TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 SPORTS Reed drives away Photo of the day with Cadillac title DORAL: American Patrick Reed close within one shot of Reed. But “It’s basically started on six, the became the youngest winner of a when Donaldson bogeyed the last second shot out of the bunker, my World Golf Championship event when after finding a greenside bunker with foot was out of the bunker. “That’s he held on for a one shot victory at his approach shot, Reed was able to what set it off and then it was done the Cadillac Championship on Sunday lay up and seal victory with a bogey. after that, just see if I could actually after an ailing Tiger Woods failed to Donaldson (68) and Watson (70) manage through the round keep the mount a challenge. finished tied for second at three- spasms at bay.” Reed shot a final round of even-par under but no-one else finished the Reed, wearing a red shirt and black 72 to finish the $9 million tournament tournament under par. slacks as Woods does in his final at four-under 284, one shot clear of Woods had moved into contention rounds, displayed the same steely Bubba Watson and Jamie Donaldson. on Saturday with a third round 66 to nerve as the world number one as he It was Reed’s third PGA Tour title in start the final day three shots behind worked his way around the eight months. but returned a six-over 78 to finish redesigned Blue Monster course and “I was hitting the ball so good this tied for 25th. The world number one then showed he did not lack for confi- dence after he had won the tourna- ment. “I’ve worked so hard, won a lot in junior career, did great things in amateur career and now I have three wins on the PGA Tour,” said Reed, who has already secured an invitation to play his first major at Augusta National next month. “I just don’t see a lot of guys that have done that besides from Tiger Woods of course and all the legends of the game. “I believe in myself, especially with how hard I’ve worked, I’m one of the Alex Sorgente performs at the Vans Bondi Bowl-A-Rama at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on February 22, top five players in the world. “To come 2014. —www.redbullcontentpool.com out in a field like this and hold on wire to wire, I feel like I’ve proven myself.” Reed, who replaced Woods as the youngest WGC winner, got off to fast Djokovic advances, start with a birdie at the first hole before giving the stroke right back with a bogey at the second. DORAL: Patrick Reed celebrates with his wife Justine on the 18th green However, Reed responded with Tsonga crashes out after his one-stroke victory during the final round of the World Golf back-to-back birdies at the third and Championships-Cadillac Championship. — AFP fourth holes then reeled off nine suc- cessive pars before suffering a wobble INDIAN WELLS: Novak Djokovic remained on course for active player to do so. week and my putting was just out- did not make a birdie and walked gin- at the 14th when he missed a five-foot his first title of the season with a second round victory over “It’s the first match and it takes a little bit of time to get standing,” said Reed. “Whenever you gerly off the course on Sunday with par putt. With the pressure mounting Victor Hanescu 7-6 6-2 at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday. used to the center court. I haven’t played on it this year.” come to an event and feel very confi- his health once again a concern ahead and his lead slashed to a single stroke, Djokovic, the second ranked player in the world, is off to Djokovic will next face Alejandro Gonzalez who made the dent with your putting, a lot of pres- of next month’s Masters. Reed held his nerve over the closing a slow 2014 and has only defeats at the Australian Open third round by defeating Ivan Dodig 6-4 2-6 7-6. sure on your full swing comes off your Woods arrived at Doral with his fit- holes. He made pars at the 15th, 16th and the Dubai Duty Free Championship to show for thus Elsewhere in the draw, a couple of high seeds were sent shoulders. “Around a golf course like ness in question after he pulled out of and 17th holes to head to the 18th far. He failed to reach the final in either event, but does home packing early. Fourth seed Tomas Berdych was upset this you have to be confident and I the final round of the Honda Classic a with a comfortable two-shot lead that bring positive vibes to Indian Wells, California where he is a by Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6 6-2 6-4. feel like I’ve done that really well.” The week earlier with back spasms and allowed him to play safely and win two-time champion. Berdych had been in strong form, winning 11 matches 23-year-old began the final day with a was grimacing in pain as he complet- with a bogey. Facing the Romanian Hanescu, Djokovic fended off five in a row in February, but slipped up in the early loss. Sixth two-stroke lead and quickly built up a ed the championship. “It is back As Reed celebrated he was quickly break points during the competitive opening set before seed Juan Martin del Potro withdrew because of a left commanding four-shot cushion spasms, so we’ve done all the proto- joined on the 18th green by his preg- dominating the tiebreaker and taking complete control of wrist injury that had also forced him out of the Dubai before fighting off a late challenge cols and it’s just a matter of keeping nant wife Justine, who will return as the match from there. tourney last week. Ninth seed Jo-Willfried Tsonga, of from Donaldson. everything aligned so I don’t go into his caddy following the birth of their “I didn’t make any returns in the first set. (In the) Second France, also bowed out in a 6-4 6-4 loss to fellow country- The Briton birdied the 17th hole to that,” said Woods. first child. — Reuters set I also struggled with the return, which is one of my bet- man Julien Benneteau. Eighth seed Richard Gasquet and ter sides in the game generally speaking,” Djokovic told 12th seed John Isner advanced after surviving a volatile reporters after registering his 550th career win, the sixth day. — Reuters Michalak extends Toulon contract PARIS: France international Frederic Michalak extended his u-turn and opted not to join Toulon after all and remain contract with European champions Toulon for another sea- with the French champions. son, which will tie him to them till June 2015, the club ìWe held discussions over a long period of time to sort announced yesterday. The unpredictable 31-year-old 68- out some differences,î Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal times capped halfback had been linked with several other told AFP. teams including Top 14 rivals Grenoble as he has found ìIt was a complicated dossier but we got there in the himself battling for a regular first team place this season. end. ìI donít think either party hesitated over the signing, His play time had been affected by his late return to fit- even if was a drawn out affair. nessóhe became available for selection in late ìI donít think Fred ever envisaged leaving Toulon and Octoberóafter he dislocated his shoulder on last Juneís from our side there was never any question of letting him tour of New Zealand. go. ìWe believe he will regain his best form.î Michalak, who has started in just five of the 11 matches Michalakís best form for the club saw him be a pivotal in which he has featured in both the Top 14 and European member of the side that won last seasonís European Cup Cup this season and has lost his place in the national and reach the Top 14 final, where they were surprisingly squad, had been in negotiations with Toulon, whom he beaten by Castres. Michalak, though, has rarely reproduced joined in 2012 from Natal Sharks, for the past few weeks. the form that saw him win three European Cups and two His extensionówith the option of adding another French titles with his first club Toulouse and be Franceís yearóis well-timed as it comes a few weeks after Castresí undisputed first choice fly-half at the 2003 World Cup at South African kicking scrum-half Rory Kockott performed a the age of just 20. —AFP Lee wins All England crown BIRMINGHAM: Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei was at his Wang showed patience and ruthless efficiency. sublime best as he claimed the All England Open title “There are still a lot of big tournaments waiting for me BARBADOS: West Indies cricket team wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (left) celebrates dismissing England’s batsman for a third time with a 21-13 21-18 win over Chen Long to win so hopefully I can keep going,” said Wang. Ben Stokes (center) during the first T20 match. — AFP on Sunday. Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli showed they had come a After avenging his final loss to Chen last year, the 31- long way since being expelled from the 2012 London year-old world number one hinted that Sunday could Olympics for throwing matches as they saved a match Samuels leads West Indies be his last appearance at the tournament.