Page 14 - aruba-today-20230110

A14 SPORTS
Tuesday 10 January 2023
Jon Rahm gets another trophy and this one surprised even him

By DOUG FERGUSON Yes, it’s early. And even if
AP Golf Writer it was a win Rahm didn’t
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — see coming, it was quite a
Jon Rahm thinks he has statement.
played as well as anyone He was most disappointed
of late, and he has three in failing to register a top
victories worldwide in his 10 in any of the majors last
last five tournaments to year.
show for it. But since August, with the
The latest was one he nev- start of the PGA Tour’s post-
er saw coming. season, Rahm has played
Never mind that Rahm was nine times around the world
seven shots behind Collin and finished out of the top
Morikawa at the start of 10 only once.
the final round in the Sentry He won the Spanish Open
Tournament of Champions. and DP World Tour Cham-
Morikawa was playing so pionship, and now he has
cleanly that he had yet to his ninth PGA Tour victory,
make a bogey at Kapalua. having one in each of his
“I’m going to need a small seven full years on tour.
miracle,” Rahm said, and “In my mind, I feel like since
then when the Spaniard August I’ve been the best
made bogey on the open- player in the world, and I
ing hole he said, “I was go- Jon Rahm, of Spain, holds the champions trophy after the final round of the Tournament of think a lot of us should feel
ing to need somewhat of a Champions golf event, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii. like a lot of times we’re the
Associated Press
larger miracle.” best,” Rahm said.
He got it, with help from a seven-shot swing in four the 14th green. Facing a as great, but it will still be “Earlier in the year, clearly
Morikawa. holes. pitch up the steep slope to good. My mind is already Scottie (Scheffler) was that
Rahm certainly did his part Rahm made three straight the par-5 15th, he muffed it. thinking about what we player, then Rory (McIlroy)
with a 10-under 63, playing birdies and then ripped And his wedge to the 16th need to do. It’s going to was that player, and I feel
the final seven holes with an 8-iron to 12 feet on the didn’t carry the false front hurt, but I’ve got to get like right now it’s been me.”
four birdies and an eagle par-5 15th to 12 feet for an and ran 70 feet back to the over it because we’re still He could only wonder how
for a two-shot victory. But eagle. Morikawa was two fairway. in the very early parts of the he would have felt if not for
this was as much about groups behind him, now By then, it was too late. Mor- season.” Morikawa’s shocking slide.
Morikawa, who looked for 67 holes without a bogey, ikawa’s birdie on the 18th So much of the focus was A year ago, Rahm was

so long like the sure winner when he had a Maui melt- his first on Sunday since the on a season that promised 33-under par at Kapalua,
until his wedges and putter down that put him in the sixth hole left him two shots big riches, especially with which would have set a
two areas he sought to im- PGA Tour record book. behind, and the $1.5 million “elevated” events the PGA PGA Tour record except
prove let him down. Morikawa is the ninth play- was no consolation. Tour now calls them “desig- that Cameron Smith won
The tournament flipped er to lose a six-shot lead go- “I’m going to take two nated” that average $20 at 34 under.
during a wild hour on the ing into the final round. days off and enjoy Hawaii million purses to rival the So that’s 60 under in his last
Plantation Course at Ka- From 25 yards away, he a little bit more,” Morikawa big money on the Saudi- two appearances at Ka-
palua in what amounted to bladed a bunker shot over said. “It’s not going to be backed LIV Golf circuit. palua. q

Nets’ Durant out at least 2 weeks with sprained right knee

By BRIAN MAHONEY to 18 wins in their last 20 field. Durand passed Domi- All-Star Game in Salt Lake players had to miss the
AP Basketball Writer games and a 27-13 record, nique Wilkins to move into City. The current leading game because of injury last
NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin a game behind Boston for 14th place on the NBA’s vote-getter among East- season.q
Durant has a sprained right the best record in the NBA. career scoring list earlier in ern Conference frontcourt
knee and the Brooklyn Nets He missed 21 games last Sunday’s game.
say he will miss at least two season when he sprained Now the Nets will hope to
weeks. his left MCL in January also better withstand his ab-

Durant was hurt Sunday when a player fell into him sence, believing they are
during the third quarter of and the Nets fell apart. better balanced than
the Nets’ 102-101 victory in They went 5-16, tumbling last season under coach
Miami after the Heat’s Jim- down the standings, and Jacque Vaughn.
my Butler fell into his knee. their poor play without him “The strength of our team
Durant grabbed at his knee contributed to Durant’s dis- is us picking each other up
and briefly remained in the appointment with the fran- and just being ready for
game before asking to chise and trade request whatever’s thrown at us,”
come out and going to the over the summer. teammate Kyrie Irving said
locker room. Durant eventually rescind- after the game.
He had an MRI on Monday ed the request and has The Nets play again Thurs-
that revealed an isolated been playing some of the day when they host Boston
sprain in his medial collater- best basketball of his ca- in a nationally televised
al ligament. The team said reer this season. He is sixth in showdown. If Durant can Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant warms up before an NBA
he would be re-evaluated the league with 29.7 points return soon after the next basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New
Orleans, Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.
in two weeks. per game and shooting a evaluation, he could be Associated Press
Durant has led the Nets career-high 55.9% from the ready to play in the Feb. 19