4Aces, inspired by Reed and Warner, top both leaderboards at LIV Golf Dallas

4Aces, inspired by Reed and Warner, top both leaderboards at LIV Golf Dallas
4Aces GC are seen walking to the on the ninth hole during the first round of LIV Golf Dallas at Maridoe Golf Club on Friday. (LIV Golf)
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Updated 28 June 2025
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4Aces, inspired by Reed and Warner, top both leaderboards at LIV Golf Dallas

4Aces, inspired by Reed and Warner, top both leaderboards at LIV Golf Dallas
  • Both players shot 5-under 67s at Maridoe Golf Club, emerge as co-leaders on individual leaderboard

CARROLLTON: Teammates Patrick Reed and Harold Varner III fed off each other to lead the way during Friday’s first round of LIV Golf Dallas presented by Aramco.

They will hope to do the same on Saturday.

Reed and Varner each shot 5-under 67s at Maridoe Golf Club to emerge as co-leaders on the individual leaderboard, while also helping the 4Aces to a commanding advantage in the team competition.

It was a dominating day for the 4Aces, with captain Dustin Johnson contributing a 2-under 70 that included chip-ins for a birdie and an eagle on his first two holes. It was the kind of performance reminiscent of the 4Aces’ dominance during the inaugural 2022 LIV Golf season when they won four consecutive regular-season tournaments, then claimed the season-ending Team Championship.

The 4Aces won twice in 2023 but nothing since, and their only individual win was Johnson’s victory last year. Friday’s fast start presents an opportunity to reinforce their status as one of the league’s big dogs.

At 9-under as a team, they are six shots ahead of Crushers GC, who have won the last two tournaments and have the hometown support with captain Bryson DeChambeau being a local resident. The Crushers were the only team on Friday in which all four players shot par or better.

“The biggest thing is to keep the throttle down,” said Reed, among the league’s best players without a LIV Golf win. “Even though we have a lead now, (we will) start tomorrow as if everyone is even par and try to go win the day as a team and build on the lead.”

On a course that became more difficult throughout the day, Varner had the only bogey-free round through 17 holes. Although his tee shot on his last hole, the par-4 ninth, left him with an awkward lie, he managed to find the green — but then three-putted for the only blemish on his card. Even so, it was his best round, relative to par, this season.

“I’ve been hitting it unbelievably this whole year and I just happened to make a couple of putts today,” said Varner, who has six top-20 finishes this year. “I don’t think there’s like a genie in a bottle or anything like that but I felt like I was going to play well.”

Reed’s round was highlighted by a chip-in eagle at the par-5 second, allowing him to keep up with Varner in a threesome that also included teammate from 4Aces Thomas Pieters, the team’s leading points producer this season, who shot a 3-over 75.

“Harold is out there playing some solid golf, hitting some quality golf shots,” said Reed, who has five top-three finishes in his LIV Golf career. “It’s always nice when you’re seeing that because you can feed off of it. Obviously it was a bonus chipping in there for eagle.”

Varner did not even think the eagle was his teammate’s best chip of the day. He cited Reed’s third shot at the par-5 13th from an awkward lie out of the greenside rough 30 yards from the pin.

Varner said: “He chips it, somehow shimmies it through the rough, misses the bunker and it goes to four feet — and he misses the putt. But it was the best chip, best shot I saw. It will be the best shot in all of golf on this golf course this week, without a doubt.”

The closest pursuer to the individual co-leaders is Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm, whose 4-under 68 included an eagle at the par-4 sixth. His strong iron play allowed him to overcome an off-day with his driver, as he hit just five fairways.

Fireballs GC’s Abraham Ancer is solo fourth. He had a share of the lead until a double bogey on his final hole left him shooting 69. His seven total birdies on Friday led the field.

“Definitely (it) hurts to finish the way I finished with a double bogey,” Ancer said. “(It) just felt like I just lost a little bit of concentration on that par 3. Other than that, I felt great.”

Reed, Varner and Rahm will be in the final group off the first tee on Saturday. Rahm has been the league’s most consistent player since joining LIV Golf prior to last season, but is looking to start turning his top 10s into wins. Meanwhile, Reed and Varner are hoping to turn this weekend into a 4Aces’ party.

Varner said: “The team camaraderie in the locker room, I think we’re having a lot of fun. Maybe too much fun.”

TEAM SCORES

LIV Golf’s new scoring format this season now involves all four scores counting in every round in the team competition (click here for more on the new format). Here are the results and scores for each team after Friday’s round one of LIV Golf Dallas presented by Aramco.

1. 4ACES GC -9 (Reed 67, Varner III 67, Johnson 70, Pieters 75)

2. CRUSHERS GC -3 (Lahiri 70, Casey 71, DeChambeau 72, Howell III 72)

3. LEGION XIII E (Rahm 68, McKibbin 71, Hatton 74, Surratt 75)

4. FIREBALLS GC +2 (Ancer 69, Puig 70, Garcia 75, Ballester 76)

5. STINGER GC +3 (Oosthuizen 71, Schwartzel 72, Burmester 74, Grace 74)

T6. IRON HEADS GC +6 (Kozuma 72, Jang 74, Lee 74, Na 74)

T6. MAJESTICKS GC +6 (Westwood 72, Poulter 73, Stenson 73, Horsfield 76)

8. HYFLYERS GC +9 (Tringale 72, Ogletree 73, Steele 75, Mickelson 77)

T9. RANGEGOATS GC +10 (Campbell 73, Schniederjans 74, Watson 75, Uihlein 76)

T9. CLEEKS GC +10 (Bland 70, Kaymer 73, Meronk 77, Rottluff 78)

11. SMASH GC +15 (McDowell 70, Kokrak 73, Gooch 79, Koepka/Carrera 81)

12. RIPPER GC +16 (Herbert 75, Leishman 75, Smith 75, Jones 79)

13. TORQUE GC +17 (Pereira 72, Muñoz 76, Niemann 78, Ortiz 79)

Wild Cards: Kim 75, C. Lee 80


MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game

MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game
Updated 10 sec ago
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MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game

MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game
  • The MLS All-Stars won in 2022 and beat Liga MX on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw a year prior
  • Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, both face possible league suspensions for their team’s next match against Cincinnati on Saturday for missing the All-Star game
AUSTIN: Sam Surridge, Tai Baribo and Brian White scored goals and Major League Soccer defeated Liga MX of Mexico 3-1 in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday night playing without Lionel Messi.
Messi and his Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, both face possible league suspensions for their team’s next match against Cincinnati on Saturday for missing the All-Star game.
“Messi’s the greatest,” MLS coach Nico Estévez said. “Playing with him and coaching him would be something amazing. But we have to show respect for the guys that showed up today. They did great. It’s a special week, a unique event. Not everyone can enjoy this. I’m fortunate.”
Liga MX’s James Rodríguez also chose not to play in the game played in front of more than 20,000 fans at Q2 Stadium.
MLS has defeated Liga MX three times in four tries. Last year Liga MX won 4-1 in Columbus, Ohio. The MLS All-Stars won in 2022 and beat Liga MX on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw a year prior.
Messi has yet to appear in an MLS All-Star Game. He missed the game last year with an injury. Messi is currently tied with Nashville’s Surridge for the MLS lead in goals with 18.
Surridge scored another goal on Wednesday, from the middle of the box, heading in to the lower right corner a ball directed by LAFC’s Denis Bouanga in the 28th minute.
The opportunity developed after Bouanga had a point-blank attempt stopped by Liga MX goalkeeper Luis Malagon (Club America). Bouanga hustled to retrieve the long rebound and sent it to Surridge.
Before the goal, both teams had attempts rejected with diving stops by Luis Malagón and Austin FC’s Brad Stuver in the 13th and 18th minutes.
MLS went ahead 2-0 in the 51st minute when Diego Rossi (Columbus) passed ahead to Baribo (Philadelphia), whose right footed shot from the center of the box made it to the lower left corner of the goal.
Liga MX closed the gap to 2-1 just 13 minutes later when Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana) converted a pass from Elias Montiel (Pachuca) from the middle of the box.
“We had moments when we played good soccer,” Liga MX coach André Jardine said.
Liga MX’s bid to tie the match was snubbed when a shot by Diber Cambindo (Necaxa) was stopped by Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver) in the 75th minute.
White (Vancouver) finished the scoring in the 80th minute.
Baribo ranks fourth in MLS with 14 goals and White has scored 11 as they chase Messi and Surridge.
“They are competitive,” Estévez said. “One scores and the other says ‘I have to score.’ Brian in the end said ‘I have to score.’ “
Up next
MLS and Liga MX continue their rivalry with the Leagues Cup that begins on July 29 and concludes Aug. 31. The competition features a new format, with all 18 clubs from Liga MX and the top 18 from MLS competing. Last year all 47 clubs from the two leagues were included.

Spain beat Germany with Bonmati extra-time goal to reach Women’s Euro 2025 final

Spain beat Germany with Bonmati extra-time goal to reach Women’s Euro 2025 final
Updated 33 min 35 sec ago
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Spain beat Germany with Bonmati extra-time goal to reach Women’s Euro 2025 final

Spain beat Germany with Bonmati extra-time goal to reach Women’s Euro 2025 final
  • It was not one of Barcelona star Bonmati’s most influential performances, yet she still delivered when it mattered to keep Spain on course to win their first European Championship crown
  • The Spaniards will now face reigning European champions England on Sunday in Basel in what will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup decider, when La Roja triumphed 1-0 in Sydney

ZURICH: Aitana Bonmati netted the only goal of the game late in extra time as world champions Spain edged Germany 1-0 in their Women’s Euro 2025 semifinal on Wednesday to set up a title decider this weekend against England.

A tense game in Zurich was ticking down toward penalties when reigning Ballon d’Or Bonmati struck in the 113th minute, surprising the usually reliable German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger at her near post.

It was not one of Barcelona star Bonmati’s most influential performances, yet she still delivered when it mattered to keep Spain on course to win their first European Championship crown.

“We knew that the goalkeeper often leaves her near post open in these situations, so I didn’t think twice. I didn’t want the game to go to penalties,” said a beaming Bonmati.

Spain were also grateful to goalkeeper Cata Coll for some vital interventions, including a spectacular double save to deny Klara Buehl and Carlotta Wamser right at the end of normal time, as Germany were agonizingly eliminated.

The Spaniards will now face reigning European champions England on Sunday in Basel in what will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup decider, when La Roja triumphed 1-0 in Sydney.

If Montse Tome’s side come out on top again, they will become the first nation to hold both the world and European titles at the same time since Germany almost 15 years ago.

Spain had never beaten Germany before, and now they advance to their first-ever Euro final, with the chance to cement their status as the leading force in international women’s football.

“We have made history again today, getting to a first Euro final and beating Germany for the first time,” said Bonmati.

“We are proud to be part of this generation of players, but this is not over yet. We can enjoy this and then tomorrow we need to start thinking about England.”

Germany, meanwhile, had been hoping to avenge their defeat by England in the last Euro final in 2022, but they will not add to their record tally of eight European Championship victories.

“She doesn’t have to take responsibility. She made so many wonderful saves to get us where we are,” Germany coach Christian Wueck said of goalkeeper Berger. “There is no blame, we are very proud of the team.”

Spain should have been the fresher of the two sides, having played their quarter-final against hosts Switzerland a day before Germany got the better of France on penalties after playing almost the whole game with 10 players.

Germany were also missing three starters from that match, with Kathrin Hendrich and Sjoeke Nuesken suspended while right-back Sarai Linder was injured.

Wueck’s team did unsurprisingly have the majority of the 22,432 crowd behind them at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium, and they also had Berger in goal.

A star of the win over France, she made a fine save to keep out a shot from Spain’s Esther Gonzalez — her teammate at Gotham FC in the United States — just before the midway point in the first half, tipping the ball over for a corner.

Spain captain Irene Paredes headed against the post from a Claudia Pina corner and Gonzalez was again denied by Berger before half-time.

It was then Germany’s turn to have the best chances in the second half, but Coll made a crucial block from Buehl just after the hour mark, and the Bayern Munich star also curled a free-kick just wide late on.

Then came the stunning double save from Coll right at the end of the allotted four minutes of injury time, as the Barcelona goalkeeper kept out a deflected Buehl shot that was looping in and quickly got up to stop Wamser’s follow-up.

That was a sign that it would not be Germany’s night, and they then saw defender Sophia Kleinherne come off in tears early in extra time after overstretching while trying to stop Salma Paralluelo going clean through on goal.

Spain’s winner eventually came, as Bonmati let a ball from Athenea del Castillo run past her in the area before beating Berger with a shot from a tight angle.

There was still time for Coll to excel again, flying to her left to save from Lea Schueller as Spain held on.


Milan wins crash-marred sprint as Tour approaches Alpine end game

Milan wins crash-marred sprint as Tour approaches Alpine end game
Updated 43 min 30 sec ago
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Milan wins crash-marred sprint as Tour approaches Alpine end game

Milan wins crash-marred sprint as Tour approaches Alpine end game
  • On the rain-slick roads at Valence once one rider had fallen his interminable slide across the tarmac sent riders flying like skittles leaving only 10 to contest the sprint
  • The 24-year-old Lidl Trek rider now has 312 points, and is in a powerful position to win the battle for the green jersey in Paris

VALENCE: Italy’s Jonathan Milan escaped a spectacular pile-up of flying bikes and bodies to win stage 17 of the Tour de France in lashing rain on Wednesday, extending his lead in the sprint points race.

Overall leader Tadej Pogacar and his closest rival Jonas Vingegaard (4min 15sec behind) finished safely despite a mass fall 800m from the finish line at Valence at the foot of the Alps.

On the rain-slick roads at Valence once one rider had fallen his interminable slide across the tarmac sent riders flying like skittles leaving only 10 to contest the sprint.

“It was chaotic but incredible. I was expecting a bit of rain. We placed as best as we could and the guys put me in the best spot just before the fall,” said Milan.

This was a second stage win for Milan, who won Italy’s first stage since 2019 on stage eight.

The 24-year-old Lidl Trek rider now has 312 points, and is in a powerful position to win the battle for the green jersey in Paris as Pogacar is second at 240 with only two possible sprints left at 50pts each.

 

As the remaining 164 riders embarked from the sleepy Provence village of Bollene, the collective will of the peloton made for a slow approach of the Alps.

Billed as a sprinters stage on an unusually mild (22C) day the riders were also spared the 50kph winds that had been forecast.

But the rain deprived the stage of a full bunch sprint due to the horrid fall.

Attention now turns to three massive climbs culminating with the ascent to the 2304m altitude Col de la Loze on stage 18 will sort the wheat from the chaff on Thursday’s Queen stage.

Team UAE rider Pogacar seemed unperturbed.

“We can’t get arrogant, we need to keep it simple and stay quiet,” said the 26-year-old.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I have been beaten there before but I have good legs and maybe I’ll get my revenge,” he said.

After 10 opening days of rolling terrain in the north and west of France where Pocacar and Vingegaard kept a watchful eye on each other as emerging riders stole the headlines, week two was where the real fight began.

The defending champion Pogacar attacked the Dane Vingegaard on the first mountain, smacking over two minutes into him on one climb as things looked grim for the Slovenian’s rivals.

The following day on a regular bike on a time-trial Pogacar whacked another 40sec into the Visma star who has however taken over four minutes off the Slovenian on a single stage to win the 2023 Tour.

While Friday’s hellishly-designed five mountains of madness on stage 19 sound the final call for any pretender to knock Pogacar off his high perch.

Unless that is the three ascents of the cobbled roads to the Sacre Coeur Basilica in old Montmartre descend into chaos on Sunday.

Another Slovenian rider Matej Mohoric of Bahrain Victorious said he was confident Pogacar would close out his fourth Tour de France win.

“He was born with a machine inside him, and he was born with the brain to use that machine,” Mohoric said.


Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final

Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final
Updated 24 July 2025
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Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final

Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final
  • Germany’s Euro 2025 campaign had been full of promise, but not matched in substance
  • It was short on defenders against Spain with Sarai Linder joining Gwinn on the injury list and Hendrichs and Nüsken both suspended

German chancellor Friedrich Merz never got to see Germany play at the Women’s European Championship.

“If it goes well we’ll see each other Sunday evening in Basel for the final,” Merz posted on social media before the German team faced World Cup champion Spain in the semifinal match on Wednesday.

It didn’t go quite that well. Aitana Bonmatí scored late in extra time for Spain to win 1-0 and avoid a penalty shootout that the Germany team had been holding out for.

Germany’s Euro 2025 campaign had been full of promise, but not matched in substance.

Merz was filmed watching Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s amazing save in the quarterfinal win over France as if he’d never seen it before. He was never so excited during a football game than he’d been watching Germany win on penalties the previous weekend.

A commitment to meet France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, meant Merz couldn’t attend the semifinals in Zurich.

Anyone watching Germany during the tournament was left wondering what the team is really capable of.

A highlight reel would feature a string of fine saves from Berger, committed defending from Franziska Kett, Giovanna Hoffmann and Jule Brand – who are all forward – and only occasional flashes of brilliance in attack, such as Brand’s opening strike in the team’s first game against Poland.

Germany, the eight-time European champion, only nearly reached the final through sheer dogged determination.

Captain Giulia Gwinn was injured against Poland and ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. A 2-1 come-from-behind win over Denmark ensured early progress from the group, before a chastening 4-1 loss to Sweden in the last group game.

Germany had defender Gwinn’s replacement, Carlotta Wamser, sent off early against Sweden for swatting the ball away from goal with her hand, then Kathrin Hendrich sent off early in the quarterfinal match against France for pulling French captain Griedge Mbock back by her hair.

It meant Germany reverted to defensive tactics in both games, protecting Berger’s goal while hoping the likes of Brand and star forward Klara Bühl might score on counterattacks.

Bühl’s corner allowed Sjoeke Nüsken to score the equalizer against France and the team held on despite French dominance to win 6-5 on penalties after Berger’s heroics.

The Germany goalkeeper was feted afterward for her amazing save to stop stand-in captain Janina Minge’s backward header from going into her own net when she leaped backwards and somehow clawed the ball away from the line. Berger also saved two penalties and scored her own spot kick in the shootout.

The win filled the German players and supporters with confidence ahead of the game against Spain, despite the overall performance against France.

“We dominated them from start to finish. Now they’re through. I’m sorry, but they don’t deserve it,” France winger Selma Bacha said.

Germany was short on defenders against Spain with Sarai Linder joining Gwinn on the injury list and Hendrichs and Nüsken both suspended. But it didn’t stop the team defending, with forward helping out at the back, producing timely blocks and committed challenges to frustrate Spain’s star forward. Berger again made a host of saves until she left space at her near post and Bonmatí squeezed the ball through.

It ended Germany’s hopes of a rematch with defending champion England in the final, and left Merz with an opening in his schedule.

 


Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m

Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m
Updated 23 July 2025
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Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m

Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m
  • Ekitiké is Liverpool’s latest big-money signing after Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez
  • The 23-year-old Ekitiké has joined for a fee of $93.5m

LONDON: Liverpool signed France forward Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday to continue the Premier League champion’s offseason spending spree.

Ekitiké is Liverpool’s latest big-money signing after Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez — taking their outlay to around $342 million.

The 23-year-old Ekitiké has joined for a fee of 69 million pounds ($93.5 million) and signed a six-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because details have not been made public, said the fee could rise by a further 10 million pounds ($13.5 million).

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been busy strengthening a team that won their record-equaling 20th English league title last season — in particular in attack.

Wirtz, signed from Bayer Leverkusen last month for a fee that could rise to a British record 116 million pounds ($156 million), is considered one of the brightest talents in Europe. And Etikité is another player who has shone in Germany after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last year.

He scored 22 in 48 appearances in his one full season with Frankfurt, which have made a big profit on him after buying him for a reported $19 million last year.

Ekitiké’s move comes weeks after Liverpool forward Diogo Jota died in a car accident in Spain.

There is uncertainty about the future of other Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, who have both been targeted by teams in Europe during the offseason.

The Merseyside club have not retained a league title since winning three in a row between 1982 and ‘84, which was before the inception of the Premier League.

They are likely to face challenges from Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea, who have all been active in the transfer market since the end of the season.

Ekitiké is the latest big-money departure from Frankfurt after forward Omar Marmoush joined Man City for a reported $73 million in January.

Marmoush was the team’s top-scorer at the time, but Ekitiké responded with his best performances in a Frankfurt shirt to help the team finish third in the Bundesliga for Champions League qualification.