- Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial set for May 2025
- Bolivia stun Colombia in World Cup qualifiers
- Internet Archive reels from 'catastrophic' cyberattack, data breach
- Greece earn late win against England in Nations League, Italy-Belgium stalemate
- Trump biopic 'The Apprentice' hits US theaters weeks before election
- Pavlidis dedicates 'special' Greece win over England to tragic Baldock
- Wall Street stocks retreat from records on US inflation data
- 'Like a quake': Beirut shaken after deadliest strikes on centre
- Fallen giants Ghana in AFCON trouble after Sudan draw
- Asian leaders meet in Laos with US, Russia on world turmoil
- England gamble backfires as Pavlidis fires emotional Greece to victory
- Obama stumps for Harris, Trump talks US protectionism
- New-look France ease past Israel in Nations League
- Belgium fight back to draw with 10-man Italy in Nations League
- 'Get a life': Hurricane whips up US election storm
- Japan stay perfect in World Cup qualifying
- Relief as Lebanon evacuees dock in Turkey
- Lebanon says 22 dead in Israeli strikes on central Beirut
- NBA boss Silver sees games back in China 'at some point'
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 22
- Table tennis and Netflix push Ukraine teen into French Open contention
- Civilians flee Gaza's Jabalia in tightening Israeli siege
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 18
- At least 10 dead in Florida from tornadoes caused by Hurricane Milton
- Warhol's rare 'Queen' collection opens at Dutch museum
- Three-time NBA champion Green retires
- MLB Twins up for sale after 40 years
- S.Sudan floods affect 893,000, over 241,000 displaced: UN
- Solar storm could impact US hurricane recovery efforts: agency
- Windies sweat on injury to 'crucial' Taylor at World Cup
- Lebanon says 11 dead, 48 injured in Israeli strikes on Beirut
- Panama lashes out at EU over tax haven 'outrage'
- Erdogan says Gaza 'shame of humanity', calls for permanent ceasfire
- TD Bank to pay more than $3 bn to US in money-laundering case
- SAfrica prosecutors drop criminal complaint against president
- 'Good opportunity': Nagelsmann upbeat despite Germany's long injury list
- Hurricane whips up bitter US election battle
- Cameroon bans media talk of president's health amid rumours
- NFL MVP Jackson and rookie phenom Daniels set for showdown
- Chad's capital under threat as floodwaters rise
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit central Beirut
- No answers on strike on reporters in Lebanon one year on: watchdog
- Ramharack picks four wickets as Windies beat Bangladesh in Women's T20 World Cup
- France's City of Light switches to climate-resilient power cables
- Djokovic hails Nadal 'legacy' as Alcaraz in 'shock' over retirement
- Obama hits campaign trail for Harris
- Delta eyes Election Day travel pullback as profits climb
- Djokovic tells Nadal: 'Your legacy will live forever'
- Ethel Kennedy, wife of RFK, dead at 96
- Zelensky denies ceasefire with Russia under discussion on trip
Rahm starts off well at WGC Match Play
World number one Jon Rahm got off to a smooth start at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play tournament in Texas on Wednesday, romping to a convincing victory over Colombia's Sebastian Munoz.
Rahm, looking to build some Masters momentum at this week's tournament at Austin Country Club in Texas, recovered from an early deficit to post a 4&2 victory.
Munoz had taken the early lead, going one up with a birdie at the par-four third hole, before Rahm hit back immediately with a birdie of his own on the fourth.
The Colombian then pulled away with a birdie on the 12th before rolling in a 30-foot birdie putt on the 13th to go three up. A birdie on the 16th clinched victory.
"It's a good round," Rahm said. "It's not stress free, but maybe organized. I didn't make many mistakes...overall a good round of golf."
The 64-strong field for this week's tournament is divided into 16 groups of four players for the round robin phase, with each player winning one point for a match victory, half a point for a tie and zero for a loss.
The 16 group winners advance to Saturday's straight knockout rounds.
In other early round games, second seed Collin Morikawa got off the mark with a 2&1 win over Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.
World number two Morikawa was unhappy with his form but ultimately relieved to escape with a win.
"It was a weird, weird day," Morikawa said. "I felt like I started off really well...then I just made so many unforced errors.
"Sometimes you just get lucky and that’s what's great about this format – you can make a bad score, get away with it and move on."
- DeChambeau tie -
Third seed Viktor Hovland meanwhile left it late before overcoming Austria’s Sepp Straka.
Straka was one up heading to the 16th, but a birdie four for Hovland tied it up.
Straka then posted a bogey six on the 17th to leave Hovland ahead before holding on to win.
Play went largely to form across Wednesday's opening games, with only one of the top 10 seeds – Justin Thomas – suffering defeat. Sixth seed Thomas was beaten 3&2 by Luke List, the 53rd seed.
Patrick Cantlay, seeded four, tied against Keith Mitchell, along with Bryson DeChambeau who returned from injury to tie his game against England’s Richard Bland.
DeChambeau, who has not not played since early February due to a wrist problem, admitted he was still getting used to playing again after an extended layoff.
"There was a lot of drives out there I felt really bad because it's not going the place I want it to go just because I’m not confident with how my wrist will go through it," the big-hitting American said.
"That will get ironed out over time. A little bit of nerves will calm that down and just get comfortable playing golf again."
Fifth seed Scottie Scheffler was a 2&1 winner over England’s Ian Poulter, the American edging home after birdies on the 15th and 17th holes.
Elsewhere, Justin Rose posted a hole-in-one in his duel with Australia’s Adam Scott but it was not enough to prevent a defeat.
Rose's ace came on the par-three 17th after his tee-shot had landed out of bounds.
His second attempt off the tee rolled into the cup for a par, which left him one down heading to the 18th.
But the Englishman bogeyed the last and Scott parred to secure a two up victory.
J.Oliveira--AMWN