Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai)

Grace defies windy Kiawah conditions to take PGA lead

- Agencies

KIAWAH ISLAND, USA: South Africa’s Branden Grace holed out from 70 feet in a sandy waste area for birdie and owned a onestroke lead early in Friday’s second round of the PGA Championsh­ip at windy Kiawah Island.

The 33-year-old from Pretoria defied gusting breezes to stand 5-under for the tournament and 3-under for the round as the longest course in major history humbled an elite field.

Grace holed a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-5 second, dropped his approach inches from the cup for a tap-in birdie at the par-5 seventh, rescued par from eight feet at the eighth and then made his pitch in at the 10th to take command. Standing second was South African Christiaan Bezuidenho­ut.

Messi to skip Barcelona’s final La Liga match

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi has been given permission by Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman to miss this weekend’s final La Liga match of the season against Eibar and take holiday, the club confirmed on Friday, meaning he may have played his last game for Catalan side.

Messi’s contract expires in June and there has been no announceme­nt on an extension.

Kane hints at City move, praises De Bruyne

LONDON: Tottenham forward Harry Kane has hinted at a move to Manchester City as speculatio­n mounts over his future, calling the champions’ star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne a “striker’s dream”.

Kane is determined to stay in the Premier League and when asked by Gary Neville which player would help him score more goals, he said: “De Bruyne for sure... some of the balls I see him put in for City are just a striker’s dream if I’m honest.”

Mental training sessions by Cricketers’ Foundation

MUMBAI: Cricketers’ Foundation, in partnershi­p with Mindsports, has launched a new initiative from April to help teen Mumbai boys and girls cope with the pressure and anxiety of playing cricket. The first batch of 12 boys have finished the preliminar­y six mental health training sessions conducted by Mugdha Bavare and her team of sports psychologi­sts at Mindsports.

 ?? AP ?? South Africa’s Branden Grace chips up to the first green during the second round of the PGA Championsh­ip on Friday.
AP South Africa’s Branden Grace chips up to the first green during the second round of the PGA Championsh­ip on Friday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India