Jim RogashUsually I write a longer introduction to the weekly superlative column, but it's 3:59 p.m. eastern right now, I just peeked at the scoreboard, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are beating the New England Embodiments of Evil 14-3. I am too scared to believe in something this good—Belichick will eat Blake Bortles' soul at halftime and force him to throw 19 second-half interceptions—but I want to record this moment in time because it is so fleeting and so good. By the time you read this, you will know what happened to the brief flare-up of optimism I'm feeling right now. (Note: It will be maimed…not just dead, but maimed in the most disturbing ways possible. I lived through last year's Super Bowl…I know how this goes.) If you're from Boston, you will laugh your loud, gawping laugh, and let loose a stream of sporting invective in which you scream about titles and fail to pronounce your postvocalic “r”s. If you're not from Boston, you will weep in sym..
Jon Rahm wins CareerBuilder, jumps to No. 2 in world
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) Jon Rahm beat Andrew Landry with a 12-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole of a playoff Sunday in the CareerBuilder Challenge.
In fading light on the Stadium Course at PGA West, Rahm finished off Landry for his second PGA Tour title and fourth worldwide victory in a year. The 23-year-old Spaniard will jump from third to second in the world ranking behind Dustin Johnson.
”It’s hard to believe, to be honest, passing Jordan Spieth, three-time major champion,” Rahm said. ”I only have two wins and he’s got 10-plus, right? I never thought I was going to be at this point in my life right now.”
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Rahm overcame surprising par-5 problems in regulation to shoot 5-under 67. Landry, playing a group behind Rahm in the final threesome, forced the playoff with an 11-foot birdie putt on the water-guarded 18th for a 68. They finished at 22-under 266.
”Tournaments like this build character,” Rahm said. ”I’m just proud of myself to hit what’s probab..
Jon Rahm outlasts Andrew Landry in CareerBuilder playoff
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) Jon Rahm beat Andrew Landry with a 12-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole of a playoff Sunday in the CareerBuilder Challenge.
In fading light on the Stadium Course at PGA West, Rahm finished off Landry for his second PGA Tour title and fourth worldwide victory in a year. The 23-year-old Spaniard will jump from third to second in the world ranking behind Dustin Johnson.
”It’s hard to believe, to be honest, passing Jordan Spieth, three-time major champion,” Rahm said. ”I only have two wins and he’s got 10-plus, right? I never thought I was going to be at this point in my life right now.”
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Rahm overcame surprising par-5 problems in regulation to shoot 5-under 67. Landry, playing a group behind Rahm in the final threesome, forced the playoff with an 11-foot birdie putt on the water-guarded 18th for a 68. They finished at 22-under 266.
”Tournaments like this build character,” Rahm said. ”I’m just proud of myself to hit what’s probab..
Jon Rahm outlast Andrew Landry in CareerBuilder playoff
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) Jon Rahm beat Andrew Landry with a 12-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole of a playoff in the CareerBuilder Challenge.
In fading light Sunday on the Stadium Course at PGA West, Rahm finished off Landry for his second PGA Tour title and fourth worldwide victory in a year. The 23-year-old Spaniard will jump from third to second in the world ranking.
Rahm overcame surprising par-5 problems in regulation to shoot 5-under 67. Landry forced the playoff with an 11-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 68. They finished at 22-under 266.
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Rahm missed a chance to win on the first extra trip down the 18th when his 9-foot birdie try slid left, and on the second, Landry’s 8-footer to end it went by to the right. They missed long birdie tries on the third extra hole, the par-4 10th.
Rivarola builds 1-shot lead in Latin America Amateur
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) Georgia graduate Jaime Lopez Rivarola of Argentina had a 3-under 68 to take a one-shot lead through 36 holes of the Latin America Amateur Championship.
Joaquin Niemann of Chile, the No. 1 amateur in the world, bounced back from an opening 74 at Prince of Wales Country Club with a 64, leaving him one shot behind in his bid to earn a spot in the Masters. Niemann ended his round by holing a bunker shot for eagle on the par-5 ninth hole.
Rivarola was at 7-under 137.
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Defending champion Toto Gana of Chile had a 70 and joined Niemann in a tie for second. Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico dropped two shots over the last two holes and had to settle for a 70, leaving him three shots behind.
The 36-hole cut was at 8-over 150, with 52 players advancing to the last two rounds.
Garcia starts new year with victory in Singapore
SINGAPORE (AP) Masters champion Sergio Garcia began his 20th year as a pro by closing with a 3-under 68 for a five-shot victory at the Singapore Open.
Garcia won for the 28th time in his career, and in his fourth Asian country.
Starting the final round of the rain-delayed event at Sentosa Golf Club, the Spaniard birdied his first hole, picked up two more birdies before the turn and made all pars on the back nine.
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He won by five shots over Satoshi Kodaira (71) of Japan and Shaun Norris (70) of South Africa.
Jazz Janewattananond, a 22-year-old Thai, was among four players who earned spots in the British Open. The others went to Danthai Boonma of Thailand, Lucas Herbert of Australia and American Sean Crocker.
Fleetwood retains Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Tommy Fleetwood successfully defended his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title on Sunday after a sensational back nine to clinch the win.
The 27-year-old Englishman, who celebrated his birthday on Friday, started the final round two shots behind overnight leaders Ross Fisher and Thomas Pieters, and an indifferent front nine saw him make the turn five shots behind Fisher as gusty winds hit the National course of Abu Dhabi Golf Club
But Fleetwood birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes for a seven-under par 65 round to finish on 22-under 267.
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Fisher, 37, got off to a fast start when he made an eagle from 45 feet on the par-5 second hole and added two more birdies in his front nine. A bogey on the par-5 10th, which could have easily turned into a double if not for a 25-feet bogey putt, stalled his progress.
Playing two groups ahead of him, Fleetwood had birdied the 10th and 12th holes, but he saved his ..
A (possibly) leaked internal memo on how to make golf less boring
Chris GraythenNote: A recent survey by YouGov in Great Britain declared golf the most boring among 17 sports. Sports deemed more engaging included cricket, snooker and darts. It’s impossible to know what the Tour’s official response will be, but an internal communication slipped to us from Ponte Vedra may suggest current thinking.*
(*Or maybe we're making this up)
CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM
To: The Commissioner
From: Director of Marketing
Re: Suggested Tour Response (with Action Points) to survey declaring Golf “Most Boring” Spectator Sport
Very important that our response here not be defensive. Yes, we could say golf is boring in Britain because everything’s boring in Britain. Or hang our hat on the fact that baseball wasn’t included. But why not go Big Humble and say: “We’ve heard our fans. We will change. In fact, we’re incorporating best practices from sports that beat us to make ours more exciting!!”
Consider these simple fan-appeal boosters:
Concussion protocol. Tour fans get b..
Fleetwood retains Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title (Jan 21, 2018)
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Tommy Fleetwood successfully defended his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title on Sunday after a sensational back nine to clinch the win.
The 27-year-old Englishman, who celebrated his birthday on Friday, started the final round two shots behind overnight leaders Ross Fisher and Thomas Pieters, and an indifferent front nine saw him make the turn five shots behind Fisher as gusty winds hit the National course of Abu Dhabi Golf Club
But Fleetwood birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes for a seven-under par 65 round to finish on 22-under 267.
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Fisher, 37, got off to a fast start when he made an eagle from 45 feet on the par-5 second hole and added two more birdies in his front nine. A bogey on the par-5 10th, which could have easily turned into a double if not for a 25-feet bogey putt, stalled his progress.
Playing two groups ahead of him, Fleetwood had birdied the 10th and 12th holes, but he saved his ..
After long day, Garcia wins Singapore Open by 5 strokes
SINGAPORE (AP) Sergio Garcia played 27 holes on the last day without dropping a shot to win the Singapore Open by five strokes Sunday in an ominous display of his new found self-belief as he prepares to defend his Masters title.
Still brimming with confidence after claiming his first major title at Augusta National last year, Garcia started his new season with a runaway victory at the Sentosa Golf Club, finishing at 14-under 270.
Returning to the course just after dawn to complete his third round after play was suspended on Saturday because of lightning strikes, Garcia finished his last nine holes in 4-under for a round of 66 to take a one-shot lead into the final round.
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With organizers desperate to avert the constant threat of more bad weather and finish the tournament on time, Garcia promptly returned to the first tee shortly after and fired a flawless 3-under 68, cruising to victory with 10 straight pars as his rivals floundered in the stifling hum..