Everton"s 8.6m Leroy Fer deal in jeopardy

Posted on January 30, 2013 by adminsports

Everton's 8.6m Fer deal in jeopardy after medical reveals knee injury problems

By
Dominic King

PUBLISHED:

22:27 GMT, 29 January 2013

UPDATED:

22:56 GMT, 29 January 2013

Everton's bid to sign Leroy Fer has been plunged into doubt after a problem emerged following the midfielder's medical.

The Holland international had been on the brink of becoming David Moyes' first January signing after he flew in from Rotterdam on Monday night but significant doubts emerged yesterday following stringent tests at the club's Finch Farm training base.

It prompted Everton to enter into further negotiations with FC Twente over the structure of the 8.6million deal, given that Fer had serious knee injury last year, but the Dutch club are unhappy with what has been offered

On the rocks: Fer had flown in to complete his deal, which has hit a snag

Chairman Joop Munsterman said:
'Everton have demanded additional conditions for the transfer of Leroy.
They want to pay in separate instalments. We can't agree with that. We
need to buy a replacement.'

Everton remained tight-lipped over the
problem but there is no question that David Moyes is still eager to
bring the highly-rated Fer to Goodison Park, if negotiations can be
completed to their satisfaction.

Fer, who had travelled to Merseyside
with his girlfriend Xenia and agent, Rob Jansen, had been shown around
Finch Farm yesterday and had made a positive impression on all those
with whom he had dealings. He had also agreed a four-and-a-half year
contract.

So highly thought of is the
23-year-old in Holland that he is expected to star his country's next
friendly in midfield ahead of Wesley Sneijder and Rafa van der Vaart, as
Louis van Gaal picks a squad for the 2014 World Cup.

Moyes was reticent to talk about Fer
at his press conference yesterday afternoon but the most telling thing
he said was describing suggestions the 23-year-old was being brought in
to replace Marouane Fellaini as 'a load of tosh'.

Fellaini's future has been a source of great speculation but Moyes has no intentions of selling the influential Belgian.

Moyes, whose side face West Brom at
Goodison Park tonight, said: ‘I read something like that (about Fellaini
being sold) and that is the biggest load of tosh i have heard.

Down and out Fer's move could be off

'That is nonsense whoever wrote or
said it. They are different types of players. No, that is not the reason
for bringing (Fer) in, that is for sure.’

Everton’s squad has been hit by
injuries to key figures in recent weeks and, aware that sustaining any
more would prove detrimental to what has been an encouraging season,
Moyes admitted freshening his group up during the window was vital.

Explaining why he moved for Fer, Moyes
said: 'I felt that we are in a really strong position and could we try
and strengthen that position and stay there if we can.

'I would hate to look back and think i
hadn't given that a go or made any attempt to do that. The squad needs
help. I think the squad has done brilliant to get where it has got but
it could do with one or two additions.'

Adrian Peterson short of Eric Dickerson"s record as Minnesota Vikings beat Green Bay Packers

Posted on December 31, 2012 by adminsports

Peterson falls short of Dickerson's record after carrying Minnesota Vikings into NFL play-offs

UPDATED:

02:25 GMT, 31 December 2012

Touchdown: Adrian Peterson made it 10-0 in the first quarter

Adrian Peterson fell nine-yards shy of breaking Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's all-time rushing record as the Minnesota Vikings claimed a wild-card spot with a thrilling 37-34 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

365 days after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, Peterson finished with 199-yards and a touchdown, becoming the seventh running back in NFL history to break the 2,000 yard barrier in a single season.

'Ultimately we got the “W”,' Peterson said after a career-high 34 carries. 'We said during the week, if it happens, it happens. Don't focus on it.'

With the clock ticking down and some excellent time management from quarterback Christian Ponder, the MVP-contender's final run of 26 yards put the Vikings within field goal range.

Up stepped metronomic rookie Blair Walsh to convert the winning field goal from 29 yards to send Mall of America field into delirium.

Outnumbered: The Green Bay Packers attempt to get to grips with Peterson

Peterson's 2,097 yards this season spearheaded an unlikely charge to the post-season, with the Vikings looking finished at 6-6 after a promising start.

But four straight wins against the Chicago Bears, the St Louis Rams, the Houston Texans and the NFC North winners set up another meeting between the two storied rivals at Lambeau Field next week.

Martin Kaymer enter Nedbank Golf Challenge final round with one-stroke lead

Posted on December 1, 2012 by adminsports

Kaymer holds nerve at Sun City to take one-stroke lead into final round

PUBLISHED:

17:56 GMT, 1 December 2012

UPDATED:

17:56 GMT, 1 December 2012

Martin Kaymer will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City after holding his nerve in testing conditions at the Gary Player Country Club.

A windy, overcast day made for a low-scoring third round, but Kaymer tallied three birdies and just one bogey to post a two-under 70 and move to five under overall.

Steady start: Martin Kaymer putts on he first green during the third round

Kaymer, who began the day a shot behind overnight leader Paul Lawrie, was required to hold his nerve at the last to maintain the outright lead, the German sinking a tickly putt from around 10 feet to make par.

South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen went round in 69 to sit one off the lead, while compatriot Charl Schwartzel is in the mix in third place, two shots off Kaymer after a 70.

Tough day: Paul Lawrie hits out of a bunker on the sceond hole

Lawrie suffered a trying day as the Scot carded a three-over 75 to drop back to sixth place, while England's defending two-time champion Lee Westwood (70) is in a share of fourth place on two under alongside America's Bill Haas.

Kaymer knows he is there to be shot at tomorrow with such a slender lead and some real quality in the chasing pack, and insists the only option is to go on the attack.

'I think a mistake would be if I try to defend my lead,' he said on europeantour.com.

One behind: Louis Oosthuizen acknowledges the crowd

'You cannot approach the last round like that.

'You hit fairways and greens and that is the most important, then think you will have a few more chances to make birdie.

'You cannot play too aggressive at certain holes, but you must take your chances. That is my goal.'

Oosthuizen is bidding to become the first South African winner of this event since 2007 and set five birdies against two bogeys to give his chances of claiming the title a huge lift.

And he admits the final round will be all about staying in touch until the final holes with conditions forecast to remain difficult.

'I would not be surprised if it is seven under winning it tomorrow,' he said. 'I think tomorrow you just need to stay very patient and give yourself a shot with four to five holes to go.

'It will be a great finish to a good season. I have played really well the whole season, one or two came really close to a few as well and I think winning it here would mean everything.'

Louis Oostuizen leads HSBC Champions at halfway stage

Posted on November 2, 2012 by adminsports

Oostuizen builds five-shot lead at HSBC Champions after shooting course-record 63

UPDATED:

09:43 GMT, 2 November 2012

Louis Oosthuizen stormed into a five-shot lead at golf's final world championship of the season in China.

The 30-year-old South African, who won the 2010 Open by a massive seven strokes, produced a course-record 63 to reach halfway on 16 under par in the HSBC Champions at Mission Hills.

'I'm in a great position to win, but it's not even crossed my mind at the moment,' Oosthuizen said. 'There's still a lot of golf to be played – I need to put myself in a great position going down the back nine on Sunday.'

King Louis: Oosthuizen shot a course record 63 to lead the HSBC Champions at the halfway stage

HSBC Champions leaderboard

Click here to see all the latest scores

After making birdies at each of the five par fives in his opening 65 he went even better on his return to the Jose Maria Olazabal-designed lay-out.

Oosthuizen birdied four of them again, eagled the 566-yard seventh and also picked up four other birdies to go clear of the field.

'I started off a bit shaky with a bogey on the second, but immediately made birdie and was putting really well.

'I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdie and if you make the putts you shoot a low number.'

Leader: Oosthuizen plays his second shot on the 18th hole during the second round at Mission Hills

Australian Adam Scott, tied for the lead after his opening 65, added a 68 and was joined in second place when current Open champion Ernie Els matched his compatriot's 63.

Golf blog

Making his return from an ankle injury that forced him out of last week's PGA Grand Slam in Bermuda – replacement Padraig Harrington won it – Els threatened to go even lower when he turned in a seven-under 29.

The 43-year-old added further birdies at the 12th and 14th, hitting approaches to within two feet of the flag, and kept a bogey off his card for the second day running.

Great Scott: Aussie Adam hits his tee shot on the fifth hole on his way to a second round 68

Five shots back: South Africa's Ernie Els

Scott was keeping pace early on with five birdies in the first 11 holes, but he bogeyed the next two and after coming back with two more birdies he came up short of the green at the 197-yard 17th and dropped another shot.

That was not as bad as the finishes of Phil Mickelson or Masters champion Bubba Watson, however.
After eagles at the third and seventh – and three birdies – Mickelson was alongside Scott, but then came a missed four-foot putt at the 14th and after that bogey worse was to come on the last.

Twice winner of the title in Shanghai, Mickelson pushed his second to the last into the hazard and in attempting to hack it out from amongst the rocks moved the ball only a matter of inches.

The next found the green, but a double bogey six meant a 69 and dropped him to sixth place.

Joint fourth are Ireland's Shane Lowry, bidding for a second win in three starts and a place in the world's top 50 for the first time, and American Ryder Cup player Jason Dufner, but they are six strokes behind.

Watson, who beat Oosthuizen in a play-off at Augusta in April, was in a tie for seventh until he put two balls in the water for a triple bogey eight at the reachable 15th.

LIVE: Reading v Arsenal and more Capital One Cup fourth round action

Posted on October 30, 2012 by adminsports

CAPITAL ONE CUP LIVE: The fourth round action from around the grounds as it happens

UPDATED:

19:55 GMT, 30 October 2012

Reading v Arsenal tops the bill as the Capital One Cup resumes on Tuesday night. Elsewhere Southampton visit Leeds, Sunderland host Middlesbrough in a North East derby, Aston Villa travel to League One Swindon and Wigan welcome League Two Bradford. Follow all the action live with Sportsmail as the 10 clubs do battle to try and reach the quarter-finals. Send me your thoughts on the action at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk or contact me on Twitter @Ripinho.

Capital One Cup live scores (7.45pm)

Click here for the live goals as they go in

Leeds 0-0 Southampton

Reading 0-0 Arsenal

Sunderland 0-0 Middlesbrough

Swindon 0-0 Aston Villa

Wigan 0-0 Bradford

19.54: Great play again from the Royals. Robert's lay off enables Jay Tabb to sneak through the Arsenal defence, but from an angle the midfielder sees his shot blocked behind by Martinez.

19.51: Another side on the front foot is Reading and the Royals go even closer to taking the lead.

Sean Morrison's header from a corner comes back off the post and Damian Martinez before somehow being cleared by the Arsenal defence.

19.48: Fast start from Sunderland as Middlesbrough fail to clear their lines leading to Louis Saha firing over the bar for the hosts.

19.45: Away we go folks.

19.42: The teams are out across the country. Remember we don't do draws in this competition, extra-time and penalties will be played if needed. If that doesn't find a winner then we have a mini-crisis on our hands.

19.39: Full line-ups from Elland Road:

Leeds v Southampton
Leeds: Ashdown, Peltier, Lees, Pearce, White, /10/30/article-2224371-15B65597000005DC-31_306x423.jpg” width=”306″ height=”423″ alt=”On the ball: Andreas Weimann starts in Aston Villa's attack” class=”blkBorder” />

On the ball: Andreas Weimann starts in Aston Villa's attack

19.36: Full line-ups from the County Ground:

Swindon v Aston Villa
Swindon: Foderingham, Devera, McCormack, Flint, McEveley, Ritchie, Miller, Ferry, Roberts, Benson, Collins. Subs: Bedwell, Archibald-Henville, Nathan Thompson, Williams, Louis Thompson, Storey.

Aston Villa: Given, Lowton, Herd, Vlaar, Lichaj, Weimann, Ireland, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs: Guzan, Bent, Albrighton, Holman, Delph, Stevens.

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

19.33: Marouane Chamakh makes his first start for Arsenal since January in tonight's Capital One Cup clash with Reading.

It is only the Moroccan striker's second appearance since last season with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger making 11 changes to the side that defeated QPR on Saturday.

Theo Walcott, who is locked in contract talks, starts, as does Andrey Arshavin.

Reading make six changes to the team that drew 3-3 with Fulham with starts for Garath McCleary and Hal Robson-Kanu, who scored as substitutes on Saturday.

19.30: Full line-ups from the Madejski Stadium:

Reading v Arsenal
Reading: Federici, Gunter, Gorkss, Morrison, Shorey, Tabb, McCleary, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, Roberts, Hunt. Subs: Stuart Taylor, Pearce, Pogrebnyak, Le Fondre, McAnuff, Church, Harte.

Arsenal: Martinez, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Djourou, Miquel, Arshavin, Frimpong, Coquelin, Walcott, Chamakh, Gnabry. Subs: Shea, Giroud, Squillaci, Bellerin, Eisfeld, Meade, Yennaris.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Staying between the sticks: Ali Al Habsi (right) keeps his place in the Wigan goal

19.27: Full line-ups from the DW Stadium:

Wigan v Bradford
Wigan: Al Habsi, Ramis, Watson, Lopez, Stam, Fyvie, Jones, Redmond, Gomez, Boselli, McManaman. Subs: Pollitt, Kone, Maloney, Beausejour, Golobart, Kiernan, Orsula.

Bradford: Duke, Darby, McHugh, McArdle, Meredith, Hines, Thompson, Doyle, Atkinson, Wells, Hanson. Subs: McLaughlin, Connell, Gary Jones, Baker, Brown, Bass, Swain.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

19.24: Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert makes five changes for the Capital One Cup fourth round tie with Swindon at the County Ground.

But there is again no place in the starting line-up for Darren Bent with Andreas Weimann preferred to the England striker.

Swindon midfielder Troy Archibald-Henville has recovered from illness and is named among the substitutes while up front is former Villa youth team player James Collins.

19.21: Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill makes five changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Stoke for tonight's Capital One Cup fourth-round tie against Middlesbrough.

Phil Bardsley makes his first start of the season at right-back in front of goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, while midfielders Stephane Sessegnon and David Vaughan take to the field along with striker Louis Saha.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray also makes five changes and hands a start to Scott McDonald, who scored both goals in last weekend's win over Bolton, while Marvin Emnes is one of those to miss out after he failed a late fitness test.

19.18: Wigan boss Roberto Martinez makes nine changes to his first XI for this evening's Capital One Cup fourth-round clash with Bradford at the DW Stadium.

Goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi and defender Ivan Ramis, who has the captain's armband, are the only survivors from Saturday's Barclays Premier League win over West Ham, with first-time Latics starters Fraser Fyvie and Danny Redmond among those coming into the team.

Arouna Kone, Shaun Maloney and Jean Beausejour are all named as substitutes, while the visitors' side also showed a considerable reshuffle, manager Phil Parkinson making six adjustments from their npower League Two defeat to Burton.

Welcome back: Phil Bardsley (right) returns to the Sunderland team

19.15: Full line-ups from the Stadium of Light:

Sunderland v Middlesbrough
Sunderland: Westwood, Bardsley, O'Shea, Cuellar, Colback, Johnson, Cattermole, Vaughan, Sessegnon, Fletcher, Saha. Subs: Mignolet, Campbell, Wickham, McFadden, Kilgallon, Meyler, McClean.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Hines, Bikey, Friend, Ledesma, Leadbitter, Bailey, Haroun, Miller, McDonald. Subs: Leutwiler, Zemmama, Halliday, Parnaby, Park, Reach, Smallwood.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

19.12: Whatever way you look at it, with players being rested or other squad players given a chance, it looks like changes (and lots of them) are on the menu this evening.

Southampton, Arsenal and Sunderland (line-ups on the way) have contrasting squads from the weekend and that can only mean upsets…well at least in name.

19.09: Southampton manager Nigel Adkins names an entirely new team for his side's fourth round Capital One Cup clash at Championship side Leeds tonight.

All 11 players to have started Sunday's league loss to Tottenham are left out, with the likes of veteran goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, defender Jos Hooiveld and forwards Guly do Prado and Steve De Ridder all coming in, while Emmanuel Mayuka makes his debut.

Leeds omit eight-goal leading scorer Luciano Becchio after a three-game barren run, with the Argentinian one of four alterations by manager Neil Warnock from the loss to Birmingham. Goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, defender Aidy White and midfielders Michael Brown and Luke Varney are drafted in.

19.06: From OptaJoe:

9 – Reading have faced Arsenal on nine occasions in all competitions and have lost every one of them. Delayed.

19.03: Arsenal starting XI:

Martinez, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Djourou, Miquel, Coquelin, Frimpong, Walcott, Arshavin, Gnabry, Chamakh.

19.00: So when do we start taking the Capital One Cup seriously Well if you haven't already then now is a good time to start as fourth round victory tonight means the winning sides will be just three steps away from Wembley.

It's not to be sniffed at and a fair few teams will fancy a run out at football HQ in a few months' time to grab some 'overdue' silverware…team news on the way.

Key man: Arsenal's Mikel Arteta scored their winner at the weekend

Peter Hanson beats Rory McIlroy to win BMW Masters

Posted on October 28, 2012 by adminsports

McIlroy fails to catch Hanson as Swede edges out Ryder Cup team-mate in Shanghai

UPDATED:

11:51 GMT, 28 October 2012

Just a month after failing to win a point at the Ryder Cup – and being left on the sidelines for three of the five sessions – Peter Hanson had the sweetest win of his career on Sunday.

The 35-year-old Swede just held off world No 1 Rory McIlroy to take the BMW Masters title in Shanghai against a field that also included nine more of his European team-mates from Medinah.

With Luke Donald coming third and Ian Poulter fourth it was a week dominated by members of Jose Maria Olazabal's side, but Hanson was the one to come out on top.

Peter Hanson

Main man: Peter Hanson beat Rory McIlroy by one shot to win the BMW Masters in Shanghai

BMW Masters in Shanghai

Click here for final standings

/10/28/article-2224291-15B99DBB000005DC-683_634x443.jpg” width=”634″ height=”443″ alt=”Better luck next time: Hanson (right) with McIlroy after the Swede won in Shanghai” class=”blkBorder” />

Better luck next time: Hanson (right) with McIlroy after the Swede won in Shanghai

Race to Dubai standings

1 Rory McIlroy 2,766,222
2 Peter Hanson 2,106,534
3 Justin Rose 2,044,670
4 Branden Grace 1,669,984
5 Louis Oosthuizen 1,532,375
6 Francesco Molinari 1,474,414
7 Graeme McDowell 1,452,423
8 Luke Donald 1,445,831
9 Ernie Els 1,426,399
10 Paul Lawrie 1,410,431

World No 25 Hanson's par save from 15 feet preserved the gap, but there was still a possibility of a play-off when Hanson's approach to the 471-yard last came down in rough above a bunker.

He thought he might be entitled to a free drop because of a plugged lie, but was refused it and after doing well to chip to 10 feet he breathed a sigh of relief when McIlroy's 15-foot birdie attempt just missed.

That left Hanson with two putts for his sixth European Tour win – the last came with a closing eagle in Holland last month – and he took them.

'Rory made a tremendous effort and put quite a bit of pressure on me – his second to the 15th was true class,' Hanson added.

'He gave me a bit of a cushion early on (McIlroy missed two four-foot par putts) and I was maybe a little too defensive at the end, but it all worked out.

'My short game used to be my weak part, but I've been working on it and my putting has really improved.'

Marching on: Hanson held his nerve on the final day to maintain his lead in Shanghai

In Chicago Hanson was angry to be left out all day Saturday and he said the following week that he might not be sending captain Olazabal 'that many Christmas cards'.

But the pair chatted last week and are back on good terms.

'I was a bit disappointed,' Hanson said, 'but there's no feeling of revenge or wanting to show everyone now. It's a team effort and we ended up winning it.'

McIlroy is staying in China, but only for a one-day head-to-head against Tiger Woods – joint fourth in Malaysia today after a closing 63.

The rest of the week is being spent with his tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in Bulgaria – she is playing a tournament there – but he returns to Asia for the Singapore Open and his defence of the Hong Kong Open.

Those events will give the 23-year-old the opportunity to clinch the money list double before the race-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai on November 22-25.

Not his day: McIlroy reacts after missing a put as he has to settle for second place

'I'm happy with how I played, but a little disappointed,' McIlroy said. 'I missed a few opportunities on the front nine and it was too little, too late.

'I wanted to make him work for it and it would have been nice to hole the putt on the last, but it wasn't to be and Peter deserved it.'

A closing birdie by Donald for a 66 enabled him to deny Poulter, who had a 65, a share of third place, while there were no fewer than nine of the Ryder Cup side in the top 15.

Justin Rose, now down to third on the 'Race to Dubai', tied for sixth, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell were joint 11th and Lee Westwood and Nicolas Colsaerts finished in joint 14th.

'It just shows we had a strong team,' Donald said.

Poulter added: “The board is full of Ryder Cup players, which you would expect.

'The guys are still on a high – and rightly so.'

Sports pictures of the day: October 24

Posted on October 24, 2012 by adminsports

Sports images of the day: Our picture editor's selection

UPDATED:

15:37 GMT, 24 October 2012

Each day, MailOnline sports picture editor Dave Muir will choose his favourite photographs from around the world in the past 24 hours.

Enjoy today's selection right here…

Usain Bolt poses with the famous Christ the Redeemer statue on a vist to Rio de Janeiro

Javier Hernandez scores as Manchester United battle back to beat Braga 3-2 at Old Trafford

Maria Sharapova returns a shot (and lets out a roar) against Sara Errani in Istanbul

St Louis Rams cheerleaders and the team mascot Rampage pose at the famous crossing on Abbey Road

CFR Cluj's Nicolas Godemeche takes a ball in the face during his side's Champions League clash with Galatasaray

St Louis Rams cheerleaders visit Abbey Road

Posted on October 24, 2012 by adminsports

Abbey days as NFL cheerleaders Come Together to visit famous Beatles landmark

UPDATED:

14:07 GMT, 24 October 2012

Anyone walking down the world-famous Abbey Road on Wednesday morning would have been left in no doubt that the NFL is back in town.

The glamorous St Louis Rams cheerleaders were spotted, like many a good tourist before them, walking in the footsteps of The Beatles across that iconic zebra crossing.

The Rams and the Patriots will go head to head at Wembley on Sunday in a regular-season game – the fifth time two American Football sides have crossed the Atlantic to do battle in London.

Look familiar The St Louis Rams mascot and cheerleaders cross Abbey Road on Wednesday

World famous: The iconic album cover for the Beatles' 1969 album, Abbey Road

To celebrate their arrival on these
shores the Rams' cheerleaders were pictured aping the front cover of one
of the most celebrated albums of all time.

It was a fine way to Come Together
with their British cousins but were the girls heard exclaiming 'Here
Comes the Sun' In these grey October skies there's as much chance of
that as spotting an octopus in a garden.

Mystery tour: The St Louis Rams cheerleaders follow in the Beatles' footsteps

Look familiar The St Louis Rams mascot and cheerleaders cross Abbey Road on Wednesday

Meanwhile, the Rams' players were
spotted further north stepping up their preparations for the big game at
Arsenal's London Colney training base.

And they had one particularly
interested spectator overlooking their training in the form of Arsenal
and England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Football, but not as they know it: The Rams prepare for the game at Arsenal's training ground, London Colney

Since 2007, nine teams have played in London since the first annual game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants.

And if the early signs are anything to go
by, London's NFL fans are guaranteed to enjoy a Fab Four quarters' worth
of rough and tumble, American style, on Sunday.

Star man: Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (second right) talks tactics with his team-mates

Catch it if you can: Running back Terrance Ganaway in action during training at London Colney

Interested observer: Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (right) watches the NFL stars train

Branden Grace wins Dunhill Links at St Andrews

Posted on October 7, 2012 by adminsports

Glory for Grace as in-form South African claims Dunhill title with course record

UPDATED:

17:50 GMT, 7 October 2012

South Africa's Branden Grace won for the fifth time this year, capturing the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews by two shots from Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.

He began the week with a European Tour record-equalling 60 at Kingsbarns – the 3million pro-celebrity event is staged over three courses – and was never overtaken after that, finishing with a tournament record-equalling 22-under-par total and a first prize of 491,000.

Pure delight: Branden Grace maintained his good form by securing the Dunhill Links title at St Andrews

Grace, who has risen from outside the world's top 300 to inside the top 40, said: 'It feels awesome.'

But if starting the final round with a four-stroke lead and ending it two ahead of Olesen sounds a comfortable day's work, then think again.

Bridge the gap: South African Grace

After the Pretoria golfer dropped a shot on the seventh, Olesen birdied the next two and when Grace three-putted the short 11th for another bogey they were level.

It was then, however, that he showed the class that had already brought him the Joburg Open, Volvo Champions, China Open and, on his home circuit last Sunday, the Origins of Golf titles in 2012.

Grace birdied the following three holes from 10, 12 and 14 feet and when Olesen bogeyed the next, the gap was back to four. Even then it was not a cruise to the line.

Olesen birdied the 16th and he bogeyed the Road Hole 17th, but when Olesen came up a fraction short with his eagle attempt through the Valley of Sin on the last, Grace had two putts for victory from four feet – and needed only one of them.

It made him the first wire-to-wire winner of the Tour season, but was the second time he has won back-to-back.

Like Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, Grace is a product of the Ernie Els Foundation and the current Open champion has already tipped him to be another major champion.

Winning at the Home of Golf, as Oosthuizen did in the 2010 Open, will do for the time being, though.

'I've really dreamt of this moment my whole life,' he said. 'I had goosebumps thinking this morning about Louis and the possibility of holding a trophy here myself.

'It was a tough day, but the putter started working and that's all I needed to do.'

Clearing the way: Grace hit the front early on in the tournament and never looked back

Grace's caddie Zack Rasego was on Oosthuizen's bag two years ago and, after asking him to start reading the lines with him on the back nine, he took control again.

Using a new driver after his usual one cracked last week, Grace shot a closing 70, while Olesen's 68 left him two ahead of Swede Alex Noren.

Scot Stephen Gallacher, whose only Tour victory in nearly 400 starts came in the event eight years ago, finished in a seven-way tie for fifth after running up a quadruple-bogey eight at the 16th.

The 37-year-old, lying fourth on his own at the time, went to what he thought was his drive and hit it, only to discover it was actually the ball of Danny Willett's amateur partner Steve Halsall.

Almost great Dane: Thorbjorn Olesen came home in second after a spirited fightback

It cost Gallacher a two-stroke penalty and his was then found in the left-hand rough.

'It never even crossed my mind because he was looking 50 yards further up. Obviously I'm a bit disappointed, but what can you do'

He also incurred a penalty in Thursday's opening round when, in taking a practice swing, he clipped a divot and it hit his ball.

Sunderland to offer James McFadden deal

Posted on October 1, 2012 by adminsports

Injury-plagued McFadden set for short-term deal at Sunderland after impressive trial

UPDATED:

10:04 GMT, 1 October 2012

New club: James McFadden

Former Everton and Birmingham forward James McFadden is closing in on a move to Sunderland.

The Scotland international has impressed Martin O'Neill while on trial in the north west and looks set to be offered terms.

The 29-year-old is a free agent following his release from a second short-term stint at Goodison Park, and he watched Sunderland beat Wigan in the recent Premier League match at the Stadium of Light.

Speaking afterwards, O'Neill, who was only able to register 21 of the 25 said: 'We'll see how it goes but he has done well and we’ll talk.'

McFadden has played 48 times for his country and scored the winner in their recent history's most famous triumph against France in 2007.

However, following a cruciate knee ligament injury while at Birmingham, the Scot has failed to hold down a regular place either at St Andrews or back at Everton, where he appeared just seven times last season.

He spent the summer training with Motherwell, earning a contract offer which he rejected in favour of staying south of the border.

Louis Saha and Carlos Cuellar have already moved to the club while out of contract.

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