Digest

GOLF

Cao reigns in Canada for 'huge' breakthrough

China's Cao Yi hailed a "huge" moment in his career after winning the Mackenzie Tour's Canada Life Series Points List by the finest of margins last week.

Cao and South Africa's Albert Pistorius began the final round of the Canada Life Series Championship at TPC Toronto ranked first and second respectively on the points list and were just a stroke apart on the 36-hole scoreboard－Pistorius tied for 12th and Cao tied for 16th.

In the final round, both players made eagles and both had two birdies. However, Pistorius bogeyed the 14th hole, while Cao was bogey-free on Friday to sign for a 67; Pistorius carded a 68.

The duo concluded the tournament tied for eighth, seven shots behind winner Laurent Desmarchais. The battle within the battle, though, went to Cao, who walked away with an 18.333-point victory over Pistorius and two big prizes that came with being the points list champion: Conditional status and six guaranteed starts on the 2021 Mackenzie Tour, which is a development circuit for the PGA Tour, and a playing spot in the 2021 RBC Canadian Open.

"It's huge for my career. These are the only four events I played all season, and these players are really good," said 30-year-old Beijing-born Cao. "I would say whether it's me or Albert, it's a great opportunity."

SOCCER

Red-carded Neymar accuses rival of racism

Neymar was sent off on his return from COVID-19 quarantine after reacting to an alleged racist slur as Marseille snapped its 20-match winless run against Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-0 victory over the reigning Ligue 1 champion on Sunday.

Florian Thauvin's 31st-minute volley earned Marseille a first victory over its bitter rival since November 2011, but an ugly scuffle at the end resulted in five red cards at Parc des Princes.

Neymar, in his first game since testing positive for coronavirus earlier this month, was dismissed in injury time for a slap on Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez.

The Brazilian appeared to accuse his opponent of racism as he left the pitch. "Look at the racism. That's why I hit him," Neymar said. "The only regret I have is not hitting this idiot in the face," he tweeted after the match.

Spaniard Gonzalez denied being racist and seemed to suggest Neymar was a sore loser, tweeting: "Sometimes you have to learn to lose and take it on the field."

BASEBALL

Cubs' little-known Mills throws 'crazy' no-hitter

Alec Mills cruised through baseball's second no-hitter this season in just the 15th start of his career, completing the gem in a 12-0 romp over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Mills got Jace Peterson－who replaced Christian Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP, on defense late in the blowout－to hit a routine grounder to shortstop Javier Baez with two outs in the ninth.

Baez completed the play, and the Cubs swarmed around Mills, tearing off his cap and pulling at the smiling right-hander's uniform after his first career complete game.

"It just hasn't really hit me yet," the 28-year-old said. "It's kind of crazy, I didn't even know how to celebrate. Just something that all came together today. Obviously a memory I'll have forever."

Mills was a 22nd-round draft pick by Kansas City in 2012 and had Tommy John surgery in 2013. He had started just six major-league games prior to this season.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Brady laments 'terrible' turnovers in debut loss

Tom Brady was intercepted twice in his Tampa Bay debut, Alvin Kamara scored touchdowns running and receiving, and the New Orleans Saints beat the Buccaneers 34-23 on Sunday.

The first of Brady's interceptions led to Kamara's six-yard touchdown run. The second pick thrown by the new, 43-year-old Bucs QB－who left the New England Patriots in free agency after 20 years and six Super Bowl triumphs－was returned 36 yards for a touchdown by Janoris Jenkins.

Neither quarterback was statistically exceptional in this first-ever NFL game featuring two quarterbacks in their 40s. The 41-year-old Drew Brees passed for 160 yards and two TDs, but he also avoided critical mistakes. He did not turn over the ball and took only one sack. His first TD pass was a dump-off to Kamara from 12 yards. In the fourth quarter he hit free-agent signing Emmanuel Sanders for a five-yard score. "It's a game of execution. Obviously they made more plays than we did, and I made just some bad, terrible turnovers," said Brady.

CRICKET

England ties ODI series as Australia collapses

Australia batted itself into a winning position before dramatically collapsing Sunday as England won the second one-day international by 24 runs to stay alive in the series.

England's decision to bat first at Old Trafford had appeared to backfire with the world champion limited to 231-9 and Australia reaching 143-2 with 20 overs left.

Australia was making the run chase look easy thanks to a 107-run stand for the third wicket between captain Aaron Finch (73) and Marnus Labuschagne (48). But the tourist then collapsed to 147-6, and 166-8, in Manchester before finishing 207 all out in 48.4 overs.

A trio of England pacers did the damage: Chris Woakes (3-32), Jofra Archer (3-34) and Sam Curran 3-35.In what has become an unwanted tour tradition for the Aussies, Archer again claimed opener David Warner (6).

MOTOR SPORTS

Hamilton keeps cool to win crash-marred race

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton kept his cool amid the mayhem to win the Tuscan Grand Prix in Mugello on Sunday for the 90th win of his incredible career.

He is just one win behind Michael Schumacher's record and inching closer to matching the German great's record of seven F1 titles.

"My heart is racing," Hamilton said. "It is crazy to be here and to have 90 grand prix (wins)."

The first F1 race on a Mugello track with super-fast corners usually used by MotoGP riders was incident-packed. Two crashes on the first seven laps saw six drivers go out, while two red flags saw the race restarted twice.

However, pole-sitter Hamilton held firm during the chaos. Valtteri Bottas completed the one-two for Mercedes at the Ferrari-owned track. Red Bull's Thai driver Alexander Albon, whose teammate Max Verstappen retired in the gravel at the second corner, took third place.

China Daily - Agencies