Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Saturday 7 december 2019
Woodland leads in the Bahamas as Tiger gets within 2 shots

By DOUG FERGUSON picture after his 74, three
AP Golf Writer shots behind with only five
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — players in front of him after
Two big birdies from Gary a day feeling as though
Woodland gave him the nothing was going in the
lead in the Hero World hole.
Challenge. A closing birdie It's an All-Star cast in front of
on a hole that has vexed Ti- Reed, and chasing Wood-
ger Woods put him in range land.
of a third victory this year. Stenson is trying to end 49
Patrick Reed fully expected starts worldwide without a
to be right there within until victory as he tries to get his
watching video of his club swing back to when he was
moving sand away from his at his best. The 43-year-old
golf ball in a waste area, Swede shot 68 despite chip
leading to a two-shot pen- shots dropping into the
alty in a round that didn't wrong cup — a sprinkler
go all that well in the first head — on consecutive
place. holes. He will be in the last
The end of an entertain- group with Woodland.
ing round in this holiday Justin Thomas, who has nev-
event in the tropics set up er had a higher score when
what figures to be a lively Patrick Reed tees off on the par-5 ninth hole at Albany Golf Club during the second round of the playing alongside Woods,
conclusion. Woodland's fi- Hero World Challenge in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday Dec. 5 2019. kept that streak alive. They
nal two birdies gave him a Associated Press each shot 67 and will play
4-under 68 and a one-shot together again in the final
lead over Henrik Stenson. ing out there and making at and I look forward to to- Reed was in a sandy waste round. Defending champi-
Six players were separated birdies," Woods said. "And morrow." area left of the fairway on on Jon Rahm had a 69 and
by three shots. then I have 23 hours on a The next two weeks cap the par-5 11th when video was two shots back.
That includes Woods, who plan to recover." off a memorable year for clearly caught his sand Thomas has become close
hasn't won his event since Woodland makes his Presi- Woods, who won his first wedge removing sand right with Woods, and they are
it was in California in 2011. dents Cup debut next major at Pebble Beach in behind the ball — twice — a likely pairing next week in
With one eye on being week, and he appears the U.S. Open, and then during practice swings. the Presidents Cup. Thom-
a playing captain at the to be in good form. He his wife had twins. This is That's a violation of Rule as was particularly artful
Presidents Cup next week dropped only one shot, the first time traveling with 8.1a (4) on removing or around the greens with a
in Australia, Woods focused gave another way by fail- the entire family — three pressing down sand or full flop shot on the ninth,
on birdies instead of poten- ing to birdie the par-5 15th, kids under 2 — and they loose soil. and a 5-wood to putt it up
tial pairings at Royal Mel- and then finished in style. couldn't fit all the car seats Reed says the club was the slope for a tap-in birdie
bourne was two shots off First, he holed a 30-foot putt and strollers on the plane. farther away from the ball on the par-5 third.
the lead. on the par-3 17th. Then, It was a forgettable day for than it looked on television, "Look at that short game,"
The final round is Saturday with the wind at his back, Reed in so many ways. and he said with the face Woods said. "Just go
so the American team — he hit wedge to 3 feet for Staked to a three-shot lead, being open, he didn't real- around and look at the
11 are in the tournament, another birdie. he didn't make a birdie un- ize the club had brushed shots he hit today. The kid's
Dustin Johnson is coming to On Thursday, he ended his til the 14th hole, a short par away sand because "I got great touch."
the Bahamas to join them round with three straight 4 that can be reached off didn't feel it drag." That will come in handy
on the charter — can get birdies. the tee. He added two "So after seeing the video, at Royal Melbourne next
an early start across the "It was a nice finish, same more down the stretch, it's a two-stroke penalty. I week. For now, they're all
globe. as yesterday," he said. "So only to lose two strokes in accept that," Reed said. playing for themselves and
"I just have to focus on go- excited about where I'm the scoring room. He's still very much in the a $1 million check.q

Blazers give Carmelo Anthony a

guaranteed contract

By ANNE M. PETERSON ly signed on Nov. 19, has Knicks, where he spent six-
AP Sports Writer meshed well with the Blaz- plus seasons.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The ers, averaging 16.9 points He also has played one
Portland Trail Blazers have and 5.9 rebounds since season each with Okla-
given forward Carmelo An- joining the team. homa City and Houston.
thony a fully guaranteed The 10-time NBA All-Star The Rockets traded him
contract for the remainder was named Western Con- to Chicago in January but
of the season. ference Player of the Week the Bulls cut him before he
The team had signed An- after he averaged 22.3 played a game.
thony to a non-guaran- points, 7.7 rebounds and Anthony filled an immedi-
teed contract last month 2.7 assists over Portland's ate need for the Blazers,
and had until a January three-game winning streak who became short-hand-
deadline to guarantee the last week. ed at forward when Zach
deal. Anthony, 35, played seven- Collins injured his shoulder Portland Trail Blazers' Carmelo Anthony, left, is defended by Los
Anthony, who hadn't plus seasons for the Nug- and required surgery that is Angeles Clippers' Patrick Patterson during the first half of an NBA
played for more than a gets before being traded expected to keep him out basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, in Los Angeles.
year before he was formal- in 2011 to the New York for at least four months.q Associated Press