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A14 sports
Saturday 16 July 2022
Emotional exit for Woods, big chance for Smith at St Andrews

By DOUG FERGUSON the par-4 15th hole and fin-
AP Golf Writer ishing with a birdie for a 66.
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland Smith was at 13-under 131,
(AP) — Tiger Woods made the lowest 36-hole score in
an early and emotional the Open at St. Andrews.
departure Friday from the Even a weekend without
British Open, possibly for Woods is set up for great
the last time at St. Andrews. theater.
Cameron Smith can only Dustin Johnson, who al-
wonder if the 150th Open ready has a Masters green
will be his arrival as an un- jacket and a U.S. Open title
disputed elite player. at Oakmont, played early
Smith already won The in the best conditions of
Players Championship this the week — light rain that
year and has risen to as took some of the fire out of
high as No. 3 in the world. the Old Course and then a
His 8-under 64 gave him his warming sun — for a 67. He
first lead in a major, by two was four shots back. Right
shots over PGA Tour rookie behind was Masters cham-
Cameron Young. Rory McIl- pion Scottie Scheffler with
roy was lurking another shot another 68.
behind. Smith is building a reputa-
"It's obviously a really good tion as a great putter, a
spot to be in," Smith said. Tiger Woods of the US gestures to the crowd at the end of his second round of the British Open golf great weapon to have on
"I feel like I've been in this championship on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, Friday July 15, 2022. the greens at St. Andrews,
spot a lot over the past Associated Press and he plays without fear.
couple of years, and things He opened with three
just haven't quite gone my not sure a right leg held to- About the time Woods was going into the weekend. straight birdies and then
way yet." gether by hardware or a saluting thousands of fans McIlroy got one of the loud- began to pull away around
Woods strode over the Swil- lower spine that has been crammed into so many est cheers — for a shot, not the loop at the far end of
can Bridge without stop- fused will allow him to com- spaces around St. Andrews, a farewell — with his 25-foot the course.
ping to pose for pictures pete when the Open re- Smith was making birdie af- birdie on the tough Road He holed an 18-foot putt
and said it "felt like the turns to St. Andrews again. ter birdie to take the lead. Hole at the 17th. He missed on No. 7, made birdie from
whole tournament was right "It's very emotional for me," Right when it looked like it a birdie chance on the 30 feet on the par-3 eighth
there" when he walked the he said. "To me it felt like couldn't get any better, he 18th. Still, it was important and then drove the 10th
final 356 yards of what was this might have been my holed a 65-foot eagle putt for him to back up a great green and two-putted from
otherwise a long day of 75 last British Open here at St. on the 14th hole. start (66) with a solid round some 90 feet for a third
to miss the cut. Andrews. And the fans, the Young overcame a few (69). He was tied with Vik- birdie in four holes.
Woods didn't retire from ovation and the warmth, it mistakes and closed with a tor Hovland, who delivered The big blow came at the
major championship golf was an unbelievable feel- birdie for a 69, putting him his own thrills by holing out par-5 14th when Smith bur-
or the British Open. He's just ing." in the last group with Smith from 139 yards for eagle on ied the long eagle putt. q
Pedersen posts maiden Tour stage win, Vingegaard keeps lead

kilometers left and dropped for Danish riders, who have thin air of the Pyrenees
three rivals on the road posted three stage wins mountains before the
leading to Saint-Etienne. since the start of the race race ends in Paris in nine
He perfectly timed his final in Copenhagen in addition days. Overall, Vingegaard
move about 250 meters to the yellow jersey taken leads Pogacar by two min-
from the finish to leave his by Jonas Vingegaard this utes, 22 seconds. The 2018
two remaining opponents week. champion Geraint Thomas
in his wake with a powerful "I guess it's super nice to be was third, 2:26 off the pace.
burst of speed. a Danish guy at the mo- Pedersen was the first at-
Fred Wright of Britain was ment," Vingegaard said. tacker of the day amid a
second and Hugo Houle Following two brutal days flurry of unsuccessful moves
of Canada completed the of racing in the Alps, on large sections of road. A
stage podium. Vingegaard enjoyed a group of three riders finally
Pedersen was crowned quiet day in the pack, well went clear in the the short
world champion in 2019. protected by his Jumbo- côte de Brié climb.
Denmark's Mads Pedersen celebrates as he crosses the finish He also won Gent-Wevel- Visma teammates. Two- Two-time time trial world
line ahead of Britain's Fred Wright, rear left, and Canada's Hugo gem two years ago but time defending champion champion Filippo Ganna
Houle, rear right, to win the thirteenth stage of the Tour de France had never tasted victory in Pogacar, who gave away was first at the top ahead
cycling race over 193 kilometers (119.9 miles) with start in Le
Bourg d'Oisans and finish in Saint-Etienne, France, Friday, July a Grand Tour. the iconic tunic in the first of Stefan Kung and Mat-
15, 2022. "I finally take the win I was big mountain stage at the teo Jorgenson. The trio was
Associated Press looking for," Pedersen said. Col du Granon, did not joined by Pedersen, Houle,
"Coming to the Tour, I knew try anything to unsettle Quinn Simmons and Wright.
SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) win at the Tour de France my shape was good but Vingegaard during the They opened a gap of
— Former world champion on Friday. I missed the opportunities 193-kilometer Stage 13 about two minutes as the
Mads Pedersen attacked After spending the day at in the first week. I took my which started in Le Bourg peloton of main contend-
from the start, then deliv- the front, the one-day clas- chance today. It's really d'Oisans. ers looked happy to let
ered in style on the finish sic specialist attacked from nice to get the reward." Their battle is expected to them go after a frenetic
line to claim his first stage a group of six riders with 12 It's a very successful Tour resume next week in the opening hour of racing.q