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A18 SPORTS
Thursday 9 January 2020

Switzerland's Daniel Yule competes on his way to win an alpine
ski, men's World Cup slalom in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy,
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Associated Press
Swiss skier Yule wins

Madonna di Campiglio International team player Abraham Ancer of Mexico plays his second shot on the 6th hole in his
singles match during the President's Cup golf tournament at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Mel-
bourne, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019.
slalom again Associated Press

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, the second leg. Ancer looking for Presidents
Italy (AP) — Swiss skier Dan- Sebastian Foss-Solevaag
iel Yule showed his surpris- of Norway was fourth and Cup bounce in Honolulu
ing victory a year ago was Alexis Pinturault of France
no fluke by winning a World was fifth.
Cup night slalom again Pinturault moved back HONOLULU (AP) — Abra- would be normally stressed felt that day."
Wednesday. atop the overall standings, ham Ancer can't remem- out." A great week for him end-
Protecting his first-run ad- one point ahead of Norwe- ber playing better with so He felt like every shot mat- ed awkwardly because of
vantage, Yule won by 0.15 gian speed specialist Alek- little to show for it. tered, not just for him but his match against Woods.
seconds ahead of Norwe- sander Aamodt Kilde and His hope is the payoff is not for the team. Ancer was asked a month
gian favorite Henrik Krist- four points ahead of Kristof- far away. Now he's back on his own, before the Presidents Cup
offersen, also a two-time fersen in what is shaping up Ancer arrived in Hawaii playing against a 144-man who he wanted to play,
victor on the steep and to be a close fight to suc- for the Sony Open with his field at windy Waialae and he mentioned Woods,
icy Canalone Miramonti ceed Hirscher, the eight- confidence still brimming Country Club, not nearly as the greatest of his genera-
course. time defending overall from a solid debut in the many fans watching from tion and an idol for most
Frenchman Clement Noel, champion. Presidents Cup last month along the ropes or in front players on both teams in
the winner in Zagreb, Cro- Kristoffersen moved atop in Australia. He was among of the TV. Melbourne.
atia, on Sunday, finished the slalom standings, two seven rookies on the In- He is among 15 of the top It was portrayed as poking
third, 0.25 behind, after points ahead of Noel. ternational team. That 50 in the world ranking, Tiger, with his quote posted
posting the fastest second Conditions were perfect on didn't keep Adam Scott led by Justin Thomas, who on social media accounts
run to move up from eighth. the floodlit course, with the from saying on the eve of won the Sentry Tournament as a reminder. Woods
Yule, who hasn't won any- snow hard and icy. the matches he would be of Champions last week played well, and the match
where else on tour, took No Americans qualified for shocked if the 28-year-old at Kapalua and has won turned on the 14th hole
the victory in last year's the second run. Mexican wasn't "a big point three of his last six starts on when Woods made an
race when first-run leaders The men next go to Adel- winner for us." the PGA Tour. 8-foot par putt and Ancer
Marcel Hirscher — who has boden, Switzerland, for a Ancer delivered by going Ancer is still looking for his missed his par from about 6
since retired — and Kristof- giant slalom and slalom this unbeaten in four teams first PGA Tour victory. He feet. Woods went 2 up and
fersen straddled gates in weekend.q matches. And when the won late in 2018 at the closed him out with a birdie
pressure was even great- Australian Open, which on the 16th.
MLS plans jersey er — singles against Tiger earned him a spot in the "Abe wanted it. He got it,"
Woods, with social media British Open. He did well Woods said during the win-
driving a plot that Ancer enough last year, particu-
ner's press conference.
reveals, other events wanted a piece of him — larly his runner-up finish to Ancer didn't want the loss
Ancer held his own until Patrick Reed at Liberty Na-
or the narrative to ruin an
to mark 25th season Woods outlasted him in 16 tional, to make it the Tour otherwise good week.
Championship and earn a "I tried not to let it get to
holes to start a U.S. come-
spot in the Masters for the me," Ancer said. "That was
back.
"A lot of good stuff came first time. "It just shows me actually a month before
By The Associated Press run-up to the season, Adi- out of the Presidents Cup," what I need to get bet- in Mayakoba when I got
Major League Soccer has das and the league will re- Ancer said. "Just playing ter at, how you feel under asked this question. I was
unveiled its plans to cel- veal new jerseys on Feb. 5, a lot of golf under a lot of pressure," Ancer said of his like, 'Well out of the 12 guys
ebrate its 25th season, a day before Fashion Week pressure. I like to put my- 3-1-1 mark at Royal Mel- who would I like to play on
including a jersey reveal gets underway. Commis- self in those situations. I be- bourne. "I can take that a big stage in a big event
ahead of New York Fash- sioner Don Garber, team come a better player when and look back when I'm in like that? Yeah, obviously I
ion Week. The 26-team owners, coaches and play- I put myself in those situa- a situation like that, maybe would like to play my hero
league, including expan- ers will also hold a league- tions, and moving forward, playing in the last round for growing up, Tiger Woods.
sion teams in Miami and wide media event in New I feel like I will be a little a chance to win. I'll draw It would be an incredible
Nashville, kicks off its 2020 York later in the month to calmer in situations where I back and remember how I experience."q
season on Feb. 29. In the preview the season. q