SPORTS
Antiquated’ PGA Tour ‘’Benefits’ from LIV – McIlroy
LIV Golf has forced the PGA Tour to change its “antiquated system” for the “benefit of professional golf at a high level”, said Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy said the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV tour was “dead in the water” 13 months ago but now admits its impact.
Last week, the PGA Tour announced some of its events will have no-cut, smaller fields which many argue mirrors LIV.
“It already has had significant relevance because it’s made the PGA Tour innovate and adapt,” said McIlroy.
“It’s pushed the PGA Tour to make these changes that will hopefully consolidate its long-term future.
“There is no doubt that LIV has come along and it’s benefited everyone that plays professional golf at a high level. I’m not disputing that,” the four-time major winner added in an interview with BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
The LIV contingent, which includes last year’s winner and Open champion Cameron Smith, are absent from the 144-man field teeing it up this week at the PGA Tour’s flagship event at Sawgrass, Florida.
And world number three McIlroy insists Australian Smith “has no one to blame but himself” for being unable to defend the title.
“Would it be great if the defending champion was here this week? Of course it would but he made a decision to go join a rival league.
“Because of that decision, that’s why he’s not here.”
However, while McIlroy supports the PGA Tour’s decision to exclude LIV players from their events, he accepts that the upstart series has “exposed a couple of weaknesses” which he believes will be remedied by the changes that will result in the eight no-cut events having smaller fields and bigger purses.
Some PGA Tour players have criticised the changes which have been characterised in some quarters as the game’s already super rich stars – such as McIlroy – getting richer.
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Smith at last year’s Tour Championship in Atlanta
2019 winner McIlroy is in the Players Championship field this week but last year’s champion Cameron Smith is not after he joined LIV Golf
However, the 33-year-old world number three defended the PGA Tour’s shake-up which will come into effect for the 2024 season.
“This is just trying to fill the gaps in a little bit, trying to make the tour a little more attractive, not just for its players but for its media partners who pay so much money to televise these events, for the sponsors that pay so much money and for the fans,”
he said.
“No-cut events have been around forever. Tiger Woods has won 26 no-cut events in his career. Jack Nicklaus won 20.
“And if I go back to the fans part of it and the sponsors and the media partners, I think it would be nice for them to guarantee that the top players are sticking around for four days.”
World number one Jon Rahm has acknowledged the influence of LIV but he is not as supportive of the new PGA Tour regime, which will require players to be present for all the designated events.
“Without LIV Golf this wouldn’t have happened, so to an extent, we should be thankful this threat has made the PGA Tour want to change things,” he said.
“I am OK with sacrificing some of the freedom we’ve had until now for the greater good of the Tour. But 100 per cent of our freedom, just being our schedule being told exactly ‘this is what you have to play’ was a big change right away.
“I would like to be able to have that freedom to still play what we want to play, I think that is necessary for all of us.”
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
NDA Commandant Decorates Ombugadu, Others as Fellows of Solar Energy Society of Nigeria
ShareFrom Abel Zwànke, Lafia The 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, His Excellency Rt....
Yuletide: Bode George Urges Tinubu to Reduce Petrol Price
ShareChief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged President Bola Tinubu to...
Tinubu Set for Groundbreaking of Renewed Hope City in Lagos
Share President Bola Tinubu, is set to perform the groundbreaking of 2,000 housing units of the Renewed Hope City in...
Gov. Alia Presents N550.1bn as 2025 Budget Estimate to Benue Assembly
ShareGov. Hyacinth Alia on Wednesday presented the sum of N550.1bn as the 2025 appropriation bill to the Benue State House...
Tax Bills: NASS will not Betray the Trust of Nigerians, says Akpabio
Share The President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, says the National Assembly will prioritise the interest of all Nigerians...
Alia Has Demonstrated Capacity, Courage to Entrench Good Governance—Speaker
Share The Speaker, Benue Assembly, Mr Hyacinth Dajo, has said that Gov. Hyacinth Alia has so far demonstrated capacity, courage,...
Investors Gain N183bn on NGX
Share The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) continued its bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining N183 billion. Accordingly, the market capitalisation, which...
Energy, Solid Minerals Top Priority, Tinubu Tells German Businessmen
Share President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, assured the German government and businessmen of Nigeria’s preparedness to expand frontiers for investors...
Nigerian Who Wrote WASSCE 17 Times Bags Distinction from London School
Share Dr Emmanuel Ahmadu, a Nigerian who wrote the West Africa School Senior Certificate Education 17 times, has earned a...
INEC Staff Welfare Association Warns Members Against Manipulating Election Results
Share The Abia Chapter of the INEC Staff Welfare Association (ISWA) has warned its members to uphold the integrity of...