The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| McIlroy seeks full benefit of Donald’s Shanghai absence Posted: 02 Nov 2011 06:55 AM PDT  Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds a cheque for US$2 million dollars after winning the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters golf tournament in Shanghai on October 30, 2011. ― Reuters pic The 22-year-old Northern Irishman is currently €1,302,823 (RM5,615,167) behind money list leader Luke Donald, who is on course to become the first player to win both the US and European money lists in the same year. However, the world number one has opted against playing in Shanghai, instead staying home in Chicago, where his American wife Diane is expecting to give birth to their second child in the next two weeks. McIlroy sees the US PGA order of merit champion's absence along with the €842,217 winner's prize on offer as an opportunity to end a year which has already seen him claim a first major at the US Open on an even higher note. "I am €1.3 million behind Luke," McIlroy told reporters today, fresh from a US$2 million (RM6.24 million) win at last week's non-sanctioned Shanghai Master that did not count towards any money list. "But I have got three big events coming up. I have got this week, the Hong Kong Open and the Dubai World Championship. So three more chances to really try to cut into his lead. "With him not being here this week because his wife is giving birth to their second child, I feel like I have got a chance. "It would be fantastic to get another win, the second in two weeks and cut into that lead. It would be fantastic if I could get a little closer to him." Accompanying McIlroy around the Sheshan International course will be Danish girlfriend and world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, who will be watching him play a tournament for the first time. During his news conference, McIlroy cleverly dodged a question about whether the couple had started making any marriage plans. On a day of heavy rain he joked: "It's great to have Caroline here. This is the first time she's at a golf tournament but if the weather keeps going like this, it might be the last one she is at as well." McIlroy was, however, more forthcoming about his plans to displace Donald at the top of the money list. "I obviously have not had as good a season as Luke because he has been the most consistent golfer in the world for probably the best part of 18 months," McIlroy added. "But if I can give it my all and really give it a good go for the next few weeks and even just run him close, I think that would be a good achievement in itself." McIlroy also accepted that with the season's three other major winners ― Charl Schwartzel, Darren Clarke and Keegan Bradley ― in the 78-strong field, he might not make as much of a dent in Donald's advantage on Sunday than he would like. ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| The sky’s the limit for goal-machine Messi Posted: 02 Nov 2011 06:27 AM PDT  Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts after scoring against Viktoria Plzen during their Champions League Group H soccer match in Prague on November 1, 2011. ― Reuters pic The World Player of the Year took his Barca tally to 202 goals from 286 appearances in the 4-0 victory away to Viktoria Plzen, putting the holders into the last 16 of the competition with two games to spare. "Messi will pass Cesar (Rodriguez) to become the top scorer in the history of the club, I consider it a done deal, and I don't rule out that it will happen this year," Barca coach Pep Guardiola told reporters. "And he's only 24. This says it all." Spain striker Cesar scored 235 official goals for Barcelona between 1942-55 and his total is within reach during this campaign for the Argentine on current form. Messi, top scorer in the Champions League over the last three seasons, bagged 53 goals in all competitions last season and this year has already hit 22, including strikes in Barca's Spanish and European Super Cup wins. So accustomed to seeing him score regularly, when Messi went three games without finding the back of the net last week local media speculated that he was out of form and needed a rest. His response has been to score consecutive hat-tricks against Real Mallorca in La Liga Saturday and again in the Czech Republic yesterday, when he was also shortlisted as a candidate for World Player of the Year again. Messi has won the award the last two years. "There aren't enough adjectives to define him," Barca president Sandro Rosell said. "He's the best in the world. I don't know where his limits are." ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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