Walking in a Watney Wonderland…
Congratulations to Nick Watney for winning the WGC-Cadillac Championship on Sunday.
Not only was it the biggest victory of the 29-year-old’s career, but it also validated my claims that the American was one to watch in the lead-up to the Masters in April.
Tipped on this blog back in February at 33/1, Watney is now as low as 16/1 with some bookmakers to capture his first Major Championship at Augusta National.
Watney’s win at Doral laid to rest any doubts over the American’s ability to close out a big tournament and suddenly the game’s latest World Golf Champion now looks like the man to beat in three week’s time.
Watney is no Moore
Nick shoots seven-under…and loses!
It had to happen didn’t it? After singing the praises of Nick Watney this morning, Ryan Moore comes along and dumps him out of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship!
On the face of it, the defeat seems like a blow to my 33/1 tip for Watney to win this year’s Masters at Augusta National.
But look deeper and you’ll find that the American shot a superb seven-under par for the round and showed great fight to birdie the 17th and 18th to force extra holes.
Yet in Moore he faced a man on fire with the flat stick and a three at the par four first sealed the victory and a place in tomorrow’s quarterfinals against Luke Donald.
However, rounds of 67 and 65 from Watney are bound to give him plenty of confidence ahead of a return to Augusta in April. Not to mention beating the world number one Lee Westwood for a second year running in Round Two.
And the beauty of Match Play often ensures low scoring goes unnoticed, so Watney could become an even more inviting prospect if his price increases due today’s defeat.
I, for one, can’t wait to find out…
Nick Watney, 2011 Masters Champion?
Call off the search!
Lee Westwood is alive! But it was his opponent, Nick Watney, who impressed yesterday ahead of what could prove to be a major breakthrough at Augusta National this year.
The three-time All-American shot a superb five-under 67 to beat the world number one 1-up and advance to the last 16 of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.
The 29-year-old’s performance bodes well in preparation for a return to the Masters in April, where he has continued to impress in only three appearances at the event.
On his debut in 2008, the Californian finished tied 11th following a final round of 71, one of just four men to break par on a day that saw winds of up to 35 mph blow even the most seasoned of veterans off course, outscoring the likes of Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson.
“The golf course suits my eye off the tee.” he said. “I play a draw, and we all know it’s a draw-type golf course.”
That showing came a year after winning his first PGA Tour event at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April 2007. Many expected that victory to be the first of many, but it took a further two years for Watney to add to his tally with a win at the 2009 Buick Invitational, taking advantage of the absence of Tiger Woods who had held the trophy in five of the previous six editions of the event.
However, it’s his play at Augusta that really stands out. Two months after that win, Watney further confirmed his love of the golf course by shooting a three-under par total to finish in 19th place.
In 2010, an opening 68 saw Watney threaten to contend for the first time. But the American fell back with rounds of 76 and 71 before an incredible 65 on Sunday that saw him record the lowest round of the tournament and finish a career-high seventh on the leaderboard.
“I love this place.” he said beaming after the round. “I think it’s just a magical place. I love the golf course, and it’s something I’m looking forward to next year right now. So maybe if I can eliminate that 76, who knows?”
It was the words of a man completely at ease at one of the most challenging venues in golf and a performance that caused coach Butch Harmon to proclaim that his student would win the tournament one day.
Watney followed that result with a 7th place finish at the Open Championship, before perhaps his career-defining moment to date at the USPGA Championship at Whistling Straights. Rounds of 69, 68 and 66 gave Watney a three-shot lead going into the final round but inexperience cost the American as he stumbled to a nine-over 81 on Sunday and dropped back into a tie for 18th place.
Despite that experience, Watney continued to shine and bounced back with an impressive fourth place finish at the Tour Championship a month later.
Fast forward to this year and Watney is still the form horse. He leads the scoring average on the PGA Tour with three top six finishes in his first three events of the season, including a career low 63 shot at the Farmers Insurance Open last month.
This week hasn’t been bad either, first knocking out Match Play specialist Anthony Kim 5&4 in Round One before overcoming Westwood for the second year running in Round Two.
A win on Sunday would propel Watney into an elite group and with a World Golf Championship to his name, who’s to say that a victory at his favourite golf course won’t be right around the corner in two months time?
With odds of 33/1 still available at some bookmakers, I’m willing to take the risk now before it’s too late.
Let’s just hope he hasn’t reached his peak, with the eccentric yet talented Ryan Moore waiting in the wings to cause an upset later today…
Has anybody seen Lee Westwood?
Day one of golf’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona got under way yesterday, with the world’s best players battling it out for a cool $1.4 million first prize.
Not that you’d know it from watching the Golf Channel’s unashamedly bias coverage of the event though, in which world number one Lee Westwood and a host of other fellow Europeans hardly got a look in!
Instead, there was the return of Tiger Woods to American shores and for what seemed like an eternity, to our televisions. Now, it’s no surprise to see Woods dominate the coverage. He should, as a man who has brought so many fans and sponsors to the game, be highlighted as a big draw for American audiences. Not to mention the other stuff…
But to disregard the likes of Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Rory McIlroy, the world number one, two and seven to a handful of televised shots? Well let’s just say it didn’t go down too well with everyone watching back home.
In case you don’t know, and if you were watching you most certainly will, Woods lost his match to Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn in what was only his second first round exit at the event. It was another poor performance from the former world number one, who joined the likes of Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk and defending champion Ian Poulter on the next flight home.
Bad news for them, but maybe we’ll get to see some more of Lee Westwood now? Heh, who am I kidding? Phil Mickelson (USA) v Rickie Fowler (USA) it is then!
@Theprincedc Darren Clarke
Golf channel coverage is shocking….world no.1 must not be playing!! What’s going on???
@Stephy1985 Steph Evans (Sky Sports)
Apologies for biased coverage. We aren’t in control of it. Ridiculous how little we’re getting of #1 and #2, we will try and get some shots of them.
@WestwoodLee Lee Westwood
For anybody wondering, I am playing in the matchplay and I did win 3&2. Thanks the golf channel!
FC Copenhagen 0 Chelsea 2
FC Copenhagen 0 Chelsea 2 (Anelka 17’, 54’)
UEFA Champions League Last 16 First Leg
Parken Stadion, Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Nicolas Anelka’s brace saw Chelsea take a commanding lead into the second leg of their Champions League tie against FC Copenhagen after a dominating performance in Denmark.
The Frenchman scored in each half to ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti and linked up well with strike partner Fernando Torres to give the Italian some encouragement ahead of a crucial period in Chelsea’s season.
The under-fire Ancelotti made four changes from the side knocked out of the FA Cup by Everton last Saturday, most notably the return of £50m man Torres who made his Champions League debut for the club alongside Anelka in attack.
That meant a place on the bench for Chelsea’s increasingly unfavoured talisman Didier Drogba, as Ancelotti adopted an unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation to accommodate his new signing up front.
The Italian’s decision almost paid off immediately, as smart link up play between the new front pairing created wasted chances for Florent Malouda and Ramires to open the scoring.
Anelka threatened early on too, latching onto Torres’s pass only to force a corner with his first effort on goal ten minutes in.
The Frenchman didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity though and this time he took advantage, latching onto a misplaced pass from former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer before firing through the legs of Johan Wiland for his sixth goal in as many Champions League games.
The opener provided a welcome relief for the Blues, if not for a further frustrated Drogba on the Chelsea bench.
Copenhagen had an unbeaten home record in the Champions League but Chelsea were in fine form and threatened to double their lead 22 minutes in, only for Torres to be denied by Wiland for a second time.
Stale Solbakken’s men did venture forward on the counter, but their accuracy in front of goal was lacking and their failure to capitalise proved costly as the game wore on.
Nine minutes after the restart Chelsea extended their advantage, once again through the in-form Anelka. Frank Lampard was the provider this time, disguising a perfectly directed pass into the feet of the Frenchman who fired into the bottom corner for his 15th goal of the season.
It was a performance and scoreline reminiscent of the Chelsea of old and with news filtering through of a shock defeat for fourth-placed Tottenham against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, there was a renewed optimism about the Blues and their prospects for the remainder of the Premier League season.
Torres’s failure to score was becoming the only negative for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, as he was repeatedly denied by Wiland and left back Oscar Wendt who cleared another of the Spaniard’s efforts off the line.
Drogba made a brief cameo off the bench as the match came to a close, replacing Anelka as the hosts attempted to get back into the tie.
But it was Chelsea who comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to all but book a place in the last eight of the competition, barring a major shock at Stamford Bridge in three weeks time.
FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Pospech, Jorgensen, Antonsson, Wendt (Bengtsson 75), Bolanos, Kvist, Claudemir, Gronkjaer (Zohore 87), Santin (Vingaard 46), Ndoye.
Subs not used: Christensen, Kristensen, Hooiveld, Delaney.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Malouda (Zhirkov 84), Anelka (Drogba 73), Torres (Kalou 90+2).
Subs not used: Turnbull, Mikel, Ferreira, McEachran.
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Oldenzaal)
New post shocker!
My apologies, this place has been out of action longer than Owen Hargreaves. Well, almost (sorry Owen).
But it’s coming back! With more football, tennis and golf than you can shake a proverbial stick at.
Stay tuned for more…
And in the meantime, check out @seanmolyneux for some more concise thoughts on this crazy world of sport we all know and love.
Reward for Stanley
Good luck to Accrington Stanley on Saturday as they prepare to host Premier League side Fulham in the 4th Round of the FA Cup for the first time in over fifty years.
Stanley’s off the field troubles last year were well documented, not least by this blog, but this weekend’s match is deserved reward for everyone at the club for their achievements on the pitch throughout one of the most difficult periods in their history.
Along with the prestige attached to reaching this stage comes prize money and lots of it, by Stanley’s standards anyway. Tuesday’s 3rd round win over League One side Gillingham earned the club £67,500 and with the spotlight, albeit un-televised, back on the club this weekend, John Coleman’s men will be looking to cause another classic FA Cup upset.
Stanley are the lowest ranked side left in the competition but with confidence high at the Crown Ground as the club push for a play off place, anything can happen. And who knows, if the magic of the FA Cup can be sprinkled on Stanley once more this Saturday, millions more may be asking ‘who are they?’ come Sunday morning.
ATP World Tour Finals
This week’s ATP World Tour Tennis Finals at the O2 arena have been fascinating to watch. However despite the brilliant play, atmosphere and setting, one thing has been seriously lacking…organisation!
Firstly, the scheduling has been widely criticised for a lack of foresight with late finishes harming attendance. Each day’s opening session of the much maligned round robin group format starts at 12.30pm with a doubles encounter which, to the British public’s credit, has been fantastically received. A singles match then follows finishing around 5pm before a prolonged break until the night session with the final match starting no earlier than 8.45pm. This has led many praying for a quick finish in order to catch the last train home and left reporters in a mad dash to meet their deadlines for the morning’s papers.
The format has posed problems too, no more so than last night and the surreal scenario which knocked Britain’s No.1 Andy Murray out in the group stages by just a single game. Murray went into his final match with Fernando Verdasco thinking a win would all but assure him a place in the semi-finals. However once the Scot won in three tight sets, the situation became even more complicated. Throughout the day the game’s governing body, the ATP, had been swamped by confused journalists seeking confirmation to the rulings. Finally word got out that Murray’s place in the semi-finals would be secure as long as Juan Martin Del Potro did not beat World No.1 Roger Federer in three sets and even then there would be a chance that Murray could take the Argentine’s place due to games won throughout the tournament.
This set up a tantalising final match with everything to play for. However the confusion over the qualification status of each player soon overshadowed the match itself. And when Roger Federer forced a deciding third set the ATP had even more questions to answer. Eventually Del Potro won the match 6-2 6-7 6-3, enhancing his reputation as one of the game’s most exciting young talents and defeating the World No.1 in a repeat of the US Open final.
Del Potro is left to wait after his 6-2 6-7 6-3 win (Getty Images).
In hindsight the result was clear, however at the time it was anything but. In fact, the ATP refused to confirm who had qualified for an agonising 15 minutes after the match had ended, leaving Del Potro stranded on-court unaware of his fate. Soon after, Sky Sports reporter Mark Petchey attempted to conduct what can only be described as a bizarre interview with Del Potro (see above), only to be told that the organisers had yet to confirm the official result. Instead the Argentine invited Manchester City footballer and fellow countryman Carlos Tevez on court to entertain the crowd with an impromptu hitting session.
Meanwhile Andy Murray had to ask his twitter followers whether they knew if the official ruling had been announced because no one at the ATP had contacted him about the decision. He wrote: “Anyone know what’s going on?? I think I’m audi (out) but the rules aren’t worded too well”.
Finally the ATP officials, walkie talkies in hand, emerged with the official result. The six game margin of victory meant Del Potro overtook Murray in games won throughout the week and ensured that the Argentine qualified at his expense. Relief for Del Potro but heartbreak for Murray who missed out on a semi-final place by just one game despite beating Del Potro on the opening day of the tournament and finishing the week with a 2-1 win ratio along with Federer and Del Potro.
The night had descended into a farce and made a mockery out of the ATP and it’s ability to organise, communicate and frankly do some simple mathematics. Let’s hope today doesn’t offer up any more ‘difficult’ calculations to deal with or, better still, that some lessons have been learnt from last night’s embarrassing display.
*
Top tweets:
@5livetennis “ATP officials changed their minds about qualification scenarios 3 times in an hour! Shocking that organisers don’t know what’s going on…”
@piersnewbery “Nerves, tension, gripped by fear? You must be in the O2 arena media centre praying that delpo doesn’t win this in three.”
@katiejobien “Looks like Tevez isn’t as talented with his hands as he is with his feet. I’m sure Henry could do a better job.”
@andy_murray “Anyone know what’s going on?? I think I’m audi but the rules aren’t worded too well”
@Bryanbros “Still can’t believe the craziness that just happened in the matches. I think the abbreviation for World Tour Finals explains it best. WTF!?”
