Browsing: save

South Africa vs Pakistan (Photo by Sameera Peiris/Getty Images) South Africa secured a decisive 150-run victory against Pakistan in a rain-affected World Cup match on Tuesday at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, moving to the top of the points table.With 10 points from six matches, South Africa temporarily lead Australia and England, both with 9 points, who face each other on Wednesday in Indore.The match was shortened to 40 overs per side due to initial delays, with South Africa posting 312 for 9. Laura Wolvaardt scored 90, while Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp contributed 61 and 68, respectively.Rain interruptions led to further adjustments, setting Pakistan a revised DLS target of 234 in 20 overs. Pakistan struggled, managing only 83 for seven.Pakistan’s chase got off to a poor start, reaching just 35 for 4 by the tenth over before rain intervened.Marizanne Kapp, who earlier scored 68, dominated Pakistan’s top order by taking three of the four early wickets.After the rain delay, South Africa secured their well-deserved two points.Laura Wolvaardt provided strong batting with 90 runs off 82 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. She partnered with Sune Luus for a 118-run second-wicket partnership.Kapp’s 68-run contribution included a 60-run partnership with Wolvaardt for the fourth wicket.Pakistan captain Fatima Sana struggled with her bowling, conceding 69 runs in eight overs. Spinner Sadia Iqbal faced heavy hitting, while Diana Baig gave away 49 runs in five overs.Nadine de Klerk continued her impressive tournament performance as a finisher, scoring 41 runs off just 16 balls.De Klerk’s innings included three fours and four sixes, with remarkable shots over long-off against Iqbal and two powerful hits against Fatima.Kapp enhanced South Africa’s dominant performance by hitting Sadia Iqbal’s delivery over midwicket and striking another six off Fatima over square leg.

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Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants blew a 19-0 lead in the fourth quarter to Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos on the road with a game-winning field goal, losing 33-32.Â

With the last-second loss, the Giants fell to 2-5, behind Dart, who had carried them to a 2-2 record since taking over for veteran Russell Wilson in Week 4, including an immediate win over the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers.

Nix finished 27-of-50 for 279 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with his former Oregon teammates Troy Franklin and RJ Harvey for scoring passes. He also ran in two touchdowns himself, adding 48 yards on the ground.

Meanwhile, Dart finished 15-of-33 for 283 yards, three touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and one interception, which proved costly in the fourth quarter.

Dart and the Giants’ defense were criticized for allowing 33 fourth-quarter points in Denver’s comeback.

Denver got off to a rough start, punting on their first four possessions and turning the ball over on downs before a Nix sack took them into halftime, trailing 13-0.

The third quarter mirrored the first half, with Denver punting on both possessions to enter the fourth quarter trailing 19-0, before the Broncos finally found the end zone to open the fourth.

Another touchdown from New York seemed to seal the game, but Denver found their rhythm, scoring on a drive and forcing an interception that led to another touchdown, cutting the deficit to three points.

Forcing a three-and-out gave Denver the ball back with 2:42 remaining, and they scored once more, going 4-of-4 for touchdowns on their fourth-quarter possessions to take a 30-26 lead.Â

New York stormed down the field for a touchdown, leaving just 1:51 on the clock, but the Broncos executed a perfect two-minute drill to win the game on a field goal.

The Giants’ schedule does not ease up as they travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.

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So, it was no surprise to see the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender shoot the referee a dirty look and an earful of opinion after he stopped a J.T. Miller one-timer at close range — with no helmet.

And it should be no surprise that Stolarz, speaking more measuredly after Torontoâ€s 2-1 overtime victory over the New York Rangers, criticized the rule that allowed him to face a clapper with, well, a bare face.

After a Matt Rempe shot dislodged Stolarzâ€s mask, the Rangers still controlled the puck down low and quickly created Millerâ€s attempt. Referees Garrett Rank and Justin Kea called the book. (Play can continue against a maskless goalie in event of an imminent scoring chance.) But Stolarz suggests the book could use a rewrite.

“This is the second time itâ€s happened. Happened to Adin Hill the other night as well. So, hopefully we can find a compromise. Itâ€s not like goalies are trying to knock our helmets off,†Stolarz argued.

“I mean, without the buckle, you canâ€t really see the puck, you canâ€t really track or do anything. As soon as you move your head, it falls off. So, hopefully the league can look at it and talk to some goalies or people who have knowledge of the position, and we can come to some sort of compromise where our safety isnâ€t put at risk there.â€

Stolarzâ€s 1950s-style battle level proved the highlight of a Throwback Thursday in which scoring chances were hard to come by, and most were turned aside by goaltenders at the top of their game.

“Just trying to be a competitor and slide across,†Stolarz said of kicking out Millerâ€s blast without his most important piece of equipment. “Obviously, itâ€s not an ideal situation. But at that stage of the game, youâ€re just trying to do anything to keep the puck out of the net.â€

The sequence slapped an exclamation point on a 28-save star turn for Stolarz, who was awarded Torontoâ€s player-of-the-game belt for his badassery.

But in real time, the helmet-free save both frightened and confused his teammates.

“I was a little scared to be honest,†Matthew Knies said. “I don’t know how it came to that. You know, I thought it was supposed to be blown. It was a shocker for sure, for everyone.â€

Superstars William Nylander and Auston Matthews — who connected for a 3-on-3 winner in the first shift of OT — were both surprised that play could continue after a lost mask, based on a judgment call.

“Thankfully it didnâ€t hit him there. I was completely unaware of the rule. I thought the second the helmetâ€s off, I mean, the playâ€s gotta be dead with no helmet on,†Matthews said.

“Just another example of what a gamer he is. I mean, he just goes in there, he wants to compete. And heâ€s a big communicator back there. He lets you know whatâ€s going on, and heâ€ll let you know when he doesnâ€t like what he’s seeing. So, I think you can really appreciate that.â€

Nylander believes “itâ€s crazy†that pucks can be shot in that scenario.

“I mean, thatâ€s so dangerous. Like, it should be blown off right away,†Nylander said. “I guess you could argue that sometimes a goalie could maybe try to shake his helmet off or whatever, but I think thatâ€s pretty dangerous.â€

Head coach Craig Berube agrees.

“It’s a tough call. Your goalie loses his mask, heâ€s in a very vulnerable position, a position to get really hurt,†Berube said. “And I don’t think anybody wants to see that — ever. So, in my opinion, blow it down.â€

Stolarz described Thursdayâ€s grind-it-out affair as “playoff-like†because it was so defensively sound and tight checking. Only one goal, a third-period tip by New Yorkâ€s Jusso Parssinen, was scored at even-strength.

“I like the way that we stuck with our game and stayed patient. Didnâ€t try to try to open it up too much,†said Stolarz, who outduelled the mighty Igor Shesterkin.

“Heâ€s one of the best, if not the best. So, for me, itâ€s just worrying about stopping the puck. You see him making save after save, and as a goalie you want to match that and just try to give the team some time to put one by him.â€

Stolarz did precisely that.

No masking who the home teamâ€s hero was on this night.

• Easton Cowan has already thrown six hits and taken seven in just three games, including a dangerous one into the post from Nashvilleâ€s Ozzy Wiesblatt on Tuesday when he didnâ€t have the puck and a late shot from Filip Forsberg during a delayed penalty.

“Heâ€s a smaller guy, but heâ€s not afraid to go in those dirty areas,†Matthews said. “Took a couple kind of cheap hits, the one going to the net, stuff like that, but heâ€s strong. Heâ€s deceptively a lot stronger than he maybe looks.â€

Cowan grinned after it was relayed that his centreman said heâ€d been targeted with a couple cheap shots.

“I think itâ€s just the game,†Cowan replied. “Just get back up and keep playing.â€

Berube and Matthews have both commended the 20-year-oldâ€s ability to handle the physicality of the pro game.

“Heâ€s handled it really well,†Matthews said. “Thereâ€s obviously a lot of big guys out there, strong men, and you got to protect yourself. And I think he does a good job of that.â€

Sure. But should Cowanâ€s teammates be protecting him better?

“Weâ€ve got a power play on the (Weisblatt) one, so you canâ€t react to that,†Berube countered. “You gotta stay disciplined. All scenarios are different when it comes to that. Our team, Iâ€m not too worried about it. I think our teamâ€s going to stand up for each other and get in there. I know they are. They did it last year; I expect them to do the same. But, at the same time, itâ€s situational for me. We got a power play out of it. Power playâ€s job is to make them pay.â€

• Cowan played just two shifts in the third period and not at all in the final 14:17 of action with the score tied.

Berubeâ€s explanation: “Our team maybe lacked a little energy, so I was just trying to find some lines and some energy together. Thatâ€s all.â€

Cowanâ€s 11:47 ice time marked his first time under 14 minutes.

The rookie committed a game-high five giveaways.

• The Rangers still donâ€t have a forward who has scored more than once. Meanwhile, in Anaheim, Chris Kreider has four goals in three games.

• Steven Lorentz, who inked a three-year contract extension over the summer, was healthy-scratched for the first time since joining the Maple Leafs.

“Heâ€s an important player,†Berube said. “We all like him, we want him, but sometimes these are the decisions coaches gotta make — and theyâ€re not easy for the guys that arenâ€t playing.â€

Berube believes the Leafs were coming off their best two games, which just happened to coincide with Lorentzâ€s absence due to an upper-body injury.

Our take: It was too early to sit Dakota Joshua, whoâ€s trying to find his footing with a new club. Calle Järnkrok has been one of Berubeâ€s most productive and reliable forwards. And Nick Robertsonâ€s trade value would only be harmed by a trip to the press box.

• Bit of a sleepy night at the rink, perhaps because the Blue Jays were playing a more important game. Still, the goalie deserves more love.

Not sure why “Sto-lie!†chants donâ€t punctuate Stolarzâ€s monster saves the way “Sam-my!†“Soooup!†and “Fred-dy!†cheers did for his predecessorsâ€.

The big guy committed to this town on a team-friendly deal and has been a stud most nights.

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Stuart Pearce was famously something of late starter when it came to his football career.

While he would go on to win 78 caps for England and be a key player in the World Cup 90 and Euro 96 sides that reached the last-four in both tournaments, he began his career training and then working as an electrician during a five-year stint at non-league side Wealdstone.

Pearce’s big break would come in 1983, when Coventry City boss Bobby Gould spotted something in the non-league left-back and snapped him up in a £30,000 deal.

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Pearce on his admiration for Gordon Banks

Legendary England goalkeeper Gordon Banks (Image credit: PA)

Pearce’s determination and combative nature – two traits that served him well during his career – had impressed Gould, but it could all have been different if Pearce had followed his initial dream and followed in the footsteps of his early hero Gordon Banks.

“My first memory of watching football on TV was the 1970 World Cup,” Pearce recalls to FourFourTwo.

Gordon Banks and Pele reunited at Wembley

“I was eight, and Gordon’s save from Pele is still the best I’ve ever seen. I still look back at that save and think, ‘How did he keep that out?’

“Gordon inspired me to become a goalkeeper – I won my first medal in that position, and only became an outfield player out of frustration. As a kid, the players in front of me were so shabby, I thought, ‘I’ve got to go up top!’

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“Then we might score six but still concede eight, and I got frustrated with that too, which is why I became a defender.”

Banks – who was ranked at No.3 in FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest-ever goalkeepers – remains an English football legend to this day, having made almost 700 career appearances and starred for the Three Lions in their 1966 World Cup win.

Stuart Pearce in action for Nottingham Forest in 1989. (Image credit: Getty Images)

His save from Pele in the 1970 World Cup that Pearce references was his signature moment, and brought about a hilarious exchange before the resulting corner was taken:

“I thought that was a goal,” said Pele, with Banks replying: “You and me both,” before England skipper Bobby Moore added: “You’re getting old, Banksy, you used to hold on to them.”

Pearce was speaking in association with next-gen Fantasy Football mobile game CLUB, available for both Android and iOS

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The word from Manchester United insiders is that Sir Jim Ratcliffeâ€s headline-hogging declaration that three years is an apt timescale to judge Ruben Amorim is merely Sir Jim being Sir Jim, the self-made billionaire showing his anti-PR, maverick streak.

While the debate rages on TV, radio, social media, and in drinking parlours about the sagacity of his words, what Ratclifffe did not say or allude to intrigues as much.

Because, like an anti-Rafael Benítez, Ratcliffe chose not to discuss the “facts†when assessing Amorimâ€s beleaguered incumbency, as the head coachâ€s tenure approaches the first anniversary early next month. Instead, Unitedâ€s largest minority owner reached for the easy punchbag of the media to opt out of facing the hard truth of the team under Amorim.

Discussing the 40-year-oldâ€s position, Ratcliffe said: “You canâ€t run a club like Manchester United on kneejerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.â€

Fair enough, except Ratcliffe would struggle to name any football scribe who leads Unitedâ€s training sessions, selects the XI and sticks to a rigid 3-4-3 that has drawn a desultory 20 wins and 21 losses from 50 games, as Amorim has.

Or who turned up for the opening fixture of the season against a serious title contender (Arsenal) in a pickle over who should be his No 1 goalkeeper despite signalling discontent last April with the incumbent (André Onana). Result: Altay Bayindir, in for the Cameroonian, was culpable for the Gunners†winner at Old Trafford.

And, also, failed to recruit an elite No 6, leaving Casemiroâ€s ageing legs and Manuel Ugarteâ€s untrusted ones to service the United engine room until the winter window, at least.

Manuel Ugarte has not convinced in central midfield for Manchester United. Photograph: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images

Amorim is being scrutinised by the media, pundits, United fans and other enthusiasts because of his track record at United. What will influence Ratcliffe is the financial bottom line – the lingua franca of the Ineos billionaire and the six Glazer siblings who collectively are Unitedâ€s majority owners.

So far, so bad. Defeat in Mayâ€s Europa League final by Tottenham meant no Champions League football this season and the loss of about £100m from competing in the blue-riband tournament. The all-time Premier League low finish of 15th yielded £136.2m from the cash-soaked competition, but that was a near £50m – or the best part of a Matheus Cunha – less than Liverpoolâ€s £174.9m cash prize for taking the title.

If this trend of failure to claim a trophy and plunging league form continues the plug will surely be pulled on Amorim by Ratcliffe, the head of football policy, far sooner than three years.

After a summer net spend of about £170m (signing Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, Senne Lammens and Diego Léon) United were supposed to hit the ground running. Instead, three losses (to Arsenal, Manchester City and Brentford), three wins (against Burnley, Chelsea and Sunderland) and a draw at Fulham can be characterised as a faltering start, at best, and the 12-11 Carabao Cup penalty shootout loss to fourth-tier Grimsby was a farrago, the poorest/most unprofessional United display witnessed by these eyes in 13 years as the club correspondent.

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On the back of all this, the question keeps coming: are there signs of a revival; of the odd green shoot that can be clung on to by Amorim, Ratcliffe and United supporters? The answer, politely, is: how can there be until two consecutive league matches, at least, are won under him for the first time? After beating Sunderland 2-0 before the international break, United go to Anfield. Do not bet the farm on him finally breaking that barrier against the champions, Liverpool.

Consider Amorimâ€s run in the league. In 34 top-flight outings, 37 points have been accrued. Amorim has won 10 matches.

In the same interview with The Business podcast, Ratcliffe said: “Football is not overnight. You look at [Mikel] Arteta at Arsenal. He had a miserable time over the first couple of years.â€

The Spaniard did, but he had the FA Cup triumph of 2020 (his opening season) as ballast and he did not finish 15th then. Instead, the Gunners placed eighth and have since been eighth, fifth, second, second and second.

Ratcliffe is said to find piloting United “stressfulâ€, an insight into how, while everyone expects him to have answers to every question, he is human too. Maybe the jobâ€s stresses explain why he offered three years as a mark of when Amorim can be judged.

No one knows where Amorim will take the United train. But another annus horribilis – or even a poor next few weeks – and the head coach can surely not survive.

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The following scene happens every October.

The names may or may not be changed in order to protect the individuals.

Nick P., after a majestic drive into the fairway: “I swear I hit my ball straight. Or straight-ish. But I can’t find it because of all these leaves.”

Friend of Nick P.: “Yeah, I was stunned that you hit it straight.”

Nick P.: [Frowns. Murmurs. Reconsiders friendship with his friend.]

Friend of Nick P.: “But I can help you look for it.”

[They search for three minutes. They come up empty.]

Nick P.: “Hmm, nothing. But the ‘leaf rule’ is in play here. I’m gonna take advantage of it.”

Friend of Nick P. “What’s the leaf rule???”

Good question, friend. We can help. In golf’s rule book, it is actually Model Local Rule F-14, named “Accumulations of Loose Impediments,” and it is written this way:

“During play of the [specify hole number], any ground with temporary accumulations of [identify types of loose impediments ] in the general area or in a bunker is treated as ground under repair from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.”

The rule book also explains the rule’s “purpose,” and it does so this way:

“At certain times of the year, piles of loose impediments such as leaves, seeds or acorns may make it difficult for a player to find or play his or her ball. A Committee can choose to treat such piles of loose impediments in the general area or in a bunker as ground under repair from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.

“This Local Rule may not be used for penalty areas as relief is not available for abnormal course conditions in penalty areas.

“The Local Rule should be limited to the hole(s) where problems are created by such loose impediments and should be withdrawn as soon as conditions allow.”

In short, the rule essentially means you get a penalty-free drop when you can’t find your ball, you’re certain it’s in bounds, and it may, for example, be under a pile of leaves. And if the rule isn’t put in effect by the golf course or tournament committee? If you can’t find your ball in three minutes or less, it’s considered lost — and you have to re-hit, along with taking a penalty stroke.

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Back to our conversation above then.

Nick P.: “All right, I’m going to take my drop here.”

[Nick P. proceeds to top his ball.]

Friend of Nick P., laughing: “Is there a rule for that?”

Nick P.: [Again frowns. Again murmurs. Again reconsiders friendship with his friend.]

Notably, there are a few other items to remember for the fall, and we’ll review them with a short Q&A.

Can you move leaves?

Yes, and you can do so anywhere on the golf course, including in a bunker or penalty area — but if your ball moves while doing so, that’s a one-stroke penalty and you must put the ball back (unless it moves on the putting green; then you can just put the ball back and play on without penalty).

Do you get relief from aeration holes?

No — unless Model Local Rule E-4 is in play. That rule states: “If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole: (a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole, the player may take relief again under this Local Rule. (b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d. But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play.”

Do you get relief from fall maintenance projects?

Yes. According to a story written by Danny Vohden for the USGA’s website, “any holes or trenches created by the maintenance staff during those types of projects are considered ‘ground under repair,’ and you’re entitled to free relief.”

Everyone loves a good deal, especially when that deal involves saving hundreds — even thousands — of dollars. And golf equipment is no exception. That’s why gear enthusiasts will love what Fairway Jockey has on offer: dozens of pre-owned clubs that you can buy for a significant discount off the regular retail price.

In fact, the appeal of the pre-owned market goes beyond bargain hunters.

“For the gear tinkerer, pre-owned clubs offer a chance to experiment with premium aftermarket shafts without the steep price tag of buying them brand-new,” said Fairway Jockey president Wadeh Maroun. “For the serious player, pre-owned clubs offer the ability to secure a ‘tour build’ setup — a level of precision and performance usually reserved for elite players, at a fraction of the cost. And for the aspirational golfer, someone who might not otherwise splurge on high-end gear, pre-owned clubs provide access to equipment that feels and performs like the very best.”

Unlike a local second-hand shop or a listing on eBay, every pre-owned club sold by Fairway Jockey is thoroughly inspected before it reaches the buyer. Each product is vetted by up to four expert assessors and must achieve a minimum score of 7 out of 10 on Fairway Jockey’s strict grading scale.

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That scale is laid out clearly so golfers know exactly what they’re getting. A club rated 7 (Good) will have seen 20 to 40 rounds and show normal scuffs or scratches, but it remains in solid playing condition. An 8 (Very Good) indicates just 10 to 20 rounds, with only minimal wear and perhaps a single mark. And a 9 (Like New) is reserved for clubs that have fewer than five rounds of play and are nearly indistinguishable from brand-new.

For many golfers, the biggest attraction of Fairway Jockey’s pre-owned shop isn’t just the savings — it’s the access to unique builds. Every club in the pre-owned inventory was originally assembled in Fairway Jockey’s tour-level build shop, which means many include aftermarket shafts and custom combinations that are rarely available off the rack. These premium shafts, from makers like Fujikura, Graphite Design, Mitsubishi, and LA Golf, often cost $300 to $500 when purchased new. Finding them paired with high-quality heads in the pre-owned market gives golfers a chance to experience performance upgrades without the full retail investment. It’s a way to play the type of equipment trusted by professionals, at a price point that makes experimentation realistic.

“Naturally, golfers have questions when it comes to pre-owned equipment,” said Maroun. “One common concern is whether this is really different from shopping on eBay or at a big-box retailer. The answer is yes: unlike marketplace listings, which can be vague or even risky, every club at Fairway Jockey is authenticated, spec-checked, and backed by a multi-assessor inspection process. Big-box shops typically deal in stock shafts, while Fairway Jockey’s inventory often features tour-level upgrades.

“Another question revolves around appearance,” he continued. “Will a club rated a 7 look too worn in the bag? The reality is no — these clubs show expected use, but still look and perform clean at address.”

If you’ve never waded into the world of after-market shafts, shopping pre-owned clubs is a less expensive way to try something new. Maroun emphasized the fact that even if a pre-owned club doesn’t perfectly match your specs, it can still be re-shafted, re-gripped, or adjusted for loft and lie, just like a new one.

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Finding the perfect pre-owned club is also a bit like a treasure hunt. Custom club builds are unique by nature, so while new options are added daily, it’s unlikely you’ll find two clubs with the exact same specs. That’s why it’s important to act fast when you find a suitable fit.

At the moment, Fairway Jockey’s pre-owned inventory includes some standout deals: more than $1,300 in savings on Cobra 3DP Tour irons, over $750 off TaylorMade P7CB irons, and more than $300 off a Callaway Elite Triple Diamond driver. Each of these selections comes with an upgraded shaft, making them not just discounted clubs but fully optimized builds.

Ready to take the plunge into the world of premium, pre-owned equipment? You can explore Fairway Jockey’s entire inventory of pre-owned clubs here, or browse through some selections from the collection below.

Shop pre-owned clubs at Fairway Jockey

Pre-Owned Titleist GT2 10° Driver w/ Accra GX Blue 140 M0 Shaft

Used Titleist GT2 10° Driver with Accra GX Blue 140 M0 Shaft.
CONDITION 
Like New (9/10)

# of Rounds Played: 1-5
Club is in excellent/like-new condition and exhibits little to no wear.

SPECS

Dexterity
RH

Loft
10°

Shaft
Accra GX Blue 140 M0

Grip
TV Ladies 58X

Length

44.5“

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Pre-Owned Ping LH G440 Max Driver 10.5° w/ Fujikura Ventus 2024 Red 50 R2 Shaft

Used/open box PING LH G440 Max Custom Driver 10.5° with Fujikura Ventus 2024 Red 50 R2 shaft.
CONDITION 
Like New (9/10)

# of Rounds Played: 1-5
Club is in excellent/like-new condition and exhibits little to no wear.

SPECS

Dexterity
LH

Loft
10.5°

Shaft
Fujikura Ventus 2024 Red 50 R2

Grip
Golf Pride CP2 Wrap Undersized

Length

45.5“

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Pre-Owned TaylorMade P7CB Irons 4-AW w/ KBS Tour V S Shaft

Set of used/open box Pre-Owned TaylorMade P7CB Irons 4-AW with KBS Tour V S Shaft.
CONDITION 
Good (7/10)

# of Rounds Played: 20-40
Clubs will show scuffs and minor scratches associated with normal wear and tear through 20-40 rounds.

SPECS

Dexterity
RH

Set Make Up
4-AW

Shaft
KBS Tour V S

Grip
MCC Plus 4 Orange Standard

Length
Standard

Loft
Standard

Lie
1 Up

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Pre-Owned PING G440 Max 7W Fairway w/ Project X Hzrdus LE Red 40 4.0 Shaft

Used/Open box Ping G440 Max 7W Fairway w/ Project X Hzrdus LE Red 40 4.0 shaft. Club is in excellent condition and exhibits little wear.
CONDITION 
Like New (8.5/10)

# of Rounds Played: 1-3
Club is in great condition and exhibits little to no wear.

SPECS

Dexterity
RH

Loft
21°

Shaft
Project X Hzrdus LE Red 40 4.0

Grip
Winn Dritac Grey Midsize

Length
42.5″

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Pre-Owned LH TaylorMade Qi35 Driver 9 w/ Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 S Shaft

Used/open box TaylorMade Qi35 Driver 9 with Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 S Shaft.
CONDITION 
Like New (9/10)

# of Rounds Played: 1-5
Club is in excellent/like-new condition and exhibits little to no wear.

SPECS

Dexterity
LH

Loft
9°

Shaft
Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 S

Grip
MCC Black Black Standard

Length

46.5“

$725 from Fairway Jockey

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The pressure is increasing on Ruben Amorim with every passing week and plans for what happens next are being made and re-made behind the scenes.

Manchester United finished in the lower reaches of the Premier League last season and missed out on the last-minute salvation of a Champions League place through the Europa League.

Ahead of their first new season under Amorim, the Red Devils invested heavily in the transfer market to bring in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens, but there has been little if any improvement.

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Jim Ratcliffe wants Amorim to have a full season in charge

Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (Image credit: Getty Images)

Amorim’s tactical inflexibility and a less than stellar run of results since taking over from Erik ten Hag have earned him intense media scrutiny and left him vulnerable to the whims of football management’s fickle finger of fate.

But, while it’s understood that sacking Amorim would cost United £12 million, the head coach has previously been clear in his assertion that he would not resign.

Ruben Amorim is under pressure at Man United (Image credit: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly decided against sacking Amorim and the perceived threat at Old Trafford is in fact that the former Sporting CP boss could quit, according to ‘Manchester United insiders’ as revealed by The i Paper.

“Amorim is understood to be taken aback by how much scrutiny is on a United manager and the knee-jerk reaction to every defeat,” reports Pete Hall.

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“Another loss at home to Sunderland at the weekend would pile the pressure on Amorim yet further, with a growing number of supporters calling for a change in the managerial hot seat.

“However… co-owners Ineos is willing to be patient with the beleaguered Portuguese, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe described as “desperate” to give his manager a full season to prove himself.”

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim (Image credit: Getty Images)

As the prospect of results forcing Ratcliffe to change his mind intensifies, United sources claim that ‘there is a chance Amorim could jump’ and he could seek to protect his reputation from United’s ‘embarrassing’ results.

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The Red Devils finished last season in 14th place in the Premier League and have struggled to provide much evidence of an upward swing in form this term.

United have won two of their three home matches this season but lost to Arsenal on opening day and have been beaten away from Old Trafford by Manchester City and Brentford, conceding six goals in those two fixtures.

But Amorim’s lowest ebb might have come in the Carabao Cup second round – a stage of the competition United are unaccustomed to participating in at all – when he was unable to watch as his team lost on penalties after a dismal performance at Grimsby Town.

“Saturday’s Brentford defeat was seen as a real setback given the manner of the loss, especially on the back of a success over Chelsea the previous week. Ineos, however, is confident Amorim can learn from mistakes made in that game,” reports Hall.

United take on Sunderland on Saturday as Premier League action returns.

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Has it really been 13 years since rosy-cheeked Rory McIlroy caused teammates, coaches, and a continent’s worth of fans to hyperventilate by coming within a hairsbreadth of missing his tee time for a crucial singles match?

The scene at the 2012 Ryder Cup, recall, looked like something out of The Blues Brothers, except there weren’t any nuns or Nazis around. Having barreled down Illinois highways at upwards of 100mph, its siren blaring, an unmarked cop car came screeching into the parking lot of the Medinah Golf Club, skirted the camera crews huddled to record McIlroy’s frenzied arrival, and deposited him just steps away from the locker room.

McIlroy at that instant had all of nine minutes to grab something to eat, “warm up,†and get to the first tee for his match against Keegan Bradley, otherwise he’d be forced to forfeit. Since his team was trailing 10-6 going into Sunday singles, a McIlroy no-show would have ruined one of the most storied comebacks in Cup history, the Europeans’ “Miracle at Medinah.â€

Today, it’s hard to imagine the Northern Irishman, who has seized the mantle of the late Seve Ballesteros as Team Europe’s unflagging leader, being so slipshod about the Ryder Cup. But in September 2012, McIlroy was a tender 23, the world’s newly crowned No 1, and the winner that summer of two legs of the FedEx Cup, not to mention the PGA Championship, his second career major. To the young McIlroy, the staid old Ryder Cup must have seemed like weak tea.

That tea has gotten much stronger for a player who just won the Irish Open in spectacular fashion. At the 2023 Cup in Rome, McIlroy had to be restrained after a US caddie interfered with his putting preparation on day two.

At this week’s Cup, which starts on Friday at Bethpage Black outside New York City, McIlroy and his mates will be trying to become the first team to win on foreign soil since the Medinah crew pulled off their miracle. McIlroy has added fuel to the fire by claiming that winning a Ryder Cup on hostile turf is the hardest thing to do in sports. His hyperbole will only make New York fans chant “USA!! USA!!†that much louder.

What caused McIlroy to be so tardy back in 2012? Well, he said he confused Central and Eastern Time that morning as he began a lengthy Facetime session with his then-girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki. His conspicuous absence was noticed by two PGA of America officials, one of whom, Erica Stoll, would five years later become his wife. The pair arranged for a local police officer to provide McIlroy with an emergency ride. Only their quick thinking and the “Ryder Cop’s†lead foot kept McIlroy from a lifetime of humiliation.

To tease McIlroy, US fans began chanting “Cen-tral Time Zone! (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!) and “What’s Your Tee Time?â€

“It was funny for the first two holes,†McIlroy said later, “and after that I just wanted to shut them up.†Fans also loudly inquired about the severity of McIlroy’s “hangover,†as well as bellowing, “Was She Worth It?!†with more handclaps thrown in for good measure.

It’s testament to McIlroy’s self-belief that he never let Bradley get ahead of him. The match’s most amusing moment came on the short par-four 15th hole. Led by captain Jose-Maria Olazábal, the brain trust of the European team gathered behind Rory on the tee box. It pained McIlroy to lay up on a drive-able par four, but with a one-up lead and his coaches (plus an entire continent) breathing down his neck, he smartly hit a four-iron into the left-center of the fairway.

Captain Olazábal got into McIlroy’s grill and sarcastically “congratulated†him for his judicious tee shot. McIlroy responded by taking off his golf glove and playfully tapping his captain’s nose. Everyone on the tee box, Olazábal included, had a good chuckle. McIlroy’s subsequent birdie all but clinched the match.

McIlroy’s win was part of the Euros’ clean sweep of the first five singles contests, catapulting them to victory. McIlroy not only became a champagne-drenched hero that day, he (eventually) ended up getting the girl.

More than anything, his near mess-up at Medinah is the thing that made McIlroy desperate to be a Ryder Cup warrior in the mold of Ballesteros.

What would have happened if Stoll and company hadn’t been so conscientious and saved his bacon? We don’t know exactly, but it probably would not have been pretty.

This much is certain: today’s Rory McIlroy, the guy hellbent on kicking butt in Ryder Cups, would not abide for one millisecond any slaphappy behavior from a young teammate.

• Timothy M Gay, an American writer and historian, is the author Rory Land: The Up-and-Down World of Golf’s Global Icon, now available from Regalo Press/Simon & Schuster-UK.

Jon Rahm’s first round of this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club got off to a frustrating start…