WEEKLY SPORTS DIGEST: Three-way play-off at PGA

WEEKLY SPORTS DIGEST: Three-way play-off at PGA, Southland’s strength

16/08/10 Executive sport summary – An overview of the major sporting events – Results, key moments and talking points – Everything you need to know to foot it at the water cooler this week.

By Jonathan McKeown

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: A three-way play-off for the U.S. PGA Championship was cut to two after Dustin Johnson was handed a two-shot penalty on the final hole. Finishing at 11 under in regulation play American Bubba Watson and Germany's Martin Kaymer were locked in a shootout for the final golf major of the year.

TIGER WOODS: Serious doubts have arisen over Tiger Woods form heading into the Ryder Cup. Coming off his worst ever round score on the PGA tour and then placing 29th equal in the championship a place on the American team is looks unlikely based on form. However Tiger is still the world No.1 and to leave out the top ranked golfer would be a major coup for golf.

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP: With the third round of the ITM Cup completed the competition table is starting to take shape. Southland and Canterbury remain the only unbeaten teams although an opening round draw has Canterbury in second place. Propping up the table are Otago and Manawatu still without a win between them.

Another exciting round of our national competition was punctuated by a record 10-try rout of Manawatu by the mighty Taniwha. The success of teams like Northland, Southland and Counties is what makes this competition so dynamic and vibrant. With only seven teams staying in the top tier for 2011 the race is on. There may well be a lot of hurt for some of the ‘big time’ unions come late October when the writing is on the competition board.

RANFURLY SHIELD: What a magnificent competition we have in the Shield. It is almost the essence of New Zealand rugby. In the Southland Stags we have proud holders and fierce defenders. It will take a top team in-form to wrestle the Shield from the Deep South. As Tana Umaga said after Counties valiant but unsuccessful challenge: "It brings you together and makes you fight just that little bit harder. We just couldn't break them. It was like they had 17 to 20 players on the field”.

ALL BLACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA: The latest rumblings from the Republic are that SARU will seek to break away from the SANZAR collective after 2015. The South African’s are very creative in their distraction efforts as it just so happens, the ALL Blacks are playing in Johannesburg this weekend. However it will take more than administrative squealing to save the Boks in Soccer City, the All Blacks won’t go soft to save SANZAR through an on field PR exercise. Give it to them boys!

WALLABY HOPES FADING: A huge part of the plan to help Australia lift the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2011 is about to walk out the door. Australian playmaker Quade Cooper has been linked to a deal with the Parramatta Eels which would make him the highest paid NRL player. If the Wallabies want the Rugby World Cup the ARU better open the cheque book or watch the fly-half fly.

NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL: The Wellington Phoenix opened their A-League campaign with a draw 3-3 draw against the Gold Coast. The utterly atrocious conditions in the capital didn’t dampen the football flair or the fans fervour. It was a fair result that reflected the balance of play, however ahead 3-1 with 15 minutes to play the yellow fever expected victory. Two goals from All White Shane Smeltz helped Gold Coast secure the away point. The Phoenix may have missed a trick but still have a proud home record, undefeated for nearly two years in Wellington.

RUGBY LEAGUE: The New Zealand Warriors took another step towards the NRL finals after claiming a 22-10 victory over the Newcastle Knights. Possibly the best left wing in the NRL, Manu ‘the beast’ Vatuvei scored a hat-trick as the Warriors hit form. With three rounds to go the Warriors can make the top four, but they could also miss the finals altogether. A win against Manly next week will go a long way to promoting post season footy.

NZ CRICKET: Just as soon as the Blackcaps secured a commanding win over India to take second place on the International One-day Rankings, a poor batting performance saw them slump to defeat against recent nemesis Sri Lanka. A bonus point in the match against India has them well placed in the International tri-series in Dambullla, Sri Lanka.

INTERNATIONAL TENNIS: Scot Andy Murray has beaten Roger Federer 7-5, 7-5 to claim his first title of the year, the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Murray also beat current world No.1 Rafael Nadal in the semi-final. Having beaten Novak Djokovic in the semi-final Federer reclaimed the world No.2 ranking.

MOTOGP: Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo won the Czech Grand Prix overnight, in what must be a first for victory celebration Lorenzo, 23 strolled the adjacent golf course and holed a putt.

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