Technik » : Desmond Jennings (strained left ham

1. Tigers vulnerabilityA good bit of soul searching and honest reflection went into Tiger Woods decision to skip last weeks Safeway Open with the rare admission that his game was vulnerable, causing the golf world to shutter.Now after more than a week has passed to allow all that to absorb, perhaps the good to come out of all of this is that Woods has finally allowed himself to lower his own expectations with a hint to the masses that they should follow.This comeback was never going to be easy, regardless of the time, place or state of Woods game. Two back procedures in consecutive months followed by no meaningful golf for six more? More than a years worth of professional golf events played without him? The lost practice time? The toll that it takes mentally?All of that adds up to a healthy dose of perspective as it relates to how Woods will look when he does come back, which he now hopes will be the Hero World Challenge in December. Nobody, himself included, can possibly expect to see any semblance of the Tiger who ruled golf for so long, and that apparently is sinking in with him.Of course, that wont stop us from wanting to see every bit of it, with comments and conjecture and analysis coming from every single angle. It is the downside to being Tiger, and perhaps the reason he is reluctant to return: He knows he is being judged by his past.But if Woods can lower his expectations -- still a big if -- then others should as well. Numerous observers, including players who have undergone back surgery, have commented that returning to any level of competitive golf, let alone the highest, is going to take time.So Woods first tournament back, whether it be the Hero World Challenge or some event in 2017, should not be viewed as some sort of referendum on his game and his future. Its only one tournament, and it might just be the beginning of what is a slow, frustrating process.2. Reinventing TigerIf you happened to catch any of the video that made the rounds last week from a clinic Woods conducted near Pebble Beach, it wasnt hard to notice a golf swing that looked serviceable but one that was far from full speed. You can make too much out of such a thing -- he was giving a clinic, after all -- but it does make you wonder if Woods can play the game differently than the way we are used to seeing.In other words, can he dial it back? Can he better manage his game and not be worried about distance? Can he be effective in that manner while perhaps lessening the physical toll?When Woods was seemingly at his lowest point during last years World Challenge -- unclear when a comeback might take place, if at all -- he addressed how he might reshape his game.If I dont hit it as far, hopefully hit more fairways, Woods said. Understand how to play more iron shots into the correct spots. Ive learned a few more shots around the greens in the past couple years. Implement those in my short game. Putting ... some of the things I was working on at the end of (2015) were starting to click. Its putting all those things together. The game is so fluid. Thats the thing I need to be aware of going forward.In essence, Woods was talking about reinventing himself. Whether he really believes that, or will seek to follow that path, is purely conjecture. It could be that is part of his game plan now as he attempts to return.3. The Tiger clinicHere is how Woods looked on Oct. 11 during a clinic he gave for his foundation at Monterey Peninsula Country Club.4. The Parnevik interviewJesper Parneviks quotes in which he said Woods was flushing it when he saw him earlier this year at The Medalist in South Florida appear in the November issue of Golf Digest. The magazine created a bit of a stir two weeks ago when its website excerpted those quotes in which Parnevik said Woods was flushing everything and that regarding his comeback something tells me this might be spectacular.It heightened the chatter as Woods sought to come back, but Parnevik said in an interview last week that he had seen Woods play in May and that the interview had taken place months ago. I thought his swing was great, Parnevik said. With all the injuries he had been through, his back, he looked really good. But I never saw him all summer. I wish I had more to update.The entire interview with Parnevik is now posted.5. The Phil pairingMuch has been made of Woods being grouped with Phil Mickelson for the first two rounds of the Safeway Open. Such an early-round pairing on the PGA Tour of the longtime rivals had been rare, and some saw it as another reason for Woods to withdraw: He didnt need to be shown up by Mickelson.None other than Mickelson himself squashed that theory. Last week during the Safeway Open, Mickelson acknowledged that he and Woods had spoken about the grouping during the Ryder Cup, and that Tiger was fully on board. He noted that the PGA Tour came to both parties and asked if it would be OK.And it should be pointed out that there would have been no shame in Woods shooting a higher scorer than Mickelson, as tough as it might have been for him to take: It occurred numerous times when they played together over the years.6. Long time comingThe World Golf Hall of Fame announced its latest inductees, who will officially become part of the Class of 2017, and the big question is what took so long for Ian Woosnam? The Welshman will join Davis Love III, Lorena Ochoa, Meg Mallon and writer/broadcaster Henry Longhurst.Woosnam was part of Europes Big Five along with Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Sandy Lyle. All contributed to the European Ryder Cup resurgence. All won major championships. And all are in the Hall of Fame -- with Woosnam finally joining the others. He had 59 worldwide wins, including 29 on the European Tour, and won the 1991 Masters.7. The PGA Tours Asia SwingA new event in South Korea next fall will bring to three the number of events being staged in Asia as part of the official PGA Tour schedule. This weeks CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and next weeks WGC-HSBC Champions in China have been officially part of the schedule for the past few years, and now a third option is set to come on board.The Associated Press reported that the PGA Tour will announce the details next week and it is in keeping with the tours desire to enter the Asian market. What will be interesting to see is how the event fits into the already diverse fall schedule that sees the tour this year go from Napa, California, to Kuala Lumpur to Shanghai (with an opposite event in Mississippi) to Las Vegas, to Cancun, Mexico, and then to Sea Island, Georgia.8. This seems kind of cruelDavid Howell hit a pretty good shot during the second round of the British Masters last week on the par-3 13th, one that appeared headed toward the hole.9. Quote of the WeekLeave it to Phil Mickelson to sum things up when asked last week if he expected to be a player on the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup team, when he will be 48 years old.Its been 22 years since there have been 10 Americans that have been able to beat me [to make the team] so I dont know why it would stop now, he said. I plan on being on the team in France and absolutely one of my goals is to play in France because Ive never been on a winning Ryder Cup team over in Europe. I want to win a Ryder Cup over there and I want to be part of that as a player. Sale Air Max Online .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Orange Nike Air Max 2018 . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. http://www.discountairmax.com/ . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Official Air Max 2018 Shoes . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. Authentic Air Max 2018 . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. OAKLAND, Calif. -- With a little more playing time these past few days, Athletics slugger Billy Butler is finally getting comfortable at the plate -- even in a rare appearance against a right-hander.It might not be enough to get him out of a part-time role in Oakland. Still, its a step in the right direction for the former All-Star first baseman.Butler hit a tiebreaking home run off Erasmo Ramirez with one out in the eighth inning and the As held on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Sunday.Ive shown it my career, I can come through in those situations day in and day out, Butler said after helping the As complete a 7-3 homestand. Its one of those things where I really havent had any opportunities to be frustrated. I just havent had my number called a lot. Coming through in those situations, maybe Ill get my number called more.Oakland lost the first game of this series then won the next two on walkoff hits. The As led 2-0 in the finale until Logan Forsythes tying two-run homer in the top of the eighth.Ramirez (7-8) retired Khris Davis on a fly ball before Butler hammered an 0-1 pitch over the wall in center. Its Butlers third home run of the season and first since June 7.Butler also had an RBI single in the first, giving him 18 RBI over his last 35 games.Its tough for a guy that plays every day to try to get himself into a rhythm if hes not, but thats a big hit today, As manager Bob Melvin said. Hes staying positive . but this has been a tough year for him, based on the fact hes asked to do something hes not used to doing.Davis added two hits while Jake Smolinski doubled twice and scored for the As.Ryan Dull (4-2) retired two batters for the win despite giving up Forsythes home run. Ryan Madson pitched the ninth for his 21st save.Home runs have beat us up a lot this year, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Obviously when you give up that many, theyre coming at the wrong time.Forsythes home run in the eighth ruined an otherwise stellar day for As starter Jesse Hahn.Called up from the minors before the game, Hahn faced just two over the minimum through six innings and allowed only one runner to reach second base before leeaving with a 2-0 lead with two outs in the eighth.dddddddddddd. The right-hander walked one and matched his season-high of five strikeouts.Oakland jumped on Tampa Bay rookie left-hander Blake Snell early and strung together four consecutive one-out hits in the first. Davis had an RBI double and Butler added a run-scoring single to put the As up 2-0.Snell allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.THIN BENCHWith only one fully healthy player (Matt McBride) available off the bench Melvin was asked if he had any pitchers hed consider using as positional players if the need arose. Ive got a couple of guys that would like to do it, Melvin said, specifically mentioning Sonny Gray and Kendall Graveman. I hope I dont get to that point. Position players always think they can pitch . and pitchers who are athletic always think they can play positions.TRAINERS ROOMRays: Desmond Jennings (strained left hamstring) ran the bases and took batting practice without a setback during a minor league rehab appearance. ... RHP Brad Boxberger threw 22 pitches in a rehab outing and is hopeful of rejoining the big league club in Los Angeles.Athletics: Coco Crisp was a late scratch because of neck soreness. He joined Josh Reddick (lower back soreness) on the bench. ... Rich Hill threw 30 pitches while wearing a protective covering on the middle finger of his left hand. Hill, who left his last start after five pitches because of a blister, will continue to throw bullpens for conditioning until the blister heals. ... Arismendy Alcantara was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.UP NEXTRays: RHP Chris Archer (5-13) pitches against the Dodgers in the opener of a two-game series on Tuesday. Archer entered the weekend leading the AL with 147 strikeouts.Athletics: RHP Daniel Mengden (1-1) returns to his native Texas to face the Rangers on Monday. Mengden was born in Houston and attended Texas A&M.- -- -This version correctly shows that the As took three of four games and did not sweep the series. ' ' '