THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 SPORTS Clark hopes to have solution for long putter

HONOLULU: Tim Clark hopes he has found No player was more vocal against the Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said the the solution to the anchoring ban for longer ban on the anchored stroke than Clark, tour opposed the rule. The USGA and Royal putters, even if it makes it feel as though he whose six victories worldwide include The & Ancient passed it anyway and it went to is starting over. Players Championship and the national effect at the start of this year. Clark and Carl “I feel like this is my rookie season opens in , Scotland, Canada and Pettersson of Sweden have used long put- because I don’t know what to expect,” Clark South Africa. ters their entire careers and argued said Tuesday at the PGA Tour’s Sony Open. For 19 years, the American golfer used a they could never regain so many years of Clark is using a putter from BioMech called long putter that he anchored to his chest. practice. But with the rule giving them no “AccuLock” in which the shaft leans forward Clark has a congenital problem with his choice but to change, Clark said his new put- and allows the grip to rest against the fore- arms in which he can’t supinate his wrists, ter appears to be the best alternative for arm during the stroke. It’s a large, square and the long putter was the perfect solu- HONOLULU: Nick him. Because of his arm problems, he can- head with a hole the size of the golf ball in tion. Instead using it like a pendulum, he Taylor of Canada not properly grip a short putter. The new the middle, and the shaft is attached to the used a short putting stroke with the long plays a shot during putter allows him to use a “claw” grip with rear to give it a forward lean. putter. Frustrated by the US Golf practice rounds prior his right hand. “I’m looking forward to the He said he has worked with it off and on Association’s lack of empirical evidence that to the Sony Open In challenge. Who knows? Maybe it will be bet- for about six months and it still feels differ- an anchored putting stroke created an Hawaii at Waialae ter,” Clark said. “But that was 19 years with ent. “I could have gone with a shovel and it advantage, he traveled to San Diego on his Country Club on the long putter, and one putter that I used would have felt the same,” he said. “I went own for a players meeting and gave an ele- Tuesday in Honolulu, for 14 years. I wouldn’t say I’m worried. It with what felt the most comfortable. This gant speech that helped shape of the opin- Hawaii. — AFP either works or it doesn’t. But you can’t wipe method felt the best.” ion of several players. A month later, PGA away 19 years of habits.” — AP Spieth beat winners-only field, faces Rory McIlroy

HONOLULU: Fresh off an eight-shot victory, Jordan Spieth gets one week of rest before step- ping back into spotlight. He leaves this weekend for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and his first meeting of the year with Rory McIlroy. “I didn’t know he was playing. I’ll probably withdraw now,” Spieth jokingly said Tuesday dur- ing a conference call for the Valspar Championship. McIlroy was in Spieth’s position a year ago - No. 1 in the world (by a greater mar- gin), a multiple major champion, a great start to the year. What he never saw coming was an ankle injury while playing soccer that kept him out for two months and kept him from defend- NAIROBI: Kenya’s 800m world record Olympic champion David Rudisha (2nd-R) and ing titles in the British Open and Bridgestone other Kenyan athletes run during a training session in Iten in the Rift Valley, 329 kms Invitational. He ended the year with a victory in north of Nairobi, yesterday. — AFP the DP World Tour Championship to win the Race to Dubai. Kenya’s Rudisha going The ankle injury slowed what could have been an interesting year between Spieth and McIlroy. Three weeks after Spieth won the for repeat Olympic gold Masters, McIlroy answered with victories in the Cadillac Match Play and Wells Fargo ITEN: World 800 metres record-holder David a tough one to overcome physically and mental- Championship. Spieth won the US Open. And Rudisha told AFP yesterday he had fully recov- ly,” Rudisha said, adding that he still sometimes then McIlroy put on soccer shoes. ered from injury and was ready to defend his feels “that nagging pain”. “In a season that he considered lost, he still Olympic title in Rio De Janeiro this summer. Rudisha’s coach, Colm O’Connell, said the came back and ended up winning the Race to “This is what I’m looking forward to,” Rudisha runner’s confidence was also back. “I think 2015 Dubai, the final event. It proves what a player he said in Iten, a high altitude training ground for was important for Rudisha, in the sense that the is,” Spieth said. “I’m sure there’s very few people some of the world’s best distance runners. “I victory in Beijing did re-establish him,” he said. working harder than he is to make this season know it’s going to be tough, nothing is easy and O’Connell said Beijing was “a stepping stone to his best season yet, which is scary. Hopefully, I everybody is looking for that title, but we are Rio” and that Rudisha was now “certainly in the can help prevent that to an extent.” going to do our best.” mix” although he conceded that the runner “has Spieth is playing Abu Dhabi for the first time After dominating the race for two consecu- to fight to regain his position as the king of before going to the Singapore Open. He returns KUALA LUMPUR: This handout photo taken and received by the World Sport Group yesterday tive years, a knee injury took Rudisha out of con- 800m running”. for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and shows Ian Poulter of hitting a shot out of a bunker during the first practice day at the tention for the whole of 2013 and cast doubt on Hot on Rudisha’s heels-or perhaps in front the Northern Trust Open at Riviera before head- EurAsia Cup golf tournament at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam, west of his Olympic defence. But he bounced back last of him-are contenders including former world Kuala Lumpur. — AFP year to reclaim the world title in Beijing in and Commonwealth champion Nijel Amos of ing to Florida for the World Golf Championship August. Botswana, Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia and at Doral and his title defense at the Valspar physical ailment. Pepper was an analyst for NBC “We would have had dinner every night of Rudisha, 27, said his recovery and training Amel Tuka of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who Championship. Sports after she retired, served on the PGA of the week - a group of Irish guys - and practice were going well. “So far so good. My body has set the fastest 800m time in the world in That playoff win at the Valspar Championship America board of directors for two years, went to rounds,” he said. “They were a big influence. The responded very well. That problem was actually 2015. — AFP seems like a long time ago considering all Spieth ESPN and recently was signed by CBS Sports, year I came out, there were six or eight rookies, has done. He mentioned Tuesday that it was his where she will be the first female to be part of and these were the elder statesmen. They first professional victory when he had to make a the CBS team at the Masters. Along the way, she looked after us and put us right. If you stepped big putt on the final hole, in this case a 30-foot been a strong promoter of junior golf. out of line, you were told.” birdie on the third extra hole. Holmes had two operations in 2011 after Harrington said he often referred to Smyth as That remains true. He won the Masters by being diagnosed with brain defects in his cere- “Dad” because if there was an issue, he would be four shots and the U.S. Open with a two-putt bellum. One surgery was to remove part of his the one to sort it all out. The social aspect to golf birdie. He won the John Deere Classic when Tom skull. He has won twice since and played on the is important, especially for young Europeans Gillis hit into the water in a playoff. He won the Presidents Cup team last year. coming to America. Tour Championship by five shots. And he won at “It’s a great feeling to be recognized for over- Harrington said he felt lucky have the Irish Kapalua by eight shots. coming adversity,” he said. “I am also proud to be connection. “It was a big bunch of us at the time, affiliated with the great Ben Hogan, whose lega- nearly 12 of us at dinner every night,” he said. CADDIE RACE cy is one that I admired.” They will be honored at “Socially, it was brilliant. A big part of having the Jordan Spieth wasn’t the only one at Kapalua the GWAA’s annual awards dinner April 6 in elder guys is we weren’t going to get too cocky who turned in a remarkable performance. Mark Augusta, Georgia. around them. Des was ‘Dad.’ Christy and Eamonn Urbanek, the caddie for James Hahn, remembers were like a double act. They were fantastic.” hearing about the time in 2002 that Steve IRISH MENTORING Dustin Johnson last week became the 20th Williams won a bet with Tiger Woods and swing The death of Christy O’Connor Jr. allowed player to surpass $30 million in career earnings on coach Butch Harmon that he could run the back Padraig Harrington to reflect on how much the PGA Tour. Only two of those 20 players, Vijay nine of the Plantation Course in under 30 min- O’Connor and other veterans meant to young Singh and Davis Love III, are eligible for the utes. Williams won handily, going from the back Irish players. Harrington turned pro in 1995 and Champions Tour. “Improving as an individual play- : England’s International team coach Eddie Jones speaks at a of every tee and front of every green in 19 min- played a few years with O’Connor. He also was er is first and foremost. Also, I’d really, really, really press conference at , London yesterday. Jones has named sev- utes, 28 seconds. Urbanek decided to give it a close with Des Smyth and Eamonn Darcy. like to get a Ryder Cup win this year.” — AP en uncapped players in his Six Nations squad and culled 10 from the failed Rugby try. He started even with the first tee and ran World Cup campaign. — AP through the tunnel and up a path to reach the 10th tee, and then touched the back of every tee Froome targets incredible Beaumont junior gets call and a part of every green. He finished in 20 min- utes, 15 seconds. If the starting line had been treble as Tour and Rio loom the 10th tee, he would have finished in 19 min- to new-look England squad utes event. ALCUDIA: Tour de France champion Chris league Bradley Wiggins took gold, having Froome mapped out lofty goals for the year on become Britain’s first Tour de France champion LONDON: , son of former cap- XV for the Scotland game. Among the new WHAT INSPIRES SUCH A CHALLENGE? Tuesday, setting his sights on a remarkable 10 days earlier. “It would be lovely (to win tain Bill, was one of seven uncapped players faces hoping to break in are Wasps centre “I got into running a couple of years ago,” treble of double Olympic gold and another tri- gold),” Froome, who became a father for the included in Eddie Jones’s first England squad Elliot Daly, who has a good chance in the Urbanek said. “I love the mental challenge. I hate umphant ride into Paris. The 30-year-old first time just before Christmas, told reporters yesterday as the Australian called for his team absence of injured Henry Slade, and , running more than the next guy, but when you Briton, who claimed his second Tour de France in the lobby of the seaside hotel comman- to start a new era by playing with smiles on Paul Hill, Ollie Devoto and highly-rated for- hit that wall and your brain is telling you, ‘What victory last year, having also won it in 2013, deered by Team Sky for their daily training their faces. mer England under-20 captain lock/flanker are you doing?’ I enjoy continuing through that.” will be favourite for a third in July, before rides in the Tramuntana mountains. “I was for- While Jones ushered in a wave of new, Maro Itoje. heading to Rio de Janeiro’s lush coastline to tunate to get Olympic bronze in London. It felt young players, he also culled several regulars Centre , who last played for SPRAGUE’S MOVE contest the Olympic road race and time trial. massive even on the back of the Tour we’d of the previous regime following England’s England in June 2014 and returned to the The president of the PGA of America also has It sounds a tall order, but having completed had. “It felt enormous. You almost can’t pool stage exit at the World Cup. Chris Leicester team last week after a 15-month a day job, and for Derek Sprague, that job is a recce of Rio’s 256.4km road race route, which believe how overwhelming the Olympics are, Robshaw, captain throughout Stuart absence with a groin problem, was not changing. Sprague, who had been at Malone is littered with steep climbs and cobbles, he bigger than just your sport.” Froome says his Lancaster’s near-four-year reign, was retained included in the squad but will be considered Golf Club in upstate New York for the 27 years as liked what he saw. For Froome, the ultimate first priority, however, is the Tour de France but will be competing for the blind-side for the latter stages of the Six Nations. general manager and director of golf, has been Grand Tour rider, the more difficult the terrain and trying to become the first person since flanker berth. Jones named a 33-man Elite Several players who were regulars under hired as managing director of Liberty National the better. Spain’s Miguel Indurain (winner from 1991-95) Player Squad, effectively his squad for the Six Lancaster have been left out, including centre Golf Club. In a peculiar twist, he will be The road race takes place on Aug. 6 with to retain the title, not counting disgraced Nations championship starting next month Luther Burrell, who was a surprise omission employed by the PGA Tour as an expanded rela- the time trial, a hilly 60km dash, four days later American Lance Armstrong. He says he is in a with England visiting Scotland in their first from the World Cup squad having been a reg- tionship between Liberty National and the tour. and Froome said the quick turnaround will be far better shape than in 2014, when his hopes game on Feb 6. “I’m looking for these guys to ular in last year’s Six Nations. Here’s another way to look at it. Sprague will no problem. of winning back-to-back Tours ended early in a bring enthusiasm, energy and a lot of hard Fellow centre Brad Barritt, flanker Tom preside over the Ryder Cup this year as PGA “When I rode Rio and looked at the TT (time painful crash on a rainy day in northern work,” Jones told a Twickenham news confer- Wood, lock Geoff Parling, hooker Tom Youngs president. He also will be working on the trial) course, I thought ‘this is fantastic, I’d love France. That year his build-up was ruined by ence. “We want them to play with a smile on and number eight Ben Morgan also miss out, Presidents Cup, which will be played the follow- the chance to get stuck into this TT’”, Froome nagging injuries and illness, but those prob- their face and to enjoy it.” Sale’s Beaumont is a as did flyhalf Danny Cipriani, whose interna- ing year at Liberty National. told reporters at Team Sky’s media day in lems are now behind him and Froome says he powerful number eight in the mould of his tional career now looks to be over after never The role between the tour and Liberty Puerto de Alcudia, Mallorca on Tuesday. “I cannot wait to start racing. father, a lock forward and one of England’s really getting going despite him being one of National came from a 25-year partnership in went and rode the road course the next day “A lot of people say ‘defending your title’ most iconic players who led them to the the most talented players of his generation. which the New Jersey golf club, which sits across and just felt ‘if there’s a one-day course I could but I don’t feel that’s my mindset,” said grand slam in 1980 and captained the British There was better news for Chris Ashton, from Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, will win, it would look something like this’. Froome, whose Tour hopes have been boosted and Irish Lions the same year. He is currently who has played only two tests since 2013 but host up to 10 tournaments. That includes a “Having said that, it’s such a complicated by the inclusion of two hilly time trials that will chairman of the Rugby Football Union. has continued to score tries for Saracens, and FedEx Cup playoff event in 2019. thing, the Olympic road race. Teams of maxi- play into his hands. Jack Clifford, who has taken over as open- Harlequins’ , with both recalled mum five riders, 260km. You can’t rely on too “I don’t feel I am defending something. I am side flanker at Harlequins from Robshaw, is wingers hoping to take advantage of the sea- GWAA AWARDS much team work with four team mates. “That going to get something. It’s a different way to up against Gloucester’s Matt Kvesic for that son-ending knee injury of Jonny May. Dottie Pepper’s career didn’t end when she amount of climbing. It’s almost every man for look at it. It helps with my motivation. If I com- position. Jones criticised Robshaw during the “The long-term strategy for England is to stopped playing the LPGA Tour. The 17-time win- himself, almost like a junior race. It’s going to pare where I am now to the start of 2014 after World Cup as being a “six and a half” player develop a side who can be the most domi- ner with two majors will receive the William D. be a dramatic race when you look at the route. I won the previous Tour, I have more experi- and joked about the reference on Wednesday nant team in world rugby, so we have chosen Richardson Award from the Golf Writers People are going to be on their hands and ence behind me. “Two years in this leadership by saying: “Chris has been doing exceedingly a lot of new players on the growth we see in Association of America for her outstanding con- knees by the last two laps.” position. I feel a lot more at ease. I don’t feel well at six, with half a number off his back.” them,” Jones said. tributions to the game. the same level of pressure on my shoulders. “Since 2003 England are ranked fourth in The GWAA also voted Davis Love III for its BETTER SHAPE The pressure is probably still there but I don’t SURPRISE OMISSION the Six Nations and that’s not reflective of the ASAP Sports/Jim Murray Award for his coopera- Froome won a bronze medal in the time tri- feel it. I feel a lot more focused on the job at Jones said he would not name his new talent in the country so we have to change tion with the press, and J.B. Holmes with its Ben al at London 2012, when former Team Sky col- hand.” — Reuters captain until he has decided on his starting history.” — Reuters Hogan Award for staying active in golf despite a