Reuters Sports News Summary

07/31/2016 12:57

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Golf: Longest club is driving sad Kerr to distraction

Cristie Kerr has bagged more than $17.5 million in career earnings, won two majors and three times occupied top spot in the world rankings but this season has been an 'annus horribilis' for the American. The 38-year-old from Florida seems completely incapable of finding the fairway off the tee and her chronic problems with the longest club in the bag are beginning to get her down.

Walker leads Day by one going into final round of PGA

Jimmy Walker birdied the last for a one-shot lead over Jason Day after Sunday's completion of the weather-interrupted third round of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, where the final round was already underway. Walker, who reached the par-five 18th in two at water-logged Baltusrol, posted a two-under 68 for an 11-under total of 199.

Motor racing: Hamilton wins in Germany to extend championship lead

Lewis Hamilton cruised to an unchallenged victory in Sunday's German Formula One Grand Prix to extend his lead over Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg at the top of the world championship standings. Hamilton seized the advantage at the start from pole-sitter Rosberg, who drove an underwhelming race in front of his home fans, and was never headed.

Pain and pride of refugee team shine through Misenga's tears

With tears streaming as he spoke of one day being reunited with the brother he lost in the terrifying chaos of the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war, Popole Misenga showed the potential power of the Olympics' Refugee Team on Saturday. It is not often a room packed with sports journalists breaks into spontaneous applause but it seemed the only adequate response to Misenga's moving account.

Whistleblower Stepanova again asks IOC to review her Rio ban

Whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, who helped expose state-backed doping in Russian sports and has fled the country, asked again on Saturday for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reassess her exclusion from the Rio Games. Stepanova's hopes of running at the Olympics, which start next week, as an independent athlete where dashed when the IOC ruled earlier this month that no Russian with a doping background could take part.

IOC staunchly defends Russian presence in Rio

Partial sanctions against Russian athletes over the country's state-run doping system are preliminary, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said on Sunday, defending the organization's position amid vocal criticism. The IOC opted not to ban all Russian athletes from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after revelations of a wide state-backed doping program across many sports.

Djokovic continues Monfils mastery, Nishikori wins

Novak Djokovic maintained his unbeaten record against Frenchman Gael Monfils with a 6-3 6-2 win in the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto on Saturday, while Japan's Kei Nishikori also reached the final after beating Swiss second seed Stan Wawrinka. World number one Djokovic, now 12-0 against Monfils, has the opportunity to become the tournament's first four-time winner when he meets Nishikori in Sunday's final

Halep upsets Kerber, will face Keys in final

Fifth-seeded Romanian Simona Halep overcame a crisis of confidence in the second set to reach the final of the Rogers Cup with a 6-0 3-6 6-2 upset victory over second seed Angelique Kerber of Germany in Montreal on Saturday. Halep had been a set and a break up before Kerber reeled off six straight games to lead 2-0 in the third before the Romanian regained control, sealing the win after a topsy-turvy encounter that lasted one hour 38 minutes in Montreal.

Bryan brothers pull out of Rio Games citing health concerns

Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful doubles team in men's tennis history, have pulled out of the defense of their title at the Rio Games saying their family's health is their top priority. "After countless hours of deliberation Mike and I have decided to forego the Rio Olympics," the pair wrote on their Facebook page on Saturday.

Taiwan's Chan wins maiden European Tour title in Thailand

Taiwan's Chan Shih-chang clinched his maiden European Tour title after a closing 67 secured a two-shot victory over compatriot Lin Wen-tang at the King's Cup on Sunday. Chan went into the final round with a one-shot lead and the 30-year-old mixed six birdies with three bogeys to claim the title on 12-under at the Phoenix Gold Golf Club in Pattaya, Thailand.

07/31/2016 12:57