big event, it will be great for ate significant economic benefits.” have to catch up with me. My play was flawless. I New Zealand and government has a role New Zealand’s budget for the 2017 played just the way I pictured it in my mind.” in supporting major events,” he told com- America’s Cup was reportedly up to Brandt Jobe, who shot 62 on Saturday to pull PEABODY: Kenny Perry tries to coax the ball after teeing off on the third hole during the fourth mercial radio. NZ$150 million. — AFP into third, had a 70 to finish seven strokes back. round of the US Senior Open golf tournament, Sunday, in Peabody, Mass. — AP