MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 SPORTS

Patskevich, Kolesnichenko Stenson pessimistic about Harden plans to be get Russia’s third gold retaining British Open title in Houston ‘forever’

IRVINE: Henrik Stenson is pessimistic about his chances of suc- HOUSTON: James Harden, who recently signed the richest contract in BUDAPEST: Alexandra Patskevich and Svetlana Kolesnichenko earned Russia cessfully defending the British Open title at Royal Birkdale next NBA history, says he wants to remain a Houston Rocket “forever”. The 27- its third gold medal of the world championships by winning the week. The Swedish golfer shot his best round of the week at the year-old American agreed last week a four-year super-maximum con- women’s duet technical title yesterday. The Russian Scottish Open yesterday - a 4-under 68 for a score of 4 under over- tract extension that means he will make $228 million over the next six pair earned a total of 94.0775 points to edge Chinese twins Jiang Wenwen all - but it still wasn’t enough to raise his hopes of lifting the claret NBA seasons through 2022-23. “I know where home is,” Harden said. “I and Jiang Tingting by 0.974 points. Yelyzaveta Yakhno and Anna Voloshyna jug again. “I know I’m not really where I want to be in my game and know where I want to be. I know where I want to retire ultimately and claimed the bronze for Ukraine. Kolesnichenko, who won the solo maybe nothing else, either,” Stenson said, “but I’ll try to enjoy.” where I want to win a championship. Everything is going to technical title Saturday for her first gold in an individual event, Stenson hasn’t won a title since shooting a final-round 63 at Royal happen here in Houston, and that’s the reason I’m here for- claimed her 14th gold overall at the worlds, equaling Anastasia Troon to win his first major. He said his ball-striking hasn’t been ever.” Asked Saturday how it felt to have the league’s top Davydova’s tally. Only compatriots (22) good for the last 18 months, apart from during a two-month contract Harden replied, “It’s cool. I’ve worked extremely and (20) have more. Aurelie Muller of stretch in the summer of 2016 when he won the BMW International hard. But it doesn’t really mean anything without holding France defended her 10K open water swimming title, mak- Open in Germany followed by the Open Championship three that championship up. That’s why I’m in the gym every ing up for her disappointment at the 2016 Olympics, where weeks later. “The long game hasn’t been in good shape for a long single day, and I won’t stop until I get it.” The Rockets she was disqualified and stripped of her silver medal for col- time and you can’t really work when you’re trying to perform,” signed Harden to the extension despite his disap- liding with Italy’s Rachele Bruni at the end. Muller finished in Stenson said. “It’s always that battle and I don’t feel I have enough pearing act in the Rockets season-ending play- 2 hours and 13.70 seconds, beating Samantha Arevalo of game to play the way I want to, and as soon as you go into practice off series against the San Antonio Spurs. In Ecuador by 3.30 seconds, to make it two golds for France mode you are losing the possibility to play your best. It’s a tricky game five of the Western Conference semi- from two open water races after Marc-Antoine Olivier’s one.” Stenson said he would be heading to Birkdale, in the north- finals, Harden delivered a listless perform- men’s 5K title the day before.—AP west of England, yesterday evening. — AP ance and game six was even worse. —AFP

SILVERSTONE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car, with teammate Valtteri Bottas of Finland in the background, during the British Formula One Grand Prix at the Silverstone racetrack in Silverstone, England, yesterday. — AP

FORMULA ONE Hamilton reigns at Silverstone to cut Vettel lead

SILVERSTONE: Lewis Hamilton swept to his just kept my head down and we managed it.” ted the following lap and came out behind the fourth consecutive victory at the British Grand Raikkonen said he was disappointed with German. This gave Bottas his chance to take Prix yesterday to move within a single point of his misfortune, but Vettel said he did not third ahead of Vettel and Verstappen, both world championship leader Sebastian Vettel. blame the team. “It’s just one of those things,” having swept past Hulkenberg, to run behind In a dramatic race packed with incident, Vettel said the German. Hamilton made a perfect Hamilton who led Raikkonen by six seconds. suffered a late puncture and finished seventh getaway under heavy grey skies while Vettel By lap 24, Hamilton had a cushion of more for Ferrari after his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen had flames leaping from his Ferrari’s brake than 10 seconds on Raikkonen but knew also pitted with a similar problem in the clos- drum, a distraction that did nothing to stop Bottas was a threat too as the only top driver ing stages. Verstappen passing him for third on the open- to have started on softs rather than super- Hamilton’s victory, a record-equalling fifth ing lap. softs. He rejoined in front of his team-mate in his home event and the 57th of his career, The two Toro Rosso cars clashed at Chapel and the pair led the field with Raikkonen third rebooted his title challenge as he came home where Carlos Sainz spun off into retirement, ahead of Vettel, the Ferraris waiting for Bottas ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who start- having collided with Daniil Kvyat’s car. The to pit. He finally came in at the end of lap 32 ed ninth, in a dominant Mercedes one-two fin- Spaniard also made contact with Kevin and rejoined fourth behind the Ferraris on ish. “It’s a feeling I just can’t describe really,” Magnussen’s Haas. After an investigation, the fresh super-soft tyres. There was further bad said a delighted Hamilton. “Look at this crowd. stewards gave Kvyat a drive-through penalty. luck for Fernando Alonso though when he Thank you to everyone who turned up. God This accident brought out the safety car for retired with yet another engine failure. bless you! “It was incredible - I was inspired by four laps before racing resumed with Hamilton With 10 laps remaining, Hamilton was clear all the kids who came.” back in control ahead of Raikkonen and by 12 seconds and Bottas, fourth, was closing Raikkonen was third for Ferrari, after the Verstappen while Ricciardo climbed to 12th. on Vettel, intent on fighting for a podium fin- Italian team had made a strategic gamble with ish. The Finn tried to pass him on lap 42, when their tyres, ahead of Max Verstappen and his VETTEL, VERSTAPPEN DUEL Vettel defended his position, but succeeded a Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who had Bottas, having started ninth after taking a lap later by surging past on Hangar Straight started 19th on the grid. penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change, into Stowe as the German’s tyres faded. Nico Hulkenberg finished sixth for Renault was soon up to fifth with a set of clean passes. This encouraged the men behind him to ahead of Vettel, Esteban Ocon and his Force Vettel and Verstappen were scrapping on and close in for the final laps as Hamilton reeled off India team-mate Sergio Perez and Felipe off the track in a fight for third, giving the another fastest lap to prove his mastery. And Massa, who came home 10th for Williams. packed crowd several thrilling moments. then with two laps remaining, Raikkonen suf- SILVERSTONE: Winner Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (2R) celebrates with his tro- Bottas said: “I am really happy for this today. It Vettel, frustrated by his inability to pass the fered a left-front puncture and had to pit, gift- phy on the podium next to second placed Mercedes’ Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas (C) and was not easy, with so many cars to get Dutchman, pitted after 19 laps and rejoined ing Bottas second place and Vettel third before third placed Ferrari’s Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen (R) after the British Formula One Grand through, but the team did a perfect strategy. I sixth, but moved ahead when Verstappen pit- the German also suffered the same fate. —AFP Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England yesterday. — AFP Lewis tumbles on back Kyle Busch dominates yet 9 at US Women’s Open again in NASCAR victory LOUDON: Kyle Busch tossed his 2- Larson was set to start the Cup race filled in for the injured Earnhardt last year-old son in the air during his latest yesterday from the pole until his car season, is perhaps the top contender BEDMINSTER: Stacy Lewis was on a the spikes. With the way golf shoes know the president.” Kerr said that she victory lane celebration. He’s taking failed inspection and forced him to to drive the 88. But Byron and free roll in the third round of the US have evolved, I just don’t feel I have as planned to speak with Trump after baby steps toward catching The King. the rear of the field. agent Matt Kenseth are certainly in Women’s Open at Trump National snug of a fit as I used to. I lost a few the day was over. “We’ll talk,” Kerr said. Busch dominated yet again to win the Series points leader Elliott Sadler the mix - and the odds of landing at Golf Club. The American birdied four spikes today, but I always have a few “But we’re not going to talk about pol- NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday was seventh in a race that included a Hendrick improve if the organization straight holes to pull within a shot of spare in the bag.” She shot a 4-under itics, I’ll tell you that.” at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 58-minute rain delay. He has a 45- decides to cut ties with the slumping leader Shanshan Feng, a run that 68 to move to 2 under. He won for the third time this sea- point lead over Byron. The 19-year-old Kasey Kahne. included a 40-foot putt on No. 9. LOCAL FLAVOR son and 89th time in his career in the Byron had his sixth top-five of the sea- Then, the day unraveled. After her POTUS PRESSURE? New Jersey native Marina Alex second-tier series. On Saturday night, son. He has two victories driving for JR GREAT JOB birdie on No. 10, she made a triple American Lexi Thompson shot a 2- admitted that her nerves got to her, he told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that Motorsports and has made a case as a Team owner Rick Hendrick bogey on the par-4, 11th hole, chip- under 74 and then visited President playing in front of so many family and he plans to retire from the Xfinity candidate to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. watched the race from atop Byron’s ping her third shot from behind the Donald Trump in his box near the friends from her hometown of nearby Series when he gets to 100 victories. in the No. 88 at Hendrick Motorsports pit box. “He did a great job. Very green off the front and leaving her 15th green. “I didn’t feel any extra Wayne, about 35 miles from the club. He has 175 career wins over NASCAR’s next season. impressive the way he works traffic chip back up short. A bogey on the pressure,” said Thompson, who with “It was a little crazy,” said Alex, who three national series: Cup (38 wins; Earnhardt, long NASCAR’s most and the feedback on the radio. Really 12th hole dropped her five shots off her family posed for pictures with the was the top US player after the sec- 2015 champion); Xfinity (89; 2009 popular driver, left the team’s top Cup good,” Hendrick said. “The guys are the lead. After five straight pars, she president. “It’s cool to have the presi- ond round. “It all just hit me. I had a lot champion); and Truck (48). Richard seat available when he announced he giving him good cars, but he’s got a hit two wedge shots into the water on dent of the United States here. It’s his of people here supporting me. I had Petty is NASCAR’s career leader with would retire from the series at the end lot of talent, and he’s a quick learner. the par-5 18th and closed with a 10. golf course. It’s all good.” people here supporting me that 200 wins, all at the Cup level. of the season. Alex Bowman, who ably He’s fast. —AP Lewis ended up with a 4-over 76 to Fellow American Cristie Kerr also didn’t even know me. It just got to “I know a lot of those are the drop to 2 over - 11 shots off the lead. wasn’t fazed by Trump’s appearance. me. It was a mental thing more than minors, so I’ll take them where I can Lewis declined to speak with the “He’s a huge supporter of women’s anything.” Alex shot a 73 and was tied get ‘em as of right now,” Busch said. media after the round. “No chance,” golf,” Kerr said. “It’s cool to say that I for 14th at 2 under. — AP “But certainly there’s going to be a lot she said twice to an LPGA Tour official. more wins to be had on Sundays, as The former top-ranked player has well. I’ve got a long road ahead of me, 11 victories, including two majors. She probably.” has finished second 12 times since her Busch started from the pole and last LPGA Tour victory in 2014. wasn’t challenged much late after an early duel with fellow Cup regular SPIKES ALLOWED Brad Keselowski. Keselowski led 102 Christina Kim thinks she’s the last laps but had nothing for Busch down LPGA Tour player to wear metal the stretch because of a pit road spikes. “I’m old enough where metal penalty. spikes were still a thing,” Kim said. “A “It is always fun being fast and lot of these kids weren’t even born leading the most laps and all that but when metal spikes were taken away we just didn’t put the whole race from competition. For me, it provides together,” Keselowski said. Busch’s No. a sense of comfort. I get great trac- 18 Toyota was one of just six cars that LOUDON: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, poses tion with it. You can read the greens finished on the lead lap. Ryan Preece with his wife, Samantha, and their son, Brexton, in Victory Lane after win- with your feet and you can gauge Stacy Lewis was second, followed by William ning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Overton’s 200 at New Hampshire Motor moisture levels of the golf course with Byron, Kyle Larson and Keselowski. Speedway on Saturday. — AFP