Members of the Order of the British Empire

Golf: Rose win inspires English golfers

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 20:32

Justin Rose's breakthrough win at the US Open could open the door for England's golden generation of golfers to finally make their collective mark in the record books. Rose, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Lee Westwood have long starred on the Ryder Cup stage and Donald and Westwood have risen to top the world rankings. But until Merion Golf Club on Sunday, none of them had been able to lift one of the sports's four major titles - the US and British Opens, the Masters and the PGA Championship.

List of the last 19 major championship winners

Thomson ReutersJune 17, 2013 19:02

(Reuters) - A list of the last 19 major championship winners after England's Justin Rose became the 18th different champion when he clinched the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania on Sunday. 2013 June - Justin Rose (England), U.S. Open April - Adam Scott (Australia), Masters 2012 August - Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), PGA Championship July - Ernie Els (South Africa), British Open

Golf: McIlroy takes it out on club at US Open

Agence France-PresseJune 17, 2013 00:30

Patience has been the order of the day for Rory McIlroy this year as he tries to get used to his new Nike clubs, but patience ran out for him at the US Open on Sunday. Already out of contention after a 75 in Saturday's third round, the 24-year-old Ulsterman, usually the coolest of customers on the golf course, briefly lost it on the 11th hole at Merion Golf Club after hitting a bad shot. He stabbed the offending iron into the ground and bent it out of shape before bending it again over his leg.

Cricket: Pietersen confirms Surrey return

Agence France-PresseJune 16, 2013 09:30

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has confirmed he will return to cricket with Surrey in their County Championship fixture away to Yorkshire next week. The 32-year-old South Africa-born shotmaker has not played since March because of a knee injury and now faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the first Ashes Test against Australia at Nottingham's Trent Bridge ground on July 10. Surrey's match against Yorkshire, which starts on Friday, has long been pencilled in as the fixture where Pietersen would return to action.

First Beatles drummer declared illustrious visitor in Lima

Agencia EFEJune 15, 2013 16:00

Lima, Jun 15 (EFE).- The first drummer of The Beatles, Pete Best, was declared an "illustrious visitor" by the mayor of the Lima district of San Miguel, Salvador Heresi, a lover of the legendary British band's music. Best arrived in the Peruvian capital to give a concert Sunday in honor of his ex-musical group called "A Day in the Life," together with Peruvian musicians and singers who were fans of The Beatles.

Golf: Open quirks could create Night-Merion scenario

Agence France-PresseJune 12, 2013 13:42

For all the work done to stage the 113th US Open on a tiny L-shaped tract, quirks of the course layout could create a nightmare at Merion when golf's top players tee off on Thursday. Players will start at the first and 11th tees because of the hole layout and shuttle rides are needed from the driving range to the tees, causing concern about traffic snarls and missed tee times.

McIlroy says soft Merion conditions suit him at U.S. Open

Thomson ReutersJune 11, 2013 19:47

ARDMORE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy is one of the few top golfers pleased to see the heavy rain falling at Merion, the site for this week's U.S. Open. While many of his opponents have bemoaned the arrival of the showers and the slower greens and softer fairways, McIlroy's mood perked up when he heard the forecast for more torrential weather. Rather, the Northern Irishman thinks the conditions in Philadelphia could help his chances of winning, just as he did two years ago at a soaked Congressional.

Formula One: McLaren admit mistakes as run ends

Agence France-PresseJune 9, 2013 19:34

McLaren team chief Martin Whitmarsh admitted he and his team had made mistakes after they failed to score a point for the first time in 65 races. The team's run of 64 points scoring races came to an end at the Canadian Grand Prix where Mexican Sergio Perez finished 11th and Briton Jenson Button was 12th. Whitmarsh said: "To have that run in the points come to an end is a bit of disappointing. "It was a tough afternoon. We got it wrong, we should have started on the prime. We really stayed out on the option too long, stayed in traffic and lost a lot of time.

Cricket: Cook expects improved New Zealand in one-dayers

Agence France-PresseMay 30, 2013 10:31

England captain Alastair Cook expects New Zealand to be far stronger in an upcoming one-day series after inflicting Test humiliation upon the Black Caps. England completed a 2-0 series whitewash with a crushing 247-run win in the second Test at Headingley concluded Tuesday -- a match where Cook became the first England batsman to score 25 Test hundreds with a second innings 130.

Cricket: Cook wary of premature Root growth

Agence France-PresseMay 29, 2013 09:33

England captain Alastair Cook said it would be a "risk"promoting Joe Root to open alongside him in the Ashes despite the Yorkshireman's impressive series against New Zealand. The 22-year-old Root, batting at number five, made his maiden Test hundred as England thrashed New Zealand by 247 runs on his Headingley home ground. Root, who opens for Yorkshire, was named as England's man-of-the-series by New Zealand coach Mike Hesson on Tuesday after his 104 followed a composed 71 in the hosts' 170-run first Test win at Lord's that set up this 2-0 series victory.