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| Author: | yyys123 [ Fri Jan 10, 2020 5:10 pm ] |
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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Lizette Salas didnt have to wait long to be tested in her latest attempt at a breakthrough victory on the LPGA Tour. The challenge came on the first hole Sunday in the Kingsmill Championship, after she was overly cautious with her first putt, leaving it nearly 10 feet short of the cup with a sliding, downhill test to save par. She made it, the start of a day when she did little wrong on her way to a four-shot victory. "Yeah, that was a big putt just to start off the day," Salas said. "Downhill slider to the right. I mean, I even threw in a fist pump because I knew how important that was for me mentally and on a confidence standpoint." The 24-year-old Salas made it look easy the rest of the way, even while shooting just an even-par 71 on the River Course. Salas started the day with a three-shot lead, doubled it with birdies on the par-5 third and par-3 fifth. A bogey on the par-4 eighth was her only hiccup -- and only her third bogey in four rounds -- until she three-putted the par-3 17th. She finished at 13-under 271 and earned $195,000. Yani Tseng, Kraft Nabisco winner Lexi Thompson and Sarah Jane Smith tied for second. Salas was never really challenged in the final round on the River Course, and when her final putt fell on the 18th hole, she cupped her head in her hands and covered her face in celebration. Her winning moment was quickly interrupted, however, when four fellow players arrived and doused her with champagne, water and wine. The victory came after Salas flirted with victory several times in her three years on tour. It also came after she missed the cut two weeks ago and realized she needed to change her mental approach to give herself a fighting chance. "I felt like I wanted to be perfect all the time," she said. "I felt like I needed to play like a top tier golfer every week. Thats not it. Its about feeling confident. Golf is a sport where you cant control everything. ... I just took a step back and looked at golf differently. I just tried to have fun this week. That was the most important thing." This year, she tied for third in the season-opening event in the Bahamas and shared the lead after three rounds in the Kia Classic in her home state of California, but Anna Nordqvist closed with a 5-under 67 -- to Salas 70 -- to win by one. Last year, playing alongside winner Inbee Park in the final group of the Kraft Nabisco, Salas shot 79 to tie for 25th. Two weeks later, Salas lost a playoff to Suzann Pettersen in the LPGA LOTTE in Hawaii. Salas chunked her approach into the water on the first extra hole after closing with a tournament-record 62. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Salas was introduced to the game when her father, the head mechanic at Azusa Greens west of Los Angeles, did some handyman jobs for the club pro and, instead of pay, asked him to teach his daughter to play. She went on to star at Southern California, where she was a four-time All-America selection and helped the Trojans win the 2008 NCAA title. The victory came on a rare weekend when her parents didnt come to the tournament, but watched from their home in California, and it brought tears to the eyes of Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, who has been a mentor of sorts for Salas. "Im crying. Im so proud of her," Lopez said by telephone after watching the celebration on the green. "She looked great out there, just very confident and swinging great. ... Like she said on TV, she was ready. It was time." Salas expects "some tears of happiness" when she sees her parents Monday. Tseng, seeking her first victory since 2012, got within three with three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the back nine, but she finished with two pars and a double bogey for a 69, expanding Salas lead to five shots. Thompson had a 69, and Smith shot 66 -- the best round of the day. Tseng nearly made it very interesting at the par-5 15th, but her eagle putt stopped just short of the cup. "One more roll it will be in," she said. "I know if I make that I have a good chance." The tournament also featured a golf rarity, a double eagle. It was scored by Frenchwoman Joanna Klatten on No. 15. Klatten said her drive left her a perfect distance away for her 3-wood, and she had a feeling something great was coming. "Its intuition. I had a good feeling about that shot," she said. "Of course there is a little bit of luck in that." . The third-seeded Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., was coming off a semifinal appearance at the French Open. She took the opening set before the unseeded American came back for the 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory. . Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Fiorentina levelled on aggregate in the 14th minute when Joaquin Sanchez Rodriguez headed back a long ball from David Pizarro and Pasqual smashed home an angled volley. . Buffalos defensive co-ordinator had his second interview with Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner on Tuesday night, a person familiar with the Browns plans told The Associated Press. . Louis Cardinals a hard-fought victory. The Colorado Rockies intentionally walked Yadier Molina with one out and runners on first and third to load the bases for Kozma. . PETERSBURG, Fla.With another Arsenal title challenge effectively over, we look at what they must do to improve next season... Arsenals Premier League title hopes were all but ended at the weekend as their 3-3 draw with West Ham on Saturday left them even further behind Leicester and Tottenham, who beat Sunderland and Manchester United respectively on Super Sunday.Arsene Wengers side are now 13 points off the top of the table with six games to play, leaving them in a familiar scrap for the Champions League places after another campaign in which they have failed to sustain a serious title challenge. Premier League table Team Games played Goal difference Points Leicester 33 +26 72 Tottenham 33 +35 65 Arsenal 32 +22 59 Man City 32 +25 57 Man Utd 32 +9 53 With either Leicester or rivals Spurs set to become the fourth different side to win the title since Arsenals last triumph back in the 2003/04 season, frustration levels at the Emirates Stadium have hit new heights.Familiar issues have resurfaced once again, and many supporters are now eager to see the back of their long-serving manager. Wenger, though, has made it clear he has no intention of leaving before the end of his contract in 2017.So what does the Frenchman need to change to spark a change of fortunes next season? Here, we take a look at the main areas in need of attention…Mentality Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead against West Ham Arsenals brittle mentality was glaringly obvious in Saturdays capitulation at Upton Park. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchezs goals had put them in cruise control in east London, but when Andy Carroll pulled a goal back shortly before half-time, there was a sense of inevitability about what followed.A tougher side would have held onto their lead and regrouped at half-time, but Carroll capitalised on more Arsenal panic to equalise before completing his hat-trick shortly after the break. Wenger put the goals down to a weakness from crosses - but Arsenals psychological fragility is a far deeper issue.All of Arsenals problems were highlighted against West Ham and its not character coming back to salvage a point, its character to hold on to that lead, says Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas. When youre 2-0 up and going for the title you must have the ingredients to see it through. Charlie Nicholas When youre 2-0 up and going for the title you must have the ingredients to see it through, be it blocking off Andy Carroll or not allowing them to feed him with so many balls into the box. Charlie predicts... Find out what Charlie is tipping up at 60/1 for West Ham v Man Utd here. Only Liverpool (17) and Crystal Palace (15) have lost more points from winning positions than Arsenal (14) this season, and their slide off the top of the table since January indicates they still cant cope when the pressure is cranked up. Wenger has been unable to alter Arsenals mindset in recent years - but its an urgent requirement if they are to repeat their former glories.Finishing Olivier Giroud has scored 12 goals this season - but missed 13 clear-cut chances, according to Opta Dismal finishing has been a theme of Arsenals season, with Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey guilty of repeatedly spurning goal-scoring opportunities.The problem is particularly frustrating given the sheer number of opportunities they create. According to Opta, Arsenal have fashioned 77 clear-cut chances this season - 15 more than any other side - but they have also missed 61 - 11 more than any of their rivals. Arsene Wenger was left disappointed by Arsenals 3-3 draw at West Ham Only Southampton, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Swansea have inferior clear-cut chance conversion rates than Arsenal (35.dddddddddddd79 per cent), and the result is that they have only scored three more goals (55) than sixth-placed West Ham and struggling Everton.Danny Welbeck has brought fresh impetus since his return from injury, but Arsenal still lack a natural goalscorer. In recent years, Wenger has been unwilling to break the bank for Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain, but their prolific form for Barcelona and Napoli shows the value of a world-class striker.Transfers Petr Cech was Arsenals only summer signing ahead of 2015/16 That brings us to Arsenals transfer strategy. Wenger showed he is willing to spend big with the signings of Ozil and Sanchez, but the Gunners were the only club in Europes top-five leagues not to sign an outfield player last summer, and it wasnt the first time they have dragged their heels in the transfer market.That needs to change. Wenger has made a habit of revealing the players he nearly signed, but this summer they must work proactively to secure their targets early in the window and give their squad as much time as possible to work together in pre-season. Wenger chose not to sign Payet Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he considered signing Dimitri Payet before he joined West Ha Reports that they have already submitted an opening bid for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka suggest lessons might have been learned, but Arsenals hunt for reinforcements should not end there - and there is certainly no shortage of money to spend.I actually felt more confident in the summer than for a long time because we signed Petr Cech and that was exactly what we needed without spending much, but clearly that wasnt enough, says Nicholas. The way I look at it right now is we lack a top quality centre-half and a top striker. I think they spoke to Karim Benzema and got a negative response. Was there another top striker available? To be honest I dont know if they went for Gonzalo Higuain or not.In terms of defenders, Id take Raphael Varane in a heartbeat, who is for some reason behind Pepe and Sergio Ramos in Real Madrids pecking order, and Id like to think Arsene would be in his agents ear. Hes quick, strong, and as a young Frenchman fits the Wenger idealism.However, Wenger doesnt have a knack of turning young defenders into great ones.Defence Per Mertesacker has come in for criticism this season Saturdays draw with West Ham was the eighth time this season Arsenal have conceded three or more goals in a single game, and it also showed they are still vulnerable to a physical, aerial approach.Their widespread defensive failings at Upton Park reflected the scale of the issue. Not only did Arsenals back four fail to stand up to Carroll, but wingers Alexis Sanchez and Alex Iwobi failed to provide adequate cover on the flanks, with all three of the Hammers goals coming from crosses.The Gunners have been dogged by complacency at the back throughout the season, and the stats show they have made 28 individual errors leading to opposition shots. No Premier League team have made more. Wenger needs to address the issue as a matter of priority. Errors leading to opposition shots - Premier League Team Errors leading to shots Arsenal 23 Liverpool 20 West Brom 20 Mauricio Pochettino has taught Jan Vertonghen how to be a centre-back and Claudio Ranieri has turned Wes Morgan and Robert Huth into a solid defensive unit, says Nicholas. If Pochettino and Ranieri can make their centre-backs see out games, why hasnt Wenger done that with the talent hes got?Gabriel has showed no signs of developing and Laurent Koscielny should be the best defender in the league. Andy Carrolls second goal was absolutely embarrassing. Also See: Szczesny cheering on Leicester Arsenal in a nutshell? Premier League grades Carroll exposed our weakness ' ' ' |
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