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DeAndre Ayton speaking on fans’ perception is downright heartbreaking
DeAndre Ayton speaking on fans’ perception is downright heartbreaking
DeAndre Ayton opens up about how fans perceive him, how that's impacted him personally, and how he's staying motivated this offseason.Ever since the Suns drafted DeAndre Ayton 1st overall in 2018, he's been a valuable piece and key contributor in their rebuild. In Ayton's fir...
2023-07-21 02:18
Rodney Strong Vineyards Wins Big at Prestigious Wine Competition
Rodney Strong Vineyards Wins Big at Prestigious Wine Competition
HEALDSBURG, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 26, 2023--
2023-10-27 01:04
Journalist attacked after tense Ajaccio v Marseille match
Journalist attacked after tense Ajaccio v Marseille match
Prosecutors in southern France opened an investigation on Sunday after a journalist was attacked following a match between Ajaccio and Marseille, the second incident of violence at a...
2023-06-04 18:36
Where to Cut Power to Control Panels in Fortnite
Where to Cut Power to Control Panels in Fortnite
There's a new Resistance mission in Fortnite. Players need to cut power to control panels inside Command Cavern. Here's what you need to know.
1970-01-01 08:00
Yelich lifts Brewers over reeling Mets after Cohen's press conference
Yelich lifts Brewers over reeling Mets after Cohen's press conference
Christian Yelich had three hits and two RBIs, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-2 win over the New York Mets hours after Mets owner Steve Cohen held a press conference in which he preached patience but said his struggling team is running out of time to get back into the playoff race
2023-06-29 10:35
Kroger CEO Vows Legal Fight for Albertsons Deal If Necessary
Kroger CEO Vows Legal Fight for Albertsons Deal If Necessary
Kroger Co. said it’s committed to hunkering down for a long legal battle if US regulators attempt to
1970-01-01 08:00
European stumble shows there are two sides to Manchester United – and neither is working
European stumble shows there are two sides to Manchester United – and neither is working
From hell to purgatory. Manchester United are left in limbo about their European future this season, after a game at Galatasaray where both sides left everything on the pitch. Andre Onana, however, let two free-kicks in. There was still more to an utterly thrilling 3-3 draw than that, as United lost a lead for the fifth time in five Champions League group games. This was also the second by two goals. That should torment Erik ten Hag, even as it would have delighted anyone else watching on. This was so much more entertaining than the divinely perfect football we’ve come to expect from the competition’s best level and there is, of course, a lesson in that. This might have been the way to put on a show. It isn’t the way to go about an away game in the Champions League. There should be an even greater aggravation to that for Ten Hag, though. So much of United’s attacking play looked like what you would consider his ideal. It was a long-awaited reminder of last season’s best form, particularly Scott McTominay’s counter-attacking finish that should have won it. It was all there. There was connection combined with emphatic force, as was seen with Alejandro Garnacho’s glorious strike for the first after that exquisite little through ball. There was pure individual inspiration, as seen with Bruno Fernandes’ blockbuster. There was then incision at pace, as they cut through Galatasaray for McTominay to slide in. This is the way United should be playing. The great question for Ten Hag, that is directly connected to the quandary of how they keep losing leads, is whether they can only play that way by going so open? It is some way removed from Pep Guardiola’s suffocation through possession. It is even further away from so many of United’s drab league games. There, there’s been a more dour resilience, where performance has actually obscured relatively acceptable form. This still shouldn’t be acceptable, though. United just shouldn’t be in this position. That could have been said before this game, but this made it much worse. It’s like there’s no in-between. It’s either “control” to the point of boredom or abandon to the point of this chaos. Galatasaray of course contributed. They were often as good in attack, and just as porous at the back. The number of chances they were willing to just offer up late on. It’s incredible they still came out with a draw. For that, they can look to United’s goalkeeper. One Hakim Ziyech free-kick like that would have been bad enough. Two might well be a season destroyer. It will be all the worse given he had recovered. There hadn’t really been a major error since the supposed turning point of the penalty save against Copenhagen. It was just another twist in this group stage. The one excuse that might be made for Onana is that the conditions made it especially difficult, particularly in situations like those free-kicks. It was also like a player as clever as Ziyech knew that. He went for it. Again, there was more to it than that. Like Galatasaray at the other end, United gave up so many chances that any two or three of a number of efforts could have ended up as goals. Kerem Akturkoglu's brilliant sweeping strike was one. That could have happened many times over. The chaos reduced the match to an element of blind luck – especially late on. That last proper move United had, where the ball ricocheted around Fernando Muslera’s goal, summed it up. It could have gone anywhere. As it is, United are going out. It should never have come to that. There are questions for Ten Hag there, beyond his choice of goalkeeper. How are they this erratic after a year and a half? How is it they have found a relatively forgiving group so punishing? How can translate some of this attacking to the league, without bringing that mayhem at the back? This is what United need to look to, other than a miracle. Hell, as Galatasaray still attempted to style their new Rams Park, wasn’t the place for that. Read More Arsenal through to last 16 as Manchester United squander lead again Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw Man United suffer heavy Champions League blow in Galatasaray thriller Champions League: What do Man United, Arsenal and Newcastle need to reach last 16? Man United’s teen sensation who could offer salvation - and it’s not Garnacho Why Bruno Fernandes is the only choice as Man Utd captain
2023-11-30 15:31
Singapore Aug manufacturing output dives 12% y/y, more than expected
Singapore Aug manufacturing output dives 12% y/y, more than expected
By Chen Lin SINGAPORE Singapore's industrial output in August plunged 12.1% year-on-year, contracting for an 11th consecutive month
2023-09-26 13:07
Boeing defense margins to remain flat in second quarter
Boeing defense margins to remain flat in second quarter
Margins at Boeing's defense unit will look similar in the second quarter to its first-quarter results, Boeing Defense
2023-06-18 20:37
Even as a golf novice, playing at Dundonald Links and Royal Troon was unforgettable
Even as a golf novice, playing at Dundonald Links and Royal Troon was unforgettable
I’m looking out at a glorious sunset from the dining room at Royal Troon, standing next to the actual Claret Jug, with a sneaking suspicion that I shouldn’t really be here. I’ve been playing for less than two years. In that time I’ve played some of the worst golf imaginable and loved every minute of it, before eventually wrestling myself down to an unspectacular but semi-respectable standard. In the space of the last two days, I’ve ended up playing the superb Dundonald Links and Royal Troon: hallowed ground on Scotland’s beautiful west coast, which will play host to the 152nd Open championship in 2024. In that relatively short time, I’ve realised that one of the wonders of this sport is being able to play the same courses as the best players in the world, stepping up and (very, very occasionally) hitting shots they’d be pleased to have hit themselves. The fact that I was able to spend a few days in one of the most exceptional locations for golf anywhere on the planet and relish every moment, is a testament to that. The Open Championship is named so because theoretically any player can enter qualifying and try to take part. It’s surreal to even be standing here, with golf’s biggest prize just feet away, but not only does this part of Scotland offer some of the best experiences anywhere in the UK for lovers of the game, but it also proves that golf really is for everyone. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter My main destination for an unforgettable week in golf country is Dundonald Links. While there has been golf played on the site since 1911, the course that opened in 2003 was designed by Kyle Phillips, who is also responsible for celebrated courses like Kingsbarns and The Grove. It’s a beautiful modern links which despite hosting the Scottish Open in 2017 and always being held in high regard as a course, was previously held back by a lack of a major clubhouse. That changed with a major redevelopment in 2021, which saw new owners Darwin Escapes invest £25 million into the place. The result is an assortment of world-class facilities all within an 9-iron's distance of the first tee. While the Scottish Open had been hosted with a series of temporary structures, the new clubhouse is a fantastic focal point and one of the finest contemporary golfing constructions you will find anywhere in the UK. The slick, spacious room on the first floor is split between the central bar and the Canny Crow restaurant, which offers contemporary British dining done superbly well. There’s also an excellent pro shop and a state-of-the-art gym, as well as saunas and steam rooms in both sets of changing rooms, a grass range and short game areas. Then, there’s the course itself. I had the pleasure of playing it twice during my stay. The first thing that you notice when walking to the first tee box is the flashes of yellow and purple gorse, which frame holes and add both character and danger along all the undulating Dundonald fairways. The run of holes cut channels through natural burrows and hillocks of the land, with penal rough ready to snag errant shots. Dundonald is lusher and more tree-lined than your traditional links, and while burnt-out fairways and bare lies are the norm along the Scottish coast, the fairways here are left a little longer through selective irrigation methods. The greens were in excellent condition and played fast and true during both rounds, offering a little more reception than your typical links playing surfaces. The western corner of the course looks out to the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig across the Irish Sea. It’s a reminder of the wealth of great courses on this stretch of coastline too, with Turnberry round the corner, as well as Western Gailes and Royal Troon just out of sight. While the first nine certainly isn’t lacking in appeal, the standout holes are more prevalent on the back. The 11th hole is a memorable par three measuring just 123 yards from the back tees, which can really show its teeth if not played smartly. The three sand traps on the front look nasty enough, but don’t be too tempted to take too much extra club: the deepest bunker I’ve ever seen, officially known as the “Cauldron” and colloquially referred to as the “Devil’s a***hole”, is waiting over the back and requires players to hit 10ft up to the green, up a slope which feeds balls back down to the sandy depths. Do not, under any circumstances, go in there, because you might never get out. Aside from this one feature, the course plays true and fair, offering a challenge to all levels of golfer, and offering plenty in terms of enjoyment for the mid to higher handicapper. Moreover, it’s a gorgeous plot of land. The 13th hole is skirted by a train and runs down to a huge McKenzie-style green, with a burn running across the front ready to catch under-hit approaches. With the rail track tucking up the left-hand side, this beautiful hole leaves you feeling like you’re a bad pull away from derailing the Glasgow Express. The 18th might be the best of the lot. The wide green has another treacherous burn snaking across before it - something of a signature at Dundonald – helping to provide a stunning risk and reward closing hole. There’s a plaque on the fairway marking the spot from which Rafa Cabera Bello hit a wand of a three wood from 275 yards to 10 feet to win the Scottish Open in 2017. It’s bound to provide more drama when the course hosts the Scottish Women’s Open again later this year. After my first-time round, seeing players finish up on the 18th green from the clubhouse in the golden hour, it just made me want to jump back in a buggy and play again. Royal Troon would come later in the week, but while that 19th century institution is rightly proud of its tradition and reverence for rules and respect, Dundonald, just a 10 minute drive away on the same stretch of coast, could hardly be more different. The smart, yet laid-back setting in the Canny Crow restaurant is one of the strongest elements of Dundonald’s overall offering. I enjoyed excellent vegetarian options (not always the case in Scotland) and a strong wine list during my time there. There’s also a superb whisky room kitted out with a custom Dundonald Links 1980 Bunnahabhain Canasta cask – the only one in the world. For whisky fans on a golf trip, it’s essentially heaven on Earth. A total of 18 new lodges were put in place in 2021, offering luxurious rooms, large communal spaces complete with spacious kitchens, pool tables and large sofas – ideal for sinking into and watching the PGA Championship on our penultimate night of the stay. The biggest talking point of the lodges are the three purpose-built putting greens also designed by Phillips which border them, all in great condition. Things have stepped up a whole lot at Dundonald in the last few years with the new developments. Their aim was to create one of the best golf resorts in Scotland, and provide a hub for players exploring Ayrshire. Over the course of my stay, it was apparent they had achieved this in some style. The next day, there was the small matter of playing Royal Troon. The historic course was the venue for one of the most memorable Open Championships of the 21st century when Henrick Stensen and Phil Mickelsen went toe to toe in 2016. Organisers, the R&A will undoubtedly be hoping for something just as blockbusting when the tournament comes next year. The course is renowned for its difficulty and for being one of the hardest on the Open rota, and so it proved: even on a still day in pretty perfect conditions, I received a bit of a battering at its hands. It is without a doubt the most complete test of golf many in my group had ever – or will ever – experience. Arriving at the grand old clubhouse steeped in the weight of history and sporting tradition was nerve-inducing enough as it was, but our group had the honour of teeing off next to the Claret Jug on the first tee box. Seeing the famous trophy did little to ease our anxieties ahead of the most significant first tee shot of our lives to start the round. As first tee shots go, it’s a tough one: there’s a myriad of bunkers to navigate ahead, and if you feel like bailing out left to avoid the Irish Sea to your right, there’s always the shin-high rough waiting to swallow up your ball. It was a little taster of the nerves the best players in the world will feel when they stand on the tee for the Open in 2024. I quickly learned that you cannot go in the rough at Royal Troon, and you absolutely cannot, under any circumstances, go in the sand. There are 98 bunkers on the course, averaging at more than five per hole, and nearly all of them are capable of swallowing up your ball, slapping you in the face and ruining your round. Whereas Dundonald offers a modern interpretation of links with more grass on the fairways, conditions at Troon are as traditional as you will ever play. It’s a traditional out and back course, with some of the most dramatic coastal vistas you’re likely to experience in the UK. Indeed, the view from the seventh tee box is one of the most breathtaking in Scottish golf, with the sea behind and the fairway peppered with pot bunkers curving down before you. The famous eighth is elevated on the right from there, and if that baby fade turns into a slice, then players on that green could be at risk if you’re not careful. Stood on the tee box of the “Postage Stamp” gives another nerve-inducing jolt. Much has been made of this devilish little hole, just 123 yards in length but with a tiny green perilously plonked in the middle of five enormous bunkers. Avoiding the “coffin” bunker to the left felt like a small victory in itself when my time on the tee box came: considering the golfing lives it has claimed down the years, I was reasonably happy with marking a six on my scorecard. It’s a course stacked with standout holes, but the 11th – known as “The Railway” as it runs up next to the train tracks – will live long in my memory as one of the most stunningly designed holes I’ll ever play, with a dividing wall just feet from the green on the right and a beast of a bunker ready to catch cautious approaches on the front left. As ever, there’s gorse at every turn and delightful views back over the course from the tee box. It’s technically the hardest on the course, and once again I was already looking forward to seeing the pros take it on. The anticipation of next year’s Open brought home just how lucky I was to have teed it up on such revered turf. By rights I shouldn’t have been there, but I’m so glad I was, and it was another reminder that everyone can have fantastic experiences in golf. The east coast of Scotland might steal the headlines when it comes to golfing destinations, and it’s no great surprise when the likes of St Andrews, Muirfield, Carnoustie and other wonderful, historic locations can be found there. But the west coast is stacked with world-class destinations for golfers looking to find rewarding experiences, fantastic hospitality and some of the finest links courses anywhere on Earth. On the last morning of my trip, after the formalities of Troon and a suited and booted R&A dinner the evening before, we took out a buggy on the delightful back nine at Dundonald. It was a serene morning, and we played it in a carefree hour and a half, not bothering about the score and just taking in our surroundings one last time before heading home. It’s an honour to have spent a perfect week in golf country. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-03 14:00
Charting the Global Economy: US Inflation Cools; BOE Hikes Rates
Charting the Global Economy: US Inflation Cools; BOE Hikes Rates
US inflation showed more signs of moderating in April, giving the Federal Reserve room to pause interest-rate increases
1970-01-01 08:00
Liverpool agree Ryan Gravenberch fee with Bayern Munich
Liverpool agree Ryan Gravenberch fee with Bayern Munich
Ryan Gravenberch is close to joining Liverpool after transfer fee agreed with Bayern Munich.
2023-09-01 03:40