Finch leads by one at Gleneagles
Golf Betting Lines
08/26/2010 -
Perthshire, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Richard Finch opened with a six-under
66 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Johnnie
Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Four of Finch's fellow Englishmen are tied for second place at minus-five.
Gary Boyd, Richard Bland, David Lynn and Robert Rock share second with
Scotland's Stephen Gallacher.
The European Ryder Cup team will be finalized after Sunday's final round.
Several players are fighting for the last two automatic spots or trying to
play well enough so that captain Colin Montgomerie will add them to the team.
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson have the final two spots on that team at
this point, but could be bumped off. Hanson is tied for 18th at three-under
69. Jimenez, who passed up a family commitment to play this week, is one
stroke further back at minus-two.
Simon Dyson, one of the players that could play his way onto the team, opened
with a 68. He and Francesco Molinari, who is also at minus-four, headline a
group of 11 players tied for seventh.
Ross McGowan, who was hoping to play his way onto the team, or at least play
well enough to gain a captain's pick, had to withdraw after shooting 77 due to
a shoulder injury. Molinari secured a spot on the European Ryder Cup team with
McGowan's withdrawal.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the team now, but I've got a few years
left in me, so hopefully I'll make it in a couple of years' time," McGowan
stated. "I'm pretty gutted. I had a great opportunity to make the team after
having such a good finish to last year."
Finch got his round going with a birdie on the second. After four straight
pars, he converted back-to-back birdie chances from the seventh to move to
three-under par.
The Englishman ran off five straight pars from the ninth before dropping in
his fourth birdie of the day at the par-four 14th.
Finch grabbed a share of the lead with a birdie on 16, then moved atop the
leaderboard with a birdie at the last.
"The scorecard doesn't really tell the whole story I suppose, but to go bogey-
free was quite remarkable," said Finch, who won twice during the 2008 season.
"I took the slightly scenic route at times, and I'm delighted with the result.
Six-under par anywhere is a great score. I think I was one-under after five
holes, and I one-putted every hole to get to that point and thought I was
going to be in for a long, difficult day."
Lynn also had a bogey-free round with five birdies and 13 pars. Rock and
Gallacher carded six birdies and a bogey. Bland mixed nine birdies and four
bogeys through his round, while Boyd had four bogeys, an eagle and seven
birdies.
NOTES: Defending champion Peter Hedblom posted a three-under 69 and is tied
for 18th...David Drysdale and Rafa Echenique both withdrew during their
rounds.
<< Another loss for USC after investigation, sanctions
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Southern California has
been stripped of the 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy it received in recognition for
winning the national football title.
The award was revoked by the Football Write
<< Hockey "Cold War" rages on
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cold War may be a thing of the past in
a political sense, but the battle between Russia and the West is still alive
and well in the hockey world.
This week, representatives of the NHL and KHL, among nu
<< Knicks sign second-round pick Fields
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks have signed guard/forward
Landry Fields, the 39th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
As per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
The 22-year-old Fields averaged 22 points, good for
<< Wozniacki, Clijsters could meet in Open final rematch
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded 2009 runner-up Caroline Wozniacki
and second-seeded reigning champion Kim Clijsters could meet in a rematch of
last year's final, as the women's draw was revealed Thursday for the U.S.
Open, the final
<< FIBA deals Krstic three-game ban
Geneva, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FIBA, the world governing body of
basketball, announced Thursday disciplinary action against four players for
their respective roles in a fight that broke out between Greece and Serbia at
a frien
Freshmen to watch in the Big 12 >>
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -If Bob Stoops had his way, the practice of redshirting incoming freshmen to save them for later would be scrapped at Oklahoma.He'd rather have his freshmen contribute right away for the seventh-ranked Sooners.``I believe that the
Ex-Cavs GM Ferry returns to Spurs front office >>
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -Danny Ferry is returning to the San Antonio Spurs.The former general manager for the Cavaliers will be vice president of basketball operations for the Spurs. He will be reunited with coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Bu
Spurs bring Ferry back to San Antonio >>
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Antonio Spurs have named Danny
Ferry the Vice President of basketball operations.
Ferry played for the Spurs from 2000-03 and was the team's director of
basketball operations from 200
Villanova's Bell out indefinitely >>
Villanova, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Villanova freshman guard James Bell will
be out indefinitely, the school reported on Thursday.
Bell, an Orlando native, was diagnosed with stress fractures in the tibia of
both legs. He will not part
Rodriguez solid as punchless Phils are swept by Astros >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wandy Rodriguez stymied the Philadelphia
hitters over seven innings and helped his own cause with an RBI single, as the
Houston Astros beat the Phillies, 5-1, to complete a four-game sweep at
Citizen
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Bet on NFL
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
Bet on NFL
Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard
|