Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Tuesday March 28 2000 — Page 7 Steady Sutton wins big ' '' - ' i “ t ( s Fights off Tiger Woods surge to take Players Championship ' VEDRA PONTE BEACH Fla (AP) — Hal Sutton blew he could beat Tiger Woods as long as Sutton didn’t beat himself “If you give him an open dodrfee ji$t rustfcs through it” Sutton aid “That's what I was trying to keep from dung" Sutton slammed the door on one of the most prized victories of his tumultuous career Monday a rock-sol1 under-par 71 for a victoryover Woods id -- in The Players Champi-onshi- p In coming from seven strokes behind with seven ' holes to play to win at Pebble Beach Woods got some help from Matt Gogel who had a 40 on die back nine He made up ground quickly in San Diego whien Phil Mickelson took two double bogeys in five holes before recovering just in time Against Sutton Woods had no such luck “Hal has always been a great competitor” Woods said ‘‘He drives the ball beautifully hits a lot of good iron shots and this week he rolled the ball well” w Sutton called his 12th tour victory “the greatest day of my golfing life" That career includes a PGA Championship at age 25 by going to beat Jack Nicklaus a slump so bad that Sutton nearly quit the game and a resurrection that led him to star wire-to-wi- re dom in die Ryder Cup This was even better On one of the most penal- izing golf courses in the world against the No 1 player in the world in a duel that stretched into Monday because of weather Sutton forced Woods to beat him by making hardly any mistakes “It just never looked like I was in trouble from Tiger’s perspective" Sutton said He missed way Over holes Sutton score worse triple bogey only one fair- the final 45 made only me than par — a on the island-gree- n 17tir in the third round that reduced his lead to a single shot going into the final round And it was that hole that turned the Players Champi-- 1 onship into Sutton's favor Woods failed to birdie a par 5 in the final round until he hit a smooth to 12 feet and made the eagle putt on No 16 shaving Sutton’s lead to one stroke and firing 'off a fist pump that Woods first introduced on the TPC AP photo at Sawgrass six years ago when he won the first of his ' Hal Sutton of Shreveport La punches the air after winning The Players three straight US Amateur Championship Monday morning at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach Fla Sutton defeated Tiger Woods by one stroke titles on Sutton missed only one green in the final round on the par-- eighth hole Sunfound day when his the edge of a bunker and left him with an awkward stance He responded with a career-bebunker shot to 10 feet to save par 3 on st International Pastime behavior PALM BEACH Fla (AP) — Brian Billick wonders if the sys- - NFL’s current free agency tem which leads to team upheaval nearly every season contributes to d legal -- off-fiel- problems for some of its play- - The Baltimore R4vens coach said Monday that free agency and the salary cap have made for a younger-leagUAn offshoot of that ' e ‘ trend could be' the violent behavior by players that drawl not only headline but fines suspensions and sometimes criminal charges “I think it is a factor" Billick said “It’s the transitory nature of your team Before you had a certain amount of' veteran - ' ' J J ( li ' 1 t AP photo New York Mets batter Rickey Henderson left downs cmiundffeir he gets hit by (he ceremonial first pitch thrown by Japanesd'rxjmeflktfbt'rtaHbi Donw in Tokorozawa northwest of Tokyo MondayThe Meto are In Japan preparing for their opening series against Chicago It’s a new look for opening day TOKYO (AP) — A crown prince in the royal box broiled cd at die concession stand as the “Big Egg” — that’s 5:08 am EST: Wednesday in New York and Clearly opening day has never Sports Net is televising the game for anyone who’s awake at that hour “No I don’t think I’ll be up that early” Chicago White Sox star Frank Thomas said “That would be very looked or tasted — quite like this Ikying to go global major league basebaU takes on an international flavor this week when the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs start the season at the Tokyo Dome That means beer gills dressed in fluorescent green spectators wearing surgical masks in die seats and two rows of benches in the dugouts “I think opening day is always opening day no matter where it is” Mets catcher Mike Piazza said Maybe but put it this way: No one ever saw an opposing player bow to the crowd at Yankee Stadium or watched a fan return a foul ball at Coon Field Come Wednesday night when 1 billion star Sammy Sosa strolls to the plate in the first inning "that could happen Of course a whole lot of people back home would probably miss this odd opener The first pitch is scheduled for 7:08 pm local time at die ballpark known - yen-a-ye- ar 4:08 am CST in Chicago Fox ‘ early” Yet that was part of the deal Cubs president Andy MacPhail said When the NFL NBA and NHL ventured to Tokyo they adjusted starting times to fit audiences in North America Baseball did not want to disrupt Japanese schedules for the first regular-seaso- n games outside the continent hoping to build better relations in pursuit of its ultimate goal — a true World Series “When we agreed to play we knew there would be certain inconveniences” MacPhail said “There are tradeoffs involved And we believed it was appropriate given the direction we are taking baseball” But it's completely the wrong way contended St Louis slugger Mark McGwire The Cardinals originally were picked for the trip and 20-ho- ur turned it down last summer led by Big Mac’s Opposition “The Japanese have their own brand of baseball over there” he said “Our game is too international as it is It comes down to how much money can they make” Thie there have been a few concessions to the country crazy about the sport it calls “besuboru” Piazza's jersey half a patch on the right shoulder for the AIU insurance company that is sponsoring the two Mets-Cugames Sosa's baiting helmet carries the logo of the AM-Pmarket chain that is promoting the matchup “If this was sheer greed this wouldn’t be worth it" commissioner Bud Selig insisted “Economics are a secondary issue” Then again the players are making out OK They’re getting $25000 each for the games — which count in the standings — and most got to fly in first class They've also had the chance to enjoy Japanese culture seeing the Imperial Palace or kabuki theater in person watching sumo wrestling on TV or bs M fol- lowing the NCAA basketball tourna- of Seattle and Tony of Tampa Bay will Dungy Holmgren ment particularly because of their pod picks “I brought my computer just to pitcher keep up” Cubs opening-da- y Jon Lieber said “But it’s kind of strange because we’re one day ahead over here” To help adjust to the jet lag the teams will get three days off after leaving Tokyo “I don’t see this being as big a deal as other people are making it” said Mets first baseman Todd Zeile who brought along his camcorder So while other clubs are still in spring training in places such as Vero Beach Clearwater and Tempe a bunch of Mets went out for a dinner of Kobe beef They were surprised to learn about another Japanese custom — - no tipping anywhere even for meals costing almost $ 1 000 They would have found stranger fare at the concession stands at the Tokyo Dome There’s sushi naturally and the popular eel bento bbx ' open-mind- ed shopping in the famous Ginza district Other players have kept busy That leadership dynamic changes yearly now more than ever before You do not have that mentoring with veteran players very much v “It’s been clearly document-- : ed what Cris Carter and Jake Reed were able to do in helping Randy Moss make that transition in Minnesota “It’s not unlike a parent 1 have a daughter who just got her driver's license At some point she has to show the maturity and the ability to do the right thing when driving As a parent I have to be As a we be have to open- league minded and rely on that ability they have to do it right'1 Billick and cohorts Mike ' head a panel along with commissioner Paul Tagliabue that will discuss the spate of player arrests — and some convictions — for a variety of crimes Charged with murder are Ray Lewis of Baltimore and Rale Carruth formerly of Carolina “It’s starting the process” Billick said “As much as any- thing it's a brainstorming ses- sion I don't think there will be anything I earth-shatteri- think the league and the clubs are doing everything they can but any time something falls through the cracks you think you should do more" Tagliabue feels that way “The issue isn't one1 of It's a substantive issue of player conduct' he said after his annual speech on the state of the league to owners coaches and other club offiimage cials NHURouridupK average iff 899 point per game to lead the league in scoring defense held the Sonics to shooting in the fourth quarter “I was thrilled with our defense because that’s what we predicate our game on” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said straight victory The Spun dominated inside Duncan grabbed 18 rebounds and Robinson had 16 rebounds and four blocked shots “Last year we won these type of games” Robinson said "Tonight was over die final eight minutes Hie Sonics lost their fourth straight home game and slipped into eighth in the Western Conference playoff race Antonio Daniels provided a big lift for the Spun in the fourth quarter with nine points on shooting Gary Payton and Vm Baker led the Sonics with 21 points apiece lead for Seattle lost a the third time in four games “They have two big horses inside with David and Tim who plugged up the middle” Baker said “Maybe guys are pressing too much because we are struggling offensively in the fourth San Antonio Spurs' Avery Johnson passes under the arm of Seattle SuperSonics' Greg Foster during the first quarter against the in quarter” 808(110 Monday fourth-quart- er Monday night for their third - r t ft Mr red hot SEATTLE (AP) — Led by Tim Duncan and David Robinson the San Antonio Spun an rounding into playoff form Duncan scored 30 points Robinson added 23 and Sean Elliott hit a pivotal as the NBA’s defending Champions used a 17-- 3 run to beat the Seattle SuperSonks 90-8- 2 agoodsign” Elliott playing his seventh game since being activated after a kidney transplant scored 10 points including a lead with 5:30 left for an “Tonight was kind of like the old us" said Elliott whose 26 minutes were the most he’s played in his comeback “I feel good I wasn't too tired out there” The Spurs who allow opponents an 80-7- 6 uu NEW YORK (AP) — The e Detroit Red Wings put on a clinic on how tobe a playoff two-gam- team The New York Rangers proved they still have a lot to leam Chris Osgood made 40 saves and Steve Yzerman scored twice Monday night as the Red Wings completed an easy when the The Sonics led 1 Spurs held Seattle to three baskets 75-7- fourth-quart- home-and-ho- sweep of the listless Rangers with a 0 victory at 6-- Madison Square Gaidert Detroit outscored New York 14-- 2 in the two games and pushed the Rangers who only have four games remaining closer to missing die playoffs for the third straight season ' “I thought we were a playoff team" captain Brian Lectch said er AP photo of die Rangers who lost their fifth straight game “We’ve given a lot of points away where we shouldn't be in this position right now where the slump has killed us” With only four games left the' Rangers trail Buffalo by five points for eighth place in llth-plac- e the Eastern Conference New York 27-1- 0 during its losing streak and the Rangers in the last 10 games are Sabres 5 Hurricanes 1 has been outscored Miroslav Satan and Doug Gilmour each had a goal and three assists as surging Buffalo won its fourth straight Avalanche 3 Blackhawks I Milan Hejduk scored his second g goal in as many SakiC Joe extended his and days game-winnin- st point streak to 13 games with a pair of assists to lead Colorado over visiting Chicago career-be- Oilers 2 Sharks 1 Ethan Moreau and Alex scored third-perio- d Seliv-ano- v goals as Edmonton moved two points ahead of San Jose for sixth place in the Western Conference : |