CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) — Stephen Ames shot a four-under 68 Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Senior British Open at Carnoustie.
The naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad had a one-stroke lead over four players — Richard Green, Paul Broadhurst, Peter Baker and K.J. Choi. Scott Hend shot 70 and was in sixth place.
Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen and Thomas Bjorn shot 71. Darren Clarke and Bernhard Langer had 74 and Vijay Singh shot 78.
John Daly, who withdrew from the British Open last week with an apparent left knee injury during the first round, also withdrew ahead of play starting Thursday at Carnoustie.
Ames complained about the slow play.
“I think overall, the pace of play kind of hindered us a little bit coming down at the end there,” Ames said. "So that kind of threw me off-balance.
“But I think overall this is a good test here this week for us. So I quite enjoyed the 68.”
Green, a 53-year-old Australian, has finished second and third in the senior majors — the Senior PGA and U.S. Senior Open — this year. and says although his confidence level is high, he's “still pretty humble about my golf.”
“I understand it’s difficult to win against the caliber of field that’s here," Green said. "But those two results obviously have built some confidence over those big events and big tournaments, and hopefully I can get there again on Sunday.”
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John Daly hits off the sixth tee during his opening round of the British Open Golf Championships at Royal Troon golf club in Troon, Scotland, Thursday, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's government has revoked permission for Brazil to serve as custodian of Argentina's diplomatic missions in the country, alleging several anti-government opponents holed up for months in the Argentine ambassador's residence had been plotting terrorist acts from the compound.
In a statement Saturday, Venezuela's foreign ministry said it had notified Brazil of its decision, which will take effect immediately. It said it was forced to take action based on what it called evidence — which it hasn't shared — that those who sought refuge in Argentina's diplomatic mission were plotting.
Magalli Meda, the former campaign chief of opposition leader María Corina Machado, was among a half dozen government opponents who fled to the Argentina ambassador’s residence after Maduro’s chief prosecutor in March issued an order for her arrest for allegedly propagating destabilizing, political violence.
In retaliation, Maduro broke off diplomatic relations with Argentine President Javier Milei’s right-wing government, which tapped neighbor Brazil to represent its interests and safeguard the asylum seekers.
There was no immediate response from Argentina or Brazil.
Since Friday, armored vehicles from the SEBIN political police have been parked outside the Argentina ambassador’s residence in a leafy Caracas neighborhood. Electricity to the diplomatic mission was also cut, according to Meda, who has taken to social media to denounce what she fears is an impending raid to arrest her and the other government opponents.
Police guard Argentina's embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
