Subiectul: Re: This is the Tournament that my Cousin Mark has won a place to play in.
Vikings: Oh god really, he has been under so much pressure recently. He has had an "up and down" year, with his father passing over etc etc., so it is hardly surprising. My cousin leaves next week, there is no cut mark so all that player will go onto all rounds. I do hope Tiger plays i really do.
Subiectul: This is the Tournament that my Cousin Mark has won a place to play in.
Henrik Stenson, Thomas Bjorn and Camilo Villegas are the latest players to commit to playing in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, 9th to 12th November, 2006. They will compete against tournament winners from four of the World’s leading Tours for the ‘Champion of Champions’ title.
This year’s field will be the strongest ever seen in China with 10 of the World’s Top 20 players already confirmed including World Number 1, Tiger Woods, World Number 2, Jim Furyk, two-time US Open winner, Retief Goosen, 2006 HSBC World Match Play Champion, Paul Casey, defending Champion, David Howell and European Ryder Cup stars, Colin Montgomerie, Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.
The international field represents players from more than 20 countries battling it out for the largest prize fund on offer in Asia of US$5 million.
Giles Morgan, Global Head of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, HSBC Holdings plc., said: " One of the most exciting elements of the HSBC Champions is the qualifying criteria which makes for a truly international field. Winners from four leading tours have a chance to make their mark against the world’s best.
“That so many players have chosen to include the HSBC Champions in their schedule reflects the growing profile of our event. It also demonstrates HSBC’s ambition, as a sponsor of golf worldwide, to help grow the game in Asia."
The HSBC Champions will be played at the Sheshan International Golf Club with winners from four leading golf tours and the top 50 on the Official World Rankings qualifying. The event is co-sanctioned by The European Tour, Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Sunshine
srnity: No not yet, i have checked the schedule for November and it isnt up yet, but will let you know as soon as it is on the website. if u u go to www.europeantour.com on the home page you will see Mark on there
bouncybouncy: Awwwwesome - I always watch Tiger do his thing when I can, maybe I'll get to see your cousin next month - Do you know the name of the one he's playing Tiger in &/or when in November it might be on?
boop2004: I'm rooting for Detroit too. Though I do like a few of the Saint Louis players that used to be on the Angels a few years ago. Not Jeff Weaver though. HE was so bad this year before the Angels got rid of him he probably cost the Angels the division. Just his luck to take that 6.29 ERA and get on the Cardinals.
Its official Mark Pilkington has become Challenge Tour champion and will now go on to play against Tiger Woods in China in November and is back on the European Tour with the best of them
Subiectul: Just had to share this with you, this is sooo exciting
Modificat de Adaptable Ali (21. Octombrie 2006, 13:46:41)
1 1 HEPWORTH, James ENG 8 -12 69 65 68 -1 T3 2 PILKINGTON, Mark WAL 8 -10 67 68 71 -3 T14 T3 GINER, Ivó ESP 11 -9 69 69 72 -6 T3 T3 JAMES, Lee S ENG 8 -9 71 66 69 -2 T12 T5 NOREN, Alexander SWE 11 -8 69 65 75 -4 T6 T5 WALKER, Sam ENG 9 -8 68 70 69 -2 T6 T5 ECHENIQUE, Rafael ARG 8 -8 65 75 67 -2 T3 T5 HEATH, James ENG 8 -8 69 66 71 -1 2 T5 WEBSTER, Shaun P ENG 8 -8 67 70 68 Par T10 10 HUGO, Jean RSA
They didn't get to play each other in the playoffs as the Detroit Tigers defeated them both quite handily. Ain't that a shame? :) Bye bye A's. Maybe next year Yankees. Go Tigers! The National League is going down.
Modificat de MadMonkey (15. Octombrie 2006, 00:13:16)
Sat - 14 Oct 06
Arsenal 3 0 Watford A Villa 1 1 Tot'ham Liv'pool 1 1 Blackb'n Man City 0 0 Sheff U M'brough 2 1 Everton Portsm'h 2 0 West Ham Reading 0 1 Chelsea Wigan 1 3 Man Utd
Subiectul: Racism row takes shine off for Walcott...
Germany (0) 0 England (0) 2 Agg: 0-3
Theo Walcott scored a memorable brace to help England qualify for the European Championship finals next summer but the match was marred by racist chanting in Germany. Anton Ferdinand and Micah Richards were both allegedly called 'monkeys' by German players in the second half and made their feelings known after the game. The Football Association confirmed they had held talks with a Uefa delegate after the game in the hope that serious action will be taken. Ferdinand was clearly upset after the game but refused to be drawn on which players were directing the abuse. He said: "It's in the hands of the FA and I don't want to say much more at this stage." The racism row spoilt what was a memorable night for England's young lions after Walcott came off the bench in dramatic style after surprisingly being dropped. Walcott said: "I was delighted with the two goals and it is such a great honour to be in this squad." Walcott's late double made it a night to remember for manager Peter Taylor, who is now urging the FA to give him the job on a permanent basis. Taylor said: "I'm asking for the FA to make a quick decision on my future. Of course I want the job and want to lead these players in the finals next summer." In an explosive affair, Germany were reduced to 10 men after just 14 minutes. Nigel Reo-Coker's ball released David Nugent, who was hauled down by defender Markus Brzenska and referee Jaroslav Jara had no hesitation in brandishing a red card. Despite having the extra man, England were upset when Jara awarded a penalty to the home side after 23 minutes when Newcastle defender Steven Taylor was adjudged to have pushed Mario Gomez. But England were handed a much-needed lifeline when Gonzalo Castro shot wide of the post. England were then reduced to 10 men on 58 minutes when Taylor was shown his second yellow card of the game for a foul. Gomez was involved in the controversy once again when he went down following a challenge by the Newcastle defender. However, referee Jara evened up the numbers with a red card – much to the disgust of the England coaching staff. It was left to Walcott to make all the difference and he netted his first of the game on 84 minutes when he was put through by Leighton Baines and showed all his composure by firing the ball into the corner of the net. The 17-year old prodigy sealed victory for England in injury time when his blistering pace took him past the German defence and he curled a wonderful shot past Michael Rensing's left hand and inside the far post.
Paul Hunter, Snooker's `Beckham of the Baize,' Dies at Age 27
Paul Hunter, a three-time Masters snooker champion dubbed ``the Beckham of the baize,'' died after an 18-month fight against a rare form of cancer. He was 27.
Hunter, who was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors in his stomach lining in March 2005, succumbed last night at a hospice in Huddersfield, England, governing body World Snooker said.
As well as winning titles on the professional snooker circuit, Hunter's good looks and charisma made him popular with non-sports fans and drew comparisons with former England soccer captain David Beckham. His 2004 wedding to Lindsey Fell was featured in celebrity magazine ``Hello.''
``Paul was a man who had everything going for him, an outstanding talent, good looks, fame, riches, charm and a beautiful wife,'' World Snooker Chairman Rodney Walker said in a statement. ``This shows us just how quickly life can change.''
Hunter turned professional in 1995 at the age of 16 and took his first major title at the 1998 Welsh Open. He won the Masters, snooker's most-prestigious invitational event, in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and reached the World Championship semifinals in 2003.
He continued to compete professionally in the 2005-2006 season while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. He was able to win only one match, and his ranking slipped to 34th from fifth.
In July, his fellow professionals voted for a change to the sport's constitution to allow Hunter to have his ranking frozen for a season so he could take a break to get more treatment.
``Deep down we all thought he was going to beat the disease,'' former snooker professional Willie Thorne told the British Broadcasting Corp. ``He was one of the best-looking players we ever had and had a heart like a lion. There will be a big hole in everybody's hearts for the next year or so.''
Hunter, who would have turned 28 on Oct. 14, is survived by his wife and their ninth-month-old daughter, Evie Rose.
Mark Pilkington secured the richest first prize in the history of the European Challenge Tour with a fantastic victory at the 2006 Kazakhstan Open. The Welshman, who led from day one, carded a final round of three under par 69 to win by two strokes from England’s Sahun P Webster at the Nurtau Golf Club and pick up that record first prize of €48,000.
That winner’s cheque – the first of his professional career – elevated Pilkington to second place on the Challenge Tour Rankings with just two events of the 2006 season remaining, and put him in a wonderful position to catch Number One Johan Axgren.
Axgren took a share of 14th place to boost his earnings to €103,848, but his clear lead has now been slashed by Pilkington’s win in Kazakhstan, with the Welshman now totalling €98,135 fro the season.
Pilkington had challengers coming at him from everywhere throughout the final day, but he never lost his lead despite coming under intense pressure from firstly Englishman Zane Scotland, then Jesus Maria Arruti of Spain and finally Webster.
He got his final round off to a great start with a birdie at the second hole but dropped a stroke on the par five fifth with Scotland making a move up the leaderboard. A birdie at the ninth helped him increase his lead and he followed that with two more on the tenth and 11th.
A bogey on the 12th let Arruti back in the chase, but Pilkington withheld the challenge of the Spaniard and Webster with his final birdie of the day on the 13th. That moved him to 16 under, and he withstood the immense pressure to par his way home and ensure a two shot win.
“It feels fantastic to get my first win as a pro – especially in this event, which is huge for the Challenge Tour in terms of the prize money,” said Pilkington.
“It’s very satisfying because of that and the fact that this is probably the best field we have had on the Challenge Tour all season. All the best players this season were here and we played on a tough golf course that you really had to think your way around, so it feels great.
Despite all the eagles and birdies Pilkington racked up in is 16 under par 272 aggregate score, his best shot of the week was arguably at the 72nd hole of the tournament.
Having played his approach shot into the greenside bunker, Pilkington conjured a marvellous recovery, floating his ball to the hole and spinning it back to eight inches to leave himself the simplest of tap-ins for victory.
“Under the circumstances I think that’s probably the best bunker shot that I have ever played,” he smiled. “As I said I am just delighted to have won here. I have been a professional for eight years now, and this is why you put in the hours of practice – to get into a position to win.”
Modificat de MadMonkey (25. Septembrie 2006, 00:08:33)
All Ryder Cup wins are sweet. But Ian Woosnam's side achieved perhaps the sweetest and most emotional of all at the K Club near Dublin on Sunday.
As they celebrated in front of a ecstatic Irish crowd, who had cheered them every step of the way no matter what the weather, Darren Clarke was for obvious reasons the number one toast of everybody.
The fifth European win in six matches and, for the first time ever, a third in a row - by an incredible 18.5-9.5 margin that matched their record of two years ago - came not just with tears of joy, but inevitably tears of sadness as well.
Clarke, who lost his wife Heather to cancer just six weeks ago, was hugged by everybody who could get close to him after a remarkable display in which he won all his three games.
No wonder he has been made odds-on favourite to win Sports Personality of the Year awards come December.
"This is as good as it gets," said Clarke, crying his eyes out. "The support I've had is something I will cherish forever.
"I've too many memories to list. It's done a lot for me. A lot of people how showed how much they care for me and cared for Heather.
"I was just trying to keep my emotions in check all the way round. The fans have been fantastic and the American players and their wives have been incredible too."
The only thing that could have made it any better in Ireland's first staging of a contest which now grips the sporting world was if Clarke had holed the winning putt.
For much of the final day it looked as if that dream scenario could happen.
But the Ulsterman's team-mates denied him - unintentionally, of course - the ultimate glory because they were simply too good.
As Clarke was heading to a superb three and two victory over Zach Johnson, Swedish rookie Henrik Stenson, playing in the following match, was the man actually to send the United States to yet another defeat.
Colin Montgomerie, Paul Casey, David Howell and Luke Donald had already taken Europe to the 14 points they needed to retain the trophy by then.
Stenson had no idea as he polished off Vaughn Taylor four and three that his was the putt that meant Europe's amazing run of success went on.
Clarke's point took the score to 16-8 and then Dubliner Paul McGinley added a half, Jose Maria Olazabal beat world number two Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood, ill overnight, beat Chris DiMarco to complete the rout.
And a rout from first to last. In the opening game last Friday Tiger Woods put his opening drive in the water and in the final match DiMarco twice went in the same lake. America may have beaten the Rest of the World minus Europe last year, but they could not even come close to beating Europe.
Not even the presence of former president Bill Clinton could inspire Tom Lehman's men. They were crushed in the singles by a worst-ever 8 1/2-3 1/2 - and lost all five sessions for the first time.
Woosnam, gulping down champagne after embracing Clarke and then congratulating every other member of undoubtedly the strongest European side in history, said: "I'm very emotional.
"I just can't say enough about my team. They have played absolutely fantastic.
"The crowd have been fantastic too and I just want to thank them. They were unbelievable on the first tee today.
"I don't think the atmosphere has been this good before. I knew before it was going to be loud, but I didn't think it was going to be as good as this."
Lehman looked dumbfounded while Clarke and then Woosnam - almost inevitably - downed a pint of Guinness in one on the balcony of the clubhouse.
"I just tip my hat completely to the European team - they were inspired," said Lehman. "The crowd gave them momentum and I just don't know if there's ever been a European team that's played better."
Leading 10-6 overnight and requiring four points to retain the trophy and 4 1/2 for victory Woosnam surprised nobody by entrusting the task of making a good start to 43-year-old Montgomerie.
As he did in 2002 the Scot, never beaten in singles, responded. He was never behind from the time he hit his tee shot to five feet and birdied the third.
It might well have gone back to level on the 11th, but in an amazing stroke of fortune Montgomerie's pulled approach hit the rocks by the lake and rebounded onto dry land.
He halved the hole, made a four-footer for a two on the 14th and was poised to put the first point on the board until Toms holed an 18-footer to stay alive at the 17th.
Behind them Sergio Garcia was trying to become the first European ever to win five points out of five. But the Spaniard was denied that by an inspired performance from Stewart Cink, who birdied four of the first five, was five up after seven.
As Garcia tried to fight back Cink sank successive putts of 50 and 30 feet at the 12th and 13th. Even when his opponent chipped in at the 15th Cink replied with an 18-footer that clinched the win and made it 10-7.
That turned attention back to Montgomerie. Two years ago he had beaten Toms on the last with the putt that gave Europe victory. This time he knew he had 'only' to halve the 18th to take his side 11-7 up and with a magnificent bunker shot and five-foot putt he did it.
Woods did his bit for his captain with a three and two win over Robert Karlsson.
Casey provided the next point for Europe, though, and since it was world number three Jim Furyk it was yet another great accomplishment for the Surrey golfer.
Last Sunday, of course, he won £1million at the World Match Play at Wentworth and on Saturday he produced the greatest finish in Ryder Cup history by holing-in-one at the 14th in the foursomes.
On his return to the hole Casey made a 30-footer for a two. He still only halved the hole, but was three up and after Furyk had eagled the 16th with a 40-footer Casey finished things off in superb fashion again with a 25-foot birdie putt on the next. Europe led 12-8.
Howell was in match nine, but he thumped Brett Wetterich five and four, then came Donald with a two and one triumph over Chad Campbell. Donald and Olazabal were called upon only three times by Woosnam, but they won them all.
Garcia finished with four out of five and Westwood, who like the Spanish star earned 4.5 points of five in Detroit, matched that, while Olazabal, playing for the first time since 1999, left Mickelson with only half a point from five games.
Nick Faldo has already been appointed Woosnam's successor and Paul Azinger is favourite to succeed Lehman for the next match in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2008.
Arsenal 3 0 Sheff U A Villa 2 0 Charlton Fulham 0 2 Chelsea Liv'pool 3 0 Tot'ham Man City 2 0 West Ham M'brough 0 1 Blackb'n Reading 1 1 Man Utd Wigan 1 1 Watford
TABLE Team Pld Pts Chelsea 6 15 Portsm'h 5 13 Man Utd 6 13 A Villa 6 12 Everton 5 11 Liv'pool 6 10 Reading 6 10 Arsenal 5 8 Bolton 5 8 Blackb'n 6 8 Fulham 6 8 Man City 6 7 N'castle 5 6 Wigan 5 5 West Ham 6 5 M'brough 6 5 Tot'ham 6 4 Watford 6 3 Charlton 6 3 Sheff U 6 2