Cebuanos to Asian bowlfest p.36
Drexler joins Hall of Famers p.37
38
n JOBANNIE C. TABADA Editor
National 68th Masters Augusta Golf Club 12
11
April 8-11, 2004 7,290 yards, 72 par
14
10
N
Augusta, Georgia
U S A
17 13 7 18 9
15
2
5 16
Hole Yards Par Hole Yards Par 1
435
4
10
495
4
2
575
5
11
490
4
3
350
4
12
155
3
4
205
3
13
510
5
6 3
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2004
SINGH IS BULLISH Confident of winning another Masters
8 1 4
455
4
14
440
4
6
180
3
15
500
5
7
410
4
16
170
3
8
570
5
17
425
4
9
460
4
18
465
4
Masters champions 2003 Mike Weir (CAN) 2002 Tiger Woods (USA) 2001 Tiger Woods (USA)
2000 Vijay Singh (FIJ) 1999 Jose Maria Olazabal (SPN) 1998 Mark O’Meara (USA)
060404
5
Masters Scorecard Hole Name of Hole
Par
Distance
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Tea Olive Pink Dogwood Flowering Peach Flowering Crab Apple Magnolia Juniper Pampas Yellow Jasmine Carolina Cherry
4 5 4 3 4 3 4 5 4
435 575 350 205 455 180 410 570 460
Out
36
3,640
* Distance in yards
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Carmellia White Dogwood Golden Bell Azalea Chinese Fir Firethorn Redbud Nandina Holly
4 4 3 5 4 5 3 4 4
495 490 155 510 440 500 170 425 465
In
36
3,650
Total
72
7,290
AUGUSTA, Georgia – Former Masters champion Vijay Singh has his sights firmly fixed on winning himself a second green jacket this week. “This is the first year where I feel like I have a very good chance of winning one of the majors again,” said the world number two. “I’m playing well, I’m striking the ball well. I’m ready for the tournament.” Singh insists that despite being 41 he has never
PBA’s junior tilt starts April 18 GAMES ON SUNDAY (Araneta Coliseum) 4:10 p.m. — Coke v. San Miguel 6:30 p.m .— FedEx v. Red Bull San Miguel Alaska Talk N Text Coca-Cola Red Bull Purefoods Shell Ginebra Fedex Sta. Lucia
W 8 6 6 5 4 3 3 3 2 2
L 0 3 3 3 3 5 6 6 6 7
JUNIOR cagers in the country will have their time in the limelight when the first-ever BurlingtonPBA Junior summer league kicks off on April 18 at the Araneta Coliseum. The event, which will run up to May 30 and to be played before each PBA double-header in Manila, is a side tournament to be participated in by 10 teams
from different cities and municipalities in Metro Manila carrying the colors of the PBA‘s 10 teams. Grassroots “This is our own small way of contributing to the grassroots development program of the sport in the country,” said Commissioner Noli Eala. “At the same time, we want this to be our summer treat to some of our young fans who have been very loyal to the league. Who knows, from these players may come the future stars of the PBA.” Starring in the opening-day salvo in the tournament, which will serve as an opportunity to the young cagers to show their wares in a PBA-type atmosphere while wearing the uniforms of their favorite teams and playing under pro league rules, is the battle between Makati-
Barangay Ginebra and Mandaluyong-Alaska. Each team in the tournament is composed of boys from 9 to 12-yearsold. The other participating teams are Sta. Lucia-Pasig, FedEx-San Juan, Pure foods-Taguig, Coca-ColaMarikina, Red Bull BarakoPasay, San Miguel BeerMalabon, Shell-Manila and Talk ‘N’ Text-Quezon City. Regular games Meanwhile, the streaking San Miguel Beermen will try to end their first round assignment undefeated when they stake their 8-0 win-loss record versus the Coca Cola Tigers when action resumes on Sunday. Fedex, on the other hand, will tackle Batang Red Bull in the main game at the Araneta Coliseum. JSV
Alapag’s week AFTER winning the Rookie of the Year award in last year’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Talk ‘N Text’s smallest man on the court, Jimmy Alapag, is again hounding his foes in the current Gran Matador Fiesta Conference. The Fil-Am Alapag, dubbed the Mighty Mouse, just recently bagged the March 30 to April 4 PBA Player of the Week honors as he inked an average of 14 points and seven assists per during that stretch. He also averaged 34 minutes per game during that stretch, taking care not only of the offense but also of the defense. JSV
NO.2. Vijay Singh will be going for his second Green Jacket. (AFP FOTO)
felt better in his life. “I feel I’m more stronger now. I’m stronger and fitter now than I have ever been in my life. That’s saying a lot at 41,” he explained. With the course firm-
ing up thanks to the sun and a stiff breeze, Singh knows that the winner come Sunday will be the one who putted best. “The greens are getting fast. They are rolling as fast as I’ve ever seen them. Putting will be a key factor this week,” he said. But the veteran from Fiji also knows that the key to a good putting week will be the accuracy of the approach shots. “You’ve got to get to the correct side of the holes - a premium here. I’d rather have a 20-footer uphill that a six to eight-footer downhill. You cannot just fire at the flags here. You’re going to get yourself in a lot of trouble.” (AFP)
SPORTS SHORTS Thorpe’s suggestion SYDNEY – Australian swimming superstar Ian Thorpe said yesterday that defending Olympic champions should be considered for automatic qualification to the next Games if their performances are up to scratch. Thorpe made the comment in the wake of his disqualification last week in the Australian Olympic selection trials after he fell off the blocks at the start of a 400-meter freestyle semifinal. The Australian is the defending Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400-meter freestyle, but as of now will not be a starter in his pet event at Athens later this year.
How the rivals feel INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Australia’s Ian Thorpe may get a chance to defend his Olympic 400m freestyle title in Athens after all, but if teammate Craig Stevens doesn’t step aside for him, US swimmers say no other special treatment should be considered. “Things like that happen to the best of us,” said 18-year-old superstar Michael Phelps, who hopes to match Mark Spitz’s legendary seven-gold medal performance in Athens. But even swimmers who sympathize with Thorpe’s plight don’t believe an exception to the rules would be the answer. “I feel sorry for him, but you can’t make exceptions,” Brooke Bennett, the Olympic women’s 800m freestyle champion in 1996 and 2000, said at a meet in Indianapolis last week.
French Open stays in January MELBOURNE – One of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open, is to stay in its January timeslot, organizers said here yesterday. A campaign to move the two-week tournament to March met with opposition from many of the sport’s stakeholders. The Australian Open will be played over the last two weeks of January in 2005 and 2006, but will start a week later in 2007. (Text by AFP)