Strong field set for season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai

Strong field set for season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai
Major champion Justin Rose will be among a strong field taking part in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai from Nov. 14-17. (Warren Little/Getty Images)
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Updated 12 October 2024
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Strong field set for season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai

Strong field set for season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai
  • Major champions Shane Lowry, Justin Rose and Adam Scott will tee off at at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Nov. 14-17

DUBAI: The 2024 Race to Dubai is set for a thrilling conclusion, with a host of global stars already confirmed for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates from Nov. 14-17.

Billy Horschel, who recently claimed his second BMW PGA Championship title, will tee off on the Earth Course alongside major champions Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, and Adam Scott, and fellow Rolex Series winner Robert MacIntyre, who won the Genesis Scottish Open in July.

They join reigning Race to Dubai champion Rory McIlroy and his fellow Ryder Cup star and 2017 European No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood, with both already confirmed for the final Rolex Series event of the season.

Horschel’s victory at Wentworth saw him move up to third on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, and the American will be making his second appearance in the season-ending event.

The 37-year-old won the PGA Tour’s FedExCup in 2014 after claiming the BMW Championship and Tour Championship titles in back-to-back weeks, and the eight-time PGA Tour winner is excited by the opportunity to win the DP World Tour’s season-ending title.

“I’m excited to return to Dubai next month to finish my season,” said Horschel. “I really enjoyed my experience at Jumeirah Golf Estates three years ago and I’m looking forward to getting back to the UAE.

“It has been great playing in some of the DP World Tour’s most historic events in the latter part of the season and I hope to finish the year on a high note with another memorable experience in Dubai.

“I’m incredibly proud to have won the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour, so to have a chance to add the DP World Tour Championship title to my trophy cabinet would certainly be very special.”

Horschel finished joint runner-up at the 152nd Open at Royal Troon alongside Justin Rose, who has also confirmed his return to the DP World Tour Championship. Joining them in the field is Australian Adam Scott, who won the Masters Tournament in 2013, the same year that Rose won the US Open at Merion.

Fellow major champion Lowry will be competing in back-to-back weeks in the UAE, after also confirming his appearance at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. The Irishman, who won the 148th Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, has recorded 13 top 20 worldwide finishes in 2024, including a victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the PGA Tour alongside McIlroy.

Scotsman MacIntyre is enjoying a career-best season a year on from making his Ryder Cup debut at Marco Simone, having won both the RBC Canadian Open and his home Genesis Scottish Open in 2024.

The 28-year-old is currently sixth on the Race to Dubai Rankings and is hoping to eclipse his previous highest finish of ninth on the season-long standings, which he achieved in 2019.


‘I love that team’: Arab fans turn out in force to cheer on AC Milan and Juventus in Riyadh

‘I love that team’: Arab fans turn out in force to cheer on AC Milan and Juventus in Riyadh
Updated 7 sec ago
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‘I love that team’: Arab fans turn out in force to cheer on AC Milan and Juventus in Riyadh

‘I love that team’: Arab fans turn out in force to cheer on AC Milan and Juventus in Riyadh
  • A 2-1 win saw Milan reach EA Sports FC Italian Supercup final where they will meet Inter on Monday

RIYADH: AC Milan fans from across the region were celebrating a famous win over Juventus as their team bounced back from a goal deficit to claim a 2-1 victory in the EA Sports FC Italian Supercup semifinal at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.

The match was watched by a large contingent of local Saudi supporters and many others who had traveled from across the Gulf to cheer on the two Italian giants.

Milan striker Tammy Abraham, who had a big impact after coming on for the last half-hour, thanked supporters for inspiring the players in their comeback win, describing Saudi Arabia as “a beautiful country.”

AC Milan supporter Alhasan Alghanim, from Saudi Arabia, said: “I’m here today supporting my team in the semifinals. Hopefully, on Monday we will win against Inter.”

Issa Tayei, from Qatar, told Arab News that he traveled to the Kingdom for the first time to attend the Supercup and support his favorite team, Juventus.

Assim Abu Ibrahim attended the event to support his son, who is a part of the Juve Academy, but is a devoted Milan fan.

“I am a big supporter of AC Milan, controversially. Since I was a child, I loved that team, and I am still committed to them. I love football,” he said.

The 37th edition of the Supercup began on Thursday with Inter Milan beating Atalanta 2-0.

The event aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life program and the country’s plan to continue hosting major global sporting events.

The Ministry of Sports organized the event, which is being hosted by the Kingdom for the fifth time, as part of its commitment to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.


Ryan Rickelton hits 259 as South Africa take control against Pakistan

Ryan Rickelton hits 259 as South Africa take control against Pakistan
Updated 48 min 23 sec ago
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Ryan Rickelton hits 259 as South Africa take control against Pakistan

Ryan Rickelton hits 259 as South Africa take control against Pakistan
  • Rickelton batted for 607 minutes before being caught at mid-on attempting a big hit
  • Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan took six catches in the South African innings

CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton made 259 as South Africa took their first innings total to 615 all out on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday.
Resuming on 176, Rickelton was content to feed the strike to Kyle Verreynne (100) and Marco Jansen (62) in quick-scoring partnerships of 148 for the sixth wicket and 86 for the seventh wicket.
The left-handed opening batsman reached his double century off 266 balls and was finally seventh out, caught at mid-on going for a big hit. He batted for 607 minutes, facing 343 balls and hitting 29 fours and three sixes.
It was the joint seventh highest score by a South African batsman in Test cricket.
South Africa’s innings ended 40 minutes after tea when new cap Kwena Maphaka was bowled second ball for nought to become the 100th Test wicket for Mohammad Abbas.
At 18 years 270 days, Maphaka became South Africa’s youngest Test player when the match started on Friday.
Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan held six catches in the South African innings.
Brief scores:
South Africa 615 in 141.3 overs (R. Rickelton 259, T. Bavuma 106, K. Verreynne 100, M. Jansen 62, K. Maharaj 40; Mohammad Abbas 3-94, Mir Hamza 2-127, Khurram Shahzad 2-123, Salman Agha 3-148).
Match situation: South Africa are 615 all out in the first innings.
Toss: South Africa.


India’s Jasprit Bumrah leaves with possible injury in decisive Test against Australia

India’s Jasprit Bumrah leaves with possible injury in decisive Test against Australia
Updated 04 January 2025
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India’s Jasprit Bumrah leaves with possible injury in decisive Test against Australia

India’s Jasprit Bumrah leaves with possible injury in decisive Test against Australia
  • India need to win to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy
  • Bumrah has taken 2-33 so far in Australia’s first innings

SYDNEY: Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah left the Sydney Cricket Ground midway through the second session on day two of the final Australia Test on Saturday, possibly heading for hospital scans in a big setback for India.
The visitors need to win the match to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy, with Bumrah their key strike bowler and skipper.
He left the field shortly before lunch, but reappeared after the break and bowled one over. But his speed was clearly down and he went off again.
TV pictures showed him in his training kit with medical staff, getting in a car and driving out of the ground.
Commentators suggested he was going for scans for an unknown injury.
Bumrah has taken 2-33 so far in Australia’s first innings with the match finely poised.


‘Beautiful Saudi Arabia’: Tammy Abraham thanks local fans for inspiring Milan semifinal win over Juventus

‘Beautiful Saudi Arabia’: Tammy Abraham thanks local fans for inspiring Milan semifinal win over Juventus
Updated 04 January 2025
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‘Beautiful Saudi Arabia’: Tammy Abraham thanks local fans for inspiring Milan semifinal win over Juventus

‘Beautiful Saudi Arabia’: Tammy Abraham thanks local fans for inspiring Milan semifinal win over Juventus
  • AC Milan scored twice in the final 20 minutes to beat Juve 2-1 in the EA Sports FC Italian Supercup in Riyadh; face city rivals Inter in Monday’s final at Al-Awwal Park
  • ‘It was a beautiful atmosphere in a beautiful country. We’re so happy to be here and we can hear the fans singing the whole game’ – Tammy Abraham, AC Milan

RIYADH: Tammy Abraham thanked the fans at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh for inspiring AC Milan to the EA Sports FC Italian Supercup final with a comeback 2-1 win over Juventus, as he called Saudi Arabia “a beautiful country.”

England striker Abraham made a big impact with his forward play after coming on for the last half hour to help AC Milan overturn a 1-0 deficit and seal a spot versus city rivals Inter in Monday night’s final.

Juventus had taken the lead in the 21st minute when Kenan Yildiz thudded high past AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan at his near post after being played through by Samuel Mbangula.

The match turned on its head, however, in the final 20 minutes. Firstly, Christian Pulisic blasted home from the penalty spot, then AC Milan substitute Yunus Musah’s low cross from the right took a wicked deflection off Federico Gatti and spun into the far corner of the net.

The turnaround was first inspired and then greeted with raptures by the AC Milan fans packed into the 25,000 capacity Riyadh stadium on Friday night — and Abraham was very grateful.

Abraham said: “Thank to you everyone who came to watch the game and supported us today. It was a beautiful atmosphere in a beautiful country, a beautiful support. We’re so happy to be here and we can hear the fans singing the whole game. We’re so thankful for them supporting us.

“It’s my first time in this beautiful country and I’m so happy to be here. I knew how beautiful it was before I arrived but coming here you see more and I feel we’re very privileged to host this tournament in this country and the support, like I said, has been amazing. See you all in the final on Monday!”

Abraham’s contribution from the substitutes’ bench delighted Sergio Conceicao in his debut as AC Milan manager. The Portuguese, who took over from compatriot Paulo Fonseca, now has the opportunity to win a trophy in just his second match in charge.

Conceicao said: “We did many mistakes in the first half, but we changed the game in the second half. We need to be brave and believe in what we do. We changed strategy and that was a good one. I noticed strong teamwork, the players united, and I’m happy about that.”

Conceicao was denied the opportunity of playing against son Francisco, the Juventus winger. Juventus manager Thiago Motta said that during the warm-up the No. 7 sustained “a little muscular issue, and he couldn’t play.”

The Juve wideman was instead replaced by Yildiz who, as well as his goal, tested Maignan with a fizzing drive in the first half from outside of the box that was palmed away by the French keeper.

AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez passed up a gilt-edged chance in the 55th minute when he spooned wide after a ricochet from a corner.

After Pulisic and the own-goal put AC Milan in front, however, the Rossoneri could have extended their lead when Michele Di Gregorio superbly saved the American’s dink following excellent work from Tammy Abraham.

The last kick of the match saw Gatti’s close-range shot deflected wide to leave Juventus defeated and AC Milan delighted.

Juventus manager Motta added: “We did a great first half, we took control and scored. In the second half we were able to close the game, but some mistakes were crucial. We need to work every day in order to improve. I truly believe that we have the abilities to perform better. Right away in a defeat, it is hard to find something positive. We will analyze the whole performance and we will do our best to improve.”

The EA Sports FC Supercup is being staged in Saudi Arabia for the fifth time. AC Milan entered the competition as runners-up of last season’s Serie A, while Juventus were included as Coppa Italia winners. Serie A champions Inter Milan, the current Supercup holders and going for three trophies in a row in Riyadh, won Serie A, while Atalanta, who Inter beat 2-0 on Thursday, lost to Juve in May’s Coppa Italia final.


‘Rested’ India skipper Rohit says not retiring from Test cricket

‘Rested’ India skipper Rohit says not retiring from Test cricket
Updated 04 January 2025
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‘Rested’ India skipper Rohit says not retiring from Test cricket

‘Rested’ India skipper Rohit says not retiring from Test cricket
  • The acclaimed opener has had a poor series, with critics suggesting his omission from Tests
  • ‘This decision is not a retirement decision nor am I going to step aside,’ Rohit Sharma says

NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma said Saturday he stood down from the decisive ongoing fifth Australia Test because he was not in form but insisted he was not retiring.
The acclaimed opener has had a poor series, with critics suggesting his omission from the Test — with the visitors down 2-1 going into the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground — was the end of his red-ball career.
But the 37-year-old has hit back, telling Indian broadcaster Star Sports at the SCG: “I’m not going anywhere.”
“This decision is not a retirement decision nor am I going to step aside from the game,” he added.
Rohit missed the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child and has not looked fully engaged since, failing to get past 10 runs in any of his five innings.
Rohit, speaking in Hindi, said that he had told the coach and selectors that he was “not in form” and that for the critical final Test, the team needed “a player in form.”
His recent lacklustre performances come on the back of a similarly poor return during India’s 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand during October-November.
Rohit quit T20 international cricket last year after lifting the World Cup.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah insisted at the coin toss on Friday that Rohit had “opted to rest” for the good of the team rather than being forced out.
Rohit on Saturday called Bumrah “absolute class.”