SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Villegas leads by three; struggling Spieth cards 79

PACIFIC PALISADES: Colombia’s explained the 22-year-old, who missed Camilo Villegas rebounded from missed putts from eight and then four feet to cuts in his last four PGA Tour starts to run up his double bogey at the par-four seize a three-shot lead at the Northern 18th. “I’ve never played the course Trust Open on Thursday, while world soft.” number one Jordan Spieth made a ter- While Spieth sunk like a stone to rible start. Villegas soared to the top of near the bottom of the leaderboard, the leaderboard with an eight-under- Villegas seized control with a storming par 63 at Riviera Country Club as Spieth back nine highlighted by four consecu- spluttered to a 79 that included eight tive birdies before he ran up his only bogeys and a double on his final hole. bogey of the day on his final hole. “I’ve shot in the 80s a couple times on “Things were going good there,” said Tour,” Spieth told reporters after card- Villegas, a four-times winner on the ing his worst opening round on the PGA Tour whose most recent victory PGA Tour. “In the course of a career, I came at the 2014 Wyndham imagine it’s going to happen. Just Championship. “Obviously the rain yes- unfortunate when it actually does. terday made the golf course a lot more “I just played really poorly from accessible. good positions off the tee and didn’t “It was pretty stress-free today. I hit strike the iron shots bad either,” added the ball good, I kept it in play. I didn’t Spieth, who tied for fourth last year. “I put myself in tough positions on a golf CALIFORNIA: Camilo Villegas of Colombia tees off on the ninth hole during just overdrew it when you can’t be left course where you can put yourself in round one of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific and I overcut it when you can’t be right. tough positions, and here we are, nice Palisades, California. — AFP Just bad timing.” The Masters and US little 63 to get started.” Open winner said he had struggled The Colombian’s nine-birdie round six other players after opening with a 67. golf course, I did pretty well today.” Play adapting to a Riviera layout that had left him three strokes clear of 2014 “I felt for the most part I played well,” was suspended for the day in fading run firm and fast earlier in the week champion Bubba Watson, Chez Reavie said McIlroy, a four-times major champi- light with 14 players still out on the before being softened by overnight and Luke List. World number three Rory on. “I felt like my pace on the greens was course, South African Tyrone Van rain. “I found it very difficult to trust the McIlroy, making his first PGA Tour start of good ... and I lag-putted well. All of the Aswegen the best placed at four under way the golf course is playing,” the year, was a further stroke back with things that you need to do around this with two holes to complete. — Reuters

Ageless Matthew Holman remains in joins Clyburn in joint lead in front in Malaysia Australian Open

KUALA LUMPUR: Unheralded Nathan ADELAIDE: Veteran Scot Catriona Matthew rolled Holman of Australia used flawless putting back the years to join England’s Holly Clyburn in down the stretch to widen his lead to two the halfway lead of the LPGA-sanctioned strokes at the midway point of the Australian Open at The Grange in Adelaide yester- Maybank Championship Malaysia yester- day. The 46-year-old Matthew, who won the event day. The strapping 24-year-old, who is 20 years ago, peeled off a three-under 69 to join ranked 176th in the world, manhandled Clyburn at eight-under 136 after 36 holes.Jack the tree-lined fairways of the par-71 Royal Nicklaus, who won the Augusta Masters in 1986 at Selangor Golf Club for a second straight the same age, gave his support for Matthew in her day. His six-under-par 65 followed an quest for a second Australian Open title. “Hang in opening 64 and took him to 13-under for there and don’t give up, finish strong! Everyone the tournament. wrote me off at 46!” Nicklaus tweeted. Earlier in the day, England’s world Matthew wasn’t daunted by her age some 20 number 13 had caught years after she won the title at Melbourne’s Yarra Holman on the leaderboard at eight- Yarra in 1996. “I think that’s the beauty of golf, you under. But Holman, who teed off later, can play, it doesn’t matter what your age is as long fired on all cylinders again to pull away. as you can hit the golf ball and still get it in the Besides driving the ball an average of 300 hole,” she said. “Age isn’t a barrier.” Matthew hit 16 yards, his putting was superb, particularly greens with the highlight an eagle three at the down the stretch. He holed three straight first. “I’m delighted. When I played my practice one-putt birdies from 15 through 17 to round on Tuesday I thought it was a tricky course,” put some daylight between himself and she said. “Some of the fairways are quite generous the pack. Holman is now two strokes KUALA LUMPUR: Nathan Holman of Australia watches his shot during day two of but you’ve really got to try and hit the greens, and ahead of England’s Richard Bland and five the Maybank Championship golf tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yester- that’s what I’ve done the first few days.” Clyburn, shots clear of a group of four golfers led day. — AP 25, began her day with an eagle at the par-five first by Willett. “When I saw I was three shots hole, turned in 30 and ended her round with a clear after the turn there were a few the hot favorite after winning the Dubai He finished yesterday with a two- birdie at the 18th for a 65, the day’s low round. nerves but I handled myself well and Desert Classic two weeks earlier. That win under 69. Also in the hunt are three-time China’s Xi Yu Lin, Germany’s Caroline Masson, managed to pick up a couple of birdies was the latest step forward in a run of former Order of Merit winner South Korean Jenny Shin and Japan’s Haru coming in,” Holman said. Holman is seek- improving play that has Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, who was Nomura are next best at seven under. Australia’s ing his second career win after lifting the catapulted him up golf’s world rank- six shots behind Holman, and former five-time winner Karrie Webb is at six under, two Australian PGA trophy in December. Prior ings. Starting yesterday just a stroke British Open champion Louis shots from the lead, while New Zealand’s world to that victory, he had never cracked the behind Holman, he played well again but Oosthuizen, who was a further two shots No.1 Lydia Ko is four shots back after a second- top ten in any event in four years as a pro, was unable to match his opening 65 due back. Those failing to make the cut for round 70. Ko, the defending champion, said the according to the European Tour. “After to some late miscues. Willett confessed to the weekend included two-time Major breezy conditions made it tough to decide winning at home my next aim was to win fatigue after a whirlwind couple of weeks winner and former world number one whether to attack or play safe. First-round leader a tournament overseas. So it’s great to including the Dubai win, a celebratory Martin Kaymer of Germany. The $3 mil- Kim Soo-Bin fell away, adding a 77 to her opening have the chance to tick that one off the week off at home in England, and the lion tournament, co-sanctioned by the course record 63, leaving her tied 11th at four list so soon,” he said. long trip out to Malaysia and its hot, European and Asian Tours, is the succes- under. Among the prominent players to miss the humid environment. “My energy levels sor to the longtime , two-over-par 36-hole cut were American Willett wilts collapsed on the back nine and I started which has been discontinued due to a Cheyenne Woods and Briton Laura Davies. — AFP Willett entered the new tournament making a few silly mistakes,” he said. sponsorship shift. — AFP