2021 Kentucky Derby Contenders2021 Kentucky Derby Contenders
A look at the horses slated to enter the Kentucky Derby with full profiles and photos for each horse. Entries are next Tuesday!
Day: April 24, 2021
Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel surge to Zurich Classic of New Orleans leadLouis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel surge to Zurich Classic of New Orleans lead
AVONDALE, La. — Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel birdied six of their final eight holes Saturday to shoot a 9-under 63 and take a one-shot lead at 19-under 197 into the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. RELATED: Leaderboard | Doug Ghim, Justin Suh bounce back to get in contention at the Zurich Classic The South African tandem birdied the par-3 17th with Oosthuizen’s 33-foot putt and Oosthuizen missed an eagle on the par-5 18th by 4 inches before tapping in for the lead while wearing a somewhat disgusted look because of his narrowly missed previous putt from nearly 17 feet. Oosthuizen then allowed for a smile while fist-bumping Schwartzel in acknowledgment of a successful round in a best-ball format that included nine birdies — five by Schwartzel and four by Oosthuizen in the PGA TOUR’s lone regular-season team event. Schwartzel got the pair going when he birdied No. 4 with a nearly 58-foot putt. The tournament will close with an alternate-shot round. “It’s going to be tough tomorrow,” Oosthuizen said. “Anyone within four shots of the lead has got a chance with the format that it is tomorrow. … The way the wind is the whole week, I think the golf course plays very tough, especially in alternate-shot.” In all, 17 teams were no more than four strokes back. Australians Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith also shot a 63 to move into a tie for second at 18 under with Cameron Champ and Tony Finau, who shot a 67 after Finau’s tap-in birdie. “Cam is playing great, putting great. I’m feeling a lot better over the ball today than I did the first two rounds,” Leishman said. “If I can play good, Cam keeps doing what he’s doing, I think we’ve got a good chance.” Tied for fourth at 17 under were the teams of Bubba Watson and Scottie Scheffler, and Norwegians Viktor Hovland and Kris Ventura, who’d shared the lead after the first and second rounds. Ryan Palmer and Spaniard Jon Rahm, the defending champs from 2019, shot a third-round 65 to remain in contention at 15 under and tied for ninth with nine other teams. Saturday’s action included some exceptional shots by players further back in the field, including Sam Ryder’s double-eagle from 206 yards on the par-5 second hole and Wyndham Clark’s 106-yard approach from the muddy edge of a water hazard on 16. Clark stood in the water in bare feet with his pants rolled up and splattered virtually all of himself with mud as he sent his ball to the edge of the green, about 15 feet from the hole, from where he made par. Clark and teammate Erik van Rooyen were among the teams at 15 under. Ryder and Doc Redman, who shot a third-round 66, were tied for 19th at 13 under.
ARCA’s Lancaster taken to hospital after crashARCA’s Lancaster taken to hospital after crash
ARCA driver Derrick Lancaster was taken to a hospital after an accident when his car caught fire Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway.
Doug Ghim, Justin Suh bounce back to get in contention at the Zurich ClassicDoug Ghim, Justin Suh bounce back to get in contention at the Zurich Classic
Doug Ghim and Justin Suh were pretty disappointed with the ragged finish to their round on Friday at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The two were humming along nicely in the foursomes format but made bogeys at four of their last six holes to turn what was a solid effort into 73. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Tee times Ah, but youth bounces back better than most. Ghim, 25, and Suh, 23 – the youngest pair to make it to the weekend at Zurich – viewed Saturday as a new day, with new opportunity. They would shoot 8-under 63 to give themselves some hope heading into Sunday. Starting their day tied for 20th, the two moved inside the top 10 and are at 15-under 201 heading to Sunday, four shots behind leaders Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. Both Ghim and Suh live in Las Vegas, and the team was formed with the help of their agents. Suh was a decorated amateur, an All-American at the University of Southern Cal who set a Trojans record for most rounds in the 60s (64). He also is a part of that talented class of 2019 that includes Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff, just waiting to make his splash. He simply lacks the proper status to get starts right now. Suh has only four starts thus far in 2021, including top-35 finishes at PGA TOUR stops in Puerto Rico and Punta Cana. His only other start this month was on the Korn Ferry Tour. For Suh, this marks an important week. He knew going in that if he and Ghim were to find some magic in New Orleans and win, it would mean a PGA TOUR card for him. “It’s a perk,” Ghim said. “I wouldn’t be here, wouldn’t have showed up, wouldn’t have tried so hard to get Justin into this tournament if I didn’t think we could win together. When Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt won (at Zurich in 2017, the first year of the team format), that’s how Cameron got his status. “It would mean the world to me (to help Justin get his card). It would mean that I would also have another buddy on TOUR from home, which would be huge. Anything I could do to help would be awesome.” Here’s how different the formats are at Zurich. In the Friday foursomes (alternate shot), the low round was 68. It’s pressure packed. Saturday, Suh hit his opening tee shot out of bounds; Ghim birdied the hole. Ghim birdied the next hole, too, and then Suh soon joined in. He’d make seven birdies, including one at the difficult par-3 ninth (7 feet) and one last one at 18 (4 feet). Ghim tried to settle his partner’s nerves early on by suggesting the two play a birdie game, at $20 a birdie. It helped. Ghim lost, but later said it was the best $60 he ever has parted with. Suh looks for more of the same tomorrow in foursomes, hoping for a much better finish than the one he and Ghim had on Friday. “This has been a lot of fun,” Suh said. “I’m really glad that Doug chose me as his partner for this week. We’re just looking to play good golf tomorrow.” Given their Saturday show, at least they have given themselves an outside chance.
Nets’ Durant (thigh) probable to return SundayNets’ Durant (thigh) probable to return Sunday
After missing the Brooklyn Nets’ last three games with a left thigh contusion, Kevin Durant is probable to return on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns.
Crosby, Rust lead Penguins past DevilsCrosby, Rust lead Penguins past Devils
Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust each scored their 20th goal of the season as the Penguins defeated the Devils, 4-2.
a Goal from Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devilsa Goal from Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils
(Pittsburgh Penguins) with a Goal from Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils, 04/24/2021
Yelich heads back to Milwaukee for MRI on backYelich heads back to Milwaukee for MRI on back
The Brewers received a flurry of bad news Saturday as outfielder Christian Yelich was sent back to Milwaukee for an MRI on his back, while two pitchers, Brett Anderson and Josh Lindblom, were placed on injured reserve.
Like father, like sons: Wheldon boys sign dealLike father, like sons: Wheldon boys sign deal
Standing below the monument on Dan Wheldon Way that honors their late father, the two young sons of the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner took a big step in their budding racing careers.