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HOYLAKE, England -- Edoardo and Francesco Molinari are pretty much inseparable. cheap jerseys from china . The brothers were partners in Europes winning Ryder Cup side in 2010. A year earlier, theyd teamed up to win the World Cup for Italy at Mission Hills. Now they are together on the British Open leaderboard. About 30 minutes after Edoardo signed for a 4-under 68 in the opening round at Hoylake on Thursday, Francesco rolled in a 15-feet eagle putt at No. 18 to shoot the same score. They ended the day tied for third with five others. "We were here on Sunday practicing together," said Francesco, the younger sibling by nearly two years. "Probably we did a good job." The brothers have been feeding off each others games ever since they dominated their local club championships at Circolo Golf Torino as teenagers. "It was a big thing growing up in Italy," Francesco said. "At our age, there werent that many golfers playing well so there was someone that you could compete against every day -- even just training with him every day, it was good to get the best out of our games." For the 33-year-old Edoardo, it is a welcome return to big-time golf. Since 2011, he has been beset by injuries, primarily to his left hand, on which he had surgery in 2012 and again last year. He also had problems with his left wrist. Edoardo has been playing injury-free for the past seven months and a runner-up finish at the Irish Open last month secured his spot at the British Open. "The toughest time was after the first surgery when you undergo one surgery one time, then you hope its the last one," he said. "And then to do it again something like a year later wasnt fun at all. But hopefully, touching wood, everything is fine now." Its not the first time Edoardo and Francesco have been alongside each other on a leaderboard. In the last qualifying event for the Ryder Cup in 2010, they were the final pairing at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, and Edoardo finished with three straight birdies to win the tournament and seal a place on Europes team. In 2009, they also went head-to-head at the Scottish Open, with Edoardo prevailing again. "We dont like to lose to each other," Francesco said, "we dont like to lose to anyone else." "I saw the leaderboard," he added about his round on Thursday, "but its a tough course so you have to focus on what you are doing rather than the others are doing, even if its your brother." Just to maintain the Italian flavour at Royal Liverpool, Matteo Manassero shot 67 and is in second place behind Rory McIlroy. "Its good to see three Italians up there," Francesco said. "Im sure its going to be good for the kids watching us at home." Golf doesnt normally get much attention in Italy, but that may be about to change. "Italy at the moment is more about team sports, football in particular," Francesco said. "Im sure tonight they will be talking about us." cheap jerseys . PAUL, Minn. wholesale jerseys . After losing the first two games of this set in Arlington the Tigers showed some signs of life on Tuesday, as Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta all homered and Austin Jackson went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI for the AL Central champs in a 5-2 win. DENVER -- Phil Kessel keeps scoring and the Toronto Maple Leafs keep on winning. That four-game skid in early January seems as if its a long time ago. Kessel scored twice, James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist and the Maple Leafs beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Tuesday night for their sixth straight win. Nazem Kadri also scored and James Reimer stopped 35 shots for Toronto. Kessel has been one of the hottest players in the league over the past 12 days, and it came at the right time for his team. The Maple Leafs were struggling when Kessel started scoring. He has six goals and eight assists during Torontos winning streak. "With Phil, if he continues to get chances, hes got a history behind him and he knows how to score goals," Toronto coach Randy Carlyle said. The Maple Leafs are on their longest winning streak in eight years after losing four in a row. Toronto has climbed to fourth in the Eastern Conference during its win streak. The previous time Toronto won six straight was Dec. 23, 2005-Jan. 2, 2006. "Theres a lot more life in the room," defenceman Dion Phaneuf said. "Weve got a confidence in our dressing room that we feel good about ourselves." Kessel was playing for the University of Minnesota during Torontos previous six-game winning streak, but now hes leading the way for the Leafs ahead of the Sochi Olympics next month, where he will be part of Team USA once again. "Were winning, thats the most important thing," Kessel said. Rookie Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals for the Avalanche, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere had 19 saves in relief of Semyon Varlamov. "We lost the game in the second period," MacKinnon said. "Their goalie made some good saves for them. Weve been playing well of late, but we cant let this game get us down too much." Colorado generated more early chances but Toronto scored first. Phaneuf sent a puck from his own end off the backboards and Kessel, who got behind the Avalanche defence, put a soft shot past Varlamov 3:56 iinto the game. nfl jerseys china. "Dion made a good play, I kind of whiffed on it but it went in," Kessel said. The Avalanche failed to capitalize on two early power plays, and the Maple Leafs made it 2-0 on their first try on van Riemsdyks 20th goal at 17:41. Kadri redirected Jake Gardiners shot from the point 2:55 into the second period, giving Toronto a 3-0 lead and chasing Varlamov. Varlamov allowed three goals on 10 shots. "I think Varly was just a bit tired," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said. "I almost took him out after the first period. I didnt see in him the same energy that hes shown since the start of the year. When he gave up that third goal theres no need to push that." Giguere came in and Kessel made it 4-0 with his second of the night and team-leading 26th of the season. He nearly had his second hat trick of the season, but was denied by Jean-Sebastien Giguere in the third. Kessel finished with eight shots on goal. "I had a bunch tonight," Kessel said. "I missed some good chances." Giguere settled down, and the Avalanche finally got on the board when MacKinnon scored on a 2-on-1 break with P.A. Parenteau at 18:35 of the second period. Colorado turned up the pressure in the third and scored again on MacKinnons high wrist shot at 5:07. It was his 17th goal of the season. Colorado pulled Giguere for an extra skater with 2:56 remaining, but Jay McClement scored into the empty net to seal the win. "We played a decent enough of a hockey game to give ourselves a chance," Carlyle said. "The home teams going to come with a push and we withstood that." NOTES: Toronto RW Joffrey Lupul had two assists. ... Kessel extended his point streak to seven games. ... The Avalanche honoured referee Brad Watson before the game. Watson was officiating in his 1,000th NHL game. ... Colorado activated Parenteau and D Nate Guenin from the injured list. Parenteau missed 10 games with a sprained left knee and Guenin was out for seven games with an ankle injury. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
