Author: Karol Kowalczyk

Rory McIlroy made a good begin to his first match since successful the Ryder Cup in Europe with a three-under 69 on the DP World India Championship, whereas Shane Lowry took the lead within the opening spherical after taking pictures an excellent 64.

McIlroy, after opting to depart the motive force out of the bag, recorded six birdies and three bogeys at Delhi Golf Membership on Thursday and located himself 5 strokes behind Ryder Cup teammate Lowry.

Lowry – whose shot at Bethpage Black final month ensured the Ryder Cup would stay in European palms – made eight birdies, together with 5 in a row between 11 and 15, on a spotless day and has a one-shot lead over Japan’s Keita Nakajima.

One other European Ryder Cup hero, Tommy Fleetwood, signed with a four-under 68 – his spotlight was a bunker for the eagle at 14 – with captain Luke Donald equaling Fleetwood’s rating on the day to affix his English compatriot in sharing seventh place.

Lowry, Fleetwood and Donald performed aspect by aspect and all made 18 birdies – after a canine escaped onto the green and delayed their last pictures.

‘Conservative’ McIlroy: The journey was more durable than anticipated

McIlroy, in 18th after the primary spherical, performed the again 9 first and hit a shot instantly with a chip-in from the financial institution at 10, earlier than successive spots adopted forward of birdies at 14 and 18.

McIlroy then made consecutive birdies at two and three earlier than one other acquire at seven, whereas he bogeyed the eighth from 522 yards earlier than closing with a par.

Talking later about opting to go with out his driver, the world quantity two mentioned: “I used to be serious about it final night time earlier than I went to mattress. I simply do not see any gap on the market that I’ve to hit from greater than, say, 260, 270 yards from the tee.”

On his spherical, McIlroy added, “You are actually attempting to be as conservative as doable off the tee. You are attempting to get birdies on the par fives and possibly a couple of extra, but it surely’s a difficult golf course. It undoubtedly performed a little bit tougher than I anticipated.”

“I believed among the gap places early on had been actually tough. You play a observe or professional spherical and the pins are all in the midst of the inexperienced. You then get to match day they usually begin placing them away a little bit bit.”

McIlroy is enjoying alongside Ryder Cup counterpart Viktor Hovland and Staff USA’s Ben Griffin within the first two rounds in India.

Hovland, who needed to withdraw from Sunday’s singles at Bethpage as a consequence of a neck damage, recorded a one-under 71, with Griffin recording a four-under 68 to sit down alongside Fleetwood and Donald within the high 10.

Watch the DP World India Championship dwell Sky Sports activities. Day two protection begins at 7:30am on Friday in Sky Sports activities Golf and Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and more without a contract with NOW.

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It is true that picks do not go nicely when the Buffalo Sabers might be an understatement. Lindy Ruff’s group has a document of 0-3-0 because the season premiere and, visibly, he’s shedding curiosity whereas the group is nice.

On the event of the go to of the Sénateurs d’Ottawa on the KeyBank Middle, mercredi soir, plusieurs boletos are nonetheless accessible on varied reseller websites, with low costs.

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So, those that have extra braveness to see this sport should buy two tickets for round 16 $US in part 302 of the world, as will be seen on the specialized website StubHub. Even the most well-liked seats, situated on the base of the amphitheater, don’t value 19 $US in part 116.

Because the marketing campaign opener, the Sabers have confirmed their Nationwide League offense with simply two begins and three begins. The group current additionally has a unique pireus on the circuit, at -8.

Les Sabres completed in September and performed within the Atlantique part ultimately with a document of 36-39-7, ratifying the knockout collection for a 14th consecutive season.

Chelsea kicked off their European marketing campaign with a snug victory over Paris FC. Alyssa Thompson scored her first objective in west London as Sonia Bompastor’s facet dominated the sport. Sandy Baltimore opened the scoring from the penalty spot, whereas Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Erin Cuthbert additionally scored.

Chelsea made a irritating begin to the Champions League, the one trophy that slipped by means of their palms. The 1-1 draw with Twente final week in Enschede elevated the stress a little bit on this encounter at Stamford Bridge, with a harder opponent to return.

There was no motive for Chelsea to not be filled with confidence forward of this encounter. They returned to profitable methods towards Tottenham on the weekend and stay unbeaten in all competitions. There was an inclination to waste alternatives, nevertheless, which has brought about some consternation.

The shortage of cohesion in assault was not helped by Bompastor’s personnel and techniques changes. There have been simply two modifications over the weekend, with Baltimore getting back from a knock and Sjoeke Nüsken changing the lacking Ellie Carpenter.

Paris FC suffered a equally irritating opening to the league stage, surrendering a 2-0 result in newcomers OH Leuven. Sandrine Soubeyrand welcomed goalkeeper Mylène Chavas again from concussion, whereas Maëlle Garbino and Anaële Le Moguédec got here into the beginning line-up.

It promised to be an intriguing conflict between two managers who know one another very properly. Bompastor and Soubeyrand performed collectively for France for over a decade, while additionally assembly a number of occasions as coaches within the Première Ligue.

Chelsea dominated the sport from the beginning, having extra possession and creating extra possibilities than their opponents. The urgency to attain early was clear and led to plenty of alternatives taken the place persistence was required. Nüsken and Cuthbert shot from distance, whereas Aggie Beever-Jones wasted two wonderful alternatives.

The stress from the hosts lastly made itself felt, nevertheless, when Nüsken fell within the field half an hour into the sport. Le Moguédec’s offense was not initially detected by the referee, Michalina Diakow, however after a quick go to to the VAR monitor, she duly pointed to the penalty. Baltimore stepped as much as convert for the second week in a row.

Chelsea consolidated their lead simply earlier than half-time when Thompson, whose tempo had been inflicting issues all through, broke ahead. A intelligent transfer noticed her discover house to ship a cross for Rytting Kaneryd to go dwelling. The winger appeared a little bit stunned to have ended up behind the online, celebrating with an expression that stated he wasn’t used to scoring with a header.

Fast information

Abstract: Barça defeats Roma, Wolfsburg and Leuven win ultimately

Present

Alexia Putellas [pictured] scored a penalty however missed one other as Barcelona gained 4-0 in Gypsy to keep up the great begin to the league part. After defeating Bayern Munich 7-1 of their debut, Barça opened the scoring after simply two minutes within the Italian capital, with Esmee Brugts hanging from shut vary.

Barcelona have been awarded a penalty early within the second half, however Putellas despatched his Panenka effort over the bar. Simply earlier than the sixtieth minute, Kika Nazareth shot into the far nook to increase the guests’ lead and Putellas redeemed himself along with his second penalty. Caroline Graham Hansen’s late end accomplished the rout.

Twente didn’t observe up final week’s draw with Chelsea as they misplaced 2-1 in OH Leuven regardless of having led within the first half by means of Jaimy Ravensbergen. The Dutch crew held out till the 82nd minute earlier than conceding a penalty, transformed by Linde Veefkind. Within the sixth minute of stoppage time, Sara Pusztai scored a spectacular winner for Leuven, curling the ball into the highest nook.

Beforehand, a a lot modified scenario Whats up Lyonnes the crew gained 3-0 at dwelling towards St Pölten. Jule Model opened the scoring along with his first objective for the membership, and Ada Hegerberg headed within the hosts’ second simply earlier than half-time because the Austrian guests paid for missed possibilities. Teenage midfielder Lily Yohannes accomplished the scoring shortly after the restart with a superb strike from close to midfield.

Wolfsburg gained a late victory in Valerenga due to Janina Minge’s penalty. The midfielder transformed from the penalty spot with the final kick of the sport following a foul by Naina Inauen within the field. Wolfsburg opened the scoring by means of Lineth Beerensteyn within the 57th minute, however Sara Hørte headed in simply three minutes later to equalize for the hosts in Oslo. Guardian sport

Pictures: Matteo Ciambelli/REUTERS

Chelsea didn’t take their foot off the accelerator and prolonged their lead shortly after the break. A well-worked transfer noticed Keira Walsh hit a low ball into the field for Thompson to show dwelling. It was the 20-year-old American’s first objective in her new dwelling, having arrived as a senior signing from Angel Metropolis this summer time.

They scored the fourth objective after a sequence of substitutions that injected much more vitality into the sport. Sam Kerr thought he had scored his first Champions League objective since getting back from an anterior cruciate ligament damage, just for it to be awarded to Cuthbert, who inadvertently touched the road.

As the sport drew to an in depth there was nonetheless time for Cobham academy product and England youth worldwide Lexi Potter to make her debut. It was a snug and much-needed victory for Chelsea and an essential three factors on the scoreboard. They are going to face St Pölten in Austria subsequent November.

Wales girls’s midfielder Jess Fishlock has introduced her retirement from worldwide soccer.

The 38-year-old has performed for Wales for nearly twenty years, turning into the participant with essentially the most caps (165) and the all-time prime scorer (48) in males’s and ladies’s soccer.

She made historical past this summer season when Wales appeared of their first main match, competing at Euro 2025 – a long-held dream of Fishlock, who captained the workforce. She scored her first aim on the large stage in opposition to France.

She’s going to say goodbye to Wales on Saturday, October 22, when the Dragons face Australia in a global pleasant at Cardiff Metropolis Stadium – town the place Fishlock was born and started his profession.

In a press release, the Seattle Reign midfielder stated: “After 19 years and essentially the most unimaginable journey proudly representing my nation, I’ve made the choice that the match in opposition to Australia might be my final within the purple of Cymru.

“Since I kicked the primary ball with my brothers in Llanrumney, soccer has been in my blood. After I made my debut in opposition to Switzerland in Kloten in 2006, I by no means imagined I’d have the dignity of representing my Cymru greater than 150 instances. Each minute has been a pleasure, a privilege and an honour.

“The Euros have been the top of my soccer profession, seeing the Dragon on the world stage for the primary time might be a reminiscence that can stick with me for the remainder of my life.

“To all of the gamers and workers, previous and current, diolch. It has been an unimaginable journey. The workforce has all the time felt like household and in any case the great instances and unhealthy, we’ve lastly achieved what we all the time dreamed of. The seven smart girls are actually down to 5.

“The journey girls’s soccer in Wales has been on has been unimaginable and issues can solely proceed to develop. I see so many younger girls taking part in soccer throughout Wales and the long run is shiny for our nation.

“For everybody concerned within the growth of soccer, each at grassroots and elite stage, in Wales, it’s vital that help continues to be there and that we don’t stand nonetheless for a second.

“The shirt is being handed on to a greater place and that’s my greatest achievement of all. I am unable to wait to see what the long run stars of our nationwide workforce do with it.

“Diolch am bopeth, diolch for my nation.”

Evaluation: It was an ‘occasion’ to go watch Fishlock’s recreation

Geraint Hughes from Sky Sports activities Information:

She is a nationwide icon, her achievements on and off the soccer area have made her a well known determine who transcends her sport. In girls’s soccer, few are as well-known and revered and their work outdoors of soccer, particularly in LGBTQ+ consciousness, has been seen by many as pioneering.

Few British feminine footballers have loved profession longevity but additionally success. Jess has been on the pinnacle of soccer for a decade and a half at no matter membership he has performed for and there have been many not simply in England however in France, Australia and naturally the USA.

His model and soccer abilities stand out. She has the pure capacity to caress and management a soccer, her shut management is that of Messi, and so she appears to be a kind of gamers who spends a whole lot of time with the ball. She does not try this, she simply makes it appear to be it.

Her ardour and love for soccer is one thing she’s going to little doubt mirror, however maybe right here we will mirror how the individuals who watched her felt about her. She was an ‘occasion’ in herself. Folks wished to go see her play, she was very expert and had the imaginative and prescient to alter matches, which is why she performed for thus many vital golf equipment.

For her nation, respect and love for her grew as she grew older and maybe as the ladies of Wales grew to become a better power in worldwide soccer. Jess stated the top of her profession was representing Wales on the Euros final summer season and for a lot of earlier than the match and through this era they could have seen her play within the flesh. They knew and had heard about Jess Fishlock and what an ideal participant she was, so individuals wished to see for themselves, to see her earlier than she stopped taking part in. It was an ‘occasion’ to observe her play.

She has executed many, many good issues for ladies’s sport, girls’s soccer and soccer typically, however seeing not solely girls and women combating to get tickets to see her, but additionally males and boys has been a novel second to witness. Seeing women and boys with ‘Fishlock’ on the again of their Wales shirts says lots about her.

These children and their dad and mom may have had ‘Bale’ or ‘Wilson’ and ‘Davies’ et al on their shirts, however they selected Fishlock. I used to be masking the Wales v Belgium World Cup qualifiers the opposite night time and about 50 meters to my proper was a gaggle of lads of their early 20s, all in Wales shirts. Two had ‘Fishlock’ on their backs.

Chatting with Jess, she is usually calm and self-deprecating, however deeply conscious of her achievements in soccer and off the sphere and equally proud to speak about her household and teammates who’ve helped her by the years. She was and is an excellent participant; Clearly, had she been born Spanish or English, she would have achieved extra worldwide honors to go along with her appreciable nationwide success, however for her representing Wales was the very best of all.

Of her 165 caps up to now, lots of these video games have been robust, troublesome and of little reward, however maybe the journey that culminated final summer season on the Euros and a primary main worldwide match for her and her nation is a becoming finish to an distinctive profession.

There is just one Jess Fishlock…

The Toronto Blue Jays handed the ball to pitcher Kevin Gausman in tomorrow’s American League Champion sequence opener towards the Seattle Mariners.

The premiere of this sequence can be proven on TVA Sports activities at 8 p.m.

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That is the brand new with the 34-year veteran that the Ville Reine workforce launched hostilities on the Rogers Centre. The righty was additionally despatched to the hill for the primary matchup towards the New York Yankees, and it is already per week.

Les Jays had been reported this match by the mark of 10 to 1 grace on huit factors in September and on huitième manches. In cinq manches et deux tiers, Gausman permits one level on 4 hits on the balls. He withdrew three frappeurs sur des prises.

America, who performed a fourth season in a Toronto uniform, was the workforce’s finest shooter in 2025. He maintained a 10-11 report and a benefit level common of three.59.

The Mariners had been certified for an evening in a really sawed match with the Detroit Tigers. It is in 15^and say that the controversy on the last worth was due to a coup paid by Jorge Polanco.

Bryce Miller can be on the mound for the primary recreation. Le lanceur de 27 ans a amorcé le quatrième match de la serie, mercredi, donnant deux factors mérités sur quatre coups sûrs en quatre manches et un tiers.

Trey Yesavage’s devastating splitter turned heads in defeating the New York Yankees within the American League Division Sequence and the Blue Jays’ rookie pitcher will possible be Toronto’s starter once they host Recreation 2 of the AL Championship Sequence on Monday.

However why is his splitter so good? In spite of everything, many present Main League Baseball pitchers — together with teammate Kevin Gausman — have a splitter of their arsenal, and the pitch has been round for many years.

“I feel the truth that he has a excessive launch level on his excessive arm,” mentioned Blue Jays legend Pat Hentgen, who’s now a particular assistant in Toronto’s pitching division. “It jogs my memory a bit little bit of Juan Guzman, a man I performed with, who had the next arm than most guys got here up with, like a gyro slider that actually went straight down, and the league thought he had damaged his finger, however it was really his ball.

“I feel it was due to his excessive launch level and Trey has this distinctive excessive launch level.”

A fastball is precisely what it seems like: a ball thrown with as a lot power as a pitcher can muster, with the intention of getting previous the hitter however remaining within the strike zone. The most typical fastball in right now’s sport is the four-seam fastball, with the pitcher’s fingers holding 4 spots on the ball.

Splitters are thrown with the hassle of a fastball, however due to the way in which they’re gripped by the pitcher – sometimes utilizing two fingers to type a V on all sides of the ball – they may land sharply as they strategy house plate. As a result of they’ve the identical pitching movement as a fastball however are slower with extra downward motion, a fastball and splitter are utilized in conjunction to maintain hitters guessing.

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What makes Yesavage’s supply distinctive in MLB is that the arm place is at 12 o’clock. In different phrases, when he’s throwing the fastball or the splitter, he throws the ball immediately above his head, whereas each different pitcher in baseball has some sort of angle to their arm once they throw.

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“He’s able to throwing two pitches on the identical excessive launch level,” mentioned Hentgen, who gained the Cy Younger Award with the Blue Jays because the American League’s greatest pitcher in 1996. “One is 95 mph and the opposite is 85 mph and it’s only a very troublesome recipe for a hitter.”

Even Yesavage’s teammates cannot inform the distinction when the ball leaves his hand for the primary time.

“I feel it appears precisely like a fastball,” Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez mentioned Monday. “I used to be at shortstop proper behind him and thought, ‘It appears precisely the identical – the fastball and the break up.’ After which the slider (too).

“Clearly an electrical fastball, however the break up is de facto good. I feel it appears the identical.”

Yesavage, 22, started his season with the single-A Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida Complicated League and went via each stage of Toronto’s full-season minor league system, reaching the massive leagues as a September call-up.

Yesavage has one win in his three common season begins for the Blue Jays, with a 3.21 earned run common and 16 strikeouts in 14 innings of labor. He made his postseason debut on October 5, placing out 11 Yankees in 5 1/3 innings of hitless baseball as Toronto beat New York 13–7.

Though Yesavage’s MLB information set is comparatively small, up to now he has thrown his fastball 45.2% of the time, a slider (a ball that strikes horizontally) 28.5% and his splitter 26.4%. The sport-changer is clearly his outdoors pitching, because it resulted in 10 of his 16 regular-season strikeouts.

“It is a swing-and-miss pitch. I am simply attempting to get the hitter to go over it,” Yesavage mentioned. “It is available in the identical means as my fastball, however it’s slower and falls simply earlier than it hits the strike zone.

“Nearly fell off the desk, as you possibly can see.”

Hentgen, who was a member of the Blue Jays groups that gained the World Sequence in 1992 and 1993, thinks it is extra than simply the dramatic vertical break of Yesavage’s splitter that makes it efficient. He believes it is the mix of the rookie’s splitter at the side of his more and more correct fastball.

“His splitter is de facto good. It is constant. And once I say constant, it is not a lot the pace and motion, it is a launch level,” Hentgen mentioned. “The one factor I seen all year long with him is that his fastball command obtained higher and higher with every problem, with every stage, and that is what actually separates him now from a yr in the past once I first noticed him pitch, after we first caught him.

—With information from Gregory Sturdy in New York Metropolis.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 10, 2025.

&copy 2025 The Canadian Press