Magnificent Molinari golf’s hottest player
Justin Thomas took to Twitter to confirm it. The world No 2 played alongside Francesco Molinari on Thursday and Friday, missed the cut then watched on television as the Italian displayed both grace and grit in capturing the Claret Jug.
“Not surprised!” Thomas tweeted. “Guy is the hottest player on the planet currently.” And that he is. Molinari’s past six worldwide finishes read: win, 2, T25, win, T2, win.
That includes the European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, and now its marquee tournament. Players go on hot streaks, but Molinari is doing it through the meat of the season, on both sides of the Atlantic.
To go bogey-free on Sunday at that Carnoustie, with that Tiger Woods and all it entails, makes the feat even more impressive. It is testament to perseverance and purpose. At 35, metronome Molinari has refined his short game. He has worked incredibly hard to get to this point. He deserves all the accolades.
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Read more:
Tiger Woods upset with spectator who shouted 'Free Palestine' during tee shot
Francesco Molinari wins British Open to become first Italian major champion
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Tiger missing final piece of jigsaw
Asked if, having seized the Open lead late on Sunday, if it felt like old times, Woods smiled wide and responded: “Oh yeah. It did. It didn’t feel any different.”
Some of it didn’t look any different either: the 3-wood on the par-5 6th, the escape from the bunker on 10. For the first time since the 2011 Masters, Woods sat on top of the leaderboard on a major Sunday.
Yet from there, he couldn’t close. He dropped three shots at two holes, eventually settling for tied-6th. Through 10, Woods showed why he remains golf’s lightening rod.
From there, though, he offered evidence of what is still lacking. The technique is there, but the once-titanium temperament is yet to return. Of course, some perspective is required: last October, Woods said he wasn’t sure he could play pro golf again.
For a guy who apparently could barely walk last year following a fourth back surgery, the steps forward have been incredible.
Disappointment, yes, but Spieth suggests surge is close
Perhaps the greatest surprise of the final round was that Jordan Spieth wasn’t standing where Molinari was when the Claret Jug was handed over.
The American began Sunday in a three-way tie for the lead, but as defending champion and the game’s anointed “Golden Child”, many expected a second successive Open success – and fourth (fourth!) major days before his 25th birthday.
But bad decision-making on the 6th cost Spieth and he couldn’t muster a charge. His 76 was his worst final round at a major. For the first time in 84 major loops, he did not card a single birdie.
Putting like vintage (24-year-old) Spieth for the first three rounds, on Sunday his touch deserted him. It has been a problem this past year.
Yet, according to Spieth, it’s returning. “My stroke is there, it’s back,” he said. “And it’s awesome. It’s all there. I believe my best golf is yet to come.” Which, considering what has come before, sounds pretty ominous.
Evidence McIlroy's just warming up too
An eagle from range on 14 prompted a pirouette and pounce upon the five-way tie at the top. Suddenly, Rory McIlroy was right in contention, the snap of a four-year major drought instantaneously becoming a real possibility.
Until that point, he seemed destined to disappoint. Needing a fast start on Sunday, McIlroy bogeyed two of the first five holes. His wedges were off, his putting costly. But he rebounded for a first runner-up finish at a major.
Overall, his week was consistent as the 69-69-70-70 implies. It bodes well for the remainder of the season. Traditionally, McIlroy gets hot around this time of year, and with the PGA Championship to come and the Money Lists on both sides of the Atlantic beginning to figure large, he appears well set for another run.
Admittedly, his short-game needs tightened. But, crucially, McIlroy didn’t let a capricious Carnoustie rattle him. He seems in a poised place. From there, his best golf should be just around the corner.
Course set-up shows USGA way forward… again
What a thrill the final day was. What a week at Carnoustie in all. For that, the Open’s organisers, the R&A, must take a huge amount of credit.
They determined not to trick up the course, deciding instead to leave alone the Scottish links to itself present a formidable-but-fair test. Molinari won at 8-under par.
At one point on Sunday, six players shared the lead. It felt like golf at its most pure, the game how it was meant to be played. Great shots were rewarded, poor shots penalised. Bad bounces were, for the most part, accepted.
Compare that to last month’s US Open. Shinnecock Hills was a disaster - on Saturday, average scoring swelled to 75.3 - when the USGA’s propensity and pride in tendering golf’s toughest test was shown once more to be folly. It’s an annual occurrence. Hopefully - and maybe best not to hold breath - they finally took note.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Sour%20Grapes
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Sanchez's club career
2005-2006: Cobreloa
2006-2011 Udinese
2006-2007 Colo-Colo (on loan)
2007-2008 River Plate (on loan)
2011-2014 Barcelona
2014–Present Arsenal
more from Janine di Giovanni
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
