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SPORTS Thursday 11 May 2017
Sergio still buzzing over his Masters title ahead of Players

DOUG FERGUSON important for them to clear
AP Golf Writer the air. “Sergio made it
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. very easy,” he said.
(AP) — Sergio Garcia, fi- How easy?
nally a major champion, McIlroy was asked about
already wants to change it and without answering,
his equipment. he reached into his pocket
It’s a tiny change, and a for his phone and began
most appropriate one. scrolling through the pic-
Standing on the 15th green tures to show one of Har-
Wednesday at The Players rington with a broad smile
Championship, the Mas- as Garcia is leaning into
ters champion turned to him, chin up and lips puck-
TaylorMade tour manager ered as he feigns plant-
Keith Sbarbaro and said, ing a kiss on Harrington’s
“What’s the ETA on the golf cheek. “It was great,” McIl-
ball?” It will be the same roy said. “I saw them chat-
ball with the same number ting and I said to Padraig,
— 49, to honor the year his ‘He’s a really sore loser.’
mother was born. We all started to laugh.
Garcia just wants the num- And it was all good.”
ber to be green, the color Life has never been more
of the jacket he won last grand for Garcia. He is as-
month at Augusta Nation- sured his best season ever
al, the one he has taken no matter what happens
everywhere. the rest of the year. He is
The 37-year-old Spaniard getting married in July —
had played 71 majors in his Sergio Garcia, of Spain, takes a divot as he hits from the 10th fairway during a practice round for McIlroy will be one of his
professional career with- The Players Championship golf tournament, Wednesday, May 10, 2017, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. groomsmen. He is a major
out winning one, and to Associated Press champion.
see the emotion burst out “He’s got to walk around
of him when he made the ed rubbing his right arm. stant chants of “Ser-gee- many tough losses in the with a smile on his face for
final birdie putt to win the “I’m getting goosebumps oh!” majors where he made the next couple years,”
Masters in a playoff over even talking about it,” Mc- “But to walk on what I excuses. The texts, the Jordan Spieth said.
Justin Rose made it clear Ilroy said. think is the best stadium in hugs, the comments he And now it’s time to get
how much it meant to him. The highlight for Garcia the world ... and to have has heard were validation back to work.
The four weeks that fol- was Santiago Bernabeu, 90,000 people chanting to him that he always had Garcia returns to a tour-
lowed showed Garcia how the stadium for his beloved your name, that was ex- their respect for his game nament where he won in
much it meant to every- Real Madrid where Garcia tremely special,” he said. and for being honest, even 2008 and was runner-up
one else. was invited to do the cer- “And I was nervous. Yeah, if it got him into trouble at on two other occasions,
“I cried,” Rory McIlroy said. emonial opening kickoff for and I was only kicking the times. One of the fences he including a playoff loss two
“The first time I saw him was El Clasico against Barce- ball 15 yards. That was very mended was with Padraig years ago. There are three
when he got into our wed- lona. unique and something that Harrington, who tripped more majors ahead of
ding on Friday night. I gave Garcia has been playing — with many things that over his words in referring to them, with plenty more to
him the biggest bear hug. the Ryder Cup since 1999, happened at Augusta — Garcia as a sore loser dur- accomplish. Even though
Just to see what he’s been three of them on European that I will never forget.” ing their battles a decade it took him nearly two de-
through, and his struggles, soil. He knows loud. After he Garcia is not sure why his earlier. Harrington said they cades to get his first major,
and for it to be there.” won the Masters, he was victory was so popular, ran into each other at Mc- he doesn’t intend on that
McIlroy paused and start- serenaded with the con- especially after having so Ilroy’s wedding and it was being his last. q

U.S. shuts out Italy 3-0 for 3rd win at ice hockey worlds

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) quieter game against the but having played a game level with quick-fire goals in with leader Canada.
— Brock Nelson scored Italians, earning the shut- less. The U.S. opened with the second period. Canada, the two-time
twice as the United States out with nine saves. The a surprise 2-1 defeat to co- Germany, without forward defending champion,
cruised to its third win of the U.S. had 32 shots in com- host Germany on Friday Patrick Hager due to his was next playing co-host
ice hockey world champi- parison. “They’re tough to before clocking up a 7-2 two-game suspension for France on Thursday.
onship with a 3-0 defeat of play against,” U.S head rout of Denmark on Sun- a slew foot in Monday’s Belarus remained bot-
Italy on Wednesday. coach Jeff Blashill said. day. Blashill’s roster now 6-3 loss to Russia, moved tom of the group after
Nelson broke the deadlock “Our guys kept with it and has a two-day break be- fourth in the group on five four straight losses. Finland
with a wrist shot to the top made enough plays to win fore putting its three-game points to boost its quarter- gained a morale-boosting
right corner early on, then the game and that’s the winning streak on the line final hopes. The top four 5-2 win over Slovenia. Lauri
scored another in the sec- important thing.” against Latvia on Saturday. from each eight-team Marjamaki’s side had been
ond period, shorthanded, Right wing Nelson of the Later Wednesday, Germa- group go through to the under pressure after giving
minutes before Anders Lee New York Islanders was ny came from two goals quarterfinals. away a three-goal lead
completed the scoring on named player of the down to defeat Slovakia In Group B, goals from Reto before losing 4-3 to the
a power play. Dylan Larkin game. The Americans, 3-2 with Dominik Kahun Schappi, Andres Ambuhl Czech Republic in a shoot-
had two assists. with an average age of scoring the only goal in a and Cody Almond gave out and after its shock 5-1
Jimmy Howard, who made just 22.6 years, moved sec- penalty shot shootout. Ya- Switzerland a 3-0 win over defeat to France. Wednes-
39 saves in the 4-3 win over ond in Group A behind sin Ehliz and Patrick Reimer Belarus in Paris, taking the day’s win lifted the side
Sweden on Monday, had a Latvia, also on nine points had drawn the home side Swiss level on nine points third in Group B.q