WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 2015 SPORTS

WASHINGTON: hits out of the bunker on the 14th hole during the second round of the US Open tournament at Chambers Bay in this file photo. —AP Johnson adds another chapter to major missed putts

WASHINGTON: The unexpected ecstasy of Sunday came on a challenging Chambers Bay missed left. “They do bounce and when they greatest golfers of all time, missed a par putt par-four 10th at Augusta National when he ’s one-shot win at the US Open layout where short putts had been missed by are fast and bumpy, it’s tough to get it in the from three feet on the final hole of the 1946 missed a two-foot putt there to lose out to resulted from the agony of Dustin Johnson’s the game’s greatest players all week on fast, hole. I might have pulled it a little bit, but still Masters to hand Herman Keiser a surprise one- Britain’s in a playoff for the 1989 missed putt from four feet, yet another exam- heavily contoured greens made bumpy by to me it looked like it bounced left. It’s tough.” stroke victory. Masters. ple of a bitter major finish. From the three- uneven grass cover. While Spieth was euphoric as he savoured Sanders missed a heavily-breaking three- South African Retief Goosen all but threw footer Doug Sanders missed at the 1970 The big-hitting American had just struck a his second consecutive major victory, he could footer on the final hole of the 1970 Open away the chance to win the 2001 U.S. Open at British Open to Kim In-kyung’s horseshoe out brilliant second shot into the par-five last, feel Johnson’s pain. “I don’t really know what Championship at St. Andrews, ending up level Southern Hills when he missed a two-foot putt of the cup from a foot at the 2012 Kraft needing an eagle three to win in regulation his to say,” said the 21-year-old Spieth. “He very with who won an 18-hole playoff on the final hole, though he went on to beat Nabisco, golf’s elite events are littered with first major victory or a birdie to force a playoff well could have hit a good putt and it could for the title the following day. Hale Irwin was American Mark Brooks the next day in an 18- squandered putts from short distances on the on Monday with his compatriot Spieth. With have bounced or it just took a break ... I very in contention for the 1983 British Open at hole playoff. final hole. the packed grandstand hushed, Johnson’s 12- much feel for him. Royal Birkdale when he came agonisingly South Korean Kim was not as fortunate at The pressure cooker situation of a major footer for eagle slid past the cup and he then “He’s a great champion. He’s certainly close to sinking a 20-footer on the 14th hole. the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship, the championship coming down to the wire is cer- missed the short putt coming back, his ball proven that he closes tournaments out. This Stunningly, he then missed the tap-in with his opening women’s major of the year, after she tainly not for the faint of heart and nerves of rolling by the left edge of the hole, to hand the was just an odd deal, very odd. He deserves to ball inches from the hole as he played an air missed a one-foot par putt on the final hole steel are required to make the right shot at the title to Masters champion Spieth. be holding the trophy just as much as I do this shot. Irwin, who went on to lose that year’s when her ball caught the right edge, spun right time, especially when facing a putt with “I had it just inside right,” said a dumb- week.” Johnson is the latest in a growing list of Open championship to by one around and headed back to her. Kim went on the title on the line. founded Johnson, a nine-times PGA Tour win- players who have suffered major losses after stroke, described his whiff as “a mental lapse”. to lose to her compatriot Yoo Sun-young on Johnson’s moment of personal agony on ner. “I hit it, thought I hit it pretty decent, just missing short putts. , one of the American Scott Hoch made a mess of the the first sudden-death playoff hole.—Reuters Murray vows to solve Djokovic riddle

LONDON: Andy Murray set his sights on Novak, but I’ve been close in a lot of the ending his barren run against Novak matches,” Murray said. “He’s had a great Djokovic after the world number three year and there’s no disgrace in losing to wrapped up his Wimbledon preparations him. But if I want to win the major competi- with a sublime demolition of Kevin tions I have to beat him. Anderson in the Queen’s Club final. “I’ve done it before when I won US Open Murray clinched a record-equalling and Wimbledon and the Olympics, and I fourth Queen’s title in just 64 minutes as he need to continue to improve and learn delivered a grass-court masterclass that left from those matches. “There’s only one play- world number 17 Anderson utterly bewil- er in the world that’s played better than me dered. this year. “I would like to be that player and It has been a memorable year for hopefully in the future I can be.” Murray, with an Australian Open final Stan Wawrinka exposed a few chinks in appearance followed by his wedding to Djokovic’s armour when he unexpectedly Kim Sears in April. won their French Open final and Murray Murray also won his first clay-court titles believes the reigning Wimbledon champi- in Munich and Madrid, and reached the on will still be coming to terms with a loss French Open semi-finals. The usually taci- that denied him a career Grand Slam. turn 28-year-old was so enthused by his “He was very close to achieving some- fine week’s work in west London that he thing that very few players have done that claimed he is playing even better than he probably needed some time away to when he secured his historic Wimbledon rest and relax and get his head right before triumph in 2013. getting prepared for another Slam,” Murray “You have to improve. If you don’t peo- said. The last time Murray won Queen’s in ple will take your spot,” Murray said. 2013 he went on to become the first British “Physically I’m definitely in a better place man to win the Wimbledon singles’ title for than I was then and I’m using my variety 77 years. much better just now. That’s been good for But, despite his blistering form of late, me.” But there is still one big issue looming he has no intention of taking success at the for Murray as he heads to Wimbledon’s All England Club for granted. “It’s great practice courts before the tournament gets preparation, but there are no guarantees underway on June 29. that winning here gives you a Wimbledon For all his success over the last six title,” he said. “It gives me that little bit of EASTBOURNE: Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard returns a ball to Alison Riske of the US during day four of the women’s International tennis at months, he has failed to solve the problems confidence going in there, but all sorts of Devonshire Park. —AP posed by world number one Djokovic. things can happen during slams. “I need to Murray has lost only six of his 41 matches in go out there and earn it.” Murray’s chal- 2015 and four of those defeats have come lenge will be bolstered by the return on Bouchard finally finds rhythm against Djokovic, in the Australian Open Monday of his heavily pregnant coach and Miami finals and the last four in Indian Amelie Mauresmo, who handed over the Wells and Roland Garros. Yet Murray draws reigns to Jonas Bjorkman while she took a EASTBOURNE: Eugenie Bouchard won only her my next opportunity to be able to do that again.” favorite Heather Watson. strength from his performances in several break during Queen’s. “It’s been a good second match since mid-March after struggling American Sloane Stephens eliminated Spanish Meanwhile, Kvitova will start her preparation of those matches, as well as his Wimbledon start with Jonas, but I also have to give a lot to find form, earning a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 defeat of clay ace Carla Suarez Navarro, seeded fifth, 6-1, for a possible third Wimbledon title. The world and US Open final wins over the Serb, and of credit to Amelie,” he said. “The work I’ve Alison Riske yesterday at the Eastbourne 7-5. Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova beat number two, who was runner-up at Devonshire insists he can close the gap if they meet done with her is paying off. Hopefully a cul- International. Australian Casey Dellacqua 6-4, 7-5 and German Park in 2011 before going on to capture her first again at the All England Club. mination of the two of them will give me The former top 10 player, now ranked 12th, at tenth seed Andrea Petkovic beat Caroline Garcia Wimbledon trophy. “It’s obviously a shame I’ve lost to more success.” —AFP 2-10 over her last dozen matches as the form 6-2, 6-4 to level her summer grass record at 1-1. Former number one Caroline Wozniacki steps which took the 21-year-old to the Wimbledon Meanwhile, former Grand Slam finalists onto grass for the first time this summer as she title match, as well as Australian Open and Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dominika Cibulkova plays as second seed after spending time at Roland Garros semi-finals in 2014, disappeared advanced to the second round of the home in Monaco resting after the French Open. in 2015. Bouchard’s second-round victory in one Eastbourne grass-court tournament on Monday, The Dane won the Eastbourne title in 2009 ‘Golden’ oldie De La Hoya hour 40 minutes was her first on grass this sea- while top-seeded Petra Kvitova withdrew and has reached the final four in her last two son and could not have come at a better time, through illness a week before starting her title appearances at the Wimbledon tune-up event. considers comeback at 42 with Wimbledon starting in six days. defense at Wimbledon. French Open finalist Lucie Safarova, the third “It’s good to finally get a win,” said Bouchard, Kuznetsova, who has won the French Open seed, will also wait for an opponent from the who was helped by two aces in the final game as and U.S. Open, converted all four of her break first round. LOS ANGELES: Boxing Hall of Famer and for- weight Floyd Mayweather Jr or a bout against she closed out the 42nd-ranked Riske, to take a points in beating Magdalena Rybarikova 7-6 (5), That will be either British card Harriet Dart or mer Olympic champion Oscar De La Hoya is dangerous Kazakh middleweight champion 3-0 lead in that series at the WTA level. 6-4 to set up a match against Flavia Pennetta. Slovakia’s 2014 Australian Open finalist considering a return to the ring at the age of Gennady Golovkin, known as GGG. “I had to try and stay with her, she was play- Cibulkova, a runner-up at the Australian Dominika Cibulkova, who will be playing for the 42 after overcoming substance abuse, the Mayweather, 38, has said he would only ing well. “I tried to stay calm at the end, enjoy Open last year, beat Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-3 and will first time since February foot surgery. fighter told ESPN.com on Monday. De La fight once more before retiring making that the moment. I’ve really had some ups and next play 2014 Wimbledon semifinalist Lucie Her last tournament was in Antwerp where Hoya, who quit boxing soon after retiring on bout an unlikely prospect but unbeaten downs this season. Safarova. Kvitova pulled out before she had where lost to Andrea Petkovic in the quarter- his stool at the end of the eighth round of a knockout specialist Golovkin has struggled to “I’ve learned a lot about tennis, myself and played a match at Eastbourne in a disruption to finals. Cibulkova, now ranked at 50, has only lopsided 2008 defeat against Manny find big name opponents and offers a more life as a result.” The seventh seed will wait for a her preparations for Wimbledon. She said she been back on court for little more than a week Pacquiao, said he was “50-50” about fighting viable opportunity. third-round opponent from Swiss teen Belinda started feeling ill when she arrived in Britain on and did not touch grass until arriving in Britain. again following two spells in rehab. “I just feel good and when I walk the Bencic and 2014 titleholder Madison Keys, seed- Thursday and didn’t recover. The 26-year-old will be making her career “I feel amazing,” De La Hoya said. “In my life streets, everyone tells me, ‘You have to fight ed 12th. Bouchard is making her Eastbourne “I have to still think positively, and I hope I’m debut at Eastbourne. Russian Ekaterina right now, I have so much motivation. I am so Floyd again, you have to fight GGG. You can main draw debut after falling out of qualifying going to be ready for Wimbledon,” the second- Makarova takes the fourth seeding, heading hungry and so determined. I am young, I am do it, you can do it’,” De La Hoya said. two years ago. Two other seeds met upset fates ranked Kvitova said. “I’m playing Tuesday (at number five Carla Suarez Navarro, number six healthy and I feel great... 42 is the new 32.” “I just feel great physically. I’ve been taking in the second round, with Briton Johanna Konta Wimbledon next week), so it’s still time for it.” and last year’s losing finalist Angelique Kerber Nicknamed “Golden Boy”, the 1992 care of myself. I’ve been doing the Bernard extending her hometown win streak with a Kvitova hasn’t played since losing in the and crisis-ridden Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, Olympic champion was once considered box- Hopkins lifestyle. You can turn the clock back knockout of Russian fourth seed Ekaterina fourth round at the French Open on June 1. Rain the 2014 Wimbledon finalist who has lost 10 of ing’s top-rated pound-for-pound fighter and to a certain time.” Makarova 6-2, 6-4. pushed 2014 Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie her last 11 matches. its most marketable asset, winning world Hopkins, 50, is the oldest winner of a “It’s important for me not to treat it different- Bouchard’s second-round match against Alison Czech Karolina Pliskova is seeded eighth, titles at six different weights and participating world championship and unified the WBA ly, I do believe very much so that I do need to Riske back late yesterday. There were wins for ahead of Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, who in a string of megafights. and IBF light heavyweight titles until he approach every match exactly the same with my unseeded players Polona Hercog of Slovenia, opens against a qualifier. Defending champion The Californian, who founded Golden Boy was beaten late last year, a decade after same intentions and personal goals,” said the Irina Falconi of the United States, Barbora Madison Keys of the United States takes the 12th Promotions in 2002, said he only had eyes for knocking out De La Hoya in a middleweight number 146 wild card. “I’m just happy that I was Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic, seeding and starts against either Swiss teenager either a rematch against undefeated welter- bout.—Reuters able to do that today and I’m looking forward to Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria and home Belinda Bencic or Mona Barthel. —AFP