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 , 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 , Jack Nicklaus, , 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 (age and US Open, and then by Day, who won 28), Rory McIlroy (26) and defending cham- the 2015 PGA Championship. pion (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- (35), does,” he said. For his part, Spieth is having (37) and (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 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 putts as his wife Ellie, son Dash and of Australia look on during the Par 3 Contest prior to the shootout come Sunday’s back nine. “The up last year, . “Look at Bubba start of the 2016 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 , 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. over New Jersey at the Prudential Center in Versteeg added a goals for the Kings. Deryk Newark, N.J. Ryan O’Reilly, Johan Larsson and Engelland, Mickael Backlund, Hunter Shinkaruk JETS 2, DUCKS 1 (OT) Jack Eichel scored for the Sabres, who have won and Mark Giordano also had goals for the Blake Wheeler scored his 24th goal in over- three straight, and have two games remaining Flames. — Reuters time as the Winnipeg Jets rallied for a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night in front of 16,743 at the Honda Center. Marko Dano added his fifth goal and goalie Michael Hutchinson stopped 27 shots for the Jets (33-39- 8), who earned their second consecutive victory.

PENGUINS 5, SENATORS 3 Two third-period goals by Carl Hagelin helped Pittsburgh erase an early 3-0 deficit en route to a victory over Ottawa at Canadian Tire Centre. Sidney Crosby also scored twice for the Penguins, the second into an empty net with 6.3 seconds left, and Patric Hornqvist had the other. Erik Karlsson, Mike Hoffman and Zack Smith had the Senators goals.

RANGERS 3, LIGHTNING 2 Derek Stepan scored twice and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 39 shots as New York over- came a horrendous start to defeat Tampa Bay at Madison Square Garden. Chris Kreider scored on a breakaway 4:46 into the third period for the Rangers’ winner. Andrej Sustr and Brian Boyle scored for the Lightning, who received 25 saves from Andrei Vasilevskiy.

PANTHERS 4, CANADIENS 1 Jaromir Jagr picked up a pair of assists to help Florida to a win against Montreal at the Bell Centre. Roberto Luongo made 32 saves for the Panthers while Mike Condon stopped 15 shots for the Canadiens. Aleksander Barkov, Nick Bjugstad, Greg McKegg and Jiri Hudler scored for the Panthers, and Alex Galchenyuk scored the only goal for Montreal. ANAHEIM: Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson makes a save during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday. The Jets won 2-1 in HURRICANES 2, BRUINS 1 (SO) overtime. — AP Noah Hanifin beat Tuukka Rask with the only AUGUSTA: Justin Rose of walks on the tenth hole during a practice round goal of a five-round shootout to give Carolina a prior to the start of the 2016 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club yes- win over Boston, which is in danger of missing NHL results/standings terday in Augusta, Georgia. — AFP the playoffs. With the point, the Bruins pulled into a tie with the idle Detroit Red Wings for NY Islanders 4, Washington 3 (OT); Carolina 2, Boston 1 (SO); Buffalo 3, New Jersey 1; NY Rangers Rose reckons he has the third place in the Atlantic Division, but the Red 3, Tampa Bay 2; Florida 4, Montreal 1; Pittsburgh 5, Ottawa 3; Nashville 4, Colorado 3; San Jose 3, Wings, who visit Boston on Thursday night, have Minnesota 0; Chicago 6, Arizona 2; Los Angeles 5, Calgary 4 (OT); Winnipeg 2, Anaheim 1 (OT). a game in hand. right stuff to win Masters Western Conference Tampa Bay 45 30 5 221 194 95 SHARKS 3, WILD 0 Central Division Detroit 40 28 11 204 216 91 AUGUSTA: Here’s a quick quiz question. that relationship with the course, the venue, W L OTL GF GA PTS Boston 41 30 9 234 222 91 Without doing an Internet search, who fin- the feel, the tournament, and it’s some- Two goals by Patrick Marleau and another by Dallas 48 23 9 260 226 105 Ottawa 36 35 9 227 245 81 ished second at the 2015 Masters? where I feel very, very comfortable,” he said. Logan Couture, along with a strong start in the net by James Reimer, sparked a San Jose win St. Louis 48 23 9 221 195 105 Buffalo 34 35 11 196 215 79 While Jordan Spieth was making history “I’ve had a lot of good rounds here. Last Chicago 47 26 7 230 202 101 over Minnesota. Reimer had 29 saves for the Montreal 36 38 6 212 232 78 by matching the Masters record score on year I was able to put four together in a Nashville 40 26 14 223 210 94 his way to a four-stroke victory for his row. I take a lot of confidence from that. Sharks to earn his third shutout in the eight Toronto 28 40 11 192 233 67 starts he made since joining San Jose from Minnesota 38 32 11 215 204 87 maiden major, Justin Rose quietly picked “If you get beaten by a better guy on the Colorado 39 37 4 211 231 82 Metropolitan Division up second-place crumbs with Phil week, you tip your cap but I know what I Toronto in a late February trade. It was the Washington 55 17 7 244 186 117 fourth win in five games for the Sharks. Winnipeg 33 39 8 206 232 74 Mickelson. If you call $880,000 crumbs. was able to do last year tells me I’ve got Pacific Division Pittsburgh 47 25 8 240 197 102 Rose has returned to Augusta National what it takes to win the tournament.” Anaheim 44 24 11 210 187 99 NY Rangers 45 26 9 232 211 99 in solid though unspectacular form, but Even without a green jacket, the 2013 US PREDATORS 4, AVALANCHE 3 Nashville snapped a four-game losing streak Los Angeles 47 28 5 220 190 99 NY Islanders 44 26 9 223 206 97 said you can throw out the form book. He Open champion at least has one major title San Jose 45 29 6 236 205 96 Philadelphia 39 26 13 203 208 91 has not come to finish second again. under his belt, which he believes eases the while officially eliminating Colorado from con- Arizona 35 38 7 207 241 77 Carolina 35 29 16 194 217 86 “I feel all of my backroom work has been pressure because it spares him from a cer- tention for a Western Conference playoff spot. Filip Forsberg, Colin Wilson, Craig Smith and Vancouver 30 36 13 182 227 73 New Jersey 37 35 8 177 203 82 fantastic and my preparation has been tain line of questioning. “It is very difficult to Calgary 33 40 7 222 256 73 Mike Fisher scored for the Predators. Columbus 31 40 8 205 246 70 coming along nicely,” the 35-year-old face questions all the time about being the Edmonton 30 43 7 194 239 67 Englishman told reporters on Tuesday. best player not to win a major,” Rose said. Eastern Conference Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one Rose loves Augusta, but he has not quite “There’s enough pressure trying to win these BLACKHAWKS 6, COYOTES 2 point in the standings and are not included in Jonathan Toews had a goal and two assists Atlantic Division conquered it despite making the cut in all 10 without trying to justify your great play and Florida 46 25 9 233 198 101 the loss column (L). of his appearances. “You begin to develop your billing in the game.” — Reuters and rookie Artemi Panarin continued his torrid