Friday, March 7, 2014

Andres Romero Cameron Percy share one-shot lead after first round of Puerto Rico Open

Andres Romero at the Puerto Rico Open
Getty Images
Andres Romero was cruising at the Puerto Rico Open on Thursday, until two late bogeys halted his momentum.
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By 
Associated Press 

Series: PGA Tour
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- Andres Romero made two late bogeys on Thursday to tie for the Puerto Rico Open lead with Cameron Percy at 7-under 65.
Romero, the Argentine player who won the PGA Tour's 2008 New Orleans event and the European Tour's 2007 Deutsche Bank tournament, had an eagle and seven birdies on his first 15 holes to reach 9 under, then fell back with the bogeys on the par-4 seventh and par-5 eighth.
Percy, from Australia, had nine birdies and two bogeys on the Trump International course.
Blayne Barber and Jon Curran were a stroke back, and two-time major champion Angel Cabrera opened with a 67 to match Bill Lunde, Steve LeBrun, Brad Fritsch, Justin Bolli, Morgan Hoffmann, Brian Stuard, Peter Uihlein and Rafael Campo.. Patrick Cantlay, the 20-year-old former UCLA player coming off a Web.com Tour victory last week in Colombia, shot 70.
South Korea's Si Woo Kim withdrew after a 79. The 17-year-old Kim, playing on a sponsor exemption, earned a PGA Tour card at Q-School, but won't become a full tour member until he turns 18 in June. He missed the cut at Pebble Beach in his only other tour start of the year.
Romero has missed the cuts in four of his five starts this year, shooting 75-67 last week in the Honda Classic.
"I'm happy about the way things went," Romero said. "Last week on Thursday I started striking the ball quite well and then played really well on Friday, but it wasn't good enough for me to make the cut. I was very pleased at the end, and I practiced a lot over the weekend. I had a good feeling about my game, and today I just felt confident on each and every shot I hit. I felt I couldn't miss, and thank God, I'm putting well again."
Percy, a five-time winner on the Australasian Tour, tied for 71st in the Honda Classic, wasting a 71-66 start with weekend rounds of 77 and 78.
"I just drove the ball really nicely," Percy said. "I've been trying to not hit the ball too hard, so I just hit three-quarters drivers and just kept the ball in play. I did that today and it was quite nice."
Cabrera played alongside countryman Romero and Colombia's Camilo Villegas.
"I had a really good time with them," Cabrera said. "They are really good friends, so we enjoyed a lot and had lots of fun out there."
Villegas shot 71. Defending champion George McNeill also had a 71.

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Thursday, December 26, 2013

Golf-Garcia takes his first title of the year in Thailand


Golf-Garcia takes his first title of the year in Thailand


Reuters
December 15, 2013 7:07 AM
Dec 15 (Reuters) - Spaniard Sergio Garcia carded a final-round 68 to cruise to a four-stroke win at the Thailand Golf Championship on Sunday for his first title of the year.
Garcia, 33, combined six birdies with two bogeys during the final round at the Amata Spring Country Club for a four-day total of 22-under-par 266 in the $1 million Asian Tour event.
World number three Swede Henrik Stenson also shot a 68 with five birdies and a bogey to finish second but never managed to put Garcia under serious pressure.
"It was great, an amazing week... obviously being the last week of the year and for having Katharina (Boehm) caddie for me," Garcia, who had his girlfriend caddying for him, told reporters.
Stenson, the first man to win the U.S. Tour's lucrative FedExCup series and the European money list double in 2013, had halved Garcia's overnight lead to two on the turn but the Spaniard put paid to his hopes by sinking three consecutive birdies from the 10th.
"I knew Henrik was going to make it difficult for me. He's been playing so amazingly great, and he did," Garcia, 33, said. "He kept hitting good shot after good shot.
"And then when I bogeyed seven, I had to make a good par save on nine after getting a bit unlucky with the approach shot. And then I made three very important birdies on the first three on the back nine and gave myself a little bit of a cushion."
Stenson rued some missed opportunities on Sunday but was not too unhappy with his overall performance during the week.
"I've had a great year but coming here really on the fumes left in the tank, not too much going for me to perform in that sense," the Swede said.
"But I played really nicely yesterday and I was hanging in there today and I was just coming up a couple short."
Frenchman Alexander Levy (69) was four shots behind Stenson at third spot while U.S. Open champion Justin Rose (72), last year's winner Charl Schwartzel (67) of South Africa, India's Anirban Lahiri (73) and Japan's Yuki Kono (69) finished tied for the fourth place. (Writing by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Alan Baldwin)
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South Africa to return to routine after Mandela funeral

South Africa to return to routine after Mandela funeral

Reuters 
By Mark GleesonDecember 15, 2013 3:26 AM
A boy wears a mask of former South African President Mandela outside his house along Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where Mandela resided when he lived in the township
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A boy wears a mask of former South African President Nelson Mandela outside his house along Vilakazi …
By Mark Gleeson
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Sport in South Africa is set to return to normal on Monday after the funeral of Nelson Mandela with the much-anticipated cricket series against India and an end to the first half of the domestic soccer season dominating a busy pre-Christmas period.
Memorials over the last week for the former South African president, plus wet somber weather, necessitated change in schedules, but no one seemed to mind.
"We understand that one of the most iconic figures in the world must be remembered," said German-born coach Ernst Middendorp, whose Bloemfontein Celtic team saw their fixtures for the rest of the year change as the South African Premier Soccer League adjusted their schedule.
They did go ahead with last weekend's League Cup final, just over 48 hours after Mandela's death, but once plans for his funeral and various memorial services at stadiums around the country were announced, all fixtures were canceled - at a busy juncture of the season.
In the immediate aftermath of Mandela's death on December 5, golf, cricket and football events continued, including the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City.
The last seven days have been a somber period for sport, as much for the mourning of Mandela as for the inclement weather that has wreaked havoc.
The week was marked by a massive outpouring of recollections over the role Mandela played in restoring South Africa to international competition after the Apartheid era and his use of national teams to try and foster reconciliation across the color barrier.
The European Tour golf tournament in Durban, named after Mandela, took three days to complete the first round and was eventually restricted to 54 holes because of bad weather.
"Winning The Nelson Mandela at this time, when it's sad for everyone, everyone is mourning and tomorrow's the big day, it means a lot and it's something I can keep close to my heart for ever," said winner Dawie van der Walt after his two-shot triumph on Saturday.
Monday, which is a public holiday in South Africa, will see an set of football fixtures and Wednesday marks the start of the first cricket test between South Africa and India at Johannesburg's Wanderers stadium.
The Indian cricketers were due to play a two-day warm-up match on Saturday and Sunday but the game was advanced by a day to avoid a clash with Mandela's funeral in Qunu on Sunday.
But heavy rains in Johannesburg left the outfield wet and the match unplayable, robbing the tourists of valuable practice before the first test.
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
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Garcia takes his first title of the year in Thailand

Garcia takes his first title of the year in Thailand

Reuters 
December 15, 2013 7:12 AM
Garcia of Spain tees off on the 17th hole during the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship golf tournament in Norton, Massachusetts
.
View gallery
Sergio Garcia of Spain tees off on the 17th hole during the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship …
(Reuters) - Spaniard Sergio Garcia carded a final-round 68 to cruise to a four-stroke win at the Thailand Golf Championship on Sunday for his first title of the year.
Garcia, 33, combined six birdies with two bogeys during the final round at the Amata Spring Country Club for a four-day total of 22-under-par 266 in the $1 million Asian Tour event.
World number three Swede Henrik Stenson also shot a 68 with five birdies and a bogey to finish second but never managed to put Garcia under serious pressure.
"It was great, an amazing week... obviously being the last week of the year and for having Katharina (Boehm) caddie for me," Garcia, who had his girlfriend caddying for him, told reporters.
Stenson, the first man to win the U.S. Tour's lucrative FedExCup series and the European money list double in 2013, had halved Garcia's overnight lead to two on the turn but the Spaniard put paid to his hopes by sinking three consecutive birdies from the 10th.
"I knew Henrik was going to make it difficult for me. He's been playing so amazingly great, and he did," Garcia, 33, said. "He kept hitting good shot after good shot.
"And then when I bogeyed seven, I had to make a good par save on nine after getting a bit unlucky with the approach shot. And then I made three very important birdies on the first three on the back nine and gave myself a little bit of a cushion."
Stenson rued some missed opportunities on Sunday but was not too unhappy with his overall performance during the week.
"I've had a great year but coming here really on the fumes left in the tank, not too much going for me to perform in that sense," the Swede said.
"But I played really nicely yesterday and I was hanging in there today and I was just coming up a couple short."
Frenchman Alexander Levy (69) was four shots behind Stenson at third spot while U.S. Open champion Justin Rose (72), last year's winner Charl Schwartzel (67) of South Africa, India's Anirban Lahiri (73) and Japan's Yuki Kono (69) finished tied for the fourth place.
(Writing by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Alan Baldwin)
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Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Sunday, Dec 15

Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Sunday, Dec 15

Reuters 
December 15, 2013 9:01 AM
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Sunday:
- - - -
SOCCER
Premier League (1330 unless stated)
Norwich City v Swansea City
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool (1600)
Liverpool aim for second at Spurs, United visit Villa
LONDON - Liverpool and their in-form Uruguay striker Luis Suarez visit Tottenham Hotspur looking for a win that would take them up to second place after inconsistent champions Manchester United visit Aston Villa. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/ (PIX), expect by 1530 GMT/10:30 AM ET, by Justin Palmer, 500 words)
- -
La Liga
Almeria v Espanyol (1100)
Sevilla v Athletic Club (1800)
Atletico Madrid v Valencia (2000)
Atletico welcome Valencia aiming to keep pace with Barca
MADRID - Atletico Madrid host mid-table Valencia needing a win to keep pace with leaders Barcelona at the top of La Liga and move five points clear of Real Madrid, while Athletic Bilbao look to consolidate fourth spot at Sevilla. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PIX), expect by 2000 GMT/3 PM ET, by Iain Rogers, 500 words)
- -
Serie A (1400 unless stated)
Fiorentina v Bologna
Genoa v Atalanta Bergamo
Lazio v Livorno
Parma v Cagliari
Udinese v Torino
Juventus v Sassuolo (1730)
Napoli v Inter Milan (1945)
Reeling Juve welcome Sassuolo, Napoli host Inter
MILAN - Juventus can open a six-point lead in Serie A with a home win over lowly Sassuolo while faltering Napoli, who are eight points off the pace in third, face former coach Walter Mazzarri when they host Inter Milan. (SOCCER-ITALY/ (PIX), by Terry Daley, expect by 1600 GMT/11 AM ET, 500 words)
- -
Bundesliga
Schalke 04 v Freiburg (1430)
Leverkusen aim to move back within four points of Bayern
BERLIN - Bayer Leverkusen play Eintracht Frankfurt aiming for the win that will take them back within four points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich while Schalke 04 aim to bounce back against struggling Freiburg. (SOCCER-GERMANY/ (PIX), expect by 1630 GMT/11:30 AM ET, by Karolos Grohmann, 400 words)
- -
Ligue 1
Girondins Bordeaux v Valenciennes (1300)
Lille v Bastia (1600)
Olympique Lyon v Olympique Marseille (2000)
Copy on merit
- -
Dutch Championship (1330 unless stated)
SC Cambuur v Ajax Amsterdam (1130)
Feyenoord v Groningen
Utrecht v PSV Eindhoven (1530)
Vitesse aim to move clear at the top, Ajax eye second spot
AMSTERDAM - Vitesse Arnhem can re-establish a lead at the top with a win over lowly NAC Breda while Ajax Amsterdam can move into second spot with a win at second-bottom Cambuur.(SOCCER-DUTCH/, expect by 1730 GMT/12:30 AM ET, 350 words)
- -
Club World Cup (to 21)
Our reporter Brian Homewood will bring you all the latest news from the Club World Cup in Morocco. (SOCCER-CLUB/)
- -
Argentine "Inicial" championship, final day:
Velez Sarsfield v San Lorenzo
Newell's Old Boys v Lanus
San Lorenzo can lift title with victory at Velez
BUENOS AIRES - San Lorenzo hold a two-point lead over their three title challengers including hosts Velez while Newell's Old Boys can still hope to retain the league crown at home to Lanus in Rosario. If two teams finish equal on points at the top there will be a title playoff. (SOCCER-ARGENTINA/CHAMPIONSHIP (PIX), expect by 0200 GMT / 9 PM ET, by Rex Gowar, 400 words)
- - - -
CRICKET
Australia v England, third Ashes test
England's hopes melt away at sweltering WACA
PERTH - David Warner punished a depleted and dispirited England with a brilliant century to help drive Australia to 235 for three and a dominant lead of 369 after the third day of the third Ashes test. (CRICKET-ASHES/ UPDATE 3 moved, by Nick Mulvenney, 700 words)
PERTH - Stuart Broad will not bowl again in the third Ashes test after injuring his right foot but he might bat in England's second innings and has not given up hope of rescuing the match (CRICKET-ASHES/BROAD, UPDATE 2 moved, by Nick Mulvenney)
- - - -
GOLF
Kuchar and English four ahead heading in Shootout event
Americans Matt Kuchar and Harris English will go into the final round of the Franklin Templeton Shootout team tournament in Naples, Florida, with a four-stroke lead over South African Retief Goosen and Swede Fredrik Jacobson. (GOLF-PGA/SHOOTOUT, expect by 2330 GMT/6:30 PM ET, 250 words)
- - - -
NFL
Seahawks try again for West clincher
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - The Seattle Seahawks, who stumbled last week against the San Francisco 49ers, will make another run at the NFC West division title and a first-round playoff bye when they visit theNew York Giants, who have been eliminated from the postseason. (NFL-SEAHAWKS/ (PIX), expect first copy by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 500 words)
- -
Denver and New England go for division titles
Playoff possibilities loom for Denver, Kansas City, New England, New Orleans, Carolina and San Francisco as the end of the regular season draws closer. (NFL-WRAP/ (PIX), expect first copy by 2300 GMT/6 PM ET, 500 words)
- -
Bears seek to move in front in NFC North
The Chicago Bears try to grab at least temporarily the NFC North lead over Detroit when they visit theCleveland Browns and the Carolina Panthers host the New York Jets hoping to stay in the NFC playoff race. (NFL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect first copy by 2130 GMT/5:30 PM ET, 500 words)
- -
Bengals look to lock up playoff spot at Steelers
The Cincinnati Bengals will try to claim the AFC North title, or at least a playoff spot, when they play at thePittsburgh Steelers, who still have a remote chance for a postseason berth despite a 5-8 record. (NFL-BENGALS/ (PIX), expect first copy by 0545 GMT/12:45 AM ET, 400 words)
- -
Factbox on NFL playoff picture (NFL-PLAYOFFS (FACTBOX)
- - - -
NBA
Thunder on a roll in Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Thunder, a perfect 11-0 at home this season and winners of five straight overall, host theOrlando Magic as they chase the Western Conference lead in one of six games on the schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
- - - -
NHL
Ducks go for another home win
The Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks, still undefeated in regulation games at home this season, host the Edmonton Oilers while the Los Angeles Kings travel to Chicago in two of six games on the NHL schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0430 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- - - -
NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS
Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0101 GMT/8:01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- - - -
ALPINE SKIING
World Cup: Women's Giant Slalom, St Moritz
Men's Giant Slalom, Val d'Isere
Copy on merit
- - - -
GAMES
Southeast Asian Games, Myanmar (to 21)
Copy on merit (London Duty Editor: Alan Baldwin)
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