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A18 SPORTS
Thursday 13 February 2020
Woods, Thomas spending time off course and in same pairing

By DOUG FERGUSON The only time Woods got
AP Golf Writer him was the final round in
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tiger the Bahamas last year, and
Woods and Justin Thomas Thomas is still fuming about
are separated by about 17 that. Looking back, he was
years on the calendar and more caught up in beating
70 victories on the PGA Woods than winning the
Tour, neither of which has tournament, and he fears it
kept them from becoming cost him.
friends away from golf. They started out two shots
Thomas first met Woods in behind Gary Woodland,
2015 on the range at The playing a few groups
Players Championship his ahead of the leaders.
rookie year. They grew clos- "I was so wrapped up in
er a year later during some beating him that I forgot
of the darker moments for about the tournament,"
Woods when his back was Thomas said. ""I was tied for
killing him, he wasn't play- the lead with seven holes
ing and had days where it left. All I had to do was go
was tough to walk. His fu- 2 or 3 under. I just remem-
ture was never more uncer- ber getting done and I was
tain. so mad. I've played a lot of
Both are represented by golf with him, but never on
Excel Sports, and Thomas a Sunday where we both
asked agent Mark Stein- Justin Thomas watches his approach shot on the 13th hole during the Genesis Invitational pro-am had a chance."
berg if it was OK to reach golf event at Riviera Country Club, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los As playing captain at the
out to Woods. Thomas and Angeles. Presidents Cup a week
Rickie Fowler became reg- Associated Press later, Woods took Thomas
ular visitors. ing two rounds of the Gen- "I don't know," he said. "To have played in the same as his partner in two team
"I was thinking about him esis Invitational, joined this be honest, because I don't event only 35 times since matches, which they won.
and wanted to hang year by Steve Stricker, as view him as Tiger Woods. Thomas joined the PGA Woods said on Tuesday
out," Thomas said. "That's Woods goes for his record I view him as one of my Tour in 2015, they already that he carried Thomas in
when we became close. 83rd victory on the PGA buddies. I needle him. To have played together in 14 those two matches, which
He couldn't do much. We Tour. It's the third straight be perfectly honest, I don't rounds. got no argument from the
wanted to make sure he year that Thomas and kiss his (behind) like some More alarming is the re- youngster.
was still positive, not getting Woods have been in the people do. I absolutely re- cord. In the early years for Thomas replied Wednes-
down on himself, that we weekday groups at Riviera, spect him so much, and Woods, it was rare for any- day that if he hadn't made
were still believing in him." which probably isn't a co- how much time he's given one to have a higher per- a 15-foot birdie putt on
Now they seem to spend incidence, especially now me. But it's just two buddies centage posting the lower the last hole of the second
as much time on the golf that Woods is the tourna- hanging out." score. In the 14 times Woods session, Woods would not
course. ment host. They seem to hang out a and Thomas have been in have gone undefeated for
Woods and Thomas will be Thomas was asked late last lot inside the ropes. Even the same group, Thomas the week.
playing together the open- year why Woods likes him. though Thomas and Woods has a 10-1-3 advantage. There's the needle. q

U.S. to use WNBA players in 3-on-3 Olympic qualifier

Continued from Page 17 different for the Olympics. and Damon Huffman lead
As of now, two players must the way.
Plum and Samuelson, who be a country's top 10 as of That trio helped the U.S.
just finished a stint with the May 22. The other two play- men win their first 3-on-3
5-on-5 U.S. national team, ers on the team must have world title last year as the
weren't worried about the a minimum of 3,600 points. Americans finished 7-0 in
lack of 3-on-3 experience. FIBA has changed who is the tournament.
"We have time to play to- eligible a few times over "This is an extremely exciting
gether and grow," said the past year. time for USA Basketball as
Samuelson, who won a The American women we prepare for the first-ever
gold medal for the U.S. at have dominated 5-on-5 at 3x3 Olympic Qualification
the Under-18 World Cup in the Olympics, winning six Tournament. This training
2013. consecutive gold medals. camp is the next step to-
Two of the four members of They've struggled lately in wards earning a berth into
the qualifying team must 3-on-3. They finished fifth the Olympic Games, so it is
be in America's top 10 for In this Feb. 2, 2020, file photo, USA Women's National Team guard in 2018 after not qualifying incredibly important," said
total points. Plum is cur- Kelsey Plum drives the ball upcourt during an NCAA women's in 2017. They didn't qualify USA Basketball CEO Jim
rently second followed by exhibition basketball game against Louisville in Louisville, Ky. for last year's World Cup, Tooley. "Many of our coun-
Gray, Samuelson, Kelly Faris Associated Press either. try's top available 3x3 play-
and Layshia Clarendon. team. Oregon's Sabrina Io- The top three teams from While the women's qualify- ers will be participating,
Dolson is 10th on the list. nescu is No. 1 on the points the qualifying tournament ing team will be made up and USA Basketball will be
The selection committee list for the U.S., but she won't in each gender will ad- of pros, the men's team looking to select the best
can choose anyone else be available as her college vance to the Tokyo Games. will have seasoned 3-on-3 USA 3x3 teams possible
from the pool for the other team will be in the middle If the Americans qualify, players in the mix. Robbie for the Olympic Qualifying
two spots on the qualifying of the NCAA Tournament. their rosters could be a little Hummel, Kareem Maddox Tournaments."q