Charl Schwartzel’s victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship marked the end of a two-year drought for the former US Masters champion, and with some radical adjustments to his game starting to pay off, he hopes his demons are well and truly banished.
The 31-year-old South African won the opening tournament of the new European Tour season to record a first success in almost two years. His previous victory came in the same event at the Leopard Creek Country Club.
A drop in form saw him fall to 50th in the world rankings, but Sunday’s four-shot triumph suggests Schwartzel’s star is on the rise again.
“Sometimes I was not sure it would ever turn around,” he told reporters. “If people realized the amount of work I have put into the game over the last 18 months, they might understand why it means so much to me.”
“This time last year, my golf swing was probably in the worst place it has been in as a professional,” he said, adding that he had discovered some “bad mistakes” with his putting.
“Where I think I am aiming, I am not aiming. You cannot putt like that — you think you are putting it right edge, but then hitting it a foot right — it is never going to go in,” he added.
Consultation with a visual skills coach, who has also helped fellow South African golfer Ernie Els and the All Blacks rugby team, had helped him improve his aim.
“Where I think the ball should go and where it should actually go are two different things and it is hard not to trust my instinct, especially in the pressure of a tournament,” he said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and