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Gulf Times Thursday, April 17, 2014

COMMENT
Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar editor@gulf-times.com Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Fax 44350474

GULF TIMES
Watson tames Augusta National with his unique style
If you take Bubba Watson at his word, he is the golfer who has followed in the footsteps of legends by accident. Seve Ballesteros won the Masters twice. As did Ben Hogan. The most recent man to do likewise? Watson. His status is already such that only an adopted rst name is required for identication. Another player, surname Woods, has long-since been afforded the same privilege. I play golf because I love it, I love the game, I want to grow the game, Watson says. The game has brought me everything I have ever owned in my life. My parents taught me values through the game of golf. It brought me so much closer to my mum and dad. I have a lot of friends, I have travelled the world because of this game. Thats why I play it; because I love it. Watson underplays his distinct talent with such sentiment, laudable though it is. Golng history is full of professionals who could not win a single Masters, let alone two, despite otherwise successful careers. Watson clearly has a level of ability which, when he hones it properly, sets him apart. My mum had two jobs to help me. My dad had a tough job to support me. And I know they could never dream this far either. So it is pretty overwhelming. This is a player who can hit his driver almost 370 yards with a cut. High hands at the top of his backswing bear a resemblance to Phil Mickelson. When Watson turns away from the ball, his left foot almost leaves the ground; that is a 1960s concept, not dissimilar to the style of Jack Nicklaus. Watsons greatest challenge in a technical sense is maintaining accuracy; distance is never a problem. Watson was the only player to successfully attack the pin at the brutally tough, 243-yard par three 4th hole in the nal round at Augusta. The height he is able to generate from the ball allowed it to nish less than 10ft from the pin. A birdie followed. There has been a strong element of professional dedication attached to Watsons success. He makes no apology for the fact his tournament play may not always be a thing of beauty. I do what it takes to score, Watson says. I dont care how pretty it is. I dont care if its ugly. I dont care if it is out of the woods. Watson has risen eight places to fourth in the world rankings. Rory McIlroy has slipped from ninth to 10th, with the Masters joint-runner-up Jordan Spieth one place ahead of him. Its just Bubba golf, says the Masters champions caddie, Ted Scott, when asked to explain his employers unique style. He added: Last year was a rough year, with the pressure of trying to prove himself but this year his attitude has been great.
Liverpool football club manager Bendan Rodgers shakes hands with a supporter as he leaves at the end of a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, northwest England on Tuesday.

Merseyside set for red and blue footballing resurgence

month or even earlier could spell the beginning of long celebrations as the season prepares for an unprecedented climax. Liverpool are just four games, or 360 minutes of competitive action away from being crowned Premier League champions. The remaining matches are considered cup nals in the quest for end of season glory. If they continue their current winning streak, the title is simply theirs. None of the teams below can catch up, unless Liverpool slip up and lose points in the chase for that elusive title their rst for 24 years. Never before have Everton, living in the shadows of their Merseyside rivals for so long, reached the qualifying stages of the Champions League, Europes premier football tournament. Like Liverpool, destiny is in their hands. For Everton, winning their remaining games will leave the chasing London clubs Chelsea and Tottenham and the perennial title holders Manchester United way behind. The 2013/14 season has arguably been one of the best, if not the best, since the birth of the Premier League 22 years ago with teams jostling for the top four places, reaching the summit and falling off on an almost weekly basis since the league kicked off last August. Merseyside is on the verge of a footballing resurgence. We have seen both Liverpool and Everton winning the prestigious English FA Cup over the years, but the Premier League title and guaranteed Champions League spot respectively are whats needed a huge boost for soccer in the area, a nancial windfall for the regions economy, which is home to 1.4mn people, and a potential surge in tourists from around the world. Liverpools cup-laden era in the 70s, 80s and partially in the last decade with the Champions League title will forever be part of the history books. But it is the Premier League title showing sustained stamina over nine months of weekly soccer that it years for. The English Premier League is the most watched European league in the world with die-hard fans staying up all hours in different parts of the world glued to TV sets and large screens in

By Updesh Kapur Doha may be penning this prematurely, but theres nothing wrong with questioning what if? The next three weeks are set to put to rest two of the biggest questions in British football. Who will win the English Premier League and which four teams will clinch qualifying places in Europes money-spinning Champions League next season. Last weekend, football hysteria gathered pace in an already soccer mad Merseyside as two of its clubs in this metropolitan county of northwest England edged closer to glory. Merseysiders breathe soccer; whether it is the red side of Liverpool Football Club or the blue of neighbours Everton FC a mile away. The sport is an obsession, a religion and a passion witnessed everywhere. Talked about in bars, pubs, clubs, the workplace, schools and among families where footballing loyalties at home can often be seen divided. And this is no exaggeration. For the rst time in their history, fans across the divide in this sporting city will sing and dance together, will celebrate together, will laugh together and will joke together. Differences on the pitch will be forgotten until at least the beginning of next season. Arch rivals eager to outdo each other on the pitch and exchange banter on the terraces, dont be surprised to see camaraderie in the city of Liverpool with supporters egging both clubs to success that has eluded them for years. Merseyside has been waiting for more than two decades for the return of the feel good factor and next

He makes no apology for the fact his tournament play may not always be a thing of beauty

Football scarves are tied on the Shankly Gates at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, northwest England on Tuesday ahead of a memorial service as the city prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. bars and hotels to watch their favourite teams in action. From Los Angeles, New York and London to Nairobi, Dubai and Doha; from Delhi, Hong Kong and Shanghai to Singapore, Bangkok and Melbourne Premier League is a must watch. Asia has more supporters of Liverpool FC than anywhere in the world with an hysteric following running into millions. And on the other side of the world in North America, the club has somewhat of a less fan base, but loyal they are. Winning the title will be a dream come true for them as much as the home grown British fans. Football gets people talking. Winning creates joy, happiness and celebration all round. If both clubs attain what they went out to achieve at the start of the season, the party will be one big red and blue party. In a year when Merseyside marked the 25th anniversary of the death of 96 Liverpool supporters crushed at a soccer match in Sheffield, winning will be a perfect remembrance of those who perished while bringing joy to the families who endured the pain of losing loved ones. A week after the disaster, a mile of contrasting red and blue scarves was formed between Aneld, home of Liverpool, and Evertons Goodison Park to show the level of respect and feeling of pain by officials and supporters of both clubs. The Hillsborough disaster as it was known, the stadium where men, women and children died while watching their team play in a cup match, has been etched ever since in all those connected with football in Merseyside. More so, the yearly anniversaries take their toll. A memorial service held at Aneld on Tuesday saw the bosses of both clubs Liverpools Brendan Rodgers and his Everton counterpart Roberto Martinez take turns to deliver remembrance speeches in a stadium radiating the memories of that fateful day. Without doubt, the city of Liverpool is set to bounce back and its beloved soccer teams will play a huge role as will sport in general. The region has suffered from chronic unemployment and under development over the years. As Britains economy shows signs of recovery, investment is being pumped into Merseyside to lift it out of doom and gloom and bring prosperity to the region. The www.visitliverpool.com website features Liverpool and Everton football clubs among highlighted attractions for visitors, for the behindthe-scene tours of stadiums where star players ply their trade week in, week out. The world-renowned horse steeplechase, the Grand National, takes place every Spring at Aintree in the suburbs of Liverpool. The region is also home to some of Britains finest golf courses which have hosted scores of tournaments attracting some of the worlds best players over the years. Liverpool is the birthplace of The Beatles, the legendary 1960s English band that started rock culture. Four young Liverpudians developed their inuential music to become the greatest band of its era that took the world by storm. A permanent attraction, The Beatles Story Experience, lures ardent rock fans from around the world. Liverpool is also officially labelled the world capital of pop music with more number one hits than any other city. Music and football, a good combination. Lets hope what if becomes a reality in the next few weeks and brings the city of Liverpool what it deserves in the shadows of the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy. For once, Liverpools anthem Youll Never Walk Alone can be shared with Everton to celebrate soccer unity and Merseyside pride.

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Liverpools captain Steven Gerrard and Everton Manager Roberto Matinez react during a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster at Anfield in Liverpool.