SPORTS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2013

Four weeks that could shape Europe’s team

SHANGHAI: Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano grew up said at the BMW Masters. “The one thing that has That’s what the FedEx Cup has going for it in America. is playing for big money. That’s a good thing. These four watching the famed “Spanish Armada” team of Seve worked in our favor is that we have a level playing pitch Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but the start of the tournaments have about as much prize money as the Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, so the Ryder Cup in terms of points are here, and then they spike for the FedEx Cup in 2007 coincides with a resurgence in next 15 regular European Tour events. And if someone means everything to him. He still recalls the encour- majors. That was it. The worry would be if somebody American performance at the Ryder Cup. They won in were to get hot in November and secure a spot on a agement from Olazabal a year ago. plays great for four weeks. You can basically make the 2008. Only the heroics of Graeme McDowell and the Ryder Cup that is played in September? “Your time will come, and it will come when you’re team these four weeks. Is that a good thing? Probably unconscious play of Ian Poulter kept the Americans “That happens every year,” said Lawrie, who made ready,” Olazabal said to his fellow Spaniard. There is no not.” McGinley speaks from experience. He effectively from winning the last three. his first Ryder Cup team by winning the British Open in better time to be winning than now. secured a spot on the 2006 team by Christmas, and he The next stop for Europe is the HSBC Champions 1999. “We want big tournaments. We want big prize The European Tour just began its richest month of found it difficult to keep his form over the next nine and its $8.5 million purse, followed by the Turkish Open money. And that’s what we’ve got.” golf, four tournaments called “The Final Series” that months. Thankfully, it didn’t matter. Europe had one of ($7 million) and the World Tour Championship in Dubai When the Ryder Cup was postponed one year to conclude the Race to Dubai. Every purse is at least $7 its strongest teams for a home game in Ireland, and the ($8 million). In some cases, even more Ryder Cup points 2002 because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, half of million and combined prize money is $30.5 million. Americans had a team that included Brett Wetterich are available than it seems. “No doubt, whoever wins is both teams were not in the same form as when they Throw out the majors and World Golf Championships, and . McGinley recalls playing his way putting themselves in tremendous shape to make the qualified. McGinley made the team easily that year, and and they are the richest events of the year. That onto the team in the months leading up to the 2004 team,” Padraig Harrington said. “Paul better hope it’s he was concerned about how he would perform at The explains why Fernandez-Castano shot up to the top of Ryder Cup, and he went unbeaten in three matches at one of his stalwart players. You’d be surprised what one Belfry. It worked out well for him in the end, of course. the European points list for the Ryder Cup, leading by Oakland Hills. event can mean. Somebody like me, if I had come in McGinley became a part of Ryder Cup lore with an 8- nearly 300,000 euros. Henrik Stenson had such an incredible run in and won this week, it puts me in all the world events. foot par putt to win his match and clinch the cup for And it’s why European captain Paul McGinley is pay- America in September - two FedEx Cup playoff wins - Now I’m able to gather money for playing average Europe. ing very close attention. With so much money at stake that he leads the world ranking points list by nearly because I’m in those events. It’s really difficult to make “I’m not being critical,” McGinley said. “But it’s going this time of year - good news for the European Tour, the 100. “I’m not saying it’s black or it’s white, or it’s a bad the Ryder Cup team if you’re not in the top 50 because to be interesting to see how this evolves. This year we hotbed of golf at the moment - if a player were to get thing,” McGinley said. “If this Final Series were in August, you gather points more easily.” have a massive amount of points at the beginning of on a roll this month, he could earn enough money to it would be ideal. But it’s not. It will be interesting to see Fernandez-Castano went from No. 60 to No. 32. That qualifying. Having said that, two years ago because the all but secure a spot on the Ryder Cup team. Trouble is, where it goes. If a guy plays great for four weeks, who’s put him in two World Golf Championships over the FedEx had so many points, our guys based in America the matches are still 10 months away. to say he can’t carry it on? But if you were doing it to next four months, and all but secured a spot in the had a great opportunity to earn ranking points. “And “We have to wait to see how it evolves,” McGinley benefit the Ryder Cup, you’d have the series in August.” Masters. Paul Lawrie doesn’t see it as a problem. Europe that,” he added, “worked out OK.” — AP Moore wins CIMB Classic

MALAYSIA: American Ryan Moore sank a with my third shot, and it was just an birdie putt after a “perfect” approach shot absolute perfect number. It was 158 yards, a on the first hole of a sudden death playoff little bit back up the hill, so for me that was to win the $7 million CIMB Classic in just a perfect slightly choked down full Malaysia on Monday for his third career win eight iron.” on the US PGA Tour. Woodland would have won his third The 30-year-old finished tied with com- PGA title if he had not missed a birdie putt patriot Gary Woodland on 14-under-par on by centimetres on the final hole of his Sunday but had to wait overnight for the fourth round on Sunday. playoff after thunder storms delayed the “It was tough. It was a long hole, and final round for more than three hours. Ryan hit a great shot in there and obviously Moore said the adrenaline rush he got from made a good birdie,” the 29-year-old said. earning his place in the playoff by saving “But I thought I hit a pretty good shot on par at the final hole in near darkness on the third, just obviously coming out of the Sunday had carried him through the rough, I would have liked to have been in shootout. the fairway, came out of the rough and While Woodland found the rough with came up a little short.” Moore’s two previous his second shot on the par-five 18th, PGA tour wins came at the Wyndham Moore’s approach shot took him to within Championship in 2009, which he also won three feet of the hole and he nervelessly in a playoff, and at the 2012 Shriners sank the putt to earn a cheque for $1.26 Hospitals for Children Open in his home million. “Playing a playoff with someone like town of Las Vegas. The CIMB Classic, which Gary, I know I don’t want it to last very long,” is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, was KUALA LUMPUR: Ryan Moore of the US poses with the winner’s trophy after defeat- said the world number 45. added to the official PGA Tour schedule for ing compatriot Gary Woodland in a play-off during the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic golf “I had a great opportunity there on 18 the first time this year. — Reuters tournament. —AFP

LONGKOU: This handout photo taken by the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) shows Lee Chang- woo of South Korea posing with the winner’s trophy Ashour aims to after the final round. — AFP Lee earns defend world title MANCHESTER: Ramy Ashour is seeking to been remarkable. Ashour has extended an transcend negative energy from a troubled unbeaten run to 45 matches, inducing Egypt by delivering a world title defence comparisons with the legendary Khans of Masters which will highlight him as the most daz- Pakistan who dominated squash in the 80s zling new squash star in two decades. The and 90s. champion from Cairo is returning to the Asked again about the mood of fellow invitation scene of his career’s first major triumph Egyptians, the 26-year-old resisted becom- next week to purvey sensational skills ing sucked into a mire of emotions which LONGKOU CITY: Lee Chang-woo of South Korea won which have shone more brightly as his in the past have helped motivate him to the Asia-Pacific Amateur by three shots Sunday to earn country’s crisis has deepened. join protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. a trip to the Masters in April. Five years ago an unpredictable young “I get good appreciation everywhere I Lee was worried that he would think more about Ashour won the world title for the first time go and feel so happy when I see amazingly going to Augusta National than his golf at Nanshan in Manchester; on Monday, as an emerging enthusiastic squash communities all International. That was never a problem. He stretched superstar, he will begin his bid to retain it in around the world,” he responded, using his the same city having triumphed again in cosmopolitan identity to escape questions his lead to as many as six shots on the back nine. Even Doha in 2012. about the national agony. with a bogey on the last hole, he finished with a 1- The Egyptian will be aided by the “This season I went to some beautiful under 70 to win by three over Shohei Hasegawa of momentum of an unbeaten 17-month run. countries which I loved-Colombia, Japan. It is as if an emotional wave from the Argentina, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. The winner of the Asia-Pacific gets an invitation to national predicament were bearing him And then San Francisco is an amazing the Masters and is exempt until the final qualifying HAIKOU: Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy (left) and US golfer look on onwards to greater achievements. place-and I won there.” stage for the British Open. Hasegawa also gets into final during their one-on-one golf matchup at Mission Hills in Haikou. McIlroy won by one “I train hard despite any obstacles I Which led him logically to Manchester. qualifying for the British Open. stroke with a 6-under 67. — AFP might face as an athlete or by living here in “This is also a very special place as it’s Defending champion Guan Tianlang shot 73 and fin- Egypt,” was how Ashour carefully described where I won my first world title, and this is ished eight shots behind. Lee tied for second along with his preparation back in Cairo for the sport’s a good omen for me,” Ashour concluded. Rory McIlroy last week in the Korea Open, and he kept McIlroy defeats Woods biggest event. He is now the strongest favorite since his form all week in tough conditions at Nanshan. He Decoded, it means he has to keep those Jansher Khan won the last of his eight finished at 3-under 281, the only player to break par. in 18-hole exhibition obstacles out of his mind if he is to remain world titles in 1996. Five men may think Hasegawa birdied two of the last three holes for a 71. mentally strong enough to succeed. These they have chances of upsetting him. One is became all too painfully evident while the Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, three “Playing in the Masters has been my dream since I HAIKOU: Rory McIlroy won for the first They both made birdie on the 13th, and started playing golf,” said Lee, who won the Dongbu Ashour was becoming the first Egyptian in times a runner-up, the US Open winner in time this year - even if it was an 18-hole McIlroy caught him with a 6-foot birdie nearly half a century to win the British Ashour’s absence, and seeded second. Promi Open on the Korean tour last month. “I didn’t exhibition against Tiger Woods. McIlroy on the 14th. think I would have an opportunity, so this is a great Open earlier in the year. Another is James Willstrop, the runner- made four birdies and an eagle over the They birdied the 16th to reach 5- “There was a lot of negative energy up three years ago, who is seeded third, honor, as is playing in International Final Qualifying for last seven holes at Mission Hills for a 6- under, and the match turned on the next the (British) Open Championship. I have never been so around me,” he volunteered then. “I experi- and a perennial rival of his fellow under 67, giving him a one-shot win over hole. Woods came up short on his enced waking up each day with such a Yorkshireman, Nick Matthew, twice the excited.” Woods. It was the second straight year approach to the 17th, and after nearly heavy heart and heavy spirit. I had a lot of world champion, and the last man to beat Lee made bogey on the second hole to briefly fall McIlroy has defeated Woods at the medal flying his pitch into the cup, he missed a hard times.” Ashour. At the age of 33 Matthew is seeded into a tie for the lead with 16-year-old Dou Zecheng of match in China. 5-foot par putt. Woods had a 20-foot Now, in an interview with The Squash fourth. The other two are both Egyptians- China. Dou bogeyed the next two holes, however, and “I would like to play all my tourna- eagle putt on the 18th for the tie. He Player, Ashour this week alleges that his the sixth seeded Mohamed El Shorbagy, Lee began to pull away. He went 10 straight holes with- ments in China where I can beat Tiger,” missed, and McIlroy knocked in his 3-foot recent successes have all been victories aged only 22, who came within three out a bogey as his lead expanded, closing with a double McIlroy said. Even an unofficial win has birdie. Woods could hardly raise his voice over “corrupted negative souls who were points of beating Ashour in last year’s final, bogey that only affected the final margin. “I have been to count for something. McIlroy beat him after the round. trying to bring me down”, and adds that he and the eighth-seeded Amr Shabana, the looking at the leaderboard since the third round and I last year at Jinsha Lake under far differ- “I don’t sound all that well now, but it will continue doing his best “to keep my 34-year-old squash legend who beat was a bit nervous,” Lee said. “I just tried to keep calm ent circumstances. McIlroy was a major was nice that it was warm out there parents, my country, and people who truly Ashour in the 2009 final to capture the last and it seemed to work. I knew I was going to win after champion, No. 1 in the world and on his today,” Woods said. “That certainly support me proud.” That best has certainly of his four world titles. — AFP the tee shot on the 17th hole. Everything worked well way to sweeping all the important helped because I think my fever broke during the last two rounds. awards. He signed a lucrative deal with and I can start feeling a bit better. But I “I can’t believe I am going to go to the Masters,” he Nike a short time later, and this season tell you what, when you have kids, they said. “I think I will only realize it tomorrow.” Hasegawa has been a struggle. McIlroy has had only bring home some strong bugs, and this made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the one reasonable chance to win a tourna- one has definitely been kicking my butt silver medal as the runner-up, which got him into the ment, and he didn’t even qualify for the for the last couple of days.” final stage of British Open qualifying. Tour Championship on the PGA Tour. McIlroy was headed back to Shanghai “My putting let me down over the weekend, and I He is using a new driver and a softer for the HSBC Champions. Woods is skip- hope to return next year to get the trophy,” Hasegawa golf ball, even prompting Woods to say ping the World Golf Championship, and said. “But I’m very glad to have a chance to qualify for to him after one chip, “How did you do will play next week in the Turkish Open. the (British) Open. I think this is a great chance for my that?” “I’ve seen a lot of promising signs over golfing career.” The banter was free and easy, mostly the past few weeks in practice and also in Since the Asia-Pacific Amateur began in 2009, all but about equipment. Woods was trying to competitive play,” McIlroy said. “I still one winner has made the cut at the Masters - Hideki recover from a virus he picked up from have four tournaments left until the end Matsuyama twice and Guan last year. Guan was 14 in his daughter, and spent most of the of the season and I would love to finish April, making him the youngest player to make the cut afternoon asking his caddie for cough 2013 strongly and get a little bit of in any major held over 72 holes. drops. momentum going into next season. But I Starting the final round five shots back, Guan failed The golf was spectacular over the final think as I showed out there, I’m hitting to make a birdie Sunday. Oliver Goss, already in the hour on the Blackstone Course, however. the ball well. Masters as the runner-up at the US Amateur, was mak- Woods had a one-shot lead and hit a “If I can just get the putter going a lit- ing a move with a 34 on the front nine until taking a marvelous approach to 10 feet on the tle bit more, then in these last four tour- triple bogey on the 10th hole and a bogey on the 11th. par-5 12th. McIlroy followed with a long naments I can hope to contend and Ramy Ashour His 72 left him seven shots behind. — AP iron into 5 feet, and both made eagle. maybe pick up a win or two.” — AP