MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2014 SPORTS Watson all set for Masters duel Photo of the day AUGUSTA: Bubba Watson squan- lead on a day when he struggled on leaderboard. dered an early five-stroke advantage the heavily contoured greens. Watson wobbled with three and was caught by 20-year-old Jordan “It was the firmest I’ve seen it in bogeys in four holes from the fourth, Spieth as the youngster tied him for years out here,” said Watson who only striking delicate chip shots and sand the lead at the end of a pressure- missed one fairway but needed 33 blasts too far while leaving some packed third round of the Masters on putts. “I had a couple of three-putts. If downhill putts short in fear of rolling Saturday. you two-putt those you’re right there well by. Spieth, playing with patience and and you’ve got a two-shot lead. The poor stretch dropped Watson discipline belying his years, posted a “All in all, a good day,” Watson said, into a tie with Blixt and Thomas Bjorn solid two-under-par 70 to join Watson looking on the bright side. “If some- of Denmark at five under with nine on five-under 211 on a warm, sunny body told me on Monday I’d have a 74 holes to play before the American day at Augusta National that baked and still be tied for the lead I’d have moved back in front with a birdie at the famed greens to lightning speeds. taken it all day long.” the 10th. “Patience,” Spieth said about the One stroke back were Matt Kuchar, Ten players were bunched within key to his round. “We could tell early who used some brilliant chipping to two shots of the lead at the turn. Blixt on the greens were ridiculous. You register a 68, and Masters first-timer also reached five-under after back-to- had to put the ball on the right spots Jonas Blixt of Sweden (71). back birdies from the 15th but a and not let your focus stray for one Another shot adrift on 213 were bogey at 17 dropped him back and moment.” American Rickie Fowler (67) and 50- Spieth emerged as co-leader. At the Spieth, who began the day four year-old Spaniard Miguel Angel other end of the age spectrum, behind overnight leader Watson, put Jimenez who had seven birdies and Jimenez could put his name in the himself in position to make Masters one bogey in a tournament-low 66. Masters record books as the oldest history yesterday as victory would champion, surpassing Jack Nicklaus make him Augusta’s youngest cham- BOGEY SPELL who was 46 when he won in 1986. pion, putting him ahead of Tiger An eagle at the par-five second Jimenez vaulted into contention by Woods who was 21 when he tri- hole helped Watson improve his 36- matching the lowest Masters score by umphed in 1997. hole lead to a five-shot cushion but a player over 50 held by Ben Hogan Watson, the 2012 champion, need- that disappeared under a spell of (1967) and Fred Couples (2010). ed to curl in a four-foot par-saving bogeys that turned the year’s first “I feel very nice. Beautiful day out putt at the last to retain a share of the major into a taut battle on a crowded there, just light breeze sometimes. It’s great,” said the pony-tailed Spaniard. Three shots behind the co-leaders were England’s Lee Westwood (70), Bjorn (73) and American Jim Furyk (72). Americans Couples, 54, and Kevin Stadler, U.S. Open champion Justin Rose of England and Australian John Senden were tied at one under par heading into what could be a wild shootout for the year’s first major. Mohammad Al Attar performs during a photoshoot in Kuwait City, Kuwait . Another record-tying performance —www.redbull.com was turned in by long-hitting American Gary Woodland who took advantage of his early start on greens not yet baked to a crisp to fire a six- Clippers stop Kings march under 30 on the front nine and tie the Masters record. Woodland had four birdies and an eagle to match the LOS ANGELES: Blake Griffin scored 27 Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland MAVERICKS 101, SUNS 98 record low for the outward half by points, DeAndre Jordan added 21, and Cavaliers. Avery Bradley also scored 25 Monta Ellis matched his season high Johnny Miller (1975), Greg Norman the Los Angeles Clippers beat the points for the Celtics, who built a 33-point with 37 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored (1988), KJ Choi (2004) and Phil Sacramento Kings 117-101 on Saturday lead early in the fourth quarter before 21 of his 23 during a second-half rally Mickelson (2009). to earn their franchise record-tying 56th Cleveland’s reserves cut into the margin. that carried the Dallas Mavericks back to He climbed within three shots of victory of the regular season. Chris Paul Boston snapped a 13-game road losing the playoffs. Ellis and Nowitzki brought Watson before stumbling at Amen added 17 points and 10 assists, J.J. streak and won for the first time away the Mavericks back by hitting five 3- Corner as he ended with a 69 for 216, Redick had 13 points, and Matt Barnes from home since Feb. 10. The Celtics have pointers between them in less than 4 even par. Adam Scott, last year’s win- scored 12 in helping the playoff-bound won consecutive games for the first time minutes of the third quarter, erasing ner, struggled on the greens and post- Clippers improve to 33-7 at Staples since early March. most of a 13-point deficit. Then, they ed a 76 for 217. Center, breaking the franchise mark for Kyrie Irving scored and Dion Waiters teamed to get the lead back in the home victories in a season. Griffin had each scored 15 points for Cleveland, but fourth, and Dallas held on in the final NEXT TEST nine assists, and Jordan had nine neither played in the fourth quarter that minutes. The Mavericks left the Suns and The next test for young Spieth will rebounds. began with Boston leading 89-58. Memphis to battle for the last playoff be contending with the pressure Los Angeles completed a season cooker that is Masters. “He’s young, sweep of the Kings and has won seven nerves are no big deal to him,” said straight against them at home. Watson of Spieth who seems destined DeMarcus Cousins had his seventh for greatness after winning the US straight double-double with 32 points Junior Amateur in 2009 and 2011, and 12 rebounds to lead the Kings, who joining Tiger Woods as the event’s lost their fifth in a row in their last road only multiple winners, and who game of the season. became the youngest PGA Tour win- ner in 82 years last season at the age HAWKS 98, HEAT 85 of 19. Still, the final round at Augusta Jeff Teague scored 25 points, Lou is something special. “You know the Williams had 18 of his 23 points in the roars, you know the history of the fourth quarter and the Atlanta Hawks game,” said Watson. “As a kid we’ve earned the Eastern Conference’s final always dreamed about Sunday after- playoff spot. Atlanta’s third straight vic- AUGUSTA: Justin Rose of England reacts as he watches his putt on the sec- noon, having a chance on the last tory eliminated the New York Knicks ond green during the final round of the Masters Golf Tournament at hole or birdying the last four like Charl from playoff contention. Williams scored Augusta National Golf Club. —AFP Schwartzel did in 2011.— Reuters the Hawks’ last 12 points. LeBron James finished with 27 points and Dwyane Wade, in his first game since missing nine straight with a sore Terpstra down top guns left hamstring, scored 24 for the Miami Heat. The two-time defending champion Heat, who have lost three of four, gave to clinch Paris-Roubaix up the ground they gained in the stand- ings Friday by beating Indiana at home ROUBAIX: Niki Terpstra of the the finale a price for his repeated cobbled sectors less than 100 km and taking a one-half game lead over Netherlands seized his opportunity to efforts having not received a lot of from the finish. the Pacers. Miami and Indiana are now pip the pre-race favourites and clinch help from his breakaway companions. He punctured again and then tied atop the Eastern Conference with LOS ANGELES: Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (right) loses the the biggest victory of his career when crashed on the unluckiest day for the 54-26 records. The Heat’s 85 points were ball as he is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers forward Glen Davis (left) during he won the Paris-Roubaix classic yes- IMPRESSIVE WIGGINS Norwegian from the Katusha team. their third-fewest this season. the second half of an NBA basketball game. — AP terday. The favorites eventually regrouped Edvald Boasson-Hagen of Norway and Terpstra, one of the in-form riders despite Peter Sagan’s solo attempts, France’s Arnaud Demarre were also WIZARDS 194, BUCKS 91 going into the 257-km race featuring and the mind games started. While all among the riders with outside Bradley Beal scored 26 points, and NBA results/standings 51.1 km of cobbled sectors, attacked a eyes were on Belgian Sep Vanmarcke, chances who hit the deck.