TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014 SPORTS Keselowski keeps title hopes alive at Talladega

TALLADEGA: Brad Keselowski packed a punch on the track, the only place that mattered after a controver- sial week. Pushed around in the garage, he came out fighting like a champion at Talladega Superspeedway, where his win Sunday staved off elimination and pushed him into the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. “There’s a part of me that’s come to accept that this isn’t going to be easy,” Keselowski said, referring to both his week and his career. Fined $50,000 by NASCAR this week for his post- race meltdown at Charlotte, Keselowski’s professional- ism had been under attack and his season was slip- LAS VEGAS: Ben Martin kisses the trophy after winning the Shriners Hospitals for ping away. He reported for work at Talladega, where Children Open golf tournament Sunday. — AP he had to win to remain in title-contention. It was no easy task as Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were in the same must-win position, and Martin wins first PGA hadn’t been knocked around all week the way Keselowski was for losing his cool at Charlotte. “I’ll take the 50 grand and the win this week, Tour title in Las Vegas wouldn’t you?” Keselowski team owner Roger Penske said. The owner and driver can just take the fine out of LAS VEGAS: Ben Martin made a 45-foot eagle had to make as many (birdies) as possible as the winner’s check of $288,361. putt to regain the lead and finished with a 20- quickly as possible.” But Penske, winner of the IndyCar title this year foot birdie putt for a 3-under 68 and his first Russell Knox, who played in the final with Will Power, strongly defended the driver who PGA Tour victory Sunday in the Shriners group with Martin, took a double bogey on gave him his first career Cup title two seasons ago. Hospital for Children Open. No. 9 to fall back. He made three straight “These guys are jealous of the job he’s done this Martin played his final four holes at the birdies late in the round, and then made a year,” Penske said. “He’s won six races. He’s made poles. TPC Summerlin in 4-under par, though no tough par putt on the 18th for a 70 to finish He’s been up front. Nobody likes to see a guy win like shot was more important than the eagle. alone in third. that. “I want him to get mad. I don’t want him to take TALLADEGA: Brad Keselowski celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto it. We talked about it (last week). I said, ‘Brad, put it in Kevin Streelman ran off five birdies in a six- Defending champion Webb Simpson (68), race. —AP hole stretch to overtake Martin for the lead, Brooks Koepka (68) and Jimmy Walker (69) the rearview mirror.’” So it was widely noted that it was Kenseth on But she made a poor move that knocked her out of and Streelman hit a wedge into 5 feet on the tied for fourth, four shots behind. Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick, the winners of the first two races in the second round, also advanced to Keselowski’s bumper on the final lap Sunday, when the pack, and she dropped through the field. “I got 18th hole. Martin, who led by as many as four Martin had a four-shot lead after 10 holes Kenseth essentially aided Keselowski’s win. either hung out to dry, or I made a bad move,” she shots on the back nine, hit a 6-iron over the when he pulled his tee shot behind a tree and the third three-race round along with Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin and He was able to find the humor in it, but said any- said. “I don’t know what I should have done different.” water to the back of the green on the par-5 dropped a shot at the 11th, and Streelman Kenseth. The field will be cut to four after the ninth one questioning it was overthinking. “You have to do She settled for a 19th-place finish. 16th. His eagle putt broke back to the left began his run of his birdies. Martin finally race. Points are reset after each round, and the title what’s best for your best finish,” Kenseth said, noting SURPRISING ELIMINATION: Being in the wrong over the final few feet and dropped in the cup answered with a drive that hopped onto the will be decided by finishing order in the Nov. 16 finale that following Harvick would have knocked him out of place at the wrong time cost Kyle Busch his champi- to put Martin back in the lead. Moments later, green at the par-4 15th that set up a two-putt at Homestead. After the race, NASCAR said Newman’s traffic. “I knew my path to the best finish was going to onship hopes. He was hit by Austin Dillon from behind Streelman missed his short birdie attempt. birdie, and then he made good on his second car failed inspection because it was too low on both be at the bottom (of the track). That’s where I felt I had during an accident early in the race that sent Busch to Martin two-putted for par on the 17th, straight eagle attempt. sides of the back of his Chevrolet. Penalties will likely to put my car for my best chance at the best finish.” the garage to repair his car. He had entered the race and then rolled in a birdie putt he didn’t need It was a quick turnaround for Martin, who be issued Tuesday, but that infraction typically is PATRICK LEADS: Danica Patrick had the potential ranked second in the standings, but his 40th-place fin- for a two-shot victory. The 27-year-old from opened the PGA Tour season last week at the docked 15 points. Newman holds a 27-point lead over for a big finish at Talladega, where she led seven laps ish dropped him to 10th and out of the Chase. South Carolina won in his 56th career start. Frys.com Open with rounds of 78-79 to miss Kasey Kahne, who was eliminated Sunday. late in the race and won the battle off pit road after a “I thought we were in a decent spot coming into “It was an awesome way to finish,” Martin the cut. He took the lead in Las Vegas with a The much-anticipated championship battle round of pit stops. the race and rode around in the back,” crew chief Dave said. “I didn’t feel like I had much going all 62 in the third round to take a two-shot lead between Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports took She was in good shape to race for the win until a Rogers said. “Kyle got checked up for the wreck and day. Four under on my last four to cap my first into the final round. a major hit. Penske got both Keselowski and Logano caution set up a restart with nine scheduled laps had everything saved up, but he got run over from win was just awesome.” Martin finished at 20- Martin said he tried not to look at leader- into the third round, but Hendrick had three of its four remaining. She got a pep talk from her spotter before behind. There is no safe place here. The truth is that if under 264 and returns to the Masters, this boards even though “my heart was beating drivers eliminated today. Only Gordon advanced. the field went green, “You gotta believe in yourself you’re out there on the race track at Talladega or time as a pro. He played Augusta National in out of my chest.” “I tried to keep plugging “Great teams, great drivers, great friends. I hate to here. I know you can do this, gotta prove it to all these Daytona, you have a pretty good chance that you’re other guys.” going to get in a wreck, and today was our day.” — AP 2010 as the US Amateur runner-up. along and let it happen,” he said. see them not in there,” Gordon said about Johnson, Streelman set a PGA Tour record in June Streelman didn’t look at leaderboards Earnhardt and Kahne. when he closed with seven straight birdies to either, although he couldn’t ignore the one Here’s how other drivers fared at Talladega: win the Travelers Championship. He was behind the 18th green. He heard the cheers NEW CHAMPION: NASCAR will have a new cham- Carter, Sonny Bill named pion this year following the elimination of six-time headed down that path again with a string of from the 16th green as he was lining up his and defending champion Johnson. birdies until he missed his last putt on the low birdie putt on the 18th, not realizing at the A poor race at Kansas put him in a deep hole in the in All Blacks tour squad side of the hole. He closed with a 65. time it was Martin making eagle. “I saw I was 1 second segment that he couldn’t climb from. Johnson “I tried not to look at the leaderboard,” up on the 18th green, and then I saw I was 1 took a moment to watch Keselowski’s post-race cele- WELLINGTON: Injured flyhalf did next year with and , Streelman said. “It was kind of like Travelers. I down,” Streelman said. —AP bration, and later turned his head to watch Keselowski enough to prove his fitness to New Zealand coach who shared the starting role this season while Carter drive by him on pit road while waving the American and win a berth in the All Blacks was on a six-month sabbatical then recovering from flag in celebration. squad for the northern hemisphere tour. injury, in the backup roles. Cruden was supplanted Asian Tour to unveil new event It’s the first time Johnson has been out of title con- Carter, one of three flyhalves in the 34-man by Barrett as the starter for the latter part of the NEW DELHI: The Asian Tour will add a third Middle East but it was too long we did not tention before the finale since 2011, when he was squad named on Monday, replaces Colin Slade, who Rugby Championship after he was late for the team’s new tournament to next year’s calendar play there. We will add more tournaments inspired by watching contenders Tony Stewart and kicked the game-winning conversion against assembly time for their flight to Argentina following and hopes to offer more than $50 million in in the Middle East in future.” Carl Edwards hold their pre-finale news conference. Australia on Saturday. Carter will go on tour for tests a boozy night out and left at home by Hansen. prizemoney by 2017, chief executive Mike Kerr also envisaged a season-ending “I vividly remembered the lunch presser that took against the United States, England, Scotland and The 25-year-old Cruden was brought back into Kerr said. tournament on the lines of the U.S. Tour’s place with the champions and how much that ate at Wales despite having barely played this year and still the squad for the third Bledisloe Cup match in The $3 million tournament in Thailand, FedEx Cup or its European version ‘Race to me to watch it on TV and not be a part of it,” Johnson trying to overcome the effects of a broken leg sus- Brisbane but not named in the matchday team with co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Dubai’, though on a smaller scale. said. “I get the pleasure of going through that again. I tained in the final in August. Barrett given the nod to start and Slade offering slated for February, was further proof of the He pointed to the success of Noh Seung- went down swinging, and I take pride in that.” “He’s been training without being able to play more versatility off the bench by being able to cover Tour’s robust health, Kerr told Reuters. yul and Hideki Matsuyama on the PGA Tour, EARNHARDT’S ENDING: It’s been a career year for because he’s had a bit of nerve damage to the leg he flyhalf, wing and fullback. “In the last couple of months we have David Lipsky’s victory in the co-sanctioned Earnhardt, who won the Daytona 500 and two other broke,” Hansen told Fairfax Media in of added four new events,” Kerr said in a tele- Omega European Masters and the rise of races to become a legitimate title contender. Carter’s inclusion. “He’s getting better and better all SBW BACK IN BLACK phone interview. “We are projecting robust Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Anirban But NASCAR’s most popular driver will have to wait the time and he’s extremely confident of being able Code-swapping centre was growth in 2015 and carry on in 2016. Next Lahiri of India as reasons to be bullish about until next season to grab his elusive first Cup champi- to play. “He knows his body better than anybody included after having played less than a full game of year, we’re going to have around 30 events, Asian golf. onship. He was eliminated Sunday following a 31st- and if he’s confident, I’m confident.” While Hansen rugby since his return to the 15-man code following which is a significant growth from this year. “They are representing Asia very well. I place finish that was aided by late contact from Greg said Carter was confident of getting through two seasons with the Sydney Roosters in Australia’s “The total prizemoney this year is $40 think the players (in Asia) are of higher stan- Biffle that caused him to wreck. He said he was disap- unscathed, Slade’s conversion of Malaki Fekitoa’s National Rugby League. million, next year it would be $45 million, dards that we have ever seen,” he said. pointed, but will move on. 80th minute try that clinched a 29-28 victory over Williams had a successful stint in union that which is more than 10 percent growth. We “Aphibarnrat, Lahiri, Lipsky-they are “I’m not retiring or anything, so we’ll try next year,” the Wallabies may not be his last act on the rugby included a World Cup win with the All Blacks in 2011 hope to break the $50 million mark in 2017.” doing well and all of them are in their 20s. said Earnhardt, who turned 40 last week. “We’ve had a field this year. “We’ve spoken to Sladey about the DC and a Super Rugby title with the Waikato Chiefs. The other events to be added to next year’s The strength and depth of the field is very good season and have a lot to be looking forward to. situation,” Hansen added. “We’ll monitor DC this However, with only five tests before next year’s calendar are the $1.3 million AfrAsia Bank good and the golfers are performing really We’re definitely not going to get too tore up about. week and get an idea of where he’s likely to be. “If World Cup, Hansen was keen to have the bullocking Mauritius Open, tri-sanctioned by the Asian, well.” Golf’s return to the Olympics at the We didn’t run well.” DC can’t make this trip because of his leg then Colin player involved as quickly as possible. European and South African ‘Sunshine’ 2016 Rio Games will also do a world of KENSETH-KARMA: It was just last week that an Slade will come back in.” Carter’s inclusion despite Lock was a surprise inclusion after tours, and the Vascory Classic in Malaysia. good for the game in the continent, Kerr enraged Kenseth had Keselowski in a headlock follow- having barely played this year suggests he remains breaking his leg in Super Rugby and not playing for The Asian Tour also recently announced the added. ing the race at Charlotte. firmly in Hansen’s 2015 World Cup plans despite a five months. Hansen said his selection was to get new Dubai Open would be added at the “Golf in Olympics is a major boost for Angry that Keselowski had hit his car on pit road horrendous run of injuries since the 2011 tourna- him up to speed with the team’s game plan and end of this year’s schedule. professional golf in Asia. The Olympic body following the race, Kenseth jumped him from behind ment. Widely considered the best flyhalf in world allow first-choice pairing and Sam Kerr was particularly happy with the in each Asian nations is taking it seriously. in between a pair of haulers in the darkened garage. rugby, he is likely to be the starting pivot in England Whitelock some down-time on tour. —Reuters tour’s foray into the Middle East with the “Golf is getting more attention and more Dubai Open. “It was important for us,” he funding at the professional, amateur and said. “Historically we’ve played in the junior levels and it bodes well.” — Reuters Haas bags Kia Classic

CONOVER: Jay Haas became the 18th player completely fall off the map when I turn 61 in to win a Champions Tour at 60 or older, clos- December.” Haas extended his streak of ing with a 5-under 66 on Sunday for a two- under-par rounds to 23 and finished at 17- stroke victory in the Greater Hickory Kia under 196 on Rock Barn Golf and Spa’s Classic. The 60-year-old former Wake Forest Champions Course. He ended a 27-month, player has 17 victories on the 50-and-over 49-event winless streak since June 2012. tour after winning nine times on the PGA Players 60 and older have won 22 events Tour. He also won the event in 2005 and 2009. on the tour, with Hale Irwin accomplishing “Sixty is some sort of benchmark, not that the feat three times and Tom Watson and many guys have done that,” Haas said. “It’s just Jimmy Powell doing it twice each. Mike a number, I guess. I still like feel I’m capable, Fetchick is the oldest winner at 63 years in the especially after this weekend, and it certainly 1985 Hilton Head Seniors Invitational. gives me some confidence for the last couple Joe Durant and Kirk Triplett tied for sec- events and into next year. Hopefully, I won’t ond. Durant and Triplett, the winner last week in Cary, shot 66. Haas began the round with a two-stroke lead over Durant, Triplett and David Frost. Durant - who joined the Champions Tour in April - birdied five of the first six holes to tie Haas for the lead. “I got off to a nice start,” said Durant, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour. “Then I just kind of hit the doldrums. I couldn’t make a ZAIN welcomes home putt. I had some good opportunities and did- n’t make any of them.” Haas pulled back in front with a bogey on No. 13. Durant lost another stroke with a National Jet Ski champions bogey on No. 15. “It certainly didn’t help,” Durant said. “I just knew I was going to have to make a putt for a par because I just didn’t KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications Kuwait in the various internationally renowned Kuwait, Zain is constantly looking to identify and have much of a second shot, really. That’s a company in Kuwait, yesterday announced that it championships, and that its sponsorship of the support excellence across the sports sector. The hard hole. You need to hit the fairway there, has welcomed Kuwait’s National Jet Ski team team for four years falls under its Corporate Social company will continue to put Kuwaiti National and I didn’t.” Haas pushed his lead to two champions at Kuwait Airport after the team won Responsibility strategy towards the youth and teams and individual athletes at the forefront of strokes with a birdie on No. 17, sinking a 16- a number of titles in the World Jet Ski sports sectors. its priorities and pledges to continue motivating foot putt. Haas nearly pushed his lead to Championship held in Arizona, United States, as The company expressed pride in the latest them to achieve all the recognition they deserve. three shots on No. 18, just missing a 12-foot the company is the main sponsor of the tam for achievement the team accomplished, raising the It is worth noting that the National Jet Ski birdie putt. the fourth consecutive year. Kuwaiti flag high with a number of top interna- team is authorized by the Kuwait Sea Sport Club “I never made it easy on myself,” Haas said. In a press statement, Zain mentioned that it tional titles. Zain confirms its commitment to officially represent Kuwait in regional and inter- “I’ve felt like I played well enough to win at participated in the welcoming ceremony held in towards Kuwaiti champions, which resembles the national Jet Ski championships. The team cham- CONOVER: Jay Haas smiles as he holds times, but for whatever reason wasn’t able to Kuwait Airport’s Honoring Hall where many of the company’s endless confidence of the skills of pions won a number of prominent titles during the trophy after winning the Greater pull it off. But having the lead pretty much team’s sponsors and supporting organizations these young athletes and their capabilities in past and present participations, most notably the Hickory Kia Classic Champions Tour golf the whole day, and hold on to do that makes attended. The company expressed its keenness excelling in different fields. first place title of last and this year’s World Jet Ski tournament. — AP it pretty special.” — AP on encouraging Kuwaiti athletes to represent As a leading telecommunications company in Championship, held in the United States.