Tiger Woods walks off course at Bridgestone Invitational

By Andrew Both AKRON, Ohio — Reuters From The Globe and Mail

Defending champion Tiger Woods pulled out of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio on Sunday after aggravating his troublesome back, raising more questions about the playing future of the 14-times major champion.

His participation in Thursday’s PGA Championship in Kentucky, the final major of the year, must be highly doubtful although Woods said it was too early to speculate.

He also must be considered increasingly unlikely to be on the American team for next month’s Ryder Cup in Scotland.

He looked to be in pain after his drive at the ninth hole of the final round before deciding to retire on four over par, 18 shots behind overnight leader Sergio Garcia at Firestone Country Club.

Woods, who had made a double-bogey on the seventh hole, was limping as he climbed into a golf cart and left the course. He later issued a short statement.

“It happened on the second hole when I hit my second shot. I fell back in the bunker. I just jarred it and it’s been spasming ever since,” he said.

“It’s just the whole lower back. I don’t know what happened when I landed.”

The latest injury setback comes barely four months after Woods had lower back surgery to relieve an impinged nerve.

He had the procedure after intense pain caused him to pull out of the Honda Classic on March 2, also during the final round.

The 38-year-old missed the first two majors of the year, the Masters and U.S. Open, and the Bridgestone Invitational was just his third event since he returned to action.

He has long been driven by a burning desire to surpass the record of 18 major titles held by Jack Nicklaus.

But he has not won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open, and has reached an age after which nobody in the modern era has regularly won major championships, even fully healthy.

Even before his latest setback he struggled to drive the ball as well as the current crop of top players such as Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Garcia.

Woods showed no immediate sign of distress after hitting his second shot from an awkward lie in lush rough above a bunker at the par-five second hole on Sunday.

He lost his balance after playing the shot but stayed on his feet as he trotted eight paces through the sand back to the fairway.

But he was in obvious pain by the fifth hole, where he winced in pain after his tee shot.

For more on this story go to: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/golf/tiger-woods-walks-off-course-at-bridgestone-invitational/article19901138/

CPL: Tallawahs survive Malik scare, Hawksbills remain winless

From GoCricket

CPL: Tallawahs survive Malik scare, Hawksbills remain winless© Getty Images

Sohail Tanvir’s followed his 3/15 with an unbeaten 20 towards the end.

Jamaica Tallawahs earned two more points after they beat Barbados Tridents by 19 runs in the Caribbean Premier League on Sunday. After posting 147 for 8 in their 20 overs at the Sabina Park, Jerome Taylor picked up two for 11 to outdo Shoaib Malik’s half-century and Ravi Rampaul’s four for 18.

Owais Shah top-scored for Tallawahs with 42, followed by skipper Chris Gayle’s 39. Rampaul and Rayad Emrit (three for 35) did the bulk of the damage for the visiting team as seven batsmen fell in single digits.

Malik shepherded Tridents’ chase with a 43-ball 81. His innings was laced with five fours and six massive sixes. Unfortunately for him, no other batsman could really get going and their innings finished at 128 for six.

Tallawahs are now levelled with Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel on the points-table with 12 points but are still behind due to an inferior run-rate.

Meawhile at Gros Islet, St Lucia Zouks made short work of Antigua Hawksbills after they chased down a Duckworth-Lewis target of 106 after the Hawksbills made 103 for 6 in a match reduced to 16 overs following a series of rain delays.

Sohail Tanvir remained the pick of the bowlers for the Zouks picking up three for 15. Danza Hyatt (26) and Marlon Samuels (21) provided some respite to the innings after they were earlier rocked by Tanvir and Mervin Mathew, who got rid of openers Ben Dunk (0) and Devon Thomas (2). David Hussey (16) and Craig Brathwaitte (20 not out) did well towards the end to help Hawksbills go past the 100-run mark, posting 103 for 6.

The beginning of Zouks’ innings wasn’t a pleasant one either. They lost their first three wickets for 21 on the board before Sunil Ambris (17) and Henry Davids (43) added 46 runs for the fourth wicket. Tanvir backed his bowling with an unbeaten 20 to take Zouks over the finishing line with 15 balls to spare.

With this loss, Hawksbills are now the only team to remain winless in the tournament.

Brief scores: Jamaica Tallawahs 147 for eight (Owais Shah 42, Chris Gayle 39, Chadwick Walton 25; Ravi Rampaul 4/18, Rayad Emrit 3/35) beat Barbados Tridents 128 for six (Shoaib Malik 81 not out; Jerome Taylor 2/11, Dave Bernard Jr 2/20) by 19 runs.

Antigua Hawksbills 103 for six (Danza Hyatt 21, Marlon Samuels 21; Sohail Tanvir 3 for 15) lost to St. Lucia Zouks 108 for five (Henry Davids 43, Sohail Tanvir 20; Gavin Tonge two for 12) by five wickets.

For more on this story go to: http://www.gocricket.com/news/Caribbean-Premier-League-2014-Jamaica-Tallawahs-survive-Shoiab-Malik-scare-Antigua-Hawksbills-remain-winless/articleshow/39600540.cms

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LIMACOL Caribbean Premier League develops home grown talent

IMAGES: Jason Holder (left) and Ray Jordan (right)

The Limacol Caribbean Premier League not only entertains crowds with high-intensity Twenty20 cricket, but is also helping to develop home grown talent by giving aspiring young cricketers the opportunity to showcase their skills.

The match between the St. Lucia Zouks and Barbados Tridents yesterday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground saw the home team lose their sixth straight game of the tournament. However, it highlighted the undeniable talent of the Caribbean’s new generation of aspiring cricketers like 19 year old St. Lucia Zouks fast bowler, Ray Jordan and 22 year old Barbados Tridents all-rounder, Jason Holder, who both gave stellar performances – Jordan taking his first professional wicket and Holder making 48 off 30 balls.

At the pre-match press conference ahead of their second home game this weekend, St. Lucia Zouks Head Coach, Matthew Maynard, lauded the young players in his team who continue to demonstrate tremendous talent on the pitch, he said; “The injuries we have had in the tournament have meant that our young players are getting opportunities to perform. Ray Jordan wasn’t even eligible to play at the start of the tournament, but he came in last night and performed magnificently.”

Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel Head Coach, Simon Helmot, also mentioned the fantastic experience young players are gaining by playing in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, he said; “Tournaments like the CPL are providing up and coming cricketers with the chance to demonstrate their skills and passion for the game. When Twenty20 cricket first came about, we didn’t think the skills young players learn from the game would be adaptable for the longer format but, that is no longer the case as many players who are getting their first opportunities in Twenty20 are going on to be good test match players.”

St. Lucia Zouks all-rounder, Liam Sebastian, got his first taste of Twenty20 cricket in last night’s match and is looking to hone his talents in this format of the game, he said; “I have played lots of first class cricket throughout the Caribbean, but it was amazing to play in the CPL for the first time, especially in front the home crowd. I am looking forward to more opportunities to play and to make my team proud.”

The St. Lucia Zouks have back-to-back home games this weekend at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on Saturday at 4pm and the Antigua Hawksbills on Sunday at 4pm.