By Simon Evans
MIAMI (Reuters) - Pop singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio have become minority partners in the ownership of the NFL`s Miami Dolphins, the club said on Thursday.
Cuban-born Estefan and record producer Emilio held a news conference with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross but declined to discuss how much of a stake they had bought in the team.
"It is a private company and we will keep those things private but Emilio is a partner and Gloria is a partner," said Ross.
Estefan is best known internationally for her eighties hits such as "Rhythm is Gonna Get You" and "Dr. Beat" and together with her husband she owns several businesses in Florida.
"We are thrilled to be a part of our hometown team," said Gloria Estefan, adding that she had been a "hardcore" fan since the Dolphins` unbeaten season in 1972.
The link-up is an attempt to boost the profile of the Dolphins within South Florida`s huge Latin-American community which is strongly influenced by immigrants from Cuba.
"There is no community in America that has the diversity of South Florida and we want the team to be a part of South Florida and the best way to do that is to have an ownership which reflects that diversity," Ross said.
"There is no-one better that reflects the Latin community than Gloria and Emilio Estefan," he added.
The deal is the second Dolphins` link-up with an entertainment figure since Ross become owner of the franchise in January.
Singer/songwriter and businessman Jimmy Buffett, owner of Margaritaville Enterprises, signed a deal in May which includes the team`s stadium being renamed after his LandShark Lager beer for the 2009 season.
"It is all about creating a great game-day experience," said Ross. "We are seeing a convergence of sport and entertainment because sport is entertainment."
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Ed Osmond. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Original article
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Excitement builds ahead of Murray match
LONDON (Reuters) - Expectation hung heavy in the air on a warm day at Wimbledon on Thursday with Andy Murray`s tea-time assignment on Center Court dominating the talk amongst the huge queues snaking their way into the All England Club.
Third seed Murray`s tricky second round match against showy Latvian Ernests Gulbis promises another crackling atmosphere up on Henman Hill where thousands bit their nails on Tuesday as the Scot battled to victory over American Robert Kendrick.
The 20-year-old Gulbis, tipped as future top-tenner, has not progressed as expected this year but is confident of making life uncomfortable for Murray and his growing army of fans, some of whom walked through the gates wearing ginger wigs and kilts.
"I lost two matches against him but I think in this tournament it`s a new match and the past won`t count," said Gulbis, who stirred things up by suggesting Murray deliberately took an injury time-out to disturb his concentration in their previous meeting on grass at Queen`s Club last year.
He also played down Murray-Mania, saying it would be tame compared to previous experiences in his career.
"For me it doesn`t matter if somebody is for my opponent," he said. "I played once in Macedonia. They were like showing fingers and laughing so I think here it`s easy."
EXCLUSIVE CLUB
While Murray is seeking his first major, Thursday`s schedule was littered with members of the exclusive club of grand slam champions with 2002 men`s winner, feisty Australian Lleyton Hewitt, hoping to stop rising force Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in a tasty-looking opener on Center Court.
Women`s fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won the French Open this month to add to the U.S. Open crown she claimed in 2004, has never looked at home on grass.
However, the Russian put on an impressive show of force to thrash Pauline Parmentier of France 6-1 6-3 as the results scoreboard began ticking over.
Kuznetsova crunched winners all over the court to send Parmentier packing in exactly an hour.
Women`s top seed Dinara Safina, beaten by Kuznetsova in the Roland Garros final, was hoping to follow her compatriot through later on Thursday against Paraguay`s Rossana De Los Rios.
Wimbledon, more than almost any other sporting fiesta, is stacked full of celebrities and wannabees but two unlikely newcomers were the talk of the media terrace as the world`s press corp tucked into their full English breakfasts.
Teenage ball girls Erin Lorencin and Chloe Chambers held an impromptu interview session after their moments of fame on Wednesday when first Lorencin was tumbled over by Frenchman Michael Llodra then Chambers played a light-hearted knock-about with Tommy Haas after the unfortunate Llodra retired injured.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Original article
Exuberant Ballesteros talks of miracle recovery
MADRID (Reuters) - Seve Ballesteros was in exuberant form Thursday at his first news conference since his collapse in October and four operations to remove a brain tumor.
Presenting his new cancer research foundation, a tanned but frail-looking Ballesteros, with a livid scar on the side of his head, spoke about the "miracle" of his survival, cracking jokes and peppering his speech with typically colorful language.
The Spanish five-times major winner thanked the doctors and staff of Madrid`s La Paz hospital who saved him and expressed his gratitude for the support of his family and to all those who had sent messages of goodwill.
"A few months ago my life was hanging by a thread but I managed to get through it," the 52-year-old said.
"This is like a dream," he added. "It was very tough at the beginning. And when the doctors explained all they had done in my brain it`s a miracle.
"Life goes on and life is full of setbacks. You have to fight, that`s all."
Ballesteros has been recuperating at home in northern Spain while he undergoes chemotherapy and said he recently played nine holes of golf with his son.
"He beat me but it was a big effort," he said. "In time I will beat him."
He recalled how his doctors had explained that the tumor in his brain was the size of two golf balls. "I am a better person because the doctors took out the bad bit," he joked.
He said his new foundation will also seek to help young golfers of limited means.
"My beginnings as a caddie were not easy and I had the good fortune to be able to rely on a number of people who helped my career take off," he said.
"Golf has given me everything and I am especially pleased to be able to support and help young people in need."
(Editing by Ed Osmond;)
Original article
China to cooperate with Sydney Olympics age probe
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has promised to cooperate with an International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) probe into the age of two Chinese medalists from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The FIG announced Tuesday that it would investigate whether Yang Yun, the uneven bars bronze winner and her team mate Dong Fangxiao, who shared a team bronze, were younger than the minimum Olympic age requirement of 16 at the time.
"The decision was taken after the Federation sought a legal advice confirming that the statute of limitations had not yet expired, and that the FIG is in fact the authority competent to conduct a full investigation," it said in a statement.
The commission looking into the age of the gymnasts will report its findings, and recommendations for sanctions if a violation is confirmed, before the end of September.
If adjudged under age, Yang, wife of China`s three-time Olympic champion Yang Wei, could be stripped of her bronze. The entire Chinese team of six could also lose their medals if any of the two is ineligible.
"Yang and Dong were registered under the FIG`s Olympic entry procedure, and their ages were eligible," Lu Shanzhen, head coach of Chinese women`s gymnastic team, told Beijing Youth Daily.
"We will positively communicate with FIG and cooperate on their investigation in our authority.
"The FIG might have some information but we don`t know what they`ve got until we talk to them," Lu added.
During the Beijing Olympics last year, the FIG was ordered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to investigate the age of China`s He Kexin, women`s team and uneven bars gold medallist.
He, along with team mates Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, Li Shanshan and Deng Linlin, were subsequently declared eligible by the FIG two months after they won China`s first ever Olympic team gold in women`s gymnastics.
(Reporting by Liu Zhen and Emma Graham-Harrison; Editing by Nick Mulvenney
Original article
The FIG announced Tuesday that it would investigate whether Yang Yun, the uneven bars bronze winner and her team mate Dong Fangxiao, who shared a team bronze, were younger than the minimum Olympic age requirement of 16 at the time.
"The decision was taken after the Federation sought a legal advice confirming that the statute of limitations had not yet expired, and that the FIG is in fact the authority competent to conduct a full investigation," it said in a statement.
The commission looking into the age of the gymnasts will report its findings, and recommendations for sanctions if a violation is confirmed, before the end of September.
If adjudged under age, Yang, wife of China`s three-time Olympic champion Yang Wei, could be stripped of her bronze. The entire Chinese team of six could also lose their medals if any of the two is ineligible.
"Yang and Dong were registered under the FIG`s Olympic entry procedure, and their ages were eligible," Lu Shanzhen, head coach of Chinese women`s gymnastic team, told Beijing Youth Daily.
"We will positively communicate with FIG and cooperate on their investigation in our authority.
"The FIG might have some information but we don`t know what they`ve got until we talk to them," Lu added.
During the Beijing Olympics last year, the FIG was ordered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to investigate the age of China`s He Kexin, women`s team and uneven bars gold medallist.
He, along with team mates Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, Li Shanshan and Deng Linlin, were subsequently declared eligible by the FIG two months after they won China`s first ever Olympic team gold in women`s gymnastics.
(Reporting by Liu Zhen and Emma Graham-Harrison; Editing by Nick Mulvenney
Original article
U.S. shock Spain to reach Confederations final
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (Reuters) - United States scored their greatest win for almost 60 years by beating European champions Spain 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Confederations Cup.
Goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey ended Spain`s world record run of 15 successive victories and their 35-match unbeaten sequence, a world record streak they share with Brazil, and caused one of the biggest soccer upsets in years.
However, the match ended in bitter-sweet agony for U.S. coach Bob Bradley when his son Michael, who had a brilliant game in midfield, was sent off three minutes from time.
He was the third U.S. player sent off in the tournament and now misses Sunday`s final against Brazil or hosts South Africa.
Overall though it was the best performance by the U.S. since they beat England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.
It was also the first time the U.S. had beaten a team ranked number one in FIFA`s world rankings since they defeated Brazil in 1998.
The result was even more remarkable because the U.S. had lost their opening two group matches in the competition and were heading out until they beat Egypt 3-0 on Sunday and Brazil sank Italy by the same score as they squeezed through on the number of goals scored.
The fact the Americans are now in the final is testimony to their grit, determination and battling qualities in denying Spain time and space in midfield and up front.
Typical were brave blocks by defenders Jay DeMerit, Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra who were all outstanding.
GREAT EFFORT
"That was a great team effort, to beat a team like Spain, it`s big," coach Bradley told reporters.
"We played as hard as we could, everyone played their part. We will take a few hours to regroup now but we will be ready for the final. We are so excited about this."
Counterpart Vicente Del Bosque, who had guided his side to 13 wins in a row since taking over after Spain won Euro 2008, said: "We are not used to losing any longer.
"Every defeat hurts. Today we needed the final touch. We had many opportunities but they really closed the door on us."
Altidore, 19, said: "The fact I play my football in Spain at Villarreal was a big help. I have played against a lot of these guys and know them and gave the coach some information. Continued...
Original article
Griffin expected to be top pick by Clippers in draft
By Larry Fine
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin said he was unconcerned about the past as he faced the prospect of being taken by the long-time losing Los Angeles Clippers as first pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.
Griffin, a 6-foot-10-inch (2.08-meter), 251-pound (113.9 kg) power forward roundly acclaimed as U.S. college player of the year, said he and the Clippers would be starting fresh together if he were taken by them as top choice.
"That's the history, it's in the past," Griffin told reporters about the Clippers, who have managed to win more games than they have lost just twice in the last 26 years.
"It doesn't matter. I wasn't there. I have no control over it. A lot of those guys there now were not there five years ago, 10 years ago."
The Clippers are coming off a 19-63 record and are in sore need of a strong inside player such as Griffin, who averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds for the University of Oklahoma.
The Memphis Grizzlies select second, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Sacramento Kings in the current order of the 30 NBA clubs, which could be shaken up by trades.
Wheeling and dealing enabled Minnesota to hold the fifth, sixth and 18th spots in the first round and put the Timberwolves in position to do more juggling in the NBA talent hunt night at Madison Square Garden.
BUYOUT CLAUSE
Other players expected to go high in the draft include 7-foot-three-inch (2.21-meter) center Hasheem Thabeet, a native Tanzanian who starred at the University of Connecticut, and flashy 18-year-old point guard Ricky Rubio of Spain.
Rubio's draft status might be affected by his contract situation with DKV Joventut in Spain. He has a 4.75-million-euro ($6.6 million) personal buyout clause.
"There is some possibility that where I'm selected could affect my decision whether to pay the buyout or not," Rubio said. "Because if I'm in a top position I can get my buyout. We're going to see what happens.
"I want to play here, it's my dream, even if I don't get any money my first year," he said about the prospect of paying off the Spanish club from his own pocket. "I want to play in the best league in the world."
Much speculation surrounds the ranking of a deep class of guards that includes Tyreke Evans of Memphis, James Harden of Arizona State, Stephen Curry of Davidson, Jrue Holiday of UCLA, DeMar DeRozan of USC and Jonny Flynn of Syracuse.
Thabeet said there would be a lot of interest in his native Tanzania to see where he went.
"There's like a bar back home where they are going to be showing the whole draft experience," said Thabeet, who grew up in Dar Es Salaam. Continued...
Source: Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin said he was unconcerned about the past as he faced the prospect of being taken by the long-time losing Los Angeles Clippers as first pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.
Griffin, a 6-foot-10-inch (2.08-meter), 251-pound (113.9 kg) power forward roundly acclaimed as U.S. college player of the year, said he and the Clippers would be starting fresh together if he were taken by them as top choice.
"That's the history, it's in the past," Griffin told reporters about the Clippers, who have managed to win more games than they have lost just twice in the last 26 years.
"It doesn't matter. I wasn't there. I have no control over it. A lot of those guys there now were not there five years ago, 10 years ago."
The Clippers are coming off a 19-63 record and are in sore need of a strong inside player such as Griffin, who averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds for the University of Oklahoma.
The Memphis Grizzlies select second, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Sacramento Kings in the current order of the 30 NBA clubs, which could be shaken up by trades.
Wheeling and dealing enabled Minnesota to hold the fifth, sixth and 18th spots in the first round and put the Timberwolves in position to do more juggling in the NBA talent hunt night at Madison Square Garden.
BUYOUT CLAUSE
Other players expected to go high in the draft include 7-foot-three-inch (2.21-meter) center Hasheem Thabeet, a native Tanzanian who starred at the University of Connecticut, and flashy 18-year-old point guard Ricky Rubio of Spain.
Rubio's draft status might be affected by his contract situation with DKV Joventut in Spain. He has a 4.75-million-euro ($6.6 million) personal buyout clause.
"There is some possibility that where I'm selected could affect my decision whether to pay the buyout or not," Rubio said. "Because if I'm in a top position I can get my buyout. We're going to see what happens.
"I want to play here, it's my dream, even if I don't get any money my first year," he said about the prospect of paying off the Spanish club from his own pocket. "I want to play in the best league in the world."
Much speculation surrounds the ranking of a deep class of guards that includes Tyreke Evans of Memphis, James Harden of Arizona State, Stephen Curry of Davidson, Jrue Holiday of UCLA, DeMar DeRozan of USC and Jonny Flynn of Syracuse.
Thabeet said there would be a lot of interest in his native Tanzania to see where he went.
"There's like a bar back home where they are going to be showing the whole draft experience," said Thabeet, who grew up in Dar Es Salaam. Continued...
Source: Reuters
U.S. shock Spain to reach Confederations final
By Mike Collett
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (Reuters) - United States scored their finest win for almost 60 years by beating European champions Spain 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Confederations Cup.
Goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey sank the world's top-ranked team. It ended Spain's world record run of 15 successive victories and their 35-match unbeaten sequence, a world record streak they share with Brazil.
However, the match ended in bitter-sweet agony for U.S. coach Bob Bradley when his son Michael, who had a brilliant game in midfield, was sent off three minutes from time. He now misses Sunday's final against Brazil or hosts South Africa.
Overall though it was the best performance by the U.S. since they beat England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.
It was also the first time the U.S. had beaten a team ranked number one in FIFA's world rankings since they defeated Brazil in 1998.
The result was even more remarkable because the U.S. had lost their opening two group matches in the competition and were heading out until they beat Egypt 3-0 on Sunday and Brazil sank Italy by the same score as they squeezed through on goal difference.
AMERICAN GRIT
The fact the Americans are now in the final is testimony to their grit, determination and battling qualities.
Coach Bradley said: "That was a great team effort, to beat a team like Spain, it's big.
"We played as hard as we could, everyone played their part. That's what it took, a great effort.
"We will take a few hours to regroup now but we will be ready for the final. We are so excited about this."
Both sets of players left the field in tears, the Americans crying with joy and the Spaniards frustrated after being thwarted by a superb defensive effort and the outstanding Tim Howard, who made an endless string of stunning saves.
Spain fell behind for the first time in the tournament through Altidore.
He muscled Villarreal club mate Joan Capdevila off the ball, turned and eluded Carles Puyol to score after Iker Casillas could only palm his shot on to the inside of his own post and into the net after 27 minutes.
The second goal came in the 74th when the Spanish defense failed to deal with a cross from Landon Donovan and Dempsey swiveled to beat Casillas from close range. Continued...
Source: Reuters
Sharapova ousted, Federer strolls on
By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova was heading for the airport after losing at Wimbledon on Wednesday while another former champion Roger Federer sauntered through to the third round in glorious sunshine after a clinical display.
Sharapova struggled on the Center Court where she made her name in 2004 by beating Serena Williams to win the women's singles title as a 17-year-old. The Russian looked a pale shadow of the player who once looked set to dominate the game.
Bedeviled by shoulder problems since losing in the second round here last year, the 24th seed ran into inspired Argentine Gisela Dulko, falling 6-2 3-6 6-4 to a player she had dropped just three games against in their two previous clashes.
Sharapova lost the opening set in 35 minutes and despite some typically tenacious resistance to win the second from 0-3 the booming weapons that used to blast the Russian to safety in such situations failed to function at crunch time.
ABSORBING SCRAP
Dulko eventually prevailed on her fifth match point when Sharapova, who was bumped up the seedings from a world ranking of 60, fired a forehand long to end an absorbing scrap.
"It took me a while to get going," former world number one Sharapova told reporters. "It's a little too late to start picking yourself up when you're down a set and 3-0."
Referring to Federer as a former holder of the Wimbledon title he won five years in a row still takes some getting used to but his form in a 6-2 6-2 6-4 win over Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez suggests he will soon reclaim his throne.
The Swiss was at his relaxed, free-flowing best as he reduced Garcia-Lopez to a bit-part role during most of an embarrassingly one-sided contest that was over all too quickly for the 15,000 spectators on a sweltering afternoon.
Unusually, the 27-year-old, who lost his crown to Rafael Nadal in one of the best Wimbledon finals ever seen, was not watched by his most loyal supporter, pregnant wife Mirka, but he played down suggestions that a new Federer was imminent.
"She's just not feeling 100 percent," said the number two seed. "We decided it's better if she takes it easy instead of sitting in the sun and maybe feeling worse the next day."
DOUBLE QUICK
Huge crowds flocked to the famous lawns again on Wednesday, but holders of expensive Court One tickets would have felt a little short-changed after the three scheduled matches were all over in double quick time.
Novak Djokovic, the Serbian fourth seed, crushed Germany's Simon Greul 7-5 6-1 6-4 before women's second seed Serena Williams trounced Australia's Jarmila Groth 6-2 6-1.
Dangerous German floater Tommy Haas then needed just seven games to get past Michael Llodra, leading 4-3 when his French opponent retired hurt after crashing into a ball girl. Haas had some fun instead by knocking up with a beaming ball girl. Continued...
Source: Reuters
U.S. Open champion Glover eager to rejoin tournament fray
NEW YORK (Reuters) - After riding a whirlwind of media commitments since winning his first major title at the U.S. Open on Monday, American Lucas Glover is eager to return to the normality of tournament golf this week.
Glover is scheduled to tee off on Thursday in the opening round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, an event he never considered missing.
"It's going to be good to get back to what's normal for me, and that's playing golf," the 29-year-old told reporters before playing in Wednesday's pro-am at the TPC River Highlands.
"I had a couple of guys who have been in my situation tell me through text messages and voice mails that the best thing you can do right now is play because that's the only sense of normalcy I'll have for a little while.
"Plus I feel that's the right thing to do. Just because I won a golf tournament doesn't change anything. I was committed (to this week) and I'm going to honor that commitment."
Glover, who held off late charges by Phil Mickelson and David Duval to win the U.S. Open by two shots at Bethpage Black, spent a frenetic Tuesday in New York appearing on television chat shows and radio programs.
"It was very different for me, and very eye-opening to what some people go through a lot," he said. "It was one of the greatest, but most tiring, days of my life."
SINKING IN
Asked whether the significance of his victory in the year's second major had finally sunk in, Glover replied: "It has. I don't crave the attention that I got yesterday but it was there and it was really fun.
"I don't think I could do that every day. And it sunk in a little more on the range today when a lot of guys came up to shake hands and say their piece. It was very cool."
Glover, whose only previous PGA Tour title came at the 2005 Disney Classic, is determined to build on his major breakthrough at Bethpage.
"I've got to use last week as a springboard, and I've kept saying this over the last couple of days as a motivation," he added. "I don't want to fizzle out. I want to use that as motivation to keep getting better and back in that situation.
"I'm not planning on winning five majors in the next four years but I'm planning on getting back into (regular) contention. And to do that, I'm going to have to keep working because everybody else is."
The tobacco-chewing Glover was less certain, though, about his expectations for this week.
"I haven't thought that far ahead to be honest with you," he said. "I'm still finishing up the whirlwind. I'll see how I play today. But I expect to play well."
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Clare Fallon)
Source: Reuters
Oldest active player Chelios looks for new team
DETROIT (Reuters) - Chris Chelios, the NHL's oldest active player, hopes to sign with another team after being released by the Detroit Red Wings, he said on Wednesday.
"Whether I can get the opportunity in the right situation in the right city, it just remains to be seen," the 47-year-old defenseman told a gathering at his Detroit restaurant to discuss his plans. "That's all it is. There's no question I feel I can play."
If Chelios does find a team interested in his services it would be his 26th NHL season.
Described by his team mates as a "freak of nature," the ultra-fit Chelios has defied age with the help of a tough workout regime that has allowed him to survive nearly three decades of pounding.
Chelios is the second-oldest player to play in the NHL behind Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, who played when he was 52.
He is also the only player to appear in 400 games or more for three different teams: Montreal, Chicago and Detroit, and leads all American-born NHL players in games played with 1,644.
This past season, slowed by injuries, Chelios appeared in just 28 games for the Red Wings and failed to score a point.
The veteran blueliner also saw only limited action during the post-season, playing in just six games as Detroit made a run to the Stanley Cup finals, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
However, Chelios's trophy case includes three Stanley Cups, including two with the Red Wings, and three Norris trophies as the NHL's top defenseman.
"I have no regrets," said Chelios about his time with the Red Wings. "I was one game shy of winning the Stanley Cup and it couldn't have gone any better."
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto)
Source: Reuters
McIlroy surprised by Harrington's form slump
By Norman Dabell
MUNICH (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy said he was surprised by the recent dip in form suffered by triple major champion Padraig Harrington.
The 20-year-old McIlroy has climbed to 16th in the world rankings while Harrington has slipped to 11th from a high of third last year.
Irishman Harrington, who missed the cut in last week's U.S. Open by eight strokes, has blamed his problems on a few small swing changes.
"I think everyone is surprised ," Briton McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, told reporters at the BMW International Open on Wednesday.
"A three-times major winner in two years, a two-year span and then to have a run of form like he's had, it is a surprise.
"Obviously he looked at his game at the end of the year and seen a few things he wanted to change or improve and he's tried to do that and it has not quite worked.
"I've played a couple of practice rounds with him and he still hits it well. I watched him last week and it just seemed he was not hitting as many fairways as he needed to give himself chances for birdies."
McIlroy said that Harrington's modifications appeared so small that he could not detect any change.
"His swing looks the same to me when he won (his three majors) at Carnoustie, Birkdale and Oakland Hills. I'm sure it is still the same. It could be a slight fraction of the clubface at impact."
After finishing tied 10th last week at Bethpage on his U.S. Open debut, McIlroy, in only his second season, has moved to third on Europe's money-list and is strongly fancied to excel in next month's British Open at Turnberry.
McIlroy, who practiced at the west of Scotland course this week, has already worked out how he might need to play to become the youngest British Open winner in the modern era.
"I think the major thing on links courses are the shots around the greens, because you have so many tight run-offs," he said. "And you have so many chip-and-runs; you could also be putting from 10 yards off the green. You get the feel for all that the actual week."
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
Source: Reuters
MUNICH (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy said he was surprised by the recent dip in form suffered by triple major champion Padraig Harrington.
The 20-year-old McIlroy has climbed to 16th in the world rankings while Harrington has slipped to 11th from a high of third last year.
Irishman Harrington, who missed the cut in last week's U.S. Open by eight strokes, has blamed his problems on a few small swing changes.
"I think everyone is surprised ," Briton McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, told reporters at the BMW International Open on Wednesday.
"A three-times major winner in two years, a two-year span and then to have a run of form like he's had, it is a surprise.
"Obviously he looked at his game at the end of the year and seen a few things he wanted to change or improve and he's tried to do that and it has not quite worked.
"I've played a couple of practice rounds with him and he still hits it well. I watched him last week and it just seemed he was not hitting as many fairways as he needed to give himself chances for birdies."
McIlroy said that Harrington's modifications appeared so small that he could not detect any change.
"His swing looks the same to me when he won (his three majors) at Carnoustie, Birkdale and Oakland Hills. I'm sure it is still the same. It could be a slight fraction of the clubface at impact."
After finishing tied 10th last week at Bethpage on his U.S. Open debut, McIlroy, in only his second season, has moved to third on Europe's money-list and is strongly fancied to excel in next month's British Open at Turnberry.
McIlroy, who practiced at the west of Scotland course this week, has already worked out how he might need to play to become the youngest British Open winner in the modern era.
"I think the major thing on links courses are the shots around the greens, because you have so many tight run-offs," he said. "And you have so many chip-and-runs; you could also be putting from 10 yards off the green. You get the feel for all that the actual week."
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
Source: Reuters
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)