B-ROD ON BRINK
His severance pay could run into eight figures if chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha decides to pull the plug before Leicester’s basement battle with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on October 3.
Cordial
Rodgers has always enjoyed a cordial relationship with the King Power chiefs and he admitted: “The owners will do what it is they feel they need to do.
“I’m not daft, I know football, and the last six games don’t make great reading.
“But I have every confidence the team can push on and climb the table.
“I come in every day and I do my work, but you have got to win games.
Hide
“I understand the frustrations of supporters and I can’t hide from that. It’s my responsibility.”
Brentford’s highly-rated head coach Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche, jettisoned by Burnley five months ago after working miracles on a shoestring for a decade at Turf Moor, would be prominent on Leicester’s shortlist if they call time on
Rodgers.
SO close, yet again so far from victory, as Rory McIlroy saw his hopes of capturing a seventh ‘Open’ title end with a disappointing fourth place finish in the DS Automobiles Italian Open near Rome.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre beat US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off to win his second DP World Tour title and the €510,000 first prize.
MacIntyre birdied the first extra hole at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, the venue for next year’s Ryder Cup, after he and Fitzpatrick had finished tied on 14 under par, a shot ahead of France’s Victor Perez.
Water
Pre-tournament favourite McIlroy, who was within a shot of the lead until hitting his tee shot on the 16th into the water, finished on 12 under par.
McIlroy was contesting a first Italian Open since he was in Turin 16 years ago to win the European Amateur title.
He headed into the final 18 just a shot behind Fitzpatrick but it was a horror start with McIlroy three-putting the first for a double-bogey ‘6’.
It sent McIlroy tumbling back to seven-under and from thereon it was a game of catch-up for the World No 2
It was very much a repeat of his closing round at the recent British Open Championship at St Andrews, as he failed to find any spark over the last day.
McIlroy picked-up a first birdie, holing a three-footer at the fifth and also sent a fourfooter to the bottom of the cup at the ninth.
But at one-under through nine holes, it was not the kind of effort to threaten the leaders.
Indeed, MacIntyre extended his lead when he turned in 13-under, four shots clear of McIlroy,
The Irish man got himself back into contention after picking-up birdies at 12 and 13, for a share of third place at 11-under, only two behind the then leading pair of MacIntyre and Fitzpatrick.
He grabbed a fifth birdie of the round after holing a superb 15-footer at the 15th.
But then, to what must have been a collective sigh from those watching on course, as well as the millions watching on TV, he immediately gave that shot back.
He found water right in the middle of the hazard from off the tee at the par-4 16th
McIlroy did manage to make birdie at the 18th, but really it was a case of another victory slipping through his fingers.
In contrast, MacIntyre brilliantly stamped his 2023 Ryder Cup selection credentials with victory.
The Oban lefty came from three back at the start of the round, posting 10 birdies in a sizzling 64 for his 14-under tally, before being joined by Fitzpatrick, who shot a 67.
The pair returned to the 18th tee and after Fitzpatrick complained of being distracted on the tee by photo-snapping fans, he found rough with his second
MacIntyre took full advantage with a two-putting winning birdie. “This win means everything,” he said afterwards.
“I was done and out of it some two or three months ago. I didn’t
know what I was doing.
“I didn’t know where to go,” he continued.
“But I spoke to the right people and there’s so much hard work gone into this, my caddie, family, friends, absolutely everyone ... Scott (Forsythe, the coach he moved to only a matter of weeks ago).
“My approach play has just gone up a notch and it’s shown today
“I hit terrible shots for bogeys on 14 and 15 and was back against the wall, and again, just got one with my dogged attitude of never give up, if I get punched, I punch back.
Massive
“The birdies on 16 and 18 were massive and thankfully I got in the play-off”.
After going so close to gaining automatic European Team selection a year ago at Wentworth, MacIntyre could do no better this week than win on the 2023 host course and do it in front of the European captain Luke Donald.
“It’s my main goal, my only goal for the next year.
“I’ve done it on the golf course,” said the Scot.
“Look, start of this week, I didn’t think this was going to be — the style of golf course we were playing and I was working on a few things Tuesday and Wednesday.
“But I was able to control my golf ball this week with wedges and irons and even the hybrid that went into the bag last week.”