It would be fair to say that John Daly’s first competitive round of golf in four months was not of the most sparkling variety. And yet the former Open champion’s two-under-par round of 70 at the Spanish Open yesterday was a more than adequate first step on the road to golfing redemption.
Daly — suspended for six months from playing on the PGA Tour in the United States and plying his trade these next five weeks in Europe — had a round that included an eagle, three birdies and three bogeys. It left him seven shots behind Soren Hansen, of Denmark, and six in arrears of Thomas Levet, of France.
If Daly continues in such vein today, he should make the halfway cut and repay the faith shown in him by those who extended an invitation to play the beautiful PGA Catalunya course, near Girona. After losing about 4st in 11 weeks in an attempt to get his golf back on track, he is still adjusting to his changing shape but is pleased with his progress, particularly on the greens.
“My elbow used to be three feet out, now it’s right on my gut,” Daly said. “The closer I can get it in there, the better I’ll hit the ball. When I was real big, it was tough to get ‘through’ the golf ball”, obstructed, he demonstrated, by overhanging “love handles”.
And if he is seeking inspiration, he need look no farther than Levet, a member of Europe’s triumphant 2004 Ryder Cup team, whose own career was threatened three years ago by severe vertigo. “When I got sick, I always thought not coming back,” Levet said. “But the doctor told me it was curable and what kept me in the game was that I kept improving week by week and month by month.” In all, the recovery took the best part of a year.
One of the brightest and funniest players on tour — he speaks seven languages and used to entertain his fellow players with card tricks — Levet won for the first time in four years at the Open de Andalucía last year and, at 40, is getting fun from the game once more. Yesterday he had birdies at three of the four par-fives and an eagle at the other, and did not drop a stroke.
Hansen, a member of the Europe Ryder Cup team in Valhalla last year, set a course record with his round of 63, but surprised even himself after opening with a double-bogey six at the 1st. A bounce-back birdie with a 30-foot putt at the 2nd settled him, however, and he went on to record another eight birdies and an eagle with some outstanding golf.
There were good rounds, too, for two of the bright young things of British golf — Callum Macaulay, of Scotland, who had a 65, and Chris Wood, of England, with a 66. Both secured their playing rights at Qualifying School on the same course last November and made good use of the knowledge they gleaned at the time.
Source:The times
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson set for sleepless nights after team cannot put tie to bed
Sitting in the Europa Suite at Old Trafford on Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by reminders of his club’s long history in this competition, Sir Alex Ferguson had expressed his belief that this would be a “fantastic” scoreline at the halfway point in the Champions League semi-final. However, by the end of last night, the manager’s satisfaction at a dominant Manchester United performance was tempered by a nagging regret that they had let Arsenal off the hook.
A 1-0 lead is a decent advantage to take into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with John O’Shea, of all people, scoring the only goal last night, but it could have been so much better for United. A single goal seemed a disappointing return for a vibrant display that was epitomised by the tenacity of Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Wayne Rooney and the recalled Carlos Tévez, but Arsenal could claim that they had the game’s outstanding performer in Manuel Almunia.
The Spaniard made three outstanding saves in the first half, with Arsène Wenger describing his performance as “excellent, top class in every sense”. The goalkeeper had to be at his best, because none of his team-mates could claim to have been anything of the sort.
Arsenal were disappointing, struggling to produce the fluent football for which they are renowned, but under the circumstances, with William Gallas and Gaël Clichy missing from their defence and no Andrey Arshavin or Robin van Persie farther forward, it was asking a lot for Wenger’s team to reach the heights to which they aspire against a United side who have the bit between their teeth once more.
The question is whether Arsenal’s youngsters have enough about them to overturn the deficit. Too many of them found the going tough last night, as illustrated by Theo Walcott’s difficulty in finding a way past Patrice Evra, and they will need to raise their game on Tuesday, just as their supporters will need somehow to make the Emirates Stadium an intimidating venue for United. Even if Arsenal get the goal that is a minimum requirement, it is hard to imagine them keeping Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo et al quiet for 90 minutes.
In one sense, it did not look a fair fight. These things are not easy to say with regard to a club who do not disclose their transfer fees, but Arsenal’s entire starting line-up cannot have cost Wenger much more than the £30.75 million that Ferguson spent on Dimitar Berbatov, who was left out of the United team. On one hand it was remarkable that Ferguson chose to go without his record signing in such a big game, but the United manager chooses horses for courses and, against Arsenal’s slightly ponderous central defenders, the selection of Tévez made perfect sense and was quickly vindicated.
Tévez has been bitterly frustrated at sitting out so many important matches in favour of Berbatov and his determination to make the most of this opportunity was clear. It was he who took the fight to Arsenal in the opening half-hour, enabling United to set the kind of tempo that does not come naturally to a player of Berbatov’s undoubted talent. Tévez dragged Kolo Touré and Mikaël Silvestre this way and that, leaving Rooney and Ronaldo to stretch the full backs.
Arsenal’s supporters were relieved to reach half-time only one goal adrift, with Almunia’s name belted out with gusto as the whistle was blown. The first of his saves, as he back-pedalled and stretched to claw Rooney’s looping header away from the goalline, was excellent, but even better were the two that followed as he flung himself to his left to keep out Tévez’s close-range shot and then to his right to repel Ronaldo’s header.
Almunia, though, could not thwart United single-handedly. From the corner that followed his save from Tévez in the seventeenth minute, Anderson’s cross travelled beyond the far post, where Michael Carrick feinted to shoot before waltzing past Bacary Sagna. Carrick’s cross was unwittingly touched on by Silvestre to O’Shea, who quickly adjusted his body to send a firm shot into the roof of the net.
It was the least that United deserved for the manner in which they started, but the complexion and the mood of the game slowly began to change thereafter. Ferguson, in a half-time television interview, suggested that his team had controlled the game for 35 minutes, pinpointing the moment where he thought that Arsenal had established a foothold as the interval approached. Chances, though, were scarce — Cesc Fàbregas hit one shot straight at Edwin van der Sar and then, to great amusement, sent another one out for a throw-in — but at least they were stringing passes together, something they had struggled to do to that point.
Midway through the second half, after Ronaldo had rattled the woodwork with a stupendous 30-yard shot at one end and Emmanuel Adebayor had sent an effort flying over the crossbar at the other, Arsenal’s supporters called for Eduardo da Silva, an indication that they thought there was an away goal to be had. Wenger chose first to send on Nicklas Bendtner for Walcott and the Denmark forward came closest to scoring the goal that Arsenal craved, heading wide with four minutes remaining after a powerful leap had allowed him to get to a Fàbregas free kick ahead of Van der Sar.
By now, United seemed more concerned with containment, eager not to concede the away goal that would have handed the initiative to Arsenal, but Ryan Giggs, making his 800th appearance for the club as a substitute, thought that he had scored with 18 minutes remaining, only to be deemed offside from Rooney’s astute pass. Ferguson raged at the fourth official, but, if he is cursing anyone this morning, it is more likely to be Almunia.
Source:The times
A 1-0 lead is a decent advantage to take into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with John O’Shea, of all people, scoring the only goal last night, but it could have been so much better for United. A single goal seemed a disappointing return for a vibrant display that was epitomised by the tenacity of Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Wayne Rooney and the recalled Carlos Tévez, but Arsenal could claim that they had the game’s outstanding performer in Manuel Almunia.
The Spaniard made three outstanding saves in the first half, with Arsène Wenger describing his performance as “excellent, top class in every sense”. The goalkeeper had to be at his best, because none of his team-mates could claim to have been anything of the sort.
Arsenal were disappointing, struggling to produce the fluent football for which they are renowned, but under the circumstances, with William Gallas and Gaël Clichy missing from their defence and no Andrey Arshavin or Robin van Persie farther forward, it was asking a lot for Wenger’s team to reach the heights to which they aspire against a United side who have the bit between their teeth once more.
The question is whether Arsenal’s youngsters have enough about them to overturn the deficit. Too many of them found the going tough last night, as illustrated by Theo Walcott’s difficulty in finding a way past Patrice Evra, and they will need to raise their game on Tuesday, just as their supporters will need somehow to make the Emirates Stadium an intimidating venue for United. Even if Arsenal get the goal that is a minimum requirement, it is hard to imagine them keeping Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo et al quiet for 90 minutes.
In one sense, it did not look a fair fight. These things are not easy to say with regard to a club who do not disclose their transfer fees, but Arsenal’s entire starting line-up cannot have cost Wenger much more than the £30.75 million that Ferguson spent on Dimitar Berbatov, who was left out of the United team. On one hand it was remarkable that Ferguson chose to go without his record signing in such a big game, but the United manager chooses horses for courses and, against Arsenal’s slightly ponderous central defenders, the selection of Tévez made perfect sense and was quickly vindicated.
Tévez has been bitterly frustrated at sitting out so many important matches in favour of Berbatov and his determination to make the most of this opportunity was clear. It was he who took the fight to Arsenal in the opening half-hour, enabling United to set the kind of tempo that does not come naturally to a player of Berbatov’s undoubted talent. Tévez dragged Kolo Touré and Mikaël Silvestre this way and that, leaving Rooney and Ronaldo to stretch the full backs.
Arsenal’s supporters were relieved to reach half-time only one goal adrift, with Almunia’s name belted out with gusto as the whistle was blown. The first of his saves, as he back-pedalled and stretched to claw Rooney’s looping header away from the goalline, was excellent, but even better were the two that followed as he flung himself to his left to keep out Tévez’s close-range shot and then to his right to repel Ronaldo’s header.
Almunia, though, could not thwart United single-handedly. From the corner that followed his save from Tévez in the seventeenth minute, Anderson’s cross travelled beyond the far post, where Michael Carrick feinted to shoot before waltzing past Bacary Sagna. Carrick’s cross was unwittingly touched on by Silvestre to O’Shea, who quickly adjusted his body to send a firm shot into the roof of the net.
It was the least that United deserved for the manner in which they started, but the complexion and the mood of the game slowly began to change thereafter. Ferguson, in a half-time television interview, suggested that his team had controlled the game for 35 minutes, pinpointing the moment where he thought that Arsenal had established a foothold as the interval approached. Chances, though, were scarce — Cesc Fàbregas hit one shot straight at Edwin van der Sar and then, to great amusement, sent another one out for a throw-in — but at least they were stringing passes together, something they had struggled to do to that point.
Midway through the second half, after Ronaldo had rattled the woodwork with a stupendous 30-yard shot at one end and Emmanuel Adebayor had sent an effort flying over the crossbar at the other, Arsenal’s supporters called for Eduardo da Silva, an indication that they thought there was an away goal to be had. Wenger chose first to send on Nicklas Bendtner for Walcott and the Denmark forward came closest to scoring the goal that Arsenal craved, heading wide with four minutes remaining after a powerful leap had allowed him to get to a Fàbregas free kick ahead of Van der Sar.
By now, United seemed more concerned with containment, eager not to concede the away goal that would have handed the initiative to Arsenal, but Ryan Giggs, making his 800th appearance for the club as a substitute, thought that he had scored with 18 minutes remaining, only to be deemed offside from Rooney’s astute pass. Ferguson raged at the fourth official, but, if he is cursing anyone this morning, it is more likely to be Almunia.
Source:The times
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Master Minded scrambles home as Punchestown Festival begins
It may have been the bracing spring sunshine or the teatime start that kept Punchestown's first-day crowd healthy in a cash crisis but those who came just to admire a lap of honour from Master Minded got more excitement than expected. The dual two-mile champion had only a head to spare over Big Zeb in the Kerrygold Champion Chase and would have been beaten if his rival had not fluffed the last fence.
Paul Nicholls, his trainer, had been convinced Master Minded was in better shape than when defending his title at Cheltenham last month but his nerves were shredded in a fraught climax. Nicholls felt Master Minded idled after being obliged to make his own running but Ruby Walsh, his jockey, was less forgiving.
“He didn't travel with the gusto or jump with the exuberance he usually has,” Walsh confessed. “He just wasn't taking me there out in front and he was pulling up again before the line. This wasn't his best effort but he's still won and he's an incredible horse.”
Nicholls, admitting it was “a gamble” to bring Master Minded here after ten months on the go, believes the personality of the horse has altered. “Just like Kauto Star, you learn about these horses all the time and I think he's got a bit complacent. You'll see him next in the Tingle Creek in December and I'd expect him to have a pacemaker.”
Bookmakers eased Master Minded slightly for a third Champion Chase but took the shears to the price of Big Zeb, running his best race yet for Colm Murphy. “It's a pity to get so close and not win but he's on the upgrade and something to look forward to,” Murphy said.
Nicholls had earlier watched with mixed emotions as Walsh initiated a grade one double by dismissing significant rivals to establish Hurricane Fly as new favourite for the 2010 Champion Hurdle. Admiring though he was of horse and rider, Nicholls now knows he may have to seek another jockey if Celestial Halo makes it back to Cheltenham next year.
There may, of course, be considerable caveats about Hurricane Fly getting there - his missed the Festival last month with minor injury and, being by Montjeu, he has hotheaded tendencies. His talent, though, is beyond question and the speed with which he put a false-run race to bed yesterday was breathtaking.
It came as no surprise to Willie Mullins, his trainer, who recounted a home gallop last Tuesday “which amazed us all”. Characteristically, Walsh anchored him towards the rear and looked to have a problem as he turned into the straight behind a wall of horses. He attracted the attention of the stewards by nudging a path through but his mount then sprinted seven lengths clear of Kempes and Riverside Theatre.
The latter, watched by a nattily clad Jimmy Nesbitt, his part-owner, was part of a decimated travelling party for Nicky Henderson, who yesterday scratched Punchestowns from the Ladbroke World Series Hurdle tomorrow after he was slightly lame behind. “It's nothing serious but we can't risk him,” Henderson said.
He had already taken Barbers Shop, owned by the Queen, out of today's feature race, the Guinness Gold Cup. Notre Pere, Ireland's leading chaser on ratings, is likely to contest favouritism with Imperial Commander, who won the Ryanair Chase for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Cooldine, a Cheltenham winner for Mullins, is also among the 13 declared but he will not turn out again after disappointing yesterday in the Boylesports Champion Novice Chase. Walsh led from the start again but Cooldine jumped without fluency and dropped out tamely in the straight as Rare Bob, fourth in the Irish National, produced the surprise of the day.
More than 16,000 turned up, with an increase in general admission compensating for the predictable corporate decline. The jury is out on the late start and evening finish but the benefits may have been as much to local landlords as local workrate.
Source:The times
Paul Nicholls, his trainer, had been convinced Master Minded was in better shape than when defending his title at Cheltenham last month but his nerves were shredded in a fraught climax. Nicholls felt Master Minded idled after being obliged to make his own running but Ruby Walsh, his jockey, was less forgiving.
“He didn't travel with the gusto or jump with the exuberance he usually has,” Walsh confessed. “He just wasn't taking me there out in front and he was pulling up again before the line. This wasn't his best effort but he's still won and he's an incredible horse.”
Nicholls, admitting it was “a gamble” to bring Master Minded here after ten months on the go, believes the personality of the horse has altered. “Just like Kauto Star, you learn about these horses all the time and I think he's got a bit complacent. You'll see him next in the Tingle Creek in December and I'd expect him to have a pacemaker.”
Bookmakers eased Master Minded slightly for a third Champion Chase but took the shears to the price of Big Zeb, running his best race yet for Colm Murphy. “It's a pity to get so close and not win but he's on the upgrade and something to look forward to,” Murphy said.
Nicholls had earlier watched with mixed emotions as Walsh initiated a grade one double by dismissing significant rivals to establish Hurricane Fly as new favourite for the 2010 Champion Hurdle. Admiring though he was of horse and rider, Nicholls now knows he may have to seek another jockey if Celestial Halo makes it back to Cheltenham next year.
There may, of course, be considerable caveats about Hurricane Fly getting there - his missed the Festival last month with minor injury and, being by Montjeu, he has hotheaded tendencies. His talent, though, is beyond question and the speed with which he put a false-run race to bed yesterday was breathtaking.
It came as no surprise to Willie Mullins, his trainer, who recounted a home gallop last Tuesday “which amazed us all”. Characteristically, Walsh anchored him towards the rear and looked to have a problem as he turned into the straight behind a wall of horses. He attracted the attention of the stewards by nudging a path through but his mount then sprinted seven lengths clear of Kempes and Riverside Theatre.
The latter, watched by a nattily clad Jimmy Nesbitt, his part-owner, was part of a decimated travelling party for Nicky Henderson, who yesterday scratched Punchestowns from the Ladbroke World Series Hurdle tomorrow after he was slightly lame behind. “It's nothing serious but we can't risk him,” Henderson said.
He had already taken Barbers Shop, owned by the Queen, out of today's feature race, the Guinness Gold Cup. Notre Pere, Ireland's leading chaser on ratings, is likely to contest favouritism with Imperial Commander, who won the Ryanair Chase for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Cooldine, a Cheltenham winner for Mullins, is also among the 13 declared but he will not turn out again after disappointing yesterday in the Boylesports Champion Novice Chase. Walsh led from the start again but Cooldine jumped without fluency and dropped out tamely in the straight as Rare Bob, fourth in the Irish National, produced the surprise of the day.
More than 16,000 turned up, with an increase in general admission compensating for the predictable corporate decline. The jury is out on the late start and evening finish but the benefits may have been as much to local landlords as local workrate.
Source:The times
Colin Montgomerie wants to increase Ryder Cup wild cards
Colin Montgomerie wants to increase the number of wild-card picks he will have for next year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.
The European Tour's players' committee meets in Ireland on May 12 and the Europe captain wants more than the two picks his predecessors have had for the past seven matches. America regained the trophy in October after their captain Paul Azinger sought and was given four picks, two more than previously.
"I am one vote, but a more powerful one than I was being the captain," Montgomerie said. "I will put the case forward."
He did not reveal how many wild cards he would request - he once said the captain should be able to choose all 12 of the side - but did confirm his proposal is a change to the current system.
Last year, Nick Faldo overlooked Montgomerie, the German player Martin Kaymer, European Open champion Ross Fisher and Darren Clarke - winner of two qualifying tournaments, including the penultimate one - in favour of Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.
Poulter's selection was controversial because he had not flown back from America for the final event when he still had a chance to make the team automatically. However, he was Europe's top scorer in the contest with four wins out of five.
Source:The times
The European Tour's players' committee meets in Ireland on May 12 and the Europe captain wants more than the two picks his predecessors have had for the past seven matches. America regained the trophy in October after their captain Paul Azinger sought and was given four picks, two more than previously.
"I am one vote, but a more powerful one than I was being the captain," Montgomerie said. "I will put the case forward."
He did not reveal how many wild cards he would request - he once said the captain should be able to choose all 12 of the side - but did confirm his proposal is a change to the current system.
Last year, Nick Faldo overlooked Montgomerie, the German player Martin Kaymer, European Open champion Ross Fisher and Darren Clarke - winner of two qualifying tournaments, including the penultimate one - in favour of Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.
Poulter's selection was controversial because he had not flown back from America for the final event when he still had a chance to make the team automatically. However, he was Europe's top scorer in the contest with four wins out of five.
Source:The times
England overlook Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell for first Test with West Indies
Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell and Stephen Harmison have all been left out of England's 12-man squad for the first npower Test match against the West Indies on Wednesday. Owais Shah has been dropped after playing the last three Tests in the Caribbean.
Ravi Bopara, the Essex batsman, has been picked to fill the No 3 position after hitting a hundred against the West Indians in Barbados last month. And in a party of bold selections, uncapped seamers Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions will provide the back-up to James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
"This is very exciting for the two young fast bowlers to be included in the squad for a Lord's Test match and sends a message to all county players that if they put in consistently good performances they will get recognised," Geoff Miller, the national selector, said. "Both have had good starts to this season and had been close to Test match selection on a number of occasions.
"They have earned their place in the party. The selectors also felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed he has the ability to play at Test level."
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar is also included which gives captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower the opportunity to ponder the option of two slow men, a policy which some believe could be productive for the Ashes later this summer.
On the batting front, Bell, 27, was expected to return after hitting the LV County Championship's first hundred of the season for Warwickshire against Somerset and also registering a one-day century against the same opposition.
However, the selectors have demanded greater weight of runs in domestic cricket from him to emphasise a desire to get back to the international fold.
Shah, the man who displaced him for the final three Tests in the Caribbean, has been consigned to bench-warming in the Indian Premier League and therefore unable to justify his retention after a fallow return to Tests. So Bopara, currently featuring in the Indian Premier League, is back after his 104 in a one-off chance at Kensington Oval.
"The selectors felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter," Miller added.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. "He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level."
England squad for the 1st npower Test Match against West Indies:
A Strauss (Middlesex, captain)J Anderson (Lancashire)R Bopara (Essex)T Bresnan (Yorkshire)S Broad (Nottinghamshire)P Collingwood (Durham)A Cook (Essex)G Onions (Durham)M Panesar (Northamptonshire)K Pietersen (Hampshire)M Prior (Sussex, wicketkeeper)G Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Source:The times
Ravi Bopara, the Essex batsman, has been picked to fill the No 3 position after hitting a hundred against the West Indians in Barbados last month. And in a party of bold selections, uncapped seamers Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions will provide the back-up to James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
"This is very exciting for the two young fast bowlers to be included in the squad for a Lord's Test match and sends a message to all county players that if they put in consistently good performances they will get recognised," Geoff Miller, the national selector, said. "Both have had good starts to this season and had been close to Test match selection on a number of occasions.
"They have earned their place in the party. The selectors also felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed he has the ability to play at Test level."
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar is also included which gives captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower the opportunity to ponder the option of two slow men, a policy which some believe could be productive for the Ashes later this summer.
On the batting front, Bell, 27, was expected to return after hitting the LV County Championship's first hundred of the season for Warwickshire against Somerset and also registering a one-day century against the same opposition.
However, the selectors have demanded greater weight of runs in domestic cricket from him to emphasise a desire to get back to the international fold.
Shah, the man who displaced him for the final three Tests in the Caribbean, has been consigned to bench-warming in the Indian Premier League and therefore unable to justify his retention after a fallow return to Tests. So Bopara, currently featuring in the Indian Premier League, is back after his 104 in a one-off chance at Kensington Oval.
"The selectors felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter," Miller added.
"There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. "He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level."
England squad for the 1st npower Test Match against West Indies:
A Strauss (Middlesex, captain)J Anderson (Lancashire)R Bopara (Essex)T Bresnan (Yorkshire)S Broad (Nottinghamshire)P Collingwood (Durham)A Cook (Essex)G Onions (Durham)M Panesar (Northamptonshire)K Pietersen (Hampshire)M Prior (Sussex, wicketkeeper)G Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Source:The times
McLaren hit by suspended three-race ban for 'Lie-gate' scandal
McLaren Mercedes have been hit with a suspended three-race ban after they pleaded guilty to misleading stewards at the Australian Grand Prix.
Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren team principal, faced the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris today, and pleaded guilty to five charges of bringing Formula One into disrepute in connection with the “Lie-gate” scandal. However, the penalty will only be enforced on the team if "further facts emerge" about this incident or if there is a "further breach" of the rules.
The team did not contest the case and threw themselves on the mercy of the FIA as a result of the attempt by Lewis Hamilton and Dave Ryan, the now dismissed McLaren sporting director, to deceive the stewards after the race in Melbourne and before the Malaysian Grand Prix.
"Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh addressed the World Motor Sport Council and the change in culture he made clear is taking place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deemed appropriate," an FIA statement read.
"That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races [in the world championship]. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if in the next 12 months there is further breach by the team."
Hamilton has avoided any further punishment after his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix. The world champion was initially promoted from fourth to third after the race stewards in Melbourne handed Jarno Trulli a 25-second penalty for passing the Briton behind the safety car.
During the meeting, Whitmarsh again took the opportunity to offer his team's sincere apologies for the mistakes made in Australia and Malaysia.
Following the hearing described by McLaren as "very fair", Whitmarsh said: "I would like to thank the FIA World Motor Sport Council members for affording me the opportunity to answer their questions this morning.
"We are aware we made serious mistakes in Australia and Malaysia, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once again.
"I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again."
A McLaren statement added: "We now look forward with enthusiasm to continuing our efforts to develop a closer and more co-operative relationship between ourselves and the FIA.
"We will also continue to focus our efforts on closing the performance gap that exists between our car and the fastest cars.
"Following Lewis' encouraging fourth place in Bahrain on Sunday, we are now optimistic we will be able to play an increasingly competitive part in what is fast developing into a very exciting season of Formula One motor racing."
Speaking after the hearing, Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, said the WMSC's decision had been "entirely fair."
"They [McLaren] have demonstrated there is a complete culture change, that it's all different to what it was," he said. "In those circumstances it looks better to put the whole thing behind us, so unless there is something similar in the future, that is the end of the matter."
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone described the proceedings as "good, fair, honest and straight."
"I thought Martin was happy with that. He shouldn't have done something wrong should he? So he got a slap," he said.
"But it was good for everybody that decision. They had their wrist slapped. That was all they needed. They've had enough punishment."
Source:The times
Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren team principal, faced the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris today, and pleaded guilty to five charges of bringing Formula One into disrepute in connection with the “Lie-gate” scandal. However, the penalty will only be enforced on the team if "further facts emerge" about this incident or if there is a "further breach" of the rules.
The team did not contest the case and threw themselves on the mercy of the FIA as a result of the attempt by Lewis Hamilton and Dave Ryan, the now dismissed McLaren sporting director, to deceive the stewards after the race in Melbourne and before the Malaysian Grand Prix.
"Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh addressed the World Motor Sport Council and the change in culture he made clear is taking place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deemed appropriate," an FIA statement read.
"That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races [in the world championship]. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if in the next 12 months there is further breach by the team."
Hamilton has avoided any further punishment after his disqualification from the Australian Grand Prix. The world champion was initially promoted from fourth to third after the race stewards in Melbourne handed Jarno Trulli a 25-second penalty for passing the Briton behind the safety car.
During the meeting, Whitmarsh again took the opportunity to offer his team's sincere apologies for the mistakes made in Australia and Malaysia.
Following the hearing described by McLaren as "very fair", Whitmarsh said: "I would like to thank the FIA World Motor Sport Council members for affording me the opportunity to answer their questions this morning.
"We are aware we made serious mistakes in Australia and Malaysia, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once again.
"I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again."
A McLaren statement added: "We now look forward with enthusiasm to continuing our efforts to develop a closer and more co-operative relationship between ourselves and the FIA.
"We will also continue to focus our efforts on closing the performance gap that exists between our car and the fastest cars.
"Following Lewis' encouraging fourth place in Bahrain on Sunday, we are now optimistic we will be able to play an increasingly competitive part in what is fast developing into a very exciting season of Formula One motor racing."
Speaking after the hearing, Max Mosley, the president of the FIA, said the WMSC's decision had been "entirely fair."
"They [McLaren] have demonstrated there is a complete culture change, that it's all different to what it was," he said. "In those circumstances it looks better to put the whole thing behind us, so unless there is something similar in the future, that is the end of the matter."
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone described the proceedings as "good, fair, honest and straight."
"I thought Martin was happy with that. He shouldn't have done something wrong should he? So he got a slap," he said.
"But it was good for everybody that decision. They had their wrist slapped. That was all they needed. They've had enough punishment."
Source:The times
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson remain the best of enemies
The 2009 Masters was perfectly in tune with these economical times. It was the two-in-one Masters, the one that gave extra value for money.
The tournament was won by Ángel Cabrera after an incident-filled final afternoon, including the first three-man play-off for 22 years. But as major championships go, this one will be remembered as much for the final-day duel between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Perhaps more than any other, the sight of the two best players in the world going at one another on a sunny afternoon in Georgia brought the roars back to Augusta.
Billy Payne, the chairman of Augusta National, had spoken of how hurt he had been at criticism in previous years, when bad weather accentuated the testing demands of the course, making Augusta not a place of worship for golf fans but a venue where they struggled to keep warm and applaud the contestants.
It was the thrust and counter-thrust by Woods and Mickelson that brought home how the atmosphere had changed this year. They were born within a few hundred miles and less than six years apart in California. They stood on the 1st tee on Sunday afternoon within touching distance, but one looking one way, one the other. Why do they find it so hard to like one another? The historical fairways are full of rivalries. Remember the Great Triumvirate at the turn of the 20th century. Think of Ben Hogan and Sam Snead in the US and Severiano Ballesteros and Paul Azinger in the Ryder Cup. When Jack Nicklaus burst upon the scene, Arnold Palmer used to refer to him sneeringly as “the German”. Remember Nick Faldo and a number of players? Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie?
Perhaps Woods is more logical, cool and practical, Mickelson more artistic and harder to predict. Mickelson carried two drivers at Augusta in 2007, yet at last year’s US Open at Torrey Pines, the longest course for a major championship, he did not carry one at all. This sort of puzzling thinking may be why the Woods camp regard Mickelson as “flaky”. Mickelson once suggested that Woods’s equipment was out of date, which did not go down well in the Woods camp. When Hal Sutton paired them in the Ryder Cup in 2004, there was no chemistry between them and only Sutton was surprised when they lost — twice.
Steve Williams, Woods’s caddie, said what he thought of Mickelson in New Zealand late last year. He had been asked what the relationship was like between the two. There was no relationship, Williams replied. Mickelson, he said, was a “p****”.
Nothing more needed to be added to spice up the potency of the pairing that teed off at 1.35pm on Sunday. For 3½ hours thereafter, it was all that was expected: Mickelson, playing superb golf, reached the turn in 30, equalling the Masters record; Woods was out in 33. Two strokes told the story. While Woods’s tee-shot on the 1st went so far left it ended on the 9th fairway, Mickelson produced a stroke of pure brilliance on the 7th, a recovery from the treeline to the right, a slinging hook that curved 25 yards in the air and ended a handspan from the hole.
Goodness knows what was going through Woods’s mind as he watched this display by his rival. On many of the 23 occasions when they had played together before, Woods had come out on top. This time he was being given a masterclass. Each birdie by the world No 2 must have felt like a punch to his solar plexus.
Mickelson’s first error came on the 12th, when he failed to hit his tee-shot hard enough and his ball ran back into Rae’s Creek for a double-bogey five. His second came on the 15th, where he missed a putt that was barely longer than the shaft of his putter for what would have been an eagle three. Outplayed on the outward nine holes, Woods was slowly clawing his way back. By the time he birdied the 16th, he was ten under par and within two shots of the lead.
Then, just as it had started, it ended. It was like the popping of a balloon. Mickelson missed another short putt for birdie on the 17th, Woods bogeyed that hole and drove into the trees that line the right of the 18th fairway. The moment had gone. Mickelson finished nine under par, one stroke ahead of Woods but three strokes out of the play-off.
Rarely have two men in contention played so well. They had 12 birdies and an eagle between them over the first 16 holes. “It was a great show,” David Feherty said on CBS Television. “It was a fantastic show.”
After such a performance, you might have thought that the compatriots could forget their differences for a moment, the way boxers sometimes fall into one another’s arms at the conclusion of a title bout, or as Nicklaus and Tom Watson did at the 1977 Open at Turnberry — the “Duel in the Sun”.
But no. Perhaps the sting of defeat was too great. There was another brief handshake and that was all. Their reactions spoke a lot about their characters. Woods, stony-faced and curt, described his ball-striking as “terrible”. Mickelson, smiling, said: “Playing with Tiger was fun. We’ve had some good matches. I always enjoy it.”
And so the attention turned to Chad Campbell, Cabrera and Kenny Perry, a 48-year-old American who had a chance to become the oldest man to win a major championship. Had Perry prevailed, he would have beaten the record of Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won at Augusta in 1986, and older by four months than Julius Boros, who was 48 years and four months when he won the 1968 US PGA Championship. Instead, it was Cabrera’s day.
Rivals through the ages
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player Known as “The Big Three”, they dominated the game in the Sixties.
Nicklaus and Tom Watson Had huge respect for one another and fought several memorable duels.
Severiano Ballesteros and Paul Azinger A tenseness was always evident in Ryder Cup play. They made up later.
Harry Vardon, James Braid and J. H. Taylor The Great Triumvirate, rivals at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries.
Source:The times
The tournament was won by Ángel Cabrera after an incident-filled final afternoon, including the first three-man play-off for 22 years. But as major championships go, this one will be remembered as much for the final-day duel between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Perhaps more than any other, the sight of the two best players in the world going at one another on a sunny afternoon in Georgia brought the roars back to Augusta.
Billy Payne, the chairman of Augusta National, had spoken of how hurt he had been at criticism in previous years, when bad weather accentuated the testing demands of the course, making Augusta not a place of worship for golf fans but a venue where they struggled to keep warm and applaud the contestants.
It was the thrust and counter-thrust by Woods and Mickelson that brought home how the atmosphere had changed this year. They were born within a few hundred miles and less than six years apart in California. They stood on the 1st tee on Sunday afternoon within touching distance, but one looking one way, one the other. Why do they find it so hard to like one another? The historical fairways are full of rivalries. Remember the Great Triumvirate at the turn of the 20th century. Think of Ben Hogan and Sam Snead in the US and Severiano Ballesteros and Paul Azinger in the Ryder Cup. When Jack Nicklaus burst upon the scene, Arnold Palmer used to refer to him sneeringly as “the German”. Remember Nick Faldo and a number of players? Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie?
Perhaps Woods is more logical, cool and practical, Mickelson more artistic and harder to predict. Mickelson carried two drivers at Augusta in 2007, yet at last year’s US Open at Torrey Pines, the longest course for a major championship, he did not carry one at all. This sort of puzzling thinking may be why the Woods camp regard Mickelson as “flaky”. Mickelson once suggested that Woods’s equipment was out of date, which did not go down well in the Woods camp. When Hal Sutton paired them in the Ryder Cup in 2004, there was no chemistry between them and only Sutton was surprised when they lost — twice.
Steve Williams, Woods’s caddie, said what he thought of Mickelson in New Zealand late last year. He had been asked what the relationship was like between the two. There was no relationship, Williams replied. Mickelson, he said, was a “p****”.
Nothing more needed to be added to spice up the potency of the pairing that teed off at 1.35pm on Sunday. For 3½ hours thereafter, it was all that was expected: Mickelson, playing superb golf, reached the turn in 30, equalling the Masters record; Woods was out in 33. Two strokes told the story. While Woods’s tee-shot on the 1st went so far left it ended on the 9th fairway, Mickelson produced a stroke of pure brilliance on the 7th, a recovery from the treeline to the right, a slinging hook that curved 25 yards in the air and ended a handspan from the hole.
Goodness knows what was going through Woods’s mind as he watched this display by his rival. On many of the 23 occasions when they had played together before, Woods had come out on top. This time he was being given a masterclass. Each birdie by the world No 2 must have felt like a punch to his solar plexus.
Mickelson’s first error came on the 12th, when he failed to hit his tee-shot hard enough and his ball ran back into Rae’s Creek for a double-bogey five. His second came on the 15th, where he missed a putt that was barely longer than the shaft of his putter for what would have been an eagle three. Outplayed on the outward nine holes, Woods was slowly clawing his way back. By the time he birdied the 16th, he was ten under par and within two shots of the lead.
Then, just as it had started, it ended. It was like the popping of a balloon. Mickelson missed another short putt for birdie on the 17th, Woods bogeyed that hole and drove into the trees that line the right of the 18th fairway. The moment had gone. Mickelson finished nine under par, one stroke ahead of Woods but three strokes out of the play-off.
Rarely have two men in contention played so well. They had 12 birdies and an eagle between them over the first 16 holes. “It was a great show,” David Feherty said on CBS Television. “It was a fantastic show.”
After such a performance, you might have thought that the compatriots could forget their differences for a moment, the way boxers sometimes fall into one another’s arms at the conclusion of a title bout, or as Nicklaus and Tom Watson did at the 1977 Open at Turnberry — the “Duel in the Sun”.
But no. Perhaps the sting of defeat was too great. There was another brief handshake and that was all. Their reactions spoke a lot about their characters. Woods, stony-faced and curt, described his ball-striking as “terrible”. Mickelson, smiling, said: “Playing with Tiger was fun. We’ve had some good matches. I always enjoy it.”
And so the attention turned to Chad Campbell, Cabrera and Kenny Perry, a 48-year-old American who had a chance to become the oldest man to win a major championship. Had Perry prevailed, he would have beaten the record of Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won at Augusta in 1986, and older by four months than Julius Boros, who was 48 years and four months when he won the 1968 US PGA Championship. Instead, it was Cabrera’s day.
Rivals through the ages
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player Known as “The Big Three”, they dominated the game in the Sixties.
Nicklaus and Tom Watson Had huge respect for one another and fought several memorable duels.
Severiano Ballesteros and Paul Azinger A tenseness was always evident in Ryder Cup play. They made up later.
Harry Vardon, James Braid and J. H. Taylor The Great Triumvirate, rivals at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries.
Source:The times
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