Woods to play with No. 1 and 2 in the world at US Open

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US Open Golf

Tiger Woods will play the opening two rounds of the US Open with Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson, which feels like a grouping of Nos. 1-2-3 in the world ranking.

Except that Woods is No. 80.

The USGA released its tee times Thursday for the US Open next week at Shinnecock Hills, and it offered two stacked groups for the morning and afternoon.

Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy tee off together in the morning of the first round. Woods, Johnson and Thomas are together in the afternoon.

This is the 10-year anniversary of the USGA first putting together the Nos. 1-2-3 players in the world at Torrey Pines — Woods, Mickelson and Adam Scott.

Woods is playing the US Open for the first time since he missed the cut at Chambers Bay in 2015. He has been out of golf for most of the past two years recovering from back surgeries, and his world ranking fell as low as No. 1,199 until returning to competition last December. In nine PGA Tour events, he has a pair of top 10s and had missed the cut only one time.

It will be the first time Woods and Johnson have played together in a major, and their first time in the same group since the opening two rounds of Torrey Pines in 2017 when both missed the cut. That doesn’t include the round they played with President Donald Trump the day after Thanksgiving last year.

Woods and Thomas have played together only once in competition, at Riviera in the Genesis Open, the only cut Woods has missed this year. But they play occasionally at home in south Florida.

Mickelson gets his third crack at Shinnecock Hills, where he was in position to win in 1995 and in 2004. In his first appearance, Mickelson played the par-5 16th in 6 over for the week and finished four shots behind Corey Pavin. The next time, he briefly had a one-shot lead with two holes to play when he made double bogey on the 71st hole and lost by two shots to Retief Goosen.

The US Open is the only major Mickelson lacks for the career Grand Slam. McIlroy and Spieth also have three legs of the career Slam, with McIlroy missing the Masters and Spieth lacking the PGA Championship.

This will be the fifth time Spieth and McIlroy, the two biggest attractions among the younger generation, play together in a major.

Mickelson previously has played with McIlroy four times in the majors, including the 2011 US Open that McIlroy won by eight shots for his first major, and the 2013 British Open that Mickelson won at Muirfield.

The USGA went with an All-Spain group for Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm and Rafa Cabrera Bello; and All-Asian group with Li Haotong of China, Si Woo Kim of South Korea and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand; and an All-England group featuring Tyrrell Hatton, Danny Willett and Ian Poulter.

Six spots have been set aside for those who get into the top 60 in the world this week, though only two players, Emiliano Grillo and Byeong Hun An, are assured of that and only one other player can make the top 60 by winning the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

The top of the order for alternates come from Japan (Rikuya Hoshino), Tennessee (Scott Piercy) and Ohio (Ted Potter Jr.), but that’s only to fill vacant spots. If a qualifier were to withdraw, his spot would be taken by the alternate from his sectional site.

Written by Sandeep This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/woods-to-play-with-no-1-and-2-in-the-world-at-us-open/ under the title “Woods to play with No. 1 and 2 in the world at US Open”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.

Portugal beat Algeria 3-0 in final warmup before World Cup

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International Friendly, Algeria, Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo

LISBON: With Cristiano Ronaldo back in action, Portugal cruised to a 3-0 win over Algeria in its final warmup match before traveling to Russia for the World Cup.

Ronaldo, who hadn’t played since leading Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League title last month, set up one of Portugal’s goals at the Stadium of Light. He also had one disallowed for offside before being substituted in the 75th minute.

Ronaldo joined Portugal’s squad on Monday, later than the rest of the squad, because of the Champions League final.

Portugal opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a shot from inside the area by Goncalo Guedes after a nice head-pass by Bernardo Silva. Bruno Fernandes added to the lead in the 37th with a close-range header after a well-placed left-footed cross by Ronaldo, and Guedes netted his second goal early in the second half with a header after a cross by Raphael Guerreiro from the left side.

Portugal scored another goal near the end but it was called off by video review because of a hand-ball by Guedes.

“We played well, but there’s still a lot to improve,” Portugal coach Fernando Santos said. “We are not where we want to be but we will be improving during the tournament.”

Portugal, which will travel to Russia on Saturday, had already played two other warm-up matches, drawing Tunisia 2-2 and Belgium 0-0.

Santos will take 13 players to Russia who helped the team win its first major title at the European Championship two years ago in France.

Portugal will begin its World Cup campaign against Iberian rival Spain on June 15 in Sochi. Its other Group B matches will be against Morocco and Iran.

Algeria did not qualify for the World Cup.

Written by Sandeep This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/portugal-beat-algeria-3-0-in-final-warmup-before-world-cup/ under the title “Portugal beat Algeria 3-0 in final warmup before World Cup”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.

England complete World Cup prep by beating Costa Rica 2-0

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England, Costa Rica, International Friendly

LEEDS: Marcus Rashford scored from long range as England beat Costa Rica 2-0 in its final World Cup warm-up match on Thursday.

In a rare England match away from Wembley, Danny Welbeck headed in the second after coming off the bench in the second half at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium.

The victory came four years after England drew 0-0 with Costa Rica as it slumped out of the World Cup in the group stage. Just five members from Roy Hodgson’s squad in Brazil are heading to the World Cup in Russia next year, with Gareth Southgate favoring promise over experience.

This is a fresh group bursting with potential and Rashford is among the contenders to star judging by this audition in northern England, where a superb 25 yard (meter) opener in the 13th minute crowned a fine performance.

The players were greeted earlier in the day by Prince William, who is president of the English Football Association but won’t be traveling to Russia as a fallout from the diplomatic tensions between the countries.

England opens its World Cup Group G campaign against Tunisia on June 18. Costa Rica plays Serbia in Group E the previous day.

Written by Sandeep This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/england-complete-world-cup-prep-by-beating-costa-rica-2-0/ under the title “England complete World Cup prep by beating Costa Rica 2-0”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.

Gareth Southgate admits England choices tougher after Costa Rica game

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• ‘There are some serious decisions to take, but in a good way’
• Manager praises Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Gareth Southgate has admitted he has “serious decisions” to make over his starting lineup for England’s opening group game at the World Cup, against Tunisia in 10 days’ time, after a much changed team impressed in the dismissal of Costa Rica.

Marcus Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek caught the eye in the 2-0 success in Leeds to offer the manager food for thought before the squad’s departure for the tournament on Tuesday.

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Written by Dominic Fifield at Elland Road This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/07/gareth-southgate-england-marcus-rashford-ruben-loftus-cheek under the title “Gareth Southgate admits England choices tougher after Costa Rica game”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder close to deal for heavyweight clash

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• Eddie Hearn expects February fight to be agreed in next month
• Dillian Whyte takes on Joseph Parker in July and calls out Fury

The mouthwatering prospect of Anthony Joshua finally facing the American Deontay Wilder in a huge heavyweight title reunification fight has moved several steps closer, with the Englishman’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, saying he expects a deal for a showdown – which will most likely take place in February 2019 – to be agreed in the next month.

Before then, however, Joshua will almost certainly face the Russian Alexander Povetkin in September at either Wembley, Twickenham or Old Trafford. “The Povetkin deal will be finalised in the next 72 hours,” Hearn said. “The Wilder one is not, but we’re talking every day. A deal will be done with Wilder in the next month but we will probably move on a Povetkin fight before that. Wilder would be December at the earliest, probably February.”

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Written by Sean Ingle This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jun/07/dillian-whyte-heavyweight-boxing-clash-joseph-parker-july under the title “Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder close to deal for heavyweight clash”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.

Stanley Cup Final 2018: Three takeaways from the Capitals’ first-ever championship

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The Washington Capitals are Stanley Cup Champions.

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Stanley Cup Final 2018: Three takeaways from the Capitals’ first-ever championship
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MLB wrap: Dodgers sluggers Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger starting to heat up

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The Dodgers edged the Pirates thanks to Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson finding their form.

Written by This news first appeared on http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/mlb-wrap-dodgers-sluggers-joc-pederson-cody-bellinger-scores-stats-highlight/ap1k83vvjx9c1mo0ahok7ugi6 under the title “MLB wrap: Dodgers sluggers Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger starting to heat up”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.

Stanley Cup Final 2018: Reilly Smith scores go-ahead goal, fight immediately breaks out

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Reilly Smith’s goal would have capped off a great period, but it was what happened after he scored which really left an impression.

Written by This news first appeared on http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/news/stanley-cup-final-2018-reilly-smith-scores-go-ahead-goal-fight-immediately-breaks-out-capitals-golden-knights-game-5-video/15fm8xyh8w95819gdp4wnfx1ro under the title “Stanley Cup Final 2018: Reilly Smith scores go-ahead goal, fight immediately breaks out”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.

Stanley Cup Final 2018: Alex Ovechkin scores 15th playoff goal, matching Sidney Crosby’s best total

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With Ovechkin’s goal in the second period he passed John Druce for the most in Capitals’ playoff history.

Written by This news first appeared on http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/news/nhl-stanley-cup-final-alex-ovechkin-stats-goal-record-capitals-golden-knights-game-5-video/kq5e8iho5w2z15hlhqeztpgss under the title “
Stanley Cup Final 2018: Alex Ovechkin scores 15th playoff goal, matching Sidney Crosby’s best total
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UFC 225: CM Punk says first MMA win would be more meaningful than first WWE belt

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CM Punk, who will return to the Octagon on Saturday. tells SN that doing something “on your own, so to speak” holds more meaning than having something possibly “gifted” or “handed” to him.

Written by This news first appeared on http://www.sportingnews.com/mma/news/ufc-225-cm-punk-punk-vs-jackson-chicago-wwe-championship-whittaker-vs-romero/1pmsr5szsleel1m7zekip3s6ns under the title “UFC 225: CM Punk says first MMA win would be more meaningful than first WWE belt”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.