SAN FRANCISCO — In one of the most anticipated sporting events since the COVID-19 pandemic sent sports into a deep freeze in March, the PGA Championship comes to San Francisco this week with several top players out to make history. Originally scheduled for May, the tournament was pushed back to August, when San Francisco’s thick fog often blankets the city.

Starting on Thursday, it will be the first of three majors this year, with the world’s top players competing to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy and collect a $1.98-million check on Sunday.

Yet the winner will do so without fans in attendance for the first time in the tournament’s 102-year history due to the pandemic, sapping energy and ambiance from TPC Harding Park.

“It’s going to be very different,” said four-time PGA Championship winner Tiger Woods, who in normal times would have a flock of fans at every hole he played.

“But it’s still a major championship. It’s still the best players in the world. We all understand that going into it, so there’s going to be plenty of energy from the competitive side.”

All eyes will be on the 44-year-old Woods, who is looking to win his 16th major title and record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour victory.

Yet he is decidedly an underdog, having only played once since the tour resumed in June. The chilly conditions could also cause his surgically repaired back to tighten up, limiting his movement.

KOEPKA, SPIETH EYE HISTORY

Favorite Brooks Koepka is looking to become the only player to win the tournament three years in a row since it switched from being a matchplay event to a stroke play event in 1958.

Walter Hagen won the tournament four consecutive times between 1924-1927 and five times overall.

Koepka has been in this position before. He won back-to-back US Open titles in 2017 and 2018 but fell short of capturing a third when he was beaten to the trophy by Gary Woodland at Pebble Beach in 2019.

“I’ve already dealt with it at the US Open,” he said when asked about the added pressure.

“I feel like I know how to handle it and I played pretty well. I just got beat,” he said.

“My game feels like it’s in really, really good shape right now.”

A victory this week would give Jordan Spieth a career Grand Slam, something only Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have achieved in the men’s game.

“It’s probably the number one goal in the game of golf for me right now,” he said.

“I’d love to be able to hold all four trophies, and this is the one that’s in the way.”

Whoever wins will have earned their victory at what Koepka called a “big boy’s golf course.”

Harding Park’s narrow fairways are lined with overhanging Cypress trees and it features a nasty rough that will punish errant tee shots. Power without precision will not get the job done.

The cool coastal fog will also keep the ball from travelling as far as it would in hotter climates, making the 7,251 yard par-70 municipal course play much longer.

“If you can put the ball in the fairway, you’re going to have a great chance,” said ESPN golf analyst Andy North.

“It’s not going to be just a bomber’s paradise.” — Reuters

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES Football League (PFL) could add another team in its fold with Maharlika FC signifying its intent to join the four-year-old league.

Led by former Philippine Azkals player and 7s Football League founder Anton del Rosario, Maharlika FC is currently in the process of working on its license to operate as a team and compete in leagues like the PFL.

“We are currently going through the process of getting our license. I think we have a pretty good lineup of players willing to play for the team,” shared Mr. Del Rosario in an online forum with sports media on Thursday.

“But we are more focused on presenting a new side to be able to show that we want to look towards the future and instead of just focusing on winning we want to create something sustainable where we get the supporters and the fans behind our team and push us to be competitive,” he added.

Mr. Del Rosario did not divulge the names of the players of Maharlika FC, reserving the announcement for a later date. But he did say that the team is to be composed of “former Azkals players, ex-pros and a few youth guys.”

The Maharlika FC founder went on to share that they hope through the team they get to continue doing their share in the development of the sport in the country and bringing people in to support the “beautiful game.”

On the part of the PFL, it said the league welcomes Maharlika FC if the latter does push through with its plans to join.

“They (Maharlika) have sent their intent to join and are undergoing licensing process and they have high chances of making it,” said PFL Commissioner Coco Torre in an online interview with BusinessWorld.

Mr. Torre said they like the enthusiasm that Mr. Del Rosario and his group are showing and view them as a good addition to the league if ever.

“They are a very enthusiastic group and I see great potential with them because they have a vision which is aligned with ours. The way they plan to market their club will also help bring awareness and following to the league aside from their competitive attitude,” the PFL commissioner said.

If Maharlika FC successfully makes the cut, it will join Kaya FC-Iloilo, Stallion Laguna FC, Mendiola FC, United City Football Club, and the Azkals Development Team in the roster of teams competing.

The status of another team, Global FC, meanwhile, remains up in the air after it failed to honor its commitment to settle outstanding financial obligations with its players.

JOEL EMBIID scored nine consecutive points in a 13-0 Philadelphia burst that bridged the third and fourth quarters on Wednesday afternoon in the National Basketball Association (NBA) “bubble” near Orlando, and the 76ers posted a 107-98 victory over the Washington Wizards despite losing Ben Simmons to a knee injury.

Embiid finished with game-high totals of 30 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers (41-27), who won their second straight after beginning their Florida stay with a loss to Indiana.

The win might have been a costly one. Simmons left a tight  contest with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter, favoring his left knee. He had grabbed an offensive rebound four seconds earlier.

Initial reports from the locker room indicated there was no serious damage, but Simmons was not able to return to the game. He finished with eight points in 23 minutes.

Washington lost its fourth straight at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex despite 19-point efforts from Thomas Bryant and Jerome Robinson.

The 76ers led by as many as 10 in the first half, but in the wake of Simmons’ departure, the Wizards went up 74-69 on two free throws by Robinson with 1:38 remaining in the third period.

Furkan Korkmaz countered with one of two free throws for the 76ers before Embiid took over, scoring the final seven points of the quarter, giving Philadelphia a 77-74 lead.

Embiid added a dunk and Tobias Harris a jumper to begin the fourth period, completing the 13-point run and extending the margin to 82-74 with 11:00 remaining.

The Wizards rallied within 92-88 with 4:19 to go on a Troy Brown, Jr. jumper. However, Shake Milton bombed in a 3-pointer and added a short jumper in a personal five-point run that reopened a nine-point advantage.

Embiid connected on 11-of-20 field-goal attempts for the 76ers, who out-shot the Wizards 46.3% to 42.4%.

Harris chipped in with 17 points while Josh Richardson added 15, Milton 14 and Korkmaz 10.

Philadelphia’s Al Horford contributed 10 rebounds and a team-high five assists off the bench.

Bryant completed a double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds for the Wizards. Brown totaled 17 points while Ish Smith had 12 to complement a team-high six assists. — Reuters

Newly recognized professional league Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 has started shoring up its preparations for its new season later this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, recently discussing its plans with stakeholders.

Got the nod from the Games and Amusements Board last week to operate now as a professional league, the people from Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 said they are excited to level up and are doing everything they can to ensure that the conduct of the league will be rightfully and carefully done especially amid the challenges presented by the ongoing situation with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The league is eyeing a September start to its season, which will be held in a bubble at the INSPIRE Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

To help it in its push for a successful staging of its tournament, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 recently met with team representatives of squads which will see action.

League commissioner Eric Altamirano led the meeting with team representatives who included San Juan-Go for Gold team governor Chris Conwi; Sta. Lucia sports head Buddy Encarnado; Nueva Ecija’s team manager Jai Reyes and official Mike Baldos; Porac-Big Boss Cement’s Ryan Monteclaro; Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines’ Tonette Roque; Mindoro’s Justin Tan and Teytey Teodoro; and Sulu’s Marvin Forniza.

Mr. Altamirano and his team thoroughly discussed how the league would push through — including strict testings, player eligibility, and life inside the bubble.

Dr. Butch Ong of the University of the Philippines Science and Society Program discussed the health protocols while a representative from GET Philippines tackled the contract tracing application the players, staff, and team officials will use.

“We had to be very thorough and detailed during the meeting with the team owners since we can’t leave no stone unturned especially with the pandemic still ongoing,” said Mr. Altamirano.

Team representatives, for their part, came away satisfied with the meeting and vowed to follow what is asked of them.

“We are glad to be part of this organization,” said Mr. Encarnado.

“The players’ safety was greatly emphasized earlier. We can’t wait to get back to work since this is really for them,” Mr.Reyes, meanwhile, said.

The Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 is a first-of-its-kind league founded by Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. President Ronald Mascariñas last year with the goal of helping the country get enough FIBA 3×3 points to book a spot in the qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games, where 3×3 basketball is making its debut.

It succeeded in its immediate goal as the Chooks-to-Go backed squad earned a slot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament happening in May next year in Austria. The team is hoping to go deeper and make its way to the rescheduled Tokyo Games in the middle of 2021.

Along the way, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 hosted a number of tournaments, something it aims to continue and build on now that it is a professional league. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

NEW YORK — US Open singles winners will receive $850,000 less prize money this year, the United States Tennis Association said on Wednesday, with first-round prize money increasing.

The tennis Grand Slam, which begins on Aug. 31 in New York, will take place without fans and some of the sports’ biggest stars, amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak across the United States.

The $53.4-million total prize pool is down from last year’s $57-million pot, the richest in the tournament’s history, with 2020 first-round prize money jumping 5% to $61,000 from $58,000. Singles winners will receive $3 million, down from $3.85 million in 2019.

Runners-up will receive $1.5 million, down from $1.9 million the year before. Semifinalists and quarterfinalists will also see their winnings dip slightly.

“The prize money distribution for the 2020 US Open is the result of close collaboration between the USTA, WTA and ATP, and represents a commitment to supporting players and their financial well-being during an unprecedented time,” USTA CEO Mike Dowse said in a written statement.

Additionally, USTA said it was donating another $6.6 million in monetary relief for players who have seen their earnings decline after the global viral outbreak upended the professional calendar.

Defending champion Rafa Nadal and women’s world number one Ash Barty are among those who have decided to skip the event, citing concerns about the coronavirus. The United States has more than 4.79 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 157,000 people have died. — Reuters