Charging Scheffler closes on British Open lead

Charging Scheffler closes on British Open lead
Scottie Scheffler of the United States waits to putt on the 8th green during the second round of the British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, July 18, 2025. (AP)
Short Url
Updated 17 sec ago

Charging Scheffler closes on British Open lead

Charging Scheffler closes on British Open lead
  • The world number one brushed aside a brief heavy rain shower to pour in four birdies
  • Matthew Fitzpatrick was also four-under on the day through 11 holes

PORTRUSH, UK: Scottie Scheffler ignited his bid for a maiden British Open title by surging to within one shot of the clubhouse lead held by 2023 champion Brian Harman and China’s Li Haotong at Royal Portrush on Friday.

The world number one brushed aside a brief heavy rain shower to pour in four birdies on the front nine of his second round and reach seven-under for the tournament.

Matthew Fitzpatrick was also four-under on the day through 11 holes and tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside Harman and China’s Li.

Home favorite Rory McIlroy carded a two-under par 69 to reach three-under for the tournament, five strokes off the pace, as he continues his bid for a second Claret Jug.

Scheffler struggled off the tee on Thursday but still carded a first-round 68 to sit one stroke off the overnight lead.

He got his second round off to a flying start with a first-hole birdie in driving rain.

The PGA Championship winner then reeled off three consecutive birdies from the fifth hole, including a 34-foot putt down the hill on the par-three sixth.

Harman, who won by six shots at Hoylake two years ago, started with consecutive birdies before another on the par-five seventh hole took him into the outright lead.

The American completed a bogey-free 65, the joint-best round of the week so far, with his sixth birdie of the day on the 18th green.

“The only thing I’m really worried about is the first tee ball tomorrow, and then I’ll try to hit the next one up there close to the flag,” said Harman.

“If not, go to the second hole. It’s a very boring approach that I take. I’m not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy.”

Li is bidding to become the first Chinese man to win a major championship and he made five birdies in a second consecutive round of 67.

He came close to edging ahead of Harman, but saw a birdie putt on the 18th agonizingly slip by the hole.

McIlroy, who only made two of 14 fairways on Thursday, delighted the crowds surrounding the opening hole with a birdie to immediately move to two-under after his first-round 70.

His roller-coaster tournament continued, with bogeys on the third and fifth holes sandwiching another birdie on four, as his errant driving prevented him from taking full advantage of excellent scoring conditions.

But the Northern Irishman found his groove late in his round, making two birdies in his final seven holes to stay in touch.

“I feel like I maybe could be a couple closer to the lead, but overall in a decent position heading into the weekend,” said Masters champion McIlroy.

Robert MacIntyre, hoping to become the first Scottish major champion since Paul Lawrie in 1999, cruised into contention with a 66 to reach five-under.

MacIntire is level in the clubhouse with Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, also seeking a maiden major title, and Danish youngster Rasmus Hojgaard.

Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau bounced back from his disastrous first-round 78 by matching Harman’s second round with a spectacular 65.

DeChambeau appeared set to miss the cut for a second straight British Open when he bogeyed the 11th to slip back to five-over, with the projected cut line at plus two.

But the American found four birdies in his final seven holes.

“I wanted to go home. But I woke up this morning and I said, ‘You know what, I can’t give up’,” said DeChambeau.


Club Championship finals set for second weekend of Esports World Cup in Riyadh

Club Championship finals set for second weekend of Esports World Cup in Riyadh
Updated 53 sec ago

Club Championship finals set for second weekend of Esports World Cup in Riyadh

Club Championship finals set for second weekend of Esports World Cup in Riyadh
  • Saudi’s Team Falcons could end the weekend in first place, with rosters competing in 4 competitions

RIYADH: As the second weekend of the Esports World Cup finals in Riyadh beckons, the Club Championship has already started to take shape.

So far Gen.G Esports, Team Heretics, DetonatioN FocusMe, BMW M Team Redline, Red Bull Sim Racing and VK GAMING are the sides out in front, each with 1,000 Club points.

However, their positions could still come under threat in the coming days. ’s Team Falcons might end the weekend in first place, with rosters competing in multiple games in the coming days.

But with Gen.G a firm favorite in League of Legends, they too are in a strong position to stand alone at the top of the table come Monday. With plenty more Club Championship points on offer, it is still anyone’s game.

League of Legends

One of the biggest titles to take place during the EWC is underway, and an incredible knockout competition is expected.

The first day of League of Legends action had two sides head home: North American Cloud9 and Vietnamese team GAM Esports.

While many teams have clawed their way through to the knockout stage, 2024 Esports World Cup Champions T1 will join the fray on July 18 to defend their title, and truly test the mettle of their rivals.

Aside from T1, the only side that finished in the top four in last year’s competition and is represented this year is Europe’s G2 Esports. The League of Legends EMEA Championship team secured a spot in the knockout stage after a 2-0 finish on day one.

With some exciting matchups ahead of the final this weekend, there are many upsets expected.

Dota 2

Dota 2’s epic two weeks of action finally conclude this weekend with a $3 million prize pool on the line.

Team Spirit and PVISION are locked in for the semifinals after victories in the quarterfinals, with more teams set to join them in the coming days. But some big names are already eliminated.

The 2024 champions Gaimin Gladiators have fallen in fifth to eighth place, meaning a new champion will be crowned in 2025. And with all the top seeded teams qualifying for the playoffs, the title race is wide open.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational concludes this week on July 19.

At the end of play on July 16, Team Liquid, Natus Vincere PH, ONIC Pertiwi Team, and Team Vitality have secured their slots in the playoffs. With just two days of competition, things are moving fast, with eight sides knocked out.

Now in its second year as a part of the EWC roster, the MLBB MWI features a $500,000 prize pool and presents a truly massive stage for women stars.

Team Vitality have been the most impressive, not dropping a single game so far. They also set a record for the fastest game in MWI history with 9 minutes, 38 seconds, but NAVI topped them by 1 second a few days later.

Free Fire

Mobile title Free Fire at the 2025 Esports World Cup kicked off with six fast-paced maps, setting the tone for what is shaping up to be a wide-open fight for the championship.

After day one, Team Falcons lead the standings with the Thai roster showcasing dominance, but a resurgence from the Brazilian teams including paiN Gaming and Fluxo mean everything is still in play.

However, as with Apex Legends in week one, anything can happen when it comes to battle royale titles and one good day is not enough to secure a trophy.

With the action closing on July 20, there is plenty of time for more surprises and upsets. And with Free Fire players known for their brash antics, there could be some drama in the closing stages.


Napoli sign Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca

Napoli sign Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca
Updated 18 July 2025

Napoli sign Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca

Napoli sign Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca
  • The deal is costing Napoli 35 million euros including nine million for the initial loan
  • Lucca, 24, the scorer of 12 league goals for Udinese last season

ROME: Italian champions Napoli completed their latest signing on Friday with the arrival of Udinese forward Lorenzo Lucca.

Lucca’s move to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona comes 24 hours after the Serie A club secured Dutch attacker Noa Lang from PSV Eindhoven.


“Napoli announces that it has loaned Lorenzo Lucca with a purchase obligation,” the club confirmed.

Local media report that the deal is costing Napoli 35 million euros including nine million for the initial loan, for the forward who earned the first of his five caps for Italy last October.

Lucca, 24, the scorer of 12 league goals for Udinese last season, will be competing for a place alongside Romelu Lukaku, Matteo Politano, Giacomo Raspadori, Giovanni Simeone, and Noa.

He joined Udinese in 2023 after spells with Palermo and Pisa in Italy and Ajax in the Netherlands.


2031 Ryder Cup to be hosted in Girona, Spain, says Catalan golf federation

2031 Ryder Cup to be hosted in Girona, Spain, says Catalan golf federation
Updated 18 July 2025

2031 Ryder Cup to be hosted in Girona, Spain, says Catalan golf federation

2031 Ryder Cup to be hosted in Girona, Spain, says Catalan golf federation
  • The choice of Girona was first reported by Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia
  • “Any announcement in relation to future editions of the Ryder Cup will be made in due course,” Ryder Cup Europe said

BARCELONA: The 2031 Ryder Cup will be held in northeastern Spain, the president of the Catalan golf federation has told The Associated Press.

Ramon Nogué, president of the Catalan golf federation, told the AP by phone Friday that “next week it will be official” that Girona will be announced as the host of the golfing event between the best male players of Europe and the United States.

The choice of Girona was first reported by Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.

“Any announcement in relation to future editions of the Ryder Cup will be made in due course,” Ryder Cup Europe said.

This will be the second time for Spain to host the Cup after Valderrama in 1997, and just the fourth time it will be played in continental Europe after Le Golf National outside Paris in 2018 and Marco Simone outside Rome in 2023.

The Ryder Cup is closely tied to Spain because of European team stalwarts Seve Ballesteros, José María Olazábal and Sergio García.

This year’s Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black in New York in September. The next one staged in Europe is in 2027 at Adare Manor in Ireland.


McIlroy five back as Harman leads British Open

McIlroy five back as Harman leads British Open
Updated 18 July 2025

McIlroy five back as Harman leads British Open

McIlroy five back as Harman leads British Open
  • Home favorite Rory McIlroy was level par at the turn and one-under for the tournament at Royal Portrush
  • World number one Scottie Scheffler is among the later starters and could face rainy conditions in the afternoon

PORTRUSH, United Kingdom: Rory McIlroy continued to battle driving woes during a topsy-turvy front nine of his second round at the British Open on Friday, as 2023 champion Brian Harman moved into the lead at Royal Portrush.

Home favorite McIlroy was level par at the turn and one-under for the tournament, five strokes behind Harman, as he continues his bid for a second Claret Jug.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, one shot off the overnight lead of four-under, is among the later starters and could face rainy conditions in the afternoon.

Harman, who won by six shots at Hoylake two years ago, started with consecutive birdies before another on the par-five seventh hole took him into the outright lead.

The American reached six-under for the tournament through his first 11 holes, one shot clear of Tyrrell Hatton, Danish youngster Rasmus Hojgaard and Harris English.

McIlroy delighted the crowds surrounding the opening hole with a birdie to immediately move to two-under after his first-round 70.

The world number two, who only found two of 14 fairways on Thursday, leaked a drive on the second well right but still saved par despite having to take a penalty drop.

His roller-coaster tournament continued with bogeys on the third and fifth holes sandwiching another birdie on four, as his errant driving prevented him from taking advantage of excellent scoring conditions.

Justin Rose, who lost to McIlroy in a play-off at the Masters in April, made his first bogey of the tournament on the sixth hole but was three-under overall after his front nine.

McIlroy’s playing partner Tommy Fleetwood bounced back from an opening 73 with three straight birdies to start his second round, moving to two-under for the tournament through nine.

Robert MacIntyre, hoping to become the first Scottish major champion since Paul Lawrie in 1999, surged into contention with three birdies in his first seven holes to reach three-under.

Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau bounced back from his disastrous first-round 78 with three birdies on the outward half to give himself an outside chance of making the cut.

Joint overnight leader Jacob Skov Olesen hit two shots out of bounds off the first tee and made a quadruple-bogey eight.

Scheffler also battled struggles off the tee in his opening round but still managed to fire a three-under 68.

The PGA Championship winner will have his eyes firmly set on the top of the leaderboard when he gets his second round under way at 3:10 p.m. local time (1410 GMT).

“When it’s raining sideways, it’s actually, believe it or not, not that easy to get the ball in the fairway,” he said on Thursday.

Other afternoon starters including Matthew Fitzpatrick and Li Haotong, who were both tied for the overnight lead on four-under par.

Reigning champion Xander Schauffele resumes his title defense on even par, while Jon Rahm and Shane Lowry, the 2019 winner at Portrush, will be looking to improve from one-under.


Liverpool line up swoop for Frankfurt striker Ekitike: reports

Liverpool line up swoop for Frankfurt striker Ekitike: reports
Updated 18 July 2025

Liverpool line up swoop for Frankfurt striker Ekitike: reports

Liverpool line up swoop for Frankfurt striker Ekitike: reports
  • Liverpool are preparing to launch a bid for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike after missing out on Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, according to reports on Friday

LONDON: Liverpool are preparing to launch a bid for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike after missing out on Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, according to reports on Friday.
The Premier League champions have switched their focus to Ekitike following Newcastle’s refusal to sell Sweden striker Isak, who is valued at around £150 million ($201 million) by the Magpies.
The Reds are trying to complete a deal for France international Ekitike by this weekend after he reportedly indicated he was willing to move to Anfield.
Liverpool are set to offer over £70 million ($94 million) for Ekitike, who has also attracted interest from Newcastle and Manchester United.
The 23-year-old scored 22 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt last season after joining the Bundesliga club from Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool have an opening in their forward line after Diogo Jota’s recent death in a car crash in Spain.
The Reds are also believed to be willing to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, while Colombia forward Luis Diaz has been the target of a rejected bid from Bayern Munich.
Liverpool have already splashed out £116 million on Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz, as well as signing defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively.
Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has also linked up with Arne Slot’s side since the end of last season after agreeing his move from Valencia in 2024.