CHINA DAILY SPORTS FRIDAY MARCH 9, 2007 23

TOPSHOT Tiger takes charge of new PGA event Chinese guard, French forward pace World youth squad COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado: ing something in the DC area. That’s Chen Jianghua, a guard who played ‘National’ to run over July 4th holiday; our main focus right now.” for in last year’s World Woods similarly dismissed notions Championship, and French forward Woods may skip to attend child’s birth that he should become more politi- Nicholas Batum are among 12 stars cally active even as he prepared to named to a World Select team on : Tiger Woods, adding prime spot two weeks before the meet with US lawmakers. Wednesday. to his amazing golf legacy, announced British Open, and feature an invita- “I don’t know what the future will The global youth squad will face details here on Wednesday about his tional fi eld, likely with more than 100 bring after my playing days,” Woods their US counterparts April 7 at new US PGA invitational event, one top golfers. said. “Right now I have my hands Memphis, Tennessee, in the 10th the superstar hopes will extend his “It was a no-brainer with my full putting the little white ball in annual Hoop Summit matchup. charity work to global levels. father having served in the nation’s the hole.” The Americans own a 7-2 edge in The National, with a $6 million military forces,” Woods said, noting Woods also anounced plans to es- the 19-and-under rivalry, which purse, will be played July 5-8, most his father’s Green Beret duty in the tablish a Tiger Woods Learning Center often heralds NBA interest for top likely at Congressional Country Club, War. in Washington similar to one he has talent. host of the 1997 US Open. The Tiger Woods plans to play the National opened in Southern California. Chen, who plays for China’s Woods Foundation will organize every year but might not tee off this “Our impact, I think, will be Guangdong Tigers, averaged 3.5 the event and serve as the benefi t July because that is when his wife pretty signifi cant,” Woods said. “It points and 1.5 rebounds for China’s charity. Elin is expecting the birth of their gives the love and support. I always eighth-place world squad last year “This is a dream come true,” Woods fi rst child. have love to go home to. Not everyone in . said. “It’s something that happened “I plan on playing,” Woods said. “A has that.” Batum, who plays for Le Mans, was so quickly. It’s something I wanted lot of that is dependent on the birth US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Most Valuable Player of the 2006 to have the opportunity to do one day. of our child. Obviously that’s the most Finchem was confi dent that a vote European under-18 championship I’m lucky enough to do it during my important thing in our lives right now. later this month by Congressional while countryman Alexis Ajinca, playing career. It’s my intention to play. You will have board members will bring fi nal ap- a 2.1m center, was on the 2006 Eu- “I’ve never been this busy.” to take that up with Elin.” proval to host the National but noted ropean Junior and 2004 European Woods lammented that his father The National replaces The Interna- there are alternatives if needed. Cadet winners. Earl, who died last May of cancer, tional on the US PGA calendar. The “We feel very comfortable about Nine former World players are was unable to see this element of his Colorado event folded last month for the way it’s going,” Finchem said. currently on NBA rosters, including dream for his son’s legacy become lack of a sponsor. “The energy at Congressional is very ’s Tony Parker and Germa- reality. Finding sponsors for the many US positive. We have an awful lot of work ny’s Dirk Nowitzki. “My goal one day in my future was events where Woods does not play to do in a very short time.” to host an event on the PGA Tour. This has become tougher in recent years. Finchem compared Woods’ event to Honda F1 team sign British F3 is a pretty momentous occasion. I just Woods played in only the minimum similar ones hosted by retired legends champion Conway wish my father could have been here 15 events last year after a career-high Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, : Honda have promised to see it. It was a dream he wanted for 21 in 2005. predicting it will be “one of the most British Formula Three champion us,” Woods said. The National will take one more prestigous events in golf.” Mike Conway a Formula One test “We thought it was the best plat- bite out of his schedule and Woods “Tiger Woods is not just a great later this year after announcing the form to grow awareness for what gave no hint he will play more events, competitor. He has changed the face 22-year-old had joined the team. Tiger Woods laughs on Tuesday in Washington during a news conference we’re trying to do with the founda- adding to the strain for directors of of golf,” Finmchem said. “He has that “At the same time as competing in announcing the new PGA tournament that he will host and play in the tion. We believe it’s the springboard othe events. same amount of fi re, drive, focus and the GP2 series, Mike will have the week of July 2-8. AT&T will be the title sponsor of the AT&T National, with to go global.” “I play a pretty limited schedule. commitment to making this tourna- opportunity to steadily integrate a purse of $6 million, that will benefi t the Tiger Woods Foundation. The The National will be staged over My focus is to win the tournaments ment as good as it can be.” himself into the workings of a top tournament is scheduled to be played at Congressional Country Club in the July 4 Independence Day holiday I play. That takes a lot of energy,” Formula One team,” Honda said in a suburban Maryland. Reuters weekend each year, placing it in a Woods said. “We’re excited about do- AFP statement yesterday. Conway, winner of the Macau Grand Prix last November, won the British F3 title last year after taking the Formula Renault championship in 2004. Pietersen cautious, Corry still haunted by “Mike has clearly demonstrated his potential and talent throughout his career in the various junior formu- Croke Park nightmare las with a great deal of success,” call in said Honda F1 sporting director Gil RUGBY opportunity to go out there on Sun- de Ferran. day and put it right. We have had a Honda have Briton Jenson Button extra help on spin BATH, England: Martin Corry ad- detailed debrief - people in this camp and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello as mits the scars of England’s record care and things were said, but the their drivers for this year. 43-13 humiliation at the hands of most important thing is working CRICKET Bermuda left-arm spinner Dwayne Ireland at Croke Park in the last round towards the bigger picture. Houllier to stay on at Lyon Leverock and the England number of Six Nations matches will haunt him “This Sunday is England playing LYON, France: Lyon coach Ger- VILLA BEACH, St. Vincent: Key four hinted that he was surprised by as long as he plays. at Twickenham and whatever people ard Houllier announced here on England batsman Kevin Pietersen is his ability given his large size. Corry has been moved from the back think, when you are playing for England Wednesday he will stay on at the ready to suppress his natural attack- “He was good, very deceiving. row to the second row for Sunday’s Six at Twickenham you expect to win – you helm of the fi ve-time French cham- ing instincts at the World Cup and That’s how I’ll leave it,” he said. Nations Test match against France at have got to go there expecting to win.” pions until at least the end of next instead nurdle his way to good scores Twickenham as coach Brian Ashton Corry, England’s leader during season. on the slow Caribbean wickets. Charging down shuffled his cards after his team’s the desperate run of results in the Despite being knocked out of the After the first set of warm-up This is Pietersen’s fi rst time in the failure to match the Irish in any area autumn internationals, also revealed Champions League on Tuesday at matches most sides have realised Caribbean and his fi rst World Cup but of the game in their hammering. he was phoned personally by Ashton the hands of AS Roma, Lyon look that spin is going to be crucial, a fact he is lucky to be here after fractur- The French will arrive in London when he was passed over for the set to win their sixth consecutive underlined by England’s decision on ing a rib charging down the wicket Kevin Pietersen in search of a fourth straight win, fol- captaincy in favour of Mike Catt who French league title - which would Wednesday to draft in off-spinner Jer- at Glenn McGrath in the tri-series in lowing their defeats of Italy, Ireland takes control on Sunday, following be a record for a major European emy Snape as a slow bowling coach Australia in January. and Wales, but the former England Phil Vickery’s concussion. championship - and Houllier has for 10 days. He missed the rest of the tourna- It’s going to be a pretty skipper is not looking to give them “I had not thought about it,” admit- no plans to quit the club quite The 33-year-old Leicestershire cap- ment, which England went on to win similar series to the one an easy ride. ted Corry. “Brian Ashton indicated yet. tain, who played 10 one-dayers for Eng- despite a poor start and an earlier 5-0 “What happened at Croke Park will what the side would be and gave me “I am at Lyon and I am fi ne here, I land in 2001 and 2002, was already Ashes test series drubbing. in last year. Slow stay with me for the rest of my rugby a call which was very good of him - he am not thinking about leaving the in the West Indies working with the “The rib is fine, perfectly fine. bowlers and fi elding are career but the most important thing did not have to do that. club, except if they kick me out,” minor nations at this tournament. I’m raring to go,” he said. “I was in going to play a massive now is to use it as a motivating factor,” “I have had my time as captain confi rmed the former France and Pietersen, who is also England’s Australia eight or nine weeks and we said Corry. which was disappointing but Mike Liverpool handler. third choice spinner behind Monty hadn’t come close to winning. Morale part. “No-one wants to lose when they Catt is a tremendous guy who has “I want to try my luck again next Panesar and Jamie Dalrymple, fully wasn’t fantastic. But the boys spun it are playing in an England shirt. the respect of all the players - I will season. I’m staying.” concluded expects to have to nudge the ball around, it was great.” KEVIN PIETERSEN “But this is no place for excuses - we be looking to back him up.” Houllier, who put an end to the ru- around for ones and twos against slow England face Australia on Friday in England batsman have got to look at the bigger picture as Corry’s shift to the second row mours that he would leave the club bowlers for much of this World Cup. their fi nal warm-up game and asked if a unit. We got outplayed in Ireland in - with both Louis Deacon and Danny at the end of this term. “It is one of those things that has he would come down the wicket again the contact area. My view is that we got Grewcock being dropped after the to be done. You’ve got to play the to McGrath, he said: “Who knows, I The tournament gets underway the attitude right there but for me the Irish hammering - could signal a situation,” he told reporters at the might have to do it here. properly for England on March 16 most important thing now is getting it shift of emphasis in the 33-year- ONTV team hotel. “I didn’t believe he could break my with a Group C clash against New right against France. old’s career. “It’s going to be a pretty similar ribs. I knew it was a problem when I Zealand. “We fronted up in Ireland - I would Corry also revealed that tight-head ESPN China series to the one in India last year. couldn’t breathe.” “I think the boys are confi dent, never question the attitude of the Eng- prop, and club mate, Julian White - a club 10:30 Extreme Sports Slow bowlers and fi elding are going The South African-born batsman but there is a big word - caution,” lish pack but we should have imposed mate at Leicester - should know what to 12:00 UEFA Champions League to play a massive part.” also said injured fast bowler Brett Lee he added. ourselves more. expect with Corry behind him. Highlights Pietersen was stumped for 43 being ruled out of the World Cup had “It hurts me personally but the 13:00 English Premier League: on Monday off the bowling of burly left Australia with a “massive hole”. Agencies great thing is that we have got the AFP Fulham Vs Aston Villa 15:01 Billiards 16:01 Extreme Sports 17:30 English Premier League SCOREBOARD Preview 18:00 UEFA Champions League Highlights (MASx8) bt John Moody (NZL) 26-24, 21-17; SOCCER Group A TENNIS 20:00 Soccer Here We Go All-England Open Richard Vaughan (WAL) bt (NED) European Champions League Al Rayyan (QAT) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 (Mo- Indian Wells 21-11, 17-21, 21-7; (THA) hamed Saeed 81) 21:00 Soccer First Edition , England: Results in the fi rst : European Champions League last 16 INDIAN WELLS, California: Results on 21:30 English Premier League round of the All-England Open badminton bt (MAS) 21-12, 21-7; Chen second leg results on Wednesday: Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 (Mous- Wednesday in the $5.385 million Pacifi c lim Mubarak 66) Preview championships on Wednesday (x-denotes Yu (CHN x6) bt (HKG) 21-19, At Milan, Italy: AC Milan (ITA) 1 (Kaka 93) Life Open WTA and ATP Masters Series ten- Group B 22:30 Soccer Call The Shot seedings): 21-18; (DEN x7) bt Prze- Celtic (SCO) 0 aet nis tournament (x denotes seeded player): Al Hilal (KSA) 1 (Rodrigo Afl en 16) Al Ku- Women’s singles myslaw Wacha (POL) 21-14, 21-17; Simon Milan win 1-0 on aggregate Women 1st rd wait (KUW) 1 (Fahad Shaheen 90) Chen (HKG x3) bt Yu Hirayama (JPN) Santoso (INA) bt Lee Tsuen Seng (MAS) 15- At London: Arsenal (ENG) 1 (Alex 58-og) Mirjana Lucic (CRO) bt Lindsey Nelson STAR SPORTS ASIA Group C 15-21, 21-12, 21-12; (CHN x2) 21, 21-12, 21-9; (INA) bt PSV Eindhoven (NED) 1 (Alex 83) (USA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/5); 12:00 Waterskiing bt Sara Persson (SWE) 21-14, 23-21; Saina Bjorn Joppien (GER) 21-18, 21-15; Park Sung PSV win 2-1 on aggregate Al Najaf (IRQ) 0 Neftchi (UZB) 1 (Akmal 13:00 Golf The UBS Golf Club Holmatov 71) (FRA) bt Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) 7-6 (7/2), Nehwal (IND) bt Anita Raj Kaur (MAS) 22- Hwan (KOR) bt Yeoh Kay Bin (MAS) 21-11, At Munich, : Bayern Munich (GER) 13:30 Auto Racing Al Karama (SYR) 2 (Senghor Koupouleni 70, 6-1; (DEN) bt Jarmila 20, 15-21, 21-19 ; (MAS) 21-15; (JPN) bt Kendrick Lee (SIN) 2 (Makaay 1, Lucio 66) Real (ESP) 1 14:00 Table Tennis Abdalrahman Akkari 85) Al Saad (QAT) 1 Gajdosova (SVK) 6-3, 6-1; Shenay Perry bt (CHNx7) 21-12, 21-19; Salakjit 21-12, 21-4; (MASx3) bt (Van Nistelrooy 83-pen) (Magid Mohammed 22) (USA) bt (Rus) 6-3, 14:30 Golf Ponsana (THA) bt (JPN) 14- (IND) 21-12, 21-4; Aggregate 4-4. Bayern win on away goals Group D 6-2; (Aus) bt Virginia Ruano 17:30 Auto Racing 21, 21-14, 21-17; Wong Pei Xian (MAS) bt (CHNx2) bt (ENG) 21-11, 21- At , England: Manchester United Foolad Mobarake Sepahan (IRI) 2 (Seyed (Spa) 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3; Yvonne Meus- 18:00 Wrestling Molthila Meemeak (THA) 21-13, 21-6; Wang 13; Kasper Oedum(DEN) bt (ENG) 1 (Larsson 71) Lille (FRA) 0 Mohamad Salehi 20, 30) Al Ittihad (SYR) 1 burger (Aut) bt Anna Tatishvili (Geo) 19:00 English Premier League Lin (CHN) bt (SIN) 21-7, 21-12; (SWE) 25-23, 21-15. United win 2-0 on aggregate (Anas Sari) 6-1, 6-3; Meilen Tu (USA) bt Tatiana Preview (GER) bt (HKG) Tuesday NBA Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) (Godwin Poutchek (Blr) 6-3, 6-2; (USA) 21-19, 21-19; (CHNx1) bt At Lyon, France: Lyon (FRA) 0 AS Roma 19:30 Basketball CBA Basketball NEW YORK: NBA results on Wednesday Attram 45, Waleed Al Gizani 72) bt (Ita) 6-1, 7-5; (NED) 21-14, 21-9; Zhu (ITA) 2 (Totti 22, Mancini 44) 21:30 For Men Only (home team in CAPS): Group E (Blr) bt Emilie Loit 22:00 FA Cup Round 6 Preview Lin (CHNx5) bt Susan Highes (SCO) 21-19, TORONTO 94 Memphis 87 Roma win 2-0 on aggregate Urawa Reds (JPN) 3 (Nobuhisa Yamada 12, (Fra) 7-5, 6-3; Michaella Krajicek (Ned) bt 21-19; Hwang Hye-Youn (KOR) bt At Liverpool, England: Liverpool (ENG) 0 Sofi a Arvidsson (Swe) 6-4, 6-3; Lourdes Show PHILADELPHIA 92 Seattle 89 Yuichiro Nagai 45, Shinji Ono 75) Persik 22:30 Golf Masters (JPN) 21-14, 21-12; Xu Huaiwen (GERx4) bt ATLANTA 100 Washington 97 Barcelona (ESP) 1 (Gudjohnsen 75) Kediri (INA) 0 Dominguez (Spa) bt Eva Birnerova (Cze) (SIN) 21-8, 21-9; (CHN) Houston 111 BOSTON 80 Aggregate 2-2. Liverpool win on away goals Shenhua (CHN) 1 (Xie 78) Sydney 6-0, 6-4; Alberta Brianti (Ita) bt Olga Sav- bt (NEDx6) 21-19, 18-21, 21-6; Petya MIAMI 103 Chicago 70 At Valencia, : Valencia (ESP) 0 Inter FC (AUS) 2 (Corica 8, Talay 23) chuk (Ukr) 6-2, 6-4; Martina Sucha (Svk) CCTV 5 Milan (ITA) 0 Nedeltcheva (BUL) bt Tine Rasmussen Cleveland 101 DETROIT 97 (OT) Group F bt Yuliana Fedak (Ukr) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3; Sun 12:00 Sports News Aggregate 2-2. Valencia win on away goals (DEN) 17-21, 23-21, 23-21; MILWAUKEE 110 LA Lakers 90 University (THA) 0 Chunnam Tiantian (Chn) bt Karolina Sprem (Cro) 12:30 World Snooker Champion- At London: Chelsea (ENG) 2 (Robben 48, (FRAx8) bt Chia-Chi (AUS) 21-17, 21- UTAH 94 Indiana 72 Dragons (KOR) 0 6-4, 7-6 (1); (Est) bt Kristina ships Ballack 79) FC Porto (POR) 1 (Quaresma 15) 15; Ella Karachkova (RUS) bt Anu Nieminen PHOENIX 115 Charlotte 106 (OT) Arema Malang (INA) 1 (Elie Aboy 12) Kawa- Brandi (Pur) 3-6, 7-5, 6-0; Agnieszka 14:05 China University Basketball Cheslea win 3-2 on aggregate (FIN) bt 21-18, 16-21, 21-14 GOLDEN STATE 110 Denver 96 saki Frontale (JPN) 3 (Magnum Tavares 1, Radwanska (Pol) bt Alina Jidkova (Rus) Super League Men’s singles Champions League quarter-fi nalists 73, Kengo Nakamura 82) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Alberta Brianti (Ita) bt Olga 16:25 UEFA Champions League (CHN x5) bt NHL AC Milan (ITA), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Group G Savchuk (Ukr) 6-2, 6-4. (SIN) 18-21, 21-15, 23-21; NEW YORK: NHL results on Wednesday Bayern Munich (GER), Manchester United Highlights Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Shandong Luneng 18:00 Sports News (NED) bt (DEN x4) 15-21, 21-19, (home team in CAPS): (ENG), AS Roma (ITA), Liverpool (ENG), (CHN) 1 (Valkanis og-47) 21-19; (HKG) bt Sairul Amar Ayob Colorado 3 BUFFALO 2 Valencia (ESP), Chelsea (ENG) Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 4 (Mota 9, 67- 19:30 CBA Playoffs (MAS) 15-21, 21-15, 21-13; (CHN COLUMBUS 3 Los Angeles 2 (OT) AFC Champions League pen, Kim Dong-hyun 68, Neaga 80) Dong To comment or alert us to a story, 21:30 Sports World x1) bt Muhammad 26-24, Tampa Bay 3 EDMONTON 1 SINGAPORE: Results from fi rst round of Tam Long An (VIE) 1 (Kabanga Tshamala e-mail [email protected] 22:15 Basketball Park 16-21, 21-9; Muhammad Hafi z Hashim ANAHEIM 2 Phoenix 1 AFC Champions League on Wednesday: 87) 23:50 Sports Lottery