The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Bjorn helps to banish 2003 memories by snatching early lead Posted: 14 Jul 2011 04:48 AM PDT  Thomas Bjorn of Denmark tees off on the 18th hole during the first round of the British Open golf championship at Royal St George's in Sandwich on July 14, 2011. — Reuters pic The 40-year-old Dane, handed a last-gasp place in the 140th edition of the oldest major championship in golf when Fiji's Vijay Singh pulled out on Monday, made light of windy conditions on the Kent coast to fire a five-under-par 65. While Bjorn was flying high after reeling off four birdies in five holes on the back nine, tournament favourite Rory McIlroy was struggling to make an impact on one-over-par after 12. The 22-year-old Briton, the subject of 'Rory-mania' at Sandwich as a result of his commanding eight-shot win at the US Open last month, prompted groans from his army of fans when he three-putted the first hole. McIlroy dropped another stroke when he failed to get up and down from off the green at the third but he then hit a mid-range iron at the eighth and drilled his ball under the 20-mph breezes to within eight feet of the flag and sank his birdie putt. Bjorn was three strokes ahead with four holes to play in the 2003 Open before a calamitous bogey-double bogey-bogey run effectively handed the Claret Jug trophy to American Ben Curtis. His main blunder came at the 16th where he needed three attempts to get out of a greenside bunker. Eight years on it was a different story for the Qatar Masters champion as he peppered the flags on the inward half. At the par-three 16th he struck a majestic tee shot to eight feet before his curling birdie putt disappeared into the cup. Bjorn spoiled his run of birdies when a poor chip at the 18th led to a bogey but he was still delighted to be leading by two strokes from Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, who was three-under after 16 holes. Britain's Simon Dyson, playing in the same threeball as Bjorn and also the recipient of a late ticket to the Open following the withdrawal of American David Toms, was in the clubhouse on 68, two under. — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Adebayor waiting for call from Real coach Mourinho Posted: 14 Jul 2011 04:31 AM PDT  Real Madrid's Emmanuel Adebayor celebrates his goal against Real Sociedad during their Spanish first division match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on February 6, 2011. — Reuters pic The Togo international told today's Spanish sports daily As he would "get on the first plane to Los Angeles" where the Spanish club are on the opening leg of a pre-season tour. "I am not interested in looking for any other move that is not going back to Real Madrid," said the 27-year-old, who slipped down the pecking order at City after they signed Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko in the January transfer window. "I am waiting for his (Mourinho's) call and I hope it comes. If it was up to me I would play three or four years for Madrid and then retire in the white shirt." Adebayor, African Player of the Year in 2008, moved to Real in January as cover for the injured Gonzalo Higuain and scored on his home debut against Sevilla in a King's Cup semi-final. He netted twice against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League and scored a La Liga hat-trick against Almeria, helping lift his overall tally to eight goals in 22 appearances. Mourinho said this week that big-spending Real were still in the market for a forward and hinted Adebayor was more likely to fill the gap than potential targets Sergio Aguero of Argentina and Brazil's Neymar. Adebayor told As Mourinho was "without doubt" the best coach he had worked with. "I would say to him: 'Here I am if you need me'," Adebayor said. "He gave me the confidence I was lacking, he made me believe in myself and enjoy football again." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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