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McIlroy in hunt for first win since Masters at Irish Open

DUBLIN: Rory McIlroy remained in contention for his first tournament triumph since the US Masters after a bogey-free 68 on Saturday left him four shots off the lead heading into the final round of the Irish Open. McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam of major titles at Augusta National in April, carded four birdies to stay in touch with France’s Adrien Saddier, who also posted a round of 68 at the par 72, 7,441-yard, K Club course near Dublin. Italian Open champion Saddier led by a shot from Angel Hidalgo, who carded 12 birdies in a superb nine-under round of 63 that catapulted the Spaniard into title contention. Another Spaniard, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia fired a 67 to sit three shots off the pace, but overnight leader Joakim Lagergren slipped to four back with a round 73. McIlroy, bidding to win his second Irish Open title, was unhappy despite a second consecutive round without a bogey. “As I was walking off the 18th green, I said to Harry (Diamond, his caddie), this is probably the most frustrating four-under par round of golf I’ve played in a while,” said the Northern Irishman. The 36-year-old McIlroy, the world number two added: “I feel like all day I was just trying to keep myself in a close position to the lead. I feel like I could be a couple of shots better, but overall I’m still in a decent position going into tomorrow.” An elated Hidalgo, who equalled a European Tour record by becoming the 12th player to card 12 birdies in a single round, said: “I really feel for a few moments I was playing the PlayStation, to be honest.

Sinner relishing ‘special’ US Open final with Alcaraz

NEW YORK: Reigning champion Jannik Sinner expects another “special” occasion when he plays Carlos Alcaraz for the men’s US Open title after the Italian reached his fifth successive Grand Slam final on Friday.

Cristiano Ronaldo extends goal-scoring record as he targets a sixth World Cup

MANCHESTER: Cristiano Ronaldo’s quest to play in a record sixth World Cup began in typical fashion with two goals as Portugal made a winning start to its qualifying campaign by routing Armenia 5-0. Ronaldo’s goals extended his record as the highest scorer in men’s international football to 140 and underlined his enduring motivation to keep setting more benchmarks before his storied career comes to an end. The 40-year-old soccer great has recently signed a new contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and led Portugal to victory at the UEFA Nations League last summer. The World Cup is the one major trophy that eludes him — leaving him behind his great rival Lionel Messi, who lifted soccer’s biggest prize with Argentina in 2022. Next year would likely be Ronaldo’s last chance to win it when the tournament is staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Hamilton leads Ferrari one-two in first Monza practice

MONZA, Italy: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc delighted the Ferrari fans with a surprise one-two in first practice for the Italian Formula One team’s home grand prix at Monza on Friday. Making his first appearance at Monza in Ferrari red, seven-times world champion and five-times Italian GP winner Hamilton lapped the super-fast ‘Pista Magica’ with a best time of one minute 20.117 seconds. Leclerc, last year’s winner, was 0.169 slower with former Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz — the man Hamilton replaced in January after moving from Mercedes — third for Williams but 0.533 off the pace. Hamilton has yet to stand on the podium for Ferrari and Friday’s opening session, held in bright sunshine at the ‘Temple of Motorsport’, was a boost after the team’s double blank in the Netherlands last weekend when both cars crashed. Hamilton will have a five-place grid penalty for Sunday, however, after it was carried over from Zandvoort. Red Bull’s four-times world champion Max Verstappen was fourth fastest ahead of Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes. McLaren’s title contender Lando Norris was sixth after a trip through the gravel, with championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri sitting out the session while Irish Formula Two driver Alex Dunne took his place and ended up 16th. Alex Albon was seventh fastest for Williams with Mercedes’ George Russell — who lost power and pulled over toward the end — eighth and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso ninth with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar completing the top 10. French rookie Hadjar, third last weekend for his first career podium in Formula One, triggered a red flag when he went off at the Ascari Chicane with 25 minutes to go and scattered gravel across the track. Alpine had Estonian

Newcastle’s Burn has ‘nothing but good wishes’ for Isak

LONDON: Newcastle defender Dan Burn insisted on Friday he feels “no animosity” toward Alexander Isak following the striker’s drawn-out move to Premier League rivals Liverpool. Isak effectively went on strike in order to force a move through a move to the English champions, with a British record £125 million ($169 million) transfer finally completed on Monday’s deadline day of the summer window. Newcastle fans turned on their one-time hero and while Burn was sympathetic toward their feelings, the Magpies center-half accepts the Sweden striker had to look after himself. “I’ve been in football long enough to understand that for a player, the careers are short and they’ve got things that they want to achieve,” Burn said ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier with Andorra on Saturday. “So for me, happy that it’s over. “Alex is a mate, so it was tough situation because you wanted him to be around and helping the team, but also understand for him, what he needs to do personally.

Formula 1 extends Monaco Grand Prix contract until 2035

MONACO: Formula 1 extended its contract with the Monaco Grand Prix for four more years on Friday, keeping one of the sport’s most iconic races on the calendar until 2035. It is the second contract renewal in less than 12 months for Monaco, which signed a six-year extension to 2031 last November. Monaco was first raced in 1929 and held the second official Formula 1 World Championship race on its twisty streets back in 1950. It has been part of the F1 calendar since 1955, excluding the COVID-hit 2020 season. “The renewal of the Monaco Grand Prix until 2035 is in keeping with a sporting and historical tradition to which the principality remains deeply attached,” Monaco’s head of state Prince Albert II said. “I can only welcome this renewed commitment, which is testament to our collective success, the excellence of our collaboration with Formula 1, and the unique place that Monaco occupies in the international motorsport landscape.” With old-school glamor and a harbor filled with luxury yachts, Monaco is known as “the jewel in the crown” of F1, but it’s by far the slowest circuit of the year. Tight, twisty and not really suited to modern F1 cars, Monaco is a throwback to the series origins in the 1950s.

Wayne Rooney says ‘nonsense’ games make watching England ‘boring’

England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney finds watching the national team in “nonsense” games boring and believes it puts head coach Thomas Tuchel in a no-win situation.

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McIlroy in hunt for first win since Masters at Irish Open

Sinner relishing ‘special’ US Open final with Alcaraz

Cristiano Ronaldo extends goal-scoring record as he targets a sixth World Cup

Hamilton leads Ferrari one-two in first Monza practice

Newcastle’s Burn has ‘nothing but good wishes’ for Isak

Formula 1 extends Monaco Grand Prix contract until 2035

Wayne Rooney says ‘nonsense’ games make watching England ‘boring’