75
Daily Mail, Tuesday, July 30, 2019
FootballFresh off the rag-
ing success of the
Irish Open at Lahinch
earlier this month, the
search is on for a new
date for next year. Why
on earth would you
move it, you might ask?
Because the WGC-
Fedex Invitational,
which concluded in
Memphis on sunday,
needs a new date as its
current one will be occu-
pied by the Olympics.
Despite the strong
protestations of the
european Tour, the
PGA Tour ignored them
and scheduled it the
week of the Irish Open.
Given the WGC events
are open to its leading
players, the european
Tour decided it would
be unfair to ask them
to choose.
so, goodbye to the
lovely run of the Irish
Open and the scottish
Open, leading into the
Open. The sheer
madness of the global
golf schedule, and the
infighting that goes on
when they should be
pooling their resources
to take on competing
sports, never ceases
to amaze.Derek
Lawrenson
Women on the up
if they hurry up!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
‘It’s always fun to take on Rory because he’s
such a tough competitor. To go up against him
in the final round and beat him makes this win
even more special.’
Brooks Koepka rather rubbed McIlroy’s nose in
it after beating him so comprehensively at the
WGC-FedEx Invitational on Sunday. This time last
year the world No 1 spot was being passed round
like a parcel. The Rory demolition showed there
is now an aura about Koepka. It might be years
before anyone else gets a shot at top spot.sO, The men have decided that July is the time to
bring the curtain down on the majors and August is
now the month to play with monopoly money, or
Fedex dollars to use the modern parlance.
I’m sure I speak for most of us in thinking that,
when it comes to the buck-laden Fedex Cup, we
can probably contain our excitement.
What an opportunity, therefore, it presents for the
women. In the past, the AIG Women’s British Open,
which begins on Thursday at Woburn, barely got
the chance to breathe for the close proximity of the
Us PGA. Now there is the welcome chance for it to
develop its own slot in the spotlight.
Tomorrow, the r&A will launch a new era for the
tournament, starting with a rebranding and change
of name to the Women’s Open. Next year, they will be
assuming sole responsibility, and they have already
announced a 40 per cent increase in prize money.
suddenly, the age of the r&A dinosaur is behind
us. r&A chief executive Martin slumbers has been
doing the job for four years, and it is clear in his
words and actions that the women’s game has an
advocate they can trust. slumbers is not promising
the moon, or parity with the men’s game anytime
soon, if ever, but we can be sure he will not be living
up to his surname, either.
Can the women take advantage? Can they grip
the nation? They certainly can if they put their best
foot forward. Think back to 12 months ago, and a
victory for Georgia hall that was unquestionably
one of the golf highlights of the year.
In hall, Charley hull, Bronte Law and Meg
MacLaren, there is an exciting quartet, all under 25,
who could do wonders for the women’s game.
But the women do need to help themselves. At
the evian Championship last week, rounds were
taking almost six hours to complete — and this is
not an infrequent occurrence. At the senior Open,
a threeball was taking four hours and 20 minutes.
The r&A will be wasting their breath and money if
the women do not speed up. No golfer is interesting
when they take six hours for 18 holes. Let us hope
they seize the day, therefore, rather than seize up.WORLD
OF GOLF
Special
victory:
Brooks
Koepka
shows off
his trophy
EPAMaguire calls in sick
as United talk tough
H
Arry MAGUIre
called in sick and
missed training at
Leicester yesterday
as talks over a
move to Manchester United
continue.
The england defender telephoned
the club first thing and spoke to the
team doctor, who agreed Maguire
should spend the day resting.
It is the first session Maguire
(below) has missed in pre-season
and raises suspicions a move to
United could be imminent. Leicester
insist nothing has been agreed.
United executive chairman ed
Woodward has been negotiating
with Leicester sporting director Jon
rudkin. United manager Ole
Gunnar solskjaer had wanted the
26-year-old on board for the start
of pre-season to get acquainted
with his side’s style of play, but
there has been no
breakthrough.
Leicester want a
world record fee
for the defender
— at least £80mil-
lion — and Wood-
ward is trying to
drive them down.
Amid the discus-
sions, Maguire’s behaviour has
been exemplary. Leicester manager
Brendan rodgers reports a player
fully engaged in training and
Maguire has featured in all three
friendlies since returning from his
holiday. he was given an extended
break having played for england in
the Nations League finals.l
rOMeLU LUkAkU has been
left out of Manchester United’s
squad to face kristiansund as his
protracted move to Inter Milan
reaches a critical stage. The Italian
club had a £54m bid rejected last
week but further talks are planned
in the next 48 hours.Livid Bale withdraws from Real tour
Solskjaer
Solskjaer
v
A FAMILIAR face will greet
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
(below) when his
Manchester United side
play Kristiansund today —
with his son set to make
his debut for the
Norwegians.
Noah Solskjaer, 19, began
as a striker like his father
but is now a midfielder
and says United assistant
Michael Carrick is his role
model. Noah rose
through the
youth ranks
at his
father’s
hometown
club and has
been named
in the squad
for today’s game.
Kristiansund manager
Christian Michelsen said
of Noah (left): ‘While his
dad was a deadly effective
player the closer he got to
the box, Noah is more the
kind of player to create
attacks. He has a lot of
skills and he has football in
him. Noah has gone to a
good school.’By LAURIE WHITWELL
GAreTh BALe has been left too
distressed to join the real Madrid
squad for their trip to Munich after
having a move to China torpedoed by
the spanish giants.
The former Tottenham star was due
to face his old employers tonight at the
Allianz Arena in the Audi Cup.
however, it is understood that Bale
(right) is furious with his treatment at
the hands of manager Zinedine Zidane
and president Florentino Perez and has
not travelled. Zidane made it clear thatthe Wales international’s time at
the club was over. however,
Perez subsequently called off a
switch to Jiangsu suning which
would have earned Bale, 30,
around £1million-a-week.
real chiefs were not happy
with the deal, deciding they
wanted more for Bale, who cost a
world-record £85m in 2013 from
Tottenham. saturday’s 7-3pre-season hammering at the hands of
city rivals Atletico is also thought to
have led to the U-turn.
Bale has not been given an explanation
for the change of heart and has not
received assurances over his future
at the Bernabeu.
At this stage of the window an
alternative move is unlikely, with
Bale convinced he will be left
out of the picture despite
Perez hoping Zidane may
be forced into a rethink.By MIKE KEEGAN
KEY: Figure in M column is the match number and the figure un-
der S shows the number of weeks since that number gave a
score draw. Home-away form sequences cover each team’s last
five matches, with the latest result on the right. X = score draw;
O = 0-0 draw. Figures in brackets show percentage of games re-
sulting in a score draw so far. The R column gives the current
form rating of the teams in each match, with the home team’s
rating first. The H-D-A figures are the percentage chance of
home-draw-away. Jack Boulder’s forecast is in the final column.
M S Home form Away form R H-D-A F
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
1 0 OXWWW BARNSLEY (0) v FULHAM (0) LLLWL 60-52 51-28-21 2
2 7 WLWWX BLACKBURN (0) v CHARLTON (0) WLWWW 56-59 48-27-26 X
3 20 LXWWW BRENTFORD (0) v BIRMINGHAM (0) LLXWO 58-55 41-31-28 1
4 8 XXWXL BRISTOL C. (0) v LEEDS (0) LWLLW 46-45 55-27-19 1
5 5 WLLLX HUDDERSFLD (0) v DERBY (0) XWXWL 40-49 41-29-30 X
6 11 WOXOL MILLWALL (0) v PRESTON (0) WLLLL 41-47 43-29-28 X
7 6 LWLWW NOTTM F. (0) v WEST BROM (0) LLOLL 53-50 50-27-23 X
8 11 LWWOO READING (0) v SHEFF. WED (0) WOLXX 49-48 50-28-22 2
9 11 OOXXX STOKE (0) v QPR (0) XLOLW 47-50 41-28-31 1
10 1 WWWXX SWANSEA (0) v HULL (0) LWLLX 54-39 43-27-31 1
11 4 WOXWW WIGAN (0) v CARDIFF (0) LLWLW 58-50 30-35-35 X
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
12 7 WLXXW AFC WIMBLN (0) v ROTHERHAM (0) WLXLL 55-40 49-24-27 1
13 1 XXLWL BLACKPOOL (0) v BRISTOL R. (0) XLOXO 40-52 41-31-28 2
14 3 WWWLW BURTON (0) v IPSWICH (0) XWLLL 47-42 50-27-23 X
15 2 LLWWX BURY (0) v MILTON K. (0) LWLWL 53-49 50-27-23 2
16 1 WLOWX COVENTRY (0) v SOUTHEND (0) LLXXL 51-49 59-23-18 1
17 2 WWLWL DONCASTER (0) v GILLINGHAM (0) XWLXW 51-50 50-28-22 118 18 WXXOL LINCOLN (0) v ACCRINGTON (0) WLXWX 37-57 34-29-37 1
19 0 LWWXW PETERBORO (0) v FLEETWOOD (0) LWLLL 52-46 44-31-25 1
20 3 WLXLO SHREWSBURY (0) v PORTSMOUTH (0) WWWXL 49-42 44-30-27 2
21 0 XLWXW SUNDERLAND (0) v OXFORD U. (0) OWWWL 47-50 41-28-31 1
22 8 WWLXW TRANMERE (0) v ROCHDALE (0) XWLWL 53-49 41-31-28 1
23 0 LLLWW WYCOMBE (0) v BOLTON (0) LWLLL 55-37 51-20-29 1
SKY BET LEAGUE II
24 2 LLLXO BRADFORD (0) v CAMBRIDGE (0) XWLLX 49-41 50-27-23 1
25 5 LXWWW CARLISLE (0) v CRAWLEY (0) LLWWL 52-59 43-29-28 1
26 1 LLLWW COLCHESTER (0) v PORT VALE (0) OWLXX 59-41 63-20-16 1
27 21 WLWWW CREWE (0) v PLYMOUTH (0) LXLLL 58-38 60-24-16 1
28 0 WLWLW EXETER (0) v MACCLESFLD (0) WXLLW 53-46 50-27-23 1
29 6 LWWOX FOREST G. (0) v OLDHAM (0) LWOLL 45-41 50-27-23 X
30 22 WXWWO LEYTON O. (0) v CHELTENHAM (0) LWXLL 58-44 42-27-31 1
31 0 WWXWX MORECAMBE (0) v GRIMSBY (0) LLXLL 52-54 41-28-31 X
32 20 WWWXL NEWPORT (0) v MANSFIELD (0) WXLLX 49-43 44-30-27 2
33 6 WLXWX NORTHAMPTN (0) v WALSALL (0) LLLLO 55-51 50-27-23 X
34 2 WLLOL SCUNTHORPE (0) v SWINDON (0) WOXOL 35-48 41-31-28 2
LADBROKES SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
35 4 XXWLW ABERDEEN (0) v HEARTS (50) LLLWX 52-55 47-26-27 1
36 1 OWOWW CELTIC (0) v ST JOHNSTN (0) LXLLL 58-41 62-23-15 1
37 9 OXLWW HIBERNIAN (25) v ST MIRREN (0) WXWOO 61-45 60-22-18 1
38 1 WWLWW KILMARNOCK (0) v RANGERS (0) XLWWL 52-59 46-28-26 2
39 7 WLLWW LIVINGSTON (25) v MOTHERWELL (0) LXLWW 64-71 46-28-26 X
40 4 WOWWW ROSS CO. (0) v HAMILTON (25) LWLWW 65-55 27-33-40 1
FANCY WINNING 30K A YEAR? GO TO:
http://www.soccerlotto.comTOP DRAWS: In order of preference, Coupon Nos 11, 31, 2, 29,
39, 5, 14, 7, 33, 41, 6, 42, 46, 49, 34, 8.
SURPRISE DRAWS: 28, 10, 9, 19, 30.
TOP AWAYS: 38, 15, 20, 1, 32, 13, 48.
TOP HOMES: 36, 24, 23, 35, 21, 37, 18, 3, 17, 16, 44.
HOT NUMBERS with the best Treble Chance record over the
past 20 weeks (best first): 42, 31, 24, 19, 1, 28, 12, 10.
COLD NUMBERS with the worst Treble Chance record over
the past 20 weeks (worst first): 32, 44, 49, 4, 27, 2, 3, 11.LADBROKES SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP
41 7 WWLXW ALLOA (25) v PARTICK (25) OWWWX 51-58 55-23-23 X
42 2 WXXWL ARBROATH (0) v QUEEN OF S (50) LLWWX 49-51 50-27-23 X
43 5 LXLWX AYR (25) v MORTON (25) XWWLW 55-56 50-27-23 1
44 21 WWOWL DUNDEE UTD (25) v INV. CT (0) WWLOL 49-51 47-26-27 1
45 - ——- DUNFERMLNE (-) v DUNDEE (-) ——- ——- ............ .V
LEAGUE ONE
46 9 OLWXL AIRDRIE U. (25) v FORFAR (0) WWLWL 46-60 40-31-29 2
47 7 WWWLL CLYDE (25) v EAST FIFE (25) OLXLW 41-58 47-19-33 1
48 0 WWWLL DUMBARTON (0) v RAITH (0) XOLWL 36-45 55-23-23 2
COMMUNITY SHIELD
49 1 WWWWW LIVERPOOL (0) v MAN. CITY (0) WWWWW 66-71 43-26-31 1
INDIVIDUAL ODDS: Luton v Middlesbro X; Salford v Stevenage 1; Dunfermline
v Dundee X; Peterhead v Falkirk 2;
Stranraer v Montrose X; Brechin v Annan 2; Cove v Edinburgh 1; Elgin v
Cowdenbeath 2; Stenhousemuir v Albion 2;
Stirling v Queen’s Park X.JACK BOULDER’S POOLSMAIL
TOP TIPS