Tag: wins

Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix to end 3-year drought

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Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the trophy on the podium after winning the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 7, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP)

Lewis Hamilton claimed an emotional and long-awaited record 104th career victory on Sunday when he resisted Max Verstappen to triumph in vintage fashion at the British Grand Prix for a record ninth time.

The seven-time champion, who will turn 40 in January, cracked with emotion and was in tears as he spoke on Mercedes team radio on his victory lap, having finished 1.465 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s series leader and three-time champion.

In a roller-coaster race of changing weather and track conditions, Lando Norris came home third ahead of his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg with Lance Stroll finishing seventh for Aston Martin.

READ: F1: ‘Good to be back,’ says Lewis Hamilton after podium return

Hamilton, who had not won since the 2021 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, delivered a masterclass in tyre and race management to secure his 150th podium finish for Mercedes.

“I’ve been waiting for this,” shouted Briton Hamilton after crossing the line in his Mercedes to claim a ninth victory at Silverstone, breaking a tie with Michael Schumacher for most wins at one track.

“I can’t stop crying,” said Hamilton. “I think, since 2021, every day getting up, trying to fight, and to train, and to put my mind to the task and work as hard as I can with this amazing team.”

Hamilton is leaving Mercedes for Ferrari after this season.

“This is my last British GP with this team. I wanted to win so much for them. I love them so much. All the hard work they’ve been putting in.”

READ: ‘One of my worst races,’ says Lewis Hamilton after missing podium

Verstappen overtook Norris in the closing laps.

“We just didn’t have the pace today,” said Verstappen. “I was slowly dropping back when it mattered at the beginning. It really wasn’t looking great at one point, but we made the right calls.”

Norris had lost the lead after a misjudged pit stop.

“First of all, congrats to Lewis,” Norris said. “That crucial decision at the end, he just did a better job, so hats off to him and Mercedes, they deserve it. It was tough. It was fun battling these guys and these tricky conditions, risking a lot, on a knife-edge.”

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was eighth in the second Aston Martin, ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda of RB.

READ: F1: Lewis Hamilton says struggling Mercedes has found ‘North Star’

On a day of clouds and intermittent sunshine in central England a crowd of more than 120,000 witnessed three Britons starting their home race at the front of the grid for the first time since 1962.

George Russell started on pole and made a clean start with Hamilton moving in tight behind him to provide protection from Verstappen who had quickly passed Norris.

Russell settled and by lap six led by 1.6 seconds with Hamilton 1.4 seconds ahead of Verstappen and the two McLarens.

By lap 14, rain began to sweep across the old wartime airfield as Norris passed Verstappen to regain third. As the rain intensified, the McLarens came alive and Piastri passed Verstappen on lap 17.

‘The sun’s coming out’

Hamilton then overtook Russell for the lead as both Mercedes slithered in the rain. Norris, revelling in the conditions, passed Russell for second on lap 19 and then powered past Hamilton while Piastri made it a McLaren 1-2, on lap 21.

As the first shower relented, Verstappen was five seconds adrift in fifth.

By lap 28, Norris led Hamilton who was trying to preserve his tyres while hanging on to the rapid McLaren.



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Russell’s race ended on lap 34 when he was called in to pit and retire the car with a hydraulic problem.

With 15 to go, Hamilton reported that “the sun’s coming out” before on lap 39 he, Verstappen and Piastri pitted together. Norris pitted a lap later losing the lead to Hamilton who measured his final stint to perfection, ending 56 winless races to a tumultuous home reception.

Hamilton wept as he fell into the arms of his father as the home crowd roared.

Czechia wins Challenger Cup, earns VNL spot with near-perfect run

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Czechia is crowned FIVB Challenger Cup champion.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Czechia topped Puerto Rico, 25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 25-18, to reign supreme in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Opposite hitter Gabriela Orvosova hammered out 25 points on 23 hits and two blocks as Czechia also booked a coveted promotion ticket to the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

Team captain Michaela Mlejnkova added 18 points while Helena Havelkova and Magdalena Jehlarova chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Czech spikers, who needed only one hour and 48 minutes to win the knockout finale.

READ: Czechia sets up Challenger Cup final vs Puerto Rico for VNL spot

Now world No. 15, Czechia zoomed to a 2-0 start and fended off any resistance left from world No. 16 Puerto Rico in the fourth set.

“It’s unbelievable. We’re so happy and proud of our team. I’m speechless,” beamed Orvosova.

Czechia FIVB Challenger Cup champion

Czechia players celebrate after beating Puerto Rico in the FIVB Challenger Cup Final in Manila.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“It’s time to celebrate our success. I believe in this tournament, we’re the better team and we deserve to win but the VNL is another level,” added Greek head coach Ioannis Athanasopoulos.

It was a near-perfect Manila conquest for Czechia, which only dropped one set the entire tournament.

READ: Alas tormentor Vietnam bags bronze in FIVB Challenger Cup

Czechia pummeled world No. 17 Argentina, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, in the quarterfinals then trounced now world No. 32 Vietnam in the semis, 25-19, 25-14, 25-19, of the VNL qualifier.

Grace Mar Lopez Villanueva and Paola Nicole Santiago Cabrera put up 23 and 18 points, respectively, while Stephanie Rivera tallied 12 points for the Puerto Ricans.

“Fans here are unbelievable right from first moment we arrived at the airport. Volleyball is huge over here and I didn’t know that. It’s a great experience for our team. From the entire Czech national team, we’re really thankful,” said Athanasopoulos.

Earlier, Vietnam stunned world No. 12 Belgium, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, to salvage the bronze medal behind the 35-point eruption on 34 hits by ace hitter Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen.



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Gilas faces Brazil with Paris Olympics just two wins away

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Gilas Pilipinas headed to the Fiba OQT semifinals. –FIBA PHOTO

Gilas Pilipinas’ path to the Paris Games goes through Brazil, a nation steep with a glorious Olympic past and one that seems to have quite an edge on the Filipinos.

Aside from a world No. 12 ranking and a history of dominating the Philippines on the world stage, the Cariocas are littered with a bevy of NBA-tested talents that could easily outshine Gilas’ standouts on paper.

But the Nationals aren’t entering their 8:30 p.m. confrontation on Saturday thinking like cattle being led to the slaughter house. Thanks to a stunning upset of world No. 6 Latvia and a gutsy stand versus desperate Georgia, Gilas has reached a level of confidence that it has never had in the past.

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba OQT semifinals 2024

“We still got so much more to give and so much more that we can do,” Chris Newsome said shortly after a 96-94 loss to Georgia on Thursday that was still enough to safely push the Filipinos into the crossover semifinals.

“We’ve been through a lot. I mean, a lot of people are disappointed with the last World Cup—as am I—[but] it feels good to finally be in this position, finally moving up in the ranks and beating teams that we shouldn’t,” Gilas cornerstone Dwight Ramos said.

The Philippines has been playing with a different kind of zest in Riga, and the team’s stats back it up. Gilas is scoring an average of 91.5 points, which is far superior than of Brazil’s 77.5. The Nationals are also a tad better in rebounding, collaring 39.5 against the Cariocas’ 38.

In full force

Brazil had produced one of the biggest international stars in the game in Oscar Schmidt, considered to be the best scorer the game has seen with close to 50,000 points scored for Brazil and his club team.

The Brazilians don’t have a player like that anymore, but that doesn’t mean that the Cariocas will be easier than the first two teams Gilas has thus far faced.

A win Saturday will set up the Philippines to a Paris Games slot game against the winner of the Latvia-Cameroon tiff.

READ: Gilas Pilipinas stuns world No. 6 Latvia to open Fiba OQT bid

Gilas is also expected to play at full strength. Though a game-time decision, national coach Tim Cone told the Inquirer that Kai Sotto—who hurt his right rib after getting landed by a Georgian player—is free of fractures.

Though he has made it clear that Gilas is out to win the whole thing, Cone has also cautioned his charges on the perils of thinking too far ahead.

“We were just so euphoric beating Latvia. All of the texts, social media going on in Manila. I think that set the guys back,” he said, referring to the team’s slow start against Georgia.



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“If we’re going to continue to look forward like that, I think that’s going to be a problem for us. But we have no doubt,” he went on. “You know, we want to just say what’s right in front of us. We don’t want to look at the end zone.”

Naomi Osaka wins at Wimbledon for first time in 6 years

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Naomi Osaka of Japan plays a backhand return to Diane Parry of France during their first round match of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

WIMBLEDON, England  — Naomi Osaka had not won a match at Wimbledon in six years. Hadn’t even played there in five. Grass courts never were her favorite surface.

Twelve months ago at this time, Osaka was off the tour while becoming a mother — her daughter, Shai, turns 1 on Tuesday — and recalls flipping on the TV in the hospital and seeing a certain Grand Slam event on the screen.

“I’m just really excited to be here,” Naomi Osaka said Monday after pulling out a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Diane Parry in the first round at the All England Club by taking the last two games from 4-all in the third set. “It’s funny, because Wimbledon was the first tournament I watched after pregnancy.”

READ: Naomi Osaka, 3 Grand Slam winners granted Wimbledon wildcard

On a day when there was plenty of focus away from the courts and instead on the health and status of various players who have been ranked No. 1 and won multiple major championships — tournament favorite Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka, each a two-time Australian Open winner dealing with a bum shoulder, withdrew hours before they were due on court; Andy Murray, twice a titlist at Wimbledon, was trying to decide whether to compete less than 10 days after surgery to remove a cyst from his spinal cord — another person fitting that description, Osaka, was making a happy return.

She’s won the U.S. Open and Australian Open twice apiece on hard courts, but never has been past the third round on either Wimbledon’s grass or the French Open’s clay. Osaka had not entered Wimbledon since a first-round loss in 2019, and while she’s topped the WTA in the past, she is now No. 113 in the rankings after being off the tour for 15 months until returning in January.

Before facing the 53rd-ranked Parry, Osaka said, she was sifting through pictures on her phone.

READ: Naomi Osaka looking at ‘bigger picture’ on her tennis comeback

“They have that feature, ‘This time last year.’ I was looking at that. I was looking at photos of myself in the hospital. It’s really cool to be here now,” Osaka said. “My mindset last year was just trying to survive. Honestly, I didn’t really know what was going on after I gave birth; just trying to piece myself back together.”

Other big names who won on Day 1 at Wimbledon included reigning U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff, 2021 U.S. Open winner Emma Raducanu and three-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz, all on Centre Court. Alcaraz began his title defense feeling a bit jittery, he said afterward, but came through with a 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-2 victory over Estonian qualifier Mark Lajal.

“I still get nerves when I am playing here,” said Alcaraz, who won the French Open last month to become, at 21, the youngest man with a major trophy on three surfaces. “I practiced 45 minutes on Thursday, and it’s the first time that I was nervous in a practice — just because I’m playing here.”

Lajal (pronounced la-YAHL), who’s a week younger, was making his Grand Slam debut and felt it to his core, too.

Coco Gauff Tennis Wimbledon

Coco Gauff of the United States reacts after winning a point against compatriot Caroline Dolehide during their first round match of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

“Two days before, I felt like I was going to throw up, I was so stressed,” said Lajal, who actually went up a break in each of the first two sets. “When I found out who I was playing, and where I was playing, I was super excited. But as it sunk in — what I would be doing and who I was going to be playing — I was stressed about playing in front of such a huge crowd on one of the biggest stages in tennis.”

A year after a first-round exit at Wimbledon, Gauff eliminated Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-2. Raducanu was a 7-6 (0), 6-3 winner against Renata Zarazua, a late replacement when No. 22 Ekaterina Alexandrova pulled out because of an unspecified illness.

Thinking back to her 2023 loss to 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, Gauff said: “It was a very tough moment for me. I’m a little bit emotional.”

But the All England Club also brings back good memories for the 20-year-old American, whose initial Slam appearance came after becoming the event’s youngest qualifier at 15 in 2019.

“Wimbledon is the place — I wouldn’t say where the dream started,” Gauff said, “but maybe where I believed the dream was possible.”

From a tennis perspective, Osaka had a real breakthrough at Roland Garros in May — although the end result was a loss.

Osaka pushed current No. 1 Iga Swiatek to the brink in Paris, leading 5-2 in the third set, serving for the victory at 5-3, even standing one point from victory, before the eventual tournament champion managed to eke out a 7-6 (1), 1-6, 7-5 second-round win. That was the only set Swiatek lost in what would become an otherwise dominant run to her fourth French Open trophy in five years.

“I, personally, was absolutely gutted, to be honest, because I thought she was going to win. … But I was also happy for her and proud of her. And she was extremely upbeat,” said Stuart Duguid, Osaka’s agent. “I don’t think she took it as a match where, ‘I had a match point.’ She took it more as she got some belief back that she can beat the top players.”

Osaka called Monday’s match against Parry “a little up-and-down” and “really fun and really stressful at the same time.” She had more than twice as many winners as Parry, 34 to 14, but also twice as many unforced errors, 38 to 19.

Still, Osaka considers herself a work-in-progress and some of that entails allowing herself to make mistakes, to cede a game here and there, and not be too bothered.



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“I know that I didn’t play bad. I think I just put too much pressure on myself that I need to win all the games — that I can’t be broken and things like that,” she said. “When that eventually happened, I felt like I doubted myself, even though I knew my game plan going in. So that’s kind of what I just did in the third set.”

Moral wins don’t count for Gilas in OQT buildup

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Gilas Pilipinas’ June Mar Fajardo and Justin Brownlee flank as Turkey player during a tune-up game in Istanbul ahead of the Fiba OQT. –TURKEY BASKETBALL FEDERATION

Gilas Pilipinas wasn’t too keen on framing Friday’s valiant stand against Turkiye as a moral victory.

And for good reason.

“We only have one shot at [making] it to the Olympics, and we cannot be satisfied with [a result of] almost winning,” team manager and national assistant coach Richard del Rosario said in a bulletin released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas following an 84-73 defeat at the hands of the World No. 24 hosts in Istanbul on Friday.

“While others may see it as a satisfying first game, our team mindset is: Almost is not enough,” he added of the friendly that had the Philippines dropping to 1-1 in its series of preparatory games geared towards the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, Latvia, set July 2.

With just 11 players making the trip, Gilas managed to keep it close with the Turks for most of the contest at Besiktas Akatlar Culture and Sports Complex. But saddled with frosty shooting and fouls, the Nationals eventually kissed their hopes of taking down the Dev Adam side preparing for the EuroBasket.

Justin Brownlee and June Mar Fajardo starred for the Filipinos, with the naturalized ace turning in 21 points and the PBA’s seven-time MVP chipping in 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Young and towering big man Kai Sotto was limited to just seven points, no thanks to fouls that shelved him with three minutes remaining. Fellow cornerstone Dwight Ramos managed to toss in just four points as he focused on playmaking, further highlighting gaps left by the absences of AJ Edu and Scottie Thompson—two mainstays grounded by injuries.

Cold shooting

The Filipinos hit only five triples while the Turks converted 14 of their own, which could very well be a preview of how OQT host Latvia and Georgia would take on Gilas in Group A of the Riga showcase next week.

“We had our first taste of the type of opposition we will be facing in the OQT,” said Del Rosario. “We move on to the next game with a [more firm] belief that we can hold our own against higher-ranked teams with a real chance of reaching our mission of making it to Paris.”

Foes priming up

Gilas’ unsatisfied outlook may be warranted, especially with how the Philippines’ OQT assignments are faring in their respective preparatory matches.

Latvia, the sixth finest squad on the planet, gave its home crowd a preview of how well they could play on both ends with an 84-63 rout of Egypt behind Charlotte Hornet Davis Bertans and now-healthy Arturs Zagars. And they did so without Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis, who will be out for about six months after going through foot surgery.

The Latvian power forward suffered a “rare” leg injury in Game 2 of the NBA Finals earlier this month and will go under the knife to repair the problem.

“The injury doesn’t allow for consistent play at the level required for Olympic competition. Surgery will be performed in the coming days, and further updates will be provided when available,” the Celtics said.

They may have won in runaway fashion, but national coach Luca Banchi—as if putting opposing nations on notice—feels his squad has so much more to offer.

“It wasn’t our best game, but there were good episodes both for individual players and for the whole team when we found our rhythm,” he said in a report published by the Latvian Basketball Association. “We will try to take the next steps forward in Tampere.”

Georgia may have lost in their last two friendlies, bowing to Italy, 79-68, and then narrowly to Cameroon, 67-66. But a closer look at those defeats shows the Crusaders—especially NBA players Sandro Mamukelashvili and Goga Bitadze—thriving under the system brought by new Serbian coach Aleksandar Dzikic.



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Gilas moves to Poland; Latvia, meanwhile, tackled Finland in Tampere; while Georgia played Egypt on Friday night (both Manila time) for their final tune-up matches. —with a report from AFP

Verstappen wins Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton returns to podium

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Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on June 23, 2024 in Montmelo, on the outskirts of Barcelona. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)

Three-time world champion Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday after a decisive early move and an “aggressive strategy” from Red Bull to deny McLaren’s pole-sitter Lando Norris and extend his lead in the world championship.

Lewis Hamilton completed the podium at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit as the Mercedes seven-time former champion returned to the podium for the first time since Mexico last season.

The racing may be closer than the past two seasons but Verstappen always seems to pull it out of the bag when it matters most.

READ: F1: Max Verstappen aims for another win at Spanish Grand Prix

This was his 61st career win, seventh of the season, and fourth at the track where he first shot onto the F1 scene as a teenager in 2016.

And it pushed him another step further to a fourth straight title with Austria and Silverstone coming up over the next two weekends.

“I think what made the race was at the beginning I took the lead on lap two and that’s where I had my buffer,” said the 26-year-old.

“I think we did everything well, we drove an aggressive strategy but luckily it paid off until the end. Very happy to win here.”

Fourth-placed George Russell in the other Mercedes enjoyed a stunning start.

With Verstappen to the left of Norris, and Russell to the right of him in the charge into the first turn at the end of the long straight, the pole-sitter came out the loser.

As Norris grappled with Verstappen it was Russell, unsighted, who pulled out from fourth on the grid to take command.

“I got a bad start. As simple as that. The car was incredible today, we were for sure the quickest, I just lose it in the beginning,” rued Norris, who climbed into second in the drivers’ standings for the first time in his career.

Ferrari-bound Hamilton, who received a huge cheer from the Catalan crowd on the podium, said: “Unfortunately, like Lando, I got a really bad start.

“It’s been a solid weekend, I have to say a big thank you to the team as they’ve been training so hard on the pit-stops and the strategy, and they were on point.”

Verstappen raced in second from Norris with Hamilton in fourth.

Two laps later, at the end of the straight, Verstappen made his race-winning move.

READ: F1: Verstappen wins ‘crazy’ rain-hit Canadian Grand Prix

He was told by his race engineer this “might be our best opportunity Max” and the Dutch ace needed no second invitation, producing a beautiful pass to deprive Russell of the lead, surging over one second clear of the Briton, with Norris less than a second back.

In the first flurry of pit stops after around a quarter of the 66-lap race Russell had a slow stop, emerging in eighth as Verstappen led by almost five seconds.

Hamilton had a quicker stop than his teammate as Verstappen headed in for a change of tires, returning to the circuit in fourth behind yet-to-pit Norris.

A feisty Hamilton zipped past home hero Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and up to sixth at turn one, with contact between the pair.

Norris and his team were trying a different strategy, staying out longer before a new set of rubber.

He eventually ‘boxed’ for fresher tyres, to slot back in behind Sainz in sixth.

At halfway it was the familiar presence of Verstappen with a six-second gap from Russell, from Norris, back in third after a straightforward overtake past Hamilton.

‘We need to push Max’

A few laps later Norris bested Russell after a bit of nip and tuck between the pair to leave only Verstappen ahead of him, albeit around nine seconds up the road.

Russell promptly pitted as the race entered its business stage, Norris chipping away at Verstappen’s lead.

On lap 45 Verstappen came in for a second time, as Norris followed suit, setting up a compelling conclusion in Catalonia.

Norris had over six seconds to make up on his Red Bull rival with 15 laps left as Hamilton moved past his teammate to put himself in the running for his first podium of 2024.



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“We need to push to the end now Max,” Verstappen’s engineer urged on the team radio. He took the chequered flag for the third straight year at one of his favorite tracks by a little over two seconds from Norris.

Verstappen heads to Red Bull’s home race in Spielberg in a week’s time with a 69-point lead over Norris, who earned a point for the fastest lap, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, fifth on Sunday, third, two points further back.

Canada sweeps Germany for back-to-back wins

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FILE–Canada’s Danny Demyanenko during a VNL  2024 Week 3 game at Mall of Asia Arena. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Canada earned its second straight win in Manila after dominating Germany, 25-19, 25-18, 25-21, to bolster its Final Eight chances in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2024 on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Buoyed by its five-set win over fan favorite Japan two days ago, Stephen Maar and Arthur Swarc dropped 15 points each to lift Canada to fifth place with a 6-4 record.

“I think we did a good job in serving and passing today. Our team had pretty flawless volleyball,” said Maar after nailing 14 kills. “Germany gave some good fight in the end and I think we handled it really well, so I’m happy for the team.”

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

In Maar’s second time in the Philippines, he’s glad that he is now in better shape to play in front of Filipino fans.

“This is my second time in the Philippines. Last year, I was struggling a lot physically with my body. Obviously, it’s a long travel to come here so it’s not so easy sometimes. This year, we were able to be a bit more prepared and I think that’s really helping start off our week, so I’m really happy [and] grateful for all our medical staff who did a really good job,” the Canadian spiker said.

Sward had 11 kills, two blocks, and a pair of aces. Setter Luke Herr paced the Canadians, as Eric Loeppky added 11 points to stave off Germany’s last-ditch effort in the third set.

READ: VNL 2024: Canada denies fan favorite Japan in five sets

Canada eyes its third win in Manila against No.4 Brazil (6-3) on Friday at 3 p.m. The Brazilians still have a game against USA on Thursday evening before their crucial match.

“Brazil is obviously another gifted team, technically. Probably a bit more similar to Japan, they’re quite skilled in passing and blocking,” Maar said. “I think we’re gonna have to watch our game back, see what went well, what didn’t go well, see what we can do better to beat Brazil.”

Germany couldn’t sustain its momentum from a 25-23, 25-27, 25-20, 25-23 win over France less than 24 hours ago as it slid to a 4-6 record in 11th place.

György Grozer, who scored 21 points against France, sat out. Moritz Karlitzek stepped up for the Germans with 13 points. 



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Germany battles USA on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Bryson DeChambeau wins another US Open with clutch finish

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Bryson DeChambeau celebrates with fans and the trophy after winning the U.S. Open golf tournament Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Pinehurst, N.C. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

PINEHURST, N.C. — Bryson DeChambeau climbed back into the most famous bunker at Pinehurst No. 2, this time with the U.S. Open trophy instead of his 55-degree sand wedge, filling the silver prize with grains of sand to commemorate the best shot of his life.

Rory McIlroy wanted to bury his head in the sand.

DeChambeau won his second U.S. Open title on Sunday by getting up-and-down from 55 yards in a bunker — one of the toughest shots in golf — to deliver another unforgettable finish at Pinehurst and a celebration just as raucous as when his hero, Payne Stewart, won with a big par putt in 1999.

“That’s Payne right there, baby!” DeChambeau screamed as he walked off the 18th green.

READ: Bryson DeChambeau blasts way to US Open title

This was nothing like DeChambeau winning at Winged Foot in 2020, when there were no fans and no drama. This was high suspense that ultimately came down to a trio of short putts.

McIlroy, who for so much of the final round looked certain to end 10 years without a major, had a one-shot lead until missing a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole. Tied for the lead on the 18th, with DeChambeau behind him in the final group, McIlroy missed a par attempt from just inside 4 feet.

He was in the scoring room watching, hoping, for a two-hole playoff when DeChambeau got into trouble off the tee as he had done all day. But then DeChambeau delivered the magic moment with his bunker shot to 4 feet and made the par putt for a 1-over 71.

“That bunker shot was the shot of my life,” DeChambeau said.

Moments later, McIlroy was in his car, the wheels spinning on the gravel to get out of Pinehurst without comment. There wasn’t much to say. This one will sting.

“As much as it is heartbreaking for some people, it was heartbreak for me at the PGA,” said DeChambeau, who a month ago made a dramatic birdie on the 18th hole at Valhalla, only for Xander Schauffele to match him with a birdie to win the PGA Championship.

“I really wanted this one,” DeChambeau said. “When I turned the corner and saw I was a couple back, I said, ‘Nope, I’m not going to let that happen.’ I have to focus on figuring out how to make this happen.”

Bryson DeChambeau US Open Golf

Bryson DeChambeau reacts after missing a putt on the 16th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Pinehurst, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

True to his form as one of golf’s great entertainers, he put on quite the show.

The par putt wasn’t as long or as suspenseful as Stewart’s in 1999. The celebration was every bit of that. DeChambeau repeatedly pumped those strong arms as he screamed to the blue sky, turning in every direction to a gallery that cheered him on all week.

As much as this U.S. Open will be remembered for DeChambeau’s marvelous bunker shot, McIlroy played a big part. He not missed a putt under 4 feet for 69 holes on the slick, domed Donald Ross greens. And then with the U.S. Open on the line, he missed two over the final three holes for a 69.

McIlroy had the look of a winner. He ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn. He was a model of cool, the opposite of DeChambeau’s exuberance. He walked confidently to the 14th tee with a two-shot lead as the chants grew louder.

“Ror-EE! Ror-EE!”

DeChambeau could hear them, and he pounded a 3-wood on the reachable par-4 13th — the tees were moved forward to 316 yards — to the middle of the green for a birdie to stay close.

McIlroy took bogey from behind the 15th green, but he stayed one ahead when DeChambeau, playing in the group behind him, had his first three-putt of the week on the 15th when he missed from 4 feet.

And that’s where this U.S. Open took a devasting turn for McIlroy.

He missed a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole to fall back into a tie. On the 18th hole, McIlroy’s tee shot landed behind a wiregrass bush. He blasted out short of the green and pitched beautifully to 4 feet. And he missed again.

DeChambeau kept fans on the edge to the end. He pulled his drive to the left into an awful lie, with a tree in his back swing and a root in front of the golf ball. The best he could manage was to punch it toward the green, and it rolled into a front right bunker.

“One of the worst places I could have been,” DeChambeau. But he said his caddie, Greg Bodine, kept it simple.

“G-Bo just said, ‘Bryson, just get it up-and-down. That’s all you’ve got to do. You’ve done this plenty of times before. I’ve seen some crazy shots from you from 50 yards out of a bunker,’” DeChambeau said.

During the trophy ceremony, the shot was replayed on a video screen.

“I still can’t believe that up-and-down,” DeChambeau said.

Since he won the U.S. Open at Congressional in 2011, McIlroy has seven top 10s in this championship without a victory — it’s been more than 100 years since anyone did that well without going home with the trophy.

DeChambeau becomes the second LIV Golf player to win a major, following Brooks Koepka at the PGA Championship last year.

An image of Stewart’s famous pose was on the pin flag at the 18th, and DeChambeau put on a Stewart-inspired flat cap during the trophy presentation, later replacing it with his “Crushers” cap from LIV.

He finished at 6-under 274.

Patrick Cantlay lingered around this duel all afternoon, unable to get the putts to fall at the right time until he missed a 7-foot par putt on the 16th hole that ended his chances. He closed with a 70 and tied for third with Tony Finau, who matched a Sunday best with 67 without ever having a serious chance of winning.

This is not the same DeChambeau had become such a polarizing figure — a target of heckling for slow play and his spat with Brooks Koepka. In the sandhills of North Carolina, he had thousands on his side. He signed autographs during his round, he engaged with fans and he delivered one hell of a show.

And when it was over, he looked at the double-decker grandstands around the 18th and thousands circling the 18th green and invited them to his party.

“I want all of you guys somehow,” he said, pointing at them in every direction, “I want you guys to touch this trophy because I want you to experience what this feels like for me. You were a part of this journey this week, and I want you to be a part of it for the after party.”

DeChambeau wasn’t flawless. He hit only five fairways, the fewest in the final round by a U.S. Open champion since Angel Cabrera at Oakmont in 2007. He couldn’t escape the trouble on the 12th, leading to a bogey that dropped him two shots behind. He had his first three-putt of the week at the worst time, on the 15th to briefly fall behind.

But he showed the mettle of a two-time U.S. Open champion at the end.



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“What’s most impressive about Bryson is not that he hits the ball far. Everybody knows it,” said Matthieu Pavon, who played with DeChambeau and shot 71 to finish fifth. “I was amazed by the quality of the short game on 18. It’s a master class.”

Ferrari wins second successive Le Mans 24 Hours race

On: By: admin


Ferrari 499P Hybrid Hypercar WEC’s team, Spanish driver Miguel Molina, Italian driver Antonio Fuoco, and Danish driver Nicklas Nielsen celebrate on the podium after winning Le 24 Hours of Le Mans sports-car race Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Le Mans, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)

Ferrari won a wild and wet 92nd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours race on Sunday.

Nicklas Nielsen took the chequered flag after a vintage and grueling race, the Dane sharing driving duties in the Italian constructor’s No 50 car with Italian Antonio Fuoco and Spaniard Miguel Molina.

Toyota’s No 7 car took second with Ferrari’s No 51 car, which triumphed last year, completing the podium.

Twenty-four long hours, 311 laps and 4,238 kilometers after French football great Zinedine Zidane had sent the 62 car-grid on its way on Saturday, the Ferrari that emerged victorious after a classic version of motorsport’s supreme endurance test.

READ: Ferrari take first pole in 50 years as Le Mans turns 100

Porsche’s pole-sitting No 6 car narrowly missed a podium place in fourth ahead of Toyota’s No 8 car, with just over a minute covering the first five.

In an attritional affair, the night proved long and tedious with incessant rain forcing long yellow flag periods.

That reduced the gleaming high-spec racing cars capable of going well in excess of 300kph to pottering along at speeds normally associated with a family hatchback heading to the local supermarket.

Drivers like Toyota’s previous winner New Zealander Brendon Hartley complained of knee cramp as they were unable to put their foot on the gas in the confined cockpits.

READ: ‘Fantastic’ Ferrari makes triumphant return at Le Mans

Molina constantly complained of boredom on the team radio.

This year’s Le Mans set an invidious record of over six hours-racing neutralized by safety cars. Four were used at any one time, with some even having ‘to pit’ to refuel.

Mechanics used the period to grab some much needed shut eye, but that was not a luxury all the unpaid track marshalls from France and Britain could afford.

 Daytime mayhem

Ferrari 499P Hybrid Hypercar Le Mans

Spanish driver Miguel Molina, right, Italian driver Antonio Fuoco, left, and Danish driver Nicklas Nielsen, driving the car, a Ferrari 499P Hybrid Hypercar of WEC’s team, celebrate after winning Le 24 Hours of Le Mans sports-car race Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Le Mans, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)

At the midway point – 0400 local time – with the rain tipping down, visibility minimal and the spray flying in the dead of night – Hartley’s Toyota led Kevin Estre in one of Porsche’s six Hypercar entries.

After daylight broke over the saturated Sarthe circuit, the safety cars retreated to give the weary 250,000 crowd a welcome dawn chorus of car engines roaring again in anger.

Nocturnal tedium made way for daytime mayhem.

At around 0930, mechanics in the Aston Martin garage had their hearts in their mouths watching Daniel Mancinelli suffer a terrible-looking crash.

The 35-year-old Italian rolled his car, and there was an agonizing wait before he forced open his side door and scrambled out, thankfully unscathed.

With six hours to go and a restart after another safety car interlude Earl Bamber in the No. 2 Cadillac was told on the team radio “it’s time to make the eagle fly”.

The closing hours developed into a mesmerizing battle between four constructors – Porsche, Ferrari, Toyota and Cadillac.

Ferrari’s No 50 car led from last year’s winning No 51 car with under 120 minutes to go, from Toyota’s No 7 then the No 2 Cadillac.

Nielsen in the leading Ferrari then had to pit after orders from race control due to an unsafe open door which he had tried frantically to shut himself.

That gifted Jose Maria Lopez’s Toyota the lead but only momentarily as Nielsen with an hour remaining had regained control, the Dane establishing a 30sec cushion as the long awaited 1400GMT finish approached.

A frantic conclusion in the rain, with pit stops aplenty triggered multiple changes in the lead with Ferrari crossing the line 14 seconds ahead.



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With winners, come losers and one team leaving a memorable edition of a race first staged in 1923 downcast, were Alpine, whose two cars failed to finish, and motorcycling legend Valentino Rossi, whose BMW in the LMGT3 category crashed out.

Meralco wins first PBA title, survives San Miguel in Game 6

On: By: admin


Meralco Bolts celebrate after winning their first-ever PBA title.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Call them the “Miracle Bolts.”

Against a battle-tested enemy so used to playing on a pressured-packed stage, the Bolts on Sunday stunned San Miguel, 80-78, to rule the PBA Philippine Cup.

Chris Newsome hit a fadeaway jumper with 1.3 remaining to cap Meralco’s stand at Smart Araneta Coliseum, finishing off the much-fancied defending champions in six tightly contested games.

READ: PBA Finals: ‘Nobody remembers second place,’ says Meralco coach Trillo

Allein Maliksi was just as big in the clincher, delivering 14 points to backstop Newsome’s 15 which also helped the club to its first-ever title in Asia’s pioneering pro league.

Bong Quinto had 11 points, Chris Banchero 10, Raymond Almazan nine while Cliff Hodge, Anjo Caram, and Norbert Torres pumped in six points each.

June Mar Fajardo, earlier crowned the Best Player of the Conference, tied the game at 78-all with 3.3 ticks remaining, almost willing the Beermen back and dragging the Bolts to a deciding Game 7. He finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

READ: PBA Finals: Unable to stop June Mar, Meralco still finds way to win

CJ Perez tossed in 14 points, Marcio Lassiter 11, Mo Tautuaa 10. Terrence Romeo added nine, Don Trollano seven, and Simon Enciso five off the bench.

Sunday’s triumph marks the first time Meralco was at the basketball mountaintop since ruling the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association, a precursor of the PBA, in 1971.



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