Just chipping in. Mirim Lee (KOR) won her first golf Major, by taking the 2020 ANA Inspiration in one of the most exciting finishes remembered: by chipping in an Eagle in the 18th hole which would force a Playoff with Brooke Henderson (CAN) -who took a free drop as her ball fell inside a sponsorship wall in the 18th- and Nelly Korda (USA) -who almost sunk it to the water in the 18th-. Lee had already chipped-in two previous shots that day. In the PGA, Stewart Cink (USA) took his first title since 2009 (PGA), as the Tour begins its 2020-21 season. The main figures opted to rest for next week’s U.S. Open. Check Lee’s incredible chips in out (LPGA)
Wins amidst withdrawals. Without the world’s top two ranked players or the defending champion present, Naomi Osaka (JAP, 22) won her third Grand Slam by beating now-mother Victoria Azarenka (BLR), who last played a Grand Slam final in 2013. In women’s doubles, the #1 seeded pair of Timea Babos (HUN) and Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) had to withdraw from the second round due to contact-tracing policies, opening the court for Laura Siegemund (GER) and Vera Zvonareva (RUS) to win. The men’s doubles was won by Mate Pavić (CRO) and Bruno Soares (BRA), in the first tournament since the Bryan brothers (USA) retired. In quads, Sam Schröder (NET) won on his Grand Slam debut. The IPC recaps the wheelchair action
Tragedy in Australia. Australia’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes saw Fierce Impact win ridden by Mark Zahra (AUS). Defending champion, Gatting, got injured and had to be humanely euthanized (Racing.com). In Ireland, Magical beat Ghaiyyath to the post in the 2020 Irish Champion Stakes for a 2nd straight Championship, in an epic finish. Magical was ridden by Seamie Heffernan (IRL) and was trained by Aidan O’Brien, who now has several winning options for the Arc de Triomphe. It was also a good week for Ryan Moore (ENG), who won the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) and was 3rd in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (G1). In England, Galileo Chrome gave last-minute replacement jockey jockey Tom Marquand (ENG) a first Group 1 victory (The Guardian) in the Pertemps St Leger at Doncaster. In Germany, Barney Roy took a third G1 win this year, the GP von Baden, ridden by James Doyle (ENG) (Bloodhorse)
Yet more records. Lewis Hamilton (ENG, Mercedes-Benz) keeps on breaking records. He won the Tuscan Grand Prix in Mugello and did not only establish the track records (since it was the first Grand Prix at the track) but he also established a record for the most points finishes, with 222. With his 90th win, he is one off Michael Schumacher’s record. The race had a high attrition rate, as only 12 drivers finished. Even then, Ferrari barely scratched the points on their 1000th race. Valtteri Bottas (FIN, Marcedes-Benz) finished second, ahead of Alexander Albon (THA, Red Bull). In Moto GP, Franco Morbidelli (ITA) took his first win, and the inline-four bikes dominated the race for the first time (Motor Sport). On a different form of racing, the Speedway Grand Prix had two thrilling races in Poland, won by local Bartosz Zmarzlik and Fredrik Lindgren (SWE) – watch Round 3 (Speedway GP)
Yates held on. Simon Yates (ENG) held Geraint Thomas (ENG) off to take the Tirreno-Adriatico. Pascal Ackermann (GER) took the first two stages and ended up winning the points classification. Meanwhile, the Tour of France continues and is being led by a Slovenian 1-2, Cyclingnews has a current “State of play”
