TUESDAY, JANUARY 31 , 2017 SPORTS

No green light for 2018 Games but NHL sees positives

LOS ANGELES: While the National South Korea. “There’s the worldwide situation, particularly where we are the Olympic ideals are noble and worth pur- on that regard,” he said. Hockey League has not yet committed stage that the Olympics provides except only sports league or sport that has to suing, the players have bought in. “It is incredible disruptive. What busi- to the 2018 Winter Olympics, commis- they don’t promote NHL hockey,” stop its season to participate if we Russian captain Alex Ovechkin says ness in the prime of its selling season sioner Gary Bettman said on Sunday that Bettman told Reuters before the start of choose to participate (at the Games).” he plans to compete in the 2018 shuts down for three weeks? “It affects being on a global stage was unquestion- the All-Star Game at Staples Center in With the NHL already unhappy at Pyeongchang Winter Games no matter the competitiveness of the league, it ably a positive. downtown Los Angeles. shutting down in the middle of the sea- what the league decides, while the NHL affects the schedule not just for those The league has participated in each “They take the players and run their son to allow players to participate in the Players’ Association head Donald Fehr three weeks but for the rest of the sea- Winter Olympics since 1998, but has own tournament. “It’s great to have the Olympics, the IOC further antagonized acknowledged playing in the Olympics son with compression. “We disappear long believed it puts more into its world’s best-on-best play but, in the final the league by announcing last year that is something the players want. when football and baseball are gone and Olympic investment than it gets in analysis, the restrictions that the IOC it would no longer cover insurance and Asked for an update on possible play- it’s just us and basketball. It’s very, very return, raising doubts over its decision (International Olympic Committee) travel costs. While the IOC has had prob- er involvement at the 2018 Olympics, difficult to manage a season with that for next year’s Games in Pyeongchang, imposes are difficult when you’re in our lems convincing NHL owners that Bettman replied: “There’s nothing new type of disruption.” — Reuters

Closing eagle lifts Rahm to first US PGA Tour title

LA JOLLA: Spain’s Jon Rahm claimed his year’s National, where he finished third first US PGA Tour title in style Sunday, after leading or sharing the lead over the rolling in an eagle putt from the fringe at first two rounds. There, he said, he was sec- the final hole to win the Farmers Insurance ond-guessing himself on the greens, afraid Open at Torrey Pines. of over-hitting and costing himself pars. Rahm had broken free of the group tied “Today it was just completely different,” for the lead at 10-under with a birdie at 17. Rahm said. “I was just focused on making At the par-five finishing hole on the South putts and hitting the right shots.” Course, he reached the back fringe with his Pan, a 25-year-old also chasing a first US second shot. Rahm’s effort from 60 feet tour title, had reached 10-under for the snaked toward the hole and into the cup to tournament after birdies at eight, nine and cap a seven-under 65. 10, but he couldn’t find another birdie. His 13-under total of 275 proved to be Howell earned his share of second with enough for a three-shot victory as the bevy a birdie at 18 that capped a 68 and put him of golfers on his heels stalled late. in the clubhouse at 10-under before Rahm’s Taiwan’s Pan Cheng Tsung and American late-round heroics. Charles Howell shared second on 10-under J.J. Spaun was 10-under after a birdie at 278. England’s Justin Rose closed with a 17, but found the water en route to a dou- two-under 70 to head a group on 279 ble-bogey at 18, while Finau’s challenge alongside Americans Keegan Bradley (67), effectively ended with a bogey at 15. Pat Perez (70), Patrick Rodgers (72) and Brandt Snedeker, the defending champi- Tony Finau (71). on gunning for a third title at Torrey Pines, HOUSTON: Workers attach a sign to the front of NRG Stadium as preparations continue for the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, in Rahm, 22, had opened with a bogey, but just couldn’t get much going even though Houston. — AP after birdies at the third, fifth and 11th he he’s an old hand at storming finishes on the put himself among the leaders with an picturesque course hugging the Pacific eagle at the 13th. coast. Snedeker was seven shots adrift after “Thanks to 13, I got myself into it,” said 54 holes when he won in 2012, and rallied AFC holds on to defeat Rahm, whose second shot from a fairway from six back last year. With a share of the bunker left him an 18-footer for eagle. 54-hole lead this time around, Snedeker Rahm said his thought process all day shot a one-over 73 to join a group sharing was far different from his mindset at last ninth on 280. — AFP NFC 20-13 in Pro Bowl

ORLANDO: The Pro Bowl has long been more about showmanship than competition. Clearly, that memo missed Lorenzo Alexander. The Lincicome wins playoff Buffalo Bills linebacker could have just sat on a late interception for the win, but instead opted to return the ball 20 yards and then lateralled it for LPGA Bahamas crown to Aqib Talib, who came within 13 yards of the end zone in the AFC’s 20-13 win over the NFC MIAMI: birdied the first Lincicome answered with a birdie at the par-5 in the NFL’s all-star game Sunday night. playoff hole Sunday to defeat fellow 18th to finish on 68 and reach the clubhouse “I was serious about that last drive,” American and win the LPGA level with Thompson as rain struck. Alexander said. “You’re playing fast, playing Tour’s season-opening Pure Silk Bahamas Thompson’s approach on 18 landed in a hard, having a good time, but we wanted to Classic. Lincicome birdied the par-5 18th and greenside bunker but she recovered for a win. We took it very serious.” Thompson missed left on a long effort to closing par to shoot 70 and force the playoff. That much was obvious on the final drive match her, giving Lincicome the victory, her Lewis was third on 267, one stroke ahead of when Alexander, named the game’s defensive second in extra holes after losing her first four Piller, after both closed with 71. LPGA playoffs. “You know, I played well all week, and my MVP, got tight end Jimmy Graham on a hard hit “It was pretty incredible,” Lincicome said. putter definitely saved me, and I made a lot of over the middle as the NFC drove the ball “Just the leaderboard all week has been birdies out there, just a lot of positives to take downfield for what could have been the rally- amazing, obviously a lot of Americans up at from the week,” Thompson said. ing game-winning drive. A couple of plays lat- the top, obviously friends of mine, so to come US teen Nelly Korda shared fifth with er, the ball went off Graham’s hands and right down to the final stretch, I played with Lexi Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum on 271, mak- to Alexander, sealing the game. yesterday, and it was an awesome day. We ing this the first LPGA event with five US play- But even on that play, the increased com- had so much fun, and to obviously have the ers in the top five since the 2011 Canadian SAN DIEGO: Jon Rahm, of Spain, holds the trophy after winning the Farmers Insurance petitive spirit was obvious when quarterback playoff today is a bummer, but it’s just incred- Women’s Open won by Lincicome. Only two Open golf tournament Sunday, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. —AP Kirk Cousins stuck with the play after throwing ible.” It was Lincicome’s seventh career LPGA Americans won LPGA events last year, the interception and knocked the ball out of triumph and the first since she captured her Thompson and . Lincicome Talib’s hands on a jarring hit to save the touch- first major title at the 2015 ANA Inspiration at birdied five of the first seven holes to reach down. While many of the 60,834 had already Rancho Mirage, California, by beating Stacy 26-under, opening with a birdie, running off Chevrolet Alghanim left Camping World Stadium, those who stuck Lewis in a playoff. Thompson and Lincicome three in a row starting at the par-3 third and around saw a thrilling end. finished 72 holes over the Ocean Course at closing with a birdie at the par-5 seventh. invites football fans in Kuwait “It was fun and it was competitive,” Paradise Island on 26-under 266, one off the She began the back nine with a birdie to Alexander said. “It got a little chippy there late all-time 72-hole LPGA record of 27-under par reach 27-under, the all-time LPGA record low to be Pros for one day in the game, but that’s part of it when you have set by Swedish star Annika Sorenstam at the total, but stumbled with a bogey at 14 to competitive people.” In the recent past, the Pro 2001 Standard Register Ping event. stand on 26-under. KUWAIT: Yusuf A. Alghanim & Sons cup.html of them showing their passion for Bowl hadn’t produced a competitive environ- The final round became a title shootout Thompson, who shared the lead with Automotive, the exclusive distributor of football. Deadline for entries is February ment. But perhaps the return of the traditional between four Americans-Lincicome, Lewis at 23-under when the day began, Thompson, Lewis and Gerina Piller. birdied the first and par-4 fifth but went Chevrolet vehicles in Kuwait, is proud to 28, 2017 at 23:59. All entries will be AFC vs. NFC matchup combined with playing Deadlocked for the lead with Thompson at birdie-bogey to close the front nine and announce that it will turn the football fans reviewed by a Chevrolet Panel. The winners in front a larger crowd than when the game in Kuwait into “professional” footballers for will be selected and contacted. 26-under, Lincicome made bogey at the par-3 again at 11 and 12 before a birdie at the par-5 was played in Hawaii, amped up the intensity 17th, falling level with Piller a shot back. 15th lifted her to 26-under.—AFP a day through the 2017 Chevrolet Fan Cup, While in Manchester, the winners will just a bit. The winners took home $61,000, a global competition where winners will attend Manchester United’s English while the NFC team members settled for play at Manchester United’s Old Trafford Premier League match against Crystal $30,000. Stadium, the “Theatre of Dreams.” Palace, meet team legends and be trained The 2017 Chevrolet Fan Cup will bring at the club’s famed soccer school. The high- “This game was definitely more competitive together 64 passionate fans for a first-of-its- light of their experience will be the profes- than last time I played in it. I can say that,” Talib kind tournament at Old Trafford. The exclu- sional match-day experience, including said. “Guys played a lot harder this year.” The sive experience will put fans in the boots of dressing in the players’ locker room and Pro Bowl had been played the last three years Manchester United players, including walking through the home club’s tunnel with a format in which teams were drafted game-day preparations and the matches. before competing against each other in a among the players by designated captains. “We have the unique ability to enable tournament on the Old Trafford pitch. In a first half defined by big plays and key fans to make the most of life’s possibilities “Walking onto the pitch at Old Trafford interceptions, the AFC was able to come up through football,” said Tim Mahoney, chief is something most fans have dreamt of at with one more play to take a 14-7 lead into marketing officer, Global Chevrolet. some point in their lives but only a small halftime and a 20-7 edge early in the fourth “Around the world, in communities and on number actually get to experience it,” quarter. The NFC should have had 17 points in the pitch, we connect fans to the people, Richard Arnold, Manchester United Group the first half, but a decision to not a kick a chip- places and experiences that matter most to Managing Director said. “The Chevrolet Fan shot field goal and an interception in the end them. The Chevrolet Fan Cup is a perfect Cup can make this dream a reality. It is a zone denied the squad of points during the example of how we are enabling fans make unique opportunity to connect to the club, first two quarters. their dreams come true in the form of the giving our supporters the chance to tread Andy Dalton’s 23-yard touchdown pass to ultimate global fan competition at on the same ground where some of the Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, named the Manchester United’s Theatre of Dreams.” game’s best have played, in a stadium that game’s offensive MVP with three catches for 36 Until 28 February, Chevrolet will seek has been the setting for some of football’s yards, put the AFC ahead 14-7 with 1:40 out fans around the world to become one most memorable moments.” remaining in the second quarter. The touch- of the lucky 64 who will travel to Chevrolet stands with the fans of Manchester in May for the 2017 Chevrolet Manchester United and global football, con- down was set up by a 36-yard punt return by Fan Cup. Football enthusiasts can enter by necting with them and sharing their passion the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill to the NFC 38. filling out a form and uploading a video for the game. To see how Chevrolet is uniting “I thought the level of play was really good. clip or photo at http://ae-en.chevroletara- fans, visit www.ChevroletFC.com, or subscribe It was really competitive,” said Dalton, the bia.com/about-us/football/chevrolet-fan- to www.youtube.com/user/ChevroletFC. Cincinnati quarterback who completed 10 of 12 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown. “It came down right to the end.” It was a relatively low-scoring game defined by big defensive stops, including a goal-line stand when Zach Brown stuffed Dallas rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott at the 1-yard line in the first quarter. The play seemed to set the tone as both defenses gave up little against the run and put pressure on all of the quarterbacks, which has not always been the case in the Pro Bowl. New Orleans’ Drew Brees completed 10 of 19 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown to Seattle’s Doug Baldwin to lead the NFC. Kansas City’s Alex Smith, the starter for the AFC, com- PARADISE ISLAND: Brittany Lincicome of the United States hits a shot on the fourteenth pleted six of eight passes for 74 yards, includ- hole during the final round of the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic on Sunday in Paradise ing a 26-yard TD toss to Tennessee’s Delanie Island, Bahamas. —AFP Walker early in the second quarter. — AP