World No. 1 Lee Westwood handed out a six-and-five mauling to Denmark’s Anders Hansen on the opening day of the Volvo World Match Play Championship on Thursday.
The 38-year-old Englishman carded six birdies in eight holes from the fourth to leave Hansen trailing and he was delighted to have completed his day’s work on the 13th.
“The less holes you can play are obviously to pay dividends down the road and down the tournament,” Westwood said.
Compatriot Luke Donald, the world No. 2, was also in impressive form, defeating Ryan Moore of the US four-and-three.
Donald said he would like to take on Westwood in tomorrow’s final.
“I would love to play Lee,” Donald said. “There’s more satisfaction when you can take down the No. 1 player in the world.”
Elsewhere, Northern Irish pair Graeme McDowell, the US Open winner, and Rory McIlroy enjoyed opening wins.
McIlroy saw off Retief Goosen of South Africa by one hole by chipping in at the last, while McDowell defeated Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, also of South Africa, three-and-one.
The day’s other three winners were Kaymer, who overcame South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun two-and-one, and Spanish duo Alvaro Quiros and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Quiros saw off Paul Casey six-and-five and veteran Jimenez overcame Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa by the same score.
The match between Ryder Cup teammates Ian Poulter and Francesco Molinari was halved, with the Englishman sinking a five-foot birdie putt on the last.
MADEIRA ISLANDS OPEN
AFP, MADEIRA, PORTUGAL
England’s Chris Gane mastered 50kph winds to card a five-under 67 for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Madeira Islands Open on Thursday.
Gane edged out France’s Francois Delamontagne and Lloyd Saltman of Scotland.
Gane said he owed his success to compatriot Tom Whitehouse, who was two-over on Thursday.
“Golf’s a very bizarre game — I felt pretty low after the final round last week and I had about seven hours to kill before my flight, so I spoke to Tom Whitehouse and he agreed to have a look at me hitting a few balls,” the leader said. “He gave me a lesson for about 45 minutes and it’s changed everything.”
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, 29, has died, the NBA team said in a statement on Tuesday, while the family of Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to play in a major US pro sports league, announced the former Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets player had died after a battle with brain cancer. “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said in a statement posted on social media. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.” The statement did not provide
Mathys Tel was hero and villain as Tottenham drew 1-1 at home to Leeds United on Monday — a result that leaves their English Premier League future hanging in the balance. The Frenchman broke the deadlock early in the second half to ease the tension at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but then gave away a penalty with a reckless attempted clearance. In the dying minutes, Spurs were grateful to Antonin Kinsky, who produced an astonishing save to deny the visitors a win. Tottenham are now two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United with just two games left this season. The
‘DONE IT ALL’: LeBron James is now out of contract with the Lakers and would head into the off season as a free agent with uncertainty swirling around his future LeBron James on Monday said he would take time to consider his future after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the NBA playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder in what could turn out to be the final game of his career. James, 41, delivered a typically defiant performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent the Lakers from falling 115-110 as the Thunder completed a 4-0 sweep in the Western Conference semi-finals series. The four-time NBA champion is now out of contract with the Lakers and would head into the off season
Houston Astros right-hander Teng Kai-wei, the only active Taiwanese pitcher in MLB, on Sunday suffered his third loss of the season, throwing a season-high 63 pitches in his second start of the year. Teng allowed three earned runs over three innings on five hits in the Astros’ 5-0 road loss to the Cincinnati Reds. He struck out one, walked one, and hit one batter among the 15 hitters he faced, raising his earned run average to 3.12. It was the Astros’ second attempt to use the 27-year-old Taiwanese as a starter, after he had established himself as a reliable bullpen
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