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 , 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 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 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 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. “Since bowlers are cricket’s most vulnerable players and what he found hard... what he finds hard, a lot of even though the NHL has taken steps to stop infractions, with repeat offenders announced Game 3, we’ve had a calmness about what we’re South Africans are already fretting over the batsmen would find hard too,” Rabada added. it for more than a generation. publicly. doing. We’re having fun now,” said Capitals coach workload of a 21-year-old who is tipped to lead “So you get insight, as a bowler, from a bowler Bonino sold a high-sticking penalty Since the NHL added fines and the public Barry Trotz. the Proteas attack for years to come, at least and a batter.” Rabada feels the IPL has had a pro- against Washington’s TJ Oshie last week when shaming for embellishment before the 2014- The series will now be settled in a decisive once Dale Steyn heads off into the sunset. found impact on Indian cricket, bringing finan- replays showed the Pittsburgh forward was 15 season, director of hockey operations Game 7 in Washington today. Penguins coach While his pace-bowling Delhi team mate Pat cial stability to the game and broadening the never hit in the face late in Game 4. The Colin Campbell said, incidents that get Mike Sullivan offered no excuses after the Cummins has spent much of the five years since local talent pool. Twenty20 cricket’s constant Penguins got a power play, making it easier reviewed by the league office are down defending champions fluffed another chance to his sensational test debut wrapped up in cotton innovations have caught the fancy of the young to hang on for a win. Canadian TV pundit Don sharply, from 35-40 incidents per week in wrap up the series. “It’s frustrating,” Sullivan said. wool by a fearful Cricket Australia, Rabada has fans in South Africa and the country has Cherry ripped Bonino for being “phony,” 2014-15 to just 20-25 this season. Plays like “You’ve got an opportunity to win a game like been playing pretty consistently since his inter- launched the T20 Global Destination League retired defenseman Mike Commodore pre- Bonino’s bring fresh headlines, but Campbell this and win a series at home. To a man, we national bow. Still, Rabada, who first represented scheduled for later this year. Rabada, one of its dicted he won’t draw a penalty the rest of the said he feels embellishment is no longer ram- weren’t good enough.” The Capitals attacking his country in 2014 and turns 22 later this marquee players, hopes it will have an impact in playoffs and forward-turned-analyst Mike pant after saying in June 2014 it was “out of dominance was backed by a solid display in month, reckons his young body has coped rea- South Africa comparable to that the IPL has had Johnson wished there was a way to suspend control.” Four embellishment penalties have by Braden Holtby who made 16 saves. Penguins sonably well with the considerable rigours of in India. — Reuters a player for deliberately and clearly fooling been called on the ice through Sunday in goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was given a torrid playing cricket in all three formats. “I think the the referees. these playoffs after 18 during the regular sea- time, blocking 21 of 26 shots. Pittsburgh strug- older I get, the hard it will get, definitely,” he said “It’s a tough job to call those, but I think son according to Scouting the Refs , a website gled to generate any early fluency and their first in an interview. “But I’m not there yet. So right there’s times that everyone steps over the line that tracks NHL officials (the NHL does not shot on goal didn’t arrive until 12:17 of the first now it feels nice, I feel like I can do that.” and it’s not called,” release the statistic). period, a long clear by Brian Dumoulin. With the ball in his hand, Rabada is always defenseman Ryan Ellis said. “It’s in the game, Predators defenseman PK Subban was Washington opened the scoring on the same looking for wickets but a parallel search is also and it happens.” Embellishment runs counter fined twice along with eight other players power play, when Backstrom released Evgeny on to find ways to ensure he does not burn out. to the principles of hockey that prize tough- once in 2014-15 and cen- Kuznetsov who set up Oshie for a 1-0 lead. “Have I found the balance?” he shrugs. “I don’t ness and playing through pain. Faking it sim- ter Nazem Kadri was fined twice last season Fleury kept Pittsburgh in touch with several key know. That’s an ongoing process ... There are also ply seems way out of place. But in the mod- as 11 others were publicly announced as saves, including a superb block from Alex some precautions you take to avoid certain ern NHL where hooking, holding and other embellishers. —AP Ovechkin in the left circle. The Penguins were mishaps. “I think I’ve been training nicely, doing also given a scare when Sidney Crosby, in only what I need to do. I’m continuously finding that his second game back from a concussion, suf- balance - how much to bowl, how much to rest fered a bloody nose from a team-mate’s stick. and how much to train.” Rabada announced his The Canadian star was also sent crashing into arrival as an emerging talent on the world stage the boards during a Penguins power play. in 2015 by claiming a record six for 16, including Washington’s early pressure was rewarded when a hat-trick, in his one-day debut against Burakovsky doubled the lead at 6:36 of the sec- Bangladesh. ond after forcing a turnover by Ron Hainsey. His 71 wickets from 17 tests further attest to The game was settled with a flurry of scoring his potential as a future leader of the Proteas in the third, with Backstrom beating Fleury for 3- attack but at the moment the strapping right- 0 before Carlson added a power-play goal to armer has a more rudimentary approach to his make it 4-0 at 11:17 of the third. Burakovsky then role in the national team. “My role in the South rifled a shot past Fleury at 12:29 for 5-0. Caps Africa team is to try and get wickets, to field well goalscorer Oshie believes momentum is now and to try and score some runs down the order,” firmly with Washington heading into the he added. “I don’t see myself as a leader, no one’s decider. “It gives us a little bit more confidence,” told me that.” Rabada played six matches for Oshie said. “We have to be pretty mature about Delhi Daredevils in the ongoing 2017 Indian Premier League before returning home and he this, though. We know it’s not going to be the NEW DELHI: Delhi Daredevils bowler Kagiso said the Twenty20 tournament was “a huge net- exact same story. They’re not just going to go Rabada delivers a ball during the 2017 work of ideas.” away. “They’re Stanley Cup champions for a rea- Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 crick- He cited interactions with Cummins and team PITTSBURGH: Nick Bonino #13 of the Pittsburgh Penguins faces off against Nicklas son. We’ll regroup. We’re going to enjoy this. It et match between Delhi Daredevils and “chief mentor” Rahul Dravid, the India test bat- Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals in Game Six of the Eastern Conference was a fun one tonight for us, but we definitely Sunrisers Hyderabad at The Feroz Shah ting great, to illustrate his point. “Myself and Pat, Second Round during the 2017 NHL at PPG PAINTS Arena on have to regroup and get refocused on the start Kotla Cricket Stadium in New Delhi.— AFP May 8, 2017. — AFP for Game 7.”—AFP