Sports FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2013 McIlroy finds form

SHANGHAI: Rory McIlroy enjoyed one of his best rounds of a disappointing season to storm into a two-shot lead over a star-stud- ded field at the $8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions tournament yesterday. Displaying a deft short game with a new lob wedge, McIlroy reeled off eight birdies en route to a first round seven-under-par 65 at the World Golf Championship event in Sheshan. Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Welshman Jamie Donaldson are tied for sec- ond on five-under, one ahead of a group of four players that includes American prospect Jordan Spieth and Briton Justin Rose. After cruising along nicely for 16 holes, British Open champion and two-time winner of this event looked primed to challenge McIlroy’s lead until he suffered a dramatic late-round meltdown to fall off the pace. The left-hander dropped four strokes at the par-five eighth, his 17th, where he twice found the pond in front of the green, and also dropped a shot at the ninth after pulling his second into the water for a one-under 71. PITTSBURGH: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a save behind Reilly Smith #18 of the Boston Bruins and McIlroy, on the other hand, had no such Matt Niskanen #2 during the game at Consol Energy Center on October 30, 2013. — AFP misadventures with his only dropped shot coming on the 11th hole, his second of the round. “It’s only one round but it’s definitely Penguins edge Bruins the way I wanted and needed to start this week,” said the two-time major champion, who was ranked number one in the world as PITTSBURGH: Brandon Sutter and Jussi Jokinen KINGS 4, SHARKS 3, OT slide. Daniel Sedin scored for Vancouver (9-5-1), recently as March but has yet to record a vic- scored in a 6:58 span in the third period as the Anze Kopitar scored on a power play 2:32 into which finished with a season-low 20 shots and tory this season. Pittsburgh Penguins held on for a 3-2 victory over overtime after setting up Justin Williams’ tying had its four-game winning streak stopped. However, refreshed after a recent four- the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. Chris Kunitz also power-play goal with 7:39 left in the third period Roberto Luongo stopped 25 shots in the loss. week break and armed with a new driver and scored for the Penguins, who gained a small meas- as Los Angeles rallied from behind three times to Henrik Sedin set up Vancouver’s first goal to new ball, the world number six looked to ure of revenge on the Bruins after Boston swept beat San Jose. Drew Doughty and Jarret Stoll also extend his point streak to 10 games (three goals, have rediscovered the swagger that carried them out of the playoffs last spring. Marc-Andre had goals and Jonathan Quick stopped 17 shots in nine assists). Fleury stopped 21 shots for Pittsburgh, including a the first meeting of the season between the Pacific him to order of merit titles on the European sliding save on David Krejci just before the final Division rivals, helping the Kings win for the eighth MAPLE LEAFS 4, FLAMES 2 and PGA Tours a year ago. His improvement horn. Sidney Crosby picked up an assist to push his time in 11 games. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Joe James van Riemsdyk scored a short-handed was not readily apparent in his tie for 27th at points total to an NHL-high 21. Pavelski and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks, goal and Jonathan Bernier made 41 saves to help last week’s BMW Masters, also played in Patrice Bergeron and Jarome Iginla scored for who finished the first month of the season 10-1-2 Toronto beat Calgary. Eastern Conference-lead- , but when he beat in Boston. Tuukka Rask finished with 28 saves, but and set a franchise record for wins in October. ing Toronto has won three straight to improve to an exhibition on Monday, his timing and couldn’t stop the Bruins from dropping a road game Antti Niemi made 19 saves in the finale of a 3-2 10-4-0. It was the Maple Leafs’ first victory in demeanor around the course looked like the for the first time this season. The meeting between road trip. Calgary since Dec 27, 2002. Joffrey Lupul, Mason McIlroy of old. the teams was the first since Boston’s four-game Raymond and Paul Ranger - short-handed into an sweep in the Eastern Conference finals, when the RED WINGS 2, CANUCKS 1 empty net - also scored for Toronto. Coming off a UNDER CONTROL Bruins suffocated the NHL’s highest scoring team Tomas Tatar scored his first goal of the season 4-0 victory on Tuesday night in Edmonton, the “Last week I wasn’t reading the greens into submission. The Penguins scored only twice in late in the second period as Detroit defeated Maple Leafs will wrap up their three-game trip very well and my pace was off as well and nearly 14 periods of hockey, undone by Boston’s Vancouver. Daniel Alfredsson had the other goal through Western Canada on Saturday night in when you have that combination you’re not defense and a near flawless performance by Rask, for the Red Wings (7-4-2), while Jimmy Howard Vancouver. Matt Stajan and David Jones scored going to hole any putts,” he said. “I let a cou- who stopped 134 of 136 shots in the series. made 19 saves as Detroit snapped a four-game for Calgary. The Flames are 5-5-2. — AP ple of putts get away from me today - a cou- ple of the downhill ones - but I was able to hole the ones coming back. “And with the Dyson faces possible tour irons, I pretty much had the ball under control all day. I hit a couple of loose drives but it’s one of the best rounds I’ve played (this year). “I shot 64 at Boston (Deutsche Bank ban after ‘serious breach’ Championship) but this is probably better because of a little trickier conditions.” McIlroy SHANGHAI: England’s Simon Dyson could be and Disciplinary Procedure,” said the statement Championships in Dubai the following week. But is a surprising 62nd on the European Tour’s fined, banned or even expelled from the European issued to media at the WGC-HSBC Champions it seems unlikely he would take up his place in Race to Dubai. Only the top 60 qualify for the Tour following his disqualification from the BMW tournament at Sheshan Golf Club. those fields with the case hanging over him. season-ending event in a fortnight, so he is Masters last week in Shanghai. The European Tour The relevant clause in the code states: “I have been informed of the procedure being not quite guaranteed a spot yet, but has announced yesterday that he will go before a dis- “Serious Breach. If, at the conclusion of an investi- put in place by The Tour following my actions made a huge step in the right direction. “I ciplinary panel to answer a charge of a “serious gation into an alleged breach of the Code by a during the second round of the BMW Masters in obviously want to play myself into Dubai and breach” of the tour’s code of behavior. Member, it is evident that a serious breach of the Shanghai last week and am perfectly happy to In joint second place after two rounds at Lake Code may have occurred, then a disciplinary co-operate with the investigation by the inde- pick up my first win of the season,” he said. Malaren, Dyson was seen on television during his hearing shall take place before an independent pendent disciplinary panel,” said Dyson in a state- Fernandez-Castano, meanwhile, continued second round to tap down illegally with his ball a disciplinary panel.” The statement said Dyson was ment issued to media from his management the form that carried him to victory at the spike mark on the line of his putt on the eighth in breach of “Rule 16-1a, which states that a play- team. “I would like to say at this stage that I have BMW Masters on Sunday. “I was feeling a little green and was disqualified. He will now have to er must not touch his line of putt”. never deliberately broken the rules either on this tired on Tuesday but I guess it’s normal after explain his actions to an independent disciplinary He should have added a two-shot penalty to occasion or in the past. all the adrenaline rush,” he said. “I was feeling panel, the European Tour said in a statement his card and was therefore disqualified for sign- “It was only after I was shown the replay of my a little tired but I wasn’t in the pro-am yester- issued to golf reporters in Shanghai. ing for the wrong score. Dyson will be given 21 action after marking the ball on the eighth green day so I took a good rest and I’m feeling 100 “At the conclusion of the tournament, and days notice to face the three-man panel at a date during the second round that I realized what I percent.” Donaldson is also feeling refreshed having reviewed subsequent reports from to be determined and if found guilty will face had done and that I was in breach. “I immediately after suffering from jet-lag last week. “I didn’t Tournament Director Mikael Eriksson and Chief action ranging from a reprimand to a fine, sus- accepted that I should be disqualified. “It was sleep great last week but I’m fully acclima- Referee John Paramor, it was decided by David pension or even expulsion from the tour. The simply an accidental mistake which I have no tized now so there are no excuses,” said Garland, Director of Tour Operations for The duration of the procedure leaves him free to reservations in apologizing for.” Dyson had not Donaldson, who eagled the par-four 16th European Tour, that further action was required compete in next week’s Turkish Airline Open in qualified for this week’s event in Shanghai and after driving the green. — Reuters under The European Tour’s Code of Behaviour Antalya for which he is entered, and the DP Tour flew back to the UK tomorrow. — AFP