Jimenez shots into lead at Dubai Desert Classic

Published>Fri, Feb 05 10 04:56 PM

Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 5-under 67 on Friday to take a share of the lead on the second morning of the Dubai Desert Classic.

The Spanish Ryder Cup player reached 8-under 136 with a birdie at the 9th hole - his last - to open up a two shot advantage over his playing partner Rory McIlroy. The young player from Northern Ireland, who share the first-round lead, shot a 70 to be two strokes back.

Welshman Stephen Dod completed a 3-under 69 to share the lead with Jimenez.

Jimenez had trailed defending champion McIlroy by three shots until a reversal of fortunes at their last hole.

While Jimenez sank his birdie, McIlroy drove into the rough, then put his 7-iron recovery shot into water short of the green and finished with a double bogey.

Jimenez sank at least four putts from beyond 15 feet while making seven birdies, and gave thanks to his temporary caddy - a Dubai flower importer and family friend.

"He may be in business now, but he did caddy on the tour for a time," said Jimenez. "And we have remained close friends and that is important out on the course.

"But it is only for this week whatever happens in the final round on Sunday."

Despite his late blunder, 20-year-old McIlroy still believed he could join Tiger Woods and Ernie Els as two-time winners of the event.

"I am happy with the situation heading into the weekend," said McIlroy. "Apart from that mistake at the last it was a really good day's work."

Scoring on the second day was much lower than it had been during the opening round as Thursday's fierce sandstorm had blown over. And with clouds in the Dubai skies accompanied by a threat of rain, it was a cool, calm morning.

Among those to benefit was 60-year-old Tom Watson who made five birdies before he too dropped a shot on the ninth green on his way to a 2-under 70. At 1-under after two rounds, he looked certain to make the cut.

Source: Web Search

John Terry's wife spotted reading novel about ups and downs of love

Published>Fri, Feb 05 10 04:40 PM

London, Feb 05 (ANI): John Terry's heartbroken wife Toni was recently spotted reading Marian Keyes' best-selling tear-jerker 'The Brightest Star In The Sky,' in Dubai.

She apparently seemed fidgety, as she constantly texted and talked over the phone, in between reading the book, while she lounged by a pool.

Meanwhile, her three-year-old twins Georgie John and Summer Rose laughed and joked around her, reports the Sun.

Toni flew to Dubai with her children and parents after Terry's alleged four-month fling with French underwear model Vanessa Perroncel was disclosed.

Perroncel is the ex-girlfriend of Terry's England teammate Wayne Bridge. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Indian golfers credit Asian Tour for their success

Published Fri, Feb 05 10 04:30 PM

Sentosa, Feb 5 (PTI) Indian golfers, including star Chandigarh pro Jeev Milkha Singh today attributed their global success on the exposure they got by playing on the Asian Tour. From the likes of Jeev, Arjun Atwal, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Gaurav Ghei, Shiv Kapur, SSP Chowrasia, C Muniyappa, Feroz Ali to Anirban Lahiri all have excelled after launching their careers from the Asian Tour. India holds the proud record of producing the most number of Asian Tour Order of Merit champions, through Jeev in 2006 and 2008, Atwal in 2004 and Jyoti Randhawa, the country''s first Asian number one in 2002. Jeev, who holds six wins in Asia and is now an honorary member of the Asian Tour, credited the Tour for giving him the platform to launch his career. "This is where I started from and I will never forget that. I will always go back and support the Asian Tour. The way the Asian Tour has grown is fantastic to see. I feel and strongly believe that the Asian Tour will continue to grow and produce top-class players," said Jeev. Atwal, who has won seven times on the Asian Tour, said the region''s circuit, which has travelled to 19 different countries over the years, helped him shape well. "My first Q-school was in 1995 and just to learn how to make cuts and be in contention and finally win, all those I learnt on the Asian Tour," said Atwal. More PTI SSC AT

Source: Web Search

F.A. Premier League set to swing spectacular 1billion pounds TV deal

Published>Fri, Feb 05 10 04:10 PM

London, Feb. 5 (ANI): A TV deal to screen top club matches worldwide is set to get a whopping one-billion- pound bonanza to F.A. Premier League clubs.

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the F.A. Premier League, is ready to announce the bumper windfall shortly after publishing the figures for deal.

The current global deal is worth 645 million pounds but the next three-year agreement will dwarf that, The Sun reports.

Negotiations are not complete, with the huge markets of China and Russia still to be settled.

But Scudamore is confident that he will now deliver the landmark 1 billion pound figure.

After being shared, each of the 20 clubs will get 50 million pounds each.

Prem football is the world's richest.

Domestic rights, taken up by Sky, ESPN and the BBC, are worth 1.8 billion pounds - making a grand total of 2.8 billion pounds. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

India-S Africa lock horn in battle for Test supremacy

Published Fri, Feb 05 10 03:05 PM

S S Ramaswamy Nagpur, Feb 5 (PTI) It will be a battle for world supremacy when an injury-hit India, determined to protect its number one Test team''s status, takes on second-placed South Africa in the first of the two-match series starting here tomorrow. While a series victory will consolidate India''s position at the top of the ICC Test ranking, even a drawn series would be enough for the hosts to retain their top slot which would entitle them to USD 175,000 and the coveted ICC Test Championship mace. However, the team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, which has an enviable record at home, goes into the contest with their middle order in disarray, following injuries to the dependable Rahul Dravid and the dashing Yuvraj Singh, both of whom have been ruled out of the series. The cheekbone fracture which Dravid sustained during the Bangladesh tour, has created a rare void at the number three position as the right-hander has missed only one Test, previous to this one, since his 1996 debut. To make matters worse, there is also uncertainty over seasoned middle-order batsman VVS Laxman who, even though named in the squad, is yet to recover completely from the finger injury sustained in Bangladesh. Mumbai youngster Rohit Sharma, who led the Board President''s XI against the visitors in the two-day warm-up game at the old VCA stadium here, has been asked to stay back as cover for Laxman. More PTI SSR AY MRM

Source: Web Search

Woods must be humble and admit he messed up: Watson

Published>Thu, Feb 04 10 08:30 PM

London, Feb.4 (ANI): Eight-time major winner Tom Watson has called on world No 1 Tiger Woods to "show some humility" and apologise for his behaviour before returning to golf.
ods, 34, has taken an indefinite break from the sport after speculation surrounding his private life erupted in November. He admitted to "transgressions" following allegations that he had extra-marital affairs.
Fellow American Watson, 60, however reckons Woods should make his eagerly anticipated return away from the fairways.
"One of the things that is not in question is what Tiger has to do. He has to take ownership of what he has done and must get his personal life in order. And, when he comes back, he has to show some humility to the public in the sense that, if I were him, it wouldn't be at a golf tournament where I would first come out," The Sun quoted Watson, as ssaying.

'Kick in the backside threat 'Spurs' Defoe to third hat-trick

Published>Thu, Feb 04 10 08:24 PM

London, Feb.4 (ANI): Striker Jermain Defoe wrecked Leeds' FA Cup dreams after being threatened with a kick up the bum if he did not hit a hat-trick.
Having scored 20 goals so far in the 2009-10 season, Defoe's third hat trick this term ensured the Spurs a fifth-round tie at Bolton.
"At half-time our coach Les Ferdinand told me if I didn't get a hat-trick I'd be getting a kick up the backside from him. I had a few chances early on which I didn't take but I knew if I kept plugging away, more chances would come and I'd hit the target," The Sun quoted Defoe, as saying.