The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Johnson overhauls leader Woods with eagle finish (Updated)
- Argentina cling on in Davis Cup with doubles win
- Wallabies beat Wales as Williams bows out with try
| Johnson overhauls leader Woods with eagle finish (Updated) Posted: 03 Dec 2011 06:11 PM PST THOUSAND OAKS, California (Reuters) - Tiger Woods endured a challenging day in gusting winds before finally surrendering his overnight lead to fellow American Zach Johnson in Saturday's third round of the Chevron World Challenge. Three strokes clear of the chasing pack at the tournament's halfway point, four-times champion Woods battled to a one-over-par 73 on a sunny but chilly afternoon at Sherwood Country Club. In pursuit of his first victory in more than two years, Woods bogeyed two of the last six holes for a seven-under total 209, finishing a stroke behind Johnson who spectacularly eagled the par-four last with a seven-iron from 163 yards for a 68. Johnson, whose only major title came at the 2007 Masters, covered the hilly back nine in four under to take control of the elite 18-man event going into Sunday's final round. First-round leader KJ Choi of South Korea (72) was alone in third at five under, two shots better than Americans Gary Woodland (70), Hunter Mahan (73) and Matt Kuchar (74). "It was tough out there," tournament host Woods told reporters after mixing four birdies with five bogeys as unpredictable winds gusted up to 35 mph (56.33 kph). "The wind was very gusty and swirling all over the place. It was really tough to pull a club and hit a shot. "Even though I made three bogeys on the (five) par-fives and I had two three-putts, I played well. I hit a lot of good shots that ended up in bad spots because I had bad gusts. "I just need to make a few more putts," added Woods, who has not won a tournament since the 2009 Australian Masters while his world ranking has dropped to 52nd. "I'm right there with a chance going into tomorrow." Johnson was delighted to end the day atop the leaderboard after starting his round four strokes off the pace. "Today was good, and it wasn't easy with the wind," the 35-year-old said. "I got off to a pretty shaky start but made some nice saves, and then had a lot of opportunities and didn't make any of those. "Then I got going, and ended on a pretty stylish note," he added of the seven-iron from the 18th fairway that curved to the left in the wind before the ball bounced a couple of times on the green then disappeared into the cup. "When it left my club, I thought it was pretty good. "I knew if it went a little long, it would come back (down the slope) and I would have a birdie opportunity. That's all you're looking for." Woods made a red-hot start to the third round, hitting a superb approach from the left rough to within two feet of the cup to set up a tap-in birdie at the par-four first. However, he failed to maintain momentum as the Santa Ana winds continually gusted and shifted across the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout. A three-putt bogey at the par-five second was followed by a chip-in for birdie from behind the green at the fourth, prompting loud roars from the gallery and a characteristic fist pump by Woods. He then bogeyed the sixth, where he missed the green to the left with his approach, and the eighth, after three-putting, to reach the turn in one-over 37 and a stroke in front of the chasing pack. Though he birdied the par-four 10th, after his drive ended up to the right of the green, and the par-five 11th, where he two-putted from 15 feet, Johnson was fast closing in. After recording nine consecutive pars on the front nine, Johnson caught fire after the turn, eagling the 11th and making birdies at the 12th and 13th to trail Woods by just one. Woods dropped back into a tie for the lead at eight under after bogeying 13 before Johnson also faltered, bogeying 16 after hitting a wayward drive and a second shot that ended up well left under trees by the cart path. Johnson also bogeyed the par-three 17th to slip two strokes back before ending his round with his eagle flourish. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Argentina cling on in Davis Cup with doubles win Posted: 03 Dec 2011 03:18 PM PST SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - David Nalbandian and Eduardo Schwank trounced Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-4 6-2 6-3 to secure Argentina's first point of the Davis Cup final on Saturday and keep the best-of-five tie alive ahead of Sunday's reverse singles. After Rafa Nadal and David Ferrer put favourites Spain 2-0 ahead on Friday, victory for Nalbandian and doubles specialist Schwank means Argentina still have a slim chance of winning a first Davis Cup in their fourth final and avenging defeat to Spain in the 2008 title match in Mar del Plata. However, with world number two Nadal apparently unbeatable on his beloved clay and full of confidence after his demolition of Juan Monaco on Friday, Spain remain on course for a fifth Davis Cup triumph and a third title in four years. "We're optimistic," Spain captain Albert Costa told a news conference. "Tomorrow I have Rafa and David and we're going to win one of those two points." Saturday's doubles rubber was always going to be Argentina's best chance of a point, with Lopez and Verdasco coming into the match having lost 10 of their last 11 outings together in all competitions. Not even the raucous home support at the purpose-built indoor court inside Seville's Olympic stadium could will them to victory, Argentina's success delighting the outnumbered but vocal away fans. Nalbandian and Schwank converted five of their six break points and saved all three they faced with an efficient display and sealed victory when Verdasco netted a simple volley, a fitting end to a poor Spanish performance. "We played a great match," Nalbandian said in an interview with Spanish television. "From the start we made very few mistakes, almost none," the 29-year-old added. "The tie is still alive." Lopez, the first Spanish player to compete in four Davis Cup finals, told a news conference it had been his worst performance in the competition. "I didn't feel comfortable with the serve and with the return. It wasn't one of my best days," the 30-year-old said. "But I can't torture myself. Things didn't work out. We have to trust David and Rafa tomorrow to give us good news." Nadal is due to play Juan Martin Del Potro, who lost a gruelling five-set match to Ferrer on Friday, in Sunday's opening singles rubber before Ferrer takes on Monaco. Verdasco complained that Nadal and Ferrer had been summoned to a doping control during the doubles match, saying it was "a little bit over the top". "I don't think it's nice that during a game they take our team mates out to go to a test," he said, before he and Lopez were also taken off for a doping control. "They could wait until the end of the match and they could have allowed them to cheer us and then do the test afterwards," he added. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Wallabies beat Wales as Williams bows out with try Posted: 03 Dec 2011 03:14 PM PST CARDIFF (Reuters) - Wales winger Shane Williams scored with his final touch in international rugby but he bowed out on a losing note after Australia overcame a sluggish start to win 24-18 in a one-off test at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. Williams touched down in the final seconds, his 58th try for his country in a stellar career, but it proved in vain as the Wallabies produced a strong second-half showing to again defeat Warren Gatland's side, six weeks after their 21-18 victory in their World Cup third-place playoff in Auckland in October. Australia, who have now beaten Wales in three successive visits to Cardiff, will host the Welsh in three tests next year. "We were made to work hard for it," said Australia coach Robbie Deans, whose side trailed 6-3 at the break after a lacklustre opening 40 minutes. "We came out and adapted better in the second half and were able to bring some pressure to bear and turn it into points. "There were elements of fatigue late in the second half but that's probably not surprising...but the boys showed what it meant to them and have earned a break." Williams, Wales's record try scorer and the third all-time in international rugby, raised the roof with his last-gasp touchdown on his 87th and final appearance but it was an otherwise disjointed display from the hosts who had welcomed back captain Sam Warburton following his ban for his red card in the World Cup semi-final defeat by France. The game quickly changed after fullback Leigh Halfpenny was sin-binned nine minutes after the restart. Australia took the game by the scruff of the neck as Will Genia, Lachie Turner and Berrick Barnes crossed for quick scores. Rhys Priestland touched down for a first Welsh try but the Wallabies, who thrashed the Barbarians 60-11 at Twickenham last week, held firm until Williams, one of the most exciting wingers of his generation, burst through in the final play of the game. "It's been a tough week," Williams, unable to stem the flood of tears, said in a pitchside interview. "It's been a privilege to have had the chance to play for Wales," added the 34-year-old after he brought an end to his 11-year test career. "I've had the time of my life. I'm going to miss it, it's been a great journey. I've enjoyed every minute of it... the ups and downs." Aside from his late score, Williams had an otherwise quiet game, despite making a try-saving tackle late in the first half to deny Turner. The game only came to life in the second 40 minutes. Wales were reduced to 14 men when Halfpenny was yellow-carded for tackling James O'Connor just as the flyhalf was about to gather Barnes's astute kick through with the try line at his mercy. Australia quickly took advantage of their numerical supremacy. Opting to retain possession rather than kick a simple penalty, the Wallabies recycled the ball and after working through several phases, scrumhalf Genia stretched an arm out to touch down. O'Connor converted but then hit the post from a penalty right in front. The let-off for Wales was short-lived, however, as a swift backline move allowed Turner the space to go over in the left corner for a try which was converted by O'Connor for a 17-6 lead. With Wales in disarray, Barnes was afforded time and space to coast over for a third try before Wales at last gave the home fans something to cheer when Priestland and Williams gave the scoreline a more respectable look. Wales coach Warren Gatland was not overly disheartened, saying the game was lost following Halfpenny's indiscretion. "We scored a couple of good tries against a team who had the best defence at the World Cup, he said. "They are very, very difficult to score against. "I'm disappointed that we've had a yellow card. I felt a bit sorry for Leigh, from the way the ball has bounced up he thought the ball had gone into O'Connor's hands... unfortunately we conceded 21 points in that period (that Halfpenny was off) and that was the game." Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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