SPORTS SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017 Molinari leads in Wells Fargo, Johnson in hunt

WASHINGTON: Francesco Molinari birdied his final hole to grab the early lead at the Wells Fargo Championship as world number one Dustin Johnson had a solid round in his return from a back injury. Italy’s Molinari chipped in from the rough on No 18 for his eighth birdie of the day to open with a six-under 66 at the Eagle Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina. ’s Alex Noren, and Americans JB Holmes, Grayson Murray and were tied for second after shooting 67s. Ken Duke, Ben Martin and Northern Ireland’s Seamus Power fired four-under 68s and are two strokes back of Molinari. The 34-year-old Molinari is seeking his first victory on the US PGA Tour. This is his 99th start since turning pro in 2004. He has won four times on the European Tour including the Italian Open in 2006 and 2016. He also captured the 2010 WGC-HSBC Champions event in 2010 by beat- ing Lee Westwood by one stroke. Johnson a two-under 70 Thursday in a round that included four birdies, 12 pars and two bogeys. His best stretch was back-to-back birdies on his front nine which comprised the par-three 15th and the par-four 16th holes. On number 15, his 200-yard tee shot rolled down a slope towards the hole leaving him with a nine- foot putt for birdie. This is Johnson’s first tour- nament since withdrawing from the Masters after injuring his back on the eve of the first major of the season. He slipped and fell down a flight of stairs at a rental house in Augusta on the night before the tournament. The 32-year-old American, who defends his first major title at next NEW YORK: Referee Shane Heyer (55) tries to separate ’ Chris Kreider (20) and Senators’ Alex Burrows (14) month’s US Open, is aiming to stretch a win- as the remaining referees attempt to break up a fight during the third period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round ning streak that has seen him capture his past playoff series. — AP three PGA starts. “I thought I drove it nicely,” Johnson said. “Hit a lot of good iron shots. I’m happy with the way I played, for sure. “As far Rangers top Senators as physically, no issues,” he added. “That’s a good thing. I just need to get some rounds in, get some more reps, but I feel like the golf swing’s in good shape. “If I hit it 4-1 to tie series at 2-2 like I did today the next few days, then I’ll be right there on Sunday.” — AFP

NEW YORK: While New York stars Rick Nash and Chris Kreider receive hockey and that’s what he needs to do.” The game got physical in the playoff-level attention from Ottawa, Oscar Lindberg and Tanner Glass third period as the teams combined for 78 minutes, with the Rally legend ‘Flying are providing an unexpected lift for the Rangers. Lindberg scored majority of that coming in the final minute. Lundqvist has stopped 48 two goals, Glass had two assists and the Rangers beat the Senators 4- of his past 50 shots after allowing six goals in the Senators’ double- Finn’ Makinen 1 on Thursday night to tie their Eastern Conference semifinal series at overtime win in Game 2. The Rangers have won four consecutive dies aged 79 two games apiece. “I think our line has been doing a really good job, home games this postseason. getting pucks back from the forecheck,” Lindberg said. “We had two STOCKHOLM: Finnish rally legend Timo good chances today and we were able to bear down.” Not a one-man show Makinen, known for his hat-tricks of inter- Kreider and Nick Holden also scored for the Rangers, and Henrik “I think it’s the last couple of games,” Lundqvist said. “It’s not a national victories, has died aged 79, local Lundqvist had 22 saves. Kyle Turris scored for Ottawa, and Craig one-man show here. It’s about four lines doing everything right and media said yesterday. Makinen, who was Anderson made 17 saves before being replaced by Mike Condon for that’s what you need this time of the year.” Lindberg scored both of nicknamed “The Flying Finn” of motor rally- the third period. Condon finished with nine stops. “They are a good the Rangers’ second-period goals. Glass blocked ’s shot ing among several other prominent Finnish hockey team. They came out and played their game to a T,” Anderson and Michael Grabner grabbed the loose puck and broke in with athletes, won the Rac Rally (now named said. “Had their fans and the momentum. We weren’t able to get any- Lindberg, who scored on a one-timer at 2:01. Glass also helped set up Wales Rally GB) three times in a row thing going.” Lindberg’s next . He outworked Senators defenseman between 1973 and 1975, in a Ford Escort. for the puck behind the Ottawa net and sent it to the boards. J.T. Born in Helsinki on March 18, 1938, Star injured Miller grabbed the loose puck and passed to Lindberg at the point Makinen’s death was announced by his son Senators star defenseman also left the game after the for a 3-0 lead at 15:54. in a Facebook post late Thursday, Finnish second period with an injury. Karlsson played during the first round Kreider made it 4-0 with a power-play goal at 10:45 of the third. newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported, without with two microfractures in one of his feet from blocking a shot late in Turris scored at 13:34, but the Senators had trouble generating sus- specifying the exact cause. the regular season. Coach Guy Boucher said he expects both tained pressure against Lundqvist and were sloppy with the puck at Makinen drove a Mini Cooper S in the Anderson and Karlsson to play in Game 5 on Saturday at Ottawa. times. “We’ve got to hit the net,” Boucher said. “Whenever we got 1960s when he won the Monte Carlo “We felt it was better for him to keep him off the ice in the (third) chances, we didn’t capitalize.” For the second consecutive game, the Rally (1965), followed by three consecu- period,” Boucher said of Karlsson. “He could’ve come back, but we Rangers controlled the first period. In Game 3, they scored the first tive victories between 1965-1967 in the just wanted to make sure. He has a lower-body injury.” Lindberg also two goals and outshot Ottawa 15-5. On Thursday, they outshot the 1000 Lakes Rally, now named Rally scored the Rangers’ final goal in their Game 3 win, with Glass picking Senators 11-7 and opened the scoring again. Finland. In the 1967 race, Makinen won up an assist. Glass, a forward who was scratched in the first two Holden led a breakout from the defensive zone and sent a pass to despite having to drive with his head half games of the series, has brought an edge to the team. “Look at these at center ice. Hayes passed back to Holden along the left stuck out of the Mini’s window because assists,” Glass said. “They are not exactly playmaking assists. They are wing and he broke in toward the net and beat Anderson with a wrist the leather stripes holding down the just kind of the gritty, grinding game I bring. Sometimes it ends up in shot that went over his right pad at 14:04. The Rangers have scored car’s bonnet broke. Makinen’s helmet the back of the net.” the first goal in each game of the series. “They played well at home was too big for him to stick his head out Rangers coach has appreciated the balanced scor- for their two games and we played at home for our two games and completely so he had to skid the car side- ing. “Definitely tonight Oscar’s line came up big for us with a couple we’ve got a series,” Boucher said. — AP ways to see the road. — AFP of big plays,” Vigneault said. “Tanner is just playing disciplined, smart