Time to cancel that flight.

“I might do it right now in front of you,” Gotterup said, the trophy at his side that also sends him to the Masters next year for the first time.

He earned those perks. Gotterup, tied with McIlroy to start the final round, drove into a bunker and had to make a nervy 4-footer for bogey on the opening hole. That was a reminder nothing was going to come easily.

“I definitely was the villain out there today,” he said. “I felt like I was ready and prepared mentally today. And that’s kind of what I’ve been talking about over the last couple of weeks, that I’ve kind of gotten into the mix a little bit and just faded away a little bit. And today, my goal was to hang in there tough and I felt like I did that really well.”

He finished at 15-under 265 and moves into the top 50 in the world for the first time.

“Chris played a great round of golf. He was so solid,” McIlroy said. “Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. After he got a couple ahead, I just couldn’t claw back.”

Gotterup was one shot ahead of McIlroy when he hit his tee shot on the 196-yard 12th hole to 2 feet for birdie — McIlroy missed from 4 feet — to take command.

His lead was down to one over McIlroy and Penge, but McIlroy missed a 12-foot birdie at the par-5 16th and Gotterup hit a right-to-left putt from 10 feet in the heart of the cup for a two-shot lead with two to play.

Gotterup was so emotional when it was over he could barely speak, rubbing his eyes before saying, “Everyone at home … this is awesome. I’m not going to be able to keep it together.”

Next stop is the British Open

Gotterup, built more like fellow New Jersey athlete Mike Trout than a golfer, also won the opposite-field Myrtle Beach Classic last year. The Genesis Scottish Open had one of the strongest fields of the year, and the perks are far greater.

The first stop is the British Open at Royal Portrush. Gotterup earned one of the three final spots through the International Qualifying Series, joined by Nicolai Hojgaard and Matti Schmid.

Hojgaard closed with a 64 to move up 11 spots into a tie for fourth to join his twin brother at Royal Portrush. Schmid shot 71 and tied for 17th, helped by Jake Knapp’s late collapse.

Knapp was tied for the lead through five holes, but he took double bogey on the par-3 ninth and the rest of the back nine didn’t go much better. He closed with a 74, losing on a chance to win and to play next week at Royal Portrush.

Good timing for McIlroy

McIlroy had said he was playing his best golf since going into the Masters, which he won in emotional fashion to complete the career Grand Slam. This was the first time he had seriously contended since that Masters victory, good timing with the Open in his native Northern Ireland starting on Thursday.

But he couldn’t keep up with Gotterup, who looked shaky at the start when he drove into a bunker and had to make a 4-foot bogey putt. He was rock solid the rest of the way.

“I’m really happy with where my game is — the way I played over the weekend, the shots that I hit, how I controlled my ball flight,” McIlroy said. “It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that’s about it.”

McIlroy battled to the end, especially on No. 11 when he had to pitch out left-handed and still managed to save par. When it was over, he said he was on his way to Royal Portrush, which McIlroy had not seen since the Friday of the 2019 British Open when he missed the cut.

Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick had a 67 and tied for fourth with Hojgaard, picking up valuable FedEx Cup points in what has been a down year.

Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player coming off a two-week break, had a 67 and tied for eighth. It was his 10th consecutive tournament finishing eighth or better, a streak that began in the Houston Open.

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., had a 69 on the day to finish tied for 13th at 7 under. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., shot 69 to finish two strokes back of Pendrith and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., closed with a 68 to end up 2 under.

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

The Associated Press

Par five battle

While Rory booms one down the middle on seven, Scheffler is on the green in two back at the second. He has over 50 feet to the pin, so he’s only looking at the remotest chance of eagle, but it looks like the world number one is going to -11 and maybe even three clear. Ominous.

Eagle for Fitzy!

Errrr… scratch that! Just as Fitzpatrick short-sides himself into two and looks like it’ll be an impressive up-and-down just for birdie, he’s only gone and canned it for eagle! Bounce-back big bird and the Englishman goes to -10. Game on.

And Scheffler three-putts

And Scheffler three-rolls! What a swing. Now it’s all tied at the top at 10 under. And it means, comparing their opening two holes, Rory has officially got one of the seven back on the overnight leader.

Rory McIlroy put himself in pole position to win the Scottish Open after he carded a fine four-under par 66 at the Renaissance Club.

The world number two landed five birdies, and just one bogey, to leave him on 11-under par for the tournament, and a share of the overnight lead with American Chris Gotterup.

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England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge are two shots back following rounds of 69, tied for third with Americans Wyndham Clark and Jake Knapp.

McIlroy landed his first birdie at the par-five third before dropping a shot at the seventh. However, he bounced back by picking up a shot on the next hole before further birdies at the 10th and par-three 14th.

Rory McIlroy carded a four-under par 66 on the third day (Malcolm Mackenzie/PA)

The Northern Irishman appeared in slight trouble on the par-five 16th after a wayward drive ended in the deep rough. But a beautiful approach allowed him to roll in a straight uphill birdie putt.

He set himself up with another birdie chance at the following par three only to see his putt sail agonisingly wide.

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A perfect 340-yard tee shot at the concluding hole put him in the driving seat once more, but again his birdie attempt rolled narrowly past the hole.

However, McIlroy’s encouraging performance – with clear signs of him being back at his best – comes at a crucial time with The Open at Royal Portrush to follow next week.

It also marks a significant improvement on McIlroy’s form since he won the Masters in April to complete the Grand Slam.

A moving day 66 to tie the lead for Rory ✍️#GenesisScottishOpen | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/0hieB2hZPn — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 12, 2025

And he said on Sky Sports: “It is my first realistic chance to win after the Masters.

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“I have had a great season but yes, and I have said this before, when you do something you that have dreamt of for your whole life, and then do it, it was a huge moment in my life and career.

Sport Can Portrush return light Rory McIlroy’s fire? – O… Read More

“I just need that little bit of time, and to be back here for the last couple of weeks and digest all of it, I feel like I came here for this tournament with renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the rest of the year.”

World number 158 Gotterup equalled the course record with nine birdies in a bogey-free 61 on Friday to start the third day two shots clear.

However, he will start the final day on level terms with McIlroy following a level-par round featuring two birdies and the same number of bogeys.

Scottie Scheffler made eight birdies in his second round to surge to the top of the leaderboard

The world number one brushed aside two torrential rain showers in Northern Ireland to fire a seven-under par 64, the best round of the week so far, and send an ominous warning to his title rivals.

He is 10-under overall at the halfway stage, one stroke clear of Matthew Fitzpatrick.

“Fortunately, it didn’t pour the whole time,” said Scheffler after his lowest round in a major.

“We only had maybe four or five holes where it was really coming down, and I was able to take advantage of the holes where we had some good weather.”

Fitzpatrick produced a brilliant 66 to boost his hopes of becoming the first English winner since Nick Faldo claimed his third title in 1992.

Brian Harman, the 2023 champion, is one shot further behind on eight-under, alongside China’s Li Haotong.

Home favourite Rory McIlroy carded a two-under par 69 to reach three-under for the tournament, but is already seven strokes off the pace.

Scheffler struggled off the tee on Thursday but still scored a first-round 68 to sit one stroke off the overnight lead.

He got his second round off to a flying start with a first-hole birdie in driving rain.

The PGA Championship winner then reeled off three consecutive birdies from the fifth hole, including a 34-foot putt down the hill on the par-three sixth.

A second downpour played its part in a rare bogey on the 11th, but Scheffler quickly responded with his sixth birdie of the round on the par-three 13th.

The three-time major champion picked up another shot on the treacherous 16th, dubbed “Calamity Corner”, before reaching 10-under on the 17th despite hitting his drive into the crowd.

One last birdie putt pulled up just short of the last hole, but Scheffler will be a firm favourite going into the weekend as he eyes his fourth win of the year.

Matthew Fitzpatrick is hoping to end a 33-year wait for an English winner of the British Open © ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP

Former US Open champion Fitzpatrick reeled off four straight birdies at the start of the back nine to briefly reach 10-under, before giving a shot back on the 14th.

He missed a three-foot birdie putt on the penultimate green but made up for it by draining a 23-footer for par on 18.

“He’s world number one, and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff. I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament,” Fitzpatrick said, looking ahead to playing with Scheffler in Saturday’s final group.

Harman makes move

Harman, who won by six shots at Hoylake two years ago, completed a bogey-free 65 with his sixth birdie of the day on the 18th green.

Brian Harman took the clubhouse lead with a second round of 65 © ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP

“It’s a very boring approach that I take. I’m not trying to be heroic or do anything crazy,” he said.

Li is bidding to become the first Chinese man to win a major championship and he made five birdies in a second consecutive round of 67.

He came close to edging ahead of Harman, but saw a birdie putt on the 18th agonisingly slip by the hole.

“Definitely want to be comfortable… Will be a lot of pressure for sure, but just have to find a way to deal with that,” Li said of the scrutiny which will be on him over the weekend.

McIlroy stays in touch

McIlroy’s roller-coaster tournament continued, as his errant driving prevented him from taking full advantage of excellent early scoring conditions.

But the world number two found his groove late in his round, making two birdies in his final seven holes to stay in touch.

Rory McIlroy battled to stay in contention at the British Open © HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP

“I feel like I maybe could be a couple closer to the lead, but overall in a decent position heading into the weekend,” said Masters champion McIlroy.

Robert MacIntyre, hoping to become the first Scottish major champion since Paul Lawrie in 1999, cruised into contention with a 66 to reach five-under.

MacIntyre is level with Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, also seeking a maiden major title, Danish youngster Rasmus Hojgaard and Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup.

Shane Lowry, who won the tournament when it was last played at Portrush in 2019, was handed a two-stroke penalty after his round due to the ball moving when he took a practice swing on the 12th hole.

© 2025 AFP

‘We are expected to win.’ Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada eyes bright future following FIFA Club World Cup

DUBAI: Football fans around the world were treated to a sight they did not expect at the recent FIFA Club World Cup — but one with which supporters in Saudi Arabia and Asia are very familiar: Al-Hilal going toe-to-toe with the best and, often, coming out on top.

Watching proudly from the stands of stadiums across the US was Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada. The Spaniard joined the Riyadh giants one and half years ago and has since been, in his own words, on an “exciting journey.”

Calzada told Arab News: “I joined as part of the new era in Saudi football. With the Public Investment Fund leading —having the majority of the club, and supporting our chairman Fahad bin Saad bin Nafel — we’ve got something which is very important in football, which is stability. That is really needed so that players perform, and we can make plans for the future. And this is why I’m here — alongside other people that have come. Some of us came from abroad, some others were already here, and they are local. It is absolutely essential for all of us to be successful. It’s not only the foreigners coming with new ideas, just like it’s not only the locals doing things always in the same way, but the combination of the two is what can take you to the sweet spot and to be successful.”

Success is something Al-Hilal’s owners, management and players — not to mention their passionate fans — demand. The recent FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the US shows the potential of the club to succeed at the highest level when Calzada’s “sweet spot” is hit.

“We don’t (often) have the opportunity to play the biggest clubs in the world, which is what this tournament offered us,” he said. “And with the results we got, we got the opportunity to show that we have a competitive team, that we have big ambitions and it’s been amazing in all fronts — the most important being on the pitch, but then also off the pitch. It’s our job now to make sure we stay in the spotlight, with the challenge that we will not play Real Madrid or Manchester City every other week.”

It was not Al-Hilal’s first participation in one of the incarnations of this competition, having previously competed in 2019, 2021 and 2022, when they reached the final in Rabat only to lose to Real Madrid. Calzada says the tournament in the US brought with it many positives and some logistical challenges.

“I think the experience was good,” he said. “Obviously, the weather cannot be changed. In our case, coming from the Middle East, we are used to the heat, but it’s true that it was a bit humid and it was a bit complicated, especially depending on the kick-off times. But, obviously, for us, we can only say positive things about this tournament, because it’s been historical for us and time will put it in perspective.”

Al-Hilal ultimately exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage after a 2-1 loss to Brazilian club Fluminense, but they impressed the watching world with their exciting brand of football. New coach Simon Inzaghi, in charge for just a few weeks, rightly received widespread acclaim.

“We’re very proud that our shareholders, led by our chairman and the PIF, were determined that this was the coach that we wanted, and then we were lucky to get him, and to get him in time for the tournament, with little time to train,” said Calzada. “He has already made an impact, obviously, on the pitch, but also in terms of the credibility of the project. It shows our ambition.”

Inzaghi’s presence, Calzada believes, will further change global perceptions of the club.

“For players that might have been doubting whether to join us or not, having him as a coach is a great attraction, especially when they have seen the way we play,” he said. “If you listen to the likes of Ruben Neves, or Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, talking about the strength of the league, or saying their GPS after training shows more kilometers than when they were back in Europe, all of that together delivers a positive message. As for the coach, we are extremely happy to have him with us, and we’re very excited about what’s ahead.”

Al-Hilal drew with Real Madrid and beat Manchester City, with pundits and fans surprised by how quickly Inzahghi had managed to implement his style of play.

“I think I can say — and everyone will agree — that the way we played was very attractive. It’s not just parking the bus and making sure Real Madrid doesn’t score and come out with a draw. In certain moments of the game, we played beautiful football with players combining on the ball, starting the game from the back, instead of with long balls, and that certainly caught the attention of the world and gave us a very good result, which actually could have been even better,” Calzada said. “We think that if we had won the game, no one would have been surprised.

“This is a very ambitious club, we are expected to win every competition, every friendly game — anything that is not winning or coming first is not a success for us, and that means that even having drawn against Real Madrid, we thought we could have won, just like even when we then went this far in the tournament, we were still hoping to make it even further,” he continued. “Even against Fluminense, we could have won.”

Al-Hilal delivered arguably the result of the tournament when they beat Manchester City 4-3 in the Round of 16 at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. It was a match that had extra meaning for Calzada.

“It was very special, personally, just because I worked 12 years in the City Football Group, so I was basically facing my ex-colleagues, and I had to just make sure I did not celebrate too much — just like when a striker scores a goal against his former team, he tries to show some respect,” he said. “For me, it was very emotional. But having said that, of course it was amazing to share that with our colleagues and understand that — as time will, and has started to, prove — we were making history.”

While the players take a well-earned rest before returning to the business of the Saudi Pro League, Calzada’s job is to ensure every aspect of the club is run efficiently.

“We’ve got very ambitious plans for the future,” he said. “We’ve been working on a strategic plan for the club, which is about globalization, about growing.”

Engagement during the Club World Cup, Calzada pointed out, exceeded expectations.

“We collected almost half a billion video views during the (tournament),” he said. “This is only behind four clubs, which are the biggest ones: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich. (We were) number one on video views on Twitter, number four on TikTok — a very good performance. And we gained 1 million followers on social media during the tournament. We are now at 45 million followers across social media platforms, which is a remarkable number.

“And, also interesting to mention, the shirt that was developed specifically for the tournament alongside our partner Puma, is the most successful shirt ever in terms of the days that it was on the market,” Calzada continued. “And we just launched the new shirt for the new season. That was also a very successful initiative in terms of sales, as well as all the activities that we’ve been doing around the Club World Cup. And these numbers come with the hard work of a lot of people that have been working on very special content.”

Calzada noted that, during the tournament, all the club’s content-creation teams relocated to the US to be close to the team and “to produce the best content possible.” Some of that included fan activations at each of the stadiums the club played at, ensuring their supporters — the “Hilalis” — were captured enjoying the action and celebrating the successes.

“We just launched our new website, and we’ve got a number of initiatives in different fields, including infrastructure. We’ve got very ambitious plans,” Calzada said. “Ultimately, our job is to manage the club in the most sustainable way possible, to generate as much revenue as possible so that we can reinvest in having the best players so that we can compete to win trophies.”

Last week’s announcement of the signing of French international defender Theo Hernandez from Milan showed the Hilal content team at their creative best, with many slick videos and photos that went viral.

“Certainly, we identified content as one of the biggest opportunities for growth, to win new funds, to bring new sponsors in so that we can also give them returns. That only works with the combination of local knowledge and international expertise,” he said. “We hope we can continue being successful. The pieces that we’re doing got a lot of engagement in a situation that is very challenging because we talk to different types of audiences. And sometimes what resonates with global audiences is not liked by our local fans, because the way we communicate locally is: (We are) clearly the big leaders. We lead the way. This is part of our positioning. The others follow us.” But that approach needs to be tweaked when engaging with global audiences, he added.

“Ultimately, it is down to producing high quality content, which is what we’re trying to do,” he continued. “Obviously, it takes time, and it’s a challenge, because sometimes you’ve got to do sponsored content to generate revenue. Sometimes our fans have difficulty understanding that.”

Calzada is proud of his good relationship with Al-Hilal supporters, and at the Club World Cub was seen mixing with many of them at several activations. No doubt the fact that he has been learning Arabic and can now more than hold his own in conversation helps endear him to the locals. He is keen that those fans continue to support the club’s creative direction on social media.

“You’ve got to do content that maybe here is not so well understood, but we know for a fact that it will work elsewhere because it’s been working with all the other bigger clubs,” he said. “This is certainly a learning curve, but we’re starting to see the results. Having that recognition, which is also coming from the numbers that we’re seeing, gives me and my team the energy to keep on working.”

As holders of a record number of Saudi league titles, with 19, and AFC Champions League wins, with four, Al-Hilal are often called the Real Madrid of Asia. The Club World Cup has showcased them to the rest of the world.

Calzada welcomes the club’s growing international popularity, but maintains that there is work still to be done.

“We’re very popular in Brazil, for obvious reasons,” he said, alluding to the club’s several Brazilian players. “And in some other countries as well, like the UK, because we have Ruben (Neves) and (Aleksandar) Mitrovic that played there. So, we are in transition — or we want to transition — into being a global club. It would be a bit pretentious to say that we are already there. We are on that journey. But certainly, something that I’ve learned over the last one and a half years is the ambition of this club. I am also a very ambitious person. That’s why I left Manchester City, where I had been in a winning position for 12 years.

“I could only come to a place where we would still be expected to win,” Calzada concluded. “And I’m glad that I got the opportunity to do so here with the backing of our shareholders and our board.”

-ENDS-