Park joint leader, Mardan four back
Singapore-based Australian golfer Unho Park's nine birdies in an eight-under 64 gave him a share of the lead with Thai Tirawat Kaewsiribandit in the weather-hit Players Championship's opening round yesterday.
Veteran Singaporean Mardan Mamat and new pro Jerome Ng were the highest-placed locals in joint seventh, after rounds of 68 in the US$100,000 (S$144,000) Asian Development Tour event at Raffles Country Club.
McIlroy raringto go against Spieth
ABU DHABI • Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy said he was excited to start his new season in the company of the reigning top-ranked Jordan Spieth.
McIlroy, and the current Masters and US Open champion Spieth have been paired together for the first two rounds of the US$2.7 million (S$3.9 million) Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, the first event of the European Tour's Desert Swing. World No. 6 Rickie Fowler completes the flight.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Cole leaves Roma after just 16 games
ROME • England's mostcapped full-back Ashley Cole has been released by Roma, the Italian Serie A club said on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old former Arsenal and Chelsea star made just 16 appearances in all competitions last season and was not on a match sheet once during the current campaign.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Messi and dad duein court on May 31
BARCELONA • The taxfraud trial of Barcelona and Argentina football star Lionel Messi and his father will begin on May 31 at a court in Barcelona, a regional superior court said yesterday.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE