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A16 sports
Tuesday 7 February 2023
Justin Rose wins at Pebble Beach to end 4-year drought

By DOUG FERGUSON anything at the players’
AP Golf Writer backs instead of into them.
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) The weather played a big
— Justin Rose had a differ- role all week, and no one
ent set of goals at the start benefited quite like Rose.
of the year. He was six shots out of the
His back was starting to lead and going nowhere,
become bothersome. His facing the strongest wind
world ranking sank to its of the week on the Shore
lowest point in 13 years. course at Monterey Penin-
And he had reason to won- sula, when he hit 5-wood
der if he would spend the into the par-3 ninth to 3
first full week in April some- feet. Before he could mark
where other than Augusta his ball, the wind blew it
National. some 4 feet farther away.
All that changed Mon- That was enough for of-
day morning when Rose ficials to halt play — the
capped off a long week ninth and 15th greens at
at the AT&T Pebble Beach Monterey Peninsula were
Pro-Am with three quick the problems — on all three
birdies and four steady pars courses in the rotation. Rose
that gave him a three-shot returned Sunday morning
victory, his first in four years. and made what then was
Along with the crystal tro- Justin Rose, of England, poses for a photograph with the trophy after winning the AT&T Pebble a 7-foot birdie putt.
phy — his 11th on the PGA Beach Pro-Am golf tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif., Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. Associated Press What would have been the
Tour, 23rd worldwide — odds of him winning if golf
and the $1.62 million prize tapping the crystal on a ta- par-5 14th to 8 feet for a happening in my favor,” balls — his and others —
comes an invitation to the ble next to him, “is a better third birdie. Rose said. were not blowing around
Masters. Rose has been way to make it by winning From there, it was about The 42-year-old from Eng- at that point?
eligible for every major dat- a tournament. So yeah, playing it safe and soaking land had not won since Tor- “It hurts them considerably.
ing to St. Andrews in 2010, big relief from that point of up the views. rey Pines in 2019, when he Yeah, that was a break,”
a streak he did not want to view.” For all the weather this was No. 1 in the world. He Rose said. “I guess if you
end. “Augusta’s definitely And then he delivered a week — and it was every- finished last year at No. 76, are out here long enough
been a big part of being knockout punch early to as thing, all the time — the fi- his lowest point since early on tour, occasionally you
on my mind,” Rose said af- many as a dozen players nal three hours featured a in 2010. catch a good break. So
ter closing with a 6-under who were within three shots stunning blue sky and big “Amazing how long it’s that was a good one.”
66 in cool but pristine con- of the lead at various points surf, waves crashing into been,” said Rose, whose He played those final 10
ditions at Pebble Beach. “I on the course. the rocks and adding to victory moved him to No. holes in 6 under for a 65
thought the simple way to After a good two-putt par a scenery that already is 35. to take the lead, and
approach it was try to play on the 10th to resume his among the best in golf. The back nine, so difficult in then a pivotal stretch Sun-
my way into the top 50 in round, Rose holed a 25- Rose finished three shots the final hours Sunday eve- day evening gave him a
the world ... claw my way foot birdie putt on the 11th, clear of Brendon Todd (65) ning, was hardly a threat cushion. Rose took it from
up the world rankings and a 20-foot birdie putt on the and Brandon Wu (66). Monday morning. The wind there, a masterclass week-
make it that way. 13th and then hit a wedge “An incredible week from was light and coming from end of iron play and great
“Obviously this,” he said, to the back shelf on the start to finish with so much the opposite direction, if putting.q

Jazz owner aims to showcase Utah with

NBA All-Star Game

but I think it is one more opened up near Vivint Are- weekend as a perfect op-
compelling event in a se- na within the last five years. portunity to showcase what
ries we need to have, we There’s been downtown Utah has to offer.
should have, and we’re Salt Lake City development “This is a really important
going to have,” Smith said projects and an expansion moment for our state to
Monday at a news con- of the Salt Lake City Inter- shine,” Smith said. “It’s
ference. Hosting the 72nd national Airport. been 30 years.”
NBA All-Star Game on Feb. “I always look at the growth All-Star weekend will in-
19 is expected to drive of a city by the amount of clude a men’s college
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) and Charlotte Hornets significant economic im- cranes in the air. We’ve got basketball game between
guard Dennis Smith Jr. (8) battle for the ball during the second pact for Salt Lake City over a lot of them in Salt Lake Grambling State and
half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Salt the five-day period. Hotel City and that’s a good Southern — dubbed the
Lake City. rooms throughout the city thing,” Smith said. NBA HBCU Classic on Feb.
Associated Press and Salt Lake County are Utah has hosted other ma- 18 at the Huntsman Center.
By JOHN COON decades, Utah Jazz owner sold out for the weekend. jor sporting events, includ- A concert will feature Pit-
Associated Press Ryan Smith anticipates the Infrastructure expansion ing the 2002 Winter Olym- bull at the Salt Palace Con-
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — event will help build Utah aided the Jazz in bringing pics. With the state gear- vention Center that night.
When the NBA All-Star into a destination for other back the coveted game, ing up for another bid for The Salt Palace will offer
Game returns to Salt Lake major sporting events. which they last hosted in the 2030 or 2034 Olympics, 14 basketball courts where
City for the first time in three “All the lights will be on us, 1993. Multiple hotels have Smith sees the NBA All-Star fans can shoot and play.q