| Buffett Cup emulates Ryder Cup drama Justin Hackett holes in one on this dealThe attention of the bridge world is focused on the Buffett Cup, which follows the format of the Ryder Cup golf competition. In the normal run of events, a triple bogey at golf can put paid to your chances of winning, but at the Ryder Cup it may not matter if you take seven as long as your opponent takes eight. Similarly, as today's deal from the Buffett Cup shows, it may not matter if you get a horrible result as long as your opponents get a worse one. East-West vulnerable, dealer South:There was a time not all that long ago when the bidding on this deal would have been pass-pass-pass-pass, and no one would have given the matter a second thought. But that was then, and this is now: when I held the West cards for the USA, North opened a shaded one heart after two passes and Europe finished in 2NT by South. Bob Hamman and I defended as well as we could, Geir Helgemo for Europe played the hand as well as he could (and believe me, that is pretty well), and the upshot was plus 100 for the USA when Helgemo went two down.That looked like a good result for the USA. Could our counterparts match it? Well, the bidding at the other table was:(1) Taking a driver off the tee (2) Is it my turn? (3) Showing a heart suitSouth led a diamond to the jack, queen and king. Not exactly troubled by this start to proceedings, Justin Hackett played the spots off the cards to emerge with nine tricks and a score of 580 to East-West. In any competition apart from this one, that would represent a potentially devastating loss to our side – but as in the Ryder Cup it equated only to the loss of a single hole. You can watch the climax of the Buffett Cup live on Bridge Base Online today, and if what's happened until now is anything to go by, it will match any Ryder Cup for drama.BridgeZia Mahmoodguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Rory McIlroy admits regret over calling Ryder Cup 'an exhibition' event • 21-year-old preparing for Ryder Cup debut next week• Last year said the event was 'not that important to me'Rory McIlroy has admitted he regrets calling the Ryder Cup "an exhibition" last year, and says he is feeling nervous ahead of his debut at Celtic Manor next week.In May last year McIlroy said: "The Ryder Cup is a great spectacle but an exhibition at the end of the day and it should be there to be enjoyed. In the big scheme of things it's not that important to me."However, although he still puts success in majors and even the world championship higher on his list of career goals, McIlroy insists he has real respect for the competition."Next week is going to be fantastic. It's definitely not an exhibition, it's a great spectacle. I said exhibition last year when I was not focused on a team event."McIlroy, winner of four points out of five for Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe in the Vivendi Trophy last September, added: "I sort of forgot how good it was. We won and it was great to share the win with 11 other guys."The 21-year-old admitted to nerves before he makes his debut, when he is being tipped to lead things off for Europe alongside his compatriot and close friend Graeme McDowell."Obviously it's my first experience [of a Ryder Cup] and one I'm going to try to enjoy. Hopefully the adrenaline will make me play well. I'm going to be very nervous over my first tee shot, but once you get that out of the way all you are thinking about is winning your match."Three of his victories at the Vivendi Trophy came with McDowell as his partner and all of them were achieved going out first. Asked about the likelihood of them being put together again he said: "I'm not sure. I will have a better sense when we get there [on Monday]."It worked well last year and I'd like to, but whatever Monty thinks I don't mind. I'm very close to 'GMac' and I think we would both love to partner each other. Hopefully we'll get a couple of games and try to make the most of it."McIlroy is one of six uncapped players, the most Europe have had since 1999, but he points out: "There's a lot of experience with Lee Westwood, Miguel Angel JimĂ©nez, Ian Poulter and GMac's played one."Then you have the vice-captains [Sergio GarcĂa, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn] and obviously Monty. It's great to have people like that in and around the team."They will have a big role to play. I don't know how I am going to be in the team room, but I will definitely be listening to those guys. It's not like it's my first experience of a big event. I think we will be fine."McDowell, meanwhile, said McIlroy's view of the event would change with experience. "Rory is an extremely ambitious kid and he's all about major championships and WGCs. But I think he'll have a different respect for the Ryder Cup next weekend when he gets out there and feels it and understands it. Of course it's different from a major and a WGC – it's not an individual win – it's just something a bit special."Rory McIlroyRyder CupGolfguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Morley to lead England in Four Nations • Luke Robinson postpones wedding to accept England call• Morley steps in in place of injured Jamie PeacockAdrian Morley will captain an England squad dominated by Huddersfield players in this autumn's Four Nations series in Australia and New Zealand – including Luke Robinson, a 26-year-old scrum-half who has agreed to postpone his wedding in the hope of making his senior international debut.Robinson was due to get married in Cyprus later this month, but agreed to miss the ceremony after receiving a call from the England coach Steve McNamara. "There have been a lot of heart to heart talks in bed, and a lot of tears," he said. "But how can you turn this down? She understands, even if she was crying when saying it – that's why I'm marrying her."She's still going to Cyprus with 60-odd of my family and friends, and six of my mates are heading for the stag do in Las Vegas without me this week. There have been a few difficult phone calls to make to people, explaining they're going to my wedding that I'm not going to be at."Morley was a much more predictable choice to take over as captain following the loss of Jamie Peacock with knee ligament damage. The 33-year-old has already led Great Britain and England when Peacock has been unavailable for the odd match in the last couple of years.The Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield was not considered because of an achilles injury, and the St Helens scrum-half Kyle Eastmond was also ruled out by the ankle problem that kept him out of Saturday's Super League grand final.McNamara has overlooked experienced internationals such as Rob Burrow, Jon Wilkin and Martin Gleeson, who scored two tries in Wigan's grand final win against Saints. Darrell Goulding, another Old Trafford try-scorer, has forced his way in, and there is a well-deserved recall for the experienced Wigan prop Stuart Fielden four years after he last played for Great Britain in the 2006 Tri-Nations series.Of the other five Huddersfield players included with Robinson, only the prop Eorl Crabtree has previously been capped. Kevin Brown, Leroy Cudjoe, Shaun Lunt and Darrell Griffin have all been rewarded for their impressive form in the Giants' run to within one match of the grand final.Griffin, who started playing with the Oxford Cavaliers amateur team, is one of two southerners in the squad, as McNamara has also included the powerful Harlequins centre Tony Clubb, who is from Gravesend.The squad fly out on Friday and play a warm-up game against the New Zealand Maori in Auckland on Saturday week before the first game of the Four Nations against New Zealand in Wellington seven days later.England's 24-man squad for the 2010 Four Nations SeriesBacks: R Atkins (Warrington), T Briscoe (Hull), K Brown (Huddersfield), T Clubb (Harlequins), L Cudjoe (Huddersfield), D Goulding (Wigan), R Hall (Leeds), L Robinson (Huddersfield), S Tomkins (Wigan), M Shenton (Castleford), G Widdop (Melbourne).Forwards: S Burgess (South Sydney), E Crabtree (Huddersfield), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Fielden (Wigan), J Graham (St Helens), D Griffin (Huddersfield), B Harrison (Warrington), S Lunt (Huddersfield), A Morley (Warrington, capt), S O'Loughlin (Wigan), J Roby (St Helens), J Tomkins (Wigan), B Westwood (Warrington).Four NationsEngland rugby league teamRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Yankees beat Twins 6-1 to return to ALCS By RONALD BLUM 2010-10-10T07:25:25ZNEW YORK (AP) -- Mariano Rivera got the last out, sealing yet another October triumph. Jorge Posada trotted out to mound, and the Yankees came out of the dugout in a businesslike manner to shake each other's hands.... hosted.ap.org |
Fernando Alonso wins Korean Grand Prix, grabs F1 lead Ferrari's Fernando Alonso overcame treacherous conditions to win Sunday's inaugural Formula One Korean Grand Prix, surging to the top of the ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |