MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 SPORTS

KDSC celebrates annual disable day

KUWAIT: Kuwait Disabled Sports Club of Information Minister, State Minister Committee, President of Kuwait and supervises Paralympics games to (KDSC) celebrated the annual disabled for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Arab Shooting Federations Eng. Duaij advance Kuwait sports and make day by launching a festival carrying Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah and Khalaf Al-Otaibi who represented more achievements. the name “you are our pride”, Saturday continues until December 6. Sheikh Salman lauded the KDSC He said he was honored to repre- evening at the club premises, in The festival includes the local achievements, the latest of which sent Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud in this appreciation of Kuwaiti athletes who sports tournament in various games of Ahmad Niqa’s gold medal in the Brazil activity which coincides with Kuwait’s carried Kuwait flag high in world are- the disabled, and will continue for Olympics last September. celebration of the International nas be them disabled or healthy. three days. Al-Otaibi said KOC had distin- Disabled Day. The festival is under the patronage Vice President of Kuwait Olympic guished relations with KDSC which Meanwhile President of KDSC Shafi Al-Hajiri said what Kuwait disabled and healthy champions in all sports fields is a call for pride, adding that this festival is dedicated for them in appreciation of their efforts that had Kuwait’s name and flag high in International arenas. Al-Hajiri said the club won 50 vari- ous Olympic medals and more than 2,200 medals in various champi- onships, and printed to Ahmad Niqa’s achievement in the disabled sports, as well as shooting champions Fuhaid Al- Daihani and Abdallah Al-Rashida in Rio. He said Kuwait Champions achievements were not to happen without the support and continued care from HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Varner wins Australian PGA trophy, Scott finishes third

GOLD COAST: Harold Varner III didn’t really know the protocol, so he filled the Australian PGA Championship trophy with champagne, took a sip and then shared it around. The 26-year-old American won a title for the first time outside the US mini tours when he fired nine birdies in a closing 65 on Sunday to finish at 19 under, two clear of Australian jour- neyman Andrew Dodt and four ahead of 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott. He finished runner-up after a playoff here last year, then had four top-10 finishes in his rookie season on the PGA Tour. “After last year, it feels good to come back and finish it off,” he said. “This is my first win since the mini tours, so this is my first win, I guess, as part of an organization such as the PGA Tour, the European Tour. It’s just NASSAU: Tiger Woods of the United States hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during a step in the right direction and I’m just super round three of the Hero World Challenge at Albany, The Bahamas on Saturday in excited.” Varner had a hectic week at the event Nassau, Bahamas. — AFP that is co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European tours. After lightning and rain stopped his first round after 14 holes, he had to set the Tiger ‘not quite there’ but alarm for 2:45 am Friday to get up in time for an early courtesy car ride to his 5:30 a.m. tee off. still eyes major record He finished his first round in a share of the lead at 7 under, then went out and finished his NASSAU: Tiger Woods sees daily progress in to build a significant amount of positive second round before lunch on day two. His spare his return from a 16-month back injury layoff shots and go under par early.” time has included black jack at the Casino. and hinted Saturday he is still chasing the Woods took a bogey at the par-5 sixth This being his first win abroad, Varner admit- record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus. but answered with birdies at seven and the ted he wasn’t fully across the routine for a cham- Woods, a 14-time major champion, sizzled par-5 11th but stumbled with bogeys at 13 pion that included extra interviews, news con- early for the third consecutive round but fiz- and 14. A 30-foot birdie putt at the fairway- ferences and photos opportunities. Harold Varner III zled late in firing a two-under-par 70 at his less par-3 17th provided a boost but he “I’m ready to get to the casino but no one comeback event, the Hero World Challenge found sand and water at 18 for a closing told me about the other stuff that goes along Tiger Woods with black heritage on the PGA Royal Melbourne, and the first non-Australian to hosted by his charity foundation. “I’m just double bogey. with winning - which I’m totally cool with - I just Tour, is hoping this win is the launching pad for a claim the title since 1999. not quite there, but it’s coming. The great “I didn’t hit the ball that poorly today but didn’t know there was so much stuff. There better 2017. He was the first American to win the “Winning is just ... different,” he said. “Three thing is I’m building and each day I’ve got- hit bad putts in the middle part of the might have been 1,000 pictures out there,” he Australian PGA title since Hale Irwin in 1978 at years, I haven’t won, so this is special.” —AP ten a little bit stronger,” said Woods, who round,” Woods said. told the news conference where he filled the tro- admits tiring on late holes. Woods said he no expectations for the phy with champagne and shared it around. “I’m definitely not as fresh as I would like week because, “I didn’t know what I was “Winning is cool.” to be. No matter how much you work out it’s going to feel like after each round,” but Varner started the last round two shots India’s Kumar clinches very different than being in playing shape. added, “I’ve finally been able to switch into a behind Dodt. He surged into the lead with a run There are all these different things you can’t competitive mode again.” of four birdies at the start of an entertaining simulate at home.” span of nine holes that contained seven birdies title Woods, who has not won a major since TRUMP CHEERS ON TIGER and two bogeys. the 2008 US Open, was asked after his round Woods again flashed moments of his He took a two-shot lead into the last hole and NEW DELHI: India’s Mukesh Kumar fired a good chance after sinking that putt. I told about trying to catch Nicklaus even though finest shotmaking to excite those seeking tapped in for par. Dodt held a two-shot lead crucial birdie on the 15th hole to set up his myself I just need to par the last three holes,” no player has won four majors after turning signs he can recapture the form that made before the final round but couldn’t match it with first victory at the Panasonic Open Kumar told reporters. 41, which Woods will do later this month. “I him a dominating superstar. “Great to have Varner’s nine birdies and closed with a 69. Scott India golf tournament in New Delhi yesterday. “Even though I know Jyoti was just one wouldn’t be here doing this if I didn’t feel you back Tiger - Special!” US President-elect closed with a 67, his best round of the tourna- Kumar, 51, who became the oldest player to shot back and he has a good chance on 18 like I could play at the highest level,” Woods Donald Trump tweeted before the round ment to finish in outright third at 15 under. win an Asian Tour title, carded 67, 69 and 70 being a long-hitter, I didn’t think too much said. “I have too much pride.” Only four play- began. Until this week, Woods had not Ashley Hall dropped from second to fourth at for a total of 10-under 206 in the fog-hit tour- about that. I just focused on what I need to ers have won multiple majors after turning played competitively since August 2015, 14 under after a final round of 70. His fellow nament, which was reduced to three rounds do,” he added. 41 — Old Tom Morris with three 1860s when he shared 10th at the Wyndham Australian Brett Rumford finished at 10 under, and 54 holes. Sri Lanka’s , at 8-under 208, British Opens and Harry Vardon, Julius Boros Championship. Woods closed with double two shots ahead of a group of three that includ- Kumar, who started the day with an finished fourth. The other top 10 places on the and Woods pal Mark O’Meara with two each. bogeys on two of the last three holes ed Dutch golfer Darius van Driel, amateur Brett overnight lead of two shots at eight-under, final leaderboard belonged to Indian players. Woods stood on eight-under 208, 11 Thursday to shoot 73 in ending his career- Coletta and John Senden. New Zealander Ryan shot three birdies against a lone bogey on the The 2015 champion Chirag Kumar of India fin- strokes behind leader Hideki Matsuyama of longest 466-day layoff but recovered Friday Fox was ninth at 7 under. final day to outshine compatriots Jyoti ished tied 15th in the 73-player field in the Japan after 54 holes at the 18-man invita- with a bogey-free 65. Scott started the last day four shots off the Randhawa and , who finished tied final round. tional. “For three straight days, I’ve gotten It was his lowest round relative to par pace but again was wayward off the tee. He kept second. “I am very proud of myself. I have Leading scores after the final round of the off to great starts. For two of those days, I since the 2013 World Golf Championships in touch with three birdies in four holes from the waited 32 years (since turning professional) for Panasonic Open India on Sunday at the Delhi haven’t been able to keep it going,” Woods Bridgestone Invitational, the most recent of eighth and added an eagle at the par-5 15th. this. It is different from the 123 wins that I Golf course (par 72): said. “I would like to get another solid round.” his 79 career victories. “It was my best round of the week and it was- have had on the domestic Tour earlier,” said 206 - Mukesh Kumar (IND) 67-69-70 Woods birdied four of the first five holes but Woods, three shy of Sam Snead’s all-time n’t good enough unfortunately,” he said. The for- Kumar, who secured an Asian Tour card for the 207 - Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 67-72-68 it was no day at the beach for the former PGA Tour win mark, plays the final round mer No. 1-ranked Scott said he planned to put next two years. 207 - Rashid Khan (IND) 67-72-68 world number one, who spent considerable alongside South African Louis Oosthuizen. the clubs away for a while and catch up on fami- Kumar, who led each of the three rounds, 208 - Mithun Perera (SRI) 70-68-70 time in Bahamas sand waste areas after Strong tee shots and irons set up short ly time, surfing, and watching some cricket and was tied with Randhawa twice in the day 209 - Honey Baisoya (IND) 73-69-67 missing the last five fairways at Albany Golf birdie putts on the first three holes for tennis. The clubs “will be away for a couple of before taking the lead at the 15th hole and 210 - Shankar Das (IND) 71-67-72 Club, a 7,302-yard Ernie Els-designed layout. Woods, who sank a tense six-foot par putt at weeks and if they’re not too rusty by Christmas I scoring pars in the final three to pocket a win- 211 - Shamim Khan (IND) 67-74-70 “Probably couldn’t get off to a better start four after missing the green with his might bring them back out and shake some of ning purse of $72,000. 211 - Sanjeev Kumar (IND) 71-69-71 than I did,” Woods said. “Generally when I approach, then blasted out of a bunker at the rust off,” he said. “I’ll just play around for fun “The 20-footer that I made for birdie on 15 211 - Kapil Kumar (IND) 68-72-71 come back from layoffs, that’s the most con- the par-3 fifth and watched the ball roll into and then I’ll get serious once the new year was the decisive putt for me. I knew I had a 211 - Khalin Joshi (IND) 67-71-73. — AFP cerning part of the game, but I’ve been able the cup for birdie. —AFP starts.” Varner, who is the only player other than