NEW YORK — Triple Crown contender I'll Have Another is recovering well from Saturday's Preakness victory.The colt arrived at Belmont Park on Sunday to prepare for the June 9 Belmont Stakes, where I'll Have Another will attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.An assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill says "he looks great, fantastic." Jack Sisterson said Tuesday that I'll Have Another is "a very happy horse."Sisterson says the colt will return to the track sometime later this week. O'Neill is scheduled to arrive early next week to supervise the remaining training.Sisterson says: "He bounced back right out of the race in great shape. . . . He's doing everything we wanted to see and more."
Showing posts with label another. Show all posts
Showing posts with label another. Show all posts
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Gatlin notches another win in 100
SEOUL — Justin Gatlin of the United States won 100 meters in 9.93 seconds on Wednesday at a meet in Daegu, South Korea.American sprinter Carmelita Jeter won 100, covering the distance in 11.11 seconds and extending her yearlong domination of the event ahead of the London Olympics this summer.Gatlin is a 2004 Olympic gold medalist. He is set to lead the American challenge of world-record holder Usain Bolt and his Jamaican team at the London Games. Bolt skipped the Daegu meet.Americans have dominated sprint and hurdles races with Aries Merritt taking 110-meter hurdles in 13.21 seconds, and Dawn Harper winning the 100 hurdles in 12.65 seconds.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Darvish deal yet another wakeup call for the NPB
Yu Darvish got his wish, the Texas Rangers got their man and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters got their money.
Hopefully, somewhere in there the NPB got a clue.Once the Rangers agreed on a six-year $60 million deal with Darvish, the curtain finally dropped on the most gut-wrenching offseason NPB has seen in a long time.In addition to Darvish, Hisashi Iwakuma, Tsuyoshi Wada, Chen Wei-yin, Norichika Aoki and Munenori Kawasaki are all headed to the U.S. in an incredible exodus of top-level talent which nearly also included Hiroyuki Nakajima.One one hand, it's a testament to the level of talent present in Japanese baseball. It also, however, puts on display Japanese baseball's inability to hold on to that talent.Baseball has a long and storied history in Japan, but unless changes are made, there is a danger of the NPB turning into a glorified feeder system for the majors — at least as it pertains to the upper echelon of players.That's not to say there is a particular threat to Japanese baseball's viability, because there isn't and it would be irresponsible to suggest as such. The MLB and NPB will continue to coexist the way they have for years.There is, however, a lot of room for improvement in Japan. NPB teams need to do a better job fostering a professional environment and treating their players more like stars than high-priced salarymen.As interesting as it will be to see how Darvish fares in the majors, it would have been great for Japanese baseball to have him set the world on fire on this side of the Pacific. The MLB is currently the best baseball league in the world, but Japanese fans don't deserved to be shortchanged.To put it more succinctly, NPB needs to give players like Darvish a reason to stay.Major league players are used to things being first-class all the way, from travel, to lodging, to practice facilities. That's not always the case for NPB players.Take for example the plight of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (and their opponents), forced to stretch and warm up on a public field prior to games on days Jingu Stadium is being used by college players.Now try to imagine a scenario in which the Los Angeles Dodgers are forced to perform pre-game activities in a public space while USC uses Dodger Stadium.Try kicking the New York Yankees out of the Bronx for the type of three-week road trip the Hanshin Tigers deal with each year.Major league teams also generally pay better. NPB teams can't compete with the size of MLB budgets. Then again, there are mechanisms in place in MLB to help lower-revenue teams stay competitive.NPB teams, meanwhile, are too busy looking out for themselves to invest in bettering the game as a whole.Japanese baseball can't set-up the MLB system — or anything close to it — but there has to be a way for the 12 clubs to come up with something where everyone benefits, which in turn can improve the environment for the players.The MLB is the pinnacle of the sport, and there are some players who will always naturally gravitate there to follow in the footsteps of Masanori Murakami, Hideo Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.That's something beyond Japanese baseball's control. What NPB can do, however, is make a more concerted effort to keep its best players in Japan.Doing that, however, goes beyond money. It requires a change at the upper reaches of the game, from the way teams are run, to the way players are treated.Until something changes, a majority of the best players will continue to leave Japan at the height of their popularity. Unless, of course, the NPB finally gives them a reason to stick around.
Hopefully, somewhere in there the NPB got a clue.Once the Rangers agreed on a six-year $60 million deal with Darvish, the curtain finally dropped on the most gut-wrenching offseason NPB has seen in a long time.In addition to Darvish, Hisashi Iwakuma, Tsuyoshi Wada, Chen Wei-yin, Norichika Aoki and Munenori Kawasaki are all headed to the U.S. in an incredible exodus of top-level talent which nearly also included Hiroyuki Nakajima.One one hand, it's a testament to the level of talent present in Japanese baseball. It also, however, puts on display Japanese baseball's inability to hold on to that talent.Baseball has a long and storied history in Japan, but unless changes are made, there is a danger of the NPB turning into a glorified feeder system for the majors — at least as it pertains to the upper echelon of players.That's not to say there is a particular threat to Japanese baseball's viability, because there isn't and it would be irresponsible to suggest as such. The MLB and NPB will continue to coexist the way they have for years.There is, however, a lot of room for improvement in Japan. NPB teams need to do a better job fostering a professional environment and treating their players more like stars than high-priced salarymen.As interesting as it will be to see how Darvish fares in the majors, it would have been great for Japanese baseball to have him set the world on fire on this side of the Pacific. The MLB is currently the best baseball league in the world, but Japanese fans don't deserved to be shortchanged.To put it more succinctly, NPB needs to give players like Darvish a reason to stay.Major league players are used to things being first-class all the way, from travel, to lodging, to practice facilities. That's not always the case for NPB players.Take for example the plight of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (and their opponents), forced to stretch and warm up on a public field prior to games on days Jingu Stadium is being used by college players.Now try to imagine a scenario in which the Los Angeles Dodgers are forced to perform pre-game activities in a public space while USC uses Dodger Stadium.Try kicking the New York Yankees out of the Bronx for the type of three-week road trip the Hanshin Tigers deal with each year.Major league teams also generally pay better. NPB teams can't compete with the size of MLB budgets. Then again, there are mechanisms in place in MLB to help lower-revenue teams stay competitive.NPB teams, meanwhile, are too busy looking out for themselves to invest in bettering the game as a whole.Japanese baseball can't set-up the MLB system — or anything close to it — but there has to be a way for the 12 clubs to come up with something where everyone benefits, which in turn can improve the environment for the players.The MLB is the pinnacle of the sport, and there are some players who will always naturally gravitate there to follow in the footsteps of Masanori Murakami, Hideo Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.That's something beyond Japanese baseball's control. What NPB can do, however, is make a more concerted effort to keep its best players in Japan.Doing that, however, goes beyond money. It requires a change at the upper reaches of the game, from the way teams are run, to the way players are treated.Until something changes, a majority of the best players will continue to leave Japan at the height of their popularity. Unless, of course, the NPB finally gives them a reason to stick around.Saturday, January 7, 2012
Bruins hammer Flames; Rask posts another shutout
BOSTON — Any fears that Bruins coach Claude Julien might have had about his team looking past Calgary and toward a Stanley Cup rematch with Vancouver were quickly laid to rest Thursday.The Flames didn't last long, either.Nathan Horton and Patrice Bergeron each had two goals and an assist, Tuukka Rask earned his third shutout in four starts and the rampaging Bruins cruised to a 9-0 blowout of the road-weary Flames."To be honest with you, no one talked about Saturday in the dressing room. We were all worried about tonight," Bergeron said. "That's the approach we've had all year and now our next job is Saturday — so now we really have to worry about them. It's going to be a tough game, so tomorrow we need a good practice and be ready for that."Boston beat the Canucks in seven games last year in the Stanley Cup finals and Saturday is the only time the teams will play during the regular season.Julien said last season's playoff run taught his players how to focus on the game at hand.Playing for the second straight night Thursday, the Bruins came out flying and scored three goals in the first 8:49.The win was the ninth in 10 games for the defending Stanley Cup champions.Flyers 5, Blackhawks 4In Philadelphia, James van Riemsdyk's second goal on the power play with 32.8 seconds remaining lifted the Flyers to a victory over Chicago.Rangers 3, Panthers 2 (OT)In New York, Marian Gaborik scored 3:29 into overtime to lift the Rangers.Maple Leafs 4, Jets 0In Toronto, Jonas Gustavsson stopped 24 shots for his second career shutout to lead the hosts past Winnipeg.Senators 4, Lightning 1In Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and two assists, Craig Anderson made 35 saves and the Senators beat Tampa Bay to extend their winning streak to four games.Blues 4, Oilers 3In St. Louis, Matt D'Agostini capped a three-goal surge early in the third period and Carlo Colaiacovo had three assists, rallying the Blues past Edmonton.Stars 4, Predators 1In Nashville, Mike Ribeiro scored two goals in the first period and Dallas beat the hosts.Sharks 2, Blue Jackets 1In San Jose, Joe Thornton scored the tiebreaking goal in the second period of his 500th game with the club and the Sharks went on to beat Columbus for their third straight win.Kings 1, Coyotes 0 (OT)In Los Angeles, Jonathan Quick tied a career best with his NHL-leading sixth shutout and defenseman Drew Doughty scored during a goalmouth scramble 38 seconds into overtime to lift the Kings over Phoenix.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Austria's Schlierenzauer jumps to another win
Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria followed up his victory in the first leg of the Four Hills Tour ski jumping competition by winning the second on Sunday.Schlierenzauer put himself firmly in contention to repeat his success at Oberstdorf on Friday when he cleared 138 meters with his first jump. The 20-year-old's second, of 134 meters, was enough for 274.5 points overall."I must be honest — it wasn't the best jump from me," Schlierenzauer said. "But it's unbelievable. A super day for me."Another Austrian, Andreas Kofler, finished second with jumps of 130.5 and 137.5 meters for 270.4 points.Daiki Ito posted jumps of 138.5 and 141.5 but a poor landing on the second jump meant he finished third on 269.6.Ito, still winless on the World Cup circuit, had 269.6 for his sixth career podium finish and first since Dec. 9, when he was runnerup to Schlierenzauer.Taku Takeuchi shared fourth with Kamil Stoch of Poland on 268.0 points, while Noriaki Kasai was 29th.Germany's Severin Freund finished a disappointing day for the hosts by finishing seventh.Schlierenzauer said he wasn't thinking of the 1 million Swiss Franc prize on offer should he make it a clean sweep of wins on the Four Hills Tour."It's not in my head, but of course it would be the icing on the cake," he said.Kofler still leads the World Cup standings after nine of 27 events, with Schlierenzauer in second.The next stop on the tour, which is part of the World Cup circuit, is at Innsbruck, Austria on Wednesday.OBERSTDORF GERMANY — Petter Northug of Norway edged defending champion Dario Cologna of Switzerland to win a 10-km classic-style and 10K freestyle skiathlon in the Tour de Ski cross-country series Sunday, with compatriot Marit Bjoergen claiming the women's event.World and Olympic champion Northug claimed a sprint finish to win in 50 minutes, 27.3 seconds, 0.3 seconds ahead of Cologna, with Russia's Maxim Vylegzhanin third, 0.6 seconds back.After four of nine events, Northug leads by only 1.1 seconds overall from Cologna.Bjoergen later produced a strong finish to claim the women's race, a 5K classic-style and 5K freestyle event, in 27 minutes and 16 seconds, coming from behind to finish 1.6 seconds ahead of Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk with Norway's Therese Johaug a further 0.2 seconds back."It means a lot to me to win," Bjoergen said.Kowalczyk remains the overall leader after four races, 26.6 seconds ahead of Bjoergen.The next races in the grueling Tour de Ski series staged over 11 days take place in Toblach, Italy, on Tuesday."Everything can happen in Toblach," Northug said. "If there's a big group working together, it can easily be four or five athletes fighting for the victory."
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sapporo Yamanote captures another title
Sapporo Yamanote head coach Masamitsu Kamishima said he had an open ticket for a flight back to Hokkaido, so his team could go back to the northern island at anytime.
Twice as nice: Sapporo Yamanote standout Moeko Nagaoka takes a shot during the final of the Winter Cup on Wednesday in Tokyo. KYODOWell, he ended up keeping it in his pocket until the last day they would possibly stay in Tokyo.Center and Japan national team player Moeko Nagaoka had game highs of 39 points and 17 boards as Sapporo Yamanote completed their run to back-to-back titles with an 80-73 victory over Yamagata Commercial in the girls final of the 42nd All-Japan High School Tournament at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Wednesday."I didn't even dream of coming here," Kamishima said of the run by Sapporo Yamanote, which had lost a few core players from last year's championship team. "We lacked guards who could carry the ball (into the front court), and I didn't doubt for a second that we would struggle. And indeed, we were forced to play tough games from our first game."I still don't know how we got here. But our players have played so patiently. I'll give the credit to them."Yamagata Commercial, which made its first appearance in the Winter Cup final, was aggressive defensively and held the momentum for most of the first half. Yamagata led by as many as 13 at one point.But Sapporo Yamanote eventuallty warmed up and regained its original form, successfully going ahead behind ace Nagaoka in the second half."We didn't do what we were supposed to do early in the game and gave up the lead to the opponent," said Nagaoka, who scored 26 points in the latter half. "But we kept our patience throughout the game."Nagaoka, a 180-cm senior, added that this year's championship had a different feel compared to last year's."We were certainly happy about last year's victory," said Nagaoka, who is scheduled to join WJBL's Fujitsu Red Wave after her graduation next spring. "But it's special we were able to win another with this team."Kyoka Shinbori helped Sapporo Yamanote take the lead early in the second half. The guard sank three of the four 3s she made in the second half and finished with 16 points.For Yamagata Commercial, Mikoto Onuma scored 28 points and Rin Kato followed with 22 points.Nagaoka scored at least 30 points in each game of the tournament. She tied the all-time single-game record of 51 points against Tokyo Seitoku in the quarterfinals.Kamishima, however, kept his strict attitude toward Nagaoka, which is evidence of his high expectations for her going forward."Nagaoka has an outstanding ability to score for a high school player," Kamishima said. "She's an all-around player that can shoot 3-pointers, penetrate in the lane and play in the low post."I thought that she'd become a great player in the future if she became more of a complete player, and I've molded her that way since she enrolled in high school."Kamishima said that Nagaoka lacks physical strength and though she's played her final game in high school, he would keep training her until her graduation.In the third-place match, Aichi Prefecture's Oka Gakuen beat Gifu Girl's 81-93.Sapporo Yamanote's Nagaoka and Rena Sato, Yamagata Commercial's Onuma, Rie Nohara of Gifu Girl's, and Naho Miyoshi of Oka Gakuen were selected for the all-tournament team.In the boys semifinals, meanwhile, three players had more than 20 points as Miyazaki Prefecture's Nobeoka Gakuen crushed Fukuoka Ohori 102-53, and Kagawa Prefecture's Jinsei Gakuen came back from an 18-point deficit to defeat Numazu Chuo 63-58.
Twice as nice: Sapporo Yamanote standout Moeko Nagaoka takes a shot during the final of the Winter Cup on Wednesday in Tokyo. KYODOWell, he ended up keeping it in his pocket until the last day they would possibly stay in Tokyo.Center and Japan national team player Moeko Nagaoka had game highs of 39 points and 17 boards as Sapporo Yamanote completed their run to back-to-back titles with an 80-73 victory over Yamagata Commercial in the girls final of the 42nd All-Japan High School Tournament at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Wednesday."I didn't even dream of coming here," Kamishima said of the run by Sapporo Yamanote, which had lost a few core players from last year's championship team. "We lacked guards who could carry the ball (into the front court), and I didn't doubt for a second that we would struggle. And indeed, we were forced to play tough games from our first game."I still don't know how we got here. But our players have played so patiently. I'll give the credit to them."Yamagata Commercial, which made its first appearance in the Winter Cup final, was aggressive defensively and held the momentum for most of the first half. Yamagata led by as many as 13 at one point.But Sapporo Yamanote eventuallty warmed up and regained its original form, successfully going ahead behind ace Nagaoka in the second half."We didn't do what we were supposed to do early in the game and gave up the lead to the opponent," said Nagaoka, who scored 26 points in the latter half. "But we kept our patience throughout the game."Nagaoka, a 180-cm senior, added that this year's championship had a different feel compared to last year's."We were certainly happy about last year's victory," said Nagaoka, who is scheduled to join WJBL's Fujitsu Red Wave after her graduation next spring. "But it's special we were able to win another with this team."Kyoka Shinbori helped Sapporo Yamanote take the lead early in the second half. The guard sank three of the four 3s she made in the second half and finished with 16 points.For Yamagata Commercial, Mikoto Onuma scored 28 points and Rin Kato followed with 22 points.Nagaoka scored at least 30 points in each game of the tournament. She tied the all-time single-game record of 51 points against Tokyo Seitoku in the quarterfinals.Kamishima, however, kept his strict attitude toward Nagaoka, which is evidence of his high expectations for her going forward."Nagaoka has an outstanding ability to score for a high school player," Kamishima said. "She's an all-around player that can shoot 3-pointers, penetrate in the lane and play in the low post."I thought that she'd become a great player in the future if she became more of a complete player, and I've molded her that way since she enrolled in high school."Kamishima said that Nagaoka lacks physical strength and though she's played her final game in high school, he would keep training her until her graduation.In the third-place match, Aichi Prefecture's Oka Gakuen beat Gifu Girl's 81-93.Sapporo Yamanote's Nagaoka and Rena Sato, Yamagata Commercial's Onuma, Rie Nohara of Gifu Girl's, and Naho Miyoshi of Oka Gakuen were selected for the all-tournament team.In the boys semifinals, meanwhile, three players had more than 20 points as Miyazaki Prefecture's Nobeoka Gakuen crushed Fukuoka Ohori 102-53, and Kagawa Prefecture's Jinsei Gakuen came back from an 18-point deficit to defeat Numazu Chuo 63-58.Monday, June 20, 2011
Hawks, Pa. League stage another dominant interleague campaign
Big winners: The Pacific League-leading Fukuoka Softbank Hawks celebrate winning their third interleague title. KYODOAnother interleague season is in the books and, as has been the case in each of the previous seven years, a Pacific League team is raising the interleague pennant.Pa. League teams rolled over their Central League counterparts, combining to finish with an above .500 mark for the sixth time in seven seasons.While the PL romped again, this interleague campaign may be remembered more for the way the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks dominated all-comers.The Hawks scored more runs that any team — by a wide margin — during cross-league action while also allowing the fewest.They were unbeaten through their first 13 games against CL teams, ending a wildly successful period with an 18-4-2 mark."This is the result of cherishing each and every game," manager Koji Akiyama told reporters. "From me to the players, everybody concentrated on their job."The Hawks won the interleague title for the third time, adding to the back-to-back titles they claimed in 2008 and 2009.At the other end of the spectrum are the Hiroshima Carp, who wasted a solid start to the season by going 6-16-2 against the Pacific League.The Chunichi Dragons finshed fourth overall, representing the year's top finish by a CL team.Interleague play wrapped up on Sunday. Teams return to regular competition on June 24.Put on the brakes: Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters pitcher Yu Darvish's brush with history came to an end on Wednesday in a 2-1 loss, only his second of the year, to the Hanshin Tigers.Darvish threw a wild pitch in the third inning of that contest, allowing Matt Murton to score and ending his streak of consecutive scoreless innings at 46? frames.That was good for second longest streak in Pacific League history.The league record belongs to former Nankai Hawks star Tadashi Sugiura, who threw 54? straight shutout innings in 1959.The overall NPB mark is one that may never be broken, a jaw-dropping 64? consecutive scoreless frames by Hall of Famer Masaichi Kaneda in 1958.Vultures circling: Hanshin Tigers manager Akinobu Mayumi came under fire this week after Hanshin stockholders used a recent meeting to take shots at the suddenly embattled skipper.Reportedly among the topics leaked out to the press, was dissatisfaction with Mayumi's management of the team and his insistence on playing the aging Tomoaki Kanemoto.The Tigers' slow start is surely not helping matters, so Mayumi may want to start winning a few more games before the heat really gets turned up.Flying high: Fukuoka Softbank Hawks lefty Toshiya Sugiuchi hit a milestone last week, notching his 1,500th career strikeout.Sugiuchi is the third-fastest in NPB history to the mark, needing just 1423? innings.Only Kazuhisa Ishii (1,432) and Yutaka Enatsu (1413) achieved the feat in fewer innings.Bright spot: Yomiuri Giants hurler Tetsuya Utsumi threw a complete game against the Seibu Lions on Friday to become the first NPB hurler to reach nine wins this season.Utsumi has been among the few bright spots, along with hitters Hisayoshi Chono and Alex Ramirez, in what has been an otherwise bleak season for the Kyojin. The lefty is 9-1 with a 1.32 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 10 starts.Sunday, May 22, 2011
Toms fires another 62, leads Colonial by seven
FORT, Worth Texas — David Toms has gone from a disappointing playoff loss to matching the PGA Tour scoring record for the first 36 holes of a tournament.
On a roll: David Toms watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the Colonial on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas. Toms shot a 62 and leads by seven strokes. AP PHOTOToms shot his second straight 8-under 62 at Colonial on Friday to open a seven-stroke lead.Coming off a playoff loss Sunday to K.J. Choi in The Players Championship, the 44-year-old Toms tied the mark of 124 set by Pat Perez in the 2009 Bob Hope Classic. Perez had rounds of 61 and 63.Already off to another impressive start before a 2?-hour weather delay in the middle of his second round, Toms took full advantage after heavy rain softened the Colonial course and the wind stopped. On the eight holes he completed when play resumed, he had four birdies — and came up just short of two more."I came out and the conditions were perfect for scoring, and my mind-set was to just keep making birdies, try to separate myself a little bit," Toms said. "I just went out and played great the last eight holes or so, some of the best golf I've played in a long time."Steven Bowditch (64) and Charlie Wi (67), who finished before the delay, were tied for second with Mark Wilson (66) and John Senden (66). Wilson played in the same group with Toms.Toms also was the 36-hole leader last week at TPC Sawgrass, where he needed a birdie on the final hole of regulation to get into a playoff. But he then missed a short par putt on the first extra hole.He hasn't made another bogey since.Toms started at Hogan's Alley with his best score in 429 rounds — since a career-best 61 at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2006, in the last of his 12 PGA Tour victories. He matched that Friday and got halfway to his goal of finally winning again."I just still need to put those four rounds together and somehow get over the hump again," he said.For the second day in a row, Toms carded 31s on both nines.When play was suspended, Toms had just teed off at the par-5 11th hole after saving par at No. 10 with a two-putt from 65 feet.The wind was already whipping with the storm front approaching when he finished his front side with an aggressive play at No. 9, when he opted for driver instead of 3-wood off the tee. He then hit his approach inside 4 feet for birdie."It was a bonus to make birdie, but it was all about the best way to make par," he said.Toms made a 17-foot birdie putt at No. 11 after play resumed, then hit his approach at the 445-yard 12th hole to 5 feet for another birdie. He also birdied Nos. 15 and 17, and had putts rolling on line at 16 and 18 that came up short."It was late afternoon golf after a rain shower. I've done it hundreds of times at home in Louisiana. That's what it felt like," he said. "It was hot and humid, greens were receptive, fairways were receptive, the greens weren't rolling very fast."Rory Sabbatini, the 2007 Colonial champion who lives in Fort Worth and plays the course often, shot 64 and was at 8 under with first round co-leader Chev Reavie (71).Reavie had two birdies, a bogey and a double bogey through eight holes before the delay. After a birdie at Colonial's longest hole, the 635-yard 11th and his second of the day, Reavie had a double bogey 6 at No. 12, where he hit out of the same greenside bunker twice. Three holes later, his approach went into another greenside bunker and he had a bogey.
On a roll: David Toms watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the Colonial on Friday in Fort Worth, Texas. Toms shot a 62 and leads by seven strokes. AP PHOTOToms shot his second straight 8-under 62 at Colonial on Friday to open a seven-stroke lead.Coming off a playoff loss Sunday to K.J. Choi in The Players Championship, the 44-year-old Toms tied the mark of 124 set by Pat Perez in the 2009 Bob Hope Classic. Perez had rounds of 61 and 63.Already off to another impressive start before a 2?-hour weather delay in the middle of his second round, Toms took full advantage after heavy rain softened the Colonial course and the wind stopped. On the eight holes he completed when play resumed, he had four birdies — and came up just short of two more."I came out and the conditions were perfect for scoring, and my mind-set was to just keep making birdies, try to separate myself a little bit," Toms said. "I just went out and played great the last eight holes or so, some of the best golf I've played in a long time."Steven Bowditch (64) and Charlie Wi (67), who finished before the delay, were tied for second with Mark Wilson (66) and John Senden (66). Wilson played in the same group with Toms.Toms also was the 36-hole leader last week at TPC Sawgrass, where he needed a birdie on the final hole of regulation to get into a playoff. But he then missed a short par putt on the first extra hole.He hasn't made another bogey since.Toms started at Hogan's Alley with his best score in 429 rounds — since a career-best 61 at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2006, in the last of his 12 PGA Tour victories. He matched that Friday and got halfway to his goal of finally winning again."I just still need to put those four rounds together and somehow get over the hump again," he said.For the second day in a row, Toms carded 31s on both nines.When play was suspended, Toms had just teed off at the par-5 11th hole after saving par at No. 10 with a two-putt from 65 feet.The wind was already whipping with the storm front approaching when he finished his front side with an aggressive play at No. 9, when he opted for driver instead of 3-wood off the tee. He then hit his approach inside 4 feet for birdie."It was a bonus to make birdie, but it was all about the best way to make par," he said.Toms made a 17-foot birdie putt at No. 11 after play resumed, then hit his approach at the 445-yard 12th hole to 5 feet for another birdie. He also birdied Nos. 15 and 17, and had putts rolling on line at 16 and 18 that came up short."It was late afternoon golf after a rain shower. I've done it hundreds of times at home in Louisiana. That's what it felt like," he said. "It was hot and humid, greens were receptive, fairways were receptive, the greens weren't rolling very fast."Rory Sabbatini, the 2007 Colonial champion who lives in Fort Worth and plays the course often, shot 64 and was at 8 under with first round co-leader Chev Reavie (71).Reavie had two birdies, a bogey and a double bogey through eight holes before the delay. After a birdie at Colonial's longest hole, the 635-yard 11th and his second of the day, Reavie had a double bogey 6 at No. 12, where he hit out of the same greenside bunker twice. Three holes later, his approach went into another greenside bunker and he had a bogey.
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