Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Thursday 10 augusT 2017
Mickelson, Els reach milestone together in 100th major

By DOUG FERGUSON quite a while ago, I can tell
AP Golf Writer you. We had a great time.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — It was my first time ever to
On the monitor below the United States and what
them was a photo from a place to go play golf at
the first time they met. The in San Diego
14-year-old South African I guess that was the first
with an easy smile was time we met. I think we
holding the winner’s trophy played 18 holes togeth-
from the 1984 Junior World er there that time, and I
Championship. Next to him would never have thought
was the golden boy from that we’d be playing basi-
San Diego, slightly taller at cally for life.”
the time, holding his trophy Mickelson remembers it
as the runner-up. well, specifically a shot Els
Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson hit in the final round when
are still going at it, rarely ri- he was 20 yards short of
vals, always friends. the green on a par 5.
The next time playing to- “You hit this little skipping,
gether, this week at the spinning wedge shot that
PGA Championship, marks checked up about a foot
a special occasion for from the hole, and that’s
both. Three decades later, In this Friday, July 15, 2016, file photo, Phil Mickelson of the United States, left, talks with Ernie Els when I knew you were go-
Els and Mickelson join an of South Africa on the 18th green after he completes his second round of the British Open Golf ing to be a good player
elite club by competing in Championship at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland. because I had not seen
their 100th major champi- Associated Press anybody else at 14 hit that
onship. major until he was 34, at the plete with a cake. ago. All of them are in the shot,” he said. “It’s amaz-
Els won his first one in 1994 Masters, and it came at the They become the 13th Hall of Fame, Els and Mick- ing that we’ve played to-
at the U.S. Open at Oak- expense of Els. Mickelson and 14th players to reach elson included. gether and against each
mont. Two-time U.S. Open holed an 18-foot birdie putt 100 majors, a list that starts The PGA of America had other for so many years.
champion Curtis Strange on the final hole. Els, on the with Jack Nicklaus and his photos from the first major It doesn’t seem that long
was quoted as calling Els putting green hopeful of a 164. He is followed by Gary they played (Els at the 1989 ago from those days.”
the “next god.” Only later playoff, heard the ground- Player, Tom Watson, Arnold British Open, Mickelson at And then he looked at the
did the media realize that shaking roar, picked up Palmer, Raymond Floyd, the 1990 U.S. Open); the photo and said, “But it sure
what Strange had actu- his golf balls and walked Sam Snead, Ben Crenshaw, victories in the majors (five looks like a long time ago.”
ally said was that Els would off. He never won a green Gene Sarazen, Tom Kite, for Mickelson, four for Els); Their daughters were born
be the “next guy.” It just jacket. Mark O’Meara, Bernhard and yes, that 1984 Junior a month apart, and now
sounded the other way be- The PGA of America Langer and Nick Faldo, World. Els and Mickelson are send-
cause of his thick Virginia brought them together who played his 100th and “Do you see how grumpy ing them off to college this
accent. Tuesday for an interview final major at St. Andrews in Phil looks there,” Els said year. Samantha Els was
Mickelson didn’t win his first and a celebration, com- the British Open two years with a chuckle. “It was accepted to Stanford. q
Attorney: Tiger Woods won’t attend impaired driving hearing

By TERRY SPENCER to plead guilty to reck- Woods was arrested at found him unconscious in had damage to the driv-
Associated Press less driving and receive a 2 a.m. May 29 about 15 his Mercedes-Benz, which er’s side. It’s not clear how
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. year’s probation. miles from his home in Ju- was parked awkwardly on he damaged the car. Offi-
(AP) — Tiger Woods will He would also have to pay piter, Florida, when officers the side of the road and cers checked the area but
not attend his arraign- a $250 fine and court costs, didn’t find that he had hit
ment Wednesday on a attend DUI school, per- anything.
driving under the influence form 50 hours of commu- Woods didn’t know where
charge, his attorney said, nity service and attend a he was when asked by
meaning under court rules workshop where victims of officers and he stumbled
the superstar golfer will be impaired drivers detail how and swayed through a
pleading not guilty. their lives were damaged. field sobriety test, police
Attorney Douglas Duncan He also would have also dashboard camera video
said in an email Tuesday been subject to random showed. Woods told of-
to The Associated Press drug and alcohol testing ficers he was taking the
that Woods will not be at- and other conditions. painkiller Vicodin and
tending the hearing, but David S. Weinstein, a Mi- Xanax, which treats anxi-
he didn’t elaborate. Any ami defense attorney and ety and insomnia, to cope
plea other than not guilty former federal and state with his fourth back surgery
requires the defendant’s prosecutor not involved in in April. Tests showed he
attendance. the case, said prosecutors had no alcohol in his sys-
The Palm Beach County will likely keep the offer to tem.
State Attorney’s Office de- let Woods enter the defer- Woods announced last
clined comment. ment program open, at month he had completed
Woods could have agreed least for a while. treatment at an out-of-
Wednesday to enter a pro- Still, the decision for now In this Feb. 2, 2017, file photo, Tiger Woods reacts on the 10th state clinic to deal with his
gram for first-time DUI de- keeps Woods’ troubles in hole during the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic golf tour- use of prescription medi-
fendants. He would have the headlines. nament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. cations. q
Associated Press