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WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017 SPORTS Scott not ready to fade into golfing sunset FLORIDA: Adam Scott is confident his major and I felt I was a good enough myself in some pretty tough spots too, best days are still ahead, even though player to, and (was wondering) is it so it’s unfair to be too critical. I’ve defi- almost three years have passed since he going to happen? “I’m relatively stress- nitely seen some improvement.” Scott is enjoyed a short reign as world number free, injury-free. I want (success) just as older than the current top five in the one. As he heads to this week’s Players much as I wanted it before.” Scott spent world, and has watched with interest as Championship in Florida, where he burst 11 weeks as the world’s top-ranked Dustin Johnson has taken a grip on the onto the American golf scene with a win player, supplanting Tiger Woods in May number one ranking. in 2004, Scott is working towards peak- 2014. He is trying to juggle the Johnson won three straight starts, ing for the business section of the sea- demands of top-level golf with family before finishing tied second in the Wells son, after flirting with contention at the life. He has a 2-year-old daughter, with Fargo Championship, despite being rusty US Masters where he finished equal Swedish wife Marie expecting their after time off recovering from a fall that ninth. At 36, an age traditionally slightly second child in August. As much as he hurt his back and kept him out of the past a player’s peak, he has peace of enjoys life at home during his time off, Masters. But Scott observed that a golfer’s mind that comes with having won a Scott admits to watching plenty of golf place in the pantheon of greats was major, the 2013 Masters, and believes on television, and getting itchy feet measured over a career, not a couple of that being largely injury-free should when he watches his peers. months. “He’s in a sweet spot at the allow him to continue playing well for Long regarded as one of the premier moment where everything feels very many years. “I still feel like I’ve got a long long-game exponents, he says his short easy and free, a place where we all occa- window,” the Australian world number game has improved under the tutelage sionally get to,” Scott said of Johnson. “But 11 told Reuters at last week’s Wells Fargo of Australian instructor Matt Ballard, you’ve got to keep it there for a few years Championship, where he tied for 36th. even if it did not look like it at Augusta. and I did for a while but it’s slowly getting “I’ve at least won my first major. Five “My short game was really sharp the first back to where I’d like it to be at the years ago there was definitely a sense few events,” he said. “At Augusta it wasn’t moment and hopefully I’m back up chal- Adam Scott of urgency because I hadn’t won a as good as I would have liked but I put lenging for some majors soon.”— Reuters PGA Tour extends FedEx sponsorship for 10 years PONTE VEDRA BEACH: The PGA Tour through this process, we’ve identified a announced a 10-year extension for the title number of ways for us to continue to sponsorship of the FedEx Cup, giving the enhance the magnitude and consequence lucrative series continuity for another of the FedEx Cup, and ... that’s complicated. decade and allowing some flexibility as the There’s still some other moving parts tour explores reshaping its season. Terms of that we need to get to before we’ll be able the new deal were not disclosed yesterday, to announce any additional changes.” though PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said the “foreseeable future” is Monahan said he expects the payout to the current schedule that starts in October “increase significantly” from its $35 million (three weeks after the Tour Championship) bonus pool and $10 million prize for the and ends in late September. He said the winner. It keeps the same name of the tour has not made any “firm decisions” on FedEx Cup for the first 21 years of the com- change. “I think FedEx has a great deal of petition. confidence that wherever we end up with “I think it’s critical, and it’s a historic day,” our schedule on a long-term basis and Monahan said. The FedEx Cup began in however we create the FedEx Cup season 2007 as a way to give the PGA Tour a defini- and the playoffs, all of that will be done in a tive close to its season once the four major way that’s going to be in the best interest championships ended in August. Tiger of the Cup and our players,” Monahan said. Woods won the first edition of the FedEx Patrick Fitzgerald, the senior vice president Cup and remains the only two-time winner. of integrated marketing for FedEx, said the Rory McIlroy won it last year. Before the company based in Memphis, Tennessee, FedEx Cup came along, the tour season only wants the FedEx Cup to end at a point began in January and ended in late of “maximum excitement for the tour.” October or early November. The FedEx Cup “I don’t know what the best answer will brought massive restructuring with a be yet, and that’s why we are so fortunate points system for players to qualify for four that we have a close, collaborative working playoff events that culminated with the relationship with the tour, and they have a Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup very clear view of some potential things champion. that could change and how that would The tour now is looking to tighten the affect things,” he said. “So I’m confident that PITTSBURGH: Andre Burakovsky #65 of the Washington Capitals scores past goaltended Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and schedule even more so that the FedEx Cup if the schedule changes, it will be in the Ron Hainsey #65 in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 8, 2017.— AFP ends before the start of the NFL season. best interest of golf and of the FedEx Cup.” That could involve moving The Players The extension through 2027 goes well Championship back to March (instead of beyond the tour’s television contracts with NHL this week), and cooperation from the PGA NBC, CBS and Golf Channel, which expire in of America to consider moving the PGA 2021. The tour signed its latest network Championship to the spring. “For now, deal in 2011 when Tiger Woods was recov- we’re just announcing the extension ering from leg injuries and the breakdown Capitals thrash Penguins; through 2027,” Monahan said. “As we went of his personal life. —AP Bonino incident puts focus Burakovsky at the double on embellishment in hockey PITTSBURGH: Andre Burakovsky scored twice as the Washington Capitals thrashed the Pittsburgh CRICKET PITTSBURGH: With one head-snap motion, obstruction fouls are called tighter and power Penguins 5-2 to level their Eastern Conference Nick Bonino of the Pittsburgh Penguins plays are so important, drawing penalties is a semi-final series on Monday. TJ Oshie opened reminded everyone about hockey’s dirty little skill that is worth its weight in goals, points in the scoring in the first period before Burakovsky secret of embellishment. Not the same kind the standings, wins and possibly even money grabbed his first of the night in the second peri- Proteas’ Rabada shoulders of player flopping that occurs in, say, the NBA, on the next contract. od to give the Caps a deserved 2-0 lead at and it’s certainly not done at the same vol- “You always get guys saying they’ll do any- Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena. Nicklas ume seen in soccer, where diving is used thing to win this time of year,” veteran enough to carry the burden effectively at the highest levels even as it is Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik said. “If Backstrom, John Carlson and Burakovsky all struck in quick succession to fire Washington ridiculed and (occasionally) penalized. In that’s what you feel is necessary, then I guess NEW DELHI: Kagiso Rabada’s shoulders are big we are basically the same age and bowl the into a commanding 5-0 lead in the third period hockey, exaggerating a potential penalty to that’s what you do. I think a majority of guys enough to carry the burden of being a pace same thing with very similar actions. We talk to all but guarantee victory. Two late goals from get a call against the opponent has long been in the league aren’t comfortable doing that.” spearhead but he is also looking to strike a bal- about different things about bowling, network- Jake Guentzel and Evegeni Malkin were mere part of the game - especially in the Stanley Game officials can call embellishment minors, ance between bowling flat out and staying the ing once again,” he said. “Speaking to someone Cup playoffs, when everyone’s looking for an of course, but the league also watches for consolation for the Penguins, who at one stage course, the South African speedster said. Fast like Rahul Dravid, his batting experience and edge - and embellishment is simply reality them and a panel votes weekly on possible had led the best-of-seven series 3-1.