Golf

A remarkable back-nine comeback in the final round from Cameron Smith has delivered the Australian his first Major at the British Open.

The world no.6 hit five consecutive birdies from the 10th to the 14th, and had eight birdies in the final round for a record 8-under 64.

Cameron finished 20-under for the tournament ahead of American Cameron Young (-19) and Rory Mcllroy (-18), who was four shots clear of the Aussie leading into the last day.

It’s the second significant international victory for the Queenslander this year after taking out The Players Championship in March.

Previous winners of the British Open from Australia include Peter Thompson (1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965), Greg Norman (1986, 1993), Kel Nagle (1960), Ian Baker-Finch (1991) and Karrie Webb (2002).

AOC President Ian Chesterman said this was a great Australian victory.

“Congratulations to Cam, his family and the entire team,” Mr Chesterman said. “That was a truly astonishing performance.

“To become the first Australian to win the Open in almost 30 years is amazing enough, but to do it with the best ever final round from a champion is truly inspiring. The composure and calm under pressure Cam displayed is testament to Cam as a golfer and as a person.

“This is the kind of performance that can inspire the next generation of young Aussies, who I’m sure will be out there on courses and in backyards trying to putt like Cam Smith.

“Cam loved being part of the Australian Olympic Team in Tokyo and is a great ambassador for his sport and our country.

“Congratulations again to Cam and the whole Australian golfing community who are revelling in this fantastic result.”

Of the Australian contingent Lucas Herbert -10 (T-15), Anthony Quayle -10 (T-15), Adam Scott -10 (T-15) and Min Woo Lee -9 (T-21) also finished in the top half.

Athletics

Nina Kennedy has secured Australia's first medal of the 2022 World Athletics Championships as she's been awarded bronze in the women's pole vault on Monday afternoon (AEST).

The Western Australian equalled her Australian Record in the final, clearing 4.80m.

She had some issues at 4.45m, needing her third and final attempt to clear the bar but Nina steadied the ship from there.

Jemima Montag got Australia's World Championships showing off to a strong start when she recorded the fastest time any Australian female race walker has ever produced at an Olympics or world champs.

Competing in Oregon, USA the 24-year-old Victorian clocked 1:28:17 to finish fourth and it's a considerable improvement on her placing at Tokyo 2020 (6th).

In the same race Rebecca Henderson finished 20th, making a leap from finishing 38th at Tokyo 2020.

The good news kept coming for Aussie women, as Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers (nee McDermott) have advanced into the high jump final, while in the 1500m Jessica Hull and Georgia Griffith booked spots in their respective final.

The 2022 World Athletics Championships continue everyday through to Sunday 24 July, with 63 Aussies set to compete.

Follow the live action and results here.

Beach Volleyball

Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar have completed a golden trip to Portugal by winning the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge tournament at the Praia da Baia.

Their composure was tested in the gold medal match as they had to overcome losing the first set to Americans Corinne Quiggle and Sarah Schermerhorn, eventually getting the win 19-21, 21-19, 15-12.

“This is our second time in Espinho and our second victory in Espinho, so we’re really grateful,” Taliqua said.

“It’s really testing conditions, but it’s also great to play on a beach. We’re very happy that we played a good match against the Americans, they definitely made us sweat.”

It’s a confidence boosting result for the world no.5 Aussies as they prepare for an assault on the Commonwealth Games in a couple of weeks.

Before the Games they will head to Morocco for another Challenge tournament next week.

Hockey

The Hockeyroos have rallied to win bronze at the 2022 FIH Women’s World Cup, defeating Germany 2-1 in the bronze medal match at Spain’s Terrassa Olympic Stadium.

With three quarters of the match gone and Germany holding a 1-0 lead, back-to-back goals from Steph Kershaw and a player of the match display from Jocelyn Bartram landed Australia on the podium.

Jocelyn was put under heavy pressure by Germany and the goal keeper did extremely well to limit them to one goal, coming up with a save of the tournament contending play in the process. On a dive to her right she prevent Germany from taking a 2-0 lead with only her stick in the 35th minute.

In the semi-finals the Hockeyroos were up against the Netherlands, the reigning champions and world no.1 team, and went down 1-0.

The young Hockeyroos, with seven players having experienced 25 internationals or less, did Australia proud against a formidable opponent.

Also this week Jane Claxton and Andrew Charter (Kookaburras) each brought up their 200th appearance for Australia.

Their attention now turns to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Cycling

Michael Matthews has won the 14th stage of the Tour de France, the first stage win he’s had since 2017.

The 31-year-old had to defy scorching conditions, riding through 40-degree heat.

Stage 14 is a 192km trek from Saint Etienne to Mende.

Shooting

Australian shotgun shooting nabbed three World Cup medals in the past week, one gold and two silver.

In the mixed trap event it was an all-Aussie gold medal match in Changwon, Korea as Penny Smith and James Willett took on Catherine Skinner and Tom Grice.

Both teams were tied in the gold medal match after the first two series of 10 targets, then Penny and James pulled away to win six points to two.

“We both had a really good qualifying and really good final,” Penny said.

“Catherine and Tom shot extremely well today also. It was really hot and humid out there but a good day out.”

While 24 hours earlier Penny won silver in the women's trap shotgun, after hitting an international Personal Best 122 out of 125 targets in qualifying.

She led the field after semi-final one, having shot 22 of 25 targets. In the medal match Penny hit 30 of 35 targets for the silver, one target behind China's gold medallist Cuicui Wu.

These results mean Australia has won medals from all four ISSF World Cups they’ve attended this year.

"I had a really good performance with a 122/125 in qualifying which was a really big achievement for me. I came here with a goal I really wanted to achieve and I really wanted to medal," she said.

"I had an absolutely cracking final and just fell short at the end but I can’t complain at all to come away with the silver medal, so [I'm] extremely happy."

The trap shotgun athletes will now return to Australia and the focus will turn to the athletes competing in the remaining skeet (shotgun), pistol and rifle events.

Judo

Liam Park has gone to the Winterthur European Cup in Switzerland in the +100kg group and come away with a bronze medal, his first international medal since 2019.

He got the better of Great Britan’s Christopher Sherrington in the bronze medal match.

26-year-old Tokyo 2020 Olympian Aoife Coughlan has finished 5th at the IJF Zagreb Grand Prix in Croatia.

In the process she recorded an impressive victory over the current World Judo Championships bronze medallist and Olympic silver medallist Michaela Polleres (AUT).

The Victorian’s run ended at the hands of current World Champion Barbara Matic, losing a close battle in the golden score period.

Sailing

Evie Saunders has claimed silver in the ILCA 6 class at the Youth Sailing World Championships in The Hague, The Netherlands.

She finished 15 points behind the gold medallist Eve McMahon (IRE).

The Manly Yacht Club sailor stuck to a simple strategy throughout the week.

“My motto for the regatta was to start well, go the right way with speed and keep it simple,” Evie said.

“l was in a super tight position but knew l had to trust in the training that l had done to prepare for the regatta.”

While windsurfer Harry Joyner from Western Australia finished fourth, one point away from the bronze medal in the windfoiling boy event.