The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Morrison makes move at wet Singapore Open Posted: 11 Nov 2011 03:39 AM PST  James Morrison watches his shot during the second day of the Barclays Singapore Open on the Serapong Course on Sentosa Island on November 11, 2011. ― Reuters pic Morrison, tied with Italy's Edorado Molinari on nine under par after the first round, had completed 14 holes of his second round on the more difficult Serapong Course before a weather delay forced the players off the course for almost three hours. The 26-year-old returned to par the next three holes before a beautiful approach shot on the par-five 18th hole set up a tap-in birdie to send him into the clubhouse on 12-under for the $6 million tournament, being played over two courses. "It was a perfect number really, 100 yards to the flag and with a sand wedge from the fairway it looked like it was about to go in, but I will take a four," Morrison told reporters of his approach at the last. "It's definitely harder than the other course," he added. "More demanding tee shots and a well-designed course, so overall I had a good day. Filipino Juvic Pagunsan surged up the leaderboard with a second straight five-under 66 to sit two adrift of Morrison and one ahead of Molinari, three holes into his second round, and Dane Anders Hansen, who fired a bogey-free, seven-under 64. Morrison set the foundation for his low score on the easier Tanjong Course yesterday but with the final 36 holes being played on Serapong, the Briton will be delighted to have offset two dropped shots with a bogey-free, four-under inward nine. "I didn't play as well as I did yesterday but did enough to get round and I finished strongly," Morrison added. "Four under for the back nine is very good here. "I enjoy leading. It's what you play for. You play to win, to be in contention and to even be interviewed. If you don't enjoy that then there's no point in playing. I love doing all that so looking forward to the weekend." Pagunsan put his improved display down to some minor adjustments he had made off the course that has had a positive effect on his performance on it in recent weeks. "I have a stronger mentality now and focus on my game more. My concentration has improved and so has my fitness," the Filipino said. "Your mental game is stronger when you are fresher. I jog a bit and play some friendly games of basketball to keep in shape." Further down the leaderboard, Briton Justin Rose, American Anthony Kim and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen were all making major moves into the top 10 with low scores on the Tanjong Course with a handful of holes remaining in their rounds. Tournament drawcards Graeme McDowell (three-under with two holes to play) and Phil Mickelson (even par after three holes) are both struggling to qualify for weekend play with the halfway cut projected at three-under par. ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| F1 rivals would welcome ‘raver’ Raikkonen’s return Posted: 11 Nov 2011 02:50 AM PST  Kimi Raikkonen of Finland walks to his car after being introduced before the NASCAR Nationwide Series Top Gear 300 in Concord, North Carolina on May 28, 2011. ― Reuters pic The 2007 world champion, who quit Formula One to go rallying at the end of 2009 but remains hugely popular with the fans, has been linked to a seat next season at Williams although the team have made no public comment. Raikkonen has confirmed to Finnish reporters that he has had talks while Williams shareholder Christian 'Toto' Wolff said this week that he was one of several options under consideration. Some of the Finn's former rivals said at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that they would welcome his return. "I have no idea whether that is happening or not," said Team Lotus's Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen. "If Kimi decides to come back, I think the main difference for me will be that the parties after the races will be a little bit better." Raikkonen, so often unforthcoming and monosyllabic in news conferences, had an off-track reputation as a party animal during his stint in Formula One with Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari. Among other exploits, he once entered a powerboat race in a gorilla suit as 'James Hunt' and was also photographed asleep on a bench with an inflatable dolphin outside a Spanish nightclub. "I had a few drinks and danced. Why not?" Raikkonen was quoted as saying afterwards. Michael Schumacher, the seven-times world champion whose place at Ferrari was taken by the Finn at the end of 2006, enjoyed some memorable post-season parties with Raikkonen. The German, who made his own comeback last year after three years out, was reluctant to offer any advice but could see potential for entertainment. "I would be very happy to see him back. We have had some very good times and I look forward for some on track and off track occasions ― it will be good," he said. Getting back into the groove after a couple of years away might not be too difficult, though. "In the end, you think how much can you recall your potential. How much can you drive the car to its limit. That is the main concern that was answered right away at the first test," said the 42-year-old of his own case. "It took me probably 15 laps to sort of get back and drive the car, not at its full limit but close and from then on it is just a matter of time. I am pretty sure with Kimi he is capable of doing so." ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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