ekansekans's blog: "df"

CASARES, Spain - Brandt Snedeker worked wonders with a loaned set of clubs at the World Match Play Championship on Thursday, crushing Thomas Bjorn of Denmark 5 and 4 to begin his quest for a first victory outside the United States. Michael Crabtree Super bowl Jersey . The lone American in the 24-man field teed off with only 10 clubs in his replacement bag -- including a putter bought from the pro shop and a driver borrowed from Australian rival John Senden -- while his normal set was being couriered from the airport following a delay in the arrival of his luggage in Spain. By the time his clubs arrived at the Finca Cortesin course -- allowing him to fill his bag to the maximum 14 -- Snedeker was 3 up after three holes. Such was his form with his newly purchased putter, he continued with it rather than use his own and holed from off the green on No. 14 to clinch victory. "I didnt like my chances on the first tee," Snedeker said. "I just thought, Go out there and see if I could try to beat him, try to do what I could with what I was playing with." There were opening-day wins for Ian Poulter of England, who started his title defence by beating Senden 3 and 2, and Justin Rose, who battered Robert Rock 7 and 6 in an all-English contest. Martin Kaymer, at No 9 the highest-ranked player in the field, lost 3 and 2 to Rafael Cabrero-Bello. Robert Karlsson missed a 6-foot putt on the last to lose 1 up to Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion and Europes Ryder Cup star from the same year. But there was no doubting the standout story, which continued Snedekers remarkable few days since missing the cut at The Players Championship last week. His flight from Miami to Madrid on Monday ahead of a first visit to Spain was interrupted when a fellow passenger suffered a heart attack, forcing his plane to make an emergency landing in the Azores. He played Wednesdays pro-am deprived of sleep and with some borrowed clubs and only discovered on Thursday morning that his own set wouldnt be arriving until after he had teed off against Bjorn. Rose offered Snedeker his putter but the American went with the one he bought, plus Sendens driver and a set of irons. Snedeker had to be granted permission from tour officials to add four of his own clubs -- a 3-wood, hybrid, lob wedge and putter. "Kind of a weird day to say the least," Snedeker said. "They havent charged me for the putter yet. Im sure it will be a hundred bucks but it will be well worth it." Snedeker, who made six birdies in total and can guarantee a place in the last 16 with a win over Branden Grace on Friday, believes winning the tournament would help his attempts to earn a spot in United States Ryder Cup team for the September series against Europe in Medinah. "It would be pretty tough for (captain) Davis (Love III) to find an excuse to leave me off the team," he said. Poulter is many peoples favourite this week owing to his strong match-play record, and he held on against Senden after birdies on Nos. 3 and 9. He added another with a 30-foot putt on No. 15. "Its refreshing to get back to match-play golf," said Poulter, who has won eight of a possible 11 points in Ryder Cup matches and is the only player to have captured match-play titles on both sides of the Atlantic. If Senden loses to Tom Lewis in Fridays early matches, Poulter will qualify for the last 16 before playing his second and last match in the round-robin stage. Rose birdied the first five holes on his way to overwhelming Rock, while Sergio Garcia won three of his final five holes to beat fellow Spaniard Alvaro Quiros 2 and 1 in increasingly overcast conditions. Also, 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie rallied to defeat Peter Hanson of Sweden 2 and 1, and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel birdied No. 18 to halve his match-up against Nicolas Colsaerts in one of only two matches to make it to the last hole. NaVorro Bowman Black Jersey . The sides stepped away from negotiations last week with competing bids on the table and no clear road ahead. They spoke again over the weekend and agreed to devote sessions Wednesday and Thursday entirely to core economic issues -- the area where the parties seem to have the most ground to make up. Vernon Davis Black Jersey .53 seconds -- the fifth-fastest of the morning races. Hayden, the 2007 World champion and 2011 World silver medallist in the event, was left disappointed at Beijing 2008. http://www.49ersthegear.com/aldon-smith-jersey . Scott Cullen looks at the Penguins staying alive and the Red Wings dying a slow death Friday. A FLEURY OF ACTIVITYAfter an abysmal start to the series, Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury earned his keep in the third period of Game Five, when the Flyers outshot the Penguins 14-8, yet couldnt score the equalizer, despite many quality chances. LaMichael James Elite Jersey . Its been a cast of rotating heroes that have been the most impressive with the Los Angeles Kings. Ray McDonald Jersey . U.S. Ski Team spokesman Doug Haney says the five-time overall World Cup winner "has had an incredible preparation period" so far but will focus on the only U.S. stop on the womens circuit. GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Jeremy Lin was all the talk in New York during a sensational stretch last season. Now, the Knicks dont want to talk about him at all. At their annual media day, the Knicks tried to keep the focus on the aging team they assembled and believe is a contender, rather than on the phenom they let get away over the summer. Team officials had never commented on the decision not to match the offer sheet Lin signed with the Houston Rockets in July, and it took only two questions Monday before general manager Glen Grunwald and coach Mike Woodson were asked for an explanation. "Well, sure," Grunwald started, before Woodson, seated to his left at a podium, quickly interrupted. "Im not going to discuss Jeremy Lin," Woodson said. "I think as a franchise we wish Jeremy nothing but the best. It was a process that we went through, and we were able to get a player by the name of Raymond Felton, a guy by the name of Jason Kidd, Pablo (Prigioni) in here. Three solid point guards that I think will help our ballclub as we move down the road. "As an organization and as a coach, I wish Jeremy nothing but the best. This day really is about, I think, the team that we fielded this summer, and we need to focus in on that." That Lin wouldnt be a part of it would have been unfathomable in the spring. Undrafted out of Harvard and waived three times before the Knicks signed him, Lin finally got his chance in February with the team faltering. He averaged 24.6 points and 9.2 assists in 10 games from Feb. 4-20, pulling the Knicks into the playoff race, drawing worldwide interest as the NBAs first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese decent, and boosting the Knicks TV ratings and merchandise sales. His numbers declined after Woodson replaced the more offensive-minded Mike DAntoni in March, and his season ended after just 25 starts when he needed surgery to repair torn knee cartilage. Still, Woodson had insisted Lin would return and go into next season as the starting point guard, even after the restricted free agent had signed an offer sheet with the Rockets for four years and about $28 million. The Rockets amended the offer to three years and about $25 million, with the final year salary ballooning to nearly $15 million. In the meantime, the Knicks had signed Kidd, re-acquired Felton from Portland, and decided to pass on Lin. "Basically, it comes down to the fact tthat Houston made a commitment to him that we werent prepared to make," Grunwald said. Colin Kaepernick Limited Jersey. "Im very happy for Jeremy that things worked out for him very well personally and for his family, and I wish him the best. But Im more excited for our team, by the team weve assembled right now." Its an old one, with Kurt Thomas about to turn 40, Kidd doing so late next season and Marcus Camby 38. At one point Monday, Camby, Kidd and Thomas came to the podium in succession, totalling about 120 years of age. Rasheed Wallace is expected to join the old guys in the next couple of days after ending two years of retirement to sign. Felton is only 28 but appeared in decline last season, averaging a career-low 11.4 points and briefly losing his starting job. He acknowledged he arrived out of shape after the lockout, unsure there would even be a season. But both he and the Knicks insist hes in good condition now. "Im in shape now, ready to go and I got a big, big chip on my shoulder," Felton said. Felton played well for the Knicks during the 2010-11 season, averaging 17.1 points in 54 starts before he was sent to Denver as part of the package for Carmelo Anthony. His return was met with a lukewarm response -- and even some anger -- from many Knicks fans, not only because he played so poorly last season but because it paved the way for Lins departure. "Jeremy had a good run. Jeremy did a lot of good things here, so the fact that they didnt want him to leave, I mean, thats expected," Felton said. "Im not upset at that at all. I dont really care about that at all. Hes in Houston now; Im here in New York, back where I wanted to be. I did a lot of great things when I was here. Im looking forward to bringing those things back." There was speculation the Knicks were angry that Lin had gone back to the Rockets to get a second offer, which would have been so difficult for New York to afford because of the expensive luxury tax payments it would have been subjected to in the third year. But Grunwald said the decision was a simple matter of choosing the best fit. "You go through free agency and you have a lot of irons in the fire, a lot of options available to you, and we felt that the Raymond Felton option was the best one at the end of the day," Grunwald said. "We were excited to have Raymond back. "We werent disappointed at all." ' ' '