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01/10/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Stricker entered the 2012 season with plenty of questions surrounding his game. He battled through a neck injury at the end of 2011, and no one knew how he would bounce back once the calendar changed.
Stricker answered those questions, and more, in a three-stroke win at Kapalua.
If it weren't for those pesky first 13 holes, Stricker could have won by a dozen. For the week, he played the final five holes at 15-under par after going just minus-eight in the opening 13.
Though he doesn't have the flashiest game, Stricker solidified his place as the top American in the world rankings. He moved to No. 5 with the win.
The title was his eighth since the start of the 2009 season. It might comes as a surprise that Stricker is the only PGA Tour player with multiple wins in each of the last three years.
The 44-year-old has clearly taken the mantle from Vijay Singh as best player in his 40s. The victory was Stricker's ninth since turning the big 4-0.
Some might argue Phil Mickelson is the best player in his 40s, but he has won just once since turning 40, and he has dipped to 15th in the world rankings.
Much like Singh has battled a balky back through his career, it now seems as though Stricker will fight his neck injury for some time to come.
Admittedly, Stricker could barely move his left arm at the BMW Championship in September. Since then, he's had a pair of cortisone shots and done extensive physical therapy.
"I don't want to have surgery. I don't think at this point I need it. I'm just going to go ahead and try to do this maintenance that I've been doing the last couple of months and see if that'll remedy the problem," Stricker said after his win on Monday.
"But from what my physical therapist says, it's just something that I need to stay on, be on top of it all the time. So that's what I'm trying to do."
With other players injuring themselves off the course, Stricker is doing all he can to stay off the disabled list.
He heads to the Sony Open this week hoping to extend his tour-leading cuts made streak to 44.
Though he won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions by three strokes, Stricker was five clear after the second and third rounds. In each of the final two rounds, he lost nearly his entire lead.
In Sunday's third round, Stricker's cushion dipped to one. After playing the final five holes in five-under par in round two, Stricker birdied the last four holes of round three to push his lead back to five.
The final round was more of the same. His five-stroke advantage was down to one after just seven holes. He responded with birdies on eight and nine to give himself some room.
"When you start to lose your lead and see everybody playing well, I'm watching the leaderboard. I want to know where everybody is at, and I see what they're doing," Stricker said. "But that little stretch at eight and nine really kind of calmed me down a little bit. And that, I think, was the difference today."
His lead was back down to one late in the final round, but Stricker birdied 16 and 18 to seal the deal.
Ever the family man, Stricker said afterwards that his two daughters were, "glad we're coming back (to Hawaii). So, they're looking forward to it and so am I. It's a great place to start."
Stricker might be the top American player, he might be the best in his 40s, but his favorite titles are more likely to be father and husband.
We could all be so lucky to have such a role model.
ARE GOLFERS ATHLETES?
It is a debate that rages in grill rooms across the country - are golfers really athletes?
Plenty of top golfers have favorite hobbies like skiing, snowboarding or surfing. It seems recently that golfers are proving they aren't very nimble.
It all started last year at Kapalua when 2009 champion Geoff Ogilvy was unable to defend his title after cutting his hand on some coral in the ocean, days before the season opener.
Last week, within days of each other, Lucas Glover and Paul Casey both took themselves out of action with injuries.
Glover hopes to tee it up this week after having to withdraw from the Hyundai Tournament of Champions with a sprained MCL in his right knee. He was injured in a paddleboard accident early last week.
Meanwhile, Casey would have been defending his title next week at the Volvo Golf Champions if he didn't try his Shaun White impersonation last week. Actually, that's an insult to White.
Casey dislocated his right shoulder in a snowboard accident and will be out of action for up to two months, or more, as the injury heals.
These guys are giving the doubters more ammunition in the battle of whether golfers are or aren't athletes.
At least Tiger Woods broke his leg golfing, right?
MINI-TIDBITS
- Congrats to 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen on his successful defense of his Africa Open title, and on the pending birth of his second child.
- Seems strange that the PGA and European Tours are starting their second event of the season on Thursday and the LPGA Tour hasn't officially announced its 2012 schedule yet. I'm sure commissioner Michael Whan is working feverishly to get more events before the schedule is finally released.
<< Former Blues GM Caron dies
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former St. Louis Blues general manager Ron
Caron died Monday night. He was 82 years old.
Caron, nicknamed "The Professor" for his remarkable hockey memory, served as
the Blues GM from 1983-94 and aga
<< Parma turns to former Italy coach Donadoni
Parma, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Parma named former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni
its new manager Tuesday after it fired Franco Colomba.
Donadoni, 48, coached Italy from 2006-08, but after a quarterfinal loss in the
Euro 2008 tournament to even
<< Stricker up to 5th in world rankings
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Stricker's victory Monday at the
Hyundai Tournament of Champions moved the American up to fifth in this week's
world rankings.
Luke Donald remained in first, followed by Lee Westwood, Rory
<< West Brom adds Allan from Dundee United
West Bromwich, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - West Bromwich completed the capture
of Scottish Under-21 international midfielder Scott Allan from Dundee United
on Tuesday.
Allan, 20, joins the English Premier League club on a 2 1/2-year contra
Wisconsin C Konz to enter NFL Draft >>
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Wisconsin center Peter Konz has
decided to skip his senior season and will enter the NFL Draft.
Konz started 31 games for the Badgers in three seasons and was a First-Team
All-Big Ten selecti
SE Louisiana's Roberts adds familar coordinators >>
Hammond, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Southeastern Louisiana University football
coach Ron Roberts announced Tuesday the additions of Greg Stevens as offensive
coordinator and Pete Golding as defensive coordinator to his program.
Both coaches s
Green Bay coordinator's son dies >>
Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The son of Green Bay Packers offensive
coordinator Joe Philbin has been found dead in a Wisconsin river.
Authorities had been searching for Michael Philbin, 21, since he was reported
missing Sunday
Oilers' Eberle out 2-3 weeks >>
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle will
miss 2-3 weeks of action with a right knee injury.
Eberle suffered the injury during Saturday's game in Dallas. The results from
an MRI informed the team's decis
The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.
Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.
The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
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Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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