GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy Ryder Cup — In front of a delighted crowd at Marco Simone, Europe gave the United States a rude welcome and a stark reminder of why it has been 30 years since they last won the Ryder Cup away from home by sweeping the opening session for the first time.

This defeat on Friday morning was so comprehensive that no match reached the 18th hole.

Jon Rahm made a 30-foot putt from off the second green and launched a tee shot at the par-3 seventh that struck the bottom of the hole. On the first hole, Viktor Hovland moved his team by chipping off the tight grass of the fringe, over a ridge, and into the cup.

Rory McIlroy delivered the final dagger, a tee shot to 2 feet on the par-3 17th hole, as he and Tommy Fleetwood, dubbed “Fleetwood Mac” for this Ryder Cup, dealt Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele their first defeat in foursomes.

Luke Donald, captain of Europe, appeared to be a visionary by beginning the match with foursomes, the more difficult format of alternate shots. Europe has always begun the Ryder Cup at home with four balls since 1993, the last time Europe suffered a home loss.

He believed his team was statistically superior in foursomes and desired a quick start. According to McIlroy, Donald had Europe compete in three-hole competitions during practice to instill a sense of urgency.

Europe has always begun the Ryder Cup at home with four balls since 1993, the last time Europe suffered a home loss.

Whatever the strategy, it nearly succeeded.

According to McIlroy, Luke has instilled in us the importance of getting off to a quick start, which has dominated our conversations all week. As evidenced by how everyone played, we were prepared from the first tee shot.

U.S. captain Zach Johnson also had a plan for the five sessions, only this beating was so meticulous it brought to mind what heavyweight Mike Tyson once said of Evander Holyfield. “Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth.”

The Americans were indeed wounded. They never held the advantage in any of the four contests.

Johnson’s strategy included benching Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who had a 3-1 record outside of Paris in the previous Ryder Cup in Europe. PGA champion Brooks Koepka and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark were also seated. The bench has a combined 11 career home runs.

“This was only the initial occurrence. It will be necessary to make adjustments across the board. We will be okay. “I’m not concerned,” Schauffele said. “I am not concerned. Our team is robust. These young men will be greedy in their upcoming matches.”

The Americans had to maintain parity in the afternoon fourballs, which featured four new partnerships for both teams and guaranteed participation by all 12 players.

Schauffele and Cantlay were 5-0 in foursomes at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, and their match appeared to be a nail-biter. Europe was leading by one when it lost its position on the 15th hole, and McIlroy made a par putt from 20 feet with a wedge. Cantlay had 25 feet to make an eagle.

Cantlay’s putt rolled about 4 feet past the hole, and then the momentum shifted: Fleetwood made the largest putt of the match, while Schauffele missed the 4-footer. Instead of the match being tied with three holes remaining, Europe was two up and on the verge of gaining another point.

Europe Sweeps Opening Session In Ryder Cup To Put USA In 4-0 Hole

“Waiting for a moment like that all day,” Fleetwood stated. It’s just another one of those Ryder Cup instances, and that’s why we’re playing.

Scheffler struck the first tee shot, but not before a spectator yelled, “You stink, Scottie!” as he prepared to swing. Typical of the Ryder Cup, there was much hissing, and Europe heard far worse at Whistling Straits and Hazeltine.

Scheffler and Sam Burns’ partnership record at two cups plummeted to 0-3-1, and they could experience Rahm in his entirety.

At the turn, Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton were two strokes ahead but in trouble: shin-high rough on the left, more rough on the right, and still short of the green after three shots on the par-4 10th. Rahm had to get it up and down from 70 feet away to have any hope of not losing the hole. Then he buried the chip, forcing Scheffler to sink a putt from 8 feet to avoid falling further behind.

Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka won 4-and-3 against Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler to earn Europe’s other point. Europe led by four strokes at the turn, while the United States managed only one birdie and four bogeys.

Morikawa stated, “Giving away holes is the worst feeling, and we did it far too often.” “And we still dropped as low as 17.” We were engaged in combat, but nothing was penetrating.”

SOURCE – (AP)

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — A Tennessee judge announced on Friday that she is terminating a conservatorship agreement between former NFL player Michael Oher and a Memphis couple who fostered him during high school.

Kathleen Gomes, the Shelby County Probate Court judge, has announced that she is terminating the 2004 agreement allowing Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy to control Oher’s finances. Oher inked the contract at 18 while living with the couple and being recruited by colleges as a high school football star.

Judge Says She Is Ending Conservatorship Between Former NFL Player Michael Oher And Memphis Couple

Gomes stated that she would not be dropping the case. He has requested that the Tuohys provide a financial accounting of any money that may have come to them as a result of the agreement, alleging that they used his name, image, and visage to enrich themselves and misled him into believing that the agreement would result in the Tuohys adopting him.

Gomes expressed dismay that such an agreement had ever been reached. She stated that in her 43-year tenure, she had never witnessed a conservatorship agreement with a non-disabled individual.

“I cannot believe it got done,” she exclaimed.

Oher and Tuohys listened but did not speak during a video conference call.

SOURCE – (AP)

 

RALEIGH, N.C. — The NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race will continue to be held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2024, as this year’s event, the first NASCAR race held there in 27 years, drew a capacity audience thrilled to see stock car racing return to its roots.

Thursday at the North Carolina Legislative Building, state legislators joined NASCAR and track executives to proclaim that the 625-mile (1 kilometer) asphalt oval, located approximately 160 miles west of Raleigh, will remain on the Cup Series schedule for another year.

The non-points exhibition race on May 19 will continue to be held on the weekend preceding the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR President Steve Phelps stated that the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro and the circuit’s first street race in Chicago were the marquee events of the 75th anniversary season of NASCAR in 2023.

Phelps stated that both of these occurrences were satisfactory. “We are ecstatic that the All-Star Race will be returning.”

North Wilkesboro was one of the original NASCAR venues, hosting more than 90 Cup races before closing in 1996 as the circuit attempted to expand into other markets. The oval disappeared until Dale Earnhardt Jr., local boosters, and state officials spearheaded revitalization efforts.

The NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race will continue to be held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2024.

Federal and state funds assisted in completing renovations, resulting in an announcement in September 2022 that it would return in 2023.

Thursday, NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports, which owns both the Charlotte and North Wilkesboro speedways, announced that North Wilkesboro will be repaved for the first time since 1981 before next year’s race.

This year’s race was conducted before 35,000 spectators on a patched asphalt track, and Kyle Larson won the $1 million prize in the winner-take-all competition.

The final state budget taking effect next week includes an additional $4 million for the speedway to perform repairs and improvements as long as it agreed to host one more NASCAR Series race there by the end of 2028.

The 2024 All-Star Race meets this requirement, according to state representative and budget expert Jason Saine.

It is proper to reside in North Carolina. It feels wonderful to have it in North Carolina,” Saine told reporters, “and it means that tourists from all over the world will spend a week spending money in North Carolina.”

The NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race will continue to be held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2024.

Gov. Roy Cooper also has strongly supported returning NASCAR to North Wilkesboro and attended this year’s race.

Phelps stated, “Feeling the state’s and its politicians’ affection is vitally important and influences our decisions.”

Whether Thursday’s announcement improves North Wilkesboro’s prospects of returning to a regular points race stop is still being determined. According to Phelps, holding races in non-traditional markets attracts individuals who have never attended a NASCAR race before.

“We want to remain true to the history, DNA, and roots of NASCAR, but continue to push the boundaries in bringing our sport to new locations,” he explained.

The All-Star Race was first contested in 1985 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, except in 1986, when it was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The event will return to Charlotte until 2021 when it will be held at Texas Motor Speedway for two years.

This year, Speedway Motorsports relocated the event to North Wilkesboro. The All-Star Race has only ever been held at Speedway Motorsports-owned venues.

SOURCE – (AP)