Gary Lemke looks back at a jam-packed sporting weekend as South African Thriston Lawrence suffered heartbreak at the Open Championship as the Springboks clinch a dominant win over Portugal.
LAWRENCE HEARTBREAK AS XANDER HAS X-FACTOR
It will feel like the one that got away. Leading by one shot heading to the 12th hole of the final round, Thriston Lawrence looked like he had tamed Royal Troon and was set to become the first South African to win a men’s golf Major since 2012. Then, “it” happened.
“It” being a dropped shot at the 12th hole and birdies for the American Xander Schauffele on holes No 11, 12, 14 and 16. And on an unforgiving course, the die was cast. Schauffele won The Open Championship, but Lawrence didn’t lose it. An unblemished closing round of six-under 65 will go down as one of the great final rounds in Major history. Caps off to Schafelle. After Lawrence’s own 65 on “Moving Day” Saturday, Schauffele responded like only true champions can to win his second successive Major.
Sunday's final leaderboard from The 152nd Open.@nttdata | #Leaderboard | #NTTDATAWall pic.twitter.com/DlMiYAEhnt
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 21, 2024
BOKS POWER WAY TO COMFY WIN
It hadn’t started well for the Springboks against minnows Portugal in front of a Bloemfontein crowd on a cold Saturday night. Andre Esterhuizen was yellow carded in the second minute – upgraded to red 10 minutes later – while Portugal’s players can even tell their grandkids that they led the Springboks 7-0.
However, the power of the 14-man Boks came through and they eased to a 64-21 win, scoring 10 tries. Discipline aside, it was a satisfying day at the office for the world champions, who introduced seven players to the Test scene. Man of the match was RG Snyman, who rightfully highlighted the superiority of the Bok pack.
Match report: The #Springboks scored 10 tries in a big win over a brave Portugal on a festive night in Bloemfontein - more here: https://t.co/gMGK8Qvl3e 📝#ForeverGreenForeverGold #RSAvPOR pic.twitter.com/vS5o7DCvmY
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 20, 2024
MCLAREN RISING TO THE CHALLENGE
Any lingering suggestions that Formula One is an individual sport were surely dispelled when Oscar Piastri won his maiden Grand Prix when he led Lando Norris over the line in Hungary. It was a one-two for McLaren who overtook Ferrari in the race for the constructors championship.
That has become a proper race, with the all-conquering Red Bulls – Max Verstappen was fifth – again floundering against the McLarens and even Mercedes. Norris was class personified as he let Piastri past to take the checkered flag, as team orders were followed.
OSCAR PIASTRI IS A FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX WINNER! 🇦🇺
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 21, 2024
HE'S DONE IT AT THE HUNGARORING 🏆#F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/foIq7krsNs
POGACAR UPS HIS TOUR TALLY TO THREE
Sunday’s final stage of the Tour de France, which did not finish with the winner sipping champagne down the Champs Elysees, owing to the Olympics starting later this week, saw Tadej Pogacar rule supreme in the hilly time trial for his sixth stage win of the race.
The three-time champion was dominant throughout the event. He won by 6min 17sec, having spent 83 hours 38 minutes 56 seconds in the saddle over the past three weeks. Now there are only five riders who have won it more times than Pogacar, who, at age 25, has a couple left in the tank, surely.
👑 𝐓𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐉 𝐏𝐎𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐑
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 21, 2024
2020 🏆
2021 🏆
2024 🆕#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/wlCFY4Me1R
LYLE FIRES OLYMPIC WARNING SHOT
Every Olympics there’s a stand-out performer and signs suggest that with Paris 2024 starting later this week American Noah Lyles might be that man. He warmed up in style by winning the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in London, with South Africa’s Akani Simbine clocking his own season’s best of 9.85 in finishing second.
Simbine has reached the final of the last two Olympics’, placing fifth and fourth and he’s hit some of the best form of his distinguished career. However, Lyles is also in the shape that has the experts talking about the American sprinter as a possible show-stopper.
#LONDONDL 🇬🇧 - 🏃♂️ 100M
— MR.CARTER (@NelsonCarterJr) July 20, 2024
💨 (-0.3)
1. Noah Lyles 🇺🇸 9.81 PB
2. Akani Simbine 🇿🇦 9.86 SB
3. Letsile Tebogo 🇧🇼 9.88 =NR
4. Louie Hinchliffe 🇬🇧 9.97
5. Ackeem Blake 🇯🇲 9.97 #Athlétisme pic.twitter.com/Oh0ZXa94ZA
ALSO WORTH CHATTING ABOUT …
There were wins for the Golden Lions, Blue Bulls, Pumas and Western Province in the Currie Cup, which means that after three rounds we are down to two unbeaten teams – the Lions and the Bulls …England rugby has plenty to look forward to after seeing their youngsters bring France’s run as Under-20 world champions to a halt in Cape Town.
England won 21-13, while the Baby Boks beat Wales 47-31 to finish seventh …
The runs flowed in the second Test between England and West Indies with the hosts totalling 416 and 425, with the Windies replying with 457. However, 74-2 suddenly became 143 all out in a display of “Collapso cricket” and it was all over inside four days …
Tennis great Rafael Nadal lost his first final in two years after going down 6-3, 6-2 to Portugal’s Nuno Borges at the clay-court Bastad Open …
Jake Paul was supposed to be in the ring with Mike Tyson, who withdrew injured, but the YouTuber made it 10 wins in 11 when stopping an outmatched Mike Perry in the sixth round.
Jake Paul knocked out former UFC fighter Mike Perry in the 6th round.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 21, 2024
STOP GETTING IN THE RING WITH @jakepaul IF BOXING ISN’T YOUR LIFE.
He’s dedicated himself to the sport for the last 7 plus years and whether you like it or not he HAS DANGEROUS POWER.pic.twitter.com/lOdPDSGYSe
