Star Sergio scoops golfer of year title
RESTED LATU BACK IN COV PACK FOR TOUGH AMPTHILL CLASH
The 37-year-old, who also got married in 2017, said: “This is an amazing honour. I think both on and off the golf course it has been a unique and unbelievable year, and one that I will definitely remember my whole life.
“With five of us filling the top five places in the Race to Dubai, it shows the real strength of the European Tour, and European players in particular, and hopefully we will keep that going for next September (at the Ryder Cup) in Paris.”
The award was voted for by a panel of members of the golfing media. Garcia’s countryman Seve Ballesteros won it on three occasions in 1986, 1988 and 1991.
Justin Rose has chosen Walton Heath in Surrey as the venue for the next year’s British Masters.
Olympic champion Rose, 37, is tournament host for the European Tour event, which will take place from October 11-14.
“Walton Heath is a golf course I really enjoy playing, in fact I love it,” said Rose, who won the title in 2002.
“I went back to Walton Heath in the summer just to ensure I wanted to take the tournament there and I had forgotten how good a golf course it is.”
The British Masters returned to the European Tour’s schedule in 2015 after a sevenyear absence. Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood have been tournament hosts for the three previous years. BLIND side flanker Latu Makaafi and winger Max Trimble return to the Coventry squad for tomorrow’s game against Ampthill & District at Butts Park Arena.
Makaafi, who was rested for last week’s trip to Rosslyn Park, comes straight back into the starting XV for the National League One leaders with Brett Daynes moving to the bench at the expense of Olly Povoas, while Trimble replaces Fraser Dingwall in the replacements.
Centre Sam Tuitupou, hooker Phil Nilsen and prop Jack Higgins – for his home debut – all start the game on rotation with Tony Fenner, Scott Tolmie and Jimmy Litchfield who are on the bench.
The game pits first in the table against fourth with Cov looking to extend their winning start to 14 games but well aware of the challenge posed by Ampthill’s experienced set of forwards, which includes exCoventry pair Carl Burgess and Ben Gulliver in the second row.
“They’re a big, physical threat – they have a big squad with lots of ex-internationals in their pack, and with Kevin Barrett at scrum-half they have some quality players in there,” said director of rugby, Rowland Winter.
“It’s a very difficult game for us, mainly because of the physical challenge they bring, but knowing that is one thing and we have to apply ourselves to raise our game to another level to overcome that. “We’re looking to continue the secondhalf performance from last week, which was excellent, with a high tempo to our game and to step it up another notch. “Hopefully there will be another big crowd there to get behind us, and we are looking forward to it.” Kick-off is 3pm, and live post-match entertainment in the Arena Bar is by Soul Junction.
Scrum-half Pete White returns to action after a nine-week injury lay-off in the Development side whose Zoo Sports Shield game against Ampthill has been moved to Broadstreet with a 12.30pm kick-off.
Centre Jacob Umaga, signed on dual registration from Wasps, and prop Kai Owen, formerly with Worcester Academy, both make their first Cov appearances in a strong team bidding to follow up last week’s fine 52-22 win at Cinderford.
We’re looking to continue the secondhalf performance from last week, which was excellent, with a high tempo to our game and to step it up another notch.