Dein erstes Forum » The challenge for the Titans and Mettenberger

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- Robert Garrigus missed two short par putts over the last seven holes Saturday, and just like that, his four-shot lead dwindled to one in the Valspar Championship. Thats about the only thing that went quickly. On a gorgeous afternoon at Innisbrook, pace of play on the PGA Tour reared its ugly head again. Garrigus had to settle for a 1-under 70 when he missed short par putts on the 12th and 18th holes, giving him a one-shot lead over Kevin Na, who laboured and fidgeted his way around the Copperhead course to a 68. The final group turned into a threesome for most of the back nine -- Garrigus, Kevin Na and a rules official with his hand on a stopwatch. Even though they finished in just under four hours, they were as many as two holes behind the group ahead of them. Both players were given a bad time -- a first for Garrigus, but not for Na -- and one more would have meant a one-shot penalty. "Im not used to being put on the clock," said Garrigus, one of the fastest players in golf. "Thats the first time in nine years -- actually the first time in 17 years as a professional -- Ive ever got a bad time on the golf course. I started laughing." They were on the clock when Garrigus had a nasty lie in the rough on the side of the hill on the par-5 14th. He walked some 30 yards up to the green to study his shot, and by the time he walked back to hit it, he was went beyond his allotted 40 seconds. Na was given a bad time on the par-3 13th hole when he was first to play. "Over water, tough to judge the wind and corner pin is obviously brutal, and probably just took some extra time because it was probably a hard golf shot," Na said. "Unfortunately, I was past the time. I know how to play. I dont know what people were saying, but I dont feel like I should be criticized for my play today because Im the first one to admit if I play slow. But I really didnt feel like I played slow today." A traffic jam is likely for the final round. Garrigus was at 8-under 205, and the final seven holes brought several players back into the mix -- most of them needing a win to get into the Masters. David Hearn (70) of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 11th at 2-under par, Graham DeLaet (71) of Weyburn, Sask., and Calgarys Stephen Ames (72) were tied at 38th at 1 over. John Senden of Australia made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to cap off a 64, moving up 32 spots on the leaderboard into third place, just two shots behind. Justin Rose, at No. 7 the highest-ranked player in the field, made bogey from a wild tee shot on the 18th for a 69 and was three shots behind. Retief Goosen finished his bogey-free 64 some 2 1/2 hours before the leaders began the third round. He made the cut on the number, and suddenly finds himself within four shots of the lead on a course where he has won before. Goosen was at 4-under 209, along with Scott Langley (69) and Charley Hoffman (67). Luke Donald, a winner at Innisbrook two years ago, was in the group five shots behind. Garrigus did plenty right. He hit two balls off the first tee, only to find his original tee shot had banged off a tree and back into play. He converted that into a birdie, made a 12-foot birdie on the next hole and stretched his lead to four shots with a nifty flop shot from the pine straw that set up a birdie on the par-5 fifth. That was his last birdie. Na remarkably has made only one bogey through 54 holes on a Copperhead course with plenty of bite. He turned a potential bogey into birdie when he chipped in from deep rough on the par-3 15th hole. The pressure came more from the clock held by rules official Gary Young. Na said he was discussing the line of his 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th with caddie Kenny Harms when he wanted one last look. "I was about to back off. Kenny goes, You better go," Na said. "I kind of peaked out in the fairway and theres Gary on the cart with a little clock." Even so, Na said he didnt feel a need to apologize. Pat Perez, playing in the group ahead of them, hit a tee shot into the vegetation on the third hole. Taking a penalty drop would leave him in a palmetto bush, so he opted to go back to the tee. Perez was given a cart ride to the tee and back to his next ball in play, and then he was gone. Perez is one of the fastest players. "They took off," Garrigus said. "When Pat is playing bad, he takes four seconds to hit a shot." Na said Garrigus told him after the round that he would tell him if he were playing slow. He said other players have told him he has picked up the pace. He said he has improved "a ton" since The Players Championship in 2012, when he was changing his swing and had trouble taking the club back -- or changing his mind at the top and purposely missing the ball so he could start over. "Its not fair for me because I already have that stamp on me," Na said. He would much rather me known as a guy with multiple wins on the PGA Tour, and he has a chance to get his second title on Sunday. So does Garrigus, whose only other win was at Disney in 2010. At stake for both is a spot in the Masters. Of the seven players separated by four shots going into the final round, Rose is the only one eligible for the first major of the year. Soccer Jerseys From China . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Cheap Soccer Jerseys . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent. https://www.cheapsoccerjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . -- Adrian Peterson remained in a walking boot to treat a high ankle sprain on his left leg on Wednesday, and coach Leslie Frazier said he will not play on Sunday against Atlanta if he cant hit the practice field in the next two days. Replica Soccer Jerseys . Steve has built a solid reputation throughout the years - first as a hockey player, then as an NHL general manager and now as a scout. Soccer Jerseys Online . The Raptors have been outscored 88-66 in the opening quarter over a three-game span to begin the month of February. Their most recent loss, 109-101 in Sacramento on Wednesday, was eerily similar to Saturdays defeat at the hands of the Trail Blazers.NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger says he definitely will play Sunday against the New York Giants despite a sprained right shoulder.Mettenberger said Wednesday its his body and he feels fine as he works through the soreness. Both the X-rays and MRI exam were negative, and the sixth-round draft pick out of LSU isnt trying to prove hes tough. This is his NFL audition with the Titans (2-10).Right now this is my team, Mettenberger said. I cant think about next year. All I have is the opportunity to play this Sunday and who knows what could happen. I could get hurt or whatever. But right now my opportunity is to play this Sunday and show that yeah, Im the best guy for this team and hopefully for the future as well.Mettenberger sprained his throwing shoulder during the third quarter of a 45-21 loss to Houston after being hit by J.J. Watt. In five straight starts, the rookie has thrown for 1,270 yards and eight touchdowns with five touchdowns for a 91.8 passer rating. He has thrown a TD pass in each of his starts but has yet to win a game for a team that has lost 10 of 11.Losing sucks, Mettenberger said. Its that simple ... Really all we can do is keep grinding, keep staying focused and take it personal really. Thats the only way we can get a win.Coach Ken Whisenhunt remains optimistic Mettenberger will play barring a setback. The quarterback was limited in practice, testing his shoulder throwing some short passes.The Titans need to see Mettenberger keep growing with four games left this season to know whether they need to draft another quarterback in May. Whisenhunt said Mettenberger is improving each week, and the coach wants to see him keep that up.All this time that hes getting is invaluable as far as understanding the position and us getting a chance to see what he can do, Whisenhunt said. You cant create a scenario where you can actually work on something that youd like to see.dddddddddddd You hope that some of those things come up, but were getting a lot of good information about him.The challenge for the Titans and Mettenberger is the health of their offensive line, which Whisenhunt said was not great. Mettenbergers starting tackles did not play against Houston and did not practice Wednesday with left tackle Taylor Lewans left ankle heavily taped and right tackle Michael Oher still in a walking boot on his left foot.I really dont know about their chances, Whisenhunt said. Well have to see as it progresses. We signed another tackle. Obviously, its something we needed to do because of where we are with the line, and hopefully those guys will continue to get better.Right guard Chance Warmack was limited by a sore ankle but Whisenhunt said the second-year lineman is expected back.Mettenberger said he hasnt had a conversation about whether he could hurt his shoulder further by playing.I cant think like that, Mettenberger said. I can just go out there and play ball. I cant think about getting hurt anymore, so Im not going to worry about that.The Giants (3-9) placed two defensive ends on injured reserve Tuesday in Mathias Kiwanuka and Robert Ayers. New York coach Tom Coughlin called Mettenberger a strong-armed young man.Hes got an outstanding arm, Coughlin said. He throws the ball into any spots on the field, tight spots, open spots, and accurate.Notes: Mettenberger will be without one of his receivers with Justin Hunter on injured reserve. Hunter was released Wednesday from a Houston hospital and flew back to Nashville on a private plane courtesy of Titans president Tommy Smith. ... DE Kam Wimbley (left hamstring) also did not practice. CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson (back) was limited, and DB Marqueston Huff (hamstring) practiced fully.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '