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tkmedia · 3 years ago

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Ex-Boks coach blasts 'stupid decision' behind South Africa's downfall

12:49am, 24 September 2021 Former Springboks head coach Peter de Villiers has labelled South Africa’s “stupid decision” to leave Super Rugby as a key reason behind their lack of recent international form.ADVERTISEMENTFollowing a two-year hiatus from test rugby amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Springboks returned to action this year for the first time since the 2019 World Cup triumph in Japan.A series victory over the British and Irish Lions throughout July and August appeared to consolidate their status as the world’s best team, as did further victories over Los Pumas in their opening two matches of the Rugby Championship.

Can Argentina derail Australia’s Rugby Championship resurgence?However, back-to-back defeats to the Wallabies has seen South Africa lose its place as the world’s top-ranked side to the All Blacks, who they will face off against this weekend in Townsville in what will be their 100th clash against each other.The Springboks have been lamented for their conservative attacking tactics as they also struggled to cope defensively against Australia’s far more expansive style of play during their matches over the past fortnight on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.Speaking to Newstalk ZB, de Villiers attributed that in part to South Africa’s decision to leave Super Rugby after the competition was halted and eventually abandoned last March due to the initial outbreak of the virus.Since then, Super Rugby has undergone a significant overhaul, with the New Zealand, Australian and South African franchises playing their own makeshift domestic versions of the competition over the past two seasons, while the Jaguares and Sunwolves were disbanded.ADVERTISEMENTThe Kiwi and Australian sides went on to play each other in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman this season, and all 10 of those teams will play alongside new expansion franchises Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua in the revamped Super Rugby Pacific in 2022 and 2023.The future of Super Rugby now appears to be focused solely in the Asia-Pacific region rather than across the entire southern hemisphere, as South Africa’s four franchises have shifted north to play club rugby in Europe.Joining the newly-formed United Rugby Championship – previously known as the Pro14 – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers will now play alongside Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Italian teams on a full-time basis beginning this weekend.De Villiers said he disagreed with South Africa’s call to abandon their SANZAAR counterparts at Super Rugby level as he believes it has contributed to making the Springboks less competitive than the All Blacks and Wallabies.ADVERTISEMENT“That was a stupid decision that somebody has made,” he told Newstalk ZB.With South Africa no longer a part of Super Rugby, things are only going to get harder for New Zealand’s young test stars. #AllBlacks #Springboks #NZLvRSAhttps://t.co/av6EDVqZcl— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 24, 2021��I don’t see any financial gain in that thing. I don’t see any rugby specific role that gives the game the edge that we need. That was a very, very bad decision that we made.“I think we gave up that competitive edge where we could mould players at a lower level at Super Rugby so they can be ready at the stage where they can represent their country.“We have stolen from ourselves something that was very good for the game and we are paying the price.”The 64-year-old coached the Springboks between 2008 and 2011 and was in charge when South Africa achieved a rare clean sweep of the All Blacks during the 2009 Tri Nations, the last year of which New Zealand lost the Freedom Cup.De Villiers, who also guided the Springboks to two further victories over the All Blacks in 2008 and 2011, said his squad at that point in time was far superior to the current crop of players South Africa currently have.“I don’t think we can match them at any level,” he told Newstalk ZB.“We had a midfield with Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Adrian Jacobs, guys who could at any time be a game breaker. Then we had players around the wings like Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen, people who from nothing create something.“I don’t think we have that . In the pack we had natural, strong players and we used the back to bring the forwards into the game and it works for us. It’s going to be tough .”De Villiers also waded in on the criticism of South Africa’s negative attacking play as he said their high volume of kicking needs to be replaced by more creative freedom with ball in hand.“There’s no traditional style of South African rugby. There’s only a style of the coaches. Kicking will always be part of the game. It was there for years. With Daniel Carter then at the world’s best, you could count how many times he did kick.Former All Blacks and Wallabies skills coach Mick Byrne has been unveiled as head coach of the Fijian Drua for their inaugural season in Super Rugby Pacific. #SuperRugbyPacific #FijianDrua https://t.co/XB7UPNP5eN— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 24, 2021“So, kicking was always part of the game, but you can’t build your game plan around kicking. Kicking should be a part of the game and not the game itself.“In South Africa’s case before the World Cup, they started this kind of game plan, and at this stage everybody else is now so happy with chasing and for the 50-50 balls in the air.“Nobody has worked on their own creative skills and if the kick doesn’t work, they can’t fall back on something.”After playing their centennial test at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday, the All Blacks and Springboks will close out their Rugby Championship campaigns against each other on the Gold Coast next week.

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thisdaynews · 5 years ago

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Six Nations: Team-by-team guide, key players, title odds

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/six-nations-team-by-team-guide-key-players-title-odds/

Six Nations: Team-by-team guide, key players, title odds

Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, Alun Wyn Jones and Stuart Hogg, captains of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland respectively, are all multiple British and Irish Lions tourists

Guinness Six Nations 2020 Dates:1 February-14 March Coverage:Watch live coverage on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, Connected TVs and online; listen to match commentaries, shows and podcasts on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and BBC Sounds; follow text coverage on the BBC Sport website and mobile app; further coverage available in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Full coverage details.

Four new head coaches, a raft of uncapped up-and-comers and a rivalry that stretches back more than 135 years.

The history, drama, thrills and spills of the Six Nations return this weekend to start the latest chapter in the world’s oldest international rugby tournament.

In the wake of the Rugby World Cup, there are plenty of new characters, on the pitch and on the touchlines, to spice up the storylines.

Here is what you need to know about the 2020 tournament.

Wales

Pivac won the Pro12 title with Scarlets in 2017

Thanks to the call of the British and Irish Lions, there have been a couple of caretakers, but it is 13 years since someone other than Warren Gatland was Wales head coach as they went into a Six Nations campaign,

Wayne Pivac has the intimidating task of following a man who delivered three Grand Slams, the latest lifted 12 months ago.

The New Zealander could have done without an injury that rules out centre Jonathan Davies, the ‘captain’ of the claustrophobically tight defence that characterised Gatland’s reign.

North to start at centre against Italy

Wayne Pivac by the players and coaches who know him

Hadleigh Parkes column: Fatherhood, Pivac and Six Nations hopes

Shaun Edwards, who masterminded that part of the game from the touchline, is also absent, having taken his inside knowledge to Six Nations rivals France.

But there are some welcome faces back on the scene. Scrum-half Rhys Webb is available after bringing a hasty end to his Toulon stint, while Taulupe Faletau, arguably the tournament’s best number eight on top form, is hoping he is at the end of a two-year run of injuries.

Neither were part of a World Cup campaign that promised much but couldn’t break new ground. Wales were squeezed out in the semi-finals by eventual champions South Africa, matching their best run at the tournament back in 2011.

Rees-Zammit (right) was one of five uncapped players in Pivac’s 38-man squad

One to watch: Louis Rees-Zammit:The 19-year-old wing has been one of this season’s sensations, scoring 10 tries in 14 games for Gloucester. As the saying goes: If they are good enough…

Curveball:Coach Pivac is looking to box clever by convincing more Welsh-qualified, but English-based, players to commit to the cause. The recruitment of Saracens former England Under-20 centre Nick Tompkins and Wasps lock Will Rowlands shows he is having some success.

Title odds:11-2

England

Jonny May has 27 tries in 52 Test appearances for England

In the wake of the Rugby World Cup final defeat by South Africa in November, Eddie Jones entered, in his words, a “grieving process”.He has since found a new challenge to reignite his passion.

“We want to be remembered as the greatest team that ever played rugby,” he said in typically bold style.

England have some serious questions to answer before they can make any claim to that title.

Watson ruled out of Six Nations opener

Lose in Paris and the World Cup is forgotten – Johnson

Jones warns of World Cup finalists curse

Learn to speak rugby for the Six Nations

Jones’ 34-man squad features eight uncapped players but not a single specialist number eight to fill in for the injured Billy Vunipola.

At nine, Ben Youngs and Willi Heinz, 30 and 33 respectively, have limited shelf life and no clear successors.

And time is ticking on Jones himself, with his contract set to expire in August 2021.

But with Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Jonny May and Anthony Watson all emerging from the World Cup well in credit, there is a confidence that might paper over those cracks.

Thorley was the youngest player to represent Gloucester in the professional era when he made his debut as a 17-year-old

One to watch: Ollie Thorley:Last season’s Premiership young player of the year will have to fight for a spot, but is one of only three specialist wings in the squad and has the talent to take his chance.

Curveball:The Saracens saga.There may not be any ill-feeling from their team-mates, but the Sarries contingent come into the tournament with their club futures uncertain.

Title odds:5-6 Fav

Ireland

Andy Farrell is Ireland’s new coach, Johnny Sexton his new captain

Off the back of a Six Nations Grand Slam and a historic home win over New Zealand, Ireland finished 2018 as the northern hemisphere’s pre-eminent team and the likeliest candidates to succeed the All Blacks as world champions the following year.

Instead that turned out to the high point of coach Joe Schmidt’s reign.

A mediocre Six Nations campaign in 2019 was followed by a meek World Cup quarter-final exit in Japan.

Great Britain rugby league legend Andy Farrell served as an assistant to Schmidt and now succeeds him. He has gone for a similar strategy of evolution, rather than revolution, with his team.

Quiz: Do you know new Ireland head coach Andy Farrell?

Why Sexton’s importance to Ireland is greater than ever

Doris to make Ireland debut in opener against Scotland

Fly-half Johnny Sexton, once the firebrand young gun, now a 34-year-old senior statesman, is captain, with regular half-back side-kick Conor Murray keeping his place under severe pressure from Ulster’s John Cooney.

However 95-cap mainstay Rob Kearney has been left out the squad altogether with the electric Jordan Larmour now undisputed first-choice full-back, while Leinster’s rangy, roaming number eight Caelan Doris will make his debut against Scotland.

Can Farrell’s tweaks restore the team to their 2018 levels?

Such was Ryan’s promise that he made his full Ireland debut before he had been picked for provincial side Leinster

One to watch: James Ryan:Leinster’s flawless second row, still just 23, has long been earmarked as a future Ireland captain. With Rory Best no longer in the pack, he will be called up to take on some of the leadership burden.

Curveball:The tactics. Ireland under Schmidt were ruthless, accurate and drilled to parade-ground standard, rarely deviating from the head coach’s kick-chase script. With former England maverick Mike Catt brought in as an attack coach, might things turn a little more free-form?

Title odds:4-1

Scotland

Russell played in French side Racing 92’s win over Castres at the weekend after walking out of Scotland’s training camp

The build-up to Scotland’s campaign has turned into something akin to an episode of Love Island, dominated by rancour and rumour over the departure of a flamboyant main player.

Finn Russell, Scotland’s mercurial fly-half, is believed to have hit the bar at the team hotel, ignored team-mates’ advice to stop drinking, ignored his alarm clock for training the following morning and then declined to stick about when told he would be dropped for the team’s opener against Ireland on Saturday.

You can’t have different rules for different people – Barclay

‘The team is what counts’ – Townsend on Russell absence

‘Mediator needed for Townsend – Russell rift’

Graham to miss Six Nations opener

Head coach Gregor Townsend insists that their relationship is still sound. Russell’s social media ‘likes’suggest that there might still be some issues to iron out.

Coupled with a knee injury to hot-stepping wing Darcy Graham and the disappointment of a Rugby World Cup campaign that failed to progress beyond the pools, expectations are not high.

However, the return of centre Huw Jones after a loss of form and flanker Hamish Watson after fitness issues are a boost.

And full-back Stuart Hogg, so long the heartbeat of the side and now the captain, sounds determined to drag more from his team-mates.

Ritchie was one of the few bright spots in a dispiriting World Cup campaign for Scotland

One to watch:Jamie Ritchie:The 23-year-old flanker was an age-grade star and is finally getting his run at senior level.

Curveball:The news that Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Mark Dodson was paid £933,000 in the last tax year will not have improved relations between blazers and tracksuits.

Title odds:25-1

Romain Ntamack is one of a clutch of young stars hoping to establish France as genuine World Cup contenders over the next four years

France

France’s squad won’t be measured by where they stand in March. Instead, coach Fabian Galthie has trained his sights very clearly on the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which his nation is hosting.

A 42-man initial squad featured 19 uncapped players and an average age of just 24.

It is not just blind faith in youth though. France’s Under-20s have won back-to-back age-grade world titles. Romain Ntamack, son of former France wing Emile, made the step up to the senior Rugby World Cup side in the wake of winning the first.

Galthie names two uncapped players in France team to face England

Dupont (centre) made his France debut as a 20-year-old in the 2017 Six Nations

One to watch: Antoine Dupont:A relative veteran with 20 caps and 23 years on the clock, the scrum-half is already one of France’s brightest stars.

Curveball:Defence coach Shaun Edwards is a rare foreign appointment to the French coaching staff. Can he whip an erratic, inconsistent France into shape as he battles to get his tongue around the local lingo?

Title odds:11-2

Italy

Franco Smith knows the Italian scene after a six-year spell coaching Treviso

Yet another new head coach is in place. Franco Smith is keeping the seat warm until July, stepping in after Conor O’Shea quit to take up an administrative role with the Rugby Football Union.

The South African is the latest to try to close the gap on the other five nations. Italy have suffered whitewashes in four successive tournaments since they beat Scotland in February 2015, their last Six Nations success.

They will try to improve that record, for the most part, without Sergio Parisse.

The totemic number eight was denied the farewell he expected when Typhoon Hagibis caused the Azzurri’s final Rugby World Cup pool match to be called off. The 36-year-old plans to be involved in at least one of Italy’s home games during the tournament to put the seal on a career that has collected 142 caps.

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Wales v Italy: Azzurri flanker Jake Polledri relishes facing land of his grandfather

One to watch: Jake Polledri:Born and brought up in the West Country, the 24-year-old Gloucester flanker qualifies for Italy though his grandmother and will be one of their go-to men in Parisse’s absence.

Curveball:The Italian clubs have promised to give Smith more access and control over his international players. Could that produce a more coherence and consistency?

Title odds:1,000-1

#Players #title

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tipsoctopus · 5 years ago

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Bargain Robertson signing proves Liverpool would be crazy to spend £44.6m on 6 ft ace - opinion

According to SPORT, Liverpool are eyeing up a move for Real Betis left-back Junior Firpo as they attempt to find a replacement for the outgoing Alberto Moreno.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Champions of Europe decided not to extend Moreno’s contract and the Spanish international will be leaving Anfield when his contract expires at the end of the month.

As a result, Liverpool should probably find a back-up to Andy Robertson as they have no senior player in that position behind the Scottish international.

Firpo impressed in La Liga last season, making 24 appearances in Spain’s top flight whilst recording an impressive three goals and four assists – he can also play on the left of midfield, where his attacking qualities come in handy.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

The Spain Under-21 international has a €50m (£44.6m) release clause and is under contract at Betis until 2023 – the club have demanded that any interested party must pay his full buyout fee.

Barcelona are also said to be keeping tabs on the 6 ft full-back.

Liverpool would be crazy to pay that

Liverpool would be absolute fools to pay that much for a second choice left-back.

Andy Robertson is arguably the best left-back in Europe right now having just recorded 13 assists last term on the way to winning the Champions League, and is also an ever-present in the side – one would assume that 22-year-old Firpo would barely feature if he signed.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Reds also proved that it is possible to get a quality left-back for a minimal fee when they signed Robertson for just £10m two summers ago – in that respect, paying over four times that figure for Firpo would be downright crazy.

Robertson suffered just one injury last term ruling him out for 12 days, but it didn’t result in him missing a game – as aforesaid, Firpo would presumably only play in cup matches as the former Hull man rarely gives Jurgen Klopp an excuse to drop him.

This would be a monumental waste of money from the Merseysiders.

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allofbeercom · 6 years ago

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At-a-glance summary: Budget key points

Image copyright UK Parliament /Jessica Taylor

Philip Hammond has delivered his third Budget as chancellor. Here are the key points of his 72-minute speech.

Personal taxation and wages

The personal allowance threshold, the rate at which people start paying income tax at 20%, to rise from £11,850 to £12,500 in April – a year earlier than planned

The higher rate income tax threshold, the point at which people start paying tax at 40%, to rise from £46,350 to £50,000 in April

After that, the two rates will rise in line with inflation

National Living Wage increasing by 4.9%, from £7.83 to £8.21 an hour, from April 2019.

Tax rates and thresholds are different in Scotland. The Scottish government’s Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will set out his plan for Scottish tax payers on 12 December.

What the Budget means for you?

Alcohol, tobacco and fuel

Image copyright PA

Beer, cider and spirits duties to be frozen

Cost of a bottle of wine duty to rise by 8p, in line with inflation, in February

Tobacco duty will continue to rise by inflation plus 2%

A packet of 20 cigarettes will go up by 33p at 18.00 GMT

A ten gram pack of cigars goes up by 17p.

Fuel duty to be frozen for ninth year in a row

Remote Gaming Duty to increase to 21% for online gambling on “games of chance” from 2019

Stamp duty and housing

Image copyright PA

All first-time buyers purchasing shared equity homes of up to £500,000 will be eligible for first-time buyers’ relief

£500m for the Housing Infrastructure Fund, designed to enable a further 650,000 homes to be built

Lettings relief limited to properties where the owner is in shared occupancy with the tenant

New partnerships with housing associations in England to deliver 13,000 homes

Guarantees of up to £1bn for smaller house-builders

Welfare and pensions

Image copyright PA

Work allowances for universal credit to be increased by £1.7bn

2.4 million working families with children to benefit by £630 a year

An extra £1bn to help welfare claimants transfer to the new consolidated benefit

Chancellor insists controversial system is “here to stay”

The state of the economy

Image copyright PA

Era of austerity is “finally coming to an end”, the chancellor says

2018 growth forecast downgraded to 1.3% from 1.5% in March, due to impact of bad Spring weather

But forecast for 2019 raised from 1.3% to 1.6% and annual forecasts raised to 1.4%, 1.4%, 1.5% and 1.6% in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively.

3.3 million more people in work since 2010 and 800,000 more jobs forecast by 2022.

Wages growth at its highest in nearly a decade

The state of the public finances

Image copyright PA

Public borrowing in 2018 to be £11.6bn lower than forecast in March, representing 1.2% of gross domestic product, (GDP) the total value of goods produced and services provided

Borrowing as a share of GDP to rise to 1.4% next year

Borrowing to total £31.8bn, £26.7bn. £23.8bn, £20.8bn and £19.8bn in next five years

Debt as share of GDP peaked at 85.2% in 2016-17, falling to 83.7% this year and to 74.1% by 2023-24

1.2% annual average growth in departmental spending promised

Hammond hails better borrowing figures

Brexit

Image copyright PA

Extra £500m for preparations for leaving the EU

Spring Statement next March could be upgraded to full Budget if needed

A commemorative 50p coin to mark the UK’s departure from the EU

Special 50p coin to mark Brexit

Defence and security

Image copyright Getty Images

An extra £160m for counter-terrorism police

An extra £1bn for armed forces, for cyber-capabilities and the UK’s new nuclear submarine programme

£10m for mental health care for veterans, to mark the centenary of the Armistice which brought World War One to an end

£1m to fund school trips to World War One battlefields

£1.7m in Holocaust education programmes to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, in northern Germany

Funding boost for armed forces

Business and digital

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New 2% digital services tax on UK revenues of big technology companies, from April 2020

Profitable companies with global sales of more than £500m will be liable

Private finance initiative (PFI) contracts to be abolished in future

New centre of excellence to manage existing deals “in the taxpayer’s interest”

Annual investment allowance to be increased from £200,000 to £1m for two years

Contribution of small companies to apprenticeship levy to be reduced from 10% to 5%

Business rates bill for firms with a rateable value of £51,000 or less to be cut by third over two years

Measure to benefit 90% of independent shops, pubs and restaurants, cutting bills by £8,000

£900m in business rates relief for small businesses and £650m to rejuvenate High Streets

New 100% mandatory business rates relief for all lavatories made available for public use

Extending changes to the way self-employment status is taxed, from the public sector to medium and large private companies, from 2020

Tech giants face digital services tax

Education and health (England only)

Image copyright PA

Confirmation of an extra £20.5bn for the NHS over the next five years

A minimum extra £2bn a year for mental health services

New mental health crisis centres, providing support in every accident and emergency unit in the country

More mental health ambulances and a 24-hour mental health crisis hotline.

An extra £700m for councils, for care for the elderly and those with disabilities

£10m for air ambulances

A one-off £400m “bonus” to help schools buy “the little extras they need” this year

Funding for 10 University Enterprise Zones

‘Little extras’ funding boost for schools

Transport, infrastructure and culture

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A £30bn package for England’s roads, including repairs to motorways and potholes

A 30% growth in infrastructure spending

Opening the use of e-passport gates at airports – currently available to people from Europe – to those from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan

Air Passenger Duty to be indexed in line with inflation

Environment and energy

Image copyright Science Photo Library

A new tax on plastic packaging which does not contain 30% recyclable material

No tax on takeaway coffee cups but to be reconsidered if the industry doesn’t make enough progress

£60m for planting trees in England

£10m to deal with abandoned waste sites

Nations and regions

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An additional £950m for the Scottish government, £550m for the Welsh government and £320m for a Northern Ireland Executive in the period to 2020-21

New City and Growth deals for Belfast, north Wales and the Tay Cities area, which includes the cities of Dundee and Perth as well as Angus and the north part of Fife,

£2m for Belfast to help recover from August’s Primark fire

£70m to develop the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre near Loughborough

Related Topics

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Budget 2018

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/at-a-glance-summary-budget-key-points/

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learntoplaygolftoday · 6 years ago

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Notes: Knox takes slow road back to top 50

New Post has been published on http://learntoplaygolftoday.com/golf-news/notes-knox-takes-slow-road-back-to-top-50/

Notes: Knox takes slow road back to top 50

Russell Knox entered the world ranking in 2009 when he played his first Web.com Tour event at age 24. A year later, he cracked the top 1,000 with a tie for seventh in Knoxville. It took another four years before Knox cracked the top 100 following a top 10 at Hilton Head. And then two years later, he cashed in by winning a World Golf Championship in Shanghai to move into the top 50.

And that's where he stayed for 93 consecutive weeks, reaching as high as No. 18 after his victory in the Travelers Championship in 2016. Life was good. He was in all the majors, all the WGCs, and he even played in the Hero World Challenge that Tiger Woods hosts in the Bahamas.

''I saw how good a place that was,'' Knox said after his playoff victory in the Irish Open. ''I think I tried to get better too quickly. I've kind of preached to myself and younger players my whole career that you get better slowly without forcing it, without trying to get better.''

His golf got worse. Knox had only eight top 10s in his next 55 starts after winning the Travelers. He fell out of the top 50, and then he fell out of the top 100, dropping to No. 137 before slowly - there's that word again - working his way back up until it culminated with a runner-up finish in France and a victory in Ireland.

Knox now is No. 49 heading into the Scottish Open this week.

''You just naturally evolve as a golfer,'' he said. ''I think I got to the point where I was really close to being right where I wanted to be - top 10 in the world - and I just pushed too hard and I got worse. It's just hard. Once you lose your confidence, which I did a little bit - and I was tinkering with equipment - I just didn't quite get it right. But I knew starting this year, I'd played good golf and I knew that eventually, something about was going to happen.''

HERMAN'S TOES: An injury that might sound small turned out to be plenty big for Jim Herman. Imagine trying to play golf for a living and needing surgery on your toes.

Herman was last seen trudging up the hill on the 18th at Riviera in the second round of the Genesis Open, and then facing an even steeper walk up the steps to the clubhouse. He immediately withdrew and didn't play again until last week on the Web.com Tour in what amounted to rehab assignment.

The issue? Herman noticed the nails on his baby toes (both feet) would fall off, grow back awkwardly, and then fall off again. It eventually became too painful to walk, and because he couldn't shift his weight to his left side, it began affecting his swing.

''It got to point where I couldn't make a swing without pain,'' he said.

Along the way, he developed plantar fasciitis, leading to a miserable year. Herman had surgery on his toes and wore a boot to deal with the plantar fasciitis. He returned last week at the Lecom Health Challenge, where he tied sixth.

''I've missed it. It was good to get back out,'' Herman said. ''And it was nice to get this resolved.''

He plans a few more Web.com Tour starts to make sure his feet can handle a full schedule. Because he won't be in the FedEx Cup playoffs, Herman plans to take a major medical for next season, in which he will get 18 starts.

CONSISTENCY PAYS: Kevin Na went 158 starts on the PGA Tour in nearly seven years before winning at Greenbrier for his second title. That puts him in a small, but peculiar group of players who shows that consistency pays off, even if that doesn't meant a case full of trophies.

Na joins Charles Howell III and Tim Clark as the only players with two victories to have at least $20 million in career earnings.

Howell leads the way with $35,527,655, and while his only victories were at Kingsmill and Riviera, he has 16 runner-up finishes and 88 finishes in the top 10. Na now has $27,283,596 in official earnings. He has been runner-up six times since his previous victory in Las Vegas.

Tim Clark, who hasn't played in more than two years and now spends most of his time coaching, has $23,942,321. His two victories were the Canadian Open and The Players Championship. The South African had 13 runner-up finishes in his career.

All three of them recorded top 10s roughly 17 percent of the time.

RETURN TO THE OLD COURSE: Mark Calcavecchia is among those from the PGA Tour Champions who have three straight weeks of majors - the Senior Players Championship outside Chicago this week, the British Open at Carnoustie next week, followed by the Senior British Open at St. Andrews.

Calcavecchia skipped the trip across the Atlantic last year, mainly because Royal Birkdale (Open) and Royal Porthcawl (Senior) are not among his favorites. St. Andrews is hosting the Senior Open for the first time, which will be Calcavecchia's seventh time competing on the Old Course.

The question is whether he'll play the first hole ahead of Thursday's opening round.

Calcavecchia has a habit of walking out of the Old Course Hotel to the second tee and heading back to his room when he finishes the 17th hole. The only time he sees the first tee is when he has to show up at the clubhouse to register.

Will history repeat itself?

''I don't know,'' he said. ''We're not staying at the Old Course Hotel, so maybe. That would be a first for me.''

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING: The Open Championship announced a $10.5 million prize fund this year, with $1,890,000 going to the winner. And to think golf's oldest championship once had a hard time attracting top Americans because they wound up losing money from all the travel expenses. Sam Snead, for example, won 150 pounds when he won at St. Andrews in 1946.

Times have changed, and so has the money.

Majors now pay even the players who miss the cut.

The R&A says last place will receive $13,500. The top 10 pros and ties who miss the cut will get $7,375, and the next 20 pros and ties will get $5,900. Everyone else gets $4,950. The U.S. Open and the Masters pay $10,000 to everyone who misses the cut.

DIVOTS: Thomas Pieters was among five Europeans who took up PGA Tour membership this season, though the Belgian is not likely to last. Pieters has played just nine PGA Tour events going into the British Open and is No. 172 in the FedEx Cup. ... Aaron Wise has missed the cut in four straight tournaments since winning the AT&T Byron Nelson. ... Canadian Pacific has extended its title sponsorship of the Canadian Women's Open for five years through 2023. The purse next year will increase to $2.25 million. ... Players from the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour will compete separately next year for a $1 million bonus based on how they play select holes on their tours. It's called the Aon Risk Reward Challenge. Players will be measured by how they play the risk-reward holes that are selected. Scoring and which holes will be highlights are among the details still to be sorted out.

STAT OF THE WEEK

In the eight years of the PGA Tour at the Greenbrier, Kevin Na (No. 65) and Angel Cabrera (No. 90) were the only winners ranked among the top 100 in the world.

FINAL WORD

''Only difference really is the competition is a little bit steeper.'' - U.S. Amateur runner-up Doug Ghim, on the difference between college golf and the PGA Tour.

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