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sports Diasabra 16 Juli 2022

Tiger Woods gets emotional sendoff from St. Andrews

(AP) — Tiger Woods re- to compete when it returns sides. Felt like the whole
moved his cap a few strides to the home of golf. Woods tournament was right there.”
from Swilcan Bridge, mentioned 2030. The R&A
knowing Friday might be hasn’t announced the rota- It may as well have been.
the last time he crossed tion that far out.
over in a British Open at This is where Woods won his
St. Andrews. Still, the moment was not first Open in 2000 to become
lost on him. the youngest player to com-
This is where the legends plete the career Grand Slam.
pause, pose and wave good- Woods saluted the thousands He won another claret jug at
bye. of fans in the grandstands on St. Andrews in 2005, the year
the left, and thousands more Jack Nicklaus finished his
“Stop! Stop!” a few photog- who watched from hotel bal- major championship career.
raphers cried out as they po- conies and rooftops on the
sitioned themselves for an- perimeter of the Old Course, No one has ever won an Open
other historic moment at the some peering through win- at St. Andrews three times,
home of golf. dows, others without a ticket and Woods wasn’t about to
hanging from the top of the change that. The only thing me was ... just the respect. the sand, leading to his third
Woods kept right on walking, fence on the road down the ceremonial for him was his I’ve always respected this double bogey of the week.
even as tears began to form in right side of the 18th fairway. golf — a 78 in the first round, event. I’ve always respected
his eyes. only one birdie in the second the traditions of the game.” By then, it didn’t matter. The
Rory McIlroy looked over round despite the most be- people just wanted to see
“That’s when I started to re- at him from the first fair- nign conditions of the week. “I put my heart and soul into him.
alize — that’s when I started way — he was starting his this event over the years,” he
thinking about — the next second round as Woods was No matter. The Old Course, said. “And I think the people After he ripped his drive
time it comes around here, I finishing a 75 to miss the cut which had been relatively have appreciated my play.” over the Old Course Hotel
might not be around,” Woods — and tipped his cap. Justin quiet all morning, came to sign and into the 17th fair-
said. Thomas was on the first tee life the closer he made his Woods gave them little to cel- way, hotel guests and specta-
and nodded to Woods. way to the finish. ebrate on what might be his tors lined up against the wall
He said this wouldn’t be his final round at St. Andrews. in front of the hotel and the
last British Open. Woods just “As I got closer to the green, “The people knew that I He only had four reasonable Jigger Inn. The grandstand
doesn’t know if his 46-year- the ovation got louder,” wasn’t going to make the birdie chances. His flop shot was full behind the 17th, and
old body, battered by multi- Woods said. “You could feel cut,” Woods said. “But the over a pot bunker guarding people stood six deep in the
ple surgeries on both legs and the warmth and you could ovations got louder as I was the front pin on the 16th hit space behind the road and the
his back, would be fit enough feel the people from both coming home. And that to the top and rolled back into stands.

Pedersen posts maiden Tour stage win, Vingegaard keeps lead

(AP) — Former world champion It’s a very successful Tour for Danish pion Filippo Ganna was first at the
Mads Pedersen attacked from the Fred Wright of Britain was second riders, who have posted three stage top ahead of Stefan Kung and Mat-
start, then delivered in style on and Hugo Houle of Canada complet- wins since the start of the race in Co- teo Jorgenson. The trio was joined by
the finish line to claim his first ed the stage podium. penhagen in addition to the yellow Pedersen, Houle, Quinn Simmons
stage win at the Tour de France jersey taken by Jonas Vingegaard this and Wright.
on Friday. Pedersen was crowned world cham- week.
pion in 2019. He also won Gent- They opened a gap of about two min-
After spending the day at the front, Wevelgem two years ago but had “I guess it’s super nice to be a Danish utes as the peloton of main contend-
the one-day classic specialist attacked never tasted victory in a Grand Tour. guy at the moment,” Vingegaard said. ers looked happy to let them go after
from a group of six riders with 12 ki- a frenetic opening hour of racing.
lometers left and dropped three rivals “I finally take the win I was looking Following two brutal days of racing in
on the road leading to Saint-Etienne. for,” Pedersen said. “Coming to the the Alps, Vingegaard enjoyed a quiet Sprinters’ teams, however, remained
He perfectly timed his final move Tour, I knew my shape was good but day in the pack, well protected by his vigilant and made sure the break-
about 250 meters from the finish to I missed the opportunities in the first Jumbo-Visma teammates. Two-time away’s lead did not grow too much.
leave his two remaining opponents week. I took my chance today. It’s re- defending champion Pogacar, who
in his wake with a powerful burst of ally nice to get the reward.” gave away the iconic tunic in the first Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lotto Sou-
speed. big mountain stage at the Col du Gra- dal joined forces to set a strong pace
non, did not try anything to unsettle until Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan
Vingegaard during the 193-kilometer missed a turn and crashed. The in-
Stage 13 which started in Le Bourg cident changed the dynamics of the
d’Oisans. stage, since Lotto-Soudal riders wait-
ed for their teammate, leaving the re-
Their battle is expected to resume sponsibility of the chase to others.
next week in the thin air of the Pyr-
enees mountains before the race Back on his bike, Ewan found shel-
ends in Paris in nine days. Overall, ter behind a team’s car and gradually
Vingegaard leads Pogacar by two min- made his way back but the Cote de
utes, 22 seconds. The 2018 champion Saint-Romain-en-Gal climb proved
Geraint Thomas was third, 2:26 off too difficult and the diminutive rider
the pace. was eventually dropped.
Pedersen was the first attacker of The breakaway group extended its
the day amid a flurry of unsuccess- lead to 3:30 until Team BikeEx-
ful moves on large sections of road. change-Jayco riders decided to pull
A group of three riders finally went the peloton for ace sprinter Dylan
clear in the the short côte de Brié Groenewegen. But it was too little
climb. too late and they gave up the chase
once they realized they would never
Two-time time trial world cham- close the gap.