MIAMI (AFP) - Lee6 Jeong-eun fired eight birdies in an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday (Nov 18) to grab a one-shot lead at the US LPGA Tour Championship at rainy Tiburon Golf Club in Florida. Lee6, the 2019 US Women's Open champion, hit 14 of 14 fairways in regulation and 18 of 18 greens to put herself in position to achieve her aim of capturing a 2021 title in final event of the season. "I had a good time today," she said. "My goal was bogey free, so, I achieved it. "My goal is to win once this year, unfortunately just one tournament left. I'm going to try my best." Lee6 - who has the numeral added to her name to distinguish her from other players on the Korean tour with the same name - said work on swing changes had made for an inconsistent 2021 campaign, but now that she's more comfortable she can attack with accuracy. That was especially useful on Thursday, on the rain-softened and receptive Tiburon course in Naples, Florida. "It was raining so the greens were soft and we could clean the ball in the fairway," said Lee6, who was a stroke in front of four players. American Mina Harigae's bogey-free 65 was highlighted by a chip-in eagle at the 17th. She was joined by compatriot Jennifer Kupcho, France's Celine Boutier and South Korean Kim Sei-young. Boutier had seven birdies without a bogey, while Kim had nine birdies and two bogeys and Kupcho nabbed seven birdies to join the group at seven-under. Kim, who rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to lift the title at Tiburon in 2019, was also in attack mode on the rain-softened course set up for scoring. "I had a lot of chances for birdie today," she said. "I expected a lot of rain today but there wasn't. We got the rain starting on hole 16. But the course was a little wet, so we attacked the pin when it was available." World number one Nelly Korda led a group of eight players on six-under-par 66. South Korean Ko Jin-young, who has swapped the top ranking with Korda this season as they racked up eight titles between them, made three of her five birdies on the back nine on the way to a three-under-par 69. Korda arrived in Naples off a roller coaster win in the Pelican Championship in Sunday. Now the 23-year-old is seeking a second back-to-back brace of victories this season after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic and Women's PGA Championship in successive weeks. Korda and Ko played alongside former world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand in a marquee grouping, "I kind of saw that video of Lyd saying she was third wheeling, but I felt like I was third wheeling because they were speaking Korean," Korda said. "It was fun. I like playing with them and they played well, so it was nice." Her round itself, Korda said, was "pretty good". "I hit majority of the greens and I didn't really make any mistakes. Two loose shots that I kind of had too much curve on them and two three-putts. "But I definitely made a good bit of my putts out there as well." More on this topic Related Story Golf: LPGA championship increases prize pool to US$7 million in 2022 Related Story Golf: Top-ranked Nelly Korda survives triple-bogey to win Pelican Championship in play-off
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Reigning champion Carlos Ortiz of Mexico and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo withdrew from the US PGA Tour's Houston Open on Tuesday (Nov 9). Ortiz pulled out due to a left shoulder injury, saying he has been struggling with a sore shoulder since a trip to Japan last month. "I went to the doctor this morning and he recommended that I not play and I take time to recover," Ortiz said. "So I think I'm going to take his advice... so I can start healthy in January." Ortiz withdrew from the Zozo Championship in Japan three weeks ago with the shoulder injury. But Ortiz finished second last week at the Mayakoba Championship in Mexico, his best showing since taking his only PGA title last year at Houston. "This is incredibly disappointing to me as I was looking forward to defending my first PGA Tour title," Prtiz said. "I'm honoured to be a champion of this event and I look forward to returning next year." Ortiz and Grillo were replaced in the field by Americans John Huh and Max McGreevy. Players from outside the United States have won five consecutive US PGA titles, one shy of the matching the longest such runs on record from 2004 and 2008. More on this topic Related Story Golf: Viktor Hovland cruises to repeat title at Mayakoba despite back-nine bogeys Related Story Golf: Aussie Herbert wins first PGA Tour title at windy Bermuda
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Keith Mitchell fired an eagle and seven birdies Friday (Oct 15) in an eight-under par 64 to take an early five-shot lead in the second round of the CJ Cup. The American, searching for a second US PGA Tour title to go with the Honda Classic trophy he lifted in 2019, followed up a first-round 62 with another strong effort at the Summit Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, hosting the tournament moved from South Korea because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mitchell hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation in a round featuring a 60-foot eagle putt at the par-five third. With afternoon starters still on the course he had a five-shot lead over three-time major-winner Jordan Spieth, fellow American Harry Higgs and South Korean Kim Seong-hyeon. Spieth had an eagle and eight birdies along with three bogeys in his seven-under 65. Higgs carded a 67 and Kim nabbed seven birdies and an eagle at the par-five 18th in a nine-under par 63. The South Korean, winner of the Japan PGA Championship in July, is in search of a first US PGA Tour title. Mitchell said he'd felt the pressure of trying to add a second title to his resume - something he almost did at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in May. He held a two-shot lead going into the final round but finished tied for third behind winner Rory McIlroy - who said his closeup view of Mitchell's game convinced him the American was the real deal. While Mitchell appreciated that view, he said he'd been working hard to gain the consistency that would make him a contender week-in and week-out. Last season he made 16 cuts, with three top-five finishes, and missed 12. "It's like a roller coaster, and my game is like that," he said. "This year, I kind of took a hard look at my game. I felt like I've either had the game, the potential I should say, to play a lot better than I have on a consistent basis. "I just wanted to take this year and just try to be as consistent as possible, because I felt like feast or famine was kind of my game the last four years and I wanted to be a little bit more consistent, a little bit more patient - play like a Tour pro and not just like a young kid out there firing at flags." More on this topic Related Story Golf: Sizzling Streb seizes early lead at relocated CJ Cup
NEW JERSEY (REUTERS) - South Korea's Ko Jin-young wrote her name in the LPGA Tour record book not once but twice Sunday (Oct 10) as she authored a wire-to-wire victory at the Cognizant Founders Cup in West Caldwell, New Jersey. Ko's 5-under 66 lifted her to 18 under for a four-shot victory over Germany's Caroline Masson. It was Ko's 14th straight round in the 60s, tying Annika Sorenstam's LPGA record. What's more, Ko went 114 straight holes without making a bogey or worse until she bogeyed No. 17 Sunday. It's the longest such streak on record for either the LPGA or PGA Tour, breaking Tiger Woods' mark of 110 bogey-free holes. Ko said a bogey-free round was her goal Sunday morning, but she wasn't necessarily thinking about the records in play and the names attached to them. "I just focus, despite the others like Tiger Woods or Annika Sorenstam," Ko said. "I just play by myself ... I don't know what happened to me. I don't know. I just have fun. I'm just trying to have fun on the course with my caddie and the other players." Ko, 26, defended her title at the Founders Cup, which she won in 2019 at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix. The World No. 2 has won three tournaments in her last seven starts. It marked Ko's 10th career win on tour, making her the fifth Korean player to post double-digit victories. Masson posted the low round of the day, a spotless 64 with seven birdies, to move into second. "I can't tell you how big this is," Masson said. "It's been a little bit rough this summer. Honestly, like mentally it was really, really tough stretch, probably the toughest in my career. "So to come back out and have a good week last week and feel like I'm getting really close - you know, I know I'm pretty far away from winning this week score-wise, but it was pretty close. Pretty amazing. Just got to thank everybody on my team for being there for me." Elizabeth Szokol (69) overcame a double bogey-bogey stretch on the fourth and fifth holes to secure third place at 11 under. Jeongeun Lee6 of South Korea (67) and Yuka Saso of the Philippines (70) tied for fourth at 10 under.
ATLANTA (REUTERS) - Patrick Cantlay matched Jon Rahm's birdie on the final hole of the Tour Championship to win the PGA Tour's title Sunday (Sept 5) at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The birdie gave Cantlay a round of 1-under-par 69 to cap a riveting finishing stretch between the two golfers. Rahm's birdie on the hole meant he finished the round with 68, pushing his tournament score to 20 under. Cantlay checked in at 21 under. Under the format used, Cantlay began the tournament at 10 under, putting him four shots clear of Rahm. He needed every one of those strokes to claim the $15 million top prize. Cantlay won back-to-back tournaments to complete the PGA Tour season. He's the FedEx Cup champion for the first time. Rahm, the US Open champion from Spain and top-ranked golfer in the world, had 16 pars in the last round. He also birdied the fifth hole. Cantlay, who as the top seed was listed at 10 under when the tournament began Thursday, never trailed, but he sure made it interesting. He was up by two strokes after a birdie on the 16th, but he gave that back with his third bogey of the round on the next hole. Cantlay notched birdies on both par-5 holes. Rahm opened the tournament with two rounds of 65 before catching up to Cantlay early in Saturday's round. Rahm ended up with 68 in the third round, entering Sunday's play two shots back so the top duo was paired together again. Kevin Na shot 67 to finish at 16 under for third place. Justin Thomas, the 2017 FedEx Cup champion, was fourth at 15 under after a final-round 70, slipping one spot from the beginning of the round. Xander Schauffele matched Daniel Berger's 64 for the best round of the day. That put Schauffele tied for fifth place with Norway's Viktor Hovland (65) at 14 under. More on this topic Related Story Golf: Cantlay stays one in front of Rahm in US PGA Tour Championship Related Story Golf: Cantlay leads Rahm by two at PGA Tour Championship
HONG KONG, Aug 27, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - China's leading online tour guide provider Lvji Technology Holding Inc. ("Lvji Technology" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", stock code: 1745.HK) is pleased to announce its consolidated results for the six months ended 30 June 2021 (the "Period").Since March 2021, the tourism market has recovered, which led to a rapid recovery in travel demand of consumers and resulting in a steady growth in the Group's business. In the first half of 2021, the total revenue of the Group increased by approximately 118.1% to RMB175.1 million, and the revenue level has almost resumed to that before the outbreak of the epidemic. Gross profit increased significantly to RMB48.8 million, with a gross profit margin of 27.9% compared to 4.6% for the same period of 2020. The substantial increase in gross profit margin was mainly due to the steady growth of revenue during the Period and the accelerated recovery of the tourism market. Lvji Technology has achieved a turnaround from loss to profit during the Period, with a profit for the period about RMB 880,000, compared with a loss of about RMB 80.0 million in the same period in 2020. Lvji Technology continues to consolidate its leading position of online tour guides, actively capture the opportunities brought by the recovery and flexibly respond to changes in market demand. Under the normalization of epidemic prevention and control, short-distance travel and peripheral tours have become increasingly popular among tourists. Therefore, the Company strategically increased the online tour guide coverage of tourist attractions on the outskirts of cities to enhance its adaptability to market changes. At the same time, the Company has upgraded and optimized the content of online tour guides for popular tourist attractions, including improving the accuracy of the tour guides, optimizing the mapping processes and upgrading the explanations to provide consumers with a better experience and meet the diversified travel demands of tourists. As of June 30, 2021, the Group had developed 30,464 online tour guides, 8,240 more than in 2020 over the same period, covering tourist attractions in China and overseas, which covered 288 AAAAA tourist attractions, 2,476 AAAA tourist attractions, 1,851 AAA tourist attractions in China.Reduced cost and increased efficiency with intelligent technology and continuously upgraded of smart servicesDuring the Period, in relation to the SaaS business, Lvji Technology developed and iteratively launched a product named "Digital View Pass" with smart management, smart marketing and smart service as the core, offering digital marketing solutions for tourist attractions. By constructing smart mini programs, digital marketing system, smart tourist attractions system and private Internet traffic system, the digital marketing system and delicacy operation system were constructed in tourist attractions and informationalized resources were integrated to meet the digital upgrading demand of various tourist attractions and the culture and tourism bureaus, so as to achieve new business growth in tourist attractions and enhance the operational and management efficiency of tourist attractions. In addition, "Digital View Pass" can effectively enhance the efficiency of our customized content business such as the development efficiency of the "Mobile Tour" project and reduce the development costs.The Company upgraded the smart tourist attractions management service system to assist management departments of the government in efficient management and reasonable deployment of local tourism resources in the form of big data center, command center, Internet portal, etc. For example, in the tourist attractions operation service, the system can perform passenger flow monitoring, heat map analysis, smart terminal management, artificial intelligence learning, which could analyze tourists' consumption habits and provide data reference for the management of tourist attractions resulting in the digital upgrading of tourist attractions. During the Reporting Period, the Company successfully delivered several key projects of smart tourist attractions management service system. The revenue from sale of customized content increased by approximately 174.2% from approximately RMB1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 to approximately RMB4.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.Actively expanding our scenario-based marketing to acquire diversified user trafficIn addition to strengthening the mutually beneficial cooperation with OTAs, Lvji Technology is actively expanding its scenario-based marketing to acquire diversified sources of user traffic. The Company had placed shared family bicycles in over 40 tourist attractions, where tourists can scan the QR code on the bicycle to get an online tour guide of the tourist attractions while exploring the tourist attractions on them, satisfying the needs of parent-child trips and listening to the online tour guide, and enhancing the travel experience of tourists. In addition, for the young people, especially the Generation Z, who like to experience the combination of games and travel, the Company has also introduced tourism product called "Lvji Live Acting Role Playing Game" to tourist attractions, using scenes of tourist attractions and the cultural stories behind them, combined with the tour guide, to create tailor-made scripts with the characteristics of the tourist attractions. Through a plot of drama that tourists can participate in and perform, the Company brings tourists an immersive tourism experience, enhance the sense of interaction between tourists and tourists' attractions as well as the fun of playing, and satisfy the social needs and novelty experience of young people, thus helping tourist attractions to gain more offline users. The Company is also actively expanding business into other smart terminals. During the Reporting Period, the Company became the first batch of content eco-partner of HUAWEI HarmonyOS and launched a version adapted to HUAWEI's smartwatch to satisfy users with high-quality products that seamlessly switch under different scenarios and cover more usage channels.Mr. Zang Weizhong, Executive Director, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Lvji Technology said, " Lvji Technology is well positioned to embrace the recovery of the tourism industry, respond flexibly to market changes and capture the opportunities of smart tourism popularization. We will continue to focus on our core strategies and maintain our leading position in the online tour guide market by leveraging our enterprise positioning of "China's leading culture and tourism industry chain service platform", and we are confident in seizing the recovery opportunities and leading the development of the online tour guide industry. In the long run, we believe that with the further increase in the support for "Internet + Tourism" in China and the advocation of the government to develop high-quality development of tourism with the help of technological innovation, it is expected that the online penetration of online tourism products will increase continuously, and the digital development of China's tourism will accelerate and generate considerable potential for growth. In the future, we will flexibly adjust and continuously optimize the coverage of online tour guide products according to the market demand; strengthen the innovation as well as R&D capability, continuously improve the products and services such as "Digital View Pass" to meet the demand of digital upgrading of tourist attractions. We will strive to build an industry chain of culture and tourism service platform to continue to strengthen our leading market position."About Lvji Technology Holdings Inc.Lvji Technology Holding Inc. is China's leading online tour guide provider. Established in December 2013, Lvji Technology bases on two core strategies of scenic guides and smart tourism and focuses on the development of all-round tour guide and smart tourism-related supporting services. According to F&S, Lvji technology is an online tour guide provider with an 86.2% market share in the online tour guide service market in terms of GMV in 2018. As of June 30 2021, the Company developed a total of 30,464 online tour guides in China and overseas, which covered 288 AAAAA tourist attractions, 2,476 AAAA tourist attractions, 1,851 AAA tourist attractions.This press release is issued by Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group for and on behalf of Lvji Technology Holdings Inc.. For further information, please contact:Porda Havas International Finance Communications GroupKelly Fung +852 3150 6763 kelly.fung@pordahavas.comIvy Lu +86 21 3397 8878 ivy.lu@pordahavas.comLouise Liu +86 21 3397 8796 louise.liu@pordahavas.comJessika Wong +852 3150 6720 jessika.wong@pordahavas.com Fax: +852 3150 6728 Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
BALLYMENA (AFP) - Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn beat American Emma Talley on the second hole of a play-off to win the LPGA World Invitational title on Sunday (Aug 1). The pair had begun the day tied for the lead with Jennifer Kupcho and the same trio reached the 18th tee locked together on 16 under par, only for Kupcho to make a costly bogey after pulling her approach into the water. Both players made par on the first extra hole and another on the second was enough for Pajaree to secure her first LPGA Tour title after Talley missed the green. "I was nervous but actually surprised at how I handled my nervous there. To win here is a special memory," said Pajaree after a final round of 70. England's Daniel Gavins overturned a seven-shot deficit to claim his first European Tour title in the men's event which ran alongside the LPGA tournament. Gavins carded a bogey-free final round of 65 at Galgorm Castle to set the clubhouse target of 13 under par. Gavins was ranked 995th in the world at the end of 2020 and had never previously recorded a single top-10 finish on the European Tour. More on this topic Related Story Golf: Thai Jutanugarn sisters fire another 59 to claim LPGA team event Related Story Golf: Pajaree leads Thai charge in Evian first round as Korda struggles
MILAN, ITALY (REUTERS) - Inter Milan have followed Arsenal in cancelling their pre-season tour to the United States for the Florida Cup due to Covid-19 concerns, the Italian Serie A champions said on Wednesday (July 21). Arsenal decided on Tuesday against travelling to the US for the tournament due to a "a small number of positive Covid-19 tests" at the north London club. Inter were scheduled to face Arsenal on Sunday, with the winner facing the victor in Everton's game against Colombian outfit Millonarios on July 28. "FC Internazionale Milano announce that they will not be travelling to the USA for the Florida Cup due to the current risks involved in international travel as a result of the spread of the pandemic, risks that have already caused Arsenal FC to withdraw from participation," an Inter statement read. Inter, under new coach Simone Inzaghi, begin their league title defence with a home match against Genoa on Aug 21. More on this topic Related Story Football: Arsenal cancel pre-season tour due to Covid-19 cases Related Stories: Related Story Hoaxes deter vaccination drive, efforts to curb Covid-19 in Indonesia Related Story 49 men arrested in Penang for allegedly flouting Covid-19 rules on Hari Raya Haji Related Story New restaurants in S'pore make the best of a stressful situation with dining in off the table again Related Story S'pore pre-schools tighten Covid-19 measures Related Story New Covid-19 cluster at Marina Bay Sands Casino with 11 cases; 2 markets in Clementi, Whampoa to shut Related Story S'pore suspends dining in, tightens Covid-19 curbs: What you need to know from July 22 Related Story Links to KTV cluster, lax mask wearing behind Covid-19 spread at Jurong Fishery Port: Workers
LONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal have cancelled their pre-season tour to the United States after a small number of positive Covid-19 cases at the club, Sky Sports reported on Tuesday (July 20). Arsenal were set to travel to the US this week to participate in the Florida Cup alongside fellow Premier League team Everton, Serie A champions Inter Milan and Colombian outfit Millonarios. The tournament organisers said in a statement: "We are aware of the media reports this afternoon. We remain in discussions with all four clubs with the intent to deliver a safe and successful Florida Cup for both participants and fans." Arsenal were not immediately available to comment. The London side were scheduled to take on Inter on Sunday and potentially face on July 28 the winner of Everton's game against Millonarios. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal team started their pre-season preparations in Scotland and played two games, losing 2-1 to Hibernian and drawing 2-2 with Rangers. Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League last term and begin their 2021-22 campaign at promoted Brentford on Aug 13. Related Stories: Related Story Hong Kong, S'pore to review air travel bubble in late August Related Story Why is S'pore back to phase 2: Hospital capacity, community exposure to Covid-19 among considerations Related Story Muted Hari Raya Haji in Malaysia as Covid-19 cases remain stubbornly high Related Story 4 serious adverse events linked to Covid-19 vaccine reported in SAF; 92% of SAF fully vaccinated Related Story S'pore suspends dining in, tightens Covid-19 curbs: What you need to know from July 22 Related Story Haig Road, Chong Pang market and food centres to shut till Aug 4 after 35 Covid-19 cases found Related Story Links to KTV cluster, lax mask wearing behind Covid-19 spread at Jurong Fishery Port: Workers
PARIS (AFP) - Tadej Pogacar won a second successive Tour de France on Sunday (July 18) as Wout van Aert claimed the final stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Pogacar stole in at the 11th hour to win the 2020 edition, but this year he stamped his authority in the first week and will pull on the yellow jersey beneath the Arc de Triomphe as the undisputed champion aged just 22. "We did it," he said with a huge smile that was absent after his exhausting time-trial on Saturday when he effectively sealed this victory. "It's never over until the last lap of the Champs-Elysees." Jumbo's Belgian rider Van Aert stormed past Briton Mark Cavendish to take the 21st stage after also winning a time-trial at Saint-Emilion and a mountain stage at Mont Ventoux. "I've won a giant Tour de France stage," Van Aert said. "It's incredible to win again today, it hasn't sunk in," he said, holding his baby on the podium. "It's a great send-off for Tokyo," he said before flying off to the Olympic Games on Monday where he will lead the Belgian team. Marking the end of the old era 36-year-old Cavendish narrowly missed out on a fifth win on this edition - and a record 35th ever on the Tour de France. Jasper Philipsen was second on the day as Deceuninck rider Cavendish fell just short, punching his handlebars in frustration. Cavendish did squeeze on to the roster in third. Four wins in the six stages that ended in a mass bunch sprint were enough for him to equal Eddy Merckx's record of 34 stage wins on the Tour and secure him the green sprint points jersey. Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard, also of Jumbo, was a surprising second in the general classification, while Ineos' Richard Carapaz was third to follow his 2019 triumph on the Giro d'Italia. The Bahrain Victorious outfit won the team award to end the Tour with a smile after a police swoop on their hotel and team bus earlier this week. Pogacar era Pogacar "rode between the raindrops" after surviving a litany of crashes as the Tour embarked from the nation's western tip at the Atlantic port of Brest. The Slovenian then pulverised his rivals in the first time-trial as the race headed towards the Swiss and Italian border ski resorts where he also held his own. The UAE Team Emirates leader then produced a pair of joyful mountain victories in the Pyrenees to rubber stamp his status as the best rider on the Tour this year. Pogacar also won the awards for best rider under-25 and the king of the mountains polka-dot jersey, a triple he also achieved on his debut last year.
LIBOURNE, FRANCE (AFP) - Mark Cavendish on Friday (July 16) apologised to his mechanics for a Tour de France strop after video emerged of him complaining about his bike before storming off to the team bus. Footage showed the 36-year-old British sprinter screaming at his team before slamming a bike into the ground at the start of the 19th stage from Mourenx and Libourne. "During a day of the Tour de France, as riders we are put in a perilous situation and I wanted my bike to be perfect, in order to help me stay safe," he wrote on Instagram later on Friday. "My bike had some problems when I got on it this morning. Despite this, I should not have reacted in the way that I did and not so publicly. "I've been extremely close friends with my mechanics for over a decade and they've worked tirelessly to ensure I've always been safe and successful. "Although they know how short I can be when I'm stressed, no-one, especially those you care about, deserve to have a voice raised to them." Cavendish would have set a new record of 35 Tour de France stage wins with his fifth win on the 2021 edition on Friday. He had already equalled Eddy Merckx's 46-year-old record. But an early mass fall and lack of will from other teams to stop a breakaway allowed a large group to build up a big lead over the main pack. Mark Cavendish, ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/lls0NyJofM— Max Vanhove (@MaxBets001) July 16, 2021 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Cavendish (@markcavendish) "I still have Paris," he said of Sunday's sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees. "And I still have the jersey," he said, as he stepped down from the awards ceremony in the sprint points leader's green tunic. Cavendish was a late inclusion on the Deceuninck team roster but has won four stages on the 2021 Tour with a fifth possible on Sunday when the race winds up in the French capital. More on this topic Related Story Cycling: Bahrain's Mohoric wins Tour de France stage 19 after anti-doping raid Related Story Cycling: Pogacar closes in on Tour title, doping suspicions hit race
BRATISLAVA (AFP) – Slovakian cycling superstar Peter Sagan will skip the Tokyo Olympic Games because of an injury he picked up during the Tour de France, the Slovak Olympic Committee said on Tuesday (July 13). The 31-year-old three-time world champion from 2015-2017 and seven-time winner of the Tour de France green sprint points jersey hurt his knee in a bunch sprint fall on stage three. The injury became infected, forcing the Bora Hansgrohe rider to withdraw ahead of stage 12 last Thursday. “After pulling out of the Tour de France, Peter Sagan underwent a knee surgery in Monaco,” the Committee said in a statement. “The infection did not affect the knee joint, but the surgery and subsequent health problems have prevented ( Sagan) from travelling to Tokyo,” it added. In his previous Olympic appearances, Sagan finished 34th in the road race at London in 2012 and 35th in the mountain bike cross-country race at Rio in 2016. More on this topic Related Story Olympics: Roger Federer withdraws from Tokyo Games with knee injury Related Story Olympics: It's time for Team Singapore to take off
LANDERNEAU, FRANCE (AFP) - Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome escaped serious injury when he got caught up in a crash-strewn first stage of this year's race on Saturday (June 26). Four other riders were, however, forced to withdraw - Germany's Jasha Sutterlin (DSM), Marc Soler of Spain (Movistar), French rider Cyril Lemoine (BB Hotels) and Lithuania's Ignatas Konovalovas (Groupama-FDJ). Many others were also caught out in mass pile-ups in two falls - the first at 45km caused by a spectator in the road holding up a sign and the second within 8km of the finish where world champion Julian Alaphilippe claimed the stage victory. Froome's Israel Start-Up Nation team said the 36-year-old British star had fallen in the second incident. His Swiss teammate Reto Hollenstein also required a visit to hospital for a scan. "Further checkups at the hospital have ruled out any fractures for @RetoHollenstein and @chrisfroome after their crashes today," said a team statement. "They will be monitored by the team's medical staff overnight. Another update will be given tomorrow morning." Froome is racing the Tour de France for the first time since suffering multiple injuries when crashing into a wall at high speed in May 2019. He showed astonishing determination and professional focus on his long struggle back, leaving Ineos and joining ISN. Froome won the Tour in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. A fan just caused a MASSIVE crash at the very beginning of the Tour De France 😬 pic.twitter.com/6q5TwQRBdU— Blake Harms (@wxblakeharms) June 26, 2021 This spectator with a sign caused an enormous crash and pileup during the 1st stage of the Tour de France 😲 pic.twitter.com/3ZC2hfmCqe— Sports ReUp (@SportsReUp) June 26, 2021 This stupid idiotic spectator caused the whole Pelaton to crash in Tour de France....horrendous. catastrophic. BAN THAT PERSON FOREVER pic.twitter.com/gOUgH3Lkfe— A.G.A.Michelangelo (@MagnusOpus33) June 26, 2021 More on this topic Related Story Cycling: Fan with sign causes massive pile-up as Tour de France gets off to rocky start Related Story Cycling: Thomas happy to survive huge Tour de France crashes on opening day
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - American golfer Brendon Todd has withdrawn from this week's Wells Fargo Championship after testing positive for Covid-19, the PGA Tour said on Tuesday (May 4). The 35-year-old, chasing his first tournament victory since claiming two PGA Tour wins in November 2019, will be replaced by first alternate JJ Spaun. "Todd will have the PGA Tour's full support throughout his self-isolation period," the PGA Tour said. The Wells Fargo tees off at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday. Related Stories: Related Story PM Modi fights pressure to lock down India as Covid-19 deaths rise Related Story India’s Covid-19 cases cross 20 million, opposition calls for national lockdown Related Story G-20 countries set to back efforts for Covid-19 vaccine passports Related Story Europe aims to revive tourism industry by allowing vaccinated travellers Related Story Pharmacist, patient and 3 visitors added to TTSH Covid-19 cluster, bringing total to 40 Related Story Back to phase 2: Cap of 5 people for social gatherings from May 8 Related Story Gyms and other higher-risk settings to be closed; size limits on large events tightened Related Story S'pore extends SHN to 21 days for travellers from higher-risk places Related Story WHO begs G-7 to step up and combat Covid-19 crisis
HONG KONG, Mar 26, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - China's leading online tour guide provider Lvji Technology Holding Inc. ("Lvji Technology" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", stock code: 1745.HK) announced its consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2020 ("the Year").Financial Highlights:-- The revenue in 2020 was RMB295.1 million, compared with RMB541.8 million in 2019. The decrease in the revenue was mainly due to the global outbreak of COVID-19 in the first quarter which led to shrinking travel demand. The revenue in the second half of 2020 was RMB214.7 million, recording an increase of 167% compared to the first half of 2020.-- The Company has been establishing in-depth cooperation with cultural and tourism bureaus and scenic spots across China. The revenue from the sale of customized content in 2020 was RMB13.0 million, a significant increase of approximately 49.9% compared to 2019.-- The net loss for the Year was RMB100.6 million, whereas the profit in 2019 was RMB160.8 million. The loss was mainly due to the continuous pressure on the Company's overseas online tour guide business, which was the result of the severe situation of overseas epidemic prevention and control, and the implementation of passenger flow control in domestic scenic spots, both partially offset the growth brought by the recovery of the domestic tourism industry since the second quarter in 2020. An impairment loss of RMB70.4 million in intangible assets was recorded for the year of 2020. Excluding listing expenses, the adjusted loss for the year was RMB61.1 million, and the adjusted profit for the year of 2019 was RMB178.8 million.Operational Highlights:-- The number of online tour guides increased by 6,559 from 19,493 as of December 31, 2019 to 26,052 as of December 31, 2020, while the number of tourist attractions in China covered by our online tour guides increased from 11,238 as of December 31, 2019, to 14,229 as of December 31, 2020. The Company's online tour guides covered 279 AAAAA tourist attractions and 2,343 AAAA tourist attractions.-- Established in-depth cooperation with the culture and tourism bureaus across China. During the reporting period, the Company successfully delivered several key projects of smart tourist attractions management service system. Developed SaaS system "Lvji Travel Tool" to help tourist attractions enhance their digital operation ability.-- Using VR and other innovative technologies combined with online tour guides, "Lvji VR" has finished the delivery of projects such as Xijiang Thousand Household Miao Village of Guizhou Province, Guilin Tourism University of Guangxi Province and all-round Luoning County of Henan Province.During the Year, the outbreak of COVID-19 has severely affected the economy in China and the world. The consumption and tourism industry was basically stalled and halted in the first half of the Reporting Period with a significant decrease in travel demand of consumers. Fortunately, with the pandemic being gradually controlled in China since the second quarter in 2020 and the recovery of the domestic tourism market, the Company's domestic tourism business has also resumed growth. However, due to pandemic prevention and control requirements, tourist attractions in China were still implementing passenger flow control, and some consumers were still vigilant to travel. In addition, the Company's overseas online tour guide business has been under pressure due to the severe condition of overseas pandemic prevention and control, partially offsetting the growth brought by the recovery of the domestic tourism industry.The Company's total revenue for 2020 is RMB295.1 million, a year-on-year decrease of 45.5% from RMB541.8 million in 2019. In the second half of 2020, the Company performed well in the wave of recovery in the tourism industry and achieved a strong rebound. Compared with the revenue in the first half of 2020, the revenue in the second half of the year was RMB214.7 million, an increase of 167% quarter-to-quarter. At the same time, benefited from the in-depth cooperation with the cultural and tourism bureaus and scenic spots across China, the revenue from the sale of customized content increased significantly by about 49.9% year-on-year to RMB13.0 million. The net loss in 2020 was RMB100.6 million whereas the profit was RMB160.8 million in 2019. In 2020, the adjusted loss for the year excluding listing expenses was RMB61.1 million, and the adjusted profit in 2019 was RMB178.8 million.During the Year, the Company captured the opportunity of recover and invested in research and development resources continuously to increase the coverage of tourist attractions. The Company further consolidated its market leading position by optimizing and upgrading the online tour guides. As of December 31, 2020, the Company's online tour guides reached 26,052, an increase of 6,559 from 19,493 as of the end of 2019. The number of tourist attractions in China covered by the Company's online tour guides increased from 11,238 as of the end of 2019 to 14,229 as of the end of 2020, and the Company's online tour guides covered 279 AAAAA tourist attractions and 2,343 AAAA tourist attractions. Furthermore, the Company increased in-depth cooperation with local culture and tourism bureaus by focusing on schemes of all-round tourism and smart tourist attractions. At the same time, the Company has been using new technologies to enhance the production capacities of online tour guide and customized content and expand marketing channels, so as to continue to maintain its market leadership.Strategically increased the coverage of tourist attractions, and the content of tour guides was multi-dimensionally optimizedIn 2020, the Company continued to increase the coverage of tourist attractions and the number of online tour guides was 26,052 as at the end of 2020. In the regular epidemic prevention and control stage, consumers' demand for short-distance travel in peripheral regions was rising rapidly. Therefore, the Company strategically increased the coverage of suburban tourist attractions in domestic cities to actively capture the opportunities brought by the domestic tourism industry's recovery and meet the diverse travel demand of consumers.In addition, the Company has been continuously optimizing the original content of tour guides. The Company carried out multi-dimensional technological innovation on online tour guides including creative radio drama, audio production for tour guides, video editing, animation, 3D scene and sticker design; upgraded the content of articles and strengthened the content of cultural tourism; expanded the sharing of practical and personalized content from single tourist attraction explanation mode to sharing and recommendation of multiple content to realize the transformation of creative characters and perspectives; upgraded audio-visual module and integrated video animation with the cultural knowledge of tourist attractions to enrich the display form of tourist attractions; and enriched drawing style and created 3D hand-painted maps to intuitively display the panorama of tourist attractions and provide more interesting content for users to enhance the tourism experience.Deepened cooperation with cultural and tourism bureaus and tourist attractions and continuously deployed all-rounded tourism and smart tourist attractions management service system layoutDuring the Year, the Company established in-depth cooperation with the culture and tourism bureaus across China, aiming to change the service mode of the tourism industry and consumers' way of traveling. The Company developed a smart tourist attractions management service system to assist management departments of the government in the efficient management and reasonable deployment of local tourism resources in the form of big data center, command center, Internet portal, etc. During the Reporting Period, the Company successfully delivered several key projects of smart tourist attractions management service system.Meanwhile, the Company has been continuously strengthening cooperation with tourist attractions by assisting them in VR and AI tour guides and establishing a mobile phone tour and a big tourism data platform to improve the comprehensive service and operation platform of all-rounded tourism. In addition, in order to improve the digital marketing and detailed operation service of tourist attractions, the Company also developed SaaS system "Lvji Travel Tool" to help tourist attractions enhance their digital operation ability, diversify the options for consumers' returning purchase, construct private internet traffic pool system in tourist attractions, provide solutions for smart tourist attractions, and facilitate the digitization of tourist attractions. Customized content services with cultural tourism bureaus and tourist attractions will be one of the important drivers of the Company's future performance growth.Continuously innovated technology and strengthened offline channel expansionAs a technology-driven company, the Company always insists on the application of innovative technology to the cooperative tourist attractions, using VR and other innovative technologies combined with online tour guides. "Lvji VR" offers functions such as 720 panoramic VR, VR panoramic live broadcast, VR comic live broadcast and VR video documentary filming, providing higher-quality services to the tourism market during the normalization of the epidemic prevention and control stage. During the Reporting Period, "Lvji VR" has finished the delivery of projects such as Xijiang Thousand Household Miao Village of Guizhou Province, Guilin Tourism University of Guangxi Province, and all-round Luoning County of Henan Province.Combined with the current popular innovative sales mode, the Company intensified the offline market layout and expansion of online tour guides. During the Reporting Period, the Company negotiated with a number of well-known tourism groups, local travel agencies and large organizations and developed innovative sales and marketing strategies, including projects such as live broadcasting promotions, "reservation + ticketing" initiates and SaaS sales model, which has enriched the diversity of channels.Mr. Zang Weizhong, Executive Director, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Lvji Technology, said, " In the future, we will strive to build an industry chain of culture and tourism service platform, continue to strengthen our leadership market position, and combine AR and AI technology to make the interactive experience of consumers more interesting. We will also continue to optimize the "Lvji Mobile Tour" and build three systems of comprehensive management, comprehensive operation and comprehensive service according to the demand of digital upgrading of the tourist attractions to empower the long-term development of the tourist attractions. At the same time, we will focus on the establishment of all-rounded tourism demonstration districts and optimize the demonstrative all-rounded labeling system and tourist transport center system with the goal of building a national all-rounded tourism demonstration area to construct a trinity of "provinces and cities, regions and tourist attractions" all-rounded tourism big data comprehensive service platform. Furthermore, we will continue to upgrade SaaS business, build a multi-terminal and multi-channel one-stop smart tourism ecological platform, connecting consumers' "dining, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and shopping" and other supporting consumer service facilities, so as to empower the tourist attractions in realizing smart management, smart marketing and smart services."Mr. Zang continued: "The outbreak of COVID-19 has greatly changed the industrial structure of the domestic tourism market. The pandemic has promoted the development of the tourism industry in terms of smart tourism. In the stage of regular epidemic prevention and control, the Chinese government has launched a number of measures to stimulate domestic consumption, resulting in the accelerated recovery of the tourism market. We believe that we are well-positioned to capture the recovery of the tourism industry and the opportunity of popularization of smart tourism to resume the growth within a short period of time with our core competitive advantages on continuous technological innovations and strategic cooperation with OTAs to maintain our leading position in the online tour guide market. "About Lvji Technology Holdings Inc.Lvji Technology Holding Inc. is China's leading online tour guide provider. Established in December 2013, Lvji Technology bases on two core strategies of scenic guides and smart tourism and focuses on the development of all-round tour guide and smart tourism-related supporting services. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has developed a total of 26,052 online tour guides, covering 14,229 tourist attractions, including 279 AAAAA tourist attractions and 2,343 in China AAAA tourist attractions. It has formed a tourism ecosystem supported by online tour guides and smart management service systems and is a famous smart tourism industry solution expert.This press release was issued by Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group for and on behalf of Lvji Technology Holdings Inc. For further information, please contact:Porda Havas International Finance Communications GroupIvy Lu +852 3150 6788 ivy.lu@pordahavas.comLouise Liu +8621 3397 8796 louise.liu@pordahavas.comSonia Leung +852 3150 6737 sonia.leung@pordahavas.comFax: +852 3150 6728 Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
MIAMI (REUTERS) - World number one Novak Djokovic will delay his comeback to the ATP Tour following a muscle injury after deciding to skip the Miami Open starting next week to spend more time with his family. Djokovic sustained a muscle tear that hindered him during his successful Australian Open title defence last month and the 33-year-old planned to return at Miami before playing the Monte-Carlo Masters and the ATP 250 Serbia Open. “Dear fans, I’m very sorry to announce that this year I won’t travel to Miami to compete,” Djokovic tweeted. “I decided to use this precious time at home to stay with my family. With all restrictions, I need to find balance in my time on tour and at home. I look forward to coming back next year.” Djokovic, who won his 18th Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park, eclipsed Roger Federer’s all-time record for most weeks as the men’s world number one on March 8 when he moved past the Swiss to hold the top ranking for the 311th week. He said at the time that his focus would be on winning more majors, adding he would make necessary adjustments to his playing schedule to achieve that goal. Rafa Nadal also decided to skip the March 22-April 4 Masters 1000 event to recover from a back injury, while Federer will not be present as he works his way back to full fitness after two knee operations in the past 12 months. US Open champion Dominic Thiem will miss the event and return to the tour during the European claycourt season. World number two Daniil Medvedev is set to lead the field. Former champion Andy Murray will also feature, having been given a wildcard by the tournament organisers.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker fired a five-under par 66 at TPC Scottsdale on Friday (Feb 5) to put himself in position to chase Sam Snead's record for oldest US PGA Tour winner at the Phoenix Open this weekend. Stricker, who turns 54 on Feb 23, shared the clubhouse lead midway through the second round with Keegan Bradley, who carded a 65 to join Stricker on 11-under 131. Stricker is chasing his 12th tour title, but his first since Kapalua in 2012. If he can end the drought, he would supplant Snead, who was 52 years and 10 months old when he won his tour-record 82nd title at the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open. "I mean, I know it's a long shot," Stricker said. "I've got to play my very best, just like anybody else does out here. "But you know, I've been there. I've won a few times out on this tour and I know what it takes, although it has been a while. "It would be fun to see how I handle it, if I do get that opportunity." Stricker was six-under for the day before a mistake at his final hole, the ninth. "Tried to hit just a little eight-iron on the last hole," said Stricker, who was in the fairway some 160 yards out. "I was in between clubs and hit it awful." The bogey was the only blemish on a card that included a 13-foot birdie at the 11th, a five-footer at 13 and seven-foot birdie putts at 15 and 17 - where he picked up a stroke despite finding the rough off the tee. He added two more birdies at the third and seventh. Stricker, who has won five time on the PGA Tour Champions circuit for players 50 and older, said his experiences on each tour benefitted him on the other. "I've played both tours the last three years, and each tour helps the other tour," Stricker said. "When I play out here and I go to the Champions Tour event, the courses are a little bit shorter, the pins are a little bit more generous, so playing out here helps me when I go there. "And then when I go there and get in contention or win an event, I feel that that gives me confidence and motivation to come back out here and play." South Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon and American Scottie Scheffler were in the clubhouse on 10-under. Lee had seven birdies in a five-under 66 and Scheffler had an eagle and six birdies to counter a double-bogey in his 65. Matthew NeSmith, who shared the overnight lead with Mark Hubbard, was 10-under through eight holes. World number two Jon Rahm of Spain made little headway, his two-under 69 giving him a 36-hole total of five-under.
BANGKOK • Teenage prodigy An Se-young pushed to victory in a tough clash against Spain's Carolina Marin yesterday at the World Tour Finals, recording her first win over the reigning Olympic champion in Bangkok. The world's top players have been competing in the Thai capital for three consecutive tournaments in a bio-secure bubble amid the pandemic, culminating in this US$1.5 million (S$2 million) event. The tournament, which is missing China and Japan over Covid-19 fears, features the top eight players or pairs in all singles and doubles disciplines and ends tomorrow. An had lost to three-time world champion Marin during their previous two meetings here this month, but yesterday secured a statement 21-16, 14-21, 21-19 victory on the last day of the round-robin stage. "I'm really happy as I have shed a lot of tears here," said the emotional 18-year-old, who was voted Most Promising Player in 2019 and had already qualified for the semi-finals following wins over Canadian Michelle Li and Russian Evgeniya Kosetskaya earlier this week. She credited her win to being able to anticipate her more experienced opponent's counters after losing to sixth-ranked Marin at both Thailand Opens. "There are many things I have learnt from Marin and I adapted to those things as I was playing the match," the world No. 9, who plays top-ranked Tai Tzu-ying in the semi-finals, said. Despite the upset, Marin - who is gunning for a hat-trick of titles after winning the past two tournaments - also advanced to the last four. "My performance was okay," she said, admitting that her mind was already on the next stage, where she meets Thai Pornpawee Chochuwong. "I played like training. I lost but I don't care about the result." In the men's singles, Dane Viktor Axelsen, who like Marin is seeking a hat-trick of titles, brushed aside Chinese Taipei's Chou Tien-chen 21-10, 21-14 to book his semi-final berth against the same player. It was the world No. 4's third group-stage win. Hong Kong's Angus Ng beat Indian Srikanth Kidambi 12-21, 21-18, 21-19 but the victory proved to a mere consolation as his previous losses meant he was eliminated. Still, the world No. 8, who was beaten by Axelsen in the final of the Toyota Thailand Open last Sunday, gave it his all. "It's always exciting in the World Tour Finals to win a match," he said. "Although I won't make it to the semi-finals, I still kept pushing myself." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE BWF WORLD TOUR FINALS S-finals: StarHub Ch201, 11am & 6pm
LOS ANGELES • South Korean Kim Si-woo rolled in back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to hold off hard-charging Patrick Cantlay and win the US PGA Tour event in La Quinta, California, by one stroke. But his third PGA Tour victory, after firing eight birdies in an eight-under 64 for a 23-under total of 265, will not be enough to exempt the 25-year-old from military service. Kim, winner of the 2017 Players Championship and the 2016 Wyndham Championship, delayed his two-year mandatory service but knows he has to serve soon. Conscription in South Korea requires male citizens between the ages of 18 and 28 to serve. Kim would be granted exemption if he wins an Olympic medal or becomes an Asian Games champion. "I didn't do the service yet, but I'm planning on it as a Korean, but I don't know when I will go there," he said. Sunday's victory made him the South Korean with the second-most wins after trailblazer K. J. Choi, who has eight PGA Tour victories. Compatriots Noh Seung-yul and Bae Sang-moon, one-time and two-time winners on the Tour respectively, have completed their service and returned to competition. "It feels great to become the second (highest) player. I cannot say I will achieve what K. J. Choi did because he did a great job," said Kim, who moved into the world's top 50 with his win at PGA West. "My goal this year is to have a win and I got it already and I just want to have one more win and then I try to get into the Tour Championship." Cantlay had stormed to a narrow clubhouse lead with 11 birdies in an 11-under 61 - a record on the Stadium Course - and enough to put him one ahead of Kim as the Seoul native was coming up the finishing straight. Kim regained a share of the lead with his seventh birdie of the day at the par-five 16th, where he reached the green in two and two-putted from 50 feet - leaving himself less than four feet for birdie. 3 PGA Tour wins for Kim Si-woo. He is the South Korean with the second most wins on the Tour, after K. J. Choi (eight). At No. 17, Kim poured a 19-foot birdie putt into the heart of the cup to regain the lead. "No. 16, I really needed a birdie to make the play-off, and after I made the birdie on No. 16, I felt more confident. I felt more comfortable. So I tried to hit it more confidently on 17's putt, so that's how I made it," said Kim, who polished off the win with a textbook par at the par-four 18th, his final stroke a tap-in. Australian Cameron Davis fired a 64 for solo third on 268 while American Tony Finau (68) was alone in fourth on 269. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MIAMI • Tiger Woods has recently undergone microdiscectomy surgery to remove a pressurised disc fragment that was pinching a nerve, the 15-time Major winner's foundation said on Tuesday. A posting on Woods' Twitter page said the 45-year-old would not play upcoming US PGA Tour events at Torrey Pines (Jan 28-31) or Riviera (Feb 18-21), but doctors expect him to fully recover. "I look forward to begin training and am focused on getting back out on tour," Woods said in the statement, which did not reveal an exact date for the operation. The American experienced discomfort after playing in last month's PNC Championship, a family exhibition event at Orlando, Florida, where he competed alongside son Charlie. According to Kevin McGuire, section chief for the Centre for Pain and Spine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Centre in New Hampshire, Woods probably had what is called "adjacent segment disease", which occurs when nearby discs deteriorate as they compensate for limitations at the fusion site. "Professional athletes are different human beings, in my opinion, than the rest of us mortals," said McGuire, who was not involved in Woods' treatment. "If the rest of us swung the golf club as many times as Tiger Woods did, most of us would get hurt or have back problems. So professional athletes tend to come back fast - or, do come back faster." Woods still plans to handle hosting duties at the Genesis Invitational next month at Riviera for the PGA Tour event that benefits his charity foundation. But there was no timetable given for when he might return to PGA Tour play. It marks the fifth round of back surgery for Woods, who had four since 2014, and his first since a spinal fusion in April 2017. He said he had feared he might not even be able to have a normal life much less continue his golf career due to his severe back pain. But after the spinal fusion and a layoff until his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December 2017, he made slow but steady progress in rebuilding his game. In March 2018, Woods shared second place at the Valspar Championship, his best PGA Tour finish since 2013, then in August finished second to Brooks Koepka at the PGA Championship. The following month, he won the season-ending Tour Championship and seven months later took the ultimate victory of his astounding comeback by winning the 2019 Masters. At age 43, he was the second-oldest green jacket winner, three years younger than Jack Nicklaus when he won the 1986 Masters. Woods had knee surgery four months later and made a triumphant return in October 2019, capturing the Zozo Championship in Japan for his 82nd US PGA Tour title, matching the mark held by Sam Snead. He remains three Major victories shy of the record 18 won by Nicklaus. Woods could miss more than two months of action, but he is hopeful he can return for the 85th Masters in April at Augusta National, according to Golf Digest. The year's other Majors include the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in May, the US Open in June at Torrey Pines and the British Open in July at Royal St George's. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS, NYTIMES