Sports

McIlroy, Clark and Schauffele tied at The Players – ARN News Centre

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1 year ago

March 16, 2024

Staff Reporter

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AFP

Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark and Xander Schauffele share the lead at 7-under par when the first round of The Players Championship was suspended by darkness on Thursday.

Nine players will complete the round on Friday morning, when the second round will begin as scheduled.

Playing in the early wave, both McIlroy and Schauffele took advantage of soft greens and light winds to card opening 65s at TPC Sawgrass, although they did it in distinctly different fashions.

McIlroy recorded 10 birdies, the most he has recorded in 41 career rounds at TPC Sawgrass. The Northern Irishman reached eight under through 15 holes before finding the water left with his drive on the par-4 seventh hole, going on to record a double bogey.

McIlroy made up one of the strokes with a birdie on his final hole of the day at the par-5 ninth. Along with the 10 birdies and the double, he had a lone bogey and just six pars on his scorecard while finding the water twice.

“Much, much improved on the approach play today, which was nice to see,” McIlroy told reporters, adding that he chose to “grind” on the range rather than taking Monday off following a final-round 76 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “I needed to clean up the technique a little bit, needed to clean up some things. Honestly, just needed to put the time in.”

Schauffele’s bogey-less card was mundane by contrast with seven birdies and 11 pars. He was happy to be playing in the morning, with the wind starting to pick up as the afternoon wave teed off.

“I wouldn’t want to re-hit a few of those shots today, I can tell you that much,” said Schauffele, who had his first score of 65 or lower and first bogey-free score in 15 career rounds at The Players. “I definitely need to clean it up.”

Clark, the 2023 US Open champion and a winner this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, bracketed one bogey at the par-4 No. 4 with eight birdies, carding a 33 on the front nine and 32 on the back, including 14-foot birdie putt on No. 17.

Canada’s Nick Taylor recorded six birdies in a bogey-free round to finish one stroke in back of McIlroy, Schauffele and Clark. England’s Matt Fitzpatrick also is at 6 under, with his round including an eagle at the par-5 No. 16.

Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, who entered the Top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time this week, eagled two of the four par-5s en route to a 5-under 67 in his first round at The Players. He added a pair of birdies against a lone bogey.

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox hit the first hole-in-one of the week, recording just the 14th ace in the history of the event at the famed par-3 17th hole. Fox, who sank the shot from 124 yards for his first career ace in his 472nd par 3 on the PGA Tour, also made eagle at No.16, becoming the first player with consecutive eagles on any two holes at The Players since records have been kept in 1983.

“It’s such an iconic hole, and it’s an intimidating shot,” Fox said. “I don’t care who you are. You get up there, most of the crowd probably either wants you to make a 1 or hit it in the water, so I’m glad to be on the right side of it in that respect.”

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, attempting the first successful defense at The Players, opened with a 5-under 67 and is tied for sixth. Scheffler rebounded from an opening bogey at No.1 with three straight birdies, and also birdied Nos.10, 11 and 16.

“It felt fairly stress free,” Scheffler said. “I had the really good par there on 18. Outside of the start, I played a lot of really good golf. It’s nice to only have one bogey around this place and, hopefully, continue to do more of that the next few days.”

McIlroy downplayed what appeared to be a disagreement with playing partner Jordan Spieth about where McIlroy’s drive crossed into the water.

“I think Jordan was just trying to make sure that I was doing the right thing,” McIlroy said when asked if Spieth’s actions were needless. “I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it. It’s so hard, right, because there was no TV evidence. I was adamant. But I think, again, he was just trying to make sure that I was going to do the right thing.

“If anything, I was being conservative with it. I think at the end of the day, we’re all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field, as well. I wouldn’t say it was needless. I think he was just trying to make sure that what happened was the right thing.”

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UAE’s baseball governing committee eyes new growth opportunities

Published

2 days ago

June 25, 2025

Michael Gomes

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The UAE’s Baseball Governing Committee is actively pushing forward with its plans to grow and develop the sport across the country, with a focus on grassroots talent and international partnerships.

The three-member committee, led by Dr. Tayyab Kamali as chairman and joined by Zayed Abbas and Mubashshir Usmani, continues to explore new avenues for expanding baseball’s footprint in the Emirates.

Baseball’s governance was officially placed under the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) by the UAE two years ago. Since then, the committee has worked to build a solid foundation for the sport, from youth engagement to infrastructure development.

Dr. Tayyab Kamali, Chairman of the Baseball Governing Committee, said: “The Emirates Cricket Board remains committed to the growth of baseball in the UAE. We’re creating opportunities to promote the sport through talent development, establishing academies, and hosting world-class events across the country.”

He added that the committee has also engaged with several international baseball organisations and that a series of exciting partnerships and initiatives will be announced soon.

With baseball’s rising popularity globally and increasing interest among young athletes in the UAE, the committee is optimistic about the sport’s future in the region.

Sports

UFC returns to Abu Dhabi this July with blockbuster fight night at Etihad Arena

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1 week ago

June 20, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Mark your calendars, fight fans. The UFC is making its return to Abu Dhabi on July 26, bringing a stacked Fight Night card to Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed the first six explosive matchups, including a can’t-miss main event featuring former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on Reinier de Ridder, the surging Dutch fighter making waves across the division.

The co-main event sees rising star Aaron Pico make his highly anticipated UFC debut in a five-round featherweight showdown against the undefeated Movsar Evloev.

Official UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card – July 26

Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder – Middleweight Main Event
Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico – Featherweight Co-Main (5 rounds)
Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee – Bantamweight clash with fireworks guaranteed
Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov – High-stakes bantamweight bout
Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-André Barriault – Middleweight showdown
Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov – Light heavyweight banger

From title contenders to breakout stars and debuting fighters, this card is shaping up to be one of the summer’s most thrilling events in the UAE.

Tickets and more info coming soon. Stay tuned to UFC Arabia and Etihad Arena channels for updates.

Middle East

DP World ILT20 strikes deal with Kuwait Cricket Board to develop T20 game in region

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1 week ago

June 19, 2025

Michael Gomes

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In a major boost for regional cricket, the DP World International League T20 (ILT20) has signed a strategic partnership with the Kuwait Cricket Board to develop the sport in Kuwait and beyond.

The collaboration, formalised at a high-profile ceremony at Dubai International Stadium, will see Kuwait host ILT20 development tournaments, offer exposure to local players, and eventually aim to stage official ILT20 matches on Kuwaiti soil.

This marks the first official partnership of its kind between the Emirates Cricket Board and any other national board under the ILT20 framework, placing Kuwait on the global cricket map.

What This Means for Cricket in the Gulf

Annual ILT20 Development Tournaments in Kuwait to identify and nurture local talent
Opportunity for Kuwaiti players to be scouted by ILT20 franchises
Future possibility of ILT20 matches hosted in Kuwait, expanding the league’s GCC footprint
Greater involvement of local sponsors and Kuwaiti brands in regional cricket
Enhanced pathway for Kuwaiti nationals to pursue full-time cricket careers

Voices from the Partnership

Khalid Al Zarooni, Chairman of ILT20 and Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, said: “We are proud to announce this strategic collaboration with the Kuwait Cricket Board as they officially join the DP World ILT20 family. This partnership underscores our commitment to expanding the game’s footprint across the Gulf region. Kuwait is a valued partner, an ambitious country with a clear vision for promoting and developing cricket.

“With strong cricket-playing communities across the region, the DP World ILT20 aims to create opportunities for players and fans alike. Our goal is to elevate the sport and make the league a truly regional platform for cricket excellence.”

Haider Farman, President of Kuwait Cricket, stated: “It is an honour to formalise this landmark agreement between Kuwait Cricket and the Emirates Cricket Board to promote the DP World ILT20, both in our two countries and across the wider region. This partnership is a cornerstone in our shared vision to grow and globalise the sport of cricket.

“We take great pride in Kuwait being recognised as the first strategic partner of the DP World ILT20. Cricket is rapidly gaining momentum in Kuwait, and this collaboration will play a pivotal role in integrating more Kuwaiti nationals into the sport as players, officials, and professionals.

“With the upcoming Asian Games in Qatar (2030) and Saudi Arabia (2034), the timing is ideal. We believe this partnership will inspire the next generation across the GCC and lay the foundation for long-term cricketing success.”

David White, CEO of DP World ILT20, commented: “We congratulate Kuwait Cricket for their strategic foresight and leadership, which have made this exciting partnership possible. The DP World ILT20’s long-term vision extends beyond the UAE; it is to serve as a catalyst for cricket development across the Gulf.

“This agreement opens up incredible opportunities for young talent in Kuwait to grow, compete, and ultimately be scouted for the main league. We’ve already seen how UAE players have benefitted from exposure to high-level competition and coaching, with recent wins like the T20I series against Bangladesh highlighting that impact. We are confident Kuwait will see similar progress.”

Sajid Ashraf, Director General of Kuwait Cricket, added: “This collaboration marks a historic moment for Kuwait Cricket and the broader sporting community. Partnering with the Emirates Cricket Board and the world-class DP World ILT20 opens new doors for our players to pursue full-time careers in professional cricket.

“Beyond the field, this alliance provides a powerful platform for Kuwaiti corporations to connect with the region’s vibrant cricket-loving population. With more than two million expatriates in Kuwait and a population of five million, the potential for commercial engagement is significant.

“We look forward to the launch of the ILT20 Development Tournament in Kuwait and the many opportunities it will bring for players, fans, and businesses. This is a defining step towards building a stronger cricket ecosystem and ensuring lasting impact for generations to come.”

What’s Next?

The first DP World ILT20 Development Tournament in Kuwait is set to be announced soon. Meanwhile, ILT20 Season 4 kicks off in the UAE on December 2, 2025 (UAE National Day), with six teams competing across 34 matches, culminating in the final on January 4, 2026.

As cricket cements its popularity across the GCC, this collaboration signals a shared ambition: to create an inclusive cricket ecosystem, from Dubai to Kuwait and beyond.