And it doesn’t much matter who they have got to get by to do it.
‘Game of two halves’
Irish Times
It was the proverbial game of two halves as South Africa had 81% of the possession in the opening period and kept the ball at close quarters, neutralising New Zealand’s dangerous backs.
But three tries in the opening seven minutes of the second period killed the contest as New Zealand spread the ball through the hands and moved the South African defence across the park, executing with precision.
‘Proper contenders to retain the World Cup’
BBC, Alastair Telfer
When on song, New Zealand are lethal and proper contenders to retain the World Cup.
But consistent scrum penalties and a slow start will be particularly pleasing for likely semifinalists Canada, who have some of the best forwards in the tournament.
However, the six-time winners will be pleased with how they overcame some early problems, which should stand them in good stead for harder tests to come.
‘Teen sensation’
Alex Spink, Planet Rugby
With a place in the last four at stake, the tournament’s top scorer [Braxton Sorensen-McGee], both of tries and overall points, did not need any added motivation to beat a nation New Zealand have never lost to in women’s rugby.
Black Ferns winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo celebrates victory over South Africa. Photo / SmartFrame
But she got it just the same from the way the Men in Black were demolished by Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks in the Kiwi capital hours before.
The teen sensation’s response was to score two tries and nail a touchline conversion in a 46-17 victory, which sent her team into the semifinals of a tournament they have won six times.
But that tells only half the story, as those scores came with her all-conquering side on the back foot and facing the mother of all challenges from Swys de Bruin’s never-say-die Boks.
‘You have to have more than a singular thing’
Brian Moore, BBC2
I don’t think it is possible to shut New Zealand out for a whole game. If you are to beat them, you have to have more than a singular thing about you.
‘Back three remained lethal’
Philip Bendon, RugbyPass
Despite enjoying less than 20% possession in the first half, the Black Ferns’ back three remained lethal. Sorensen-McGee finished one of New Zealand’s two first-half tries, Holmes struck immediately after the break and Vaha’akolo closed the game late.
Their pace and efficiency highlighted why the Black Ferns entered this match as heavy favourites and their three second-half tries underlined the gulf in cutting edge between a coming force in South Africa and the most successful side in Women’s Rugby World Cup history.
‘Showcased their depth’
Talking Rugby Union
New Zealand’s eight-try haul showcased their depth and attacking variety. While South Africa impressed in patches, especially in the first half, they were undone by poor goalkicking and the relentless pace of the Black Ferns after halftime. The result sends New Zealand into the last four with momentum, while South Africa depart with pride after a spirited campaign.
“After the England game [a 69-7 drubbing in Sunderland], I was walking around the field and an English fan in a Red Roses jersey called out my name and said, ‘You mean a lot to me watching you do this.’ She had a bag, too.
“I was just so tired and I felt horrible about all these other things, but to hear her say that me being open meant a lot to her and to her daughter was a really powerful moment for me. I cried.”
The USA’s Cassidy Bargell in action during the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool A match between USA and Australia at the York Community Stadium. Photo / Getty Images
Bargell admits that having an ostomy bag is nobody’s idea of an ideal life choice.
“Sometimes I just hate it. I think any ostomate can tell you that it’s not the best thing ever every day. I hate having to wake up in the morning and do my bag change,” she says.
“Like any normal person, I have moments where I’m like, ‘Why me?’ Or wishing I didn’t have to deal with something extra.
“But I’m also really grateful that I’m healthy and can play rugby and eat food. When you go through that much illness, you understand that it’s a life-saver. It has given me my life back and more. So as much as I hate it, some days I love it.”
Bargell’s Instagram feed gives a remarkable insight, even to the point of showing her changing her bag and revealing her stoma. She spent a lot of time weighing up whether to post that video, but was convinced by her teammates to do so.
“I think when you look at other places on the internet, it can make you more scared,” she says. “People say horrible things about ostomies on the internet. People say horrible things about everything on the internet.
“But my teammates have no stigma or fear about it, so the way that they ask questions and want me to share, helps me feel confident that it’s the right thing for me to do.”
‘If anything, it has made me a better player’
The obvious question is whether a rugby pitch is a safe space for her. She plays with only a thin pad and a compression belt as forms of protection.
“Getting hit in my bag doesn’t hurt,” she says. “The bag only hurts me because of things that happen to all ostomates. The output is very acidic, so it’ll sometimes break down my skin right around my stoma, so that will be painful, but that’s not because I’m getting hit.
“One of the first questions I asked before I got the surgery was, ‘Will I be able to play rugby with a bag?’ And my surgeon said ‘You definitely will’.
“I think my bigger fear was that it would limit how far I could go in the sport, or that it would change the type of player I was. But I don’t think it did. I think if anything, it has made me a better player.
“I think I’m more resilient now. For something like that to happen to me has given me a better understanding of when things go wrong in a game that I just have to pick myself up and keep going. It has given me bigger-picture resilience.”
There are other complications. She has to be on the case in terms of nutrition. “On training days, I just eat protein and carbs at lunch. I don’t have fibre or anything like that. And I probably drink more electrolyte drinks than everyone else does, but I don’t have a large intestine, so I kind of need it.”
The experience of playing at her first World Cup has, she says, been incredible, and has been made even better because of the support for the game in England. After their opening defeat by the Red Roses, the reality is that the United States’ tournament will effectively be over if they lose to Australia this weekend.
“It’s us or them,” she says. “We need to just back ourselves.”
If anyone knows about doing so, it is Cassidy Bargell.
Now we have Miller. How she is playing flanker is redefining the role on the rugby field.
We’ve been moving towards this for a while. It started with the Crusaders, who gained tremendous success with the use of the 2-4-2 split of their forwards. Gone were the days of pistons, where you used a one-two punch to grind the ball up the paddock. Now going wide wasn’t something you earned, it was something you set up for.
The 2-4-2 led to a 1-3-3-1 and then further iterations on how you might split the pack. All of which meant a further spread of your forwards to cause trouble. Embracing a rugby league style attack with not one, but two, backlines.
Crucial to the success and adoption of all of this was the ticker of another famous No 7, Richie McCaw. His relentlessness helped make the shape stick and soon everyone, from school kids up, had adopted the style of play. No longer were hookers and loose forwards only found on the edge during lineouts. They now owned the outside channel alongside their backs.
The power of these carries out wide allowed for more mismatches in defence. If double tackles were required to pull these forwards down, then more space opened up.
When they weren’t crashing the ball they were securing it. Their physicality again here allowed for overlaps. They were able to secure rucks alone, freeing up the backs to have fun. There were, of course, forwards who have displayed an aptitude for the edge. The pace of Dane Coles ending up on many a highlight reel and freedom underpinning Ardie Savea’s rise to the top.
What Miller offers, though, is the next step up. When she announced her intention to pursue inclusion in the Black Ferns World Cup squad, the comments section lit up. Fullback, flanker, centre or wing? The fans debated the merits of her playing each position. For Miller though, it was only ever going to be flanker. And with that choice, she’s changed the game.
Now the edge forward in the shape we deploy won’t just crash and secure, she will create. Miller’s footwork, pace, ball skills and all-important x-factor make her not just a loose forward but a loose back as well.
We have been moving towards this moment. The evolution of forwards into the backline leading to the blurring of lines between the role of forwards and backs. But never has there been a player with such a complete skillset to merge the two. Jorja Miller is that player. The embodiment of where rugby is going next. It only looks like more fun from here.
Alice Soper is a sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday. A former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women’s sports.
The way we meet this moment will be the rising action. Rugby at large must learn how to truly welcome their women as we enter the second act.
World Rugby knows this and just this week has released a 78-page report they are naming a Blueprint for Growth. The findings are echoes of the five-year plan for growth that was written in the wake of the 1998 World Cup.
The challenges and opportunities hinge on the same reckoning: rugby needs to get serious about the women’s game.
Black Ferns legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scores against Wales at the last Rugby World Cup. Photo Photosport
The report backs up what we have long known as women’s rugby fans. That we are a unique demographic which is currently underserved within the wider rugby audience. About half of us may have come over from the men’s game but we do not carry with us the same type of tribal allegiances.
This report has found that 41% of women’s rugby fans are club-agnostic. They support the game, not teams, and those that do are likely to support more than one.
This is not a weakness, rather an opportunity for rugby teams to grow their fanbase beyond geographic ties. I am one data point but I am living proof of this research.
On the opening weekend, I’m travelling to Sunderland, Manchester and York. To witness the spectacle of the opening match between England and the USA, and the rivalry of Wales and Scotland; to cheer on not just our Black Ferns but also our neighbours, Australia and Samoa. Like the 47% of respondents in the World Rugby research, that’s because my reason for attending is tied to showing support of not just women’s rugby but women’s sport as a whole.
As the women’s game enters its second act, this is what rugby must reckon with. This tournament will be the catalyst for many fans to join. Bridges must be built beyond this moment, to enable these newbies to follow their favourite players back to their domestic competitions.
The women at the centre of the action are doing everything they can. Alongside the physical prep, they are flooding our timelines with behind-the-scenes action to connect in the exact way this report recommends.
It’s rugby administrators who need to step up. The game itself needs to gain a higher sense of who we are and what we are capable of if we are ever to transition to act three. If we are to reach any type of resolution, we need to not be surprised when the upcoming wave hits. The ticket sales alone should be the tsunami warning.
Meanwhile, I will keep my seatbelt fastened, ensure my seat is upright and the tray table is folded away, ready for this reckoning to land.
Alice Soper is a sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday. A former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women’s sports.
“The final we are very confident will be the most attended women’s rugby match in history, easily surpassing the 66,000 crowd that we saw in Paris 2024. I can confirm today that the final at the Allianz [Twickenham] Stadium will be sold out,” Women’s RWC 2025 chair Gill Whitehead told reporters.
Whitehead, recalling the last time England hosted the event in 2010, when the final was staged at the nearby Twickenham Stoop, the home of London club Harlequins, added: “The last time England hosted the Women’s Rugby World Cup, the girls played [the final] at the Stoop around the corner to a crowd of 13,000.
“I started playing women’s rugby 30 years ago and the prospect of girls running out of the tunnel, playing to the three tiers of the Allianz packed to the rafters is something perhaps I never hoped or thought I would see and it’s certainly what girls’ dreams are made of.”
England’s Red Roses have lost only once in their past 58 matches – a defeat by New Zealand in the Covid-delayed 2022 World Cup final.
Yet they have lost five of the past six World Cup finals to New Zealand, with 2014 – when England beat Canada in the showpiece match – their most recent global 15-a-side title.
Even though New Zealand and England have monopolised the final in recent editions, tournament managing director Sarah Massey said the tournament would be “unmissable” for fans of the sport.
“We’re ready to break records in attendances, viewership and engagement. This is going to be the biggest global celebration of women’s rugby that we have ever seen.
“We’re really pleased today to be able to announce that we’ve now sold 375,000 tickets across all those matches, surpassing all our initial ticket targets and really showing what this tournament is going to bring.
“That’s three times the number of tickets that were sold for the last Women’s Rugby World Cup. Our message to fans is, don’t miss out. This is going to be unmissable.”
Matches will also be held in Brighton, Bristol, Exeter, Northampton, Salford and York.
The craze has prompted long lines outside of Target stores in the dead of night. Ugly fights have broken out. Shouting matches have erupted. All this hubbub over Stanley cups.
No, not the Stanley Cup awarded to the National Hockey League champion. We are talking about the insulated steel tumblers sold in various colors at Target and Starbucks.
On a recent Friday afternoon, Target shelves in L.A. County were barren, devoid of cups. Surprisingly, there haven’t been reports of people resorting to violence to secure the coveted item, but at least one online video shows a man trying to make a quick getaway from a Target store with a tumbler under his arm, only to be tackled by what appear to be furious shoppers.
Collectors and sellers of the tumblers suggest that the craze has been fueled by the manufacturer’s marketing strategy, the collaboration with popular companies like Starbucks, the designer colors and a sense that ownership conveys status and exclusivity.
Influencers on TikTok and other platforms have contributed to the mania by posting catchy videos of the tumblers.
But what likely sparked the latest viral popularity was the November TikTok video of a woman’s car that caught fire; her Stanley cup not only survived but kept her beverage cold. The video has had nearly 94 million views. In response, the Stanley company offered to replace not only the cup but her car.
Stanley insulated cups are not new, having been invented by William Stanley Jr. in 1913. But with a dedicated fan base on TikTok, various styles and prices ranging from $20 for a 14-ounce cup to $60 for a 64-ounce version, anything Stanley is hard to come by.
Spokespersons for Target and Stanley could not be reached for comment on the craze.
The most sought-after Stanley cups are the Winter Pink Starbucks collaboration, which have a slight shine in the proper lighting. The cups are fetching upward of $400 on the resell market, according to EBay auctions.
Also popular are Cosmic Pink or Target Red, featured in Target’s “Galentine” collection released Dec. 31, which swiftly sold out online and in stores. On EBay, they are selling for nearly $100.
One anonymous employee in a Hawthorne Target noted that the store received a shipment of the pink tumblers on Thursday and sold out within two minutes.
A recent viral TikTok shows a crowd rushing to secure a pair, prompting staff to issue warnings about the per-person limit. The video has garnered 20 million views, and the hashtag #StanleyTumbler has accumulated more than 1 billion impressions.
Inglewood resident Ubaldo Rene Rodas was introduced to the Stanley trend by his younger sisters, who sent him TikTok videos of people discussing the cups, showing them off and even engaging in fights during sales drops. He attributes the craze partly to the limited availability, which makes the cups something of a collectible.
Rodas quickly became a reseller, taking advantage of the surging demand.
He listed both versions of the limited-edition, pink Galentine cups at $100 each on the Facebook Marketplace, marked up from the original price of $45. He recently sold 10 Cosmic Pink Stanleys to a buyer who wanted them for a gender-reveal party.
Through the Facebook Marketplace group, he recently learned that more cups would go on sale at 1 a.m. on Target’s website.
“So I bought 20 of the Cosmic Pink and 20 of the Target Red, the max you could order, just to try and sell,” he said.
Rodas is not a fan of camping out for hyped items due to the frustration and anger that can arise.
“My sisters had asked me to camp out for the Starbucks Winter Pink Stanley, but I said no since I didn’t want to put them in harm’s way,” he said. “If they restock, I might grab more of the pink color, since they are doing the best. But I’ll go on to the next hyped color once Valentine’s Day passes.”
After a recent collaboration between Stanley and country music star Lainey Wilson sold well, Danielle Williams, a reseller in Bellflower, hopped on the trend and started paying closer attention to the market. She has priced the cups at $90 to $110. She said they project a sense of status, like an exclusive club.
Williams secured the cups on Target’s website, avoiding the overnight lines outside. She said it seemed as though the people camping out were “working harder, not smarter.”
Since joining the craze, she has sold nearly 50 cups and has no plans to stop.
“I just hope the hype train lasts on these Stanleys, and they don’t fizzle out like other trendy items,” Williams said.
Partly due to its TikTok popularity, Stanley has reported a $676 million increase in revenue over the past four years, according to CNBC.
The craze was noted by the Advertising Specialty Institute, a researcher in promotional products, which declared the Stanley Quencher the most coveted product of 2023. The institute noted that the 40-ounce Quencher H2.0 FlowState tumbler quickly rose to prominence as the epitome of drinkware trends, gaining attention as a viral TikTok sensation.
“The Stanley Quencher is a slam-dunk choice, as well as the exclamation point to drinkware’s incredible run this past decade,” said ASI Editor in Chief C.J. Mittica.
Scottie Scheffler has been voted PGA Tour player of the year over Masters champion Jon Rahm; a new season of golf begins on Thursday with The Sentry – live on Sky Sports Golf from 6pm on Thursday
Last Updated: 03/01/24 7:54pm
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Scottie Scheffler explained that he was thankful and relieved to win the 2023 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass but added he was very tired following the tournament
Scottie Scheffler explained that he was thankful and relieved to win the 2023 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass but added he was very tired following the tournament
Scottie Scheffler has been named PGA Tour Player of the Year as he won the Jack Nicklaus Award for a second consecutive year.
Scheffler is the first player to win Player of the Year honours in back-to-back seasons since Tiger Woods won the award in three straight years from 2005-2007.
The 27-year-old won twice during the 2022-23 season, successfully defending his title at the WM Phoenix Open and winning The Players Championship by five strokes.
In 23 starts, Scheffler recorded 13 top-fives and 17 top-10s, both high marks for any player in a single season on the tour since 2005.
He also set the PGA Tour record for most Official Money earned in a single season at $21,014,342, breaking his own record set last season ($14,046,910).
The Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards are determined by a member vote, with PGA Tour members who played in at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2022-23 season eligible to vote.
Scheffler received 38 per cent of the vote for the Jack Nicklaus Award and was selected over four other nominees: Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
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Scottie Scheffler sunk a 20ft putt to win the 2023 Players Championship to return to the top of the world rankings
Scottie Scheffler sunk a 20ft putt to win the 2023 Players Championship to return to the top of the world rankings
Eric Cole, the only rookie to advance to the 2023 BMW Championship, has been announced as the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, receiving the Arnold Palmer Award.
Cole recorded two runner-up finishes on the season, including the 2023 Cognizant Classic (lost in a play-off) and the 2023 Zozo Championship.
Cole received 51 per cent of the vote for the Arnold Palmer Award and was selected over three other nominees: Ludvig Åberg, Nico Echavarria and Vincent Norrman.
New season of golf begins on Thursday
The 2024 PGA Tour season begins with The Sentry from January 4-7, held on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii – live on Sky Sports Golf with the first round starting at 6pm.
World No 1 Scheffler leads the field which includes Team Europe Ryder Cup stars Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
“I was probably judgemental of the guys that went at the start and I think that was a bit of a mistake on my part,” concedes Rory McIlroy; McIlroy hopes “this division” in golf ends soon amid continuing extended talks between established tours and Saudi’s PIF over framework agreement
Last Updated: 03/01/24 11:42am
Rory McIlroy has expressed regret at being “too judgemental” on the tranche of players who initially defected to LIV Golf.
McIlroy, who had been initially outspoken in his criticism of the players who joined the Saudi-funded series in 2022, admitted he “basically went through the last two years with this altruistic approach of looking at the world in the way I’ve wanted to see” but had now “accepted reality” and that LIV is “part of our sport now”.
“I was probably judgemental of the guys that went at the start and I think that was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise not everyone’s in my position or in Tiger [Woods]’ position,” McIlroy told the Stick to Football podcast with Sky Bet.
“You get this offer and what do you do?
“We all turned professional to make a living playing the sports that we do and I think that’s what I realised over the past two years, I can’t judge people for making that decision.
“So if I regret anything it was probably being too judgemental at the start.”
Asked how his relationship was with the players who had switched from the established tours, McIlroy replied: “Most things are cool, the one thing that has bothered me is I think we have all grown up and played on European Tour, PGA Tour and that has given us a platform to turn in to who we have and give us the profile.
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Rory McIlroy say its ‘certainly strange’ not having Ryder Cup veterans Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter around and it’ll really hit them this week.
Rory McIlroy say its ‘certainly strange’ not having Ryder Cup veterans Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter around and it’ll really hit them this week.
“So when people have played that for, say, 15 or 20 years and then they jump to LIV and then they just start talking cr** about where they’ve come from, that’s what bothers me because you wouldn’t be in this position if you didn’t have what you had coming up.”
McIlroy added: “I don’t begrudge anyone for going and taking that money and doing something different but don’t try and burn the place down on your way out.
“That’s sort of my attitude towards it because some people are happy playing in the existing structure, and that’s totally fine too. But I think it’s just created this division that hopefully will stop in the near future because I think it’s the best thing for golf.”
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Relive Rory McIlroy’s two wins, which saw him claim a fifth Race to Dubai title, and his starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph.
Relive Rory McIlroy’s two wins, which saw him claim a fifth Race to Dubai title, and his starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph.
The 34-year-old, a four-time major winner and current world No 2, said he had “never had an offer” from LIV to switch himself.
“I just didn’t engage,” he added. “At this point I’ve pretty much set my stall out.”
More to follow…
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Rugby elation to rugby heartache, a footballing managerial merry-go-round, golfing greatness, boxing blockbusters and so much more. The 2023 Irish sporting landscape had a little bit of everything. Here, Sky Sports takes a look back at the highs and lows of the year.
It was a year in Irish rugby that saw historical success, huge expectation, unprecedented hope, and ultimately, heartbreak perhaps worse than ever before.
Towards the start of the year, Andy Farrell’s Ireland – ranked world No 1 since July 2022 – secured a sensational Six Nations Grand Slam.
Wales were blown away 34-10 on the opening weekend in Cardiff to sour Warren Gatland’s homecoming, while Round 2 saw one of the best contests in the history of the championship as Ireland put in a near-perfect display to beat reigning champions France 32-19 in Dublin.
From then, Farrell’s charges were favourites for the title, seeing off Italy in Rome, Scotland at Murrayfield despite a raft of injuries, and finally, England in Dublin to lift the Six Nations trophy and Triple Crown.
Ireland beat England on the last day of the Six Nations to clinch the Grand Slam on home soil for the first time
The warm glow continued during the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup as Ireland won all four matches, beating eventual champions South Africa in a Paris epic, and a ruthless dismantling of Scotland clinched top spot in Pool B and extended their winning streak to 17 matches.
Ireland’s quarter-final opponents were New Zealand due to a brutally lopsided draw, but the nation was now convinced this was their greatest chance for World Cup glory and to break their awful record of never having won a quarter-final.
Although Ireland had beaten the All Blacks in three of the previous four meetings, they didn’t perform to anywhere near their peak levels, while New Zealand produced their best performance in years.
Ireland fought back from 13-0 down to narrow the half-time gap to a single point at 18-17, but as the game ebbed and flowed on a knife’s edge, their inability to strike in the 22 enough proved a major factor as the All Blacks inflicted yet another agonising last-eight exit.
Ireland’s 2023 ended in devastating fashion with another quarter-final exit at the World Cup, at the hands of New Zealand for the second-straight tournament
Skipper Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls retired in the aftermath, bringing to an end stellar careers, but also a sense Ireland’s true time to become world champions had been lost.
Farrell has committed to Ireland until after the 2027 World Cup and is odds-on to lead to the British and Irish Lions in Australia in 2027. The rebuild starts now and the big question is who dons the No 10 shirt in Marseille on February 2.
Within provincial rugby, there were contrasting fortunes for Leinster and Munster. The men in blue dominated the majority of the season, only to lose late on to their arch-rivals in Dublin in the URC semi-finals, and then in the Champions Cup final again a week later to La Rochelle – this time after sprinting out to 17-0 and 23-7 leads at the Aviva Stadium. The loss was Leinster’s third in succession in European Cup finals.
Munster began the season terribly, losing five from their first seven fixtures under new head coach Graham Rowntree, but though much of the campaign was spent worrying about qualification for Europe, a remarkable final season run away from home of four wins and a draw saw them all the way to the URC final against the Stormers in Cape Town, and a superb 19-14 success – the province’s first silverware since 2011.
Like previous campaigns, Leinster have made a strong start to the season both on the domestic and European front, but it has been a mixed bag so far for the other three, with inconsistency a common theme.
Women’s rugby at lowest ebb
While men’s rugby in Ireland is in a good place, the women’s game endured one of the worst years in its history.
Ireland finished a gruesome 2023 Women’s Six Nations dead last with the Wooden Spoon after losing all five matches by an average margin of over 30 points.
They were then placed into the third tier of the new WXV tournament during October, the result of which meant they played Kazakhstan, Colombia and Spain – beating the latter only due to a try with five minutes to play.
The side has gone from Six Nations champions in 2015 to bottom of the pile in 2023, having failed to qualify for the last World Cup in 2022 too.
Captain Nicola Fryday retired from international rugby at the age of just 28 – the second captain of the women’s side to do so in two years after Claire Molly in late 2021, who still plays for Bristol in Premiership Women’s Rugby.
Ireland came last in the 2023 Women’s Six Nations, losing all five of their matches
All the while, the IRFU has come under huge scrutiny for their running of the women’s game. While France, England, Wales and Scotland have all professionalised their women’s teams, the same cannot be said of Ireland.
In April, an unnamed player expressed concerns of sexism in a Telegraph report, with the IRFU likened to an “old boys club”, with allegations players were denied protein supplements as they prepared for a summer tour to Japan and that the switch from white to blue shorts over period concerns was done without proper consultation with the squad.
The anonymous player also alleged squad members learnt they were dropped via email, with some omitted from mailing lists, while the IRFU are also said to have refused to explore the option of a “hybrid contracts” – a specific request from players – with the union instead favouring a “full-time or nothing attitude.”
The IRFU disputed all the claims in a statement, but as high performance director David Nucifora’s impending exit was confirmed – David Humphreys will replace him in 2024 – it was noteworthy there was no response from anyone in the women’s game.
Football: Republic of Ireland’s World Cup odyssey ends in management change
It was, for reasons good and bad, a landmark year for the Republic of Ireland women’s team.
All roads led to Australia and New Zealand, where Ireland made their maiden major tournament bow at the World Cup. In itself a historic achievement, but performances on the pitch struggled to catch fire while off-field issues overshadowed the build-up and conclusion.
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Vera Pauw strongly denied allegations against her of body-shaming and inappropriate behaviour during her time at Houston Dash
Vera Pauw strongly denied allegations against her of body-shaming and inappropriate behaviour during her time at Houston Dash
Just weeks before the tournament began, allegations of body shaming were made against Ireland manager Vera Pauw, relating to her time in charge of Houston Dash in the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League. Pauw strongly denied the allegations, but they undeniably cast a shadow over Ireland’s preparations.
Captain Katie McCabe’s wonder goal in their second game against Canada was the highlight of a tournament which ended for Ireland after the group stage, having lost to Australia and Canada before drawing with Nigeria.
Pauw departed upon conclusion of the World Cup, with the FAI opting not to extend her contract.
Captain Katie McCabe scored directly from a corner to put Ireland ahead against Canada, but they could not hold on to the lead
Eileen Gleeson, assistant under Pauw, was appointed interim manager and guided the team through an outstanding Nations League campaign. Ireland won all six of their games, scoring 20 goals and conceding just two – ensuring they will be in League A for the Euro 2025 qualifiers.
That success no doubt informed the FAI’s decision to hand Gleeson the reins on a permanent basis on December 18, with the Dubliner now tasked with leading their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign.
It was also a year of change for Northern Ireland, who themselves were on a managerial hunt after Kenny Shiels departed in January following a four-year stint which saw the team reach their first major tournament at Euro 2022.
Former Chelsea assistant coach Tanya Oxtoby took up the reins in August, and oversaw a Nations League campaign in which Northern Ireland recorded two wins, a draw and three losses.
A third-placed finish in their group means they face a two-legged play-off with Montenegro in February, where they must win to avoid dropping into League C for the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers.
Time runs out for Kenny and O’Neill’s return fails to spark NI response
Like their female counterparts, the Republic of Ireland men’s team opted for a change of manager.
After three and a half years in charge, Stephen Kenny left upon expiry of his contract after a disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Drawn in a group with France and the Netherlands, a top-two finish was always a tall order, but Ireland never gave themselves a chance of reaching next summer’s tournament. They won just two of their eight games, both against minnows Gibraltar, and there was little clamour for Kenny to be given another bite at the cherry as Ireland seek a fresh start.
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Former Ireland international Stephen Kelly admits he wasn’t surprised to hear that the Football Association of Ireland won’t be renewing Stephen Kenny’s contract
Former Ireland international Stephen Kelly admits he wasn’t surprised to hear that the Football Association of Ireland won’t be renewing Stephen Kenny’s contract
As for Northern Ireland, hope abounded as Michael O’Neill – back for a second stint as manager having previously taken the side to Euro 2016 – returned to guide them through what looked on paper to be a very favourable Euro 2024 qualifying group.
However, disappointing early home losses to Finland and Kazakhstan, coupled by a defeat by Denmark in Copenhagen, realistically ended NI’s hopes of qualification after only four games.
A 2-0 win over Denmark in their final qualifier in November did however see Northern Ireland bow out with a spring in their step.
Having struggled with injuries, O’Neill will hope to have some key faces back to pair with his young players in 2024.
Golf: McIlroy and Maguire bring it home for Europe
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Relive Rory McIlroy’s two wins, which saw him claim a fifth Race to Dubai title, and his starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph.
Relive Rory McIlroy’s two wins, which saw him claim a fifth Race to Dubai title, and his starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph.
It was another year to remember for Ireland’s golfers with Rory McIlroy once again leading the charge.
A Scottish Open win took his tally of PGA Tour titles to 24, before the world No 2 claimed the Race to Dubai title for the fifth time. However, McIlroy’s 2023 peaked in the early autumn heat of Rome.
After a poor display at Whistling Straights in 2021 ended in tears, McIlroy turned the page on his own Ryder Cup story to claim four points from a possible five at Marco Simone to finish as the highest individual scorer in the 2023 competition. Leading the charge both on the course and off it, when he became involved in a heated car-park confrontation with Team USA caddy Joe LaCava, as Europe regained the trophy.
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Andrew Coltart provided his thoughts on one of the moments of the golfing year, where Rory McIlroy had a dispute with caddie Joe LaCava at the Ryder Cup. You can listen to the Sky Sports Golf Podcast now
Andrew Coltart provided his thoughts on one of the moments of the golfing year, where Rory McIlroy had a dispute with caddie Joe LaCava at the Ryder Cup. You can listen to the Sky Sports Golf Podcast now
Despite the successes, the hunt for the elusive fifth major goes into another year after some more near-misses at the flagship events.
McIlroy came second at the US Open behind Wyndham Clark, while there were top-10 finishes at the PGA Championship and The Open. He remains one of the game’s leading lights, and the Holywood man now enters 2024 hoping to claim a major title for the first time in a decade.
His compatriot Shane Lowry also played his part in Europe’s Ryder Cup redemption, winning 1.5 points from three matches while also claiming three top-20 finishes in 2023’s majors.
It was a breakthrough year for 20-year-old Tom McKibbin, who became Irish golf’s youngest tour winner since McIlroy (who hails from the same town in County Down) when he won the DP World Tour’s European Open in June.
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Maguire claimed three crucial points as Europe retained the Solheim Cup having lost the opening day foursomes 4-0
Maguire claimed three crucial points as Europe retained the Solheim Cup having lost the opening day foursomes 4-0
Meanwhile, Cavan’s Leona Maguire enjoyed another fruitful year, the highlight of which came at the Solheim Cup.
Maguire shone, as she did on tournament debut in 2021, winning three points including a crucial 4&3 win over Rose Zhang as Europe retained the cup after a 14-14 draw.
Maguire also claimed her second LGPA Tour title as a spectacular final round saw her clinch a two-shot win at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
A good year could have been a great one, with Maguire taking a one-shot lead into the final round of the Women’s PGA Championship, before shooting a disappointing 74 on the final day with China’s Ruoning Yin winning the major. Maguire’s compatriot Stephanie Meadow impressed at the tournament, finishing tied for third.
Boxing: Revenge for Taylor after first pro defeat as five qualify for Olympics
The main headline from an Irish boxing perspective this year saw Olympic legend Katie Taylor suffer the first defeat of her professional career at the 23rd attempt, losing to England’s Chantelle Cameron in Dublin by majority decision in May.
Seeking revenge, Taylor fought Cameron again on November 25 in Dublin, becoming a two-weight undisputed world champion when she showed her mettle to win by majority decision. Taylor has since said she would fight Cameron again, and has made no secret of her desire to do so at Croke Park.
Elsewhere in the Irish boxing world, Belfast’s Michael Conlan suffered two defeats in 2023, having only previously lost once in 19 professional bouts. The 32-year-old lost to Mexico’s Luis Alberto Lopez by TKO in the fifth round of their fight in May for the IBF featherweight title, and then lost to Englishman Jordan Gill by TKO in the seventh round on December 2 for the vacant WBA International super-featherweight title.
Earlier this year, Kellie Harrington, Ireland’s Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, and four other Irish boxers qualified for the Paris Olympics: Aoife O’Rourke, Jack Marley, Michaela Walsh, Dean Clancy. Roscommon’s O’Rourke and Dublin’s Marley are considered exciting medal prospects.
GAA: Dublin at the double as Limerick continue dominance
Dublin captain Carla Rowe (left) and Leah Caffrey lift the Brendan Martin Cup after their All-Ireland final victory over Kerry
Just when you thought the Dubs were in a downturn.
After a three-year absence, the Sam Maguire and Brendan Martin Cups are back residing in the capital. Their previous stays were lengthy ones, six and four years respectively, but football is a much more competitive environment these days.
The Dublin’s women’s team will attest to that, having watched neighbours Meath rise from the intermediate ranks and win back-to-back All-Irelands at senior level. Plenty of motivation, then, and Dublin lay down a marker by twice beating the defending champions in the Leinster Championship.
A two-point home loss to Kerry in the All-Ireland group stages proved a momentary setback. Dublin’s winning margin across the next three games was over 15 points as they booked a return date with a Kingdom side chasing a league and championship double.
A first final in the women’s code between these two footballing heavyweights was all but over by the interval, Dublin leading by seven after former Ireland rugby international Hannah Tyrrell kicked eight first-half points. With Mick Bohan on board for an eighth season as manager, they will again be among the frontrunners in 2024.
James McCarthy, Stephen Cluxton and Michael Fitzsimons are no strangers to getting their hands on the Sam Maguire Cup
The Dublin men’s team timed their run to perfection as they became the first non-Division One team to win the All-Ireland since Armagh in 2002.
Dessie Farrell’s side began the year in the unfamiliar surrounds of the league’s second tier, which allowed them to stay under the radar and slowly build up a head of steam.
After yet another cakewalk in Leinster – it’s now 13 provincial titles in a row and 18 in 19 seasons – a below-par draw with Roscommon in the All-Ireland group stages provided Dublin with a timely shot in the arm. They powered to a mouth-watering final with defending champions Kerry, for whom David Clifford was shooting the lights out all summer. However, the Kingdom talisman was unable to hit his usual high standards in the decider, and a late scoring burst saw Dublin home.
Captain James McCarthy has committed to another season as he chases a record-equalling 10th All-Ireland medal, while Stephen Cluxton could follow suit as the Boys in Blue look to retain their crown.
Derry, with Mickey Harte at the helm, will have something to say about that, as will the likes of Armagh, Galway and Kerry. However, Gaelic football remains a sport in crisis, blighted by packed defences and incessant handpassing. Armagh and Crossmaglen great Aaron Kernan described the sport in its current guise as “boring” and “monotonous” and warned it could get even worse before it gets better, while the split season continues to divide.
Aaron Gillane was Limerick’s leading scorer with 3-47 in seven championship matches
No such concerns in hurling, split season aside, as Limerick head into 2024 bidding to become the first county to win five All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships in a row.
They recovered from a loss to Clare in the Munster Championship group stages, their first championship defeat since 2019, to book a rematch with their neighbours in the final, where a one-point success secured a fifth consecutive provincial title.
Limerick reinforced their reputation as a second-half team with devastating performances at Croke Park, overturning half-time deficits against both Galway and Kilkenny in the semi-finals and final respectively. John Kiely’s men saved their best performance for the final, outscoring the Cats by 0-19 to 0-5 in a majestic final half-hour. Can anyone stop their drive for five?
Cork captain Amy O’Connor completes her incredible hat-trick against Waterford
Speaking of majestic, Amy O’Connor was Cork’s hero as they ended their five-year wait for an All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship.
O’Connor produced one of the moments of the year when she smashed a hat-trick in less than two minutes during their dominant victory over a Waterford side appearing in their first All-Ireland final since 1945.
Olympics: Record medal haul should be target in Paris
The sky is the limit for 21-year-old sensation Rhasidat Adeleke
Ireland record medal tally at an Olympics came in 2012 when they won six in London, and hopes are high they can match or perhaps even better that in Paris this summer.
Tallaght sensation Rhasidat Adeleke has enjoyed a record-breaking 12 months and her upward curve will continue after deciding to turn professional. Rhys McClenaghan (pommel horse) is a back-to-back world champion while freestyle swimmer Daniel Wiffen will be targeting a medal in Paris after smashing the 800m world record.
Daniel Wiffen smashed the 800m freestyle world record by almost three seconds
In Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy Ireland possess two serious competitors in the 1500m. Mageean finished fourth in world-class company at the World Championships last August, with Healy joining the Down athlete and Sonia O’Sullivan as the only Irishwomen to run the 1500m in under four minutes.
Throw in Ireland’s rowing stars – Olympic gold medallists Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan claimed their third World Championship in September – and the long list of boxing contenders headed by Kellie Harrington, and this has the potential to be a ground-breaking Games.
Masters champion Jon Rahm will feature in the LIV Golf League from the 2024 season, with the Spaniard since suspended by the PGA Tour; Greg Norman anticipates more players to join the Saudi-backed circuit before the new campaign in February
Last Updated: 13/12/23 8:16pm
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Butch Harmon believes Jon Rahm’s departure might increase the urgency of the PGA Tour to form their Framework Agreement with LIV Golf
Butch Harmon believes Jon Rahm’s departure might increase the urgency of the PGA Tour to form their Framework Agreement with LIV Golf
LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman believes more PGA Tour players are interested in signing up for the 2024 season after Jon Rahm made his switch to the Saudi-backed circuit.
Rahm ended weeks of speculation about his golfing future when he committed to LIV Golf in a reported nine-figure deal, with the Masters champion joining a roster already containing multiple major champions.
The Spaniard has subsequently been suspended by the PGA Tour for moving to LIV Golf, with Norman expecting “more apples falling from the tree” ahead of the new campaign in February.
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Rich Beem gave his reaction to Jon Rahm’s dramatic move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf
Rich Beem gave his reaction to Jon Rahm’s dramatic move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf
“To have Jon [Rahm] on board was critically important to our next steps into the future and what we want to do,” Norman told the BBC’s World Business Report. “It will create a domino effect, there will be more apples falling from the tree – there’s no question about it, because LIV continues to grow and develop.”
“Since Jon signed, less than a week ago now, I know my phone is blowing up. I know we probably have eight to 12 players who are very, very keen to sit down and talk to us about coming on board. Time will tell. Right now, our roster is very close to being filled but maybe within two or three [players].
“It tells you the value of what our platform is, where these PGA Tour players see the opportunity that LIV offers. All the guys that play on LIV are just so happy about the decision that they’ve made.
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Sky Sports News’ Jamie Weir explains what impact Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf means for the sport as a whole
Sky Sports News’ Jamie Weir explains what impact Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf means for the sport as a whole
“LIV is a different platform to the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour and the players want to do both quite honestly, so we’ve created something special. It’s a franchise, it’s a team model and they have embraced it 100 per cent.”
Could LIV move away from 54-hole events?
Defending individual champion Talor Gooch says “discussions will be had” about expanding the LIV Golf format from 54 to 72 holes.
Talor Gooch won three LIV Golf League events in 2023
Gooch’s comments follow the circuit’s signing of Rahm, who previously criticised the Saudi-backed league’s format of 54-hole, no-cut events with shotgun starts.
“We haven’t had an open forum discussion with all the players,” Gooch told Golf Digest. “But you get both sides … guys who would welcome (playing 72 holes) and some guys who are opposed to it. Discussions will be had and it will be interesting to see what comes of it.
“I think LIV Golf was meant to be something different; I think it’s not supposed to be a carbon copy of the rest of professional golf. I lean towards keeping it at 54 holes.
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Former professional golfer Brandel Chamblee believes Jon Rahm’s decision to join LIV Golf is motivated by money and says the move is ‘short-sighted’
Former professional golfer Brandel Chamblee believes Jon Rahm’s decision to join LIV Golf is motivated by money and says the move is ‘short-sighted’
“Part of it, too, from my experience on the PGA Tour, was Thursdays are just irrelevant from a fan perspective (except for) only a couple times a year.”
Playing only 54 holes was one of the reasons why LIV’s application to receive Official World Golf Ranking points was denied in October, meaning those involved in the league continue to fall down the world rankings and put their qualification status for majors under threat.
Rahm to stay away from public events
Rahm said on Wednesday that he has decided to lay low and would avoid public events until February after agreeing to switch to LIV Golf, with the Spaniard surprised to find TV cameras at an event he was attending in the northern Spanish city of Bilbao.
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After Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf was confirmed, we take a look back at some of his remarks about the rival tour over the past year
After Jon Rahm’s move to LIV Golf was confirmed, we take a look back at some of his remarks about the rival tour over the past year
“I didn’t think there would be any cameras and that it would be a bit more intimate,” Rahm told a select audience at the Sociedad Bilbaina hall, where he was to receive the ‘Dama Bilbaina’ prize in recognition of his sporting career.
“I am under very strict instructions not to do public events, which I have imposed on myself a little bit for myself, and for the change I have given to the world of golf in the last week,” Rahm said, giving a categorical “No!” when asked if he was planning to give an interview.
“There will be nothing until February, I’m not allowed to.”
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Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says there has been a ‘seismic shift’ in golf following Jon Rahm’s decision to join LIV Golf
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says there has been a ‘seismic shift’ in golf following Jon Rahm’s decision to join LIV Golf
PGA Tour members demand information over future plans
A group of 21 PGA Tour players have employed law firm Susman Godfrey LLP to address a letter to the PGA Tour policy board, demanding more transparency over ongoing negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and an outside equity group.
The PGA Tour said in a memo on Sunday that it is advancing negotiations with the PIF, as a deadline to finalize details from the June 6 framework agreement approaches on December 31, but is also in talks with a consortium of US professional sports owners.
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Rickie Fowler insists he’s not affected by Jon Rahm’s shock move to LIV Golf, but concedes it’s not good for the sport to be divided
Rickie Fowler insists he’s not affected by Jon Rahm’s shock move to LIV Golf, but concedes it’s not good for the sport to be divided
With the future of men’s professional golf in the balance, players like Chez Reavie, James Hahn and former Masters champion Danny Willett were among those wanting to know what’s coming.
“The board has recently received multiple bids by prospective capital partners that will potentially transform how the PGA Tour operates, who controls it, and who owns it,” attorney Jacob Buchdahl wrote.
“All but a handful of PGA Tour players have been kept entirely in the dark about the prospective transaction, how it will impact them, and what conflicts of interest may impact the decision-makers.
“We demand full disclosure of the details and analyses of any proposals by prospective capital partners, which should be shared promptly with all tour players.”
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan in memo to players: “In accordance with the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations, Jon Rahm has been notified he is suspended and no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play due to his association with a series of unauthorised tournaments”
Last Updated: 12/12/23 9:31am
Jon Rahm has been suspended from all PGA Tour tournament play and removed from the FedEx Cup eligibility points list
The PGA Tour has notified Jon Rahm he has been suspended indefinitely for signing with Saudi-funded LIV Golf, a move which sees him removed from the FedEx Cup eligibility points list.
Rahm himself had stated an intention to retain his PGA Tour membership, but as has been the approach since the inaugural LIV event in June 2022, each member to join the rival circuit has been banned, with Rahm the latest despite golf’s potential merger between the PGA Tour and Saudi’s PIF.
Rahm, a former critic of LIV, will be the highest-ranked player to join the league, with the world No 3 enjoying an impressive 2023 that saw him win four times on the PGA Tour – including victory at The Masters – and be part of Europe’s successful Ryder Cup team.
“As you will recall, last year we communicated our commitment to ensure that suspended members do not negatively impact other players’ tournament eligibility, position on the Priority Rankings or eligibility to compete in the Players and Signature Events,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a memo to players.
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After Rahm’s move to LIV Golf was confirmed, we take a look back at some of his remarks about the rival tour over the past year
After Rahm’s move to LIV Golf was confirmed, we take a look back at some of his remarks about the rival tour over the past year
“Consequently the Policy Board established a new ranking – called the ‘FedEx Cup Playoffs & Eligibility Points List’ – that removes players who are under suspension for their participation in an unauthorised tournament or their association with a series of unauthorised tournaments from the FedEx Cup Points List.
“In accordance with the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations, Jon Rahm has been notified that he is suspended and no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour tournament play due to his association with a series of unauthorised tournaments.”
Mackenzie Hughes and Carl Yuan are the immediate beneficiaries of Rahm’s decision to sign with the rival league.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan released a memo to players confirming Rahm’s suspension
Hughes goes from No 51 to No 50, and now is eligible for all seven of the $20m signature events in 2024. It also means Yuan, who was signed up for Q-school this week, moves up one spot to No 125 and has a full PGA Tour card for next year.
The tour last year distinguished between the FedEx Cup standings and a separate list related to eligibility for the postseason and for status. The distinction was so players defecting to LIV would not have a negative impact on those who stayed behind.
Among those who benefited last year were Rickie Fowler, who got into the postseason because of all the players who left for LIV; and Jimmy Walker and Rory Sabbatini, who moved up on the career money list and were able to use one-time exemptions to keep full status.
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Butch Harmon believes Rahm’s departure might increase the urgency of the PGA Tour to form a merger with LIV Golf
Butch Harmon believes Rahm’s departure might increase the urgency of the PGA Tour to form a merger with LIV Golf
This year, Hughes narrowly missed out on the top 50. He kept his 51st position through the autumn, which only would have guaranteed him spots in the first two $20m events. Now the Canadian can count on the likes of the Wells Fargo Championship in his home residence of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Social media had been buzzing about the possibility of Tony Finau – he and Rahm are close friends – also leaving for LIV. Finau took to Instagram on Monday and said he was “looking forward to playing my 10th season on the PGA Tour”.
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Rich Beem gave his reaction to Rahm’s dramatic move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf
Rich Beem gave his reaction to Rahm’s dramatic move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf
“See y’all in Maui!” he concluded, adding the hash tag, “#imnotleaving.”
Monahan also said in the memo that the policy board and management recently met with a group of players upset that signature events will offer disproportionately more FedEx Cup points than the other events, leading to concerns it will be difficult for players outside the top 50 to fairly compete.
Monahan said the board will review how the new system is working in June and evaluate whether changes are in order for 2025.
Camilo Villegas recently broke a nine-year title drought and shares his journey which includes the passing of his daughter, Mia, in 2020 and why he has the words ‘attitude’ and ‘positive energy’ as tattoos; Watch every PGA Tour event live on Sky Sports Golf in 2024
By Camilo Villegas, PGA Tour golfer
Last Updated: 05/12/23 1:00pm
Camilo Villegas reflects on the ups and downs of life on and off the golf course following his recent Butterfield Bermuda Championship win
I enjoyed two very special weeks in November where I finished runner-up in the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico and then went on to win the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
It’s been a real journey, and life is a journey where it goes up and down. You’ve got to go back to that Colombian kid who came to the US with a dream, played college golf, played the Korn Ferry Tour in 2005 and then everything kicked off on the PGA Tour and I managed to win a couple of FedExCup Playoffs events in 2008.
You would think that kid was on top of the world – and I was at a point in time. I was feeling pretty good from a performance point of view.
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After claiming his first victory in nine years, Camilo Villegas shared why his win in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship was such an emotional moment for him.
After claiming his first victory in nine years, Camilo Villegas shared why his win in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship was such an emotional moment for him.
But as I look at where I am now and everything that has happened, I believe I’m a better person. Maybe the results haven’t been there but this journey has been interesting.
To lose my PGA Tour card, to go through an injury, to lose my baby daughter in 2020, to create Mia’s Miracles (a charitable initiative to help others facing challenges), to go back to the Korn Ferry Tour, to keep grinding, to have doubts, to have fears, to have tears, have smiles – you just never know where life takes you.
Despite all the doubts, I never stopped waking up early, 5-5.30am, in the morning to do what I like to do because in all honesty, the cool thing about those two weeks is not so much the results but the process and what’s been behind those results.
As much as I enjoy reflecting on my win and the energy that I have received from the world of golf and those outside of golf, trust me, it’s been unbelievable. I had 900 messages on my phone and I’m going to reply to all of them.
To lose my PGA Tour card, to go through an injury, to lose my baby daughter in 2020, to create Mia’s Miracles, to go back to the Korn Ferry Tour, to keep grinding, to have doubts, to have fears, to have tears, have smiles – you just never know where life takes you.
Camilo Villegas
It’s unbelievable to be honest. You kind of stop believing after nine years but I never stopped waking up early and putting in the work. You’ve got to keep a path and keep your mind to where it needs to be. I’m a hard worker and I love having a purpose every morning and that’s kind of what I did.
I’ve got tattoos on my arms which says ‘attitude’ and ‘positive energy’ and sometimes, I forget to look at them. There are a lot of things you can’t control in life, but I guess these two, you can.
You’ve got to have good attitude in life, and it’s easier said than done at times. And energy, you can bring the energy not only to yourself but to the people around you and that’s something we all should strive for.
There were bumps but that’s life. I wish my little Mia is here with us but she’s not and she’s truly in a better place after a long battle that she wasn’t going to win.
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I accepted that. We turned that tragedy into something very positive with Mia’s Miracles. My wife reads messages from people we help on Mia’s Miracles every week and I go, ‘Man, if Mia was here, we wouldn’t be able to do this’.
At the beginning of the year, things were not going great and I made a little swing change. I’ve never been too excited about big swing changes but I trusted the guy I started working with, Jose Campra, and he told me he needed a year. I’m glad it took less than that, as here we are with a trophy.
Interestingly, I never felt so comfortable being in contention during those two weeks. It’s weird, even strange. When I was in contention back in the day, I didn’t have this calmness.
I’ve got to analyse what happened and try to replicate it more often. I was good at reacting to missed putts or lip-outs, which I’m not used to being like that before. There was a calmness in me.
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Highlights from the fourth round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course, Bermuda.
Highlights from the fourth round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course, Bermuda.
It was nice to have the Latin players come out to celebrate with me on the 18th green. I guess it was also payback as I sprayed Nico Echavarria with champagne when he won the Puerto Rico Open and he got me back. It’s great as it’s two wins for two Colombians this year, both guys growing up on the same golf course in Medellin.
I tell my wife all the time that if we do things in the right way, people will look at you in a positive way and respect you. I think that’s what I try to do. I enjoy being around the younger generation and sharing what I’ve lived.
Life is about experiences. You get good and bad ones and you try to learn from both. I was young once too and I had guys who helped me throughout my career.
I always want to accomplish more but I’m at peace with what I’ve accomplished already. It’s all about sharing it with others, especially the Latin kids who represent our region and grow the game of golf in South America.
Jon Rahm reportedly considering LIV offer of around $600m; USA pair Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele two more names that have been tied to LIV rumours; Woods: “Hypothetically would it surprise me? Yes, but there’s so many different things that have happened”
Last Updated: 02/12/23 12:04am
Jon Rahm has been linked with a move to LIV, with Tiger Woods saying the rumours ‘surprise’ him
Tiger Woods says he would be surprised if rumours that several big-name players are on the verge of signing with LIV Golf prove to be true.
Some media reports have suggested Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion and world’s No 3-ranked player, is weighing an offer of around $600m to sign with the Saudi-backed league. United States Ryder Cup stalwarts Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are two more names that have been tied to LIV rumours.
Without being asked about specific players, Woods was asked if the rumours surprise him.
“Hypothetically would it surprise me? Yes, but there’s so many different things that have happened in the last 48 hours, but also in the last few weeks,” Woods said after his second round at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “Things have changed and will continue to change.”
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said earlier this week that a December 31 deadline to finalise an agreement with the Public Investment Fund and the DP World Tour remains “a firm target”.
“Our deadline’s coming up here soon, so there’s a lot of moving parts,” Woods said. “A lot of different things are happening very quickly because we know, you know, I think today’s the first day in December. We don’t have a whole lot of time.”
Woods, who had no knowledge of the framework agreement at the time of the announcement in June, has since joined the PGA Tour’s Policy Board as a player director. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy left the board and was recently replaced by Jordan Spieth.
Woods instead preferred to focus on the upcoming deadline for golf’s merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF
Spieth, who is tied for the lead at Albany Golf Club, acknowledged that losing Rahm to LIV would be a big blow to the PGA Tour.
“I’m not sure specifically how it would impact those negotiations, but all in all, Jon Rahm is one of the biggest assets that we have on the PGA Tour,” he said.
“So it would be really not very good for us in general because we want to play against the best players in the world and that’s what Jon is.
“I know there’s been some guys that have talked to him. I know he’s maybe weighing some decisions, maybe not. I really don’t know, so I don’t want to insult him and say he’s weighing decisions if he already knows he’s not or he is. You know, that’s somewhat out of my control in a way.
“Obviously, I could speak probably on behalf of 200-plus PGA Tour players in saying that we really hope that he’s continuing with us.”
Jordan Spieth, who has joined the PGA Tour’s Policy Board as a player director, says Rahm moving to LIV would ‘really not be very good’
Scottie Scheffler said this week that he’s “extremely grateful” for Woods’ involvement, and the world’s No 1-ranked player is in the Bahamas competing in his first stroke play event since the Tour Championship. Noticeably absent, however, are Rahm, Cantlay and Schauffele.
Rahm did not commit to this year’s event, while Cantlay and Schauffele withdrew last month, further fueling speculation they may join LIV.
Rahm also recently pulled out of the Woods and McIlroy backed TGL, citing the time commitment, although the league has since delayed its debut until 2025 after the roof of its facility collapsed and caused damage. Cantlay and Schauffele are among the marquee players who had committed to the league.
While acknowledging the rumours swirling, Woods sidestepped a second question about whether he’d be surprised by more marquee defections to LIV.
“Nothing has really surprised me other than the fact that there’s so many different things that have happened so fast,” he said. “That’s one of the things that all of our – all of us as player-directors we’ve been working on, just that everything is now at a time crunch.
“It’s 24 hours a day just trying to figure it out.”
Hull FC and Hull KR will kick off the 2024 Betfred Super League season at the MKM Stadium on Thursday, February 15; the full fixtures for next year will be revealed at 8.30am tomorrow; For the first time, watch every game of the 2024 Super League season live on Sky Sports
Last Updated: 22/11/23 7:01pm
Hull FC and Hull KR will get the 2024 Super League season under way with a derby clash next February
A Hull derby will kick off the 2024 Betfred Super League season, with every match to be shown live on Sky Sports.
Cross-city rivals Hull FC and Hull KR meet at the MKM Stadium in the season-opener on Thursday, February 15.
The match-up was announced on Thursday evening as all 12 clubs confirmed their first home games of next year.
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Hull FC claimed the bragging rights the last time they met Hull KR in the Betfred Super League, winning 16-6 at Sewell Group Craven Park
Hull FC claimed the bragging rights the last time they met Hull KR in the Betfred Super League, winning 16-6 at Sewell Group Craven Park
Friday, February 16 sees three matches taking place as Leeds Rhinos host Salford Red Devils, St Helens welcome promoted London Broncos, and Leigh Leopards face Huddersfield Giants.
Castleford Tigers’ new head coach Craig Lingard faces arguably the toughest opening game possible as they host reigning champions Wigan Warriors on Saturday, February 17.
The other game that day see Grand Final runners-up Catalans Dragons welcome Warrington Wolves to Stade Gilbert Brutus.
After travelling to their rivals on opening night, Hull KR face Leeds in their first home game on Thursday, February 22, at the start of Round 2.
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Highlights of the 2023 Betfred Super League Grand Final between Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons
Highlights of the 2023 Betfred Super League Grand Final between Wigan Warriors and Catalans Dragons
The Broncos’ first home game back in Super League sees them host Catalans at Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium the following night, with Warrington welcoming Hull FC to the Halliwell Jones Stadium on the same day.
Huddersfield’s first home match is against St Helens on Saturday, February 24, while Wigan are pencilled in to face Leigh in the ‘Battle of the Borough’ at the DW Stadium.
The second round of the 2024 Super League season is rounded off by Salford hosting Castleford Tigers on Sunday, February 25.
The full fixture list for next year’s regular season will be announced at 8.30am on Thursday, November 23.
Betfred Super League 2024 opening fixtures
Round 1
Thursday, February 15: Hull FC vs Hull KR.
Friday, February 16: Leeds Rhinos vs Salford Red Devils, St Helens vs London Broncos, Leigh Leopards vs Huddersfield Giants.
Saturday, February 17: Castleford Tigers vs Wigan Warriors, Catalans Dragons vs Warrington Wolves.
Round 2
Thursday, February 22: Hull KR vs Leeds Rhinos.
Friday, February 23: London Broncos vs Catalans Dragons, Warrington Wolves vs Hull FC.
Saturday, February 24: Huddersfield Giants vs St Helens, Wigan Warriors vs Leigh Leopards.
Sunday, February 25: Salford Red Devils vs Castleford Tigers.
Watch every match of the 2024 Betfred Super League season, including Magic Weekend, the play-offs, and men’s, women’s and wheelchair Grand Finals, live on Sky Sports. Also stream with NOW.
Ugo Monye, who now works as a TV pundit, revealed on social media a supporter repeatedly targeted him with a racist insult after Exeter Chiefs’ victory over Gloucester; Police have “made contact” with a man in connection with the incident
Last Updated: 22/11/23 1:08pm
Ugo Monye says he was a victim of ‘blatant racism’ at Exeter’s Sandy Park on Sunday
Police have “made contact” with a man in connection with the alleged racist
abuse suffered by former England international Ugo Monye after Sunday’s match between Exeter and Gloucester.
The 40-year-old ex-Harlequins player, now a television pundit, said the incident occurred as he was leaving Sandy Park following the Chiefs’ 25-24 Gallagher Premiership victory.
Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: “We have identified and made contact with a man in connection to the incident and we are in the process of speaking to the victim.
“Our enquiries are currently ongoing into the incident.”
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Monye wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that one supporter running through the crowd repeatedly shouted a racist insult.
He added: “Disgraceful. Not a single person said a word, challenged or even reported it.
“He walks off after a mild scuffle and fans are now telling me ‘We’re with you’ B******S you’re with me. You weren’t with me when you saw and heard the most blatant racism I’ve seen from a supporter at a live game. So fed up.”
Exeter swiftly issued a statement vowing to investigate the matter and apologising to Monye.
It read: “In light of recent accusations regarding an incident of racist abuse at Sandy Park following the conclusion of our victory over Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership, Exeter will be launching a full investigation.
“This behaviour will not be tolerated at our rugby club, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.
Devon & Cornwall Police later confirmed they were investigating the incident.
In a statement released on Tuesday, superintendent Antony Hart said: “We take all reports of hate crime extremely seriously and we will not tolerate this behaviour.
“Anyone who has any information regarding this incident is asked to contact police quoting 258 20/11/23. Reporting makes a difference and can prevent these incidents happening to someone else.”
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The Rugby Football Union said in its own statement on Monday: “We are appalled by the racist abuse Ugo Monye faced following the Exeter Chiefs game against Gloucester.
“Ugo is a great champion of rugby, inclusion, and diversity; he has our full support. Racism cannot be accepted in our sport.
“Rugby authorities, clubs, fans, players and volunteers must all act consistently and without tolerance to any form of abuse of discrimination.”
Ryder Cup stars Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood in the group two back; Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton are four behind; Rory McIlroy 10 back after a level-par 72; Watch the third round live on Saturday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf
Last Updated: 17/11/23 1:34pm
Nicolai Hojgaard holds the halfway lead at the DP World Tour’s season finale
Nicolai Hojgaard produced a sensational final-hole eagle to take a two-shot lead into the weekend at the DP World Tour Championship, as Rory McIlroy slipped out of contention.
Hojgaard held a share of the overnight lead and recovered from two bogeys in his first four holes on Friday to card a six-under 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates, moving him to 11 under and clear of the logjam at the top of the leaderboard.
The Dane reached the turn in level par before following a 20-foot birdie at the 10th with three more in a five-hole stretch from the 13th, then fired his approach at the par-five last to within six feet and converted the eagle putt for the halfway advantage.
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Hojgaard’s Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland matched his 66 to sit in tied-second alongside Jens Dantorp, Antoine Rozner and South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, who charged into contention with a bogey-free 64.
Lawrence posted an eagle and six birdies to move to nine under, while Fleetwood made three birdies in a four-hole stretch and Hovland birdied three of his last five holes to also sit in the share of second.
Leona Maguire will be chasing more LPGA Tour success in 2024
LPGA players will compete for a record £95m ($118m) next season, LPGA Tour officials have announced.
The 2024 total prize fund represents a 69 per cent increase from 2021’s figure of approximately £56m ($70m).
“The 2024 LPGA Tour schedule reflects our historic growth,” commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said. “With new events and improved geographic flow, enhancing the athlete experience, our global reach and competitiveness have never been stronger.
“As we embark on this season, we celebrate the remarkable journey of women’s golf, anticipating thrilling competition and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.”
The schedule features a record 16 tournaments with purses of at least £1.93m ($2.4m), including 10 events outside the majors and Tour Championship. An increase in the CME Group Tour Championship’s purse from £5.6m to £8.8m was announced on Wednesday.
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The best of the action from day three of the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Spain
The best of the action from day three of the Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin in Spain
Take a look at the dates, venues and tournament schedule for the 2024 LPGA Tour (as of November 16):
January 18-21- Hilton Grand Vacations, Orlando, Florida
January 25-28 – LPGA Drive On Championship, Bradenton, Florida
February 22-25 – Honda LPGA ,Chonburi, Thailand
February 29 – March 3: HSBC Women’s World Championship, Singapore
March 7-10 – Blue Bay LPGA, Hainan Island, People’s Rep. of China
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March 21-24 – Seri Pak LA Open, Palos Verdes Estates, California
March 28-31 – Arizona Championship, Phoenix, Arizona
April 3-7 – LPGA Match Play, Las Vegas, Nevada
April 18-21 – The Chevron Championship, The Woodlands, Texas
April 25-28 – JM Eagle LA Championship, Los Angeles, California
May 9-12 – Cognizant Founders Cup, Clifton, New Jersey
May 16-19 – Mizuho Americas Open, Jersey City, New Jersey
May 30-June 2 – US Women’s Open, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
June 7-9 – ShopRite LPGA Classic, Galloway, New Jersey
June 13-16 – Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, Grand Rapids, Michigan
June 20-23 – KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Sammamish, Washington
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Highlights from the fourth round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship where Ruoning Yin claimed her maiden major
Highlights from the fourth round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship where Ruoning Yin claimed her maiden major
June 27-30 – Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Midland, Michigan
July 11-14: Amundi Evian Championship, Evian-les-Bains, France
July 18-21: Dana Open for Children, Sylvania, Ohio
July 25-28: CPKC Women’s Open, Alberta, Canada
August 1-4: Portland Classic, Portland, Oregon
August 8-11: 2024 Paris Olympics, Paris, France
August 15-18: Women’s Scottish Open, TBD, Scotland
August 22-25: AIG Women’s Open, Fife, Scotland
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Highlights from the final round of the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath as Lilia Vu claimed her second major title of the season
Highlights from the final round of the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath as Lilia Vu claimed her second major title of the season
August. 29-September 1: FM Global Championship, Norton, Massachusetts
September 13-15: Solheim Cup, Gainesville, Virginia
September 19-22: Kroger Queen City Championship, Cincinnati, Ohio
September 27-29: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Rogers, Arkansas
October 10-13: Buick LPGA Shanghai, Shanghai, People’s Rep. of China
October 17-20: BMW Ladies Championship, TBD, Republic of Korea
October 24-27: Maybank Championship, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Celine Boutier takes victory at the LPGA Maybank Championship following an incredible nine-hole playoff with Atthaya Thitikul
Celine Boutier takes victory at the LPGA Maybank Championship following an incredible nine-hole playoff with Atthaya Thitikul
October 31-November 3: TOTO Japan Classic, Shiga, Japan
November 6-9: LOTTE Championship, Oahu, Hawaii
November 14-17: The ANNIKA driven, Belleair, Florida
November 21-24: CME Group Tour Championship, Naples, Florida
December 13-15: Grant Thornton Invitational, Naples, Florida
France captain Antoine Dupont is set to take a break from the 15-a-side game in order to focus on sevens in the build up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris; the decision is set to be announced on Monday
Last Updated: 15/11/23 5:59pm
France’s Antoine Dupont is set to announce his intention to miss the Six Nations in order to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games
France captain Antoine Dupont is set to miss next year’s Six Nations in order to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The French rugby federation (FFR) told AFP the news on Wednesday, with the decision coming just a month after the disappointment of an early World Cup exit.
Dupont, 27, is set to miss the Six Nations, held between February 2 – March 16 next year in order to participate in legs of the World Rugby seven-a-side circuit, now known as SVNS.
His club Toulouse, the FFR and Dupont are set to hold a press conference on Monday, 250 days from the start of the Games, when they are expected to announce Dupont’s intentions.
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Members of the France squad and head coach Fabien Galthie criticise the standard of refereeing following their quarter-final defeat to South Africa
Members of the France squad and head coach Fabien Galthie criticise the standard of refereeing following their quarter-final defeat to South Africa
Dupont will join France’s sevens squad in January before SVNS events in Vancouver, Canada on February 23-24 and Los Angeles on March 2-3.
Scrum-half Dupont’s most recent 15-a-side appearance for France was last month’s agonising World Cup quarter-final defeat to eventual winners South Africa at the Stade de France.
The stadium in northern Paris will also host next July’s sevens competitions, for men and women, at the Olympics.
As far back as last December, Dupont opened the door to playing in the event, which first featured in the Olympics in 2016.
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Despite thrashing Namibia 96-0 for their biggest win ever, the Rugby World Cup hosts will be concerned to have seen Antoine Dupont go off in the second half with an injury
Despite thrashing Namibia 96-0 for their biggest win ever, the Rugby World Cup hosts will be concerned to have seen Antoine Dupont go off in the second half with an injury
“It’s highly motivating,” Dupont told RTL.
“It’s incredible when you see the enthusiasm it can create. There is a desire from my side to put things in place for me to participate.
“It will be a discussion between the different coaching staffs,” he added.
A host of other leading 15-a-side players have featured at past Olympic Games including South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe and former New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams, who have both won the World Cup twice.
Fiji have won the two men’s gold medals since seven-a-side rugby was introduced into the Olympics with the longer format of the sport having last featured in 1924.
The absence of Dupont in the Six Nations will force France head coach Fabien Galthie to name a new captain and starting scrum-half for the Six Nations, which they start against Ireland on February 2.
Bath returned to winning ways with a big win over Gloucester in a rollercoaster West Country derby that featured eight tries; Bath are two points ahead of Exeter, with Gloucester still in eighth after a third loss of the season
Last Updated: 10/11/23 10:23pm
Bath produced a stunning second-half performance to win a pulsating West Country derby against Gloucester 45-27 at a sold-out Kingsholm.
Trailing 20-10 at the interval, after being comfortably second best in the first half, Bath turned the game on its head with their pack taking control to score four tries in a devastating 15-minute spell as their opponents imploded.
Ollie Lawrence scored two tries for Bath with Will Muir, Thomas du Toit and Beno Obano also touching down for the visitors. There was also a penalty try award with Finn Russell adding five conversions and a penalty.
Santiago Carreras, Chris Harris and Matias Alemanno scored Gloucester’s tries with George Barton kicking two penalties and three conversions.
Gloucester made an explosive start, with Jonny May heavily involved. A pre-planned move saw the former England international tear through the Bath ranks to set up a period of pressure, with the wing soon producing another strong run which ended with Carreras being hauled down metres from the try-line.
Bath captain Ben Spencer was yellow-carded as he sought to slow down Gloucester’s possession and the hosts soon capitalised with a Barton penalty.
The away side’s response was swift with a Russell penalty rewarding a powerful burst from Lawrence, meaning Spencer was able to return to the fray with no damage done to the scoreboard.
After 17 minutes, Gloucester’s early dominance was rewarded when Harris powered over after Bath’s defence had been dragged from side to side as the hosts’ skilful inter-play had them chasing shadows.
Bath beat Gloucester at a sold-out Kingsholm
Bath then missed a golden opportunity for an immediate reply when another break from Lawrence set up a scoring chance for Miles Reid but the flanker stumbled when challenged by Carreras with the line beckoning.
It mattered little as Lawrence took matters into his own hands by brushing off Stephen Varney’s tackle to score Bath’s opening try, with Russell’s conversion bringing the scores level. However, Gloucester were soon back in front with more intricate back play creating the space for Carreras to walk over in the corner.
A Russell penalty attempt rebounded back off a post but Barton had no such issues as he slotted over from 30 metres out to give his side a deserved 20-10 interval lead.
After the restart Bath were quickly out of the traps and roared back into contention when Muir collected Max Ojomoh’s long pass before bumping off two defenders to score. Russell converted before Bath took the lead for the first time when Du Toit finished off a succession of forward drives.
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In the second half, it was one-way traffic as Gloucester could not get out of their 22 and it came as no surprise when Obano crashed over for Bath’s bonus-point try.
Gloucester conceded a fourth score in the space of 15 minutes, a penalty try being awarded with their flanker Jack Clement sin-binned for collapsing.
Gloucester showed some spirit with a try from Alemanno before Clement returned from the sin-bin in time to see Lawrence seal Bath’s victory with his second try of the night.
A long birdie putt on the last hole of her round put Brooke Henderson into a one-shot lead following the opening day of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican; coverage continues on Sky Sports Golf from 3pm on Friday
Last Updated: 09/11/23 11:57pm
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Highlights from the first round of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican on the LPGA Tour
Highlights from the first round of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican on the LPGA Tour
Brooke Henderson opened with an eight-under-par 62 to established a one-shot lead after the first round of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican.
The Canadian made a long birdie putt on her final hole, the par-three ninth, for a 29 on the front nine to move past a group which included Jin Young Ko and Patty Tavatanakit.
Henderson won the LPGA season opener in Florida and has not won since, falling to No 13 in the women’s world ranking and coming in at No 14 in the Race to CME Globe.
“Up until this year, ball-striking has definitely been a strength of mine, and hasn’t been as sharp as I would like the last couple months,” Henderson, who switched irons recently and felt she was headed in the right direction, said.
“To hit all 18 greens is more what I used to be used to a little while ago. It feels amazing not to have to get up and down and give myself a lot of birdie opportunities.”
This is the last tournament for the top 60 players to reach the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship down the coast in Naples. That is not an issue for Henderson or Ko, who is No 5 on the strength of two LPGA victories.
It is a different story for the others who were at 63, however. Tavatanakit, a former major champion, is at No 61 and got off to the ideal start.
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“Obviously, I knew what I had to do,” Tavatanakit said. “I’m pretty stressed, but at the same time, I feel like I did everything under my control.
“I did everything with no regrets. I’m just going to be out here and know at the back of my mind that I did everything I could.”
Emily Kristine Pedersen is at No 80 and Minami Katsu of Japan is at No 78, and they also shot 63. Katsu rallied late on a beautiful day at Pelican Golf Club, starting the back nine with five birdies in six holes to get near the top of the leaderboard.
Lexi Thompson, playing for the first time since missing the cut by three shots in Las Vegas on the PGA Tour, opened with a 64 and was in a five-way tie for sixth. She has gone more than four years without winning, and she’ll likely need to finish third or better to make it to the season finale in Naples.
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Thompson started on the back nine, made the turn and ran off four birdies in five holes.
“I just went into the day knowing I had to make birdies,” Thompson said. “It was perfect weather – maybe five miles per hour when it gusted – so ideal weather for us.
“I knew I had to make birdies, but I just tried to stick to my game plan with my swing shots and fire at the pins and give myself as many birdie opportunities.”
Defending champion Nelly Korda opened with a 70, while Lydia Ko had to settle for a 67, and at No 101 in the Race to CME Globe, she likely would have to be alone in second to reach the Tour Championship and defend her title.
Coverage of The ANNIKA Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican continues live on Sky Sports Golf from 3pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 4.30pm on Friday. Also stream with NOW.
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