- Stokes forecasts spin battle in Pakistan-England decider
- Volvo Cars cuts sales forecast on market headwinds
- South Africa 'shattered' by divorce of rugby star Kolisi
- Putin touts 'multipolar world order' at flagship BRICS summit
- Deutsche Bank profits boosted by legal settlements
- WHO says 'intense bombardment' halts Gaza polio vaccinations
- UK's Starmer plays down Trump team claims of interference
- Son of Singapore's founder granted asylum in UK
- Mehidy, Jaker take Bangladesh into lead over South Africa in Test
- Stocks mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed, US vote in focus
- Seven dead, thousands evacuated as tropical storm batters Philippines
- Pant fit for second Test as Gill gives India selection 'headache'
- S. Korean Olympic shooter Kim keeps cool over newfound fame
- UN chief in Russia for Putin's BRICS summit
- Markets mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed, US vote in focus
- US says 'now is the time' to end Gaza war
- Harris to face voters' queries in crucial Pennsylvania
- Mehidy fifty steers Bangladesh towards parity at 201-6
- King Charles arrives in Samoa, where Commonwealth looks to shed stodgy image
- Ohtani 50-50 baseball sells for record-breaking $4.39 million
- Morikawa says 'winning is tough' ahead of Japan title defence
- New Zealand's Bowes smashes record-breaking 103-ball double ton
- Troubled Boeing faces investors and awaits strike vote
- Indian capital chokes as 'hazardous' air pollution returns
- Thousands flee homes as fierce tropical storm batters Philippines
- Tokyo Metro shares rocket on debut
- Israel says killed Nasrallah's apparent successor in Beirut strike
- Climate change worsened deadly Africa floods, scientists say
- Los Angeles Dodgers baseball icon Fernando Valenzuela dead at 63
- Indian capital's 'hazardous' air pollution season starts
- King Charles visits Samoa, where Commonwealth looks to shed stodgy image
- Cattle disease wreaks havoc in Libya
- Fernando Valenzuela: Iconic pitcher sparked 'Fernandomania'
- Warner offers to come out of retirement for India Test series
- Deyverson double gives Atletico Mineiro upper hand over River Plate
- Taipei says Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through Taiwan Strait
- LeBron, Bronny James make NBA history with father-son appearance
- Deyverson double gives Atletico upper hand over River Plate
- Tokyo Metro: Asia's oldest subway goes public
- Shiffrin eyes 100 World Cup wins as legend Hirscher returns
- Asian markets mixed as rate cut bets are trimmed; US vote in focus
- From Colombia's jungle to the world's fish tanks
- Celtics dominate Knicks to launch NBA title defense
- North Korean leader Kim inspects missile bases, ballistic weapons
- Harris says US ready for woman president
- King Charles winds up Australia trip, flies to Samoa summit
- Porn stars urge men to vote against Trump
- Judge orders Giuliani to hand over valuables in bankruptcy
- Mourinho reunion a reminder of how little has changed for mediocre Man Utd
- Taiwan says Chinese warships sailing towards sensitive strait
England's Skinns fires 62 to seize lead at PGA Canadian Open
David Skinns sank a birdie putt from just inside 47 feet on his penultimate hole to grab a one-stroke lead after Thursday's first round of the US PGA Canadian Open.
The 42-year-old Englishman, chasing his first PGA Tour title, also reeled off six birdies in seven holes to fire an eight-under par 62 to lead after 18 holes at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in suburban Toronto.
"Drove it pretty well," Skinns said. "I left myself in a lot of good spots. Around here, it seems like that's half the battle to give yourself birdie looks. I was able to attack some pins."
World number 144 Skinns, who made the cut in only 20 of his 42 prior PGA events, fired a bogey-free late afternoon round to swipe the lead with Americans Sean O'Hair and Sam Burns one stroke back on 63.
Scotsman Robert MacIntyre, who birdied four of his first six holes, was fourth on 64 with American Ryan Palmer on 65 and third-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, seeking his third victory in the past four Canadian Opens, in a sixth-place pack on 66.
Skinns shared fourth at the Cognizant Classic and seventh at the Houston Open, both in March, for his best tour finishes.
"Once you know your good golf can compete, it's a lot easier to trust that and to have those feelings of comfort a little more," Skinns said.
Asked what a victory would mean, Skinns said, "I think everyone knows the answer to that. I've been working at it for 20-something years. I've got to play tomorrow first, though."
Back-nine starter Skinns sank a birdie putt from just inside four feet at the 12th, then began his run with tap-in birdies at the 17th and 18th.
He followed with a 14-foot birdie putt at the first, a 35-footer at the third, a tap-in birdie at the fourth and a six-foot birdie putt at the fifth hole to grab a share of the lead.
Skinns then added his final birdie on a long-range putt at the par-3 eighth.
O'Hair matched his career-low in 1,332 PGA Tour stroke-play rounds, having last shot a 63 in 2011, after a whirlwind journey from Texas to Canada that ended Wednesday night before a 5:56 a.m. Thursday tee time.
"I was exhausted," O'Hair said. "So, I was kind of in a fog today because I was just so tired, but it worked out."
O'Hair's bogey-free round included a 27-foot birdie putt at the fourth and a 27-foot eagle putt at 17.
O'Hair, who battled mononucleosis the past six weeks, was the last player in the field after others withdrew. Storms canceled his planes from Texas until late Wednesday.
"To come out here and shoot the score I did was definitely kind of a shocker," he said.
Burns eagled the only two par-5 holes on the rain-softened course, sinking a 10-foot putt at the fourth and holing out from just inside 38 feet at the 17th.
"That was really the difference in my round," he said. "Making two eagles kind of kick started me and it was overall a solid round."
- 'Good day's work' -
McIlroy seeks a third Canadian Open title after 2019 at Hamilton and, after the event went unplayed for two years due to Covid-19, in 2022 at nearby Toronto.
McIlroy's bogey-free 66 saw him make four birdie putts from inside eight feet.
"Four birdies there, no bogeys was a good day's work," said McIlroy, who won two of his past three starts.
"I've played well the last few weeks. Hopefully I can just keep that going."
P.Stevenson--AMWN