Anmeldung neuer User » Silva is fit it appears the Spanish maestro

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. Brian Roberts Jersey . -- Even with a two-shot lead going into the final round of a tournament he had won five times, Tiger Woods expected a fight to finish from Zach Johnson. He never could have imagined how Johnson would steal the show at Sherwood. Johnson was four shots behind with eight holes to play against the No. 1 player in the world. He was playing his fourth shot on the par-4 closing hole from 58 yards away in a drop area, figuring his only chance was to get up-and-down for a bogey and hope that Woods couldnt convert a par from a tough spot in the bunker. What unfolded was hard to believe for the largest crowd ever at Sherwood. Johnson holed out with a wedge to make par. Woods hit an exquisite bunker shot to match par and force a playoff. And the final edition of the World Challenge at Sherwood ended on the first extra hole when Woods missed a 5-foot par putt. "I feel very fortunate and somewhat lucky," Johnson said. He also was very good. Johnson made two birdies and an 8-foot par putt to get within one shot. He nearly holed out a wedge from 88 yards on the par-5 16th hole to match birdies with Woods, who got up-and-down from left of the green. Johnson covered the flag with a tee shot on the par-3 17th hole that landed 4 feet away for a birdie to tie Woods. And then came a big moment that for so many years seemed to be the kind of shot belonging to Woods. "Im trying to get somewhat around the hole and make a 5," Johnson said. "It wasnt exactly a full wedge shot, but it was one that I could be aggressive with -- 58 yards, trying to hit it about 52, 53, and we saw what it did." The ball took three bounces, the last one just beyond the hole, and it stopped and spun back a few inches into the cup. "A little too dramatic for me," said Johnson, who closed with a 4-under 68. In the playoff, Woods blinked first with a smooth 7-iron that tailed off to the right and into the same bunker, this lie even tougher. Johnson hit the green and two-putted for par, and while Woods hit another great shot out of the sand, his par putt to extend the playoff spun out of the left side of the cup. "Zach, I dont know how the last three iron shots didnt go in the hole," Woods said after his closing 70. "Pretty impressive what he did. He got me." Johnson and Woods finished at 13-under 275, four shots clear of Matt Kuchar (67) and Bubba Watson (70). It was only the fourth time in his career that Woods failed to win when he had at least a two-shot lead going into the final round, and the second time at Sherwood. Graeme McDowell made up a four-shot deficit in the 2010 World Challenge and beat Woods in a playoff. The World Challenge was held at Sherwood for the 14th and final time. It moves next year to Isleworth in Florida. The attendance Sunday was 24,922, a record for any round in 14 years at Sherwood. Traffic outside the tony club in the Santa Monica foothills looked like an LA freeway in what could be the last chance in the near future to see Woods in southern California. The stage was set for the proper sendoff. It turned out to be redemption for Johnson. Two years ago, he was poised to win the World Challenge until Woods made birdie on the last two holes for a one-shot victory, the first for Woods in more than two years dating to the crisis in his personal life. That sent him on his way to three wins in 2012, and five more this year that restored Woods to No. 1 in the world. That made the win for Johnson -- his second this year, 11th of his career -- that much sweeter, even if the ending was awkward. "I went head-to-head against the best," Johnson said. "Young guys ... hes their idol. Hes their Jack Nicklaus. Hes the guy that paved the way. Hes the one that keeps pushing the ceiling higher and higher and hes the one that keeps raising the bar. If he stays healthy -- hopefully, he does -- theres no telling what he can do. "So yeah, Ill take pride in the fact that I played against the best, and I got one," he said. "I mean, hes gotten a lot more than I have. So hopefully, Im in that position again and I think Ill learn from today." Woods hit two splendid bunker shots on the 18th hole -- in regulation and the playoff -- but was let down by his putter. He was blocking putts for most of Sunday, and made sure he didnt make that mistake on the 5-footer for par to extend the playoff, a putt that broke sharply to the right. This one caught the left lip and spun out. It was not the way he wanted to leave Sherwood, where Woods has five wins and now five runner-up finishes. The only consolation was $400,000 for finishing second, bringing to just over $14 million the earnings he has donated to his foundation from the three tournaments (AT&T National, Deutsche Bank, World Challenge) that support his education programs. David Hess Jersey .ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign. Austin Wynns Jersey . Nine years later, he might have finally figured it out. He had only five rounds in the 60s in his previous eight trips. https://www.cheaporioles.com/1308i-tanner-scott-jersey-orioles.html . Peter Dawson took his long before he started the job. "I was playing an American one year at Oxford Golf Club, and he introduced me to this travelling mulligan," Dawson said.Samir Nasri has a face people just want to punch. If it wasnt Arsenal fans outside of the Emirates last season it was his manager. "I would like to give him a punch!" said Roberto Mancini after Nasris performance against Newcastle last season. "Because a player like him should play like this always, always, every game. Maybe one game he cant play well, but thats it. "I cant understand why sometimes a player with his quality doesnt play like this every game." Nasri had been sensational that day in late March, as City won 4-0, but it was just his fourth start in the last three months and his manager was beyond frustrated with him. The Italian had already spoken out earlier in the month about Nasris prospects of starting games: "When I was a player I always took responsibility," said Mancini. "When I didnt play well, I said: Sorry I didnt play well and will do my best in the next game and it should be like this. I dont like players that never think its their fault." Mancini continued: "These players cant play with me because this is impossible. I want strong players that are upset with me when they dont play but, after that, show me on the pitch that they deserve to play. Samir knows this because I have spoken about this situation many times with him. He can do better because he has quality, technique and hes strong." Against Newcastle it appeared Nasri got the message. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) Having not started four league games in a row all season, the Frenchman went on to be picked in Citys next seven Premier League games, shining in a win against Manchester United and scoring at Tottenham, before eventually finding his way into Mancinis starting XI for the FA Cup final at Wembley. Citys inconsistent performances in the final few months, highlighted by that loss to Wigan, meant any individual performances were off the radar, but Nasri definitely saved his best games in a City shirt for then. Perhaps, it was a coincidence that these came at a time when many of Citys games lacked importance, but upon reflection, it is also worth noting that Mancini, when fighting to save his job, turned to Nasri when he most needed him. It is similar to what has happened with France. Last Friday, Nasri started his first international game since Euro 2012, in a 6-0 friendly win over Australia, and finally started a key World Cup qualifier for the first time this campaign on Tuesday when France beat Finland in Paris. Both games showed just important Nasri is to his country. In a four band 4-2-3-1 system, Nasri offers French boss Didier Deschamps a number of key traits required to master a wide position inside the 3. Nasri, when he is committed and happy, can be a complete player, capable of dribbling past players, picking a pass into a tight space and even working back to help his right back in defence. Against Finland there was a moment in the first half when he picked the ball up in his own half, played it out wide to right back Mathieu Debuchy, ran alongside him, got the ball back, sprayed it cross field to left back Patrice Evra, ran into the central space ahead of the two central midfielders, played a one-two with Franck Ribery, the wide left player, and got the ball back on the edge of the area to play a ball in behind the defenders for striker Olivier Giroud to run on to. It was the perfect example of what is required of a player in that position, by getting the best out of teammatess by keeping an attack going at a good speed. Cole Sulser Jersey. . It is the same kind of form Nasri has shown this season for City, blossoming under new manager Manuel Pellegrini, who he admits has made a difference in his game. "I am more confident with this manager," Nasri said recently. "He has given me a lot of freedom. Im a guy who likes to have affection with the manager. I like a manager who likes to talk about whats good and wrong. "Im still young and learning. When you have a manager who will talk its always good for a player." It is clear Nasri is sensitive, something many inside the game, including Mancini, have no time for. Some will ask, how can a man be so sensitive when earning 150K pounds a week? He is only human, after all. Part of being a great leader is knowing what kind of players need an arm around their shoulder rather than a good shouting at. Where Mancini failed, Pellegrini seems to be succeeding. "I talk often with him because I know he can be a big player," said Pellegrini. "I dont talk about what happened in the past; but at this moment Nasri is playing very well. "He has great technical quality. He works the whole game a lot, not just the last 25 minutes. Hes a very creative and classy player." After coming on as a sub in Citys first three games this season, Nasri got his chance to shine for Pellegrini when David Silva got hurt earlier this season. Nasri was excellent in Citys 4-1 demolition of United, using width intelligently, to help overlaps with full backs, and knowing when to cut in to make a midfield three. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) The last point is a crucial one for club, more than country and it was no surprise the most pass combinations in the Manchester derby came from Nasri to Yaya Toure. In a way to fit in Sergio Aguero and one of Edin Dzeko or Alvaro Negredo, City have adopted a 4-4-2 this season but have found themselves overrun in midfield on occasions, particularly when Silva has played. Cardiff and Hull benefited when they attacked through the middle in transitions targeting Toure and Fernandinho, with the Brazilian often being the lone man protecting the centre-backs. When Nasri came into the side, City - aside from five minutes of madness at Villa Park - looked more defensively solid. However, now that Silva is fit it appears the Spanish maestro is Pellegrinis first choice, but there is a tendency for Citys attacks to be more cautious and laboured when he is in the team. One thing that is clear, there doesnt appear a spot for both Nasri and Silva on the field from the start as the pair havent played more than 35 minutes together this season. Not long ago the thought of Nasri being preferred to Silva would have been ludicrous but the Frenchmans impressive form, combined with the issues around the teams shape and style with Silva in it, means there is a legitimate chance Nasri could make some significant starts for City very soon, particularly if he continues to improve. At 26, he remains young but not too young for comebacks. After all, he had to talk about one to the French press this very week. "I have stepped into line, I worked hard, accepted all the decisions to bring what I could bring. I know what it is to not be in the French team anymore. During my absence, I could think about it a lot." He was wearing a different shade of blue but it appears he had similar thoughts while sitting for his club also. ' ' '