It was a frigid winters day in the GTA on Sunday, but right across Canada it turned out to be a warm wonderful one in this country's sporting history.
WGC Dell Technology Match Play
For me Sunday began early from Austin Texas, where it was a windy 90*f at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play. Corey Conners was in the semi final against an "annoying" little terrier and past champion Kevin Kisner.
Corey was playing great from the get go on Wednesday "driving the ball better than ever" in his words. His first match against Paul Casey lasted about 20 minutes before the affable Englishman had to W/D with a wonky back. He went on to beat Louis Oosthuizen 2&1, then Alex Noren 3&2 to win his Group 10, 3-0-0.
In the round of 16 he beat Takumi Kanaya 5&3 then in the quarter finals, Abraham Ancer 2up.
In a tense match with Kisner, there was nothing in it between them and eventually after losing the 17th to go 1 down, it ended for Corey when he missed his birdie putt at the 18th.
He went out in the afternoon in the consolation match and won the first 3 holes against Dustin Johnson and never looked back winning 3&1 for 3rd place, a cheque for $825,000 and most important the confidence gained from the respect of his peers and the US media.
Maybe his dramatic first win at the Valero Texas Open in 2019, and his week following at Augusta were the toppers, but this week was special.
If he carries that form to Augusta in 2 weeks watch out for him. He says the course suits his high draw.
Scottie Scheffler went on to beat Kisner 4&3 and become the world's #1 ranked player.
Womens World Curling Championship :
Canada skip Kerri Einarson throws a stone against Germany
On Sunday afternoon, Kerri Einarson from Manitoba went out and won an emotional bronze for Canada in the Women's World curling championship in Prince George. It was a thriller coming down to her final rock in the 10th end for the 8-7 victory over 3rd ranked Sweden.
Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 4-2
Sunday evening the Leafs, having lost to arch rival Montreal on Saturday, came out flying and beat the odds on favourites to win the cup this year, the star studded Florida Panthers 5-2 with fan favourite Mitch Marner the play maker in fine form and the super star Austin Matthews putting the icing on the cake with his 48th into the empty net.
Canadian Men's Soccer team qualifies for the World Cup
Meanwhile down at frozen BMO field, 30,000 flag waving Canadian fanatics had gathered for a 4pm kick off with a giant prize in mind.
After years of indifferent, inept attempts at pro soccer in Toronto, MLS expanded in 2007 and Toronto FC was born, and they were immediately embraced, with a flurry of world reknown players and coaches in it's early years. BMO field was the place to be, sold out, I remember Mayor David Miller calling me at my office asking if I could get him tickets !
In 2018 they won the domestic treble (MLS Cup, Supporters Shield and Canadian Championship).
The Canadian men's team by comparison were completely over shadowed by the women led by Christine Simpson and coached by a young Englishman John Herdman who led them to back to back Olympic bronze medals, and had them playing in front of 60,000 at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium.
Canada's Tajon Buchanan does a backflip after scoring against Jamaica
The passion for the men's game was there, but never more so than last night. Herdman was hired to coach the men in 2018, and the results were soon improving. Canadians were playing all over Europe, many with roots in the Caribbean including a budding superstar Alphonso Davies.
This year they were the best team in CONCACAF, outscoring opponents 54-1 with 12 clean sheets, and after a disgusting match in Costa Rica on Wednesday where the hosts cheated and dived there way to a 1-0 "win", a place in Qatar was waiting, and this time Jamaica, where many of this years teams parents came to Canada from, were the opponents.
Despite the fact that millions across the country missed the first 25 minutes on TV as a Sportsnet channel decided to stay with a Jays pre season game in Dunedin, missing the emotional National Anthem, and the first and winning goal, the game finally came on, and it had been settled by then.
Jamaica were out gunned, gave it their best but for the first time since Canada qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico with a 1-0 win over Honduras in St John's NL, this team, this football team sent the stadium into pandemonium with a 4-0 win for the ages.
'We're going to the World Cup" repeated over and over, "a long time coming" said Dwayne de Rosario, echoed by former goalie and now commentator Greg Forrest who was one of many relegated to tears of joy. Out came the big bass drum to mid field as the team, fans clapped in rhythm. Several impromptu versions of O Canada sung with great gusto rang through the night air.
It was right up there amongst this young country's biggest sporting moments. 1972 Canada beating Russia, Ben Johnson's 100 yd's in Seoul 1988, Donovan Bailey beating Carl Lewis in Atlanta 1996, 14 gold medals in Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010, several Olympic gold and World Junior hockey gold medals, Blue Jay World Series 1992, 1993, Mike Weir winning the 2003 Masters, all come to mind.
What a Sunday. It won't ever be forgotten. Glad I was here to see it all.
Bryan Angus
......Special mention to Maude Aimee Leblanc who was lost in all the hoopla, after she ended up T4 68 68 70 68 -14 just 2 shots out of the playoff won by Atthaya Thitikul at the JTBC Classic out in Carlsbad California. Importantly for her growing confidence she tied with her playing partner and undisputed world #1 Jin Young Ko. She will be added to the women's first major of the year this week in Rancho Mirage.
No comments:
Post a Comment