Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 7 November 2019
Rivalries in golf require more than a great year

By DOUG FERGUSON of May, and he said he
AP Golf Writer wasn't looking behind him
SHANGHAI (AP) — The and thus didn't consider
question was in Chinese, anyone a rival. He provided
so Rory McIlroy stared aim- more fodder — along with
lessly until his eyes widened more clicks — by saying in
suddenly upon hearing an interview with Agence
two words he could under- France-Press that in his five
stand. years on the PGA Tour, Mc-
Brooks Koepka. Ilroy hasn't won a major.
McIlroy could only smile, And on it goes.
and when the reporter fi- Jordan Spieth was at the
nally finished his question, Sony Open in Honolulu
the interpreter at the HSBC to start his year when he
Champions looked over at mentioned in a news con-
him and said, "Do you still ference how it was only a
need me to translate?" few years ago that the "Big
The question was about the Three" was being talked
"competition" between the about in nearly every inter-
two players, which was ac- view. The few reporters in
curate. the room looked around,
Rivalry? trying to recall which three
That takes more time than Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the trophy after winning the HSBC Champions golf players he meant. Never
one year — in this case, tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019. mind that they were the
closer to three months. Associated Press ones who had been writing
McIlroy finds the topic silly, is very equal," McIlroy said. year taking turns at No. 1 in a rivalry. about it.
which he should, because "We can all beat each oth- the world, and before long Koepka rallied to beat him It was Spieth, McIlroy and
golf has developed so er any given week, and to Johnson replaced them. at a World Golf Champi- Jason Day. Remember?
many good players over make it about two people If anything, golf was a bat- onships event. Four weeks "Not one of us three has
the last five years that what is disrespectful to the likes tle between Koepka and later, McIlroy rallied to beat been talked about in the
looks like a rivalry now of Justin Thomas or Dustin Johnson for the first half of him at the Tour Champi- last couple years," Spieth
might be forgotten by next Johnson, whoever it might the year — both had run- onship for the FedEx Cup said that day. "Everyone
year, if not sooner. be. It creates a better nar- ner-up finishes in the Mas- and said of Koepka, "He's is so quick on what's hap-
This is more like flavor of the rative for the casual fan if ters, and Johnson nearly turned into a heck of a pens. It's today's news."
month. it's one guy versus another rallied from a seven-shot player over the last couple Spieth has gone more than
"You're still talking about guy. But the reality is, there deficit in the PGA Champi- of years, and I definitely two years without a win and
me, though," McIlroy said are 10, 15 guys that when onship against Koepka until expect more Sundays like is No. 42 in the world. Day
with a laugh. they play their best can his 5-iron one-hopped over that between the both of has gone winless in two of
It's important to McIlroy that say they're the best in the the 16th green at Beth- us in the future." his last three PGA Tour sea-
he's part of the conversa- world." page Black. It will be months before sons and is barely inside the
tion, because that's all any- When the year began, Johnson didn't win the last they play in the same tour- top 30. McIlroy won once in
one should want. That was McIlroy wasn't part of the nine months of the year. nament. a span of 50 starts until The
the message Jack Nicklaus conversation unless it was a Rose was No. 1 when he McIlroy was voted PGA Players Championship, and
shared with Tiger Woods long one. won at Torrey Pines. He Tour player of the year, now he can't seem to lose.
when they were in South He was No. 8 in the world hasn't won since then and which featured no exit poll- Spieth believes it is hard for
Africa for the Presidents and had gone nine months now is No. 8. ing, margin of victory or a real rivalry to develop be-
Cup in 2003 and Woods without winning, being in It's a revolving door. how many players even cause there are too many
was asking about the vari- serious contention in only a And now it's Koepka and voted. good players, and be-
ous rivals Nicklaus faced. few tournaments. Koepka McIlroy, with just enough Koepka has been No. 1 in cause everyone likes one
"The top of the men's game and Justin Rose ended last history to feed the notion or the world since the middle another.q

Anti-sex trafficking effort launched for Miami Super Bowl

By CURT ANDERSON as young as 12. The Super Bowl including a “creepy guy” poster County ranks first in sex trafficking
AP Legal Affairs Writer will be played Feb. 2 at the Hard bearing the words: “Buy Sex. Be in Florida, which in turn ranks third
MIAMI (AP) — Major events that Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Exposed.” in the nation. About 40% of vic-
draw tens of thousands of peo- but dozens of party-atmosphere That and other ads will appear tims are children and most of the
ple such as the Super Bowl have events surround the contest itself on buses, in social media, on bill- rest are young adults between
become hubs for sex traffick- — all of which present opportuni- boards, at mass transit stations 18 and 23 years old. Federal sta-
ing, which Miami officials said ties for sex trafficking and prostitu- and many other places. tistics show that some victims are
Wednesday that they are deter- tion. The plan includes a 24-hour sold for sex up to 20 times a day.
mined to snuff out for this sea- “We’re not going to tolerate the phone number people can call A trafficker can make between
son’s event. sexual exploitation of our children or text to report suspicious behav- $150,000 and $200,000 a year for
Federal and local law enforce- and our youth,” Katherine Fer- ior: 305-FIX-STOP. each person they sell for sex.
ment officials launched an initia- nandez Rundle, the Miami-Dade “Sex trafficking is a big deal,” Mi- Kathy Andersen, executive direc-
tive aimed at raising awareness state attorney, said at a news ami U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo tor of The Women’s Fund Miami-
of the problem and attempting conference. Orshan said. “We have no prob- Dade, said sex trafficking is a
to enlist regular people to report “We are really ready to head this lem going after the most difficult chronic problem that the Super
suspected sex trafficking activ- off,” she added. cases.” Bowl helps bring to greater atten-
ity, which often involves children The Miami effort will include ads Authorities say Miami-Dade tion. q