Latest from El Khabar
13 minutes ago
- Sport
Jeeno Thitikul extends Women's PGA lead and semi-retired Lexi Thompson contending for another major
FRISCO, Texas -- Semi-retired Lexi Thompson is going into the weekend contending for her first major title in more than a decade, and in a dwindling group of players under par at the KMPG Women's PGA Championship while Jeeno Thitikul extended her lead. Thitikul, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, finished a six-hour round Friday not long before sunset with consecutive birdies for a 2-under 70 to get to 6-under 138. She had a three-stroke lead over Rio Takeda (71) and Minjee Lee (72), and was four ahead of Thompson (70) after another steamy day on the Fields Ranch East course at PGA Frisco. 'To be honest, didn't (think) it's going to be that good result out there,' said Thitikul, the 22-year-old seeking her first major win. 'Especially today just said to my coach, `Like if anybody can shoot under par today, that player will be really, really great.' I'm shooting 2-under par and I was like, `Wow!' With the feel-like temperatures going over 100 degrees and the ever-present Texas wind, only seven of the 156 players who started the season's third major were under par through two rounds. There have been no bogey-free rounds this week. There were 15 players under par after the first round, when Thitikul's opening 68 put her a stroke ahead of fellow North Texas resident Lee. Thitikul, a five-time winner from Thailand, was in the same group the first two rounds with top-ranked Nelly Korda, whose only two birdies Friday came over the final three holes. Korda had a 74 and is 2 over for the week. Even though Thompson is no longer playing a full schedule, she still practices and works on her game pretty much all the time when at home. 'Any time I tee it up I want to come out here and compete and win. I just want to make sure that I'm fully ready every time I tee it up,' Thompson said. 'Yeah, I mean, it put my mind more at ease coming out here knowing that I'm not playing a full schedule, grinding week in, week out, and looking forward to the weeks off.' After an even-par round Thursday, Thompson was bogey-free in the second round until hitting her approach at the 18th into the bunker and being unable come up with yet another par-saver. The 30-year-old Thompson, who has said last year was her final one playing a full schedule, is in her seventh tournament this season, including all three majors so far, and indicated that she will play again next week at the Dow Championship in Michigan before 'a long time off.' Her only major victory was at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2014, though her 13 top-five finishes in majors since 2013 are the most by any player and among her 20 top-10 finishes in those events. Thompson, whose last win in any tournament was in 2019, said she is not yet allowing herself to think about what it would mean to win another major. She missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open three weeks ago, but last week was in contention in the final round before tying for fourth at the Meijer LPGA Classic. "It's just something that I'm going to take one shot at a time. When you get to thinking too far ahead of time it just gets to you, so I'm just really going to embrace the moment,' she said. 'Come out on the weekend and just hope for the best, that's all I can do.' Her shots to save par Friday were really better the three birdies — the longest an 11-footer, with a 6 1/2-footer and nearly 4-footer as well. Thompson was only 70 yards from the pin after her tee shot at the 10th, but hit her approach into the bunker and was still 43 feet away after knocking it out of there before a curling right-to-left putt. At the par-5 14th, her 5-foot putt did a 360-degree roll around the lip before falling into the cup. 'Made No. 10 a lot more difficult from my drive. Hit a great drive and I got it pretty close to the green, but they tucked the pin back right over there, so got a little greedy instead of just hitting it out to the left and ended up plugging it in the bunker,' Thompson said. 'Saving pars out there are huge.'
Indianapolis Star
13 minutes ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Five-star safety Joey O'Brien commits to Notre Dame football, joining Maryland prep CB Khary Adams
SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football's 2026 recruiting class continues to fly high in the national rankings. Friday evening, June 20, the latest nonbinding commitment came from five-star safety Joey O'Brien of La Salle College High School in suburban Philadelphia. Rated 30th overall and fourth nationally among safeties, per 247 Sports Composite, O'Brien had the Irish in his top four along with Penn State, Oregon and Clemson. "I'd trust Coach Marcus Freeman with my life," O'Brien said at his announcement, which was carried live on YouTube. "He's the type of dude I want to go to battle for." The 6-foot-3, 185-pound O'Brien, who also stars at wide receiver, took his official visit to Notre Dame last weekend. Flanked by his parents and sisters, O'Brien said he gave the Irish his commitment on Wednesday night, June 18. "It was really a hard choice for me, but that last visit really pushed everything over the top for them," O'Brien said. "I like to win. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to be fighting for a spot as soon as I get there." Earlier Friday, the Irish secured a commitment from four-star cornerback Khary Adams of Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Md. Rated No. 36 overall, Adams chose the Irish over offers from fellow finalists Michigan, Oregon and Penn State. Adams is taking his official visit this weekend. On Wednesday June 18, Notre Dame added a commitment from O'Brien's prep teammate, Wyndmoor, Pa., offensive tackle Grayson McKeough (6-foot-7, 275 pounds). McKeough is a three-star prospect with significant upside. With first-year general manager Mike Martin leading the recruiting operation, the Irish moved past Texas A&M on Friday and trail only USC in the latest national rankings for the 2026 cycle. Martin's predecessor, Chad Bowden, jumped to the Trojans in January. At 6-foot-3 and 182 pounds, Adams has reportedly flashed 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash and has been clocked at 10.7 seconds in the 100 meters. Only O'Brien and edge rusher Rodney Dunham (No. 15 overall) of Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C., rank higher in the current Irish 2026 signing class. In late April, Notre Dame secured a commitment from four-star safety Ayden Pouncey (No. 139 overall) of Winter Park, Fla. Three-star cornerback Chaston Smith gave his commitment last Dec. 1, and the recent additions have only added to the pipeline of talent flowing into defensive pass-game coordinator Mike Mickens' vaunted secondary. Commitments won't become official until the early signing period opens Dec. 3-5.
13 minutes ago
- Sport
Youcef Belaili scores in Esperance's 1-0 victory over LAFC in the Club World Cup
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Yousef Belaili scored in the 70th minute and Esperance de Tunisie beat LAFC 1-0 on Friday night in the Club World Cup to remain in contention to advance and eliminate the California MLS team. LAFC had one final chance to tie it in the 99th minute on Dénis Bouanaga's right-footed shot off a penalty kick just in front, but goalkeeper Béchir Ben Säid smothered it. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were in the crowd of 13,651 at 30,000-seat GEODIS Park on a steamy late afternoon. After a back-and-forth pace, Belaili came through with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner through goalkeeper Hugo Lloris' legs. Esperance will finish the round Tuesday night against Chelsea, with second place in Group D and a spot in the round of 16 on the line. Not only was LAFC eliminated, it has been shot out in both of its matches. LAFC had two goals wiped out by offsides in the first half. 'Overall, I didn't think we played well enough tonight to win,' LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. 'Gave us the feeling that we can keep playing,' said Esperance coach Maher Kanzari.
13 minutes ago
- Sport
Wisconsin, NIL collective sue Miami, allege tampering and NIL inducements to land football player
The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers' football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida school this upcoming season. Allegations of tampering rarely get to this level and the 23-page lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, is unusual. Depending on its resolution, it could have a a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics. The player in question in the filing is referred to only as 'Student-Athlete A." But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal. Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas' name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall. The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics, specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore. 'Indeed, student-athletes' newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments,' a portion of the lawsuit reads. Wisconsin said in January that it had credible information that Miami and Lucas made impermissible contact with each other before the former Badgers cornerback decided to transfer. Wisconsin and VC Connect allege that the inducement for Lucas to attend Miami happened within days of him entering his NIL agreement to play for the Badgers, and that they incurred substantial monetary and reputational harm. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and 'a declaration that Miami's conduct directed towards Student-Athlete A constituted tampering.' A message left with the University of Miami seeking comment was not immediately returned. In a text message Friday, Heitner declined to comment on the lawsuit but he said that Lucas still plans to attend Miami and play football. Wisconsin said it had the support of its leadership and the Big Ten Conference in filing the lawsuit, noting its commitment to "ensuring integrity and fundamental fairness in the evolving landscape of college athletics." 'While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field,' the statement said. "In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program and the broader collegiate athletics community. Lucas, who is from Pompano Beach, Florida, had 12 tackles, an interception and a sack as a freshman for Wisconsin last season. Heitner said that Lucas hasn't received any money from Wisconsin and therefore owes no money to the school. Heitner also argued that Wisconsin had violated an NCAA bylaw by not entering Lucas into the transfer database within two business days of the player's request. Wisconsin issued a statement at the time saying it hadn't put Lucas' name in the portal because he had entered a two-year binding NIL agreement. In April, the surprise transfers of brothers Nico and Madden Iamaleava from Tennessee to UCLA prompted fresh questions about contracts and buyouts. Nico Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, walked away from a reported $2.4 million NIL contract. Arkansas freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava entered the portal after spring practices wrapped up. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek released a statement indicating he would support efforts by the Razorbacks' NIL collective to enforce buyout clauses in athlete contracts. Iamaleava reportedly had a contract valued at $500,000 upon signing with Arkansas.
13 minutes ago
- Sport
DeGrom pitches 6 strong innings, Seager snaps homer drought in Rangers' 6-2 victory over Pirates
PITTSBURGH -- Jacob deGrom struck out seven in six strong innings, Corey Seager hit his first home run since May 10 and the Texas Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 on Friday night. DeGrom (7-2) retired the first 11 batters and allowed two runs and five hits in six innings with one walk. One day after his 37th birthday, the two-time Cy Young Award winner extended his franchise record to 12 consecutive starts of allowing two runs or fewer and five hits or fewer. After being injured for most of the past four seasons, deGrom is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four June starts. Seager homered with one out in the fifth inning off rookie Mike Burrows (1-2), a drive to right field to increase the Rangers' lead to 4-2. The five-time All-Star shortstop had gone 81 plate appearances without a home run while also being on the injured list from May 11-27 with a strained right hamstring. Burrows lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. Texas' Adolis Garcia had three hits — including a double and his ninth homer — and two RBIs while making two outstanding diving catches in right field. Marcus Semien went 2 for 5 for the Rangers and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. The Pirates' Joey Bart had three hits. Rangers first baseman Jake Burger left the game in the seventh inning with left-side tightness. Center fielder Wyatt Langford sat out because of back spasms. The Pirates closed to 3-2 with two runs in the fourth inning, but deGrom caught Alexander Canario looking with the bases loaded to end the threat. DeGrom made his 15th start, his most in a season since also starting 15 times for the New York Mets in 2021. ___
