Oval Showdown set to open season

Showdown ... Crows and Power could open season 2014 at Adelaide Oval. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

South Australia's two AFL clubs have endorsed the league's promise of a round one Showdown at the re-developed Adelaide Oval next year.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou rejected an earlier suggestion by Adelaide chairman Rob Chapman that it wait until at least round three for a Showdown, to deal with any issues that may arise with the new 50,000-seat stadium.

"It is absolutely true there will be a Showdown for the first game at Adelaide Oval and, all things being equal, it will be a Friday night," said Demetriou, who met the Crows and Power as part of his nationwide club tour.

On Wednesday, Chapman agreed, saying a round one Showdown would be ideal.

''When I was talking about perhaps waiting for round three or four it was purely about ironing out the inevitable bugs we could get with ticketing, transport, food and drink," Chapman said.

"While I have complete confidence in the people responsible, it is a big logistical beast.

"But the ideal time for a Showdown is round one because that's when we'll be showcasing it (the stadium)."

Chapman said no matter which two sides played the first game at the new Adelaide Oval, he would anticipate a sell-out crowd.

"If that's a Showdown it would be a grand spectacle and I think it is feasible," he said.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said a Showdown was the only way to mark what would be "a moment of real historical significance".

"You don't get these moments very often and it would be a real shame if both clubs couldn't share in it," Thomas said.

Now it seems the only matter for debate is who gets hosting rights to the match.

Thomas said the issue had been "bandied around" in public but the clubs were yet to have any serious discussions.

Chapman said while he had previously stated that he didn't care who hosted the first Showdown because there would be another later in the season, his club "definitely wants" the first hosting rights.

Demetriou said he would not weigh in on that decision.

"I'm not going to be here to toss the coin to see who's going to get the home game because I like my life and I'll leave others to do that task," he said.

Before Wednesday's club briefings, Demetriou told the media concerns the Adelaide Oval's Stadium Management Authority may impede a fair deal for the two AFL clubs was unfounded.

"I'm aware of the talk about it (and) I don't think it's valid," he said.

"We've met with both clubs on the issue and I think that issue has been blown out of proportion.

"There is constant dialogue about getting the best return for the SMA, for cricket, the SANFL and the two clubs and I think Adelaide Oval is going to be a fantastic thing for all stakeholders and the South Australian public."

The AFL boss also said the handover of both club licences from the SANFL remained on track.

"It would be fair to say all that is proceeding very well," he said.

"There's goodwill from the SANFL, the Crows and Port Adelaide.

"The AFL is assisting if it's required and all things being equal I don't see any major issues or impediments to that occurring in due course."

While the AFL would have nothing to do with the Crows and Power's current push to field their own reserves teams, Demetriou was "absolutely thrilled" with Port Adelaide's resurgence which has it second on the ladder after round five.

View the original article here

Heavyweight showdown over putters

Broomstick ... Brett Ogle used a long putter during his playing days. Source: Colin Murty / News Limited

Are we heading for a showdown between the worlds governing bodies over the banning of the anchored putter?

Fighting out of the blue corner you have the PGA Tour, the PGA of America and the National Golf Course Owners Association which considered by many is a highly influential voice in the game of golf in America plus most of the major equipment companies that make belly and long putters.

All of them have stated that banning the anchoring of a putter would be a huge mistake.

On Sunday during the Accenture Matchplay final, USPGA Tour boss Tim Finchem said that 13 of the 15 players on the PGA Tour advisory board were against the ban.

"The essential thread that went through the thinking of the players and our board of directors was that in the absence of data or any basis to conclude that there is a competitive advantage to be gained by using anchoring, and given the amount of time anchoring has been in the game, that there was no overriding reason to go down that road," Finchem said.

"The game globally is stronger than it’s ever been and that on the heels of having anchoring as part of it for the last 30 or 40 years. You can’t point to one negative impact of anchoring.”

Over in the red corner and for the ban are the tradionalists led by the games two governing bodies, the US Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient.

Alongside them and vocal about the banning are some of the game’s biggest names in Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer.

There argument is: "The game has always been about whether you can handle your nerves under pressure and especially putting and no doubt the long putter helps control that".

That’s a fair call and I totally agree with. There is no doubt in my mind I would not have won the Hawaiian Open on the US Tour back in 1994 if I wasn’t using the long putter.

It certainly helped me control my stroke when under pressure.

But the crux of it is that the long putter has been around for over four decades and if they were going to ban the method they should have stepped on it back in the ‘80’s or ‘90’s. But they didn’t.

C’mon you guys open your eyes!  Why would you (the USGA) specifically give the thumbs up to anchoring on two separate occasions and now do a back-flip just because a couple of guys have won Majors.

It’s not about the professionals you idiots it’s about the millions of others that play the game and need a long putter to enjoy this wonderful game.

Now back to the golf and this week the PGA Tour moves to the first event of the Florida swing, the Honda Classic.

It’s played on one of the toughest golf courses you will find anywhere in the world, the Jack Nicklaus designed PGA National.

The course boasts one of the most fearsome stretches of holes in all of golf and is simply known as “Bear Trap”. Holes 15-17 are talked about each year and that will be no different this week.

Rory McIroy is back to defend his title he won a year ago and so is the runner up Tiger Woods.

Woods closed last year’s championship with the low round of the tournament, an eight under par 62. Both players will have plenty to prove this week after shock first round losses at the WGC event in Arizona. 

No doubt the American players will be out to avenge a terrible run at this event with 7 of the last 8 winners all being international players. And I feel the trend will continue this year.

Watch out for Charl Scwhartzel. Played great at the Northern Trust Open a couple of weeks ago finishing one shot out of the playoff.

Six of his eight rounds played on the Nicklaus course have all been under par. Finished T5 in 2012.

After missing the cut in his first event of the year Frederick Jacobson has light it up.

He posted back to back top 10’s and then last week made it through to the 3rd round. Has two top 10’s at this event the past four years.

There are 10 Aussies in the field this week and no doubt the standout is Jason Day. In four starts in 2013 the Queenslander has posted three top 10s.

Coming off a great effort last week at the WGC event where he beat Ian Poulter to finish 3rd. 

Have a great golfing week everyone!

View the original article here