TUESDAY, JANUARY 31 , 2017 SPORTS No green light for 2018 Games but NHL sees positives LOS ANGELES: While the National South Korea. “There’s the worldwide situation, particularly where we are the Olympic ideals are noble and worth pur- on that regard,” he said. Hockey League has not yet committed stage that the Olympics provides except only sports league or sport that has to suing, the players have bought in. “It is incredible disruptive. What busi- to the 2018 Winter Olympics, commis- they don’t promote NHL hockey,” stop its season to participate if we Russian captain Alex Ovechkin says ness in the prime of its selling season sioner Gary Bettman said on Sunday that Bettman told Reuters before the start of choose to participate (at the Games).” he plans to compete in the 2018 shuts down for three weeks? “It affects being on a global stage was unquestion- the All-Star Game at Staples Center in With the NHL already unhappy at Pyeongchang Winter Games no matter the competitiveness of the league, it ably a positive. downtown Los Angeles. shutting down in the middle of the sea- what the league decides, while the NHL affects the schedule not just for those The league has participated in each “They take the players and run their son to allow players to participate in the Players’ Association head Donald Fehr three weeks but for the rest of the sea- Winter Olympics since 1998, but has own tournament. “It’s great to have the Olympics, the IOC further antagonized acknowledged playing in the Olympics son with compression. “We disappear long believed it puts more into its world’s best-on-best play but, in the final the league by announcing last year that is something the players want. when football and baseball are gone and Olympic investment than it gets in analysis, the restrictions that the IOC it would no longer cover insurance and Asked for an update on possible play- it’s just us and basketball. It’s very, very return, raising doubts over its decision (International Olympic Committee) travel costs. While the IOC has had prob- er involvement at the 2018 Olympics, difficult to manage a season with that for next year’s Games in Pyeongchang, imposes are difficult when you’re in our lems convincing NHL owners that Bettman replied: “There’s nothing new type of disruption.” — Reuters Closing eagle lifts Rahm to first US PGA Tour title LA JOLLA: Spain’s Jon Rahm claimed his year’s National, where he finished third first US PGA Tour title in style Sunday, after leading or sharing the lead over the rolling in an eagle putt from the fringe at first two rounds. There, he said, he was sec- the final hole to win the Farmers Insurance ond-guessing himself on the greens, afraid Open at Torrey Pines. of over-hitting and costing himself pars. Rahm had broken free of the group tied “Today it was just completely different,” for the lead at 10-under with a birdie at 17. Rahm said. “I was just focused on making At the par-five finishing hole on the South putts and hitting the right shots.” Course, he reached the back fringe with his Pan, a 25-year-old also chasing a first US second shot. Rahm’s effort from 60 feet tour title, had reached 10-under for the snaked toward the hole and into the cup to tournament after birdies at eight, nine and cap a seven-under 65. 10, but he couldn’t find another birdie. His 13-under total of 275 proved to be Howell earned his share of second with enough for a three-shot victory as the bevy a birdie at 18 that capped a 68 and put him of golfers on his heels stalled late. in the clubhouse at 10-under before Rahm’s Taiwan’s Pan Cheng Tsung and American late-round heroics. Charles Howell shared second on 10-under J.J. Spaun was 10-under after a birdie at 278. England’s Justin Rose closed with a 17, but found the water en route to a dou- two-under 70 to head a group on 279 ble-bogey at 18, while Finau’s challenge alongside Americans Keegan Bradley (67), effectively ended with a bogey at 15. Pat Perez (70), Patrick Rodgers (72) and Brandt Snedeker, the defending champi- Tony Finau (71). on gunning for a third title at Torrey Pines, HOUSTON: Workers attach a sign to the front of NRG Stadium as preparations continue for the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, in Rahm, 22, had opened with a bogey, but just couldn’t get much going even though Houston. — AP after birdies at the third, fifth and 11th he he’s an old hand at storming finishes on the put himself among the leaders with an picturesque course hugging the Pacific eagle at the 13th. coast. Snedeker was seven shots adrift after “Thanks to 13, I got myself into it,” said 54 holes when he won in 2012, and rallied AFC holds on to defeat Rahm, whose second shot from a fairway from six back last year. With a share of the bunker left him an 18-footer for eagle. 54-hole lead this time around, Snedeker Rahm said his thought process all day shot a one-over 73 to join a group sharing was far different from his mindset at last ninth on 280. — AFP NFC 20-13 in Pro Bowl ORLANDO: The Pro Bowl has long been more about showmanship than competition. Clearly, that memo missed Lorenzo Alexander. The Lincicome wins playoff Buffalo Bills linebacker could have just sat on a late interception for the win, but instead opted to return the ball 20 yards and then lateralled it for LPGA Bahamas crown to Aqib Talib, who came within 13 yards of the end zone in the AFC’s 20-13 win over the NFC MIAMI: Brittany Lincicome birdied the first Lincicome answered with a birdie at the par-5 in the NFL’s all-star game Sunday night. playoff hole Sunday to defeat fellow 18th to finish on 68 and reach the clubhouse “I was serious about that last drive,” American Lexi Thompson and win the LPGA level with Thompson as rain struck. Alexander said. “You’re playing fast, playing Tour’s season-opening Pure Silk Bahamas Thompson’s approach on 18 landed in a hard, having a good time, but we wanted to Classic. Lincicome birdied the par-5 18th and greenside bunker but she recovered for a win. We took it very serious.” Thompson missed left on a long effort to closing par to shoot 70 and force the playoff. That much was obvious on the final drive match her, giving Lincicome the victory, her Lewis was third on 267, one stroke ahead of when Alexander, named the game’s defensive second in extra holes after losing her first four Piller, after both closed with 71. LPGA playoffs. “You know, I played well all week, and my MVP, got tight end Jimmy Graham on a hard hit “It was pretty incredible,” Lincicome said. putter definitely saved me, and I made a lot of over the middle as the NFC drove the ball “Just the leaderboard all week has been birdies out there, just a lot of positives to take downfield for what could have been the rally- amazing, obviously a lot of Americans up at from the week,” Thompson said. ing game-winning drive. A couple of plays lat- the top, obviously friends of mine, so to come US teen Nelly Korda shared fifth with er, the ball went off Graham’s hands and right down to the final stretch, I played with Lexi Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum on 271, mak- to Alexander, sealing the game. yesterday, and it was an awesome day. We ing this the first LPGA event with five US play- But even on that play, the increased com- had so much fun, and to obviously have the ers in the top five since the 2011 Canadian SAN DIEGO: Jon Rahm, of Spain, holds the trophy after winning the Farmers Insurance petitive spirit was obvious when quarterback playoff today is a bummer, but it’s just incred- Women’s Open won by Lincicome. Only two Open golf tournament Sunday, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. —AP Kirk Cousins stuck with the play after throwing ible.” It was Lincicome’s seventh career LPGA Americans won LPGA events last year, the interception and knocked the ball out of triumph and the first since she captured her Thompson and Brittany Lang. Lincicome Talib’s hands on a jarring hit to save the touch- first major title at the 2015 ANA Inspiration at birdied five of the first seven holes to reach down. While many of the 60,834 had already Rancho Mirage, California, by beating Stacy 26-under, opening with a birdie, running off Chevrolet Alghanim left Camping World Stadium, those who stuck Lewis in a playoff. Thompson and Lincicome three in a row starting at the par-3 third and around saw a thrilling end. finished 72 holes over the Ocean Course at closing with a birdie at the par-5 seventh. invites football fans in Kuwait “It was fun and it was competitive,” Paradise Island on 26-under 266, one off the She began the back nine with a birdie to Alexander said. “It got a little chippy there late all-time 72-hole LPGA record of 27-under par reach 27-under, the all-time LPGA record low to be Pros for one day in the game, but that’s part of it when you have set by Swedish star Annika Sorenstam at the total, but stumbled with a bogey at 14 to competitive people.” In the recent past, the Pro 2001 Standard Register Ping event.