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42 Friday Sports Friday, May 17, 2019 Tiger double bogeys, Koepka birdies to start PGA drama BETHPAGE: Tiger Woods began his quest for a A victory would match Woods with Sam 16th major title yesterday with an ill-starred Snead for the all-time US PGA win record at 82 double bogey at formidable Bethpage Black in and move him two shy of the all-time major win the 101st PGA Championship. Sixth-ranked record of 18 set by Jack Nicklaus-as well as put Woods, coming off a Masters victory that Woods halfway to a calendar Grand Slam for the snapped an 11-year major win drought, stumbled first time since 2002. badly in an early back-nine start by the feature The 43-year-old American superstar’s elec- trio of reigning major champions. trifying triumph last month at Augusta National Defending champion and playing partner has made him the focus of attention on the same Brooks Koepka opened with a 40-foot chip-in layout where he won the 2002 US Open. birdie while British Open champion Francesco Koepka held off Woods to win last year’s Molinari salvaged bogey after losing his tee shot PGA at Bellerive before Woods turned the tables left into the tall Long Island weeds. at the Masters, completing an amazing come- The trio began at the par-4 10th in cool and back after 2017 spinal fusion surgery that ended sunny conditions at the first PGA Championship years of back woes. played in May since 1949, the event moving from “It was great to see him win,” Koepka said. August this year in a revamp of the global golf “I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like I let it schedule. From one of Bethpage’s toughest tees, slip a little bit. But at the same time, that’s what Woods missed the fairway and found the rough, our sport needed. We needed him to win a hit a layup then went over the green and chipped major.” Finding the fairways will be crucial over to six feet. But he lipped the right edge on his the 7,549-yard, par-70 layout as sloping greens FARMINGDALE: Tiger Woods of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during the first round of bogey putt to make double bogey. harden after earlier rain that made dense rough the 2019 PGA Championship at the Bethpage Black course yesterday in Farmingdale, New York. — AFP Molinari found the fairway with his second tougher. “In order to win this one, driving is tee shot, reached the green and two-putted for going to be at the forefront,” Woods said. nine holes early Monday. “There’s definitely world number two Justin Rose of England to fin- bogey. Koepka found the fairway but went over “You’ve got to hit it not only straight but you’ve going to be a component to stamina as the week ish second alone. England’s Rose, third-ranked the green on his approach only to sink a mag- got to hit it far.” goes on,” Woods said. “Four days over a tough Koepka and fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy could nificent chip-in birdie and share the early lead. Woods has not played competitively since championship that is mentally and physically all overtake Johnson with a victory, with McIlroy With a victory, Koepka would become the first the Masters, making this only the sixth time in taxing takes its toll.” and Johnson set for afternoon starts and Rose player to own back-to-back titles at two majors his career he has played back-to-back majors. Woods could become world number one for opening with a bogey at the 10th. Woods could at the same time. “I like my chances this week,” He skipped a planned nine-hole practice round the first time since March 2013 by winning. He become the first golfer since Nicklaus in 1975 to he said. “I’m playing good. If I do what I’m sup- Wednesday for rest, having done a five-hour in- would need top-ranked Dustin Johnson to finish win the Masters and PGA Championship in the posed to do, then I think I’d be tough to beat.” depth tour of the course last week and played worse than solo 11th and neither Koepka nor same year. — AFP in 2016 and Robertson was a relative un- not pessimistic ahead of a four-match Highland exodus, known in his first season as coach. He some- Australasia tour despite a 32-point hiding how managed to convince the from defending champions the Crusaders All Black Cane Robertson mind Crusaders-perennial contenders with at that in Pretoria last weekend. “I hope my play- point seven titles in the trophy cabinet-that ers have learnt a lot from the heavy loss back from broken outsiders were writing them off. “We had lost and that there will be much better per- games: Five Rugby two finals. Everyone said we were too old, formances during the tour,” he said. “My and we were done. The dynasty was fin- wish is that staying together for a month neck for Chiefs ished,” he told rugby website the1014.com. It will build belief among the players, who talking points WELLINGTON: All Black flanker Sam Cane will worked and the Crusaders stormed to the are much better than the 32-point loss title and followed up with another in 2018, complete a remarkable comeback from a broken against the Crusaders suggests.” Tradi- neck when he plays for Waikato Chiefs tomorrow, WELLINGTON: Brief stories from Super catapulting Robertson into contention to be- tionally poor travellers, the Bulls, who lie come All Blacks coach when Steve Hansen giving All Black selectors a timely World Cup boost. Rugby ahead of this week’s matches: sixth in the combined table, face the Mel- Eight months after Cane was stretchered off during retires. Robertson did not reveal how he is bourne Rebels this Friday, then the ACT motivating his charges as they seek a third- an All Blacks-South Africa Test in Pretoria last Octo- OTAGO EYE BACKS FOR THE FUTURE Brumbies, Auckland Blues and Otago ber, the Chiefs named the 27-year-old on the bench straight crown this year but he will surely Highlanders. Otago Highlanders face a major backline struggle to claim the underdog status. for this weekend’s match against Auckland Blues. rebuild next season with news that the ver- While not starting the match, the Chiefs indicated DISTINCTION FOR SONNY BILL satile Matt Faddes will join Ulster in 2020. EPIC COMEBACKS INSPIRE STORMERS Cane will be given game-time during the North Island Sporting achievements across numerous The Highlanders have already lost fullback Struggling Western Stormers have been derby. “Cane will take the field for the first time this codes have almost become the norm for Super Rugby season,” the club said in a statement. Ben Smith to Pau and winger Waisake Naholo urged to match the epic Champions League Sonny Bill Williams, but the Auckland Blues Cane fractured a vertebra in a collision with South to London Irish. While Faddes lacks the pro- semi-final comebacks of Liverpool and Tot- centre was positively glowing with pride African Francois Louw during the All Blacks’ 32-30 file of All Blacks Smith and Naholo, the 27- tenham Hotspur as they enter a key phase of after also proving his academic prowess by win over the Springboks last October. He escaped year-old has performed strongly for the the regular season. “We have seen inspira- earning a degree in sports management. nerve damage which could have paralysed him but Highlanders, scoring 19 tries in 43 games tional Champions League stories with Liver- The 33-year-old posted a beaming picture faced the prospect of the bone not healing properly, since 2016. “It’s exciting to consider the next pool and Tottenham producing remarkable of himself surrounded by family as he grad- a problem which has ended the careers of some play- chapter of my rugby career,” Faddes said of recoveries,” said Stormers chief executive his imminent move, which will leave High- uated with distinction to become a bache- ers who suffered similar injuries. Paul Zacks. “There is no reason, given the Cane’s return will give the All Blacks more options landers coach Aaron Mauger further ponder- lor of applied management (sport quality we have in our playing and coaching at flanker for the World Cup in Japan, with his defen- ing his depleted backline options in 2020. groups, why the Stormers cannot emulate management) from Otago Polytechnic. “Yes a Pacific Islander, boxer, league, sevens & sive mettle complementing rival openside Ardie those performances.” Bottom of the South Savea’s attacking prowess. The 60-Test All Black ad- rugby player can GRADUATE! Don’t ever CRUSADERS SECRET REVEALED African pool and 10th overall, the Cape Town mitted earlier this month that the injury was “scary” Canterbury Crusaders coach Scott outfit play four of their remaining five league let anyone pigeon hole you. Alhamdulillah,” and he was well aware its impact could have been Robertson has given an insight into how a games at home, starting with the Canterbury he tweeted. The new qualification increases much more serious. But he denied fears about rein- powerful an “us-v-them” mentality can be, Crusaders tomorrow. the post-playing options for Williams, cur- juring his neck could inhibit his game, saying his med- revealing it drove his team to the 2017 Super rently sidelined with a knee injury, who is ical team had cleared him to rejoin the fray with total Rugby title.