Jamaica's pride in motorsport, Fraser McConnell, is set to embark on his third season in Nitrocross.
Rounds 1 and 2 will take place at the new venue of Richmond Raceway in Virginia on September 7-8, 2024.
McConnell was impressive from the start in the 2023-24 season by winning the first round. He repeated his feat in round 5 in Phoenix and round 9 in Las Vegas while also making the podium in second place in round 6.
His exceptional performance culminated in the runner-up spot behind Robin Larsson, who claimed his second consecutive title, an improvement from his third-place finish in the 2022-23 season.
As McConnell enters his third season, the stakes are higher, and the determination is unwavering for Jamaica's current Motorsport Athlete of the Year.
"Last season was a thrilling experience, and I’m proud of what we achieved as a team. This year, I’m even more motivated to give it my absolute everything to put the black green and gold on the top spot," said McConnell. "The support from Jamaica and motorsport fans worldwide has been incredible, and I’m excited to give them more to cheer about this season while we plan to make every opportunity count and show the world what we can do."
The Richmond Raceway will be a new venue for the talented Jamaican, who's looking forward to the challenge.
"Racing at a new track to start the season is always an exciting challenge. It levels the playing field and pushes every driver to adapt quickly, and learning new tracks quickly is something that I am very comfortable with. I'm looking forward to testing my skills in Richmond and setting the pace for what I'm hoping will be another incredible season."
Nitrocross, known for its high-octane, adrenaline-pumping races, will feature 10 rounds over six venues from September 7 to March 2, with stops in Richmond, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Miami and Las Vegas.
Aryna Sabalenka "doesn't want to leave" the US Open as she bids to reach a fourth consecutive semi-final at Flushing Meadows.
The Belarusian beat Elise Mertens to reach the quarter-finals, with Olympic gold medallist Qinwen Zheng standing between her and a place in the final four.
It is the second time the pair will meet in 2024 after Sabalenka overcame Zheng in straight sets to win her second consecutive Australian Open title in January.
Sabalenka reached the final of the US Open last year, losing out to Coco Gauff, who was knocked out in the fourth round, leaving the 26-year-old as one of the favourites to clinch the title this year.
"I really enjoy playing on these big stadiums," Sabalenka said.
"I feel all the support. I just don't want to leave early here.
"I just want to stay as long as I can and enjoy this beautiful court and beautiful atmosphere."
Sabalenka is the first player to make the quarter-finals at the US Open in women's singles for 4+ consecutive years since Serena Williams (six in a row between 2011 and 2016).
And she will be looking to emulate the American's record of reaching the semi-finals in 4+ consecutive years on Tuesday.
Jannik Sinner is anticipating a gruelling US Open quarter-final clash with Daniil Medvedev after producing some of his best tennis of the year to beat Tommy Paul in the fourth round.
Sinner made a slow start against the home favourite in front of a raucous crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, swiftly going two breaks down before recovering his composure.
He needed tie-breaks to take the first two sets but produced a mesmerising display in the third, wrapping up a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 victory to ensure he has reached at least the quarter-finals of all four grand slams in 2024.
Sinner has also made the last eight at his first 12 ATP-level events this year. At the age of 23 years and 17 days, he is the second-youngest man to achieve that feat in the Open Era, after Jimmy Connors in 1974 (21 years, 290 days).
While early exits for Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have seen the opposite side of the draw open up, things do not get any easier for the world number one as he faces Medvedev next.
The Russian, who won the 2021 edition of the US Open, trounced Nuno Borges 6-0 6-1 6-3 in his own fourth-round matchup and has won 11 straight sets of tennis.
Sinner, meanwhile, has struggled with hip problems throughout the season and was seen clutching the area after stumbling during one long rally versus Paul.
He is hopeful of overcoming that concern ahead of Wednesday's quarter-final but knows he will be pushed all the way by Medvedev.
"For sure mentally I didn't start very well. I was a double break down in the first set. I tried to stay there mentally and for sure this was one of the keys to win this match," Sinner said.
"I served very well in the beginning of the match. There are some ups and downs obviously in best of five, it's normal to have that.
"But finding my rhythm in the end of the match hopefully helps for the next match, so let's see.
"There's going to be a lot of rallies so hopefully I'll be ready physically. We'll try to do our best on court and hopefully you guys enjoy it."
The winner of Sinner's clash with Medvedev will face either Jack Draper or Alex de Minaur for a spot in the final, with the former reaching his maiden grand slam quarter-final by beating Tomas Machac 6-3 6-1 6-2.
Draper, who is the first British man to make the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows since Andy Murray in 2016, told Sky Sports after his win: "I feel amazing being in the last eight.
"My first quarter-final, it means the absolute world to me. I've definitely felt more and more confident in myself."
Iga Swiatek believes she is growing into the US Open and improving with each day that passes after storming into the quarter-finals by beating Liudmila Samsonova.
Five-time grand slam winner Swiatek is hunting her second title at Flushing Meadows, and she will face home favourite Jessica Pegula in the last eight after overcoming Samsonova 6-4 6-1.
She needed just over an hour and a half to see off the 16th seed on Monday in what represented her 100th main-draw match at grand slams.
Among those to begin their careers in the Open Era, only six female players have bettered Swiatek's total of 83 victories through their first 100 major outings.
Monica Seles managed 93 wins, putting her ahead of Chris Evert (90), Steffi Graf (87), Martina Hingis, Serena Williams (both 86) and Venus Williams (85).
Swiatek is also one of just four players in the last two decades to win 12 straight grand slam matches versus WTA top-20 opponents, alongside Graf, Seles and Serena Williams.
She still believes there is more to come, though, as she approaches Tuesday's headline tussle with sixth seed Pegula.
"At the beginning, I felt like we were playing men's style, just holding our serves but I knew that if I kept pushing I may get some chances to break," Swiatek said.
"That happened and I'm happy I was there to close the first set. Then I just wanted to keep being focused and not let my mind drift off.
"I'm happy with the whole performance. I'm feeling better and better every day."
The victor of Swiatek's meeting with Pegula will face Karolina Muchova or Beatriz Haddad Maia for a place in the final, after the former upset Jasmine Paolini and the latter overcame Caroline Wozniacki.
Haddad Maia's' 6-2 3-6 6-3 win over Wozniacki – who won the 2018 Australian Open – made her just the second South American woman to claim multiple US Open victories over former grand slam winners (two), alongside Argentina's Gabriela Sabatini.
Luis Severino's seven sharp innings allowed the rolling New York Mets to further close the gap in the National League wild card race with Monday's 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Severino (10-6) scattered six hits while yielding one run to win his third consecutive decision and lead the Mets to a fifth straight victory. New York, now 12-5 over its last 17 games, moved within a half-game of the Atlanta Braves for the NL's final wild card spot.
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor continued a hot stretch as well by going 2 for 3 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Luis Torrens also went 2 for 3 for New York, which also received a run-scoring double from Brandon Nimmo.
Nimmo's hit followed a single by Lindor in the bottom of the third inning and snapped a 1-1 tie, and the Mets pushed home two more runs against Boston starter Brayan Bello in the fourth to increase the margin.
After DJ Stewart started a two-out rally with a single, Torrens lashed a double to left that enabled Stewart to score when Boston's Tyler O'Neill misplayed the ball caroming off the wall. A Lindor single then brought home Torrens for a 4-1 advantage.
The Mets had their first run set up by back-to-back singles by Jose Iglesias and Jeff McNeil in the second inning that put runners at first and third, with Iglesias crossing the plate on a double-play grounder off the bat of Starling Marte.
Boston would pull even in the top of the third when Ceddane Rafaela tripled and scored on Jarren Duran's single.
Severino shut down Boston's offence from that point on, though, with Danny Young and Phil Maton closing out the win with a scoreless inning each.
Bello (12-7) gave up all four New York runs in five innings of work in the latest loss for the slumping Red Sox, who have now dropped three straight and eight of 11.
Torres, Cole help keep Yankees atop AL East
Gleyber Torres had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run double, and Gerrit Cole struck out nine over six strong innings as the New York Yankees maintained their slim lead atop the American League East with an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers.
Anthony Rizzo also had a two-run double for New York in his second game back from a broken arm, while Giancarlo Stanton added a solo homer to help keep the Yankees a half-game ahead of Baltimore in the race for the AL's best record. The Orioles kept pace with a 13-3 rout of the White Sox, the 11th straight loss for Chicago.
Cole (6-3) held the Rangers to one run on four hits before departing due to a cramp in his right calf he developed while warming up for the seventh inning.
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner had a 7-1 lead at that point, with Torres opening the scoring with a third-inning double that drove in Anthony Volpe and Alex Verdugo, both of whom reached on singles off Jack Leiter.
Cole's lone blemish occurred in the bottom of the third, when Josh Smith delivered a two-out double that brought in Marcus Semien, who was aboard on a fielder's choice that followed Leody Taveras' single.
Leiter (0-2) kept it a 2-1 game until the sixth, which Torres and Juan Soto began with singles before Aaron Judge ended the rookie's night with a run-scoring double.
The Yankees would put up four more runs before the end of the inning. Jazz Chisholm brought home Soto with a single, Rizzo knocked in two more with an opposite-field double and Chisholm scored on a wild pitch to increase the margin to 7-1.
Wyatt Langford's two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh got Texas a little closer, but Stanton opened the eighth with his 25th homer of the season to push New York's lead to 8-3.
Langford added a double in the ninth inning that followed a single by Josh Jung, who scored the Rangers' final run on a groundout by Jonah Heim.
Freeman, Ohtani lead another Dodgers' offensive outburst vs. Diamondbacks
Freddie Freeman homered twice and knocked in five runs, Shohei Ohtani stole three more bases, and the Los Angeles Dodgers punished Arizona Diamondbacks pitching once again in an 11-6 victory that allowed the NL West leaders to win an important four-game series.
The Dodgers hammered out 17 hits, including five from Teoscar Hernandez, en route to their 11th win in 14 games. Los Angeles took three matchups in this series while totalling 32 runs and averaging 13 hits over the four games.
Ohtani finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored while running his stolen base total to 46 as he bids to become the first player in MLB history with 50 home runs and 50 steals in a season.
Mookie Betts also had two hits while driving in three runs to help the Dodgers maintain a five-game advantage over the second-place San Diego Padres in the division. The Diamondbacks are now six back after losing for the fourth time in five games.
Los Angeles also got a solid pitching performance from Jack Flaherty, who fanned seven while holding Arizona to one run in 5 2/3 innings to improve to 4-1 in six starts since being acquired from the Detroit Tigers in late July.
Freeman's first home run, a two-run shot off Eduardo Rodriguez in the third inning, staked Los Angeles to a 3-0 lead. The blast came with Betts aboard after the fellow All-Star reached on a single that plated Chris Taylor, who opened the inning with a double.
Arizona got a run back in the bottom of the third when Eugenio Suarez doubled and later scored on Corbin Carroll's groundout.
It remained a 3-1 game until Ohtani singled in the seventh, stole both second and third base, and crossed the plate on Freeman's sacrifice fly after Betts was intentionally walked. Hernandez followed with a single and stole second before he and Betts were brought in on Will Smith's single that extended the lead to 6-1.
The Diamondbacks did close the gap in their half of the seventh. Suarez and Luis Guillorme singled before Geraldo Perdomo drove in one run with a sacrifice fly and Jake McCarthy another on a groundout.
Los Angeles answered with a five-run eighth, however, highlighted by Freeman's two-run homer that made the score 10-3. Betts had preceded Freeman's shot with a two-run double, while Hernandez later delivered another hit before eventually scoring on Tommy Edman's single.
Suarez capped a three-hit night with a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth, and the Diamondbacks managed two runs in the ninth via Josh Bell's single that brought home Carroll and Randal Grichuk.
Daniil Medvedev breezed into the US Open quarter-finals with a commanding straight-sets win over Nuno Borges on Monday.
As the only former men's champion still in the competition, the Russian put out a statement with his 6-0 6-1 6-3 victory in just one hour and 48 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Medvedev showed his intent early in the match, winning every game in the first set as Borges failed to find his footing and struggled to put the 2021 champion under any pressure.
The Portuguese did win his first game at the start of the second set, but Medvedev was soon back in control, going on another six-game winning streak to put him out of sight.
Borges finally showed some fight in the final set, though it was too little too late. He got his first, and only, break of the match, but could not push his advantage as the world number five claimed two of his own to book his place in the next round.
He will face either world number one Jannik Sinner or Tommy Paul in the next round at Flushing Meadows.
Data Debrief: Statement of intent
Since losing the second set of his first match in New York, Medvedev has not looked back, going on to win every single one since.
Borges barely laid a hand on him in the fourth round though, as Medvedev stayed on top by successfully converting eight break points - he has now converted 29 such points at the US Open this year, the most of any player.
Since 2019, when the 28-year-old reached the quarter-finals of the US Open for the first time, no player has reached this stage more in men's singles than Medvedev (five).
Jessica Pegula is through to the quarter-finals of the US Open after beating Diana Shnaider in straight sets on Monday.
She ensured she would not suffer a second consecutive fourth-round exit at Flushing Meadows, winning 6-4 6-2 in 88 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The American is on a hot streak since the tour returned to the North American hard courts, having already won the Canadian Open before reaching the final in Cincinnati, only to lose out to Aryna Sabalenka.
Pegula staunchly defended four break points in the second game, but three consecutive breaks put her in control of the first set despite Shnaider's spirited fight back.
The Russian, who is the youngest player to reach this year's fourth round, could not maintain that level n the second though, as Pegula got another two breaks in the second set and won the last three games to ensure she would go into the final eight.
Pegula will face either world number one Iga Swiatek or Liud Samsonova in the next round as she bids to reach a first-ever grand slam singles semi-final.
Data Debrief: Home advantage
Having failed to get past the second round at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2024, Pegula has already beaten her best grand slam result of the year.
She has now reached the quarter-finals of Canada, Cincinnati and the US Open in the same year for the second time in her career (also 2022). She is one of just four women to achieve this across multiple seasons during the Open Era.
Pegula is 13-1 on hard court this year, and will be hoping she can continue her impressive run, especially having gone 0-6 in her previous grand slam quarter-finals.
Rory McIlroy is planning to cut down the number of tournaments he enters in 2025 after a congested season that will include 27 events this year.
The Northern Irishman finished tied for ninth place in the Tour Championship in Atlanta last weekend, his 22nd event of the year.
McIlroy started the year strong, winning the Dubai Desert Classic before triumphing at the Wells Fargo Championship in May.
He also came close to ending his decade-long wait for a major title, but agonisingly missed out to Bryson DeChambeau by one shot at the U.S. Open after a late collapse, prompting him to take a short break.
"It's been a long season, and I'm going to just have to think about trying to build in a few extra breaks here and there next year and going forward because I felt like I hit a bit of a wall sort of post-U.S. Open, and still feel a little bit of that hangover," said McIlroy.
"My season is not over, obviously. I've still got five events left to play," he said.
"But yeah, I feel like the tournaments came thick and fast, and obviously, with the Olympics thrown in there, as well, this year, it sort of condensed everything a bit."
Since the U.S. Open, McIlroy has struggled to show his early-season form, missing the cut at The Open Championship and finishing fifth at the Paris Olympics while representing Team Ireland.
The 35-year-old still has five tournaments left this year, including next week's Irish Open at Royal County Down.
Asked how many tournaments is too many in one year, McIlroy replied: "27. I'm usually sort of like a 22 sort of person. But again, that was when I was sort of in my 20s and didn't have the responsibilities that I do now.
"I'm going to try to cut it back to like 18 or 20 a year going forward, I think."
Attorneys representing Jamaican squash player Julian Morrison have filed a formal application requesting that Catherine Minto, Chair of the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, recuse herself from the ongoing hearing concerning an alleged anti-doping violation. The application, filed by Dr. Emir Crowne, Mr. Matthew Gayle, and Mr. Sayeed Bernard, on Monday, September 2, argues that Minto’s prior extensive working relationship with Kings Counsel Ian Wilkinson, who is representing the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) in the matter, presents a potential conflict of interest.
The legal team’s concerns are rooted in the principle of impartiality, as outlined in WADA’s International Standard for Results Management. This standard mandates that members of hearing panels must be free from any actual or potential conflicts of interest to ensure a fair and unbiased adjudication process.
According to the standard, “Upon appointment to a hearing panel, each hearing panel member shall sign a declaration that there are no facts or circumstances known to him/her which might call into question their impartiality in the eyes of any of the parties, other than any circumstances disclosed in the declaration…”
Morrison's legal team discovered on August 30, 2024, that Minto had previously served as co-counsel with Wilkinson in several cases, some of which spanned nearly a decade and culminated in an appeal to the Privy Council. Despite the significant duration and nature of this professional relationship, it was not disclosed to Morrison or his representatives at the outset of the hearing. They argue that this omission compromises the perceived impartiality of the Chair and raises questions about the fairness of the proceedings.
Matthew Gayle, one of Morrison’s attorneys, emphasized the seriousness of the situation: “Given that the panel has considered the issue of recusal, substantively for a significant period of time, this ought to have been a matter that was disclosed to the parties so the athlete has no way of knowing but for information in the public domain. This should have been disclosed by the Chair herself and to the parties and give the athlete an opportunity to consider whether or not he wants to raise an objection, and in the circumstances where no disclosure has taken place it does raise a very serious question as to why,” he told Sportsmax.TV.
The application highlights multiple cases, including ones from 2014, 2016, and 2020, where Minto and Wilkinson worked closely together. Morrison’s legal team contends that this omission violates the ethical guidelines that require transparency and impartiality from those presiding over such hearings.
In April, Morrison was provisionally suspended by JADCO after testing positive for trace amounts of the banned anabolic agent Boldenone. Since then, he has been eagerly awaiting the chance to clear his name. His legal team has argued that Morrison unknowingly ingested the substance and is determined to prove his innocence.
The attorneys have requested that Minto either voluntarily recuse herself and be replaced by an alternate who has no recent or extensive professional ties to JADCO's counsel, or that the application for her recusal be decided by other members of the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel who are free from similar conflicts.
Morrison’s legal team stressed that this application was not made lightly, acknowledging that it could delay the proceedings. However, they assert that the integrity of the hearing and the athlete’s right to a fair trial must take precedence.
The outcome of this recusal application could significantly impact the course of the hearing, as both parties await a decision that will determine the next steps in this high-stakes case. Morrison remains resolute in his fight to prove his innocence and is hopeful that he will be granted a fair opportunity to do so.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has dismissed the idea that their meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday is a "revenge game".
The Ravens kick off the new NFL season against the reigning Super Bowl champions, having lost the AFC Championship game against them in January.
It was a fourth loss in six postseason games with Jackson as their starting quarterback and a fourth defeat against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in his career.
However, the 27-year-old has brushed off any suggestions that Baltimore will be using the AFC Championship game as extra motivation on Thursday.
"Any game I play in, I feel like it's a revenge game," Jackson said, via the team's website. "I'm not just going to look at this game like a revenge game.
"Anybody we play, no matter if we've beaten them or lost to them in previous years, I just want to win."
Jackson has led the Ravens to their best records in the NFL since joining in 2018, going 14-2 in 2019 and 13-4 last year. In the regular season, he has the second-best record at 58-19 (.753).
Jackson, who became the youngest-ever two-time NFL MVP since the AFL merger in February, is keen to make a quick start, though he is not getting too far ahead of himself.
"We have to win regular season games [in order] to get to January," Jackson added.
"We can't just go into the season and go 5-12, because then we're not going to be in the playoffs. Playoffs are on our mind, but at the same time, we have to win this game that's ahead of us."
"I'm ready to go. I've been going against my guys for weeks," Jackson said. "It's time to go against somebody else."
Zak Brown insisted that McLaren's papaya rules were made to be bent after Monza reignited the debate over whether team orders are needed at the British-based team.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris claimed second and third behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with the latter enduring another poor start after securing pole in qualifying.
The Australian was able to make his way past his McLaren team-mate heading into Turn 4, with Piastri ultimately able to finish ahead of Norris at the end of the race.
However, McLaren recorded their fourth-best ever run of having one or both drivers on the podium (12), while also closing the gap in the constructors' championship.
The gap to Red Bull now stands at eight points ahead of Baku in two weeks, with Norris also closing the gap to Max Verstappen to 62 points in the drivers' championship.
But in allowing their drivers to fight, McLaren opened the door for Ferrari to pounce, but Brown defended Piastri's move on his team-mate in the opening exchanges.
“It was aggressive, it was an aggressive move [by Piastri],” Brown told Sky Sports F1 after the race.
“Their start was great and that was what we had discussed, kind of get behind the other and fan out to make sure nobody else could get by.
“I think Lando was caught by surprise with that move, thinking let’s just tuck into a one-two and see if we can pull a bit of a gap, so it’s something we’ll discuss internally.
“Papaya rules are it’s your team mate; race him hard, race him clean, don’t touch, that happened.
"It was an aggressive pass so that’s a conversation we’ll have, that was a bit nerve wracking on pit wall but it’s really just respect your team mate.
"Lando got a bad run out of that corner as well so it would have been nice to see them run one-two a bit longer.
"They didn’t touch, it was an aggressive pass but a clean pass.”
Despite McLaren's recent success, Ferrari's triumph at their home race has brought them back into contention for the constructors' championship and are just 31 points further back.
The British-based team have failed to win the title since 1998 when Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard worked together to deliver their eighth constructors' title.
However, Brown remained firm in his assessment that McLaren would not prioritise one driver over the other for the remaining eight races of the season.
“They are both young drivers who want to win. We have always believed in having two number ones," Brown said.
"That’s always been McLaren’s way, it can be difficult to manage – we’ve seen it with Senna and Prost.
“They get along great, they do race each other clean and it’s philosophical – are you a one-car team or a two-car team?
"The easiest thing would have been for Lando to just run away with it, and then not have to put difficult decisions on the pit wall, but Andrea and I are taking it one race at a time.”
If ever Jamaicans needed a nudge to embrace the beauty of the island on which they reside, then Arlenes Garcia’s message—keep selling Jamaica as a brand—would hit home.
Garcia, the dynamic Director of Sales and Marketing for Latin America at Unique Vacations, who is currently in Jamaica along with travel advisors from 11 Latin American countries, is passionate about promoting Jamaica as a premier destination for tourists.
Her visit is part of the 10th staging of the Sandals Latin America Travel Advisors Golf Tournament, an event designed to immerse these individuals in the rich experiences that Sandals Resorts and Jamaica as a whole have to offer.
With the tournament as a backdrop, Garcia spoke enthusiastically about the importance of showcasing Jamaica's unique blend of natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and world-class hospitality.
“Jamaica is so beautiful. There are so many things that the tourists can experience when they come to Jamaica. It's safe to travel to Jamaica, and we have to speak about all this. Jamaica is more than just a destination; it’s a brand that resonates globally, so when we promote Jamaica as a country, as the Caribbean, we have to promote the beauty of the country,” Garcia said.
“From the stunning beaches and lush landscapes to the warm and welcoming people, Jamaica offers an experience that is unmatched. We have to speak about the experience that tourists in Jamaica could have. I mean, there is so much to speak about when we think about it—Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain, and the golf course—there are so many beautiful places that you could find in Jamaica. So I would suggest that we continue promoting Jamaica,” she added.
Latin American Travel Advisors share a photo opportunity with caddies.
Garcia revealed that there are times when some Latin American travel advisors overlook Jamaica as a destination to experience and vacation, until they are told about the warmth and vibrancy of the island.
As such, she pointed out that it is essential that those who have experienced the beauty of the island serve as ambassadors and continue to highlight these aspects to the world.
“Tourism is important for Jamaica and for us to be able to strengthen our relationship with our partners is also important. Jamaica is more than just a destination; it’s a brand that resonates globally, so as soon as those reluctant parties change their minds and decide to come here, they want to come back every year," she shared.
That said, Garcia explained that the tournament is more than just a sporting event but more of a strategic initiative aimed at deepening the understanding of what Jamaica offers as a tourism destination.
By bringing travel advisors directly to the island, Sandals Resorts ensures that these key influencers experience firsthand the quality and variety of amenities available.
This, in turn, allows them to better sell Jamaica to their clients across Latin America, as countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico are represented at the tournament.
Members of Mexico's team in action.
With that in mind, Garcia emphasized the significance of golf as an integral part of Jamaica’s sports tourism industry.
"Golf tourism is growing rapidly, and Jamaica is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend. The beautiful golf course here at Sandals Golf and Country Club, set against breathtaking backdrops, adds an extra dimension to the traditional sun-and-sand holiday. It’s these unique offerings that make Jamaica stand out, and it’s our job to ensure that the world knows about them," Garcia reasoned.
"For travel advisors, the ideal thing is to actually see the product, enjoy and live the experience, because this is exactly what they will be selling when they go back home. So if they see the product and they enjoy it, then they can sell and the golf tournament is ideal for those travel advisors who specialize in golf. They have these clients that actually are looking for a vacation where they can incorporate their sport," she noted.
During their time in Jamaica, the travel advisors have been treated to a showcase of the island’s best. From luxurious stays at Sandals Dunn’s River to exploring the island’s attractions and, of course, enjoying rounds of golf on at the scenic Sandals Golf and Country Club at Upton, an experience carefully curated to highlight Jamaica’s strengths.
But the travel advisors also do a bit of giving back themselves, as Garcia also encourages a 'pack for a purpose' initiative that involves giving back to Jamaican communities through the Sandals Foundation.
"We encourage the agents to actually park for a purpose. They bring articles that they can share with the community. As you know, we support the education, the environment and the communities with the Sandals Foundation, so to be able to bring school items, books, and other articles that will support the communities and the schools here in Jamaica is part of the program that we have prepared for the travel advisors. We also have island roots as part of the sponsorship and they will actually support us by incorporating an activity where the agents will be able to experience Jamaica," Garcia ended.
Scottie Scheffler held off playing partner Collin Morikawa to complete a dominant PGA Tour season with a FedEx Cup victory at the Tour Championship.
Scheffler, who started the season finale with a five-shot lead over Morikawa, shot a four-under 67 to win on 30 under and collect $25million (£19m) of the $100m prize fund.
The world number one mixed an eagle and five birdies with three bogeys to finish four ahead of Morikawa, while a final-round 64 saw Sahith Theegala claim third place.
He also became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007 to win seven events in a PGA Tour season as his dominance continues.
"I try not to think too much about the past or think too much about the future, but two years ago was pretty tough, having a good lead going into the last round and not playing my best and then losing," Scheffler said.
"Then last year, I just had a pretty off week so it was fairly disappointing. So to come in with a lead for the third time and be able to finish it off is definitely pretty sweet.
"I feel like I've lived almost a full lifetime in this one year."
For Morikawa, it was an impressive display but not good enough.
That is despite Morikawa going within two shots of the lead after taking advantage of Scheffler's successive bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes.
But Scheffler responded with three birdies in a row to surge four clear, and despite Morikawa responding with a birdie on the 13th, the American knocked home a 15-foot eagle putt to re-establish his five-shot advantage.
"Nothing fazes him," said Morikawa.
"Whether I was gaining some ground or he was gaining ground, it didn't change how he walked or how he played or how he went through every shot.
"That's something to learn. His mental game is a lot stronger than a lot of people know."
Scottie Scheffler held off playing partner Collin Morikawa to complete a dominant PGA Tour season with a FedEx Cup victory at the Tour Championship.
Scheffler, who started the season finale with a five-shot lead over Morikawa, shot a four-under 67 to win on 30 under and collect $25million (£19m) of the $100m prize fund.
The world number one mixed an eagle and five birdies with three bogeys to finish four ahead of Morikawa, while a final-round 64 saw Sahith Theegala claim third place.
He also became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007 to win seven events in a PGA Tour season as his dominance continues.
"I try not to think too much about the past or think too much about the future, but two years ago was pretty tough, having a good lead going into the last round and not playing my best and then losing," Scheffler said.
"Then last year, I just had a pretty off week so it was fairly disappointing. So to come in with a lead for the third time and be able to finish it off is definitely pretty sweet.
"I feel like I've lived almost a full lifetime in this one year."
For Morikawa, it was an impressive display but not good enough.
That is despite Morikawa going within two shots of the lead after taking advantage of Scheffler's successive bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes.
But Scheffler responded with three birdies in a row to surge four clear, and despite Morikawa responding with a birdie on the 13th, the American knocked home a 15-foot eagle putt to re-establish his five-shot advantage.
"Nothing fazes him," said Morikawa.
"Whether I was gaining some ground or he was gaining ground, it didn't change how he walked or how he played or how he went through every shot.
"That's something to learn. His mental game is a lot stronger than a lot of people know."
Aryna Sabalenka continued her quest for US Open redemption as she reached another quarter-final at Flushing Meadows with a straight-sets victory over Elise Mertens.
A year after her defeat to Coco Gauff in the showpiece match of the competition, Sabalenka watched on as the defending champion exited the competition following defeat to Emma Navarro before she took to the court.
But the Belarusian ensured there would be no upset on this occasion, needing an hour and 36 minutes to win 6-2 6-4 as she progressed to her fourth consecutive quarter-final at the tournament.
On her way to victory, Sabalenka struck 41 winners compared to her Belgian opponents' 14, and said she is relishing the opportunity of playing in New York this time around.
"I really enjoy playing here,” Sabalenka said. “The crowd are amazing. I really enjoy playing on these big stadium and feel all the support.
“I just don’t want to leave early here. I just want to stay as long as I can and enjoy this beautiful court.
“I think that’s why I’m consistently here.”
Sabalenka will face China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who beat silver medallist Donna Vekic 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 6-2, in the last eight in what is a repeat of their Australian Open final earlier this year.
Data Debrief: Sabalenka, queen of Flushing Meadows
Sabalenka has claimed her 25th women's singles match win at the US Open. Since 2000, only Kim Clijsters (30) has managed 25 wins at the event in fewer matches than the Belarusian (31).
She has now reached a 10th career women's singles quarter-final at grand slam events. Since the start of the 2020 season, Sabalenka has also become the first player to reach 10 or more women's singles quarter-finals.
Sabalenka also reached a fourth consecutive women’s singles quarter-final at the US Open, becoming the first player to achieve the feat since Serena Williams, who made six straight quarter-finals between 2011 and 2016.
Defenidng US Open champion Coco Gauff was dumped out of the competition on Sunday, blaming a lack of execution in her defeat to fellow American Emma Navarro.
Gauff, who was also comfortably beaten by Navarro at Wimbledon two months ago, fell to a 3-6 6-4 3-6 loss after serving 19 double faults at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
A bright start from Navarro saw earn a first break in the opening game after two double faults by Gauff in a sign of things to come for the world number three.
Despite a comeback in the second set, Gauff's remaining service games were punctuated by more errors in the third, serving 11 of her total double faults in the final set to hand Navarro the victory.
"I fought really hard today. I just didn't take care of my serve, so that was the biggest difference," Gauff said.
"Mentally and emotionally I gave it my all. Of course, there were things execution-wise, where I wish I could serve better.
"I think if I would did that, it would have been a different story for me in the match."
Navarro will go on to play 26th seed Paula Badosa in the last eight after the Spaniard thrashed China’s Wang Yafan 6-1 6-2 earlier on Sunday.
Data Debrief: Doubles troubles for Gauff
With 19 double faults, Gauff served the equal-most double faults for her career in a single WTA main draw match, serving as many against Martina Trevisan at Roland Garros in 2020.
Navarro is the first American player to defeat the women’s singles defending champion at the US Open since Serena Williams in 2002 against Venus Williams in the final.
She is also now the player with the most hard court WTA quarter-finals in 2024 (seven, surpassing Elena Rybakina).
The Houston Astros enacted a measure of revenge against the Kansas City Royals.
Yordan Alvarez hit a pair of home runs and the Astros beat the Royals 7-2 on Sunday to cap a four-game sweep.
Houston's first-ever four-game sweep of Kansas City came after the Royals swept a three-game series from the Astros back in April.
Jon Singleton hit a two-run homer and Jeremy Peña added a two-run single for the AL West-leading Astros (75-62), who have won five in a row to move six games ahead of the second-place Seattle Mariners.
The Royals (75-63), meanwhile, have lost a season-high five straight games to drop 3 1/2 games behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians.
Bobby Witt Jr. reached the 30-homer mark for the second straight season by homering in the second straight game. He now has five home runs in his last nine games.
Alvarez also hit his 30th homer with his second multi-homer game of the week. The Astros have won the last six games Alvarez has homered and are 19-4 this season in games when he hits at least one home run.
Ronel Blanco won for the first time since July 9, allowing three hits and four walks over five innings.
Cubs pound Nationals to extend win streak to six games
The Chicago Cubs scored seven runs in the ninth inning to finish off a 14-1 rout of the Washington Nationals and push their winning streak to a season-high six games.
The Cubs have remained in the NL wild-card race, thanks to a 9-1 stretch that has been fueled by an offence that is suddenly surging.
Chicago has plated 99 runs with 14 homers and 33 doubles in its last 10 games.
In the series finale at Washington, Seiya Suzuki hit a pair of doubles and Dansby Swanson had one double among his four hits. Isaac Paredes drove in three runs, while Cody Bellinger, Nico Hoerner and Miguel Amaya each had two RBIs for a Cubs team that pounded out 18 hits.
Jordan Wicks earned the win, yielding one run and four hits in his return from the 60-day injured list after being side-lined since June 14 with a right oblique strain.
Despite Chicago's recent tear, the Cubs (71-66) are still three games back of the Atlanta Braves for the NL's last wild-card spot.
The Nationals (61-76) finished with five hits as they were swept for the eighth time this season and dropped a season-worst 15 games under .500.
White Sox suffer franchise-worst 107th loss
Garrett Crochet was brilliant early for the Chicago White Sox but their series finale with the New York Mets ended like so many other of their games this season - with a loss.
Crochet tied an American League record by striking out the first seven batters but the White Sox ended up getting swept in the three-game series with a 2-0 loss to the Mets.
The loss was the 107th of the season for Chicago, as it broke the franchise record for losses set by the 1970 team.
With just 31 wins, the White Sox need to go 12-12 the rest of the season to avoid matching the 1962 expansion Mets for the most losses by a team since 1900.
The White Sox managed just two hits in finishing off the first 0-10 home-stand in club history. This marks the third losing streak of the season of at least 10 games for Chicago, which also has a 14-game skid and a franchise-worst 21-game slide.
Francisco Lindor hit his 29th home run and Sean Manaea permitted two hits over seven innings to help New York (73-64) win its fourth straight game. The Mets have moved within one game of the Braves for the last play-off spot.
Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese set a WNBA record for the most rebounds in a single season on Sunday when she pulled down 19 boards in a 79-74 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Reese pushed her season total to 418 rebounds, surpassing Sylvia Fowles' record of 404 established in 2018 with the Lynx.
The 6-foot-3 Reese set another record Sunday by reaching 165 offensive rebounds this season to move past Yolanda Griffith, who had 162 for the Sacramento Monarchs in 2001.
Reese, the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, added 17 points against Minnesota to post her 24th double-double and extend her league rookie record.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
