Nicklaus honored with GWAA's Bartlett Award

HOUSTON -- Legend Jack Niclaus, whose commitment to charitable giving has spanned four decades and is embodied in The Memorial Tournament and the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, has been honored with the Golf Writers Association of America's Charlie Bartlett Award.

The award, named for the first secretary of the GWAA, is given to a professional golfer for his/her unselfish contributions to the betterment of society. Nicklaus will be honored at the GWAA Annual Awards Dinner April 8 in Augusta, Ga.

The 69-year-old Hall of Famer, father of five and grandfather of 21, has focused his charitable concerns on children in need. His passion, along with that of wife Barbara, led to the creation of the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, which provides pediatric health care services for children in a five-county area of South Florida.

The primary beneficiary of the Honda Classic, the Foundation supports activities that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders and supports not-for-profit programs and projects aimed at children's health, safety, and well-being. It provides programs and services to more than 4,000 hospitalized children and their families, free of charge, through the creation of the Child Life Institute in 2007.

The Memorial Tournament, which Nicklaus founded in 1976, supports the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, as well as many other leading charitable organizations within Central Ohio.

Nicklaus, whose charitable commitments began shortly after launching his professional career in 1962, supports such diverse causes as The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, The Barbara and Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Endowment Fund, The Everglades Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the Robert T. Jones, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund. As a national chair of The First Tee, Nicklaus has twice spoken before Congress on the character-building virtues of golf, and, in conjunction with the PGA of America, he created a program which has provided close to $2 million in grants to support instruction at over 160 First Tee facilities.

Nicklaus was awarded the 2005 Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest honor bestowed on any U.S. civilian. In addition to the Bartlett Award, the GWAA has honored him with the William D. Richardson Award (1978) and the ASAPSPORTS/Jim Murray Award (2006).

Former Bartlett winners include Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, the Louisiana trio of Hal Sutton, David Toms and Kelly Gibson, Val Skinner, Betsy King, Tom Watson, Payne Stewart, Tom Lehman, Arnold Palmer, Kenny Perry, Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, Patty Berg and Andy North.

The GWAA will also honor Players of Year Padraig Harrington, Lorena Ochoa and Jay Haas, Ben Hogan Award winner Erik Compton, Jim Murray/ASAP Award winner Juli Inkster and Furman Bisher, winner of the William D. Richardson Award, at the dinner.

The 980-member professional organization takes an active role in protecting the interests of all golf journalists, works closely with all of golf's major governing bodies and the World Golf Hall of Fame and facilitates a scholarship/internship program which is currently helping students at 17 major U.S. universities.

Source:
http://www.pgatour.com

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Perez sets PGA Tour scoring mark

American Pat Perez set a PGA Tour record of 20-under-par 124 in the second round of the Bob Hope Classic in California on Thursday.

The 32-year-old opened with a round of 11-under 61 on the Palmer Private course at PGA West and followed it up with a nine-under 63.

American Tom Lehman held the previous Tour record of 19-under 125 after 36 holes, at the 2001 Las Vegas Classic.

Four other players have posted two-round totals of 125 on the PGA Tour.

They include Tiger Woods (15 under, 2000 WGC-NEC Invitational, Mark Calcavecchia (17 under, 2001 Phoenix Open), Corey Pavin (15 under, 2006 Milwaukee Championship and Carl Pettersson (15 under, 2008 Wyndham Championship).

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http://news.bbc.co.uk
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Ballesteros optimistic on health

Golf legend Seve Ballesteros was optimistic after receiving the test results from his first course of chemotherapy following brain surgery.

The five-time major winner had four operations to remove a cancerous tumour late last year.

"Fortunately, the results were quite good," said the 51-year-old, who begins the second course on Friday.

"Besides, the physiotherapists are doing a great job on me as I feel better day after day."

He added on his website: "I am very motivated and working hard, although I am aware that my recovery will be slow and therefore I need to be patient and have a lot of determination.

"For these reasons I am following strictly all the indications that the doctors are giving me. This Friday I shall begin my second chemotherapy course, which I hope and wish will be as effective as the first one."

Ballesteros said he continues to receive hundreds of messages of support from people and added: "I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their support and energy that is coming to me from all over the world and which is proving so good."

The Spaniard, who won the Open three times and the Masters twice, was admitted to hospital in early October after fainting at Madrid Airport.

Since then he has undergone four separate operations, including a 6½-hour procedure on 24 October to remove the tumour.

He also recorded 50 career victories on the European Tour and is widely recognized as having transformed European golf.

After lobbying to have the Ryder Cup expanded to include continental Europe in 1979, Ballesteros helped beat the United States in 1985 to begin two decades of dominance. He also captained Europe to victory in 1997 at Valderrama, Spain.

Ballesteros retired from competitive playing in 2007 because of back trouble and since then has mainly concentrated on designing courses.

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Maradona: Messi Must Be Argentina’s Leader

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Diego Maradona has told Lionel Messi that he expects him to give everything for his country and become the leader of the national team by living up to all the expectations that surround him.

The Albicelestes coach believes that the Barcelona star must show the utmost dedication at international level, citing himself as an example to follow.

Messi is currently rated as one of the world’s best players, but Maradona wants him to ensure that he steps up yet another level when playing for Argentina and leads the side forward.

“I gave everything for my country as I played when I had to have injections or I was injured,” the trainer told reporters.

“I hope to see Leo doing this and a lot more besides for the good of Argentina because we have great expectations of what he can do for the national team.

“It cost me a lot to keep playing. It is a unique opportunity because the players need a leader and I want him to be it. I am proud of the squad that I have.”

Maradona feels that some of the desire to play for Argentina has been lacking and is keen to remind the squad what he feels it means to wear the Albicelestes’ colours.

“I want to bring back the old mystique of the shirt, to instil into the players what wearing it really means,” he added

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http://sports.yahoo.com
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Maradona: ‘I Won’t Resign’

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)—Diego Maradona says he will not resign as the coach of Argentina’s national team if his former teammate Oscar Ruggeri is not accepted as his assistant.

“It cost me a lot to get here, so it’s one-time opportunity,” said Maradona at a press conference in Venezuela’s capital on Tuesday. “I want to have Oscar Ruggeri at my side as a coach, but if that’s not possible, I’m not going to resign.”

Argentine Football Association boss Julio Grondona has said he will not give in to Maradona’s push for Ruggeri as an assistant.

Ruggeri was Maradona’s teammate in Argentina’s triumph at the 1986 World Cup, and they also played together at the 1990 and 1994 World Cup finals.

Asked if he thought 21-year-old Lionel Messi is better than he was at the same age, Maradona replied: “Hopefully he can do much more than I did because that way all Argentines win.”

Messi’s strength on the ball, excellent balance and left-footed mastery of defenders have made for obvious parallels with Maradona, who has approved the comparison.

He joked about Grondona’s comment that Messi is better.

“When he’s with me, he tells me I’m better than Messi. And when he’s with Messi, he tells him he’s the best,” said Maradona, drawing laughter from journalists and adoring fans.

Maradona said he hopes to meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during his visit to the country.

Source:
http://sports.yahoo.com

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David Beckham considering staying with AC Milan

MILAN, Italy (AP)—David Beckham is enjoying his stay with AC Milan so much that he is considering remaining in Italy after his two-month loan expires.

“Playing here is the dream of every footballer,” Beckham said in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Wednesday. “But deciding isn’t easy. It’s a question that takes time.”

Beckham’s loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy expires March 8, after which he is due to return to Major League Soccer.

“I’m under contract and I have a lot of respect for the Galaxy. But the chance to play for Milan is something special,” Beckham said in the interview, which was published in Italian. “I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much. But in terms of character, I’m a very respectful person.”

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said Tuesday the seven-time European champions were prepared to pay a fee to keep Beckham, and would meet with his representatives in the next few days.

“I find (Milan) very similar to Manchester United. It has that tradition that only the great clubs have,” Beckham said. “At Milan, like at United, it’s a very particular atmosphere wherever you go, from the training pitch to the stadium.”

The former United and Real Madrid player scored his first goal for Milan in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Bologna.

His second came on Wednesday from a free kick 33 minutes into a match against Genoa, with England coach Fabio Capello looking on. The sharp-angled shot taken from the left of Genoa’s area put Milan ahead 1-0.

Beckham started in Milan’s three previous matches, and the Rossoneri did not lose, drawing with AS Roma and beating Fiorentina and Bologna.

Beckham hopes to be called up by Capello for a friendly against Spain on Feb. 11 and equal Bobby Moore’s record of 108 England appearances for an outfield player.

His ultimate goal is to make England’s team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and moving back to Los Angeles may hinder that bid. Capello was the one who suggested that Milan sign Beckham.

“The Americans are doing everything they can to improve the level and reputation of their game. It’s a young league and I think it needs another 10 years to become successful,” said Beckham, whose contract with the Galaxy lasts through 2012.

“I have to admit that, having played in Europe, sometimes it was frustrating playing in certain games. But every now and then, moving from one state to another, I also enjoyed myself.”

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