TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 SPORTS

Suarez pops by for Lack of Italian players Real take Hernandez farewell in Serie A worries Conte on loan from United FLORENCE: New Italy coach Antonio Conte yesterday bemoaned the lack MADRID: Real Madrid have moved to broaden their options in attack by agreeing LONDON: Barcelona striker Luis Suarez said goodbye to his former Liverpool team- of Italian players turning out for Serie A clubs. “I’ve read that I’m being criti- to sign Mexico striker Javier Hernandez on loan from Manchester United for the mates during a visit to the club’s Melwood training base yesterday, captain Steven cised for not selecting any first team (Serie A) striker except (Simone) Zaza 2014-15 season. “Real Madrid and Manchester United have reached an agreement Gerrard revealed. Gerrard published a photograph on his (Sassuolo) but when I go to all the Serie A sides all the attackers are foreign- for the loan of the player Javier Hernandez, who will be tied to Instagram account of Suarez handing him a signed ‘SUAREZ ers,” he said. Conte was speaking at a press conference after a training ses- the club for the current season,” Real said in a statement on 9’ Barcelona shirt, accompanied by the message: “He is sion in Florence ahead of Thursday’s friendly against the Netherlands. “It’s their website (www.realmadrid.com) yesterday. Real have back bearing gifts. “Emotional saying goodbye to the main not an easy situation,” he added. “It doesn’t make things easier for me, we an option to buy the 26-year-old, who is valued at 14 mil- man this morning. Best wishes to a phenomenal player.” need more players.” With Italy, knocked out in the first round at the World lion euros (18.4 million US dollar) on website transfer- Suarez later posted a picture on Twitter showing him Cup, opening their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against Norway on markt.com, and he would be presented to the media at alongside Gerrard and Liverpool full-backs September 9, Conte was out and about at the weekend to assess squad the Bernabeu stadium later on Monday, the European and Jon Flanagan. He wrote: “Today I could say goodbye members. He watched Roma’s 2-0 win over Fiorentina, telling reporters “if champions added. United also confirmed the move on to some friends, it was exciting to remember the good there are only one or two Italians on a team, that’s really alarming”. For their Twitter account. Known as “Chicharito”, or “little pea”, Saturday’s opening day of the new Serie A season Roma started with three Hernandez will provide backup for Real’s first-choice striker moments that we lived together. Thank you for all the joy Italian players - retired international Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi and Karim Benzema, a France international, and will be expected you gave me!!!!! Great picture with @glen_johnson, Davide Astori. Fiorentina took to the pitch with not one domestic player in to make an impact from the bench. @jon_flan93 and !!!!” Suarez had their side. Conte wants Italian clubs to give “more places to Italian players”. He is surplus to requirements at United as the returned to Liverpool’s training ground to col- “They have to roll up their sleeves, and not just talk ... even in the youth sides English club have agreed to take lect some personal belongings following his there are too many foreigners”. Despite his comments he says he remains Colombia striker Radamel Falcao on loan move to Barcelona for a reported fee of £75 optimistic the situation will improve - “it must improve as if we continue like from Monaco, according to a source close million ($125 million, 95 million euros). —AFP this things could get really bad”. — AFP to the deal. —Reuters Sheikh Faisal Al-Duaij tourney begins on Sept 6

KUWAIT: Kuwait Shooting Club ment is a regular on the annual schedule of announced that the tournament of Late KSSC in appreciation of a personality that Sheikh Faisal Al-Duaij Al-Sabah will be held gave a lot to Kuwait shooting, and was on September 6 at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad among the first national team representing Olympic Shooting Complex. Kuwait in Saudi Arabia. Al-Osaimi said that late Sheikh Faisal Al- Duaij helped promote the sport to Kuwaiti youth through the establishment of the first Olympic clay target shooting range in Kuwait. Sheikh Faisal participated in the establishment of the first shooting commit- tee along with Martyr Sheikh Fahad Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber. Al-Osaimi said the tournament include the Olympic Skeet, Trap, 10 meter air pistol and rifle, adding that this will enable those shooters who wish to continue to train with the club’s regular shooters and partici- pate in the tournaments scheduled for this season. Al-Osaimi thanked officials of Sheikh Saad Shooting Academy for their great efforts in teaching its members the Obeid Al-Osaimi techniques of Olympic shooting along with the rules of safety and security. This tournament is the second on the Al-Osaimi said Sheikh Saad Olympic schedule of Sheikh Saad Al-Abdallah Shooting Academy receives applications all Shooting Academy for the 2014 season. year and urged the youth to benefit from Kuwait Shooting Sport Club Secretary the courses that are presented by highly General Obeid Al-Osaimi said the tourna- qualified teachers.

Wildcard challenge for PORTLAND: Austin Ernst poses with the trophy after defeating I.K. Kim in a one hole playoff to win the LPGA Portland Classic atthe Columbia McGinley and Watson Edgewater Country Club on Sunday in Portland, Oregon. — AFP PARIS: Ryder Cup captains Paul McGinley Europe at the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry, and Tom Watson take centre stage today is having at his disposal a clutch of experi- when they both name their three wildcard enced former winners whilst at the same Ernst wins LPGA’s picks to complete their lineups for time infusing some new blood into the Gleneagles. team. McGinley in particular is facing a tough Already there are two rookies in the choice with two former world number ones, European team in the shape of Frenchman Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, along with Victor Dubuisson and Welshman Jamie Portland Classic the Ryder Cup hero of two years ago Ian Donaldson and the question is can Poulter all failing to make it into the nine McGinley afford to select a third new face. automatic qualifying slots. McDowell, who clinched the Ryder Cup PORTLAND: Austin Ernst won the LPGA Tour’s stretch, missing the green at Nos. 17 and 18, result- ment outright or earn a spot in the playoff, but her Normally they would all be clearcut picks win for Europe at Celtic Manor in 2010, sees Portland Classic on Sunday with a par on the first ing in bogeys. tee shot landed in a bunker. It got worse when Ryu for the Irishman, but complicating the situa- no problem with Gallacher joining him in hole of a playoff against South Korea’s I.K. Kim. It That opened the door for Kim and Ryu, but only hit her approach into the water. tion is the good form of Scotland’s Stephen the team for the September 26-28 show- was the first professional victory for the 22-year-old Kim capitalized. At the par-4 18th, Kim missed the The three third-round leaders faded. South Gallacher, who narrowly missed out on sup- down with the Americans. “Given the way Ernst, who shot a 5-under 67 in the final round to green long with her second shot, but chipped to Korea’s Mi Jung Hur shot 73 to finish at 10 under, planting Graeme McDowell in the ninth and he’s played throughout this year, and get to 14 under at Columbia Edgewater. Kim, the three feet and made the par putt to force a playoff. while defending champion Suzann Pettersen of final qualifying spot by finishing third on because of the type of player that he is, he first- and second-round leader, carded a 68. Kim Ryu, at 14 under heading into 18, made double Norway and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda were at 9 Sunday at the Italian Open. would have thoroughly deserved it, espe- missed an eight-foot par putt in the playoff that bogey after hitting her second shot from a fairway under after 74s. As it stands there are no home players in cially with him being a Scot and the Ryder handed the win to the American. A year ago as a bunker into a greenside pond. France’s Karine Icher shot the day’s low round of the European team as the competition Cup being at Gleneagles,” he wrote in a col- rookie in Portland, Ernst shot a third-round 62 on Ernst finished about 20 minutes before Kim and 66 to join a group at 11 under that included returns to Scotland for the first time since umn for the BBC. the way to a ninth-place finish. In Ernst’s mind, Ryu. First thing Ernst did, after signing her card, Denmark’s Line Vedel and South Korea’s Na Yeon Muirfield in 1973. McGinley, who played and “To me Stephen is somebody who Columbia Edgewater was a likely place for her first was call her father Mark. “Those are probably two Choi and Eun Hee Ji. Choi shot a 68, while Vedel missed the cut in Turin, was on hand to see would bring a lot to a Ryder Cup team. He’s career win. of the hardest holes on the course. When I talked and Ji each had a 70.Anna Nordqvist of Sweden how hard Gallacher battled to make the a big hitter, he’s upbeat and a positive per- “A lot of good memories coming into this year. I to my dad, he said if you made those bogeys any- was at 8 under after carding a 69. Juli Inkster, the team and he was full of praise for the 39- sonality. As far as rookies go, he wouldn’t be was very confident coming in, knowing I could where else in the round, no one would say any- 1999 champion, shot 72 to finish 6 under. year-old who lives just 35 miles from a problem.” make a lot of birdies,” Ernst said. “I knew that I didn’t thing different. So, really solid round,” Ernst said. Gigi Stoll, a senior at Beaverton High School Gleneagles and knows the course better Watson, an eight-time major winner have to do anything special today because I had In the playoff, Ernst rolled a 35-foot putt to with- who won the Portland Classic Amateur Open to than anyone else among the Ryder Cup brought back in as skipper to revive US for- three really good rounds to start with. Coming in 18 inches. Kim missed the green with her second earn a berth in the field, shot her third 71 of the hopefuls. tunes, has found his task of naming three down the stretch, I was very proud of how I han- shot, chipped to within eight feet, and then missed tournament to finish at 1 under. South Korea’s “It was a terrific performance by Stevie - picks made much easier since Tiger Woods dled everything.” Ernst pulled into contention with the par putt. Jeong Jang and Hee Won Han played in their final all credit to him,” McGinley said. “He really announced he would not be available due a 5-under 31 on the front nine, highlighted by a Kim, a three-time LPGA winner, was bidding for LPGA event after announcing their retirement ear- tore the front nine apart. “His performance to continuing problems with his injured chip-in eagle at the par-5 fifth. Kim made four her first victory since 2010. After playing the entire ly last week. Jang was even par after a 72, while this week will be very strongly in his favour back. birdies and no bogeys. final round without a bogey, Kim made one during Han finished at 3 over following a 72. Jang was a when it comes to making the picks, but he’s Given the fact that there are already South Korean’s So Yeon Ryu and Chella Choi the playoff. “I’ve been missing quite a few of those. three-time runner-up at Portland during her career. not guaranteed a pick. three rookies - Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth tied for third at 12 under. Ryu, last week’s Canadian I think it’s just the speed of the green,” Kim said. “I “Good to retire here. I’m never going to forget “There are other golfers to be looked at and Patrick Reed - already assured of being Women’s Open winner, shot 70, while Choi had a played in a lot of playoffs, but I haven’t won one Portland,” Jang said. The LPGA Tour takes a one- in the cold light of day.” The challenge for in the team, Watson is likely to look for some 68. Ernst was in control after she converted a long yet. So it was in the back of my mind. But she week break before the season’s fifth major, the McGinley, who sunk the winning putt for experienced hands.—AFP birdie putt at the par-4 14th to get to 16 under and deserves it.” Evian Championship in France from Sept. 11-14. a two-stroke lead. But she stumbled down the At 18, Ryu was in position to win the tourna- Pettersen is the defending champion. — AP Henley has slim lead, McIlroy lurking at Deutsche Bank

NORTON: American Russell Henley fired a six-under 65 ish after having his three tournament win streak to take a one-shot lead at the Deutsche Bank snapped at the Barclays event last week. Championship, but four-time major winner Rory McIlroy Henley, 25, ended three rounds at 12-under-par 201. appears poised to strike. The 25-year-old McIlroy He will go for his third USPGA Tour title yesterday. stormed up the leaderboard with a seven-under 64 on Billy Horschel posted a four-under 67 to move into Sunday to move into contention at the TPC Boston. “I second place at 11-under. Chris Kirk, who was paired am happy to have another chance for a win here in with McIlroy, also fired a 64 to jump into a share of third Boston,” McIlroy said. “I have good memories from 2012 place at 10-under-par. McIlroy and Kirk were joined when I chased down the lead ... Need to do the same there by second-round co-leader Jason Day (69). tomorrow.” Henley beat McIlroy earlier this year in a playoff to McIlroy, the 2012 Deutsche Bank winner, vaulted into win The Honda Classic. His 65 Sunday was one of six a share of third place with the day’s best round to reach scores 65 or better in the third round. “Nobody is really 10-under-par 203, two shots adrift of Henley. After an expecting me to be sitting here right now,” Henley said. up and down opening two rounds, McIlroy needed just “And that is kind of how I like it.” Former tournament 27 putts on Sunday. winner Webb Simpson moved into sixth place at nine- “I don’t think you ever (know a good round is com- under behind a third-round 68. Ryan Palmer, who ing),” he said. “You just keep playing and take it one hole shared the second-round lead with Day, posted his sec- at a time. The first couple of days I played well at the ond straight 71 on Sunday. He dropped into a tie for start, just couldn’t keep it going.” seventh at eight-under 205. Palmer was joined there by NORTON: Russell Henley tees off on the 17th hole during the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship golf tour- The Briton from Northern Ireland could return to the Kevin Streelman (65), South Korea’s Noh Seung-Yul (68) nament in Norton, Mass., Sunday. — AP top of the FedEx Cup standings with a solid Monday fin- and American Keegan Bradley (69). — AFP