Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Monday 29 January 2018

Haotong Li tops Rory McIlroy to win Dubai Desert Classic

DUBAI, United Arab Emir- it was the most important
ates (AP) — Li Haotong shot of the round."
held off Rory McIlroy to win McIlroy was making his
the Dubai Desert Classic by comeback to golf after a
one shot Sunday, closing three-month layoff.
with a 3-under 69 to deny "If someone had told me at
the Northern Irishman's bid the start of the year you'd
to win for the first time in 17 finish third (in Abu Dhabi)
months. and second in your first two
Leading by one shot going events, I would have said
to the par-5 18th, Li holed I'd take that," said McIlroy.
a 10-foot birdie putt after "But being in the positions
McIlroy had reached the I've been in and having
green in two. McIlroy two- two close calls the first cou-
putted for birdie and a 69. ple of weeks of the year,
Li, who finished at 23-under it's a little difficult. The com-
265, becomes the first play- petitor in me is very disap-
er from China to crack the pointed right now. I wanted
top 50 in the Official World to win. I always want to win,
Golf Ranking. and I just didn't do enough
The 22-year-old Li started when I needed to."
the day one ahead of Mc- England's Tyrrell Hatton fin-
Ilroy, an advantage that China's Li Haotong tees off on the 3rd hole during the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic golf ished third after hitting his
was quickly gone on the tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. second shot into the wa-
first hole when Li made a (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) ter on the 18th hole, while
bogey. wanted to have fun," he on the 13th, and he made good down there. Felt so France's Alex Levy was
McIlroy appeared to seize said. par. On the 15th green, for comfortable. And also got fourth with a 269.
control on No. 10 with a "I was lucky, I made birdie some reason, I just felt so lucky with that putt. I think q
two-shot swing when Mc-
Ilroy made birdie and Li
made bogey on the 11th, AP sources: Flames put Jaromir Jagr on waivers
McIlroy
made
bogey.
only for Li to drop a shot
at the 12th to remain two Continued from Page 18 Adjusting has been a part and countryman Jakub what he does off the ice
shots behind. Calling it "a different role of Jagr's journey as the fifth Voracek said. "If you want and stuff like that,” Flames
Momentum swung Li's way than I've ever been" in, Jagr overall pick in 1990 through to play for such a long forward Michael Frolik said.
when he dropped a 20- said recently he has had to stints with nine NHL teams: time, you have to adjust. The NHL has expanded
foot birdie putt on the par- adapt his game to less ice the Penguins, Washington He went from 1990 to 2017- from 21 to 32 teams and
3 15th from the back fringe time than he was used to. Capitals, New York Rang- 18. When you think about it, instituted the shootout dur-
and McIlroy failed to make He was a star in the 1990s ers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dal- it's 28 years and the game ing Jagr’s career, which
birdie. Li made four birdies with the Pittsburgh Pen- las Stars, Boston Bruins, New changed so much from a has lasted longer than the
over the last six holes, while guins, winning the Stanley Jersey Devils, Florida Pan- physical standpoint to a tenure of commissioner
McIlroy fell back with a bo- Cup in 1991 and 1992, and thers and Flames. Despite speed standpoint." Gary Bettman. “Probably
gey on the 16th when he he was counted on for far spending three seasons in Jagr kept up the pace in a ‘90s when he started it
hit 3-wood off the tee into less with the Flames. Russia's Kontinental Hock- changing sport with a leg- was a little bit more wide
a waste area. "I have to practice differ- ey League, Jagr is the ac- endary workout regimen open, then I think early
Both players then birdied ently," Jagr said in Novem- tive NHL leader with 1,733 that included skating with 2000s before the lockout,
the last two holes. ber. "I've got to go all in for games played, 766 goals, weights and going for runs you needed to be big and
Li won for the second time 45 seconds and maybe 1,555 assists and 1,921 at midnight. There are tales strong and it was all about
on the European Tour. rest for five, six. Before I was points, and he is second of team employees giving size and strength and you
"Well, for some reason, af- practicing for one minute only to Wayne Gretzky on him the keys to practice could do all that holding,
ter making that bogey on off, one minute on. That the all-time scoring list. facilities so he could let hooking, grabbing, cross-
the 12th hole, I was just so wouldn't help me much. So "It's a lot of games, it's a lot himself in to work out. “It’s checks and all that,” Pan-
relaxed. I was two shots be- things like that you have to of years, it's a lot of work on cool to see what’s worked thers teammate Jussi Joki-
hind at that point and I just adjust." the body," Flyers teammate for him and his routine and nen said. q