Saudi golfer Khalid Attieh makes history at LIV Golf-backed Asian Tour

MANILA: Khalid Attieh tossed a bomb at the Link Hong Kong Open on Thursday, after a quiet display last week in the International Series Philippines.

The young Saudi shot a rare albatross in the first round of the tournament, as he etched his name into the Asian Tour history books.

The shot for the ages was only the second this season and 30th in Tour history, according to the Asian Tour website.

The 31-year old, whose prodigious length off the tee could give established Asian Tour stars a run for their money, achieved the feat on the 529-yard par-5 13th, when his second shot with a 6-iron found the bottom of the cup.

Still trying to get to grips with elite competition — though he and fellow Saudi Faisal Salhab have made a number of cuts — Attieh shot a 1-under-par 69 on the first day, nine shots behind LIV Golf star Tom McKibbin, who headed the field after carding a new course record 10-under at the Hong Kong Golf Cub.

Attieh hit three birdies and two bogeys for a 33 going out. After a bogey on the 12th, he hit the albatross on the 13th and despite further bogeys at the 15th and 18th got home in a level 36.

He finished in a group of 16 players that included Graeme McDowell, who won the 2020 European Tour-sanctioned Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf Club. Salhab finished with a 5-over 75.

Elsewhere in the field, LIV Golf players Josele Ballester and Charles Howell hit a bogey-free 6-under 64 and a 4-under 66, respectively, to remain in contention heading into round 2.

PARIS: Paris St. Germain forward Desire Doue suffered a right thigh muscle lesion and will be out for several weeks, the French side said on Thursday.

The 20-year-old left the pitch in the 62nd minute during the 1-1 draw in Lorient on Wednesday, after halting his run and screaming out in pain. He was then carried off on a stretcher before leaving the stadium on crutches.

“Further review of the injury will take place after the international break,” PSG said in a statement.

Doue will miss next week’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich and France’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers in November.

“It’s always bad news when there are injuries,” PSG manager Luis Enrique told a press conference on Wednesday. “It’s a strange injury.”

The forward had only recently returned from a calf injury that had sidelined him for six matches with PSG and the previous set of World Cup qualifiers for Les Bleus.

Doue has scored three goals and registered one assist this season in all competitions.

BARCELONA: Real Madrid will look to take care of business against a struggling Valencia and maintain their La Liga lead this weekend before turning to their demanding match at Liverpool.

Xabi Alonso’s team visit Anfield in a clash of European title hopefuls next Tuesday in the Champions League.

Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 last weekend to end a run of four clasico victories for the Catalan club from last season. The victory allowed Madrid to open a five-point gap at the top of the league standings over second-placed Barcelona.

Key matches

Madrid are on a five-game winning streak that includes a 1-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappé struck his 11th goal in the domestic league to help defeat Barcelona. The France striker is also joint top of the Champions League with Harry Kane on five goals each.

On Saturday, Madrid will host a Valencia that were jeered by home fans during a 2-0 loss against regional rival Villarreal in the last round. Valencia are winless in five games and have sunk into the relegation zone.

An injury-hit Barcelona will look to lick their wounds from their clasico defeat when they host Elche on Sunday.

Elche have been the surprise package in the first months. The small southern club were promoted at the end of last season and have so far defied expectations. Coach Eder Sarabia has his team in eighth place after just two losses through Round 10.

Third-placed Villarreal can provisionally move ahead of Barcelona on Saturday if they beat Rayo Vallecano.

Players to watch

All eyes in the Santiago Bernabeu will be on Vinícius Júnior and Alonso.

Vinícius was visibly upset when his coach substituted him with around 20 minutes left in the clasico. He went straight to the changing room before rejoining the bench minutes later.

The Brazil forward later apologized on social media saying that “sometimes my passion gets the better of me.”

Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti this summer, has given Vinícius less playing time than his predecessor.

Out of action

Midfield leader Pedri González has joined a longlist of injured Barcelona players that already included Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, the team’s top scorers from last season’s championship side.

Pedri, who tore a muscle in his left thigh, played 72 of 73 games since coach Hansi Flick took over Barcelona last season. The Spain playmaker’s vision, control and passing skills are unmatched by his teammates.

Lewandowski and midfielder Dani Olmo rejoined team practice this week but as of Thursday they had not been cleared by team doctors to play.

Barcelona midfielder Gavi Páez and goalkeepers Joan García and Marc-André ter Stegen were also out injured.

Madrid right back Dani Carvajal has been ruled out for several weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this week. Fellow defender Antonio Rudiger remains sidelined.

Off the field

Flick will be back in Barcelona’s dugout for the Elche game. He was suspended for the Madrid match after being sent off for protesting in a 2-1 win over Girona two rounds ago.

GUWAHATI, India: Skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s imposing century helped South Africa crush four-time champions England by 125 runs Wednesday to reach the final of the Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time.

Wolvaardt hit 169 off 143 balls, the third-highest individual score in the World Cup knockout stages, as South Africa posted their biggest total in tournament history in a dramatic turnaround from its heavy loss to England in the league stage.

The Proteas finished on 319-7 in 50 overs after losing the toss, with Wolvaardt compiling 20 fours and 4 sixes in her 10th ODI century.

Wolvaardt produced the second-highest individual score by a captain in a World Cup match, behind Australian Belinda Clark’s 229 not out against Denmark in 1997.

South Africa had previously lost in the semifinals in 2000, 2017 and 2022.

England was bowled out for 194 in 42.3 overs, with medium pacer Marizanne Kapp picking up 5-20, as it was beaten by South Africa for the first time in the World Cup knockout stages.

Kapp also became the most successful bowler in tournament history with 44 wickets, overtaking India’s Jhulan Goswami (43).

The big turnaround

Wolvaardt reversed South Africa’s disappointing performance against England in the league stage at the same venue, when it was bowled out for 69.

“It still feels a bit unreal,” Wolvaardt said. “That’s the sort of thing you dream as a kid, scoring 100 in a World Cup — a knockout game as well. It’s a very special day.

“It’s probably my top knock, just in the context of the game, a World Cup semifinal.”

Openers on fire

Sent in to bat after England won the toss, Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits opened with a sparkling 116-run stand.

Brits scored 45 off 65 balls, and Wolvaardt reached 50 off 52 deliveries.

Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone pegged South Africa back, bowling Brits and Anneke Bosch (0) in the 23rd over.

Nat Sciver-Brunt made it three quick wickets as she bowled Sune Luus for one, but Wolvaardt then added 72 with Kapp for the fourth wicket.

Kapp scored 42 off 33 balls, including four fours and a six, in a superb all-round effort.

There was a further flurry of three wickets as South Africa slid to 202-6 in 40.1 overs.

But Wolvaardt then changed gears. First she got to 100 off 115 balls, and then hit the next 50 off only 21 deliveries, including four sixes.

One-way traffic

South Africa’s total was the second highest in a knockout game in tournament history, behind Australia’s 356-5 against England in the 2022 final.

The last 10 overs yielded 117 runs, taking the game away from England.

Kapp kept the momentum going with an immaculate opening spell of bowling, including a double-wicket first over to dismiss Amy Jones and Heather Knight for ducks.

Ayabonga Khaka then had Tammy Beaumont caught for a golden duck as England crashed to three wickets down for one run.

It was a mountain to climb thereafter, despite half-centuries from skipper Sciver-Brunt (64) and Alice Capsey (50) in a 107-run fourth-wicket stand.

It was the second-biggest margin of defeat by runs for England in tournament history. Meanwhile, it was a third consecutive final for the Proteas women in ICC tournaments — they reached the finals of the last two T20 World Cups in 2023 and 2024.

Next semifinal

The South Africans were coming off a heavy loss in the last league round to defending champions Australia, who take on co-host India in the second semifinal on Thursday.

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