Sports Tuesday, April 14, 2020 13 Colourful ‘Peacock of the Fairways’ Sanders passes away

AFP Tour, and if you gave me one Los Angeles birdie, four pars and a bogey wherever I could put them, I’d Doug Sanders, who missed have five majors. one of the most heartbreak- “But it’s that putt that eve- ing potential winning putts in rybody remembers. What can British Open history, died on I say? It’s what I remember Sunday of natural causes. He most, too.” was 86. Sanders likewise finished a The US PGA Tour Cham- stroke behind in pions website said he died in the 1959 US PGA Champion- Woods , . ship at Minneapolis Golf Club. Known as the “Peacock of He was a stroke back of the Fairways,” Sanders was one at the 1961 US of the most colourful person- Open at Oakland Hills, and alities on golf’s US PGA Tour, one short of Nicklaus in the capturing 20 titles including the 1966 Open Championship at relives joy 1956 . Muirfield. He had four close runner- He also had the third-round up finishes in majors with the lead at the 1960 US PGA Cham- 1970 Open Championship at pionship but finished two back St Andrews engrained in the of winner Jay Herbert. memories of most golf fans. Esquire magazine once When he reached the 72nd chose Sanders as one of Amer- of winning green, he was left with less than ica’s “Ten Best Dressed Jocks.” three feet for par to beat Jack He liked to say the two most Nicklaus by one shot. frequent questions on tour But Sanders nervously were, “What did Arnold Palm- pushed his putt right of the er shoot?” and “What’s Doug hole, sending the tournament to Sanders wearing?” an 18-hole playoff the next day The Cedartown, Georgia na- fifth Masters where Nicklaus prevailed on the tive bragged that he owned over final hole. 300 pairs of shoes. “Clothes In this file photo taken on April 14, 2019, Tiger Woods of the US celebrates winning the Masters during the final round at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (AFP) “I missed a 30-inch putt on make the man,” Sanders said. the last green that would have Sanders also played in 218 AFP tory,” Woods told CBS televi- particular week. Looking back, Woods said don’t remember that part. won the 1970 British Open. events on the senior Champi- Los Angeles sion on Sunday. “So hopefully we’ll have it he remembers little about his It’s all anybody wants to talk ons Tour and hosted his own The American broadcast- in November, and we’ll be able merrymaking on the green Low times about,” Sanders said. tournament, the Doug Sanders Fifteen-time major winner er replayed Woods’ stunning to compete for it.” after holing the final putt 12 “I remember ‘Where the “I won 20 times on the PGA Celebrity Classic. Tiger Woods says he can’t help comeback victory on Sunday The Masters has been months ago. hell’s Joey (LaCava)? I need feeling like the green jacket he with the five-time Masters rescheduled for November “Well, the funny part about Joey.’ And I finally found Joey claimed for winning the Mas- winner adding his own com- 12-15. the whole thing is -- I don’t re- and said, ‘We did it.’ Joey was ters last year doesn’t belong in mentary from his home in member screaming. I don’t re- there helping me go to soccer his locker anymore. Florida. Raring to defend title member putting my arms up, games when I couldn’t drive The 44-year-old Woods Woods said it felt odd not Woods says he was raring and I don’t remember yelling. a car. He came down here as doesn’t like the idea of hold- to be in full training for a ma- to go and would have been “That’s one of those kind a friend and helped try and ing onto the coveted sports jor and also to be keeping the healthy for this year’s event. of blackout moments. There’s nurse me back to health. He coat due to the world-wide winner’s jacket for another “Yes, I would have been certain celebrations through- was there in those low times.” coronavirus epidemic that led seven months. good to go,” Woods said. out my career that I’ve made What was extra special to the 2020 Masters tourna- “This is not the way I “Mind and body were coming putts or celebrated, I just don’t to Woods was embracing his ment being postponed until wanted to have the jacket for together. I was not my normal recall it. I guess I’m so locked mother at the final green. November. a longer period of time,” he self (earlier in the week), and into the moment,” he told CBS. “My mom’s there and she’s The pandemic “has been said. “Come Masters Tuesday, all of my normal pre-major “What I do remember is patting me on my back, and a shock to all of us. We know after our Champions Dinner, championship self. my eyes coming back down kept saying she’s so proud of (From left) In this file photo pro golfer Doug Sanders, Debbie Williams, it’s still going to continue to we put our jackets back up in “I’m used to having this and seeing people in front of me, my dad would be so proud and entertainer Peter Marshall attend a memorial service for entertainer get worse. It’s a very diffi- our lockers, and the next per- four times a year. I kind of get me. I do remember that. I re- if he were here. She said, ‘I Andy Williams on October 21, 2012 in Branson, Missouri. Doug Sanders, cult situation, a very difficult son who gets to take it off the in that mode. And it started member all the arms up. But love you,’ and I said, ‘I love who missed one of the most heartbreaking potential winning putts in time, a unique time in his- grounds is the champion that happening again.” as far as me celebrating, I you, too, Mom.’” British Open history, died on Sunday. (AFP) McIlroy hopes schedule change De Villiers doubtful about his T20 WC participation AGENCIES “I can’t see six months into of person who felt I should get Johannesburg the future... “If the tournament just what I wanted.” can earn him career grand slam is postponed to next year a De Villiers also stated that The cloud of uncertainty whole lot of things will change. he didn’t want to create false AFP months that is also scheduled to be a different Masters this over the participation of AB At the moment I feel available, hopes among his fans, his team London to include the PGA Champion- year but personally, maybe de Villiers in the World T20 but at the same time I don’t members and the board over his ship, US Open and . selfishly, that’s what I need to in Australia has darkened know how my body will see it return to the side. He refrained Rory McIlroy is hoping the “The Masters means so get the jacket.” amidst the coronavirus out- and if I will be healthy at that from committing to anything, rescheduling of the 2020 golf much. Obviously it’s the last The Northern Irishman is break. In an interview with time.” fearing harsh repercussions calendar can help him com- major for me to win but putting also hoping to get the chance Afrikaans-language Sunday He clarified that he was a from all quarters. plete a career grand slam at the that aside, it is such a special to represent Europe in the Ry- newspaper Rapport, de Vil- person who played only when “I’m terribly afraid to say Masters in November. place, so many great memories der Cup, which has so far re- liers opened up about his fu- he thought he could give 100 now yes, I’m available. And All four of golf’s majors already,” McIlroy said in an In- tained its original dates from ture with the national side, AB de Villiers per cent in the middle, and if then in six months, my whole have been affected by strict stagram Live with Nike Golf. September 25-27 at Whistling which might be determined the T20 WC was postponed to life has changed as a result of government restrictions to “I always feel there’s Straits in Wisconsin. over the next few months. South Africa head coach, de Vil- a later date, things would get the virus, or other uncertainties help prevent the spread of this bit of anticipation However, European cap- Not more than a month ago, liers’ return became more than tougher for him as he would around the world, and I have to coronavirus. going into Augusta, the tain Padraig Harrington be- the former South African cap- just a theory, with their camara- have to prove his fitness level all withdraw. Then a lot of people The Open Champion- first big event of the lieves the biennial event will tain was contemplating a return derie well known among crick- over again to Boucher. will be angry with me again. ship has been cancelled and year. There’s all this be postponed if fans cannot to the national side for the mega eting circles. “If I am 100 percent as And even if T20 WC is not post- the three American majors hype. attend due to social distancing ICC event after his franchise However, de Villiers recent- good as I want to be, then I will poned, I last played cricket in rescheduled for the “I don’t think it will measures. outing with Royal Challengers ly spoke about the uncertainty be available... But if I am not I January and may not be able to second half of the feel like that this “I think for us, that the Ry- Bangalore in the Indian Pre- prevailing across the world due won’t open myself up to that play for the next three months. year. year, it will feel der Cup is the biggest and most mier League. However, cricket to the outbreak of the deadly because I am not the type of “My situation could change Rather than different but it’s intense atmosphere you can has taken a backseat ever since virus, and this has also put his person who does things at 80 and I might get to a point its usual posi- something I’m play under,” McIlroy added. the outbreak of the coronavirus future in doubt. He revealed percent. Then I have to do trials where I have to tell ‘Bouch’ I tion as the first looking forward “You’re not just playing for pandemic. As a result, this has that he was available for a T20 and show Bouchie (Boucher) was interested, I would like to major of the to. yourself, you’re playing for your made the chances of de Villiers’ return to the national side at the I’m still good enough. They play a role but I’m not going year, The Mas- “It’s going team-mates, you’re playing for comeback murkier. moment, but wasn’t sure about should choose me because I’m to be able to play myself. I’m ters will round your country, you’re playing for Ever since the appointment the same if the situation contin- really better than the guy next afraid of such a commitment off a hectic four Rory McIlroy a lot of different people.” of Mark Boucher as the new ues to remain stagnant. to me. I’ve never been the type and creating false hope.” Sixers will be remembered for underachieving if season doesn’t resume

TCA/DPA One can make a strong ar- title in franchise history. Some games without them. One could ted that when Horford was Philadelphia gument that last season’s team of them drank the hype Kool- also argue that they would have demoted to the bench before was better. Aid and spoke of being an elite been one of this season’s elite the February 11 game against Underachievers. That team had only two team instead of putting in off- teams with them. the Los Angeles Clippers. He That’s how the Philadelphia more wins (41-24) through season work. But the Sixers sent Butler returned to the starting lineup 76ers will be remembered if 65 games. However, it had to the Miami Heat in a sign- three games later only be- this season doesn’t resume be- one of the league’s best clos- Inadequate adjustments and-trade and acquired Josh cause Simmons was sidelined cause of the coronavirus pan- ers in Jimmy Butler and one But it was obvious from the Richardson in return. Redick with a pinched nerve in his demic. They were expected to of the top three-point shoot- beginning that their best play- went to the New Orleans Peli- lower back. compete for one of the top spots ers in JJ Redick. ers didn’t make the changes cans as a free agent, and the On the bright side, Hor- in the Eastern Conference. Yet, In addition to roster con- needed to make up for the loss- Sixers signed Al Horford to a ford, as planned, has been able the Sixers (39-26) were in sixth struction, one could argue that es of Butler and Redick. four-year, $97 million guaran- to step in for Embiid, who has place, 14 games out of first, believing too much of their own The Sixers boasted that Joel teed deal. missed 21 games this season. when the season was suspend- hype also contributed to this Embiid had his best off-season The Horford move turned But that’s a bad justification, ed March 11. season’s struggles. in regard to conditioning. Once Joel Embiid (left) and Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers: Failing out to be a huge miscalcula- considering the Sixers are basi- Failure to live up to the pre- The Sixers were a four- again, however, he showed up to fire when needed the most. tion. The 33-year-old power cally paying 28 million dollars season hype has a lot to do with bounce basket away from tak- out of shape in the preseason. forward/backup centre is still this season to a backup centre. how the team is constructed. ing the eventual NBA champion Meanwhile, Ben Simmons shooting from the perimetre, took the ball out of Simmons’ a talented player, as is evident They could have used some of Al Horford is not a good fit Toronto Raptors to overtime in remained hesitant to shoot and Embiid’s conditioning is hands in the Raptors series. So whenever he plays center in that money to help upgrade alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Game 7 of last season’s confer- three-pointers despite video still a hot topic. the Sixers definitely had a de- place of Embiid. their bench. Simmons. ence semi-finals. footage that showed him work- In retrospect, the coaching cision to make. But he is just not a good Sure, they filled a need The Sixers also don’t have Because of that finish and ing on his perimetre game over staff’s reluctance to bring back The problem is, the team fit when he, Embiid, and Sim- in acquiring a solid perime- a closer and lacked consist- the addition of Horford, the the summer. Butler also set the team back. misses what Butler and Redick mons are on the floor together. tre defender in reserve guard ent outside shooting and a Sixers were regarded among So the Sixers don’t bring I get it. Butler’s personal- brought last season. One could Matisse Thybulle via the draft. dependable bench for much the favourites to not only reach back Redick and Butler. Sim- ity isn’t for everyone. As the argue the Sixers wouldn’t have Horford demoted The problem is, they don’t of the season. the Finals but win the fourth mons still shies away from primary ballhandler, he also taken the Raptors to seven The team basically admit- play him enough.