Dein erstes Forum » Championship was played here in 2005, Phil Micke

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Before Ohio State could move on to next weekends showdown with Michigan, the Buckeyes had to deal with a different nemesis.As usual, Michigan State gave Urban Meyers team all it could handle.Mike Weber ran for 111 yards and a touchdown, and No. 2 Ohio State held off Michigan State 17-16 on Saturday after the upset-minded Spartans missed a 2-point conversion with 4:41 remaining.Tough day at the office right there, Meyer said. Well take the win against a team that we know very well and on the road in November. Were 10-1 and getting ready for rivalry week.Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, No. 2 AP) can now focus on Michigan, but only after withstanding a spirited challenge from a Michigan State team that derailed the Buckeyes national title bids in two of the previous three seasons. The Spartans (3-8, 1-7) were down 17-10 when LJ Scott scored on a 1-yard run with 4:41 to play. Michigan State went for the lead, but Tyler OConnors pass on the 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted in the end zone.All week long Id said that, hey, if we get close at the end of the game, were going for 2, and were going to take an aggressive approach and play to win the football game rather than to tie, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. They had us covered up on that particular play, so good job by them.The Spartans got the ball back one more time, at their own 20 with 2:04 remaining. Tyquan Lewis sacked OConnor on the first play, and then Gareon Conley intercepted him on the second.Scott ran for 160 yards and also scored on a 64-yard catch-and-run in the first minute of the game, but the Ohio State defense didnt allow much more after that. J.T. Barrett threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel in the first quarter, and the game was tied at 10 at halftime.Webers 4-yard TD run in the third gave the Buckeyes the lead for good.THE TAKEAWAYOhio State: The Buckeyes had to claw their way to this win, but it was still a sweet one against the team that has given them more trouble than any in recent seasons. Michigan State beat Ohio State in the 2013 Big Ten title game and again late in the regular season last year. Ohio States stellar pass defense was the difference. OConnor and Damion Terry were a combined 8 of 21 with two interceptions for the Spartans.Michigan State: Dantonios team threw everything it had at Ohio State, executing a successful fake punt in the fourth quarter and later going for 2 when an extra point would have tied it. The Spartans fell just short in the end, unable to establish any consistent offensive threats aside from Scott.The 2-point conversion may be second-guessed in the days to come, but OConnor said the team was on board with it.We dont play for second place, obviously, OConnor said. Everybody was all in on going for it.POLL IMPLICATIONSOhio State: The Buckeyes trailed only top-ranked Alabama coming into this weekend, but the bigger concern for them is their playoff position. Even if Ohio State beats Michigan, it could lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with Penn State for the division title.TOUGH SLEDDINGMichigan State managed only 127 yards passing, over half of it on one play. Ohio State wasnt very productive through the air either. Barrett went 10 of 22 for 86 yards on a windy day that included sporadic snow flurries. The Spartans, who had only seven sacks coming into the game, had three against Ohio State.MILESTONEWeber became the third Ohio State freshman to reach 1,000 yards rushing. Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002) were the other two.It means a lot, he said. It was a goal that I had set at the beginning of the year. My offensive line executed and made it happen.GREAT SCOTTScott had 236 total yards, including a highlight-reel play in the third quarter when he hurdled an Ohio State defender near the sideline.UP NEXTOhio State: The Buckeyes have lost only once in their last 12 meetings with Michigan. Ohio State will be at home next weekend, where it has not lost to Michigan since 2000.Michigan State: The Spartans play at Penn State next weekend, meaning they could have another chance to play spoiler in the Big Ten title race.Tyson Chandler Lakers Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Nick Van Exel Lakers Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar-Jersey/ . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . JaVale McGee Lakers Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Lance Stephenson Jersey . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU.SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- The Latest on the PGA Championship (all times EDT):7:15 p.m.Baltusrol Golf Club is a rare course with par-5s as the two finishing holes. In the first round of the PGA Championship 18 players finished birdie-birdie or better on the closing holes.Lee Westwood made birdie on the 649-yard 17th and he eagled the 554-yard 18th. The other 17 golfers all posted 4s on the last two holes.----6:50 p.m.Jimmy Walker posted a 5-under 65 in the morning and it held up to give him the first round lead of the PGA Championship.Martin Kaymer, Emiliano Grillo and Ross Fisher were all one stroke back at Baltusrol Golf Club.Kaymer, who started on the back nine in the afternoon wave, got to 4 under with a birdie on No. 3 and then parred out to stay in the tie for second. Grillo and Fisher both played in the morning.Harris English, James Hahn and Andy Sullivan -- all of whom played in the morning -- and British Open champion Henrik Stenson shot 67s to share fifth place.----5:10 p.m.Martin Kaymer was within one stroke of the lead in the PGA Championship with three holes to play. The two-time major champion, who started on the back nine, followed a bogey at No. 2 with a birdie at No. 3 to get to 4 under, one shot behind Jimmy Walker, whose early 5-under 65 was standing up on the hot day at Baltusrol Golf Club.----4:10 p.m.Martin Kaymer, a two-time major champion, made a run at the lead in the first round of the PGA Championship. Kaymer had four birdies in a five-hole stretch to get to 4 under, one behind leader Jimmy Walker. But the 2010 PGA champion bogeyed No. 2 -- he started on the back nine -- and dropped to 3 under. Kaymer birdied Nos. 17 and 18 -- Baltusrols only par-5s.----3:40 p.m.Jimmy Walker didnt think he could handle Baltusrol the first time he saw it.He was a 21-year-old about to enter his senior year at Baylor when he played Baltusrol in the 2000 U.S. Amateur. I just remember it was a lot of golf course for me. It was tough, said Walker, who said he failed to advance to match play at the Amateur.But there were happy memories, too.He played a practice round that year with Houston golfer Andy Sanders. They became good friends on the mini-tours until Sanders had back injuries, survived a head-on car collision and then was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Sanders now is his caddie.Sanders, by the way, advanced to match play at Baltusrol and lost in the first round. Hes still bitter about that. As for memories of meeting Walker?I just remember he hit the ball a long way, Sanders said.Walker holds the early first-round lead with a 5-under 65.----3:15 p.m.The two most popular groups of the afternoon flight at the PGA Championship werent exactly tearing up the course early in the first round.The first-name-only-necessary threesome of Sergio, Jordan and Bubba (its Garcia, Spieth and Watson if you need the last names) had a total of two birdies through the first seven holes. Garcia had one on No. 2 and was at 1 under while Watson had the other on the same hole but was at 1 over, one shot better than Spieth.The threesome of this years major champions: Danny Willett (Masters), Dustin Johnson (U.S. Open) and Henrik Stenson (British Open) was a cumulative 2 over after six holes. Willett and Stenson both birdied No. 6 to get to 1 under while Johnson was 4 over, nine shots behind leader Jimmy Walker..----2:15 p.m.Brooks Koepka completed his first round since Sunday at the U.S. Open, and he was thrilled with a 68.Koepka had to pull out during the first round of the Bridgestone Invitational because of torn ligaments in his right ankle, and he probably wouldnt be playing this week except that its the final major of the year. His ankle is taped and he is wearing a brace.Walking 18 holes for the first time since the final round at Oakmont was the first big test. And he had enough power to make eagle on the 18th and four other birdies to offset his mistakes. Koepka said even with a month off, his game didnt leave him.Koepka was No. 3 in the Ryder Cup standings when he stepped away in late June. A month later, he is down to No. 9 in the U.S. standings. Points count double at a major, so Koepka has a good chance to move back into the top eight that automatically qualify.----1:55 p.m.Jimmy Walker had six birdies in a 5-under 65 to take the lead of the PGA Championship after the morning flight of 78 golfers. It tied Walkers career low round in a major.Emiliano Grillo and Ross Fisher were one shhot behind while Harris English, James Hahn and Andy Sullivan were two strokes back.ddddddddddddEight golfers posted 2-under 68s including defending champion Jason Day, Rickie Fowler and K.J. Choi.The featured group of the morning wave had Day, Phil Mickelson (71), the winner the last time the PGA was held at Baltusrol Golf Club, and two-time PGA champion Rory McIlroy (74).----12:50 p.m.Scott Hend and Vaughn Taylor had the first birdie runs of the PGA Championship and it was over the same three holes at Baltusrol Golf Club.Hend, a native of Australia who plays on the European Tour, birdied Nos. 13-15, all par-4s.Taylor, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this year, put up the same three 3s.----11:30 a.m.The early starters off the back nine at Baltusrol Golf Club took advantage of the par-5 18th, a 554-yard hole. Of the 13 groups that started at No. 10 at the PGA Championship there were two eagles (Brooks Koepka and Lee Westwood in the same threesome) and 20 birdies.There were seven bogeys on the hole from those groups, including ones by Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Brandt Snedeker.----10:45 a.m.Jimmy Walker, who missed the cut in two of his last four PGA Tour events, birdied half of his first 10 holes to take an early lead at the PGA Championship. Walker, who has one Top Ten finish in five previous PGA Championships, made the turn at Baltusrol Golf Club in 4-under 32 and then birdied the par-4 1st hole to reach 5 under, two shots better than Rickie Fowler, Harris English and Paul Casey.Walker, who has five career wins on tour but none this year, is 48th in the current world rankings.----10:20 a.m.Rickie Fowler, looking to become the fourth first-time major champion this year, made the turn at 3-under 33, tying him for the early lead at the PGA Championship. Starting on the 10th hole at Baltusrol Golf Club, Fowler had four birdies and a bogey in his front nine. Tied with him at 3 under were Jimmy Walker and Brian Stuard.----9:40 a.m.The PGA Championships featured morning group of Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day didnt get off to a great start at Baltusrol Golf Club. Through their first four holes -- they started on the back nine -- Day, the defending champion, had the groups only birdie on the par-4 11th. Mickelson, who won the PGA Championship the last time it was played here, and McIlroy, a two-time PGA champion, both had a bogey in the opening holes.---8:50 a.m.Players starting on the back nine were attacking the 11th hole at Baltusrol. Of the first seven groups to play the 431-yard, par-4 hole, six golfers posted birdies. That included Rickie Fowler, who is playing with Ernie Els and Zach Johnson. Fowlers playing partners parred the hole.----7:55 a.m.No one had ever finished a major championship at 20-under par until Jason Day last year in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. And then it happened three majors later when Henrik Stenson matched him at Royal Troon two weeks ago at the British Open.What will Baltusrol serve up this week at the PGA Championship?Kerry Haigh, the PGAs managing director of championships, says score is no concern at the PGA Championship, which has a history of good scoring. But that leads to a curious aspect about Baltusrol that this week might solve.The 1967 U.S. Open was at Baltusrol, and Jack Nicklaus broke the scoring record with 275. When it returned to Baltusrol in 1980, Nicklaus set another U.S. Open record at 272. The U.S. Open was at Baltusrol again in 1993, and Lee Janzen tied the record at 272.But when the PGA Championship was played here in 2005, Phil Mickelson won at 4-under 276.---7:25 a.m.The final major of the year began Thursday when New York club pro Mark Brown hit the opening tee shot in the PGA Championship.The PGA of America has a tradition of letting one of its 20 club pros in the field hit the first shot. The 49-year-old Brown is the head pro at Tam OShanter Golf Club in Brookville. He was a runner-up at the PGA Professional Championship in June.The sun was baking Baltusrol in the morning, and it was expected to be steamy in the afternoon when the other traditional group of major champions teed off. Masters champion Danny Willett, U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and British Open champion Henrik Stenson tee off at 1:45 p.m.Defending champion Jason Day plays in the morning. ' ' '