I Dig Sports
JoAnne Carner, 82, sets records at U.S. Senior Women's Open despite missing cut
JoAnne Carner, 82, failed to reach her goal of making the cut at the U.S. Senior Women's Open, but she broke some records anyway in her two rounds at Brooklawn Country Club.
Carner shot her age and below with an 82 in Round 1 and a 79 in Round 2. She finished at 17-over 161 with the cut at 8 over.
But it was a historical two days for Carner, as she became the fifth golfer ever to shoot their age or better multiple times in a USGA championship while also being the oldest golfer ever to play in a USGA championship. The previous record was held by Jug McSpaden who played the '90 U.S. Senior Open at 81 years old.
"It was really fun," Carner said Friday following her round. "I mean, I started too late to -- normally you come in here you're all ready.
"But, you know, I was still hunting and pecking for some way to get it around there. Just, you know, I would hit a really good shot and then two holes later I would drop-kick it. You know, so it was just very erratic for me."
Wait, there's more that makes Carner's feat more remarkable. She has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had surgery on her right hip in December 2019. She was granted permission to use a cart during her time in Fairfield, Connecticut.
The 1971 and '76 U.S. Women's Open champion also didn't swing a club for 14 months due to COVID-19 but has been preparing for this event for the last two months. The preparation paid off on the tee, as she hit double-digit greens in both of her rounds in one of the toughest tests in golf, but did putt over 30 times in both rounds, too.
"Well, the USGA is always the toughest, even in the juniors," she said. "You know, the Opens, of course. But you can't just hit every green and every fairway in an Open. You're always going to have to play out of rough and out of the sand and all that.
"So your whole game has to be in good shape. That's what I love about it. Those boring girls down the middle don't win the Open usually."
Although Carner didn't come away with the win this week, there's nothing boring about the cigarette smokin' 43-time LPGA winner. She'll look to break her own record next year at NCR Country Club Kettering, Ohio.
Mexico overcame South Korea 6-3 in a a goal fest to reach the semifinals of the men's Olympic football tournament in Yokohama.
El Tri, gold medal winners at London 2012, helped eliminate France in the group stage as they finished runners-up to hosts Japan in Group A
- Men's Olympics soccer bracket and fixtures
Henry Martin opened the scoring with a close-range header on 12 minutes but Dong-Gyeong Lee pulled South Korea level eight minutes later with a shot from just outside the box.
Luis Romo re-established Mexico's lead on 29 minutes before a Francisco Cordova penalty six minutes before half-time, awarded after a foul by South Korea's Kang Yoon-Sung on Uriel Antuna, put Raul Gutierrez's side 3-1 ahead.
South Korea came out with intent in the second half and reduced the deficit on 51 minutes when Lee got his second after being set up by Kim Jin-Ya.
However, Mexico made it 4-2 just three minutes later as Martin doubled his tally.
Cordova then got his second on 63 minutes to net Mexico's fifth before Eduardo Aguirre added a sixth on 84 minutes.
Hwang Ui-Jo headed in a consolation goal in stoppage time for South Korea.
Mexico will face Brazil in Kashima on Tuesday for their semifinal in a repeat of the 2012 final.
Aston Villa have announced that they have reached a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Leon Bailey.
The winger had a productive 2020-21 season in the Bundesliga, scoring nine goals and assisting nine more.
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access
Villa confirmed in a statement that an agreement had been made with Leverkusen, subject to him completing a medical and finalising personal terms.
The signing comes one day after sources told ESPN that Manchester City had offered Villa a £100 million package for their captain Jack Grealish.
The deal would involve City paying Villa £90m and a transfer of highly rated young winger Morgan Rodgers.
Villa would like to keep Grealish but sources have told ESPN that he would be allowed to leave if that was his decision.
Jamaica interntional Bailey joined Leverkusen in 2017 from Genk.
The 23-year-old was part of the Jamaica squad which made it to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup before being knocked out by the United States men's national team in a 1-0 defeat.
Berhalter, USMNT look to top Mexico in another final
LAS VEGAS -- When the U.S. men's national team and Mexico meet in Sunday's 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, it will be the second time in 56 days that the longtime rivals have faced each other with a continental title on the line. And yet the two matches could not be more different in terms of the relative stakes involved.
Back on June 6, the sides met in the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League final, and it was the U.S. in desperate need of a win because, for the entirety of manager Gregg Berhalter's tenure, there had yet to be a victory that confirmed that the team was back on an upward trajectory.
A statement was needed, not only to generate some confidence in the coach's methods but also to give this generation of players something tangible to go with its undeniable talent. And, regardless of the wild sequence of events that took place during the game, the collective group stepped up, absorbed the pressure -- and a bottle or two to the head -- to ultimately walk away with a 3-2 win after extra time.
As for Mexico, while the loss stung -- they always do against the U.S. -- there was a belief that Gerardo "Tata" Martino's men had played well enough to win, having led twice and with the chance to make it 3-3 but for Ethan Horvath to save Andres Guardado's penalty. As it stood, El Tri would be back to fight another day.
- Gold Cup bracket, results, schedule and more
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access
So what has changed heading into Sunday's encounter at Allegiant Stadium? In a word: expectations.
The U.S. came into this tournament with an intentionally youthful, inexperienced roster, with one fundamental reason the desire to give presumptive first-team regulars -- Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Giovanni Reyna and others -- rest ahead of what is expected to be a busy season for both club and country.
But there was also a need to get a better idea of how impactful up-and-coming members of the player pool could be at the international level. This is especially important given that triple-fixture windows dot the horizon for World Cup qualifying, which begins in September, and depth will be tested.
Expectation-wise, this left the U.S. in a bit of a conundrum. Berhalter has said from the beginning that the goal was to win the tournament, regardless of roster construction. And yet there have been times when the team's youth has been trotted out as an explanation for shaky performances.
A 1-0 group-stage win against Canada, who had a slight edge in experience but also fielded some new faces in the absence of stars such as Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, was seen as a case in point, yet it was not so much the young players who let the U.S. down that day but rather veterans who did not step up.
In Thursday's semifinal win, Qatar looked a cut above in the first half but were unable to find a way past the impressive Matt Turner in goal, which allowed the Americans to rally late in the game and seal victory through an all-important Gyasi Zardes goal.
That this U.S. squad has reached the final speaks well of its ability to adapt, grow and grind out results. Moreover, while injuries to the likes of defender Walker Zimmerman, midfielder Paul Arriola and defender Reggie Cannon have limited options, they have also given Berhalter data points on players like Shaq Moore, Miles Robinson, James Sands and Matthew Hoppe.
Given those developments, the U.S. would seem to be playing with house money on Sunday. Its objectives have largely been achieved and little is expected against the pre-tournament favorite. Yet Berhalter wants his side to be greedy and finish the job.
"We're not done, and that was the message to the team," the U.S. coach said after the semifinal. "It's nice to make the final, but we want to win the final. Our No. 1 goal is to win the Gold Cup. We said that before the Gold Cup, and we'll say it again."
By contrast, the stakes for Mexico could not be more different. This is a game it dare not lose, even if it almost cannot win; beating a short-handed U.S. team to claim a 12th Gold Cup title would prove little, even if there are a players absent like Raul Jimenez and Hirving Lozano.
But in the event of defeat, pressure would increase and doubts would be raised heading into World Cup qualifying. Would it even be enough to cost Martino his job?
There has certainly been that impulse at times in the past, but the tenure of predecessor Juan Carlos Osorio is instructive. The Mexico Football Federation stuck by him after a 7-0 thrashing by Chile in the 2016 Copa America Centenario quarterfinals, and that patience and emphasis on stability was rewarded with World Cup qualification and a famous victory over holders Germany in Russia.
This Mexico team has found a way to get results, even if the actual play has sometimes fallen short of its lofty standards. Jonathan dos Santos has been rallied around following the death of his father, and one would expect that its experience edge all over the field, but especially in a midfield led by Hector Herrera, will tell at some point.
Berhalter noted how poor his side was in terms of winning duels against Qatar, with just 42.7%, while the tackle success was even worse at 30%. If that happens again, the likes of Rogelio Funes Mori should benefit and make it a long night for a back line that has performed so well.
But the very nature of this long-standing rivalry means that another drama-filled chapter seems inevitable. Given the mental fortitude shown over the past few weeks by the U.S., as well as the must-win nature of the game for Mexico, expect another compelling encounter.
Fletcher, Shepherd in as West Indies opt to bowl; Maqsood replaces injured Khan
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx
Joe Clarke powers Originals to seven-wicket win as Welsh Fire's unbeaten run ends
It's hard to imagine any team has been more scuppered by a big-name absence than Welsh Fire by Jonny Bairstow's England Test recall - as Gary Kirsten, in one of his now habitual embargo-busting faux pas, outlined to talkSPORT prior to the start of the competition.
There's no preparation like no preparation. Du Plooy spent ten days in isolation prior to his late arrival in the Welsh Fire squad, after getting caught up in the Covid outbreak that caused the abandonment of Derbyshire's County Championship fixture with Essex earlier this month - as well as the cancellation of the club's final Vitality Blast fixtures.
Clarke is widely considered to be the best uncapped white-ball batter in the country, and this was a performance that underlined exactly why. In the absence of Jos Buttler (like Bairstow co-opted for Test duty) he stepped up to open the Originals innings in a seamless transfer of power. At the age of 25, and with a number of off-field incidents now seemingly pushed to the back of his thoughts, he produced the sort of performance to reignite those England ambitions.
Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket
Alice Davidson-Richards downs Invincibles to keep Superchargers unbeaten
Belichick reiterates Newton is Pats' starting QB
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Saturday that Cam Newton is the team's starting quarterback -- repeating what he had said in April when the team drafted Mac Jones in the first round -- but also left open the possibility that things could change if Newton struggles in training camp.
"We'll take a look at the whole situation," Belichick said. "I don't think you want to evaluate players at any position off one or two plays, or maybe a day. So from a consistency standpoint, that's always important. And obviously production. So hopefully those things will be good, and I'm sure it will be a hard decision.
"We'll see how it goes. Let them play, and [we'll] try to do what we feel like is best for the team based on their performance."
When asked if he has an ideal time frame for naming a starter to get ready for the regular season, Belichick seemed to reject the premise of the question.
"No," he answered. "I mean, Cam's our starting quarterback. I think I've said that."
In essence, Belichick seemed to be saying that as long as Newton doesn't have a notable drop-off, he'll be under center when the team hosts the Miami Dolphins in the regular-season opener Sept. 12. That relates to his remarks from the start of training camp when he said all players, including the quarterbacks, have a clean slate and have to earn their spot.
"That's right, everyone does start from scratch. That goes for a lot of other players as well that I'm sure in your mind, you think they are starters, and maybe they are starters and they probably will be starters, but they all have to reestablish their positions," he said Saturday. "That's across the board for the whole team. That doesn't just pertain to one person or position."
Through four training camp practices, Newton has taken all of the top repetitions, followed by Jones.
Newton said Friday that he views it as a competition.
"Ever since I've been here, there's been a quarterback competition," he said. "I think, in essence, that's the underlying Patriot Way. Every position has a competition there, and quarterback is no different."
Sources: Ravens, Houston agree to 1-year deal
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens signed outside linebacker Justin Houston to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
This is a significant move for the Ravens, who added the best available pass-rusher to address the biggest hole on their team. Houston, 32, is a four-time Pro Bowl defender who has recorded at least eight sacks in each of the past four seasons.
Baltimore's pass rush was a major question mark after losing Matthew Judon and Yannick Ngakoue in free agency. The Ravens drafted Odafe Oweh in the first round, but they didn't have anyone on their current roster who had more than four sacks in 2020. Baltimore has also had the fewest sacks in the NFL over the past two years when not blitzing (26).
Houston, 32, received offers from multiple teams but chose to sign with the Ravens because he believed they gave him the best chance to get his first Super Bowl ring, a source said. He visited Baltimore in April, but the sides couldn't agree on the right price until three months later. The Ravens, who were limited by cap space ($8.8 million), have a history of spending more on their secondary than pass-rushers.
The Ravens also showed interest in Houston in 2019 before he signed with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. In 32 games with the Colts, Houston recorded 19 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 21 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and three safeties.
Houston joins a Ravens outside linebacker group that includes Oweh, Tyus Bowser, Pernell McPhee, Jaylon Ferguson, Daelin Hayes, Chris Smith and Aaron Adeoye.
New Yankees Gallo, Rizzo excited for playoff push
MIAMI -- With two new sluggers in place, the New York Yankees are ready to make their playoff drive.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo homered in his Yankees debut Friday night and All-Star outfielder Joey Gallo also suited up with New York for the first time in the opener of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.
New York obtained Gallo and left-handed reliever Joely Rodríguez from the Texas Rangers for four minor league prospects Thursday. Rizzo's nine-year tenure with the Chicago Cubs ended after he was sent to the Yankees for two prospects.
Entering the weekend series at Miami, the Yankees were 8½ games behind AL East leader Boston and 3½ behind Oakland for the league's second wild card.
"I've been hearing for some time that it was a possibility, that New York was in play for me," Gallo said. "I grew up a huge Yankee fan. My family is from New York. It was pretty surreal they told me I was going to the Yankees. A great opportunity -- it's an amazing team to be a part of. I'm excited."
The addition of Gallo and Rizzo to a lineup that already features Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and Gary Sánchez provides the Yankees left-handed power the club has lacked this season.
"Lot of heavy hitters," Rizzo said. "Lot of big boys with a lot of clout and walking into a new clubhouse for the first time in a long time is a good feeling. You come in here and you can't help but be excited and can't wait to get out there and play."
Gallo, 27, hit 145 homers in seven seasons with the Rangers and was tied for sixth in the majors with 25 this year. He also is praised for his work in right field.
Gallo started in right Friday night but is expected to play left field fairly regularly with New York.
"That's completely fine with me," Gallo said. "I'm cool with that."
For Rizzo, who had 243 homers in 11 major league seasons, joining the Yankees came with the difficult emotions of leaving the Cubs. Rizzo, 31, was a centerpiece that helped the Cubs end their 108-year World Series championship drought in 2016. Longtime teammates Kris Bryant and Javier Báez also were moved at the trade deadline Friday.
"It's crazy. It's been a lot of talk for years and for it to finally happen, you can't script it," Rizzo said. "We had good memories and friendships that are going to last forever.
"Did a lot of special things in front of a fan base that did not see a World Series in 108 years. Those moments will never be taken away."
With his trade to the Yankees, Gallo also will have a new look. Gone is the beard Gallo has sported for 10 years, in compliance with New York's facial hair policy.
"I literally had just gotten a haircut [the day of the trade], the beard trim, everything," Gallo said. "And three hours later, you're traded and you're going to New York. Ah man, I guess I have to shave. So I went home and had to do it on my own. That's one of the rules to play in New York. I don't mind doing it. I haven't seen my face in about 10 years."
Gallo will wear his customary uniform No. 13 with the Yankees, previously worn by Alex Rodríguez. Rizzo, who wore No. 44 with the Cubs, had no choice but to switch because the club has retired the number in honor of Reggie Jackson. Rizzo will wear No. 48.
"Kind of slim pickings around here, for the right reasons," Rizzo said.
At the trade deadline Friday, the Yankees also obtained left-hander Andrew Heaney from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league right-handers Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero. Los Angeles will send the Yankees $500,000 on Sept. 15, offsetting part of the $2,322,581 remaining in Heaney's $6.75 million salary.
An eight-year major league veteran, Heaney was 6-7 with a 5.27 ERA in 18 starts for the Angels this season.