Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Wednesday 2 OctOber 2019
The cups runneth

over in golf

By DOUG FERGUSON decided by the final putt
AP Golf Writer of the final match on the
The next Ryder Cup starts course.
in 360 days, the perfect Randall Mell of Golf Chan-
occasion for the oppos- nel wrote a column cel-
ing captains to meet Tues- ebrating the most exciting
day at Whistling Straits and Solheim Cup since it began
share absolutely nothing. in 1990, while suggesting
That's not entirely true. with cold, hard facts how
U.S. captain Steve Stricker the Americans and Europe-
says he has been involved ans could build on the mo-
with designing golf bags mentum by winning LPGA
and looking at various Tour events. Americans and
clothing options. European Europeans have combined FILE - In this Sunday, July 15, 2018 file photo, Steve Stricker hits on the ninth fairway during the final
captain Padraig Harrington to win four LPGA events this round of the John Deere Classic golf tournament at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
says he checked out the year, on track for their low-
location of the team room est output ever. and is not there yet. Only some of his celebrations, was asked to comment on
and even some of the bed- This was greeted by a tweet four of the 12 times has it and he looked almost em- what worked so well for Eu-
rooms where his players will from Lizette Salas — not been decided at the very barrassed. rope in a resounding victo-
not get enough sleep. among those four — scold- end, though matches in "It brings out some crazy ry a year earlier in France.
"You'd be amazed the de- ing him for being a buzz kill South Africa and South Ko- emotions," he said. "You really want me to give
tail that goes in behind the "after we worked our (tails) rea showed potential. The "Every time you have a Ry- you all the answers to what
scenes," Harrington said. off for two years," which one in South Africa was der Cup, it throws up some- worked?" the Irishman re-
Amazed probably isn't the had nothing to do with the declared a tie after Tiger thing dramatic and excit- plied.
right word. facts presented and the Woods and Ernie Els halved ing," Harrington added. "It Stricker, the favorite son of
The idea was to get every- hope that it can change three holes of a playoff in never ceases to keep giv- Wisconsin golf, was an as-
one talking — or at least over the last two months of pressure that, under the ing." sistant captain in 2016 — a
thinking — about the Ryder the season. circumstances, rivaled the That's true as long as golf rare American victory —
Cup at a time when the For better or worse, there Ryder Cup. is being played. For the and was asked what he
Presidents Cup is still five is endless chatter and pro- Woods said it was "one of Ryder Cup, that lasts only could bring from that expe-
weeks away from finalizing motion about the cups, the most nerve-wracking three days every two years. rience to a Whistling Straits
its teams. Europeans won't some more than others. moments I've ever had in One year out, the only course nothing like Hazel-
care about that and some They are different. They are golf," which prompted this competition was a 14-club tine.
Americans won't either, fun. response from Robert Al- challenge on the par-3 There were no secrets.
especially since the one- They rarely lack for drama lenby: "Thank God." 17th hole along Lake Michi- Stricker said Europe likes
sided matches will finish 10 or passion, at least when it After watching Ryder Cup gan. Otherwise, there was thick rough and slow
days before Christmas in involves Europe against the highlights during the Whis- nothing to be gleaned that greens. Americans prefer
Australia. United States. tling Straits media day, the captains had not al- light rough and fast greens.
In the rearview mirror is the The Presidents Cup is the someone asked the nor- ready said. "Didn't give us much, did
Solheim Cup, which was youngest of the three cups mally stoic Stricker about Harrington spoke first and he?" Harrington said.q

Biles aims to write more history at gymnastics worlds

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) "Getting the skills named lana Khorkina for the most
— Simone Biles has already after me is really exciting, medals won by a woman
written her name into gym- just to go out there and with 20, and could also
nastics history many times prove to myself that I can surpass Vitaly Scherbo's
over. A few more times do them, especially under record of 23 for the most
won't hurt, though. all of the pressure that will medals by any gymnast.
At the upcoming world be there that night," Biles It's the last major champi-
championships in Germa- said Tuesday. "I feel like put- onships before next year's
ny, Biles can break the re- ting my name on a skill is re- Olympics in Tokyo. With
cord for most medals won ally rewarding just because household names like track
by any gymnast. More than it'll be in the Code forever star Usain Bolt and swim-
that, she can write herself as well as the medals. It's ming great Michael Phelps
into the sport's Code of something that I can hold having retired since the last
Points forever. onto just because I'm the Olympics in Tokyo, she'll be
Biles showed off her triple- one that did it first, so it's re- one of the Games' unde- Simone Biles of the U.S. smiles as she arrives for a news confer-
twisting double-flip — the ally exciting." niable standouts. But she ence prior to the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart,
triple-double for short — Biles already has two skills in doesn't want to think about Germany, Monday, Oct.1, 2019.
when winning the U.S. title the Code, a floor exercise that. "I feel like if I were to Associated Press
in August. If she lands it at element from 2013 and a label myself as a superstar,
worlds, it will go in the Code vault from last year's world it would bring more expec- now. I just go out there and because at the end of the
as "the Biles." The same championships. tations on me," she said. "I compete, try to represent day I'm still a human being
goes for her double-double Biles goes to the champion- would feel pressured, more Simone, not Simone Biles, before I'm 'Simone Biles the
beam dismount. ships tied with Russian Svet- in the limelight, rather than whenever I go out there Superstar.'"q