Follow live: Saints and Niners off to electric startFollow live: Saints and Niners off to electric start
Both San Fancisco and New Orleans are bound for the postseason, but the outcome of today’s game will have major implications on the seedings.
Day: December 8, 2019
Why now? Inside how Tiger became Presidents Cup captain so soonWhy now? Inside how Tiger became Presidents Cup captain so soon
Usually, captains of team events are older. Tiger Woods is only 43. So why is he the captain of this week’s U.S. Presidents Cup team? It all started with one text.
Tiger Woods ‘very happy with most of the team’ at Hero World ChallengeTiger Woods ‘very happy with most of the team’ at Hero World Challenge
NASSAU, Bahamas – Tournament host Tiger Woods did not win the Hero World Challenge, his final-round 69 leaving him solo fourth, four back of winner Henrik Stenson at Albany Golf Club. Woods just wasn’t sharp with his irons, he said. “I wish I could have hit the ball a little bit closer,â€� he said. “I had a few 9‑irons on down I normally would hit in there a little bit closer than I did this week. If I would have given myself a few more looks, this might have been a different story, but I just didn’t.â€� RELATED: U.S. Team rookies an accomplished group | Els to go with gut on Woods singles matchup Still, before hopping on the U.S. Team charter to spend “23 hours in a tin can,â€� bound for Australia, he pronounced it a “solid week.â€� Overall, his game was similar to what it was in winning The ZOZO Championship in Japan, he said, and he is ready to be the first playing captain since 1994 at the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne starting Thursday. He was also pleased with the performance of his 10 teammates in the field at the Hero. “I’m very happy with most of the team,â€� Woods said. “The fact that 11 out of 12 guys played this week, some played well, some didn’t, but at least they were able to knock off some rust, get some feel.â€� Patrick Reed was the top finisher for the Americans, his final-round 66 leaving him in solo third, two back. Then came Woods and playing partner Justin Thomas (70, T5). Gary Woodland, the 54-hole leader, struggled to a final-round 73 to finish T7, six back. Rickie Fowler, who hadn’t competed on the PGA TOUR since August, shot 68 to finish ninth. “Rickie hasn’t played since the TOUR Championship; it was nice to see him get four rounds in,â€� Woods said. “Get the feeling back in his hands and his body and hitting shots again. It’s so different playing at home for cash versus playing out here with a scorecard, so it was nice to see.â€�  Xander Schauffele (68) and Webb Simpson (69) had a quiet week, finishing T10 with teammate Tony Finau (65), whose week was anything but quiet. Having pledged to donate $2,000 per birdie and $5,000 per eagle to the ONE Bahamas Fund after Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama, Finau opened with a 79 and decamped for the driving range. He was 14 under from there, closing with a 65 to finish T10, 11 back, and on Twitter called it the ultimate “not how you start but how you finish week.â€� Matt Kuchar (73, 14th) struggled in the final round, while Bryson DeChambeau (opening 76, closing 68, 15th place) was up and down. Patrick Cantlay (71, 17th place) never broke 70. Dustin Johnson, the final member of the American squad, did not play the Hero, instead choosing to give himself one last week of rehabilitation for his knee. He was set to join his teammates in Nassau for the long plane ride to the Presidents Cup. “Hopefully Dustin’s feeling a little bit better,â€� Woods said. “Hopefully swelling stays down over the next 23 hours because it’s a long flight down there. The guys will be ready.â€�
Louis Oosthuizen in good form entering the Presidents CupLouis Oosthuizen in good form entering the Presidents Cup
SYDNEY, Australia – South African Louis Oosthuizen fell just short of winning the Australian Open but has positioned himself as the potential spearhead for Ernie Els ahead of the Presidents Cup. Already the only player on Els’ International Team with a winning record in the biennial team competition against the U.S., Oosthuizen produced a huge eagle on the final hole at The Australian Golf Club to make local Matt Jones sweat. RELATED: Inside the International’s dominating 1998 win | Internationals hoping for South African omen Jones – a former winner of the Houston Open – ultimately survived a drama-filled trip down the par-5 18th to secure his second national championship at the course he grew up on. Oosthuizen’s eagle left him with the round of the day, a 5-under 66 and finished at 14 under. But Jones dropped in a testy 5-foot par put after going from bunker, to woodchips, to a tight lie short of the green to win by a shot. Still, Oosthuizen showed he will be a force at this week’s Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne against Tiger Woods and his formidable U.S. Team. “I used this week as preparation for next and obviously I’ll take a lot of confidence out of this and hopefully we can pull it off next week,â€� Oosthuizen said. “I’m ready. Game face is on now and I’m ready.â€� Marc Leishman was the next best member of the International Team and finished in a tie for 10th. Cameron Smith was tied for 27th and defending champion Abraham Ancer was 33rd. “We’re ready to go, and looking forward to it,â€� Leishman said. “I’m pleased with the way I drove the ball and then the way I chipped. I putted well; I just wasn’t reading the greens awesome, but off the tee and around the greens I was pretty pleased with. “If I could take that over into next week and sharpen my irons up a little bit, should be good to go. It’s been a pretty easy week this week energy-wise, so we are excited about next week and hopefully we can play well.â€� Adam Scott and C.T. Pan failed to make the cut although Els was not concerned with their form. Byeong Hun An, Joaquin Niemann, Hideki Matsuyama, Haotong Li, Adam Hadwin and Sungjae Im all rested this week. “My long-term view is long-term form. I’ve picked guys who have played well for a long term. One week or one round is not going to change anything in my view,â€� Els said. “The guys are quality players; they’ve made great strides in making the team and I believe in them. If they have a bad round or a bad tournament, it’s not changing my view on that.â€� Jones, fellow Australian Aaron Pike and Japanese amateur Takumi Kanaya all booked spots in the 2020 Open Championship at Royal St George’s from July 16-19 as the highest three players not already exempt.
Jones holds off Oosthuizen to win Australian OpenJones holds off Oosthuizen to win Australian Open
Matt Jones made a four-foot putt for par on the final hole of the Australian Open on Sunday to win the title by one stroke over Louis Oosthuizen. It’s the second Australian Open title for Jones.
76ers coach wants Simmons taking one 3 a game76ers coach wants Simmons taking one 3 a game
After Ben Simmons hit his second career 3-pointer, coach Brett Brown said he wants his point guard taking at least one a game.
Ohio State is college basketball’s best team; other provable hot takesOhio State is college basketball’s best team; other provable hot takes
Ohio State may not be the No. 1 team in the next AP poll, but the Buckeyes look like the best team in men’s college basketball early on.
Ohio State is college basketball’s best team, other provable hot takesOhio State is college basketball’s best team, other provable hot takes
Ohio State may not be the No. 1 team in the next AP poll, but the Buckeyes look like the best team in men’s college basketball early on.
The decision-makers of the New York Knicks are ghosting their teamThe decision-makers of the New York Knicks are ghosting their team
The Knicks players have a new coach, but it is troubling that the New York front office and ownership are not showing up.