Rickie’s on near side
‘Nice guy’ Tiger has inspired American revival – now McIlroy aims to crush it
RORY McILROY has vowed to break America’s Tiger Woods-inspired stranglehold of golf’s greatest prizes.
JUSTIN ROSE can climb to the top of the world in style at Shinnecock Hills.
The in-form Englishman will be crowned world No.1 if he wins the US Open on Sunday night.
And he reckons there would be no better way to announce his confirmation as the world’s best player by lifting a second Major title. The Olympic champion, who also boasts previous US Open success in 2013, said: “I’m in the great position in the rankings where becoming world No.1 is going to be a by-product of winning this week.
“So I may as well just continue to focus on winning. That’s where the points are. That’s where the fun is. I couldn’t think of a better scenario than to win a Major and to become world No.1 at the same time.”
The bookies certainly fancy Rose’s chances, making the 37-year-old second favourite behind the newly re-established world No.1 Dustin Johnson.
Rose added: “I’m No.3 in the world, a past champion here. It makes sense to me.” RICKIE FOWLER insists he has no problem being branded a nearly man in the Majors.
The American has finished runner-up in all but one of the four Majors – and third at the USPGA.
This week he’s aiming to go one better than his second-place finish behind Patrick Reed at the Masters in April, and he is adamant his run of near misses is not messing with his head.
Fowler said: “I’ve been very close. I feel like there’s a few you could look at and say, ‘If it wasn’t for that one guy, we would have won’.
“There’s some scores that I’ve shot that have been good enough to win Majors, but we haven’t been able to get it done that specific week.
“We all know I’m good enough to win. I know I’m good enough to win.
“Phil (Mickelson) didn’t get his first for a while, so there’s still hope for me. I’m not too worried about it.” 1ST ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL Kia Oval: Australia 214 v England 218-7. England won by 3 wkts 2ND T20 INTERNATIONAL Edinburgh: Pakistan 166-6 v Scotland 82. Pakistan won by 84 runs
ATP MERCEDES CUP, Stuttgart, Germany, 2nd Round (1) R Federer (Swi) bt M Zverev (Ger) 3-6 6-4 6-2, (2) L Pouille (Fra) bt R Molleker (Ger) 6-3 6-4 WTA NATURE VALLEY OPEN, Nottingham 2nd Round (5) M Buzarnescu (Rom) bt I Falconi (USA) 6-3 5-7 6-3, M Barthel (Ger) bt (2) M Rybarikova (Svk) 6-3 1-6 7-5, (3) N Osaka (Jpn) bt D Allertova (Cze) 6-3 6-2
TOUR DE SUISSE, Stage 5 (Gstaad - Leukerbad, 155.7km) 1 D Ulissi (Ita/Team Emirates) 3h 37m 31s, 2 E Mas (Spa/QuickStep) same time, 3 T-J Slagter (Hol/Dimension Data) same time General classification 1 R Porte (Aus/BMC) at 17hrs 3mins 53secs, 2 W Kelderman (Hol/Sunweb) +20secs, 3S Oomen (Hol/Sunweb) same time
FIFA World Cup, Group A Russia v Saudi Arabia (4)
Super League Salford v Widnes (7.45)
1st Test Match, Bangalore India v Afghanistan (5) 2nd Test Match, Gros Islet West Indies v Sri Lanka (3) Royal London One-Day Cup quarter-final Chelmsford: Essex v Yorks (2) Trent Bridge: Notts v Kent (11)