TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2017 SPORTS Ancelotti rules Pedro suffered multiple Danish keeper Sorensen out Vidal move fractures: Chelsea boss retires after 24 seasons SINGAPORE: Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday there was SINGAPORE: Chelsea boss Antonio Conte said yesterday that for- MELBOURNE: Former Denmark international goalkeeper Thomas “no way” that Arturo Vidal would leave the club but admitted that Renato ward Pedro sustained “multiple fractures” to his face after colliding Sorensen said yesterday he is retiring from professional football after a Sanches could be on his way. Manchester United are rumoured to be chasing with Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina. The 29-year-old Spaniard playing career spanning 24 years. A veteran of over 350 matches in the both midfielders but Ancelotti ruled out any move for the combative Chilean was taken to hospital with a bloodied face after Ospina flew into English Premier League with Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke City, international Vidal. “There is no way. Vidal is our player, I have a lot of him while clearing a ball with two fists during the Blues’ 3-0 pre-sea- Sorensen played 101 times for the Danish national team. The confidence,” said the Italian coach, asked about reports in the son win over their London rivals in Beijing on Saturday. Pedro spent 41-year-old ends his career after two seasons with British media about United’s interest in the 30-year-old. Speaking the night in a Beijing hospital and returned to London the following Melbourne City in Australia’s A-League, where he was in Singapore on the eve of a friendly with Chelsea, Ancelotti said day. Speaking to media in Singapore ahead of a friendly with Bayern named the league’s goalkeeper of the year in his first sea- that there was a chance that the Portuguese Sanches, who had Munich on Tuesday, Conte said: “The situation was more serious son. “It was a very challenging decision, but after reflecting a poor first season with the German champions, may be head- because I hoped that it would only be a concussion. “Instead he had on my career and my achievements to this point, I knew ing for the exit. “Can be a possibility, but can also be a possibili- multiple fractures and I think with a mask in 10 days, he could come the time was right, both mentally and physically,” Sorensen ty to stay with us,” the manager said when asked if Sanches back to work for us.” Conte said there was no ill-feeling towards said in a statement. “I’ve been in a privileged position to would depart after just one season, with British media report- Ospina. “Absolutely no, because I was a player, I know these acci- play the game I love and enjoy a career of over 20 years, ing that United boss Jose Mourinho is close to securing dental (challenges) could happen,” said Conte. “Ospina tried to take which has included many highlights and I will look a loan move for the 19-year-old. —AFP the ball.” —AFP back on my career very fondly.” —AFP Spieth has career Grand Slam in sights after Open triumph SOUTHPORT: Jordan Spieth will go into Along with Nicklaus, the other players to the US PGA Championship next month have completed the career Grand Slam are looking to join an elite club and complete Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene the career Grand Slam after his memorable Sarazen. But Spieth is not a fan of compar- British Open triumph on Sunday. Spieth’s isons between him and the greats of the dramatic victory on the links at Royal sport. “I feel blessed to be able to play the Birkdale in north-west England saw him game I love, but I don’t compare myself. add the Open’s famous Claret Jug to the And I don’t think that they’re appropriate Masters green jacket he won at Augusta in or necessary. “To be in that company, no 2015 and his US Open title the same year. doubt is absolutely incredible. And I cer- The Texan has now emulated the great Jack tainly appreciate it. And we work really Nicklaus in winning three different majors hard to have that, with that being the goal,” before the age of 24 — his 24th birthday is said Spieth after becoming the youngest this coming Thursday. British Open champion since a 22-year-old At the moment Nicklaus is one of just Seve Ballesteros won at Royal Lytham in five players to have claimed all four majors, 1979. “But I’m very careful as to what that but Spieth can join that elite group by win- means going forward because what those ning the PGA at Quail Hollow in North guys have done has transcended the sport. Carolina starting on August 10 — and “And in no way, shape or form do I think I’m would be the youngest to get there. anywhere near that, whatsoever. So it’s a “It’s incredible. It’s a life goal of mine. It’s good start, but there is a long way to go.” a career goal. Growing up playing golf, I Spieth showed great nerve on Sunday after just wanted to be able to play in major quickly frittering away a three-stroke championships and compete with the best overnight advantage and then almost in the world, and things have happened blowing it completely on the back nine. very quickly,” said Spieth on Sunday. A wayward tee shot on the 13th forced He survived a major wobble in the last him to take a drop and play his third from round at Birkdale to end on 12 under par an adjacent practice ground. He escaped and beat compatriot Matt Kuchar by three with a bogey to sit just one stroke behind shots. He was already the fourth-youngest Kuchar before three birdies and an eagle in man to capture two majors with his 2015 the next four holes sealed the deal. double, having previously become the It was a remarkable show of guts, all the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in over more so with memories still fresh of his col- 80 years at the John Deere Classic in 2013. lapse at the 2016 Masters, when he blew a AUBURN: Grayson Murray of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning on the 18th green during the final round of the five-stroke lead on the back nine on the Barbasol Championship at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National on Sunday in Auburn, Alabama. —AFP PRAISE FROM NICKLAUS last day. Adding to his achievements, Spieth His victory, and the manner of it, drew warmed up for Birkdale with a victory at praise from Nicklaus. “He’s won 11 tourna- GOLF the Travelers Championship last month ments and I had won eight before 24,” which allowed him to match Tiger Woods Nicklaus, now 77, wrote on Twitter on in reaching double digits for tour wins by Sunday. such a young age. “It’s good and bad, “If you look at his victory total, his win Rookie Murray takes first because a lot comes with it. And a lot more today and the way he won, Jordan has attention, versus just being able to kind of shown an amazing display of maturity for go about your own thing. And I never someone so young, and he has been doing realised how underrated that was.” that for a quite a while.” —AFP US PGA title by a shot Kim wins Marathon Classic, WASHINGTON: Grayson Murray, a 23-year-old players largely fighting to reach the US PGA tee and made bogey, setting up the birdie at 16 American rookie, fired a three-under par 68 points list top 125 and qualify for the season- that proved the difference. While booking a spot Sunday to win the Barbasol Championship, edg- ending playoffs that begin next month. at next month’s PGA Championship, Murray did second 2-time LPGA winner ing compatriot Chad Collins by a stroke for his World number 156 Murray ranked 124th in not claim a berth in next year’s Masters, with US first US PGA title. Murray, who missed the cut in the US PGA playoff chase before this week but PGA winners in events opposite majors or World SYLVANIA: In-Kyung Kim rallied to win the Highland Meadows, she lost to Na Yeon nine of his prior 23 tour starts, sank a tap-in jumped into the top 60 with the triumph. “To get Golf Championship events not earning an auto- Marathon Classic on Sunday to become the Choi in a playoff. birdie at the par-5 16th hole for his margin of into the playoffs, that was my goal this year,” matic berth at Augusta National. second two-time winner this season on the “I always liked the golf course,” Kim said. victory at the Robert Trent Jones Grand National Murray said. “I didn’t set my goals too high for Stallings, seeking his fourth career PGA title LPGA Tour. Two strokes behind 18-year-old “I had a playoff before and I just have great layout in Auburn, Alabama. my first year.” and first since 2014, began the day with a one- Nelly Korda entering the round, Kim birdied memory.” Thompson closed with a 66 for “I was in control. I didn’t get out of my game Six players were in the hunt down the final stroke edge on Murray atop the leaderboard six of the first nine holes and finished with her fifth runner-up finish of the year.