lundi 20 juillet 2015
Humble Johnson says Open victory not the most important thing in life
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 Zach Johnson of the U.S said he felt honoured to have his name added to some of the greats of the game who have won golf's oldest major. "I'm humbled right now because of what's in my lap and the names that are etched on this piece of metal that is very special," he said. "It's the who's who in the game. It's the guys that paved the way. It's the individuals that are historic in sports. I've said it in '07 (after winning the Masters). I'm humbled, I'm honoured, and it's still beyond surreal." But the 39-year-old American said winning his second major - and now triumphing on two of golf's most hallowed courses at Augusta and St Andrews - would not define his life. "I try to take it very seriously (but) I realise it's just a game," he said after a play-off victory over Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and Marc Leishman of Australia. "I'm just a guy from Iowa that has been blessed with a talent, and this game provides great opportunity," he said. "I think if you mentally look at it that way, it kind of takes the pressure off. I don't want to make it any bigger than what it should be. "This isn't going to define me or my career, at least I hope it doesn't. It's not my legacy. Granted, as a professional athlete and as a golfer I'm going to relish this. I'm going to savour this. I'm humbled by this. But my legacy should be my kids, my family, that kind of thing." Johnson is a devout believer in God and said he was reciting psalm 24:17 of the ---ures while waiting for Oosthuizen to putt at the 18th in the play-off. "'Be patient, wait for the Lord. Be courageous and brave. Yes, be patient, wait for the Lord.' Just little things that help along the way. Gets me down to my priorities," he said. Johnson, who now jumps from 25 to 12 in the world rankings, began Monday three shots off the overnight lead - jointly held by Oosthuizen, Australian Jason Day and the amateur Paul Dunne, and knew he was in with a chance if he get in some early low scores on the course. "I played really solid and put myself in a position to make birdies and make a run," he said. "I knew the guys in front of me ... those names, they're well accomplished. They're champions. They're not going to back down. I clearly had to be somewhat aggressive early on in the day because those outward holes are the ones you've got to kind of take advantage of." One of the first to congratulate Johnson was compatriot Jordan Spieth, who finished a shot behind, his hopes of a major treble in one year and the chance of an unprecedented Grand Slam now ended. "He could be sitting here. To have a champion like Jordan take the time on 18 to give me best wishes, and certainly Mike, his caddie, speaks volumes as to what he is," Johnson said. "He's a phenomenal talent, and I'm telling you right now, a lot of you guys know him, he's a better person than he is golfer." | |||||
Mickelson charge halted by balcony shot
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 Phil Mickelson of the U.S. leaderboard came to a halt when the five-time major champion pulled his tee shot from the 17th hole and the ball came to rest on a balcony at the Old Course Hotel. Mickelson had climbed to 10 under par overall, just two shots off the overnight leaders, after six birdies. But teeing off on the Road Hole, the left-hander's drive hit the hotel to the right before landing on a balcony overlooking the 17th fairway, but out of bounds. "I've tried hitting shots from some crazy places. I don't know if I would have climbed up to do that," he said. Mickelson, the 2013 Open winner, had to tee off again with a one-stroke penalty and went on to score a triple bogey on the par-four hole before carding a 69 for the day to finish seven under. But with stronger winds picking up and intermittent heavy rain at the Old Course, he was left ruing the Road Hole. Over the four rounds the hole had cost him 21 shots. "There was an opportunity today to shoot 10, 11, 12-under par. The conditions were calm and nice. Now that the wind is picking up and the rain is coming in, it's a different golf course," he said. | |||||
Van Gaal says Manchester United may make «surprise» signing
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 Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal yet spring a "surprise" signing as the club look to complete their summer spending spree. The Dutchman has spent 83.1 million pounds (129.3 million dollars) on Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian. The departure of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao means United may need an extra striker to join Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and James Wilson. "I am not worried about depth of forwards," Van Gaal told reporters on his club's pre-season tour to the United States. "We still have Rooney. He can play in the striker's position. Last year the media said he had to play there. I listen to the media. "We also have Hernandez, Wilson and maybe a surprise, you never know. It is a process." | |||||
Hertha coach Dardai leaves position with Hungary
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 Herta Berlin's coach Pal Dardai his role with that of coaching the Hungarian national team, the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ) said Monday. Dardai was Hungary coach while working in the youth academy with Hertha but was promoted to a first team position with the Bundesliga side in February. Initially he did both jobs but the Hertha website said Dardai had agreed to step back from Hungary "after constructive discussions with Hertha sport director Michael Preetz." Dardai himself said he "accepted and respected the decision from Hertha" to demand his full concentration on his club job. Hungary are currently third in qualifying Group F for Euro 2016 while under Dardai's leadership Hertha Berlin survived in the Bundesliga last season with a 15th-place finish. | |||||
Spieth already looks to next major after missing Open chance
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 Jordan Spieth of the U.S. walks up to putt on the 18th green during the final round of the British Open set on the PGA Championship after his bid to win the first three of golf's majors just came up short at St Andrews Monday. Spieth would have been only the second player after Ben Hogan in 1953 to win the first three of Masters, US Open and Open Champions, while Tiger Woods in 2000 won the last three after clinching the PGA. "That would be the next goal as far as the history goes," Spieth said after he left the Old Course tied for fourth, a shot behind the leading trio. "Sights set on the PGA Championship, and from here I've got a couple weeks off now, and I'm going to go home and reflect on - it won't hurt too bad." Spieth needed a birdie on the 18th to go into a play-off with eventual winner Zach Johnson of the United States, Marc Leishman of Australia and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa. The 21-year-old Texan had dropped a shot on the 17th and played the 18th indifferently, but far more damaging was his double bogey after he four-putted on the three-par eighth. On the four par 18th, which he birdied on his first two rounds, he needed another 3 in the scorecard, but drove his tee shot to the far left on the first-tee line of the wide fairway. His pitch shot then rolled back into Valley of Sin trough in front of the green, virtually ending his hopes. "Who would have thought a drive on 18 was going to be what really hurt me at the end there?" he said. "It's kind of hard to not hit a good one on that hole. I just wish I had given myself a little better opportunity." Spieth finished on 69 to go with rounds of 67, 72 and 66 and his last round featured eight birdies including a tremendous long putt on the 16th which had looked to be a game changer. "Today was a really tough day. Just made a mental mistake on number eight and it seemed to have cost me as well as on 18, just not giving myself a chance," he said. However Spieth was generally happy with the way he played. "I made a lot of the right decisions down the stretch and certainly closed plenty of tournaments out, and this just wasn't one of those," he said. "I played a great round of golf today. I really played a solid round of golf | |||||
Bianchi's number 17 to be retired from Formula One
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 Formula One driver Jules Bianchi of the Marussia F1 Team Formula One, the world motorsport governing body said Monday, a day before the French driver's funeral in Nice. "As F1 car numbers are now personally chosen by each driver, the FIA believes it to be an appropriate gesture to retire Jules Bianchi's number 17," the FIA said in a statement. "As a result, this number can no longer be used for a car competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship." Bianchi died late Friday as a result of severe head injuries suffered in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix last October. Earlier Monday, Bianchi's Manor team invited members of the public who wished to pay their respect to the 25-year-old to gather outside the Sainte Reparate Cathedral during the funeral. Places inside the cathedral are to be reserved for family, friends and colleagues. | |||||