分类： sports

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — The 2025 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club delivered a weekend of surprising results, dramatic upsets and historic firsts for the global golf community, as top-ranked stars and rising amateur talents turned in performances that will be remembered for years to come. Six-time major champion Rory McIlroy, the winner of this U.S. Open title 15 years ago, outlasted many of his fellow past major champions this week — but a series of inconsistent rounds kept him far from contention for a second win at the event.

Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and J.J. Spaun, all previous U.S. Open champions, failed to make the cut after struggling through the opening two rounds. McIlroy advanced to the weekend, but two consecutive rounds of 73 on Saturday and Sunday left him at 6 over par for the tournament, tying for 32nd place overall. Reflecting on his performance after the final round, McIlroy pointed to a collapse on the back nine of Saturday’s third round as the turning point that ended his title hopes. After climbing to 2 under par early in the round, “The wheels came off,” McIlroy said. “I sort of shot myself out of the tournament then.”

Looking ahead to the 2025 British Open in July, the 37-year-old Northern Irish star, who won the Claret Jug in 2014 and has finished close to a second victory multiple times in recent years, announced he will skip the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship scheduled next week in Hartford, Connecticut, to pursue a unique preparation plan. Instead of competing on the Tour’s regular course, McIlroy will head to the United Kingdom to play links golf in his home region ahead of the year’s third major. “It’s my favorite time of the year to go back home and play, play the Open, and I get to spend a bit of time back there,” he said. McIlroy also noted that the firm, fast playing conditions Shinnecock Hills presented over the weekend provided valuable preparation for links-style golf, adding, “This was not too dissimilar to an Open Championship in terms of how the golf course started to play over the weekend.”

Beyond McIlroy’s underwhelming finish, the tournament featured a breakthrough performance from 22-year-old South Korean star Tom Kim, who matched a historic national achievement at the event. Kim fired a 2-under final round of 70 to finish at 1 under par overall, securing third place. That result ties the best ever finish by a South Korean player at the U.S. Open, a mark previously set by Y.E. Yang, who tied for third at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. As a top-four finisher, Kim automatically locked in his qualification for the 2026 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and next year’s Masters Tournament, and the young qualifier called the week a transformative experience for his career. “For the first time, I was able to really taste a major championship right in front of my fingertips,” Kim said. “I can go back this whole week and just see how close I actually am.”

One of the most historic storylines of the weekend came from 21-year-old amateur standout Jackson Koivun, who capped off his amateur career with a record-breaking finish before turning pro. Koivun birdied his 18th hole to card a 2-under 68 on Sunday, making him the first amateur ever to break 70 in the final round of a U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills. He finished the tournament at 5 over par, tying Oklahoma amateur Ryder Cowan for low amateur honors — marking the first time the award has been shared at the U.S. Open since 2018.

Koivun, who led Auburn University to two national collegiate championships in three seasons, has one of the most decorated amateur careers in modern golf. He became the first freshman since Justin Thomas in 2012 to win the Haskins Award, given to the top men’s collegiate golfer in the U.S., and claimed the Southeastern Conference individual title all three of his college seasons, spending months as the world’s top-ranked amateur. Earlier this month, he announced he would skip his senior season, having already earned enough points through the PGA Tour University Accelerated program to secure his PGA Tour membership. He will make his professional debut at the upcoming John Deere Classic. After finishing his final round, Koivun said he was proud to end his amateur run on a high note. “Shinnecock was so much fun this weekend,” he said. “Just happy to walk away with a birdie on the last hole, but the golf course is so good, so much fun. A lot of thinking to do, and can definitely mentally wear you down. But just happy to be able to say I went out there and tried my hardest.”

Asked if he could now consider himself a professional after signing his final amateur scorecard, Koivun joked, “Not sure, but yeah, that’s a good way to go out. We’re on to the next leagues now.”

The tournament also delivered a heartwarming family storyline for English golf fans, as brothers Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick teed off within minutes of each other on Sunday. Both brothers carded final rounds of 73, with older brother Matt finishing 22nd at 4 over par, and Alex tying for 23rd at 5 over par alongside eight other competitors.

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — The fairy-tale debut of Cape Verde at the men’s FIFA World Cup has continued to turn heads across the global soccer community, adding another unforgettable chapter to the tiny island nation’s underdog story just one week after shocking title contender Spain.

Fresh off a widely praised scoreless draw against one of the tournament’s most fancied sides in their opening group stage match, Cape Verde notched an early 1-0 lead over two-time World Cup champion Uruguay on Wednesday, courtesy of a blistering free-kick finish from midfielder Kevin Pina. The 21st-minute strike marked the first competitive World Cup goal in Cape Verde’s entire 70-year-plus soccer history, a watershed moment for the small Atlantic archipelago that is competing in its first-ever World Cup finals.

The opportunity opened up after Uruguay’s midfield anchor Rodrigo Bentancur was booked with a yellow card for a foul just outside the Uruguay penalty area. Stepping up to take the set piece, Pina hit a powerful, low drive that eluded Uruguay’s diving veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and found the back of the net. The goal triggered chaotic celebrations among Cape Verde’s players, who swarmed Pina in a jubilant huddle, while thousands of Cape Verde supporters in the stands broke out into deafening chants and flag-waving celebrations.

This latest upset bid comes on the heels of Cape Verde’s stunning opening performance against Spain, where goalkeeper Vozinha put on a masterclass in shot-stopping to shut out the Spanish attacking lineup of global superstars, cementing himself as one of the breakout stars of the first round of group stage matches. Ahead of the Uruguay clash, Vozinha got an emotional personal surprise: after celebrating his team’s historic debut against Spain without his mother in the stands, she was able to attend the Sunday matchup to watch his historic performance in person.

As one of the smallest nations ever to qualify for the World Cup finals, Cape Verde’s run of impressive results has already cemented their place as the most beloved underdog story of this year’s tournament, capturing the imagination of soccer fans around the world who are rooting for the tiny island side to continue their unlikely run.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage progresses, French football superstar Kylian Mbappé has already etched his name into the tournament’s record books before even hitting the pitch for his second group stage fixture against Iraq in Group I. The 27-year-old Real Madrid striker, who claimed the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot after a legendary final performance against Argentina, delivered a masterclass in France’s opening 3-1 win over Senegal, notching two goals that pushed him past multiple football icons.

Mbappé’s opening strike against Senegal pushed his total of international goals to 58, overtaking former French teammate Olivier Giroud to secure the all-time top goal-scoring spot for France’s senior men’s national team. A second strike minutes later moved Mbappé’s career World Cup goal tally to 14, breaking a tie with Brazilian legend Pelé on the tournament’s all-time scoring list and drawing him level with Germany’s Gerd Müller for fourth place on the ranking. Currently, Mbappé sits just one goal behind Brazil’s Ronaldo (15 World Cup goals) and two goals away from the shared all-time record of 16, held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

Monday’s match against Iraq will carry even more historic weight for Mbappé: the fixture marks his 100th senior cap for France, capping a glittering international career that includes a 2018 World Cup title and a 2022 World Cup runner-up finish, where he earned the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second-best player. If France advances deep into this year’s tournament, Mbappé is on track to surpass former France manager and player Didier Deschamps’ 103 career caps, and could eventually overtake goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ all-time record of 145 appearances for Les Bleus if he continues his international career.

Facing the unenviable task of slowing down a player who is arguably the world’s most in-form striker, Iraq head coach Graham Arnold joked ahead of Monday’s fixture that he had attempted to bend the rules to stop Mbappé. “I asked if we could play three goalkeepers,” Arnold told reporters with a laugh on Sunday. “But they said no.”

While Arnold has yet to name his starting goalkeeper for the clash, following captain Jalal Hassan conceded four goals in Iraq’s 4-1 opening loss to Norway, the Iraqi manager emphasized his team is focused on controlling their own performance rather than worrying about stopping one of the game’s greatest talents. “We can’t control France’s performance, but we can control our own,” Arnold said. “And we’re making sure that the players are completely ready to go out there and show the world what they’re about.”

Iraq earned unexpected praise off the pitch after their opening match in Massachusetts, with the team cleaning up all trash and tidying their Gillette Stadium locker room after the defeat, leaving a heartfelt note for hosts that read “Thank you, Boston.” Arnold praised the gesture as a show of class and leadership from his squad, saying “They made the mess, so then they cleaned it up. Out of respect for who we are and where we are. It was great leadership.”

When pressed by reporters at a packed press conference hosted in the locker room of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles about whether he could cement his legacy as the greatest World Cup player of all time, Mbappé deflected the hype, keeping his focus firmly on the upcoming match and France’s pursuit of a third World Cup title. “It’s debate for the people,” Mbappé said in English. “It’s debate for the journalists, debate for the fans of football. I think it’s good to debate about players. See who’s the best. For me, it’s not a question in my head. It’s just about how can I help my team tomorrow against Iraq and can I bring the trophy home in July.”

Mbappé did acknowledge the historic weight of his 100th cap, saying “It’s always a pleasure to be able to play on the national team. There’s nothing bigger than the national team. One hundred, that’s historic. All the more when it’s the World Cup.”

The striker also touched on off-field questions, praising Messi as the current best player in world football and leaving the door open to a potential future move to Major League Soccer, after Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham reportedly reached out to recruit him. “There are no limits to ambitions, I like it” Mbappé said of American football culture, adding only that a future transfer stateside would be a “we’ll see” proposition far down the line.

Entering this year’s tournament, France are co-favorites to lift the trophy alongside Spain, with a dynamic attacking front line featuring Mbappé, rising star Désiré Doué and 2023 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé. Les Bleus, who won the World Cup in 1998 and 2018, fell to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 final, and will be eager to claim their third title this year.

ATLANTA – The weight of a lopsided defeat hung heavy over Saudi Arabia’s national men’s football team early in the second half of their 2024 World Cup group stage match against Spain, as striker Saleh Al-Shehri sat hunched on the substitutes’ bench, head buried in his hands, after La Roja stretched their advantage to four unanswered goals.

Coming into the fixture at Atlanta’s stadium, the Green Falcons were universally ranked as heavy underdogs against the reigning European champions, yet faint hopes of a shocking upset lingered among fans and players alike. Just two years prior at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tournament history when they defeated eventual champions Argentina, and just six days before this clash with Spain, debutant side Cape Verd had held the Spanish to a goalless draw on the very same pitch.

But Sunday’s encounter was nowhere near the close contest many had speculated. Spain controlled possession and tempo from the opening kickoff, outshooting Saudi Arabia by a staggering 22 to three en route to a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

While the lopsided loss does not eliminate Saudi Arabia from knockout stage contention, a victory in their upcoming final group fixture against Cape Verde this Friday remains the only path for the side to advance. Even so, the defeat carries heavy psychological and symbolic weight for a kingdom that has poured billions of dollars into elite football over the past decade, as part of a broader push to legitimize its growing domestic top flight and build a competitive national squad ahead of its turn hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Nearly every player on Saudi Arabia’s current national roster competes domestically in the Saudi Pro League, a competition that has attracted high-profile aging global superstars including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané in recent big-money transfers. While the Saudi government and football federation have begun scaling back extravagant spending on marquee international signings, Green Falcons head coach Georgios Donis insists the presence of these veteran talents has lifted the overall competitive standard of the league and accelerated the development of domestic players. Still, he acknowledged that turning those domestic improvements into tangible results on the global stage remains an ongoing, unmet challenge.

“The more competitive the competition, the better our players will be,” Donis told reporters after the match.

Despite the multi-billion dollar investment, one persistent challenge facing the national program is securing consistent first-team minutes for homegrown Saudi talent at the club level. Even starting national team goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais moved to a second-tier Saudi club last year solely to guarantee himself more regular playing time.

Instability at the highest coaching level has also created additional disruption: the national team has cycled through three different head coaches over the past two years, with Donis appointed to the role less than two months before the squad kicked off their 2024 World Cup campaign.

The tournament started on a far more promising note for Saudi Arabia, which earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Uruguay after holding a lead until the 80th minute last week. Against Spain, however, the side never managed to mount a consistent attacking threat, conceding three goals within the opening 25 minutes of play. Donis framed the result as an off day against elite opposition, calling the outcome a “bad result” against “one of the best teams in the tournament.”

Spanish head coach Luis de la Fuente praised Saudi Arabia’s cohesive attacking combinations in his post-match comments, but added that his side’s quality ultimately proved too much for the Green Falcons to handle, calling his team “very powerful” on the day.

Looking forward to the must-win matchup with Cape Verde, Donis expressed confidence that his squad could bounce back from the demoralizing loss and rediscover their competitive form. “We will come back to the level … where we’ll be very competitive,” he said.

ATLANTA — Just six days after one of the most humbling opening-match performances in modern World Cup history, Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal delivered a career-defining turnaround at Atlanta Stadium on Sunday, etching his name into the tournament’s record books while powering La Roja to a lopsided 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

Oyarzabal’s World Cup introduction just one prior Monday had drawn widespread criticism: he became the first player in more than half a century, since 1966, to register zero touches on the ball across the opening 30 minutes of a World Cup group stage fixture. But the 29-year-old left that disappointing showing firmly in the rearview mirror, producing a breathtaking first-half display that saw him register two goals and one assist — making him only the second player in World Cup history to contribute to three goals in the opening 25 minutes of a match. No player has achieved that rare feat since Hungary’s László Fazekas pulled it off more than four decades ago in 1982.

Spain’s head coach Luis De La Fuente heaped glowing praise on his forward’s redemptive performance after the final whistle, emphasizing Oyarzabal’s irreplaceable influence on the national squad. “The impact Mikel has on the team is massive, probably bigger than any other player could have in the world,” De La Fuente said. “I’m convinced that he’s a footballer that can really make history in Spanish football. His numbers are crazy, so I do celebrate his performance, and hopefully, we will be able to value him properly.”

Oyarzabal set the tone for Spain’s dominant run early, playing a pinpoint deep cross to 18-year-old breakout star Lamine Yamal that handed La Roja a 10th-minute opening goal. He followed that game-setting assist with back-to-back strikes just three minutes apart, finding the back of the net in the 21st and 24th minutes to push Spain to a 3-0 lead going into halftime. By the time he was subbed off at the break, Oyarzabal had notched five total shots, three of which were on target, in just 45 minutes of play.

For a player whose 2026 World Cup run had already been defined by sharp highs and crushing lows, Oyarzabal said he remains unphased by both the criticism of his debut and the acclaim for his historic rebound. “In the end, it’s an anecdote,” Oyarzabal told reporters after the match. “I don’t give any importance to it. It is what it is. I’m happy to have scored, to have helped the team. One way or another, I’m always trying to do what’s best for the team.”

While the Eibar-born forward downplayed his new record-book distinction, he acknowledged that bouncing back from his underwhelming debut was a top priority for both him and the entire Spanish squad. “When you don’t do things well, when things don’t go your way, you criticize yourself, you look internally to try to improve. We knew we could do much better than the other day,” he explained. “We were looking forward to turning it around. It was very important to start with the right foot, and that’s what happened.”

AP Sports Writers James Robson and Tales Azzoni contributed reporting to this article.