Sports43 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 Els two back in HK as ill Jimenez struggles

HONG KONG: Ernie Els played himself firmly into con- tention at the Hong Kong Open yesterday, but defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez was happy just to get round after a bout of food poisoning. Organizers have billed the $1.3 million tournament as a battle between four-time major winner Els and Spanish veteran Jimenez, who is looking for his third straight win in the Chinese city. The crowd-pulling pair endured contrasting fortunes during their opening round over the par 70, 6,699-yard course at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. An ill Jimenez struggled to a two-over-par 72 while South Africa’s hall of famer Els scored 66 to lie just two shots behind leader Jyoti Randhawa of India. “I’ve been sick all night, vomiting, and I got no sleep,” said Jimenez, who admitted to having to visit the woods at one point during his round. “I ate something that my body reacted badly to. Maybe it was the seafood, maybe it was the meatballs, but I had no chance at all today. “It’s a pity and wasn’t the best start but I tried to do my best. I’m a profes- sional and I came here to play even though my body was SAN FRANCISCO: Tony Cruz #48 of the St Louis Cardinals tags out Brandon Belt #9 of the San Francisco Giants in the sev- telling me not to,” he added. enth inning during Game Four of the National League Championship Series at AT&T Park on October 15, 2014. —AFP The 50-year-old, who is still hopeful of this week becoming the first player to win the Hong Kong Open five times, was in obvious discomfort as he traded three Giants overpower Cardinals 6-4 bogeys with a birdie. “It was hard to get round,” said Jimenez, who won the title in 2004, 2007 and 2012 before SAN FRANCISCO: Buster Posey and the a wild toss by St. Louis reliever Randy though. The second one, I should’ve just last year’s victory. “There are a couple of tough slopes out Giants already know how to win in Choate allowed the winning run to touched first and checked home.” there and I was almost down on my hands and knees,” he October - even without all this help from score in the 10th inning. Posey added an RBI off Seth added. Els bogeyed the first but bounced back with six the St Louis Cardinals. Strange as it “I think any time you can put pres- Maness to make it 6-4. The star birdies against another dropped shot to finish four-under might look sometimes, San Francisco sure on the defense, you’ve got the also had a sacrifice fly in the first and a finds a way to score just enough. Posey opportunity for good things to happen,” run-scoring single in the third. These for the day, along with big-hitting Belgian Nicolas drove in three runs and capped another Posey said. “We’re able to come up with wild-card Giants joke about not needing Colsaerts and seven others. unusual rally as the Giants took advan- some big two-out RBIs to get back in the hits and home runs to win, and they’re tage of some clunky defense by first game.” Minus injured catcher Yadier showing that with timely bunts, small ‘Seven handicapper’ baseman Matt Adams in beating the Molina again, the Cardinals were cling- ball and a few miscues from the oppo- pn the front nine you would’ve thought I was a seven Cardinals 6-4 on Wednesday night to ing to a 4-3 lead when San Francisco put nent. The tying and go-ahead runs came handicapper but I pulled it together and played much move within one victory of the World runners at second and third in the sixth. home on balls that didn’t leave the better on the back,” said Els, competing in the Hong Kong Series. “We might find some weird ways Playing in with one out, the lumbering infield. The Giants have scored 12 of Open for the first time. “You want to have a good round to score runs, but we’re getting people Adams backhanded Gregor Blanco’s their 22 runs over their past six postsea- the first day because it’s easy to shoot yourself out of it on base first. That’s the main thing,” bouncer and stumbled as he tried to set son games without the batter getting a and there’s a lot of pressure,” he added, before offering Brandon Belt said. Chasing their third himself to throw home. Adams had . “If you’re not hitting the long ball, title in five years, the Giants lead the trouble with the transfer, and his toss you have to find ways to manufacture his sympathies to Jimenez. “I feel for Miguel. I’ve had that best-of-seven NL Championship Series short-hopped catcher Tony Cruz as Juan runs,” manager Bruce Bochy said. over here and it’s not a lot of fun. But it’s not about me 3-1 after poor throws cost the Cardinals Perez slid across with the tying run. Yusmeiro Petit pitched three score- against him. There are 55 in the field,” said Els, who cele- yet again. Joe Panik then hit a grounder right to less innings to win in relief of an ineffec- brates his 45th birthday today. Unheralded Randhawa, October ace Madison Bumgarner can Adams, who stepped on first base tive Ryan Vogelsong. Petit has been a ranked 462 in the world, fired the round of the day with pitch San Francisco to another pennant before firing wildly to second in trying valuable long man - he delivered six his 64. at home in Game 5. Struggling All-Star for a play. Brandon Crawford shutout innings in an 18-inning NLDS “For me it’s really awesome,” he said. “I really putted Adam Wainwright starts for St. Louis, stopped between third and home, yet victory at Washington. “He’s been really my heart out so I’m very happy with the way it went.” The now facing the same daunting deficit was able to score easily when Adams good for us for a long time and he’s Indian is one shot ahead of Filipino Angelo Que. the Giants overcame to beat the threw wide of the bag. “That’s kind of fit- finally getting some recognition. What a However, it was an utterly miserable day for Asia’s sole Cardinals in the 2012 NLCS. Kansas City ting of how our postseason’s been,” weapon to have,” Posey said. Sergio awaits the winner after completing its Panik said. “It might not be the prettiest Romo worked the eighth and Santiago major champion, YE Yang, who signed for a six-over-par ALCS sweep of Baltimore earlier in the way of scoring runs.” Cardinals short- Casilla finished for his second save of 76, which included three double-bogeys. The South day. The wild-card Royals will host Game stop Jhonny Peralta came way off the the series. A total of six Giants relievers Korean, winner of the 2009 PGA Championship, needs a 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night. base to catch the ball, but had no play at held St. Louis scoreless over the final six miracle in today’s second round if he is to make the week- San Francisco climbed out of an early the plate. “The play at home, there’s a innings. Marco Gonzales took the loss end. The Hong Kong Open is the penultimate event of this three-run hole, and back-to-back bad fast runner at third and I was going in on after issuing a leadoff walk to pinch-hit- season’s European Tour and is co-sanctioned by the Asian throws by Adams in the sixth inning the ball and threw on the run,” Adams ter Perez in the sixth and giving up a sin- Tour.—AFP helped the Giants rally - one night after said. “Just should’ve made the throw, gle to Crawford.— AP World champion Biles grabs Sportswoman of Year award

NEW YORK: American Simone Biles, who York marking the 40th anniversary of the swimmer Missy Franklin (2013). “To be rec- backs to claim a silver medal in skeleton at won four golds at last week’s world gym- organization founded by Billie Jean King. ognized with the award is unbelievable,” the 2014 Olympics. Kenyan Tegla Loroupe, nastics championships in China, including Liukin said the powerful, 4ft-9in Biles she said. who after winning three world half- the all-around title, was named figured to be hard to beat for 2016 In other awards, US ice dancer Meryl marathon titles and setting two marathon Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Olympic gold in Rio. “If she stays on this Davis was named Sportswoman of the Year world records has dedicated herself to pro- Sports Foundation on Wednesday. Biles, 17, path, it’s very difficult for me to imagine in a team sport having partnered with moting world peace through sport, also won gold in the floor exercise and bal- that somebody could come close to where Charlie White to win Olympic gold at Sochi received the Billie Jean King Contribution ance beam in addition to the women’s she is.” Biles said she felt honored to have and extend an unbeaten streak through Award. Using her race prize money, she team title. “I’m glad I’m not competing with her name added to a winners’ list that three successive international seasons. founded the Tegla Loroupe Peace her,” 2008 Olympic all-around champion included women who had inspired her, American Noelle Pikus-Pace won the Foundation in 2003 and has won accolades Nastia Liukin told reporters before handing including gymnastics champions Gabby Wilma Rudolph Courage Award for coming from the Kenyan government for her Biles the award at a gala dinner in New Douglas (2012) and Liukin (2008), and back from serious injury and personal set- efforts.—Reuters