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THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016 SPORTS Brazil will meet challenges, says ’96 Games boss Payne AUGUSTA: Augusta National Golf Club chair- paredness,” Payne said. “All of the issues sur- effect.” It won’t hurt that the men’s gold pondered the impact if in future Olympic now have under consideration. man Billy Payne, organizing group leader of face almost every time, but somehow coun- medal winner will receive entry into the next years the PGA Championship, typically played “We think there are multiple options the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, said yesterday tries, when their national pride is at stake, year’s major championships and the women’s in August at the same time as the Olympics where we could increase the difficulty of the that national pride will push Brazil to meet have a way of rising to the occasion, and I sus- champion will gain a place in the five subse- are often scheduled, made a move to earlier hole and restore the shot values, only one of the challenges to August’s Games. pect that’s what we will see in Brazil this sum- quent women’s golf majors. “We were proud in the year, supplanting the Masters as a which deals with extending the length.” On the eve of the 80th Masters tourna- mer.” Payne, the driving force behind Atlanta to do it,” Payne said of the extra Masters berth. year’s first major tournament. Creating a special ball used only at the ment over the famed course, Payne said the winning and staging the Centennial “We think it is appropriate.” “Haven’t thought about that,” Payne Masters to limit distance, an idea pushed by Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the first since 1904 Olympics, was elected Augusta National Payne says that boost to the sport could said. “It won’t affect our ticket sales, I can 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus, is “not to feature golf, is like many to be beset with chairman 10 years ago. He sees golf getting a produce its greatest impact in Asia, which promise you.” The club is considering reno- something we would want to do,” Payne said. problems less than four months before the major boost from its Olympic return. thus far has produced only one men’s golf vations on some holes to allow for technol- But the club will tear down a media build- start. The Zika virus, water pollution, political “It is the world’s largest platform to show- major winner, South Korean Yang Yong-Eun ogy-enhanced driving distance improve- ing to create a larger spectator entry area to turmoil and protests over spending so much case sports and the best,” Payne said. “I think at the 2009 PGA Championship. ments, including buying land to lengthen the course after an evacuation for bad weath- on an Olympics with some areas in poverty we will see almost immediately with golf’s “When you look at the potential for golf to the 13th hole, the par-5 finishing hole of er years ago produced a safety issue. have become issues in Brazil, along with the inclusion in the Olympics, multiple countries develop, the greatest opportunity for kids to the famed difficult three-hole stretch “We had some issues about the safety readiness of some venues and weak ticket starting using resources and capital into the become involved in the game and the game known as Amen Corner. of our patrons in the corridor,” Payne said. sales due to potential visitor worries. development of their own golf programs, itself to grow as a consequence, there’s no “We have made no decision whatsoever,” “The corridor will be widened to allow for “There are a multitude of concerns as you because these countries want to win medals. better region in the world than throughout Payne said. “Plans are underway to be consid- the safe traverse of our fans to and from approach the Games about the state of pre- So I think it will be a very positive long-term Asia,” Payne said. Payne said the club has not ered and that is one of many holes that we the course.” — AFP Top-ranked Day favored as Masters reaches 80 AUGUSTA: The stage was set at Augusta Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, National yesterday for the 80th Masters Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen-sees it like- with the field wide open and anyone out of wise. He was ranked first in the world a year a dozen or more players in the hunt with ago, but has since seen his crown taken, realistic chances of winning. first by Spieth, who won last year’s Masters The new generation of Jason Day (age and US Open, and then by Day, who won 28), Rory McIlroy (26) and defending cham- the 2015 PGA Championship. pion Jordan Spieth (22) lead the way. But “I’d be lying if I said those guys having they have a menacing trio of older, former success doesn’t motivate me. Of course it winners-Adam Scott (35), Bubba Watson does,” he said. For his part, Spieth is having (37) and Phil Mickelson (45) — eager for a quiet season after the fireworks of last second, third or fourth helpings and an year, when he came agonizingly close to array of international talent out to grab the becoming just the second man to win the spotlight. first three majors of the year after Hogan. The fabled Georgia layout, which has In any other year, he would likely have witnessed some of the mightiest battles in been the favorite, but he has no problem golfing history since it first staged the with that not being the case. Masters at Bobby Jones’ behest in 1934, is “For me, isn’t Jason the favorite, in my unchanged from last year, when Spieth mind? So nice. He can be the favorite. I’ll go won with a record-matching 18-under-par ahead and we’ll just do our thing,” the total. With good weather in the forecast, all Texan said. Doing his thing was what made the signs are that low-scoring will again be Spieth the second-youngest Masters win- the order of the day, which will further ner last year, but both Day and McIlroy boost the hopes of the new “Big Three”-all have previously stumbled with the winning top-class shotmakers. post in sight at Augusta National. Day, who will start Thursday as a narrow And that certainly opens the door to an 7/1 oddsmakers favorite ahead of Spieth armada of major winners and big hitters and McIlroy, said he is hoping for a mass like 2013 US Open champion and runner- AUGUSTA: Jason Day of Australia putts as his wife Ellie, son Dash and Cameron Smith of Australia look on during the Par 3 Contest prior to the shootout come Sunday’s back nine. “The up last year, Justin Rose. “Look at Bubba start of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club yesterday in Augusta, Georgia. — AFP competition is very stiff. It’s really tough Watson. He’s not in the group you’re talking with how everyone is playing,” he said. about (Day, Spieth and McIlroy) and yet “Jordan and Rory are young guys, so he’s two-time champion and difficult to we’re all kind of motivating each other and beat around here,” Rose said. Islanders clinch playoff spot Rickie (Fowler), as well, all motivating each “So Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott, myself, other to try and play better each and every there are a ton of players that they’re going week and each and every year. “If one of us to be certainly not overlooking, Henrik by beating Capitals in OT plays well, then usually there’s two-out-of- Stenson. There’s a bunch. I think it’s very, three or three-out-of-three guys that are very strong right now.” WASHINGTON: Thomas Hickey scored with 2:47 points pace with three assists as Chicago beat this season. Cory Schneider made 15 saves and going to step up practicing and play harder, One thing for sure, though, is that the left in overtime, Christopher Gibson made 29 saves Arizona at the United Center. Patrick Kane, Jacob Josefson scored the Devils’ lone goal. because it’s inspiring and motivating to Tiger Woods era, which started with his in his first NHL start and the New York Islanders Andrew Ladd, Trevor Van Riemsdyk, Andrew watch the other guy win because you know watershed 12-stroke victory in 1997, is over. clinched a playoff berth with a 4-3 win over the Desjardins and Richard Panik scored for the KINGS 5, FLAMES 4 (OT) that you can do it. And why can’t it be you?” The four-time former winner will miss the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. New York Blackhawks. Jeff Carter scored on a breakaway 40 seconds Masters for the second time in three years rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to force into overtime to lift Los Angeles over Calgary, FOES MOTIVATE MCILROY after back surgery. Many believe he will overtime. Alex Ovechkin scored twice for SABRES 3, DEVILS 1 snapping a five-game road losing streak. Milan McIlroy-seeking to become only the never again be a realistic contender at Washington, which has lost three of its last four Chad Johnson made 18 saves to lead Buffalo Lucic scored twice and Andy Andreoff and Kris sixth player to win all four majors after Augusta National. — AFP games, and T.J. Oshie added a goal and two assists.

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