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Dialuna 31 Januari 2022

Hovland beats Bland in playoff to win Dubai Desert Classic

“This is pretty wild, I didn’t all but seeing his hopes dis-
really think this was possible appear with a triple-bogey at McIlroy, however, still had
going into today,” Hovland the 11th. the closing holes to play and
told Sky Sports. “I knew I the tournament appeared to
had to shoot a real low num- McIlroy was still looking be his for the taking.
ber but a lot of things had to strong, however. Two be-
go my way. I’m thankful that hind Harding overnight, the Yet he was unable to edge
it did. Northern Irishman had a ahead and began to lose his
wobble himself after being shape as a wild drive at the
“I was fuming after the three- forced to take a drop on the 17th put him in thick rough.
putt on 15. I felt that was it. 10th, but he recovered to sal- From there he could only
I just had to try to finish off vage a bogey and then birdie knock towards the fairway
well and I rolled a really long the 11th. He then responded and it took a superb approach
one in on 16 and then, on 17, to Hovland’s charge by pick- shot to ensure he saved par.
hey, we got a shot. I’m pump- ing up another shot on the
ing right now. It’s a bit sur- 13th to move one ahead. He did not make the most of
real.” that reprieve when he found
(AP) — Viktor Hovland birdie-eagle-birdie, while Hovland, further ahead on the lake with his second shot
beat Richard Bland in Bland birdied the last for a The 24-year-old began his the course, was not done yet, on the closing par five.
a playoff to capture the 68. round way off the pace but though, and he claimed an-
Dubai Desert Classic on put himself among the con- other birdie on the last to set That left Hovland and Bland,
Sunday after Rory Mc- McIlroy was tied for the lead tenders with four birdies on a clubhouse target of 12 un- who is enjoying a late career
Ilroy missed a chance to with Hovland and Bland his front nine. der. renaissance after his victory
win the title in regulation heading down the 18th hole, at last year’s British Masters,
by bogeying the last hole. only to send his approach His hopes took a knock as he This was later matched by to fight it out. Hovland held
shot from 267 yards into the bogeyed the 15th but he then Bland, who - after three suc- his nerve and Bland, despite
Hovland claimed his third water in front of the green. surged into a share of the lead cessive birdies around the an excellent chip onto the
victory in five events by mak- His par putt, which would on 11 under with stunning turn - had put himself within green, was unable to match
ing birdie from inside 3 feet have sent him into the play- back-to-back efforts on his striking distance and quietly the Norwegian’s birdie in the
at the first playoff hole — off, brushed the edge of the next two holes. stayed in the picture. playoff.
the 18th — at Emirates Golf cup.
Club. Bland had just missed He first holed a 35-foot bird- After a steady back nine, the Harding along with Sam
a birdie putt from longer out. McIlroy, who shot 71, was ie putt at the 16th and then 48-year-old then finished Horsfield, Tyrell Hatton,
looking to win the event for eagled the par-four 17th af- strongly with clutch birdies Adrian Meronk and Erik Van
Both players finished on the third time — 13 years af- ter a tee shot onto the green, at the 17th and 18th to join Rooyen all finished on 8 un-
12-under par. Hovland shot ter the first. which coincided with third- Hovland with a 276 aggre- der in joint fourth.
6-under 66 after finishing round leader Justin Harding gate.

Lakers’ James returns to Los Angeles for treatment on knee

(AP) — LeBron James has is there he’s going to be out,”
continued swelling in his left Vogel said.
knee and is not with the Los
Angeles Lakers for Sunday’s Vogel said James could re-
game at the Atlanta Hawks. turn for Wednesday night’s
home game against Portland
James is missing his third if the swelling calms down.
straight game. He left the
team early to return to Los Vogel described his long-
Angeles for treatment. running challenge to navigate
injuries to James, Davis and
Another Lakers All-Star, for- others as “the ever-changing
ward Anthony Davis, is start- environment that is our sea-
ing after missing one game son.”
with right wrist soreness.
Davis had the wrist taped Hawks guard Trae Young
during pregame warmups. (right hip soreness) and
forward De’Andre Hunter
Guard Kendrick Nunn is out (right ankle discomfort) are
with a right knee bone bruise. starting after being listed as
Guard Malik Monk was list- questionable.
ed as probable after missing
one game with soreness in
his left groin. Guard Russell
Westbrook also is expected to
play with a sore right knee.

The Lakers will try to end
a two-game losing streak as
they close out a six-game
road trip.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel
said an MRI on James’ knee
revealed “general swelling.”

“As the long as the swelling