‘We Just got story wrong’
Sam plans to follow in Buttler’s footsteps
AMERICAN golf chiefs were forced into an embarrassing U-turn last night after admitting their claim that world No.4 Justin Thomas had cancelled meetings with them was false.
Thomas has been a vocal critic of the changes to the Rules Of Golf, which came into effect on January 1, calling them “terrible” in his pre-tournament press conference ahead of the Honda Classic.
His mood was not improved when he bent the shaft of his nine iron, after hitting a tree playing a recovery shot in the opening round at Palm Beach Gardens, and was unable to replace the club mid-round, only to repair it.
“You can just add that one to the list of rules that don’t make any sense,” he said afterwards.
Thomas took to social media to criticise the USGA, who surprisingly responded on Twitter by claiming Thomas had “cancelled every meeting we’ve planned with you”, and pointed out that the PGA Tour had been involved with the planning of the changes for seven years.
But last night the USGA tweeted: “After further and more direct conversations with @JustinThomas34, we realise he did not avoid a discussion with the USGA nor cancel any meetings.
“We value his opinions and are committed to a productive dialogue as the golf world adjusts to the modernised rules.”
Thomas had said on Sunday he was “really hurt” by the USGA’s initial response and that “the information they put out wasn’t accurate and doesn’t make me look good”. SAM BILLINGS is out to score the runs that will further his international ambitions after turning his back on T20 franchises for England.
Billings has made a name for himself across the globe by playing in the likes of the IPL in India, the Big Bash in Australia and the Pakistan Super League.
But this winter he turned down offers from every league bar the IPL, where he was retained by the Chennai Super Kings, to have a fifth spell with the England Lions and push his case across the formats starting in the first T20 against the Windies.
The elevation of Jos Buttler to Test vice-captain on the back of his performances in the IPL and the shortest formats is not a route that everyone can rely on.
So rather than try to copy him, Billings chose to go on another Lions tour, this time as captain, to try to show off his allround game.
“I had the opportunity to go back to the Big Bash, but went on the Lions tour instead,” said Billings, who also captains Kent.
“It was definitely the best thing for me long-term.
“I’ve seen what happened with Jos, but I suppose that was why I decided to go down the Lions route this winter and not just play T20 cricket.
“Yes, it’s all about hitting it out of the game and whatever, but actually your basics of the game are important.
“If you’re not working and being exposed to that fourday cricket then it will suffer.
“And it helps in short-form cricket too, because if you’re not in a strong position to hit a forward defensive you’re probably not going to be in a strong position to hit it out of the ground.
“It’s about getting that rhythm to bat for long periods of time and put an innings together, which I did in India.”
Billings knows the queue to join England’s white-ball batting line-up at full strength is the longest it has ever been with the likes of Dawid Malan and James Vince also pressing their noses up against the dressing-room window.
But the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman admits his only focus must be on enjoying and getting the most out of the games and letting selection look after itself – and after seeing Kent team-mate Joe Denly (left) leapfrog him into the firstchoice England squads he knows the carrot is very much there for him.
“The story of Joe is a great one for anyone,” added Billings. “Certainly if you’ve been in the fringes or out of the international arena.
“It’s amazing how quickly things can turn out if you’re a consistent performer and you enjoy your cricket, which he definitely does.
“I can learn from him and it is about scoring runs and enjoying the ride.”