The Star Online: Sports

Woods and Vonn reveal love interest
Shaaban looking forward to day when a local wins the Malaysian Open
Lian-wei and team-mates ready to face Els and company

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 04:40 PM PDT

MIAMI: Tiger Woods, the 14-time major golf champion whose infamous sex scandal with multiple mistresses led to a 2010 divorce, is dating ski star Lindsey Vonn, the two US sports icons announced on Monday.

"I guess it wasn't a well-kept secret but yes, I am dating Tiger Woods," Vonn said in a Twitter posting and a longer statement on her Facebook page that included pictures of the couple.

"Our relationship evolved from a friendship into something more over these past few months and it has made me very happy. I don't plan on addressing this further as I would like to keep that part of my life between us, my family and close friends. Thank you for understanding and your continued support! xo LV"

Woods posted a Twitter message that said, "Just posted some pictures of @Lindseyvonn and me on Facebook" and wrote his own statement revealing his relationship with Vonn on his Facebook page.

"This season has been great so far and I'm happy with my wins at Torrey and Doral," Woods said. "Something nice that's happened off the course was meeting Lindsey Vonn. Lindsey and I have been friends for some time, but over the last few months we have become very close and are now dating.

"We thank you for your support and for respecting our privacy. We want to continue our relationship, privately, as an ordinary couple and continue to compete as athletes."

Woods dominated golf until 2009 when his marital infidelity with several women was revealed, leading to a televised public apology and a break from golf in a spectacular fall from grace that cost him several rich endorsement deals.

Woods divorced Elin Nordegren the following year. The couple had a daughter, five-year-old Sam Alexis, and a four-year-old son, Charlie.

It was one year ago this week that Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill for his first PGA victory in 30 months, ending a drought that coincided with the aftermatch of the sex scandal.

World No. 2 Woods has already won twice this year, at Torrey Pines in January and at Doral earlier this month, and will resume his quest to beat the record 18 career major titles won by Jack Nicklaus next month at the Masters.

Woods, 37, is not the only star golfer with a sporting love connection. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is dating ninth-ranked women's tennis star Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

For Vonn it is a rare bright note in a season that has been marred by problems off and on the piste with a stomach ailment seeing her hospitalised, her revelations of battling depression for several years and her divorce with Thomas Vonn being finalised.

The 28-year-old's season came to a premature end when she tore right knee ligaments in the Super-G event at the World Ski Championships in Austria in February and underwent surgery to repair the damage.

She has said she plans to be ready to defend her Olympic downhill title at next February's Sochi Winter Olympics. -AFP

Shaaban looking forward to day when a local wins the Malaysian Open

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 05:07 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Shaaban Hussin believes that clocking the miles in the Asian Tour is the best way to prepare for a big tournament like the US$2.75mil Maybank Malaysian Open which starts on Thursday at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Shaaban, a Maybank ambassador, is among 22 Malaysians, including six amateurs, who will be gunning to be the first local to lift the Seagram Trophy. Joining him in the tournament is another Maybank's ambassador Danny Chia.

Other local hopes are Nicholas Fung, who earned an Asian Tour card through Qualifying School earlier this year, and highly rated amateur Gavin Kyle Green.

Shaaban said that the way for locals to aim for a win is to consistently play in big tournaments.

"If ever I had to choose playing in a local meet or to play in the Asian Tour, I will pick the Tour. For me the aim is to make it big in the international scene and any chance I get to play in an Asian, European or the PGA Tour is a bonus.

"The Maybank Malaysia Open is good for the local professionals because it is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. Hopefully our local professionals can learn something from this week besides aiming to win it," said Shaaban.

Shaaban has been a regular in the Malaysian Open and reckons that his best outing was in 2007 where he finished in the top 30.

The 32-year-old, who has been playing on the Asian Tour since 2007, enjoyed one runner-up finish at the 2009 Cambodian Open and was in contention at the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic before finishing tied 13th last year.

Earlier this month he competed in the Sail Indian Open where he made the cut for the final round.

After his exploits in the two biggies, Shaaban feels confident of handling the pressure in the Malaysian Open.

"You have to keep playing in more tournaments and keep practising. You must aim to play in the biggers tournaments so you learn to handle the pressure. This is the Malaysian Open and it is not a small event. When you are playing in the tournament you will know how difficult it is," he said.

"Shaaban said there is bright future for golf in the country considering the number of youngsters coming through the ranks. He said it is not an impossible dream to think of a local winning the Malaysian Open.

"We have many young and talented amateurs. I think one day we will see a Malaysian finishing in the top three or even win the Malaysian Open. It may take some time but if we keep at it the dream will become a reality," he said.

Lian-wei and team-mates ready to face Els and company

Posted: 18 Mar 2013 03:59 PM PDT

CHIANGMAI: China's trailblazer Zhang Lian-wei and rising stars Hu Mu and Ye Jian-feng will converge at the inaugural Chiangmai Golf Classic next week as they go head-to-head with Major champions Ernie Els, Michael Campbell, Y.E. Yang and the Asian Tour's top stars.

The US$750,000 full-field Asian Tour event will be staged at the magnificent Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai from March 28-31, signalling the first time that Chiangmai will host a world class golf tournament.

Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee, Boonchu Ruangkit, Chapchai Nirat, Prom Meesawat and Chawalit Plaphol, winner of the season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open last month, will spearhead the local charge in the region's newest event.

The 47-year-old Lian-wei has blazed a golden trail for Chinese golf since he broke onto the scene in the mid-1990s. The self-taught golfer is his country's most successful golfer with five Asian Tour victories under his belt and despite his age, he believes he can still compete at the highest level on the Asian Tour.

"I have enjoyed my time on the Asian Tour as it allowed me to grow and become a truly international player. Through the Tour, I've had the opportunity to play in different countries and experience different cultures across Asia which helped me to develop as a golfer," said Lian-wei.

The 23-year-old Hu Mu, who is touted as the next great Chinese hope, has taken up membership with the Asian Tour this season as he seeks to establish himself on the region's premier Tour.

Hu Mu finished tied 39th in Myanmar last month and believes he can continue to make good progress in his career.

"I see a lot of good things and I just need to put everything together. I am already committed to playing a full season on the Asian Tour and I'm looking forward to it," said Hu Mu, who trains under American swing guru David Leadbetter.

Jian-feng has a slice of record on his part as the Asian Tour' youngest player following his participation in the 2004 Sanya Open in China at the age of 13.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Isnin, 18 Mac 2013

The Star Online: Sports

The Star Online: Sports

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