Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Friday 23 June 2017
Travelers roy and fourth-ranked Ja-
son Day.
Contnued from page 17 Day, who like McIlroy
missed the cut at the U.S.
By PAT EATON-ROBB Open, shot a 72. Two-time
AP Sports Writer Travelers champion Bubba
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Watson had a 75.
Jordan Spieth didn’t take Spieth said he felt as if he
long to figure out TPC River built off what at the time
Highlands. seemed like a meaningless
Making his debut at the 69 in the final round at Erin
Connecticut course, the Hills. “I thought that was a
23-year-old Texan had round just like this,” he said.
eight birdies and a bogey “I thought I played as well
Thursday for a 7-under 63 or even better than I did
and a one-stroke lead in today.”
the Travelers Champion- He had to overcome sev-
ship. eral distractions Thursday
Spieth birdied five of the including a delay at the
first eight holes and took sixth hole while paramed-
sole possession of the lead ics attended to a fan who
on the final hole, hitting a had passed out.
wedge to 4 feet for birdie The incident came several
on the par-4 18th. weeks after Spieth said he
“Being 3 under through witnessed a fan die during
four it helps you walk a the pro-am at the Memo-
little easier, it helps kind of Brett Stegmaier hits his second shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the Travelers Cham- rial in Ohio.
the shots you are playing pionship golf tournament Thursday, June 22, 2017, in Cromwell, Conn. “It’s bizarre that that hap-
throughout the round,” Spi- Associated Press pens, but fortunately this
eth said. “You don’t feel watching Notah Begay sink and closed with a bogey ing with the putter he be- lady, she got up and
like you have to take as a 25-foot birdie putt to win. on No. 9. gan using while missing seemed to be just fine after
many chances and I was It was his fourth appear- Wagner was first into the the cut at the U.S. Open she kind of cooled down
able to play away from ance at the Travelers and clubhouse with a 64. He and missed five short birdie for a little while and the
pins when I was in a little bit his first sub-par round. chipped in from 70 feet on putts Thursday. But he fin- paramedics came,” he
of trouble.” “To be here now, it’s almost his opening hole. ished with just one bogey. said. “I mean, there’s more
The two-time major cham- a little surreal,” Stegmaier “It was a nice way to start That came on No. 18 when important things than golf.
pion tied for 35th on Sun- said. “Just being on tour, I and kind much calmed me he missed a 13-foot birdie But, it didn’t bother us.”
day in the U.S. Open at Erin realize it’s not the greatest down and kind of let me putt by 3 feet, then lipped Jim Furyk, like playing part-
Hills. thing in the world, because know today was going to out his par attempt. ner McIlroy, shot a 67. Furyk
Johnson Wagner and Brett it’s still a job. You still got be my day,” he said. “I feel like I could have was playing his first round
Stegmaier, a Connecticut to grind and there’s low Graham DeLaet and Troy been at least three or four in Cromwell since setting
native who grew up about points. But with the right Merritt shot 65. better, said McIlroy, who a tour record with a 58 in
25 miles from the course in perspective, to be here Rory McIlroy, also playing said he’s giving the new the final round last year. He
Madison, were tied for sec- now talking to you guys, it’s for the first time at TPC River putter one more week to said fans were shouting at
ond. pretty cool.” Highlands, had a 67. The begin working. “I think I hit him all day to go for 57.
The 33-year-old Stegmaier Stegmaier, who missed six third-ranked McIlroy start- five or six putts out there “Rory joked off the 10th
said he decided to be- cuts in his last seven tour- ed early on the back nine that hit the hole and didn’t we might hear 40s before
come a professional golf- naments, had seven bird- drawing large galleries be- go in.” we’re done,” he said. “It
er while in the gallery at ies in a nine-hole stretch fore 8 a.m. The tournament’s strong was a fun round and it’s
the tournament in 2000, in the middle of the round He was still experiment- field includes Spieth, McIl- great to come back.”q

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gets a sumo lesson in Japan

TOKYO (AP) — New Eng- ‘incredible” while adding
land Patriots quarterback that the wrestlers are “very
Tom Brady got a quick les- strong” and are “strong in
son in the ancient sport mind and body.”
of sumo during a visit to “For them to welcome me
Japan. Brady, who vis- means very much to me,”
ited China and Japan this Brady was quoted as say-
week on a tour promoting ing by the Kyodo news
football, stopped in at the agency. “It’s hard to de-
Sakaigawa sumo stable scribe in words how spe-
in Tokyo on Thursday and cial that was.” Goeido,
stepped into the ring with a 31-year-old winner of
sumo wrestler Goeido. last September’s Autumn
The pair took turns pushing Grand Sumo tournament,
each other from one end said of the NFL superstar:
of the ring to the other. “He has a lot of explosive
The 39-year-old Brady, who power. I feel energized. It’s
led the Patriots to the Su- stimulating to have an op-
per Bowl title last season, portunity to come in con-
described the opportunity tact with athletes from a New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gestures during a promotional event Thursday,
to learn about sumo as different sport.”q June 22, 2017, in Tokyo.