CRICKET: THIRD TEST, DAY FIVE
Rory’s caddie split Lewis’ uphill battle
RORY McILROY has sacked his long-time caddie JP Fitzgerald, ending a partnership that took the Northern Irishman to four Majors and the top of the world rankings.
McIlroy will have a new caddie for this week’s WGC Bridgestone Invitational after ending his nineyear relationship with Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald’s sacking, which McIlroy is expected to confirm on his arrival at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, comes a week after he publicly thanked his bagman for jolting him into gear after a poor start to The Open.
McIlroy, who won his last Major at the 2014 US PGA Championship, employed Fitzgerald in 2008 shortly ® after turning professional. The pair enjoyed a brilliantly successful partnership as McIlroy took over from Tiger Woods as the game’s dominant force.
“He has taken me from 200 in the world to Major champion,” said McIlroy of Fitzgerald in 2011.
At last month’s Open at Royal Birkdale, McIlroy again heaped praise on Fitzgerald.
After fighting back to shoot a one-over 71 in the first round, McIlroy, who went on to finish in a tie for fourth, told reporters that Fitzgerald had done a “great job” with some blunt words of advice. LEWIS HAMILTON says he has a mountain to climb in the title fight after handing third place in the Hungarian Grand Prix to Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton stuck by an agreement to let Bottas pass after failing to find a way around Ferrari ace Kimi Raikkonen.
Sebastian Vettel won the race and Hamilton now has to close a 14-point gap on the German instead of 11 points if had he reneged on the deal with Bottas.
Hamilton said: “I don’t think I will ever get those three points back.
“We have given up a lot of points, and Ferrari have given up a lot HAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT: Moeen Ali celebrates his hat-trick after trapping Morne Morkel lbw to clinch England’s victory ® less as a team. I truly believe we have the capability of winning this championship, but it is going to take absolutely 100 per cent of everyone’s effort to pull it off.”
Hamilton now has nearly a month to recharge his batteries before the Belgian Grand Prix.
“I definitely feel like the summer break has come at a good time,” added Hamilton.
“It has been a very tough year, physically, mentally and emotionally for everyone at the team.
“I encourage my team to come back strong and I’ll try to come back even stronger.” compete as much as I can until the day arrives when I just can’t compete anymore. When that arrives, I’ll know.
“But, at the end of the day, I still feel like I can compete and that’s just what I want to do. I love to compete.”
The Kelly reversal followed hot on the heels of defeats against Ryan Bader in October 2015 and Glover Texeira in April the following year.
However, it was that middleweight baptism that hurt him the most, adding: “I have got to get that loss off my chest.
“I know I’m better than that. I know I’m a better competitor than that and I want to go out there and I want to fight as much as I can. That’s just the truth of the matter.”