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Charlotte, May 01: Tiger Woods found his putting touch to post his lowest score in more than a year and take a two-stroke lead after the opening round at the USD 6.5 million (4.4 million pound) Quail Hollow Championship.
Woods, in his first start since a disappointing tie for sixth at the Masters, stormed home with six birdies on his inward half, including lengthy birdie putts on his last three holes on a pleasant spring morning at Quail Hollow.
His bogey-free seven-under-par 65 left him two strokes above Americans Phil Mickelson, Steve Marino and Jason Dufner, and Australian Robert Allenby.
"I hit a couple of loose shots here and there but I putted really well," Woods told reporters.
"I had a couple of key saves that kept the round going (and) it's always nice when you birdie the last three."
Woods, who won here in 2007 but missed last year's event through injury, left the Masters with steam coming from his ears after bogeying the final two holes.
"Augusta was a little frustrating because I was struggling with the two-way miss. I could miss it left and right.”
"It took a few days (to get over it) and once that was over, it was back to getting ready for this event," said the world number one, whose 65 matched his final round at the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic last February.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Woods takes two-shot lead in Charlotte
Woods, in his first start since a disappointing tie for sixth at the Masters, stormed home with six birdies on his inward half, including lengthy birdie putts on his last three holes on a pleasant spring morning at Quail Hollow.Nadal reaches Rome quarter-finals
Rome, May 01: Top seed Rafael Nadal swept aside Swede Robin Soderling 6-1, 6-0 at the Rome Masters to book a quarter-final with fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco while Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer also had easy wins.
Holder Djokovic breezed past Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-1 to set up a last-eight clash with Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro and Federer beat 16th seed Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-1 to avenge last year's defeat here by the Czech.
World number one Nadal, a three-time winner in Rome, made a slow start and needed six deuces to hold serve in the marathon second game. He soon found his stride though, unleashing some venomous forehands to break in the following game.
Nadal did not lose another game, although Soderling could have made it more interesting by taking better advantage of five break points in the first set.
Sixth seed Verdasco earned the right to meet his compatriot with a 7-5, 6-4 triumph over France's Richard Gasquet.
Djokovic's Spanish opponent Robredo, seeded 13th, struggled to keep the ball in play throughout, giving away a break to love in the fourth game with a series of poor shots and another in the sixth with a drop into the net.
Third seed Djokovic, who destroyed a racket in frustration when Albert Montanes troubled him in the second round, continued to bully Robredo in the second set.
Del Potro, seeded fifth, will face the Serb after fending off a fightback from Swiss number 10 seed Stanislas Wawrinka, last year's runner-up, to prevail 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.
Champion Djokovic eases into Rome tennis semis
Rome, May 01: Reigning champion Novak Djokovic produced a classy display to defeat world number five Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Rome Masters claycourt tournament.
The 21-year-old world number three needs to retain his title or he will lose his ranking spot to number four Andy Murray, who was knocked out in the second round earlier this week.
But he looked every bit championship material with a commanding performance that lasted 1hr 38min under the baking sun at the Foro Italico.
The Serbian has yet to drop a set in three matches in this tournament and will face world number two Roger Federer in the semis if the Swiss 13-time Grand Slam winner defeats qualifier Mischa Zverev of Germany later on Friday.
Djokovic took command early on in the first set after a series of three breaks in a row. That allowed him to serve out the set 6-3, capping it with an ace on set point.
Del Potro came out with renewed determination in the second set and while he became increasingly dominant on his first serve, he also became more vulnerable on his second.
That gave Djokovic the initiative to break the Argentine fifth seed at 2-2 when Del Potro went long with a backhand at 15-40.
The match then went with serve until Del Potro had to save a match point at 3-5 with a big serve.
He saved two more match points at 4-5 when third seed Djokovic went wide with a backhand down the line and then netted a forehand.
But the Serbian claimed the victory on his fourth match point as Del Potro ran around his backhand but hit a cramped forehand into the net.
It was Djokovic's greater class that counted in the end as their statistics looked similar but for the Serbian hitting 20 winners to just eight from the Argentine.
India U-14 girls open with victories
New Delhi, May 01: The Indian under-14 girls team opened their campaign in the AFC U-14 girls Football Festival with victories against Bhutan and Iran.
In the tournament being held in Colombo for South and Central Asian countries, Indian girls walloped Bhutan 9-0 and then defeated Iran 3-1.
Besides these three teams, Jordan, Pakistan and hosts Sri Lanka are taking part in the tournament being held from April 30 to May 5.
Wenger says Almunia is best goalkeeper for England
London Colney, May 01: Spanish-born goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is the best goalkeeper for England's World Cup campaign, his Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday.
Speaking at his weekly news briefing before Arsenal's Premier League match at Portsmouth, Wenger said that if England select their 2010 squad according to qualifying residency rules, then the Spaniard would not only qualify but would also be the best available to England manager Fabio Capello.
David James of Portsmouth is currently England's first choice goalkeeper, but Wenger backed his own man.
"Of course he is good enough - he is the best," said Wenger.
"But in the end, it is up to him if he wants to play for England if he is given the chance."
Almunia will complete his five years residency in England this summer.
Born in Pamplona, he joined Arsenal in July 2004 from Celta Vigo and, following the departure of German international Jens Lehmann at the end of last season, has established himself as the London club's number one choice.
Wenger said that in his opinion it was just a matter of following the residency qualifying rules and then picking the strongest team.
"It is down to the English (FA) to pick him and it is down to his desire to play for England," he said.
"Why should he not qualify and play for England? But Manuel Almunia is really Spanish and he also has to consider if he is going to have a chance to play in the Spanish national team or not."
Wenger's views were not backed up by Harry Redknapp, the manager of Arsenal's arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Writing in his column in The Sun newspaper, Redknapp said that only English players should play for England and that Almunia should not be eligible just because he has lived in the country for five years.
"If it came to a choice between England winning the World Cup with a Spanish goalkeeper or not winning it, I would rather not win it," he wrote.
"If we cannot produce our own footballers, our own generation of keepers to play for England, then we don't deserve to win anything in the first place."
Home » Sports » Football Italian football clubs agree breakaway Home » Sports » Football Everton eye new cash after merchandising deal
Liverpool, May 01: Everton boss David Moyes can hope for additional funds to strengthen his squad this summer after the club signed a new merchandising deal worth 32 million pounds (47.6 million dollars) over ten years.
The agreement with online sports retailers Kitbag is the biggest commercial contract in the club's history. Kitbag takes over responsibility for merchandising Everton kit and other products and for running the club's online store from troubled British retailer JJB Sports from the start of next season.
As part of the deal, Everton will stop wearing Umbro shirts after their appearance in the FA Cup final on May 30 and will switch to the Le Coq Sportif brand from the start of next season.
Kitbag's existing portfolio of clubs includes Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Lee will have to fight for his place in Ashes squad: Reports
Abu Dhabi, May 01: While Australian fast bowler Brett has already stated on his website that he is ready to assume the lead role for the Ashes Tests, A leading Australian newspaper feels he needs to get out of the bubble that he is living in and look at the real world that is about to confront him.
“Simply, the No.1 bowler for Australia is Mitchell Johnson. The heat that this guy is bowling is frightening. On the recent tour of South Africa, I honestly thought I was watching an old tape of the great West Indies bowlers, creating havoc everywhere they bowled. In that Test series against the Proteas, Mitch was hitting batsmen all over their bodies. I was mesmerised by his ferocity and bounce. I thought he would seriously hurt someone. And I loved it. It was compelling viewing for any cricket fan,” says the paper’s columnist.
He further goes on to say that Australia now has quite a balanced Test line-up for the Ashes tour.
“So where does Lee fit in? Well, he has played 10 Tests in England with miserable figures of 29 wickets at an expensive average of 46. He has never taken 10 wickets or more in a Test and I just can`t remember when he has seriously turned a match on its ear. The only two teams he has hurt in his career are Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Everyone else has had some fun with him,” claims the paper.
The question that arises is whether Lee is a better bowler than Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Jeff Thomson or Rodney Hogg?
“You have to say no, surely? Their records against top-quality teams were awesome. I always wanted my quicks to be snarly and ugly. Running in hard and creating hostility to all batsmen. I want to see some facial hair and pent-up aggression. I want my fast bowlers to be quite happy to hurt some batsmen before they get them out. I don`t like my quicks singing to 74-year-olds, doing music clips for their latest single,” says the columnist.
“Lee says his record of 300 wickets in Tests and ODIs will speak for itself. He is ready to bowl faster than ever before. He says he is ready to assume the leadership role of the Australian attack. The problem here for me is that he never earned that role in the first place,” the columnist concludes.
PCB to decide on ICL players’ punishment on a case-to-case basis
Lahore, May 01: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would be deciding on the fate of the players who had sided with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) on a case-to-case basis.
The PCB would not impose harsh penalties on the ICL players but the range of penalties could vary from financial fines to a cooling period of six to twelve months or less.
The PCB has already clarified that players, who have shown inclination towards playing for the national team in the recent past, may be considered for selection, but only after they terminate their contract with the ICL.
However, players said they wanted some assurance from the PCB that they would be definitely considered for national selection if they severe ties with the ICL.
“We still have contracts with the ICL and APL. But we are willing to leave them if we know selectors will consider us again,” Razzaq said.
India playing Pakistan, a must for world cricket: Younis Khan
Abu Dhabi, May 01: Pakistan captain Younis Khan has said that cricketing ties between India and Pakistan are a must for cricket fans worldwide and both teams should play each other more frequently.
Comparing the matches between India and Pakistan with the Ashes, Khan said both the countries should also play in regular bilateral series.
“It not only provides excitement but also gives a chance to players to prove their mettle. “I think India playing Pakistan is a must for world cricket,” he said.
He said he would appeal to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful to join hands in the difficult situation that the region is facing currently because of which foreign teams have been expressing reservations about touring the sub-continent.
“I will definitely meet (them) on the sidelines of T20 World Cup in England and tell them that we need to join hands, as the situation in all four countries is not good, so we must stand up for each other,” Khan said.
Expressing disappointment over Pakistan not being able to host any foreign team and the ICC’s decision to shift the 2011 World Cup matches from the country, Khan said all the cricket playing nations of the region must join hands to tackle the issue together.
“The Asian countries will have to plan together, and stand up for each other in difficult times, otherwise cricket matches will not take place in our part of the world,” he said.
VVS in our scheme of things: Gilchrist
Centurion, May 01: Deccan Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist has said VVS Laxman is still in the scheme of things despite the fact that the Indian middle-order batsman was rested to give youngster T Suman an opportunity in Thursday’s encounter against the Delhi Daredevils.
Former Chargers captain Laxman has had an unimpressive outing with the bat so far and was replaced by Suman, who scored 23 in the Indian Premier League match which they lost by six wickets.
"T Suman has been playing well in the nets, so we decided to give him an opportunity. It does not means that VVS is out of contention. He is always there, but we also wanted to test some youngsters," said Gilchrist after his team went down for the first time in the tournament.
"I think we started badly. Losing Gibbs and me in quick succession did us in. Although we recovered well, but I think we fell short by 15-20 runs. Dwayne Smith batted well but he needed someone at the other end to keep us going," he said.
Gilchrist said they were in the game till the partnership between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Karthik put it beyond them.
"I think the partnership between Dilshan and Karthik changed the momentum. The match to an extent was in our control after we made early inroads, but we somehow failed to stop them. There are times when you plan well but cannot execute them. I think it was one those days," said Gilchrist.
