Page 32 - bon-dia-aruba-20210925

A32 sports
Diasabra 25 september 2021

Americans take a 3-1 lead in opening Ryder Cup session

“I don’t know if anyone could have the act, too, holing a 25-foot putt and draig Harrington said. “They have
beat Xander and Patrick today,” Mc- blowing a kiss to the crowd on the done their job. It wasn’t their morn-
Ilroy said. “They played really good 15th hole for a 3-up lead with three ing. Let’s hope it’s their afternoon.”
— four birdies in a row. Geez, yeah, holes to play.
they played great.” U.S. captain Steve Stricker watched it
Spieth tried to extend the match with all unfold and had close to a dream
The Americans won the two matches a shot that was as much about the start. But he stuck to his plan for the
in between, not trailing on the back landscape of Whistling Straits than afternoon, and there were a few sur-
nine of Whistling Straits in either of the Ryder Cup. prises.
them, and built a 3-1 lead going into
afternoon fourballs. Well below the green left of the par-3 He split up Cantlay and Schauffele
17th in deep grass, he blasted a 52-de- — Cantlay was with Thomas, while
That makes seven straight times the gree wedge toward the green, a shot Schauffele was paired with Johnson
Americans have not lost the opening with such force that his momentum — and then put in all four players
session. Three years ago in France, carried him backward. The safe move who sat out in the morning.
they also had a 3-1 lead only to get was to keep running, almost to Lake
shut out that afternoon as Europe Michigan, before he could regain his Harrington did the same — Rahm
cruised to another decisive victory. balance. It was all for naught; Thomas was with Tyrrell Hatton, while Garcia
missed the 6-foot par and that was it. sat out fourballs. Poulter also sat out,
In a strange twist, neither captain kept with McIlroy and longtime friend
any of the teams together — even Jon Dustin Johnson and Collin Morika- from Irish golf Shane Lowry in the
Rahm and Sergio Garcia, the lone wa, who have combined to win three lineup.
bright spot for Europe in foursomes. of the last seven majors, fell behind
(AP) — The first point of the Ry- briefly against Paul Casey and Viktor Everyone will have played on the first
der Cup belonged to Europe and Rahm looked every bit like the No. 1 Hovland until winning two straight day.
its fearsome new Spanish Arma- player in the world by rolling in putts holes to regain the lead on the front
da. The rest of the opening ses- from everywhere as he and Garcia and two straight holes early on the The Americans see this Ryder Cup as
sion belonged to the Americans, seized control around the turn and back nine in a 3-and-2 victory. crucial to change the tide in what has
just like usual. held on to beat Jordan Spieth and been European dominance for the
Justin Thomas, 3 and 1. Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger, last quarter-century. They have six
Patrick Cantlay and Xander both Florida State alumni, never rookies and their youngest team.
Schauffele, tough as ever in four- Garcia earned his 23rd win, tying trailed in beating the English duo of
somes, won the first five holes and Nick Faldo for the Ryder Cup record. Lee Westwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, “It’s just the first session,” Garcia said.
closed with four straight birdies for 2 and 1. “A lot of things can happen. We have
a 5-and-3 victory over Rory McIlroy Spieth and Thomas, who were 3-1 a good session this afternoon and ev-
and Ian Poulter. in France, couldn’t keep up with “They did play well, so I’m not un- erything is back to normal.”
Rahm’s great putting. Garcia got into happy with that,” Europe captain Pa-

Name drop: Cleveland set to say goodbye to Indians for good

(AP) — There’s no more debate or decisions At some point, Guardians merchandise will go on
forthcoming. There’s still some anger and sale and the massive script “Indians” logo crowning The name change became inevitable last year when
disbelief, but also the excitement that comes the ballpark’s massive left-field scoreboard will be owner Paul Dolan announced his intention to ex-
along with change. taken down, a moment many Clevelanders could amine the use of Indians after being moved by the
have never imagined possible. social unrest sweeping America in the wake of the
The Cleveland Indians are about to become his- George Floyd murder in Minneapolis.
tory. And while the end of Indians has been known for
a while, it still seemed to sneak up on some fans. Cleveland’s steps toward the change don’t really
On Monday, one of the American League’s charter matter at this point. There’s no turning back. It’s
members will play its final home game of 2021, and “It kind of hit us when we came in,” Kathy Wain- happening.
also its last at Progressive Field as the Indians, the wright of Elyria, Ohio, said as she and her husband,
team’s name since 1915, when “Shoeless” Joe Jack- Mark, grabbed a bite to eat and a couple pregame For Sandy Alomar Jr., the end is conflicting.
son was the starting right fielder on opening day. beers before the Indians hosted the Royals.
A six-time All-Star catcher and current first-base
Much more than the makeup of a rainout against Before entering the ballpark, the couple walked to coach for Cleveland, Alomar has a personal attach-
the Kansas City Royals, the home finale will signify the corner of Ontario Street and Carnegie Avenue ment to Indians, the name he’s worn across his
the end of one era and beginning of a new chapter to take a photo of the home plate entrance where a chest for 23 seasons — 11 as a player, 12 as coach.
for the team, which will be called the Cleveland lighted “Indians” sign welcomes fans.
Guardians next season. He respects the team’s decision and understands
“I knew it was the last time I’d get to see it that the rationale behind the change, but that doesn’t
That’s going to take some time getting used to. The way,” Mark said. make this any easier for him.
Indians are all Clevelanders have ever known.
The team is not planning any ceremony to honor “It’s an emotional time for me,” he said. “All I’ve
“I’m not a betting man,” longtime radio play-by- the Indians’ final performance at home. Unfor- known is being a Cleveland Indian. I’m an Indian
play broadcaster Tom Hamilton said, pondering tunately for many Cleveland fans, it’s happening forever.”
what’s ahead. “But I have to guess the over-under at the same time that the Browns are hosting the
on how many times we’ll say Indians is one mil- Chicago Bears just one mile away at FirstEnergy
lion.” Stadium.

After the Oct. 3 season finale in Texas and with no The Indians’ last home at-bat has been another del-
postseason for a team that hasn’t won the World icate line to navigate for the club, whose decision to
Series since 1948, there will be a transition pe- change the name elicited heavy criticism from fans
riod before Indians — a named deemed racist by who felt the team caved to a small, vocal minority.
some — is dropped and Guardians appears on new
uniforms with logos that were unveiled in July to Others thought it was long overdue, and probably
mixed reviews. should have happened when the team ditched the
contentious Chief Wahoo logo a few years back.