GGOLFOLF | Page 2 NNBABA | Page 5 Woods’ Sixers rousing reach 50 return aided wins, Jazz by humility in playoff s Tuesday, April 10, 2018 FOOTBALL Rajab 24, 1439 AH Guardiola, Klopp GULF TIMES know ‘anything can happen in Europe’ SPORT Page 3 GOLF Reed fi ghts off Spieth and Fowler to win fi rst Masters ‘It was going to be tough, anytime trying to close off a golf tournament is really tough’ Reuters Only is fi nal round 71 kept Reed from Augusta writing his name in the Masters record books as the fi rst golfer to post four sub- 70 rounds. atrick Reed fought off furious “You know, just kind of one of those back-nine challenges from Jor- things that you expect that trying to go dan Spieth and Rickie Fowler win your fi rst major that people are go- to record a one-shot victory at ing to make runs and it’s not going to be Pthe US Masters on Sunday, trading in easy,” said Reed. “You’re going to have his ‘Captain America’ cap for a Green to go out and play a good round of golf Jacket. and shoot under par.” The fi nal round began with Reed McIlroy, three shots back and play- holding a three-shot advantage over ing in the fi nal pair with Reed, had to get Rory McIlroy, but while the Northern off to a quick start and he did just that, Irishman’s challenge faded Reed had chopping two shots off the defi cit in just to hold off his hard-charging US Ryder two holes. Cup team mates to claim his fi rst major Reed sent his opening tee shot deep championship. into the pines and opened his account Needing a two-putt par from 26 feet with a bogey and McIlroy amped up at the 18th to clinch the title, Reed ran the pressure with a birdie at the sec- his fi rst putt four feet past the hole, took ond while Reed settled for a par as the a deep breath and held his nerve rolling American’s advantage narrowed to one a knee-knocker into the cup for a one- stroke. under 71 that ended Fowler’s hopes of a But the rollercoaster ride had only playoff . just begun as the third hole saw a two- The fi ery leader of recent US Ryder shot swing back to Reed, who birdied and Presidents Cup eff orts, Reed dis- the hole while McIlroy took a bogey to played plenty of the same brash spirit put both men back where they started. that earned him the ‘Captain America’ While Reed steadied himself McIlroy moniker while adding his name to the unravelled, taking bogeys at fi ve and list of Masters champions. eight to drop into a pack that included “Today was defi nitely probably the Spaniard Jon Rahm and Fowler four hardest mentally a round of golf could back of the front-running Reed. possibly be,” said Reed, who posted a McIlroy, who squandered a four- 15-under 273 total. “It was going to be shot lead at Augusta National in 2011 by tough, anytime trying to close off a golf shooting a fi nal round of 80, was out of tournament is really tough.” the race by the turn and will have to wait Fowler, who remains without a ma- another year for his chance to become jor title, had put the pressure on with a the fi rst European to complete the ca- back nine charge that featured six bird- reer grand slam. ies over his fi nal 11 holes, including one “Just wasn’t meant to be,” shrugged at the last, but his 67 and 14-under total Patrick Reed of the US celebrates winning the 2018 Masters the Northern Irishman, after slumping would not be enough. tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, to a fi nal round two-over 74 to fi nish Before Fowler took up the challenge of Georgia. six shots back of the leader. “At least I overhauling Reed, it was Spieth leading put myself in the position. That’s all I the chase with a sizzling eight-under 64 wanted to do. that matched the lowest fi nal round at a ters spotlight when the Green Jacket starting the day, to get that much help While Reed had established his National, was not rated among the hot “The last four years I’ve had top 10s Masters to fi nish two shots back. was up for grabs. and shoot a fantastic round was nearly championship credentials with fi ve favourites when the year’s fi rst major but I haven’t been close enough to the Sitting nine shots off the pace at the In four Masters appearances, Spieth impossible,” said Spieth, whose only PGA Tour wins and a runner-up fi nish got underway. lead. Today I got myself there. start of the day, Spieth was an after also has two runner-up fi nishes and a blemish was bogey at the 18th after at the last major the 2017 PGA Champi- But after opening the tournament “I didn’t quite do enough. But, you thought as spectators fi led into Augusta tie for 11th last year. his tee shot hit a branch. “But I almost onships at Quail Hollow, Reed, who had with three straight rounds in the 60s know, come back again next year and National but was once again in the Mas- “With eight people ahead of me pulled off the impossible.” never had round under 70 at Augusta Reed had everyone’s attention. try.” FOOTBALL El Arabi: Duhail can win Qatar Cup and Emir Cup By Sports Reporter well in future,” said El Arabi, The Emir Cup off ers a chance Doha adding he wanted to win every to clubs from the lower divi- title on off er this season as Al sions to compete with the top Duhail are in top form. guns and cause an upset or two, NB Stars League “We want to win all titles — although it’s rare for them to ac- champions Al Duhail the Qatar Cup, Emir’s Cup and tually win the tournament. are determined to win AFC Champions League. The Muaither coach Philippe the Qatar Cup and team is very strong this season Burle said playing the Emir Cup QEmir Cup to add to their impres- as you can see from the results. would be a great experience for sive collection of trophies, their We’ve big players and we’re his players. star striker Youssef El Arabi ready to compete for all titles on “We are looking forward to has said. off er this year,” he said. the tournament. Our aim is to Moroccan El Arabi was top The 31-year old, who played progress as far as possible al- scorer in the league with a for long at Spanish club Grana- though it will be a diffi cult task,” whopping 26 goals, with his Muaither coach Philippe Burle speaks to the media ahead of his da, termed his rivalry with Msa- said Birol, whose team were teammate Youssef Msakni sec- team’s Emir Cup playoff match against Al Shamal. kni a healthy one. relegated from the Qatar Stars ond with 25 and Al Rayyan’s Ab- “My rivalry with captain League last season. derrrazaq Hamdallah third with for rival defenders. Apart from the fi eld in the second half, but Msakni was a very positive one “We will put out best foot for- 18. his individual achievements, El could not score and limped off and it was good for the team. I ward against Al Shamal and I am El Arabi, who was also the Arabi has also contributed to the fi eld after aggravating a knee wanted to win the top-scorer sure the match will be a tough highest scorer in the 2016- his team’s two successive league injury. The Tunisian attacking award, but it was good that I was one,” he added. 2017 season with 24 goals, has triumphs as he was a part of last midfi elder has been ruled out for challenged by Msakni till the Al Shamal captain Walid emerged the most feared player season’s triumphant Lekhwiya six months and will also miss the end,” El Arabi said. Muhyiddin said his team will on the domestic scene over the who were merged with El Jaish FIFA World Cup in Russia. Meanwhile, the Emir Cup give their all to progress. past three years. and relaunched at the start of “I’m very happy that we kicks off today with second di- “Al Shamal and Muaither He and Msakni accounted this season as Al Duhail. won the title with an unbeaten vision teams Muaither and Al know each other very well. We for 51 of the 86 goals scored by El Arabi did not play in Al Du- record. I’m also happy that I Shamal aiming to progress to have played each other in the Al Duhail in 22 matches of the hail’s fi nal-round match against could be the top scorer for the the last 16. The tournament’s second division and both teams QNB Stars League together this Al Sailiya, which they won 5-2, second successive season. This offi cial draw will only take place will be determined to make an season, proving a nightmare due to an injury. Msakni took would motivate me to perform tomorrow. impression.” Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, April 10, 2018 GOLF HIS OWN MAN SPOTLIGHT Woods’ rousing comeback aided Reed answers the by humility major question, top-5 or not ‘I feel like I’ve played some golf that I need to play in order to get to where I want to be, and that’s to be the best golfer in the world’ Tiger Woods of the United States waits on the first fairway with caddie Joe LaCava during the final round of the 2018 Masters Tournament on Sunday.