The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Tiger gets by with a little help from his friend Posted: 08 Mar 2013 07:41 AM PST
Woods worked with Steve Stricker, one of the game's best putters, for over an hour on Wednesday and it clearly worked as he shot a six-under 66 at Doral, with just 23 putts in his round, including a 38-footer for birdie on the fourth hole. "Whatever he says, I'm going to do. He's one of the best putters that's ever lived," Woods said after his round. The world number two was not satisfied with his performance on the greens at last week's Honda Classic, where he squandered several birdie chances and was looking for a way to recapture the form he showed at Torrey Pines in late January when he won the Farmers Insurance Open. "He got me into the same posture that I was at Torrey. I had gotten off a little bit. So I felt comfortable, basically just like I did at Torrey, and I started rolling it just like I did then," said Woods. "He can see the things that are off a little bit, because he knows my stroke so well. Just gave me a couple little things to think about, and, lo and behold, I started feeling just like I did at Torrey and the ball started rolling." Stricker's generous help looked even more selfless after the round, given he himself finished just a stroke off the leaders. In the final count, after Sunday's fourth round, Woods's improved putting could conceivably cost Stricker some serious cash but he said he was just doing what golfing friends did. "I think it's just the nature of our game that we're friends out here, although we are competitors, we are friends," said Stricker. "You like to see your friend do well, and you sometimes need another pair of eyes. Tiger, I'm sure, didn't feel any of those things that I saw, but I've watched him so much over the years that I saw right away, and anyways, he helps me out, too." Stricker said he was once helped out post-round on the range at Doral by Jack Nicklaus and made the cut while the golfing great missed out. Woods agreed: "Whether it's one generation to the next or it's your current competitors, it's just the nature of our sport. We just do that," he said. Stricker is playing a restricted schedule this season and Woods joked he might take advantage of that. "I think I'm going to have a contract with him, because he's only going to play, what, five tournaments this year? So I'll bring him out in his off-weeks," he said with a grin. — Reuters |
| United’s European exit spells bad news for City, says Mancini Posted: 08 Mar 2013 06:46 AM PST MANCHESTER, March 8 — Manchester United's exit from the Champions League has made it harder for Manchester City to retain their Premier League title, the champions' manager Roberto Mancini said today.
"It's worse for us because I think now they put all their strength into the championship," Mancini, whose side trail United by 12 points, told a news conference. "I think for us it was better they stayed in the Champions League. They would have played an important game every three days, it is more difficult." Before the Manchester clubs get back to their league duel, they turn their attention to the FA Cup, with United hosting Chelsea in the quarter-finals on Sunday the day after City entertain Championship (second tier) Barnsley. Mancini will be without injured forward Sergio Aguero, who did not play in Monday's 1-0 league win over Aston Villa because of a knee problem, and captain Vincent Kompany, who has been absent with a calf injury since late January. "I don't think that it is serious but in this moment we can't take a risk with Sergio," he said. "Vinnie was training with the team yesterday but I don't think we can take a risk with Vinnie. Maybe he is ready for the next game against Everton." With City so many points behind United in the Premier League, the FA Cup might provide a slightly easier chance of silverware for Mancini's men, who won the competition in 2011. "For a team like us it is very important to win something every year," the Italian said. "It's better if it is Premier League or Champions League, Europa League. But also the FA Cup is important." He had faint hopes that United's European disappointment might knock their confidence but all his side could really do was try to win every game. "We hope (it affects their confidence)," he said. "Sometimes it is possible but they are strong enough. "Our job is only to try to the end of the season ... It is important to be strong in the difficult moments. "We can improve, we have 10 games (to play in the league) and we need to work for this." — Reuters |
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