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SPORTS A17
Friday 5 February 2016

SUNSET KIDS

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ire- Manning’s final chapter can match Elway’s finale
land plays a shot on the 10th
hole during 1st round of the In this Jan. 31, 1999, file photo, Denver Broncos quar-
Omega Dubai Desert Clas- terback John Elway celebrates the Broncos 34-19 win
sic golf tournament in Dubai, over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII in Mi-
United Arab Emirates, Thurs- ami. Elway is one of the very few to say he won it all,
day, Feb. 4, 2016. then simply walked away. Now, Peyton Manning is
trying to follow in Elway’s footsteps, wearing the same
Associated Press Broncos uniform Elway wore when he walked off into
the sunset nearly 20 years ago.
McIlroy shoots Associated Press
4-under 68 in 1st Page 20
round in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emir-
ates (AP) — Rory McIlroy
started the defense of his
Dubai Desert Classic title
with a bogey but battled
back to post a 4-under 68
on Thursday, leaving him
two shots off the lead.
McIlroy bogeyed two of
the easiest holes on the
course — the par-5 10th,
which was his first hole,
and the driveable par-4
second — but also had six
birdies to put him close be-
hind leader Alex Noren of
Sweden.
“I thought I did well, con-
sidering the start and hav-
ing some of the shots I hit
throughout the round,” Mc-
Ilroy said. “A 68 was prob-
ably a fair reflection of how
I played. I don’t feel like I
could have really gone any
lower than that but at the
same time, I gave myself
enough chances to make
some birdies.” Ernie Els, the
most successful player in
the history of the tourna-
ment with three titles and
eight other top-10 finishes,
matched McIlroy’s 68. The
four-time major champion
hit 17 greens and putted
well with his new grip.

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