PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Faced with a flooded course in which some fairways were more suited for fishing than playing golf, the LPGA Tour found a unique solution Thursday.
cheapjerseysforsale .net . It shortened the Ocean Club to 12 holes for at least the first round of its inaugural Bahamas Classic. The only other option might have been to cancel the tournament. A storm the locals havent seen in 20 years poured a foot of rain on Paradise Island earlier in the week. A lake that separates the ninth and 18th holes turned into a lagoon, setting off a chain reaction of drainage problems. Even with nine pumps siphoning water back into the ocean, progress was slow. "Every time I come up with a decision, a third of my tour doesnt like it. But I cant be afraid of that," LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan said. "I dont expect people to love the outcome, but its better than the alternative. ... Everybody who plays over the next few days is going to play the same thing. Its OK not to like it." Whan listened to a spirited discussion about the Bahamas Classic counting as official. The LPGA Tour policy says a tournament has to be 36 holes to be official, and this likely will be every bit of that -- if not more. The tournament will start Friday over 12 holes, and the number of holes could be expanded each day depending on how fast the water drains. The hope was for an 18-hole finish on Sunday. "I feel sorry for Pure Silk. Theyve done a hell of a job with the tournament," Juli Inkster said. Ohio-based Pure Silk signed on with the Bahamas Tourism Ministry as title sponsors of the $1.3 million event, the first time the LPGA Tour has come to the Bahamas. "I think we should play," Inkster said. "We should play as many as we can and crown a winner. I just think were here, and everyone has the same opportunity to play well and win. Its a rare thing thats happened once since Ive been out here. And Ive been out here a long time." Inkster and Laura Davies were at the 1988 Kemper Open in Hawaii, which not only was shortened to 54 holes because of torrential rain, but only 16 holes were used for the first round because two holes were under water. Going even further back in history -- way back -- the British Open first was played at Prestwick and contested on the 12-hour course over three rounds until the course eventually expanded to 18 holes. So the winner of the Bahamas Classic will have something in common with Old Tom Morris. Stacy Lewis won a tournament in Arkansas where it rained so hard it took three days to get in 18 holes. It did not count as official. "Its strange to play 12 holes a day, but were all going to play the same holes," she said. "When you get out there and play, you do the best you can." How flooded is the course? Lewis has quite the fish tale. She was on the course Wednesday afternoon with Brittany Lincicome, not with golf clubs but fishing rods. Wading along in the ninth fairway, Lewis said she hooked a tarpon she estimated at about 4 feet. The tarpon spun high out of the water and broke the line. Yes, the big one got away. "Ive hooked some big ones," Lewis said. "But Ive never seen a fish that big on a golf course." Starting times have been adjusted. Instead of a two-tee start for the 144-player field, everyone will start on No. 10 and then weave their way around the Tom Weiskopf design in the following order: 6-7-4-5-11-12-13-14-2-3 before finishing on No. 8. The pars and yardages on some holes might have to change, though one principle of golf remains -- low score wins. Suzann Pettersen was among those peppering Whan with questions on why it would be official, especially with Solheim Cup and ranking points available, along with the money list. She stood by her opinion, but was ready and willing to play. "Were doing the best with what we have," Pettersen said. "Youve just got to fill out whatever box is there on the scorecard." Davies came to the Ocean Club on Thursday, which was sunny and balmy for much of the day, just to get some practice. She had been at the Atlantis Resort for so much of the week, and she stopped going to casinos "because I dont win anymore." Sizing up the situation at the course, Davies said the LPGA Tour "made the best of a bad lot." "Youve got all these people working so hard to get the course ready," she said. "Its different, dont get me wrong. But I agree with them. Lets play. ... It takes a lot away if its not official. And its the same for everybody." It also put new meaning in the LPGA Tours slogan: "See why its different out here."
http://www.cheapjerseysforsale.net/ .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place.
cheapjerseysforsale . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday.
http://www.cheapjerseysforsale.net/ . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. My colleague Scott Burnside has handed over the Power Rankings duties to me for the month of November. After consulting with my dog, Lulu LeBrun (shes a 4-year-old Australian shepherd and she knows her hockey), Ive come up with this weeks rankings.1. (Last week: 7)?Washington Capitals, 8-2-1I was chatting with a GM from another team last week when, unsolicited, he brought up the Caps. They are just so good again. Deep, talent everywhere. Going to be tough to beat, he said. Well, yeah, I mean, we always say that. But is this finally the year? Perhaps.2. (8) New York Rangers, 10-3-0Its funny -- back in August, when Jimmy Vesey picked the Blueshirts in his personal sweepstakes, I thought, Why them? Theyre in transition mode, youre not going to win there anytime soon. Well, given the way the Rangers have exploded out of the gate, I need to rethink that. Theyre so much fun to watch, and they lead the NHL with 4.23 goals per game.3. (4)?Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-2-2Welcome back, Sid! Rust? Ha. How about eight goals and two assists in six games since returning from a concussion.?Sidney Crosby?is just seven points off the NHL scoring lead despite having played half the number of games most players have. Yeah, I think he has it in him to reel in another scoring title this season.4. (13)?Chicago Blackhawks, 9-3-1Since starting the season 0-2-0, the Hawks have gone 9-1-1, including six consecutive wins. Hold off, perhaps, on those window-closing narratives.?Jonathan Toews and company have other plans. Hats off to GM Stan Bowman for continually working his roster magic under massive cap constraints.5. (12)?Tampa Bay Lightning, 7-4-1My preseason pick to win the Stanley Cup has a big test on Monday night at Florida against the rival Panthers. We need to see these two Florida teams face off in a playoff series next spring, please!6. (1) Montreal Canadiens, 10-1-1OK, I know this is a little harsh, given their league-leading record. But I had to make the 10-0 pasting that Montreal suffered against the?Columbus Blue Jackets?on Friday night count for something! The Habs had a nice bounce-back win the following night at home over a rested?Philadelphia Flyers?team. You know Carey Price and Shea Weber were going to make sure that happened.7. (6) St. Louis Blues, 7-4-2Four assists in two weekend victories by pending unrestricted free-agent blue-liner Kevin Shattenkirk. A juicy matchup awaits Wednesday night at home against the rival Blackhawks.8. (2) Edmonton Oilers, 9-3-1The Oilers snapped a three-game slide (0-2-1) on their recent road trip with weekend wins against the Islanders and Red Wings. How much fun will Tuesdays game at Pittsburgh be, as Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby face off?9. (15) Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-3-2It was a night for the ages on Friday, with that monumental barrage of goals over the league-leading Canadiens. As I tweeted that night, it was as if Columbus took out 16 years of misery as a franchise on the Habs that night. Heres hoping the Blue Jackets make the playoffs this season. Their fans deserve it!10. (5) San Jose Sharks, 6-6-0The Sharks suffered three consecutive losses, including a 5-0 drubbing at home Saturday night in another Stanley Cup final rematch with Pittsburgh. They now embark on a six-game road trek to Washington, Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina, St. Louis and Arizona.11. (3)?Minnesota Wild, 6-4-1Im not exactly sure why Burnside had these guys third in the Rankings last week. The Wild suffered losses to Buffalo and Colorado over the past week. And while I think the Wild have the goods to be a playoff team, they are going to have more weeks like that.12. (10) Ottawa Senators, 7-4-0Things that make you go hmmm: Despite having the NHLs most offensively gifted defenseman in Erik Karlsson (love having him on my fantasy team this season), the Sens are just 23rd on the power play. They were 26th last season.13. (24) Anaheim Ducks, 6-5-2The Ducks have won three of fouur, and you get the sense that they will start to resemble the team we know they can be soon.
cheapjerseysforsale.net. Anaheim starts a three-game road trip on Wednesday at Columbus, followed by stops in Carolina and Nashville.14. (9) New Jersey Devils, 5-3-3The Devils bounced back after losses to both Florida teams with a 4-1 decision over Carolina despite being outshot 34-21.15. (17) Los Angeles Kings, 6-6-0Maybe the Kings dont need goaltending help after all. Veteran Peter Budaj has answered the bell of late, including backstopping the Kings to wins over Pittsburgh and Calgary in their last two games. The Kings open a five-game road trip in Toronto on Tuesday night.16. (16)?Florida Panthers, 5-6-1After opening the season 2-0-1, the Cats have dropped six of nine games. The massive overhaul on the blue-line -- in combination with key injuries -- has had an impact.17. (22) Boston Bruins, 6-5-0The Bruins have the 29th-ranked power play. A year ago, they started the opening month with the hottest power play in the league.18. (18) Buffalo Sabres, 5-4-2Dont look now, but the Sabres have won four of their past five games and deserved to beat the Leafs in their lone defeat. Robin Lehner has been terrific in goal.19. (29) Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-4-3The Leafs underlying stats suggested their slow start wasnt really reflective of their overall play -- and now theyre getting wins to back that up. The NHLs youngest team is riding consecutive victories, with visiting Los Angeles next up on the docket Tuesday night.20. (23) Philadelphia Flyers, 6-6-1The Flyers must have hated watching the Habs get pasted 10-0 in Columbus. The Flyers just knew the Canadiens would rebound. Sure enough, Montreal prevailed over Philly 5-4 in a fun game the next night.21. (11)?Detroit Red Wings, 6-6-1A six-game win streak was followed by a five-game (0-4-1) winless streak. The Wings will be on that playoff bubble all season.22. (21) Dallas Stars, 4-5-3Injuries have certainly influenced the early season for the Stars, who will no doubt bounce back. But the home-and-home, weekend sweep at the hands of Chicago hurt.23. (28) Nashville Predators, 3-5-3Still waiting for the team I picked to win the Central Division before the season to wake up. Shootout losses to Arizona and Carolina didnt impress anyone.24. (19) Winnipeg Jets, 5-7-1Jacob Trouba?kept losing money while the Jets just kept losing games. Saner minds prevailed on Monday when Trouba signed a two-year, $6 million deal to return to Winnipegs fold. The Jets need him, and he needs to play.25. (14) Colorado Avalanche, 5-6-0Its time to ride Calvin Pickard (1.50 goals-against average, .946 save percentage) for a while over Semyon Varlamov (3.67 GAA, .881 SP). Varlamov has two more years, at $5.9 million per on his deal after this season. I would shop him if I were Colorado. Pickard looks legit.26. (25)?New York Islanders, 4-6-2The Isles have dropped five of their past six games. Somethings got to give on Monday night when they host the struggling Canucks.27. (20) Calgary Flames, 5-8-1Man, I was convinced the Flames would bounce back and make the playoffs this season. Its early, but boy have they been inconsistent, especially defensively. Calgary is sitting 28th with 3.57 goals against per game.28. (27) Carolina Hurricanes, 3-5-3The Hurricanes have but one power-play goal in their last six games, and have gone 1 for 16 during that stretch.29. (30)?Arizona Coyotes, 4-7-0The Coyotes have been outshot in six consecutive games, although before Sundays loss at Anaheim they had pulled off wins over San Jose and Nashville.30. (26) Vancouver Canucks, 4-6-2The Canucks have gone eight games without a win (0-6-2) since starting the season 4-0. At least they scored three goals on Saturday night in Toronto after being shut out four of the five previous games.
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