Schwartzel wins Masters after wild day
Charl Schwartzel, right, of South Africa receives his green jacket from former champion Phil Mickelson, left, of the US after winning the 2011 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club
Augusta, Georgia – Charl Schwartzel of South Africa closed with four straight birdies on Sunday to win the Masters over a pair of Australians in one of the most dramatic finishes ever at Augusta National.
Schwartzel’s final putt from 20 feet curled into the side of the cup for a 6-under 66, the best closing round at the Masters in 22 years. The 26-year-old finished at 14-under 274, two strokes ahead of Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day.
“Just an exciting day,” said Schwartzel, who also became the first Masters champion in its 75-year history to finish with four straight birdies. “So many roars, and that atmosphere out there was just incredible. A phenomenal day.”
Scott shot a 67 and Day finished with two straight birdies for a 68, leaving the Aussies in second place at 276. It was bitter disappointment for themselves and their country: the Masters is the only major an Australian has never won.
Tiger Woods was in a group at 278, failing to capitalise after making four birdies and an eagle to shoot a 31 on the front side. He missed short putts at both the 12th and 15th holes, limping to the finish with a 36 on the back nine.
“It could have been,” he said. “I hit it good all day.”
Rory McIlroy, who entered the day with a four-stroke lead, meanwhile, suffered a stunning collapse.
Still leading by one shot as he headed to the back nine, the Northern Irishman hit a tee shot next to the cabins left of the 10th fairway and twice hit a tree to make triple bogey. He three-putted from 7 feet for bogey on the 11th, four-putted from about 12 feet on the next hole and then buried his head into his forearm as the loss settled in.
McIlroy shot 80, the highest final round by the 54-hole leader since Ken Venturi in 1956. Not since Jean Van de Velde at the 1999 British Open had someone wasted at least a four-shot lead going into the last round of the major.
“It’s never nice to be leading a tournament and do what I did today,” McIlroy said.
“I just hit a poor tee shot on 10 and unravelled from there,” he added. “I’ll have plenty more chances, I know that. It’s just very disappointing what happened today.”
Schwartzel becomes the fourth straight first-time major champion, following Martin Kaymer of Germany (PGA Championship), fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen (British Open) and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland (US Open). His victory comes on the 50th anniversary of Gary Player becoming the first international player to win the Masters.
“I am absolutely delighted for Charl and South Africa. Congratulations and very well done to him. That is how you finish like a champion!” Player said on Twitter.
Eight players had at least a share of the lead at some point during the back nine on Sunday. The steady hand came from Schwartzel, whose only bogey was on the fourth hole as this Masters was just getting started.
Schwartzel got up-and-down from behind the 15th green for birdie to briefly take a share of the lead before Scott made a two-footer ahead of him on the par-3 16th.
Schwartzel answered with a 15-foot birdie of his own on the 16th to catch Scott again. Then came the pivotal 17th, where Schwartzel made a 10-foot birdie to take the outright lead for the first time all day.
Schwartzel will now move to No 11 in the world, making him the No 1 player in South Africa. He becomes the sixth South African to win a major.
“It’s been such a short time to think about what can happen. It’s a dream for me,” Schwartzel said. “It’s obviously the highlight of my golf career, by a long way. I always thought if there was one I would win, it would be this one.”
In so many respects, the afternoon looked like 1986 when Jack Nicklaus charged through the back nine to win his sixth green jacket over a top field. There were twice as many possibilities at this Masters, though, with Woods, former Masters champion Angel Cabrera, Geoff Ogilvy, Luke Donald, KJ Choi and Bo Van Pelt all in contention toward the end.
Schwartzel played well from the start, chipping in from some 75 feet across the green for birdie on the opening hole, then holing out from the fairway on No 3 for eagle. Just like that, McIlroy’s four-shot lead was gone.
The cheers were impossible for McIlroy to ignore. From the second green, where he was scrambling to make par, McIlroy could hear the noise ahead of him for Schwartzel’s eagles. Moments later, another roar came from the seventh green, where Woods tapped in a close putt for another birdie.
The loudest reaction from the gallery was on the par-5 eighth, when Woods knocked in an eagle putt to reach 10 under and take a share of the lead. His momentum wouldn’t last long, however.
Woods missed a 3-foot par putt on the 12th, failed to birdie the par-5 13th with a 7-iron for his second shot. Then, after twirling his 7-iron with a shot so pure it settled 4 feet away on the par-5 15th, he missed the 4-foot eagle putt.
Woods closed with a 67, his best final round ever here. But his 36 on the back nine wasn’t good enough to win.
“I got off to a nice start there and posted 31,” he said. “And then on the back nine, could have capitalised some more.”
Woods finished equal fourth at the Masters for the second straight year, joined by Ogilvy, who ran off five straight birdies on the back nine, and Donald, who was in contention until hitting into a stream on the 12th for double bogey.
Scott, who switched to a long putter in February, took the lead for the first time with a short birdie on the 14th and had the look of a winner with his tee shot to tap-in range on the 16th, and a par save from the bunker on the 17th.
But he missed a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
“It’s just disappointing that I didn’t win when I held the lead with a few holes to go,” the 30-year-old said. “I’m usually a pretty good closer. I didn’t do a bad job today, but Charl was better. It was an incredible finish. I’m proud of the way I played, but I’m disappointed that I didn’t get it done when I was right there at the end.”
The 23-year-old Day closed strongly with consecutive birdies that allowed him to join Scott at 12-under.
“I couldn’t do any more than what I just did today,” Day said. “Charl played even better golf.” – Sapa-AP
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Five-star Schalke leave Inter defence in tatters
FC Schalke 04 completed a memorable victory at FC Internazionale Milano, twice coming from behind en route to a comprehensive win that leaves them on the verge of a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time.
Schalke responded first to Dejan Stankovi?’s extraordinary opener inside 25 seconds and then Diego Milito’s effort, via Joel Matip and Edu, before astounding Leonardo’s side with three second-half efforts. An Andrea Ranocchia own goal and Raúl González’s 70th UEFA Champions League strike turned things round, and after Cristian Chivu’s 62nd-minute dismissal Edu’s second of the evening capped a remarkable triumph.
A stirring match got off to a remarkable start as Milito raced on to a fine through ball by Esteban Cambiasso only to be denied by Manuel Neuer, who showed great presence of mind to race out of his area and head away. His clearance reached the halfway line, where it was met by Stankovi? and a superb first-time shot that sailed back over the goalkeeper’s head.
It was disastrous for the visitors, but they were not stunned into submission and strung together some well-worked moves. Twice Raúl came close with headers following impressive right-wing raids by Atsuto Uchida, and although Inter could have been two up when Milito delivered a cross that was too high for Sneijder, the visitors’ resolve was rewarded with an equaliser.
On 17 minutes Kyriakos Papadopoulos rose highest to head a corner goalwards and, although Júlio César saved well, Matip – playing at centre-back in the absence of the injured Christoph Metzelder – bundled in the rebound. It took a wonderful save to deny José Manuel Jurado soon after and Stankovi? limped off, yet the hosts regained the lead with a seamless team move that swept the length of the field. It ended with Cambiasso popping up at the far post to head Sneijder’s chipped delivery into the path of Milito, who finished expertly.
Again the Bundesliga strugglers hit back, Jurado releasing Edu, who scored at the second attempt after Júlio César had blocked his first deflected effort. The pendulum threatened to swing again in a frenetic opening to the second half, Milito firing wide and Samuel Eto’o forcing an adroit stop from Neuer. But it was the visitors who forged ahead when Raúl brought down Jefferson Farfán’s pass, escaped his markers and slotted in.
Within four minutes it was 4-2 as Schalke caught Inter, and Ranocchia, cold on the counterattack, the outstanding Jurado breaking down the right and inviting the Nerazzurri defender into a desperate lunge that took the ball past his own goalkeeper. It quickly got worse for the shell-shocked hosts as Chivu was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Inter were unravelling and Schalke sought the killer blow, rattling the woodwork when Jurado let fly from distance and hitting the same post after Júlio César saved bravely from Farfán. Inter failed to clear properly, however, and Edu’s shot on the turn settled matters, perhaps definitively, in Schalke’s favour.
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Adebayor leads Real Madrid to glory
Madrid – Real Madrid gave their quest for a 10th European Cup crown a major boost when Emmanuel Adebayor netted twice in a 4-0 destruction of 10-man Tottenham Hotspur in a Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday.
Tottenham are making their debut in the competition but the London club’s chances of getting any further than the last eight were dealt a big blow when striker Peter Crouch was booked twice inside the first 15 minutes and received a red card.
Real were already 1-0 up after Togo striker Adebayor outjumped his marker at a fourth-minute corner and sent a powerful downward header goalwards that neither keeper Heurelho Gomes or Luka Modric on the line could keep out.
Adebayor added a second header in the 57th minute before Angel Di Maria lashed the best goal of the night with a powerful shot into the top corner in the 72nd and Cristiano Ronaldo completed the rout in the closing stages.
A giant flag reading “To the final, let’s go Madrid” and covering almost the entire first tier of the stands on one side of the stadium was unfurled before kickoff at the Bernabeu and Real began the game at a blistering tempo.
Spurs winger Gareth Bale, returning from injury, was the main threat for the visitors.
The Welsh international dashed on to a long ball on the half hour and left Sergio Ramos in his wake before sending his angled shot into the side netting in what was probably Tottenham’s best chance of the game.
The hosts laid siege to the Spurs goal in the second half and Adebayor, on loan from Manchester City, forced a fine save from Gomes with another header in the 66th minute as Real produced a slew of chances.
Adebayor, who had a spell with Tottenham’s north London rivals Arsenal before joining City, has now scored 10 times against Spurs and was given a huge ovation when he was replaced by Gonzalo Higuain in the 75th minute.
The second leg is at White Hart Lane next Wednesday and 2009 winners Barcelona or Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine await in the semifinals. – Reuters
Real Madrid's Emmanuel Adebayor celebrates his second goal against Tottenham Hotspur during their Champions League match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid.
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Brazil not as prepared as SA was: Blatter
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said on Monday that Brazil needed to speed up its preparations to host the 2014 World Cup.
“I would like to tell my Brazilian colleagues about the 2014 World Cup, it’s tomorrow, the Brazilians think its just the day after tomorrow,” he told reporters.
“We are hoping for a little good faith, things are not advancing very quickly.
“If we compare (2010 hosts) South Africa and Brazil three years before the World Cup, then Brazil has not got as far as South Africa in its preparations.
“If Brazil keeps going like these there will not be matches in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo at the Confederations Cup (in 2013).”
Blatter, who reiterated his belief that goalline technology could be used in 2014, also said he would make an important announcement about the fight against corruption at the Fifa Congress in June, where he stands for re-election.
“I will present something very special there but I will not now disclose the contents — it is to fight corruption, all cheating and discrimination,” he said.
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Six Nations: Martin Johnson relief at tough England win
“We were clearly a little bit off it. They knocked us out of our stride a bit,” the England boss told BBC Sport after the 22-16 win at Twickenham.
“It felt like the longest game of all time and it was always tough.”
England captain Mike Tindall added: “We’re not happy with the way we played, especially in the first half.”
But the Gloucester centre, who went off at half-time after injuring his ankle, added: “You’ve got to give a lot of credit to Scotland, they took us on.
“It’s good to see when you’re not playing that well you can still get those wins. I think the Grand Slam still won’t be allowed to be discussed, it’s still another game.”
England travel to Dublin on Saturday to face Ireland in their final game and victory would give them a first Grand Slam since 2003.
If they avoid defeat, they are guaranteed to win the Six Nations title but even if they lose, they look likely to top the table.
Wales, the only side who could deny England, must beat France convincingly in Paris in their final game and hope England lose heavily, with Johnson’s side enjoying a vastly superior points difference of 42 (+67 to Wales’ +25).
England have been in far better form this season after a difficult couple of years under Johnson, but they struggled to put away a Scotland side who are anchored to the foot of the Six Nations table.
Tindall unhappy despite win
“We had too many turnovers in the first half and the second half was a strange one, with a big injury [Scotland flanker Kelly Brown was stretchered off after a lengthy delay], then the referee [Romain Poite] getting injured – it got a bit disjointed,” said Johnson.
“It was [the kind of] game we knew could happen if we didn’t get it right often enough, and we didn’t get it right often enough.
“We created enough chances, but we were turned over far too often, some of it was their good play and some of it was us being a bit too optimistic at times.
“Not being able to finish it off in the second half really hurt us. The game is about the fundamentals and we didn’t get the fundamentals right often enough under that pressure.”
England flanker James Haskell, who won the man-of-the-match award after a powerful display in attack and defence, said it was “one of the toughest games I’ve ever played in”.
He added: “The team dug in and showed a lot of character. We’ll take the win but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Despite the defeat, Scotland boss Andy Robinson was extremely happy with the way his side had performed.
“I’ve just said to the players that I’m delighted with the way they’ve gone out and tried to play, but we’ve got to be more efficient at the set-piece if we want to challenge the very best,” he said.
“When you see a performance like today – the way we defended, and the Max Evans try was a cracker, we were able to keep ball in the opposition 22 and we were able to ask questions of them but it’s a ruthless old game this.
Martin Johnson admitted England were “never comfortable” as they beat Scotland to move within one victory of a first Grand Slam for eight years.
“They played well today. Their counter-attack was good, and when they put pace onto the ball they played with good shape.
“We targeted the breakdown as an area we could get turnovers and thought we did well in that area.
“If our line-out was better and we hadn’t given scrum penalties away, we think we would have won the game.”
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Guardiola: “The fans will carry us into the quarter finals”
It’s almost 10 days since Pep Guardiola has spoken to the press. The last time was after the match in Mallorca, on the 26th of February. This Monday he appeared again after the doctors discharged him from hospital after he’d recovered from the discomfort caused by a herniated disc. “I’m better. Not good but better,” Guardiola said, and only wanted to talk about the big game on Tuesday against Arsenal.
In the full to overflowing press conference the Barcelona manager spoke about the crucial Champions League match on Tuesday against Arsenal..
Player number 12
Pep Guardiola knows that Barça fans are there when needed, and so he’s in no doubt that on Tuesday at the Camp Nou, fans will respond and play a really active role in getting the team to the next round of the Champions League. “The fans will carry us to the quarterfinals,” he said, calling for their contribution especially in the first fifteen minutes of the second half. “We cannot fail, it’s such a great challenge to be in the quarter finals.”
Arsenal’s missing players
With regard to Arsenal’s missing players, and doubts as to whether players like Van Persie, who has travelled with the team, will play, Guardiola only wishes that “all Arsenal’s star players will be there so we can witness a fantastic spectacle”
Moreover, Guardiola is not crying over the absence in defense of Puyol, injured, and Piqué, suspended The Barcelona manager recalled that in the final of the Cup and the Champions League two years ago Barcelona played with some players missing, and said: “If we don’t make it to the quarter finals it won’t be because Carles and Gerard are not there”.
What type of game to expect?
Guardiola expects a game in which “there will be very little space in the middle, we’ll have to attack with some order and be careful with their counter-attacks”, but Pep is confident they’ll win and said that “do not doubt that we’ll try, we’ll play on the attack, to score goals. Do not be in any doubt that we’ll go for them”.
Furthermore, Guardiola defended Arsenal as a big team. “Their merit is that they’ve been up there for so long. The important thing is to be there and Arsenal are.” The manager knows the importance of qualifying and that “the Champions League is special and is a great challenge…..it’s a good thing to stay in the competition.”
fcbarcelona.com
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Top Gear: new Stig a she?
new Stig a she?………
Some say, he is a she! But don’t bet on Top Gear show host Jeremy Clarkson letting that little cat out of the bag when he introduces the world’s most famous television racing driver.
According to the Daily Mail, the new Stig is a woman. She is rumoured to be Sabine Schmitz, a former BMW racing driver who has featured on the show before.
Clarkson did, however, let slip that the new Stig was so tiny that his diminutive co-host Richard Hammond looked tall in comparison.
“The Stig comes up to my legs and makes Richard Hammond look like a giant. All the good racing drivers these days are very small,” joked Clarkson.
Top Gear producers decided to replace the last Stig after he revealed his identity. The BBC spent around £76 000 in a failed court attempt to stop 35-year-old Ben Collins from publishing a book about his time on the show.
But on the evidence of the new Stig’s performance, Collins is unlikely to be missed. To kickstart a new season of the popular car show, the Stig set a new circuit lap record of one minute, 15.1 seconds, driving an Ariel Atom V8.
related article: Top Gear Festival – South Africa
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Chiefs: Telkom Knockout winners
Two goal hero Sthembiso Ngcobo led Kaizer Chiefs to a stunning and well deserved 3-0 rout of their arch enemies Orlando Pirates in a one sided Telkom Knockout final played at a packed FNB Stadium on Saturday night.
Amakhosi’s other goal came from a cracker from Siphiwe Tshabalala to lead Chiefs to a league and cup double over their Soweto rivals.
Pirates once again suffered from nerves and stage fright and were never in this contest. They were outplayed in every department much more convincingly than the 3-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Amakhosi in last month’s league clash played at the same venue.
Chiefs took a firm grip on the match from the opening whistle and never let go. Chiefs were simply in a class of their own playing as a team against a side that played like schoolboys.
Chiefs, in collecting their first trophy of the season went home R4.25 million richer, but beating Pirates in a major cup final is worth more to the players and their fans than all the millions of rands on offer.
It was Chiefs’ 13th win in this competition since it was launched in 1992 – a record that is set stand for a long time to come.
Pirates, who collected R1.75 million, have played in the final six times and lost every time, but this was their most humiliating defeat.
Once again there was traffic congestion outside the stadium with fans struggling to get into the ground from about 6.30pm onwards. Thousands were still outside when the match kicked off at 8.15pm.
The crowd eventually rose to 71 342 paid attendance but there were closer to 90 000 inside by the time the second half kicked off.
Pirates coach Ruud Krol sprung a major surprise when he dropped his captain Lucky Lekgwathi, preferring Rueben Cloete at left back.
Lekgwathi had a nightmare when Amakhosi thumped Bucs 3-1 at the same venue in a league clash last month. Lekgwathi was blamed for the first two goals scored by Chiefs in the first half of the league defeat. Krol decided to drop his captain to the bench and gave goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs the captain’s armband.
Pirates still looked shaky and shell-shocked. Bucs were lucky not to be 1-0 down after less than two minutes when the unsettled defence failed to clear a loose ball but Chiefs Josta Dladla failed to punish Pirates when he shot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.
But there are no second chances in a cup final and Chiefs were 1-0 ahead on 11 minutes after a dreadful goalkeeping howler from Josephs. The Bucs keeper failed to deal with Knowledge Musona’s shot and from the loose ball Ngcobo blasted into an empty net.
Pirates went from bad to worse as the first half progressed and Amakhosi players started taking the mickey by tormenting Pirates. Even Chiefs skipper, the ever reliable right back Jimmy Tau got into the act on the overlap and teased the over worked Pirates defenders.
Pirates were lucky they were only 1-0 down at the interval after a half in which Chiefs dominated and Pirates looked rocky in defence — clueless in midfield and attack.
Striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane fired wide of the Chiefs goal in the 32nd minute in a rare attack.
But Amakhosi keeper Itumeleng Khune did brilliantly to fist a stunning header from Happy Jele over his crossbar in the 38th minute as Bucs battled to stay in the game.
It should have been 2-0 two minutes later when Musona scraped the upright when he connected a telling cross form Ngcobo with Josephs beaten.
Josephs did well to turn a stinging shot from Tshabalala for a corner five minutes after the restart after the Bucs defence failed to deal with a deep cross form Tau.
But it was game over in the 64th minute when Man of the Match Ngcobo thudded home an unstoppable header from an inch perfect cross from left back Punch Masenamela that left Josephs floundering.
Bafana Bafana Player of the Year Tshabalala put the icing on top of the cake when he beat Josephs with a stunning shot which Ngcobo had a hand in to make it 3-0 in the 72nd minute.
Pirates were at this stage not praying for a miracle because that was not going to happen but for referee Victor Hlungwani to blow for fulltime and end their misery and embarrassment as Chiefs toyed with them.
Josephs prevented more humiliation when he blocked Tau shot in the 78th minute as Chiefs went for more glory.
It was all Chiefs until the end with their fans revelling in this piece of local soccer glory.
Related article Pirates – Chiefs in 2010 Telkom Knockout final
