Australian golfer Lyle dies from cancer

SYDNEY: Tributes flowed for Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle after he lost his battle with cancer, dying aged 36 after halting treatment for leukaemia last week.

“It breaks my heart to tell everyone that Jarrod is no longer with us,” his wife Briony said in a statement on Thursday.

The former US PGA Tour player, who had children aged six and two, passed away on Wednesday evening at his home outside Melbourne surrounded by family and friends.

World No 3 Justin Rose said: “Such a sad day, we will all miss you so much Jarrod. Thinking of his family at this time.”

Former world No 1 Jason Day said Lyle would “forever be an inspiration.” “Rest easy mate. We will miss you,” he added, while British Open champion Francesco Molinari said it was “tough times for everyone on tour losing someone so special”.

Four-time major winner Rory Mcilroy tweeted: “The courage shown through his battle is an inspiration to all of us. He made the world a better place. RIP mate.”

MIXED START FOR LEDECKY IN TOKYO

TOKYO: Five-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky beat one resurgent teenager but lost to another on a dramatic first day of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships on Thursday. The American comfortably held off Ariarne Titmus in the 800 metres freestyle before 18-year-old Taylor Ruck set a meet record to beat Ledecky in the 200.