Friday, February 13, 2004
Sportsbook & Gambling Information
By JOHN REGER
The Orange County Register
LA JOLLA, Calif. - Stewart Cink blistered the North Course at Torrey Pines on Friday, leaving him at 11-under 133 after two rounds of the Buick Invitational. Steve Flesch and John Daly are two strokes behind at 9-under.
Cink had the low round with a 63 on a day that saw Vijay Singh finish at even par and miss the cut by one stroke. Singh will finish out of the top 10 for the first time in 13 events, and the missed cut is his first since last March's Players Championship.
It was a day when other favorites had to scramble just to make the cut. Tiger Woods, the defending champion, was on the line after eight holes of his second round, but he managed to shoot 33 on the back nine to finish at 5-under par through 36 holes.
"It's definitely reachable to win the tournament from there," said Woods, who is six strokes behind Cink. "I don't have too many guys to pass. If I have two good, solid rounds like I did the year I won, it can be done."
Singh was philosophical about his day.
"I just couldn't make any putts," Singh said. "I was just forcing it at the end. I played well, I just made too many mistakes."
Singh said he would return to Florida to spend time with his family but will be back Tuesday for next week's Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club.
Phil Mickelson almost joined Singh in taking the weekend off before rallying on the last hole to make the cut.
Everyone in Mickelson's group was at even par going to their last hole, the ninth on the North Course. Mickelson, Stuart Appleby and Chris Smith each made birdie on the par-5 to finish at 1 under.
Cink, who has adopted a new, laid-back attitude, had no such worries. There is little that concerns him these days.
"I really have been able to reduce my anxiety," Cink said. "I was playing with a lot of anxiety out here and worried about every shot, worried about the cuts, worried about where I was finishing."
It wasn't in the winner's circle. Cink hasn't won a tournament since the 2000 MCI Classic, and despite some top 10s, Cink hadn't really needed to practice his victory speech.
"I understand the game as well as anybody else, and I think I could have done better," Cink said. "I've had a good career I just want more."
He is on his way and credits a psychologist for his improved attitude on and off the golf course.
"I started seeing someone to help me with my whole life, not just sports," Cink said. "I figured if I got myself in order outside the game, I would have a better handle on what's going on inside the game."
One person who hasn't located that Zen but has found his game is Daly. Daly shot a second-round 66 but wasn't in the mood to talk after his round, brushing by reporters.
By JOHN REGER
The Orange County Register
LA JOLLA, Calif. - Stewart Cink blistered the North Course at Torrey Pines on Friday, leaving him at 11-under 133 after two rounds of the Buick Invitational. Steve Flesch and John Daly are two strokes behind at 9-under.
Cink had the low round with a 63 on a day that saw Vijay Singh finish at even par and miss the cut by one stroke. Singh will finish out of the top 10 for the first time in 13 events, and the missed cut is his first since last March's Players Championship.
It was a day when other favorites had to scramble just to make the cut. Tiger Woods, the defending champion, was on the line after eight holes of his second round, but he managed to shoot 33 on the back nine to finish at 5-under par through 36 holes.
"It's definitely reachable to win the tournament from there," said Woods, who is six strokes behind Cink. "I don't have too many guys to pass. If I have two good, solid rounds like I did the year I won, it can be done."
Singh was philosophical about his day.
"I just couldn't make any putts," Singh said. "I was just forcing it at the end. I played well, I just made too many mistakes."
Singh said he would return to Florida to spend time with his family but will be back Tuesday for next week's Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club.
Phil Mickelson almost joined Singh in taking the weekend off before rallying on the last hole to make the cut.
Everyone in Mickelson's group was at even par going to their last hole, the ninth on the North Course. Mickelson, Stuart Appleby and Chris Smith each made birdie on the par-5 to finish at 1 under.
Cink, who has adopted a new, laid-back attitude, had no such worries. There is little that concerns him these days.
"I really have been able to reduce my anxiety," Cink said. "I was playing with a lot of anxiety out here and worried about every shot, worried about the cuts, worried about where I was finishing."
It wasn't in the winner's circle. Cink hasn't won a tournament since the 2000 MCI Classic, and despite some top 10s, Cink hadn't really needed to practice his victory speech.
"I understand the game as well as anybody else, and I think I could have done better," Cink said. "I've had a good career I just want more."
He is on his way and credits a psychologist for his improved attitude on and off the golf course.
"I started seeing someone to help me with my whole life, not just sports," Cink said. "I figured if I got myself in order outside the game, I would have a better handle on what's going on inside the game."
One person who hasn't located that Zen but has found his game is Daly. Daly shot a second-round 66 but wasn't in the mood to talk after his round, brushing by reporters.
ESPN.com - Horse Racing - $30K plunge into Kentucky Derby Future Pool 1
By Marty McGee
Daily Racing Form
The opening odds in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager took on a decidedly lopsided tilt when $30,000 was bet on the mutuel field just minutes after wagering opened Thursday.
According to Churchill Downs officials, one or more people betting through a hub in Maine accounted for "most of" the big wager shortly after windows opened at noon Eastern on Thursday. Maine serves as the hub for numerous offshore and Internet wagering sites.
As of 5 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, the field was the 1-10 favorite, followed by Lion Heart (35-1), Master David (40-1), Eurosilver (45-1), and Tapit (50-1). The handle at that point was more than $78,000.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, handle in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Oaks futures had barely surpassed $3,300. Halfbridled was the 5-2 favorite over the field (7-2).
Betting on Pool 1 for both the Derby and Oaks continues through Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
By Marty McGee
Daily Racing Form
The opening odds in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager took on a decidedly lopsided tilt when $30,000 was bet on the mutuel field just minutes after wagering opened Thursday.
According to Churchill Downs officials, one or more people betting through a hub in Maine accounted for "most of" the big wager shortly after windows opened at noon Eastern on Thursday. Maine serves as the hub for numerous offshore and Internet wagering sites.
As of 5 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, the field was the 1-10 favorite, followed by Lion Heart (35-1), Master David (40-1), Eurosilver (45-1), and Tapit (50-1). The handle at that point was more than $78,000.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, handle in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Oaks futures had barely surpassed $3,300. Halfbridled was the 5-2 favorite over the field (7-2).
Betting on Pool 1 for both the Derby and Oaks continues through Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
