UAE face Kazakhstan in crunch A5N rugby tie Hosts aim to bounce back after two losses

UAE Rugby face a battle for survival in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations (A5N) Top 5 competition when they take on Kazakhstan at The Sevens on Friday.
Kick-off is scheduled for 4pm in what is billed as a relegation battle particularly after South Korea pulled off a 21-19 victory against Hong Kong last week.
UAE are aiming to bounce back from the battering they received at the hands of Hong Kong (85-10) and Japan (106-3).

Kazakhstan opened its 2012 season with an 87-0 loss to Japan but had a bye last weekend.

After two rounds of high intensity rugby, UAE will be seeking an improved performance and hope home advantage will work in their favour in this crucial third-round clash after their new-look outfit learned lessons the hard way.


“We have learned to defend better from our first two games, even though the scoreboard doesn’t reflect it, and hopefully we will be able to use that to good effect against Kazakhstan,” said UAE's performance manager Duncan Hall.

Hall has made four changes to the starting XV in a bid to field the best squad.

Graham Murphy steps back into the front row, Tim Fletcher steps into outside Centre, John Fawls at right wing and Imad Reyal takes on full back duties. Starting from the bench is Chris Jones-Griffiths, Sean Hurley and returning to the squad is Sam Cook at no.19.

“The A5N draw to face Hong Kong and Japan in the first 2 weeks (without rest) was playing to achieve wins against impossible odds,” admits Hall.

“We’ve played under enormous pressure, that has led to mistakes on the field during this campaign. We have no excuses and have gained valuable experience. The next match against Kazakhstan is now our time to use these experiences and play with high expectations. We have prepared to deliver confident, effective combinations and having been exposed to playing by far the best two sides in Asia (early in the campaign) has united the players more on and off the field,” he added.

Hall is aware of the immense pressure he and his squad face at home.

“To move forward we need to build on what we have available, we don’t (currently) have the luxury of a deep talent pool. I am proud of the commitment and attitude that has come through in many of the players particularly over the past two weeks, these players have earned their right to represent the UAE,” he said.

“This was always going to be our crucial game,” Hall added. “We knew we would face two challenging games in our opening encounters and last week’s result, where South Korea defeated Hong Kong, makes this game even more critical.”

Korea, returning to the top flight, defeated Hong Kong 21-19 to move up three places in the IRB world rankings to 28th. Hong Kong slipped down to 29.

UAE does not have an official ranking as they have still to play the required number of internationals, but realise that a loss against Kazakhstan will all but shut the door on them in the Top Five next year.

“We can’t assume anyone is going down as yet. We have two games to go and our target when we began was to win two matches. So we are still in with a shout,” Hall said.

“The guys have worked hard. We have struggled so far because we are not used to playing under such intense pressure. The speed at which Japan and Hong Kong played has been incredible.

“We don’t have anyone of the calibre of say the Japanese winger (Yoshikazu Fujita) who scored six tries against us. We are not endowed with speed, but I can see improvement in our side and hopefully that will be translated on to the scoreboard,” Hall added.

UAE has received some words of encouragement from Japan’s new coach Eddie Jones who has said he liked the “commitment” showed by the players.

“They lost on the scoreboard, but in terms of attitude, there are some really good signs there,” Jones told the media after last week’s match.

“We are playing with limited numbers,” admitted Hall. “But all these guys have a lot of heart.”

In this week’s other HSBC A5N Top 5 match, Japan are away to South Korea in a battle of the last two unbeaten teams remaining in this year’s Top 5 competition. The game will be held at Seongnam Stadium in Seoul at 13.00 local time on Saturday.

UAE squad
1. Graham Murphy – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2. Peter Sampson – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
3. Dan Boatwright – Dubai Hurricanes
4. Greg Thompson – Dubai Hurricanes
5. Simon Osborne – Dubai Hurricanes
6. Brett Williams – Dubai Exiles
7. David Matasio – Dubai Wasps
8. Alistair Thompson (captain) – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
9. Patrick Hegarty – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
10. Murray Strang – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
11. Steve Smith – Dubai Hurricanes
12. Jonathon O’Connor – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
13. Tim Fletcher (vice-captain) – Jebel Ali Dragons
14. John Fawls – Dubai Exiles
15. Imad Reyal – Dubai Exiles
16. Charles Lilley – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
17. Christopher Jones-Griffiths – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
18. Tristan Barnett – Dubai Hurricanes
19. Sam Cook – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
20. Antoine Bertheuil – Dubai Frogs
21. Sean Hurley – Jebel Ali Dragons
22. Mohammed Alsulaiman – Dubai Wasps

Cycling: Cavendish wins stage five of Giro d'Italia

World champion Mark Cavendish of Britain won stage five of the Giro d'Italia from Modena to Fano in a bunch sprint on Thursday.Second behind the Sky rider, who claimed the ninth Giro d'Italia stage of his career, was Australian Matt Goss with Italian Daniele Bennati in third.Lithuanian Ramunas Navardauskas continued to lead the race overall for a second day.The Giro d'Italia finishes on May 27 in Milan.

UAE hold off Kazakhstan in A5N Top 5 battle Hosts bounce back after two consecutive losses

The United Arab Emirates staved a frenzied second-half assault to beat Kazakhstan 46-31 and keep alive their hopes of remaining in the Top 5 of the HSBC Asian Five Nations (A5N) rugby clash at The Sevens on Friday.
After trailing 29-nil at half time, Kazakhstan posted 31 points in the second half to close the gap to 10 points in the final 10 minutes before UAE dashed their hopes of an inspirational comeback.

It was a great comeback by the hosts after the battering they received at the hands of Hong Kong and Japan.

The win by UAE is key to their hopes of staying in the HSBC A5N Top 5 in 2013. Kazakhstan will be ruing a chance to take vital away match points and will now face their second must-win match in two weeks when they host Korea next Saturday in Almaty, before closing out their campaign in Hong Kong on May 26.

UAE performance manager Duncan Hall said: “It’s a relief for the guys definitely. We talked that this was definitely a winnable match and we are very luck we kept our noses in front. Kazakhstan is a proud country. They never let down and they showed that today.”


UAE captain Alistair Thompson said: “Today was a winner take all match in terms of staying up in the Top 5, so there was a lot of pressure on us. The last couple of weeks we have played teams (Hong Kong and Japan) that play expansive and want to play wide, but today it was a completely different game style where guys wanted to take us on up front. We went to sleep for the first 15 minutes of the second half and we ended up needing to score tries and luckily we did that.

“I’m proud of the lads. I think we have done enough to stay up in the Top 5 and if so, we have moulded UAE Rugby for the year ahead. The profile of staying up is vital for continuing to develop the game in the UAE and in the region.”

UAE jumped out to a fiery start in the desert sun as Sevens captain Tim Fletcher crossed over for the first try at the five-minute marker. The tries followed thick and fast as the UAE dominated territory throughout the opening 40.

Flanker Brett Williams, fullback Imad Reyal and scrum-half Pat Hegarty all added tries in the opening half. Flyhalf Murray Strang accounted for nine points in the same half with three conversions and a penalty to send the home side into the changing sheds 29-points to the good.

UAE was poised to be in a controlling position for the final 40, but it was Kazakhstan who struck first in just the second minute through a try to flanker Nikita Trofimov, who finally put the Nomads on the board at 29-5.

Moments later, UAE lock Greg Thompson helped his team regain last ground with a try to extend the lead to 34-5.

Undaunted, Kazakhstan exhibited its famed never-say-die rugby attitude with a second try through Dmitriy Tronin. The conversion by captain and centre Ildar Abdrazhakov narrowed the margin to 12-34.

Less than two minutes later, the Kazakh forward pack had worked the ball back deep into UAE territory, when flanker Nikita Trofimov scored his second try of the match. Abdrazhakov’s conversion brought the score to 34-19, with the Nomads having scored 19 points to UAE’s five in a rampaging second half. With 20 minutes remaining the game seemed to hang in the balance.

Kazakhstan seemed to tilt the match further in their favour as lock Anton Makarenko went over again from close range to bring the visitors within 10 points of an incredible comeback win at 34-24. Makarenko’s try saw Kazakhstan gain its first point of the 2012 HSBC A5N Top 5 as they earned a matching bonus point to that of the UAE for scoring four or more tries in a match.

With 10 minutes remaining, the atmosphere was tense as the UAE faithful pondered the thought of letting a 29-point lead slip through their fingers.

Earlier in the week Hall had lauded his charges saying they “had a lot of heart” and they repaid his faith by scoring a brilliant 50 metre handling try with some great interplay between backs and forwards.

The try was perfectly finished by slippery fullback Imad Reyal who collected a brace for his efforts.

Murray Strang’s boot was again on the mark with the conversion as UAE pulled comfortably back in front at 41-24 with eight minutes remaining on the clock.

Kazakh heads naturally dropped and the UAE again capitalised, this time through captain and No 8 Alistair Thompson giving the UAE a 46-24 lead with five minutes remaining.

As testament to the spirit in the Kazakhstan team, the visitors struck for the final time on the night as reserve scrum-half Evgeniy Romanov scooted over before the final whistle. Abdrazhakov’s conversion brought a thrilling 48-point second half to a close as Kazakhstan bowed out with heads held high at 46-31.

The crucial home win for UAE may have done enough to retain their spot in the HSBC A5N Top 5 in 2013. UAE captured five points for the win on the series table and a sixth (bonus) point for scoring four tries or more. Kazakhstan also earned a bonus point for its scoring spree in the second half. They trail the competition with one point from three matches and now face another must-win match as they host South Korea next weekend in Almaty.

South Korea are the promoted team in this year’s HSBC A5N Top 5 and have shown every indication of sticking in the top flight after a come from behind win against Hong Kong last weekend. Korea currently lie third in the standings on six points and face top-ranked Japan on Saturday in Seoul’s Seongnam Stadium (kick-off at 13.00 local time).

That game will be televised across Asia on ESPN Star Sports as well as into North Africa, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and North America on other international broadcasters. All HSBC A5N Top 5 games are also available for live streaming or video on demand at http://www.ustream.tv/A5NRugby.

F1: Hamilton stripped of Spanish pole Williams' Venezuelan driver Maldonado promoted

Lewis Hamilton's spectacular but often controversial career suffered a new twist on Saturday when he was stripped of pole for the Spanish Grand Prix because his McLaren team failed to give him enough fuel.
As a result, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Williams will start from pole position for the first time after being promoted from second on the grid while Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, will start from the back.


The 27-year-old Briton was excluded from the qualifying results because he did not return to the pits with his McLaren car after setting his fastest lap.

Instead, he followed urgent orders transmitted by the team and stopped out on the track. He required assistance to return to the pits where a one litre fuel sample was to be taken.

A stewards meeting later decided that this was in breach of the regulations and excluded Hamilton, dismissing his team's argument that this had happened under circumstances of 'force majeure'.

"This is such a disappointment. Today's qualifying session was one of the best I've ever driven - the whole car was just rolling so smoothly, it felt fantastic," said Hamilton.

"On my slowing-down lap, my engineers told me to stop on the track, and I didn't know why. Later, to hear that I'd been excluded from qualifying, was of course extremely disappointing.

"It's clear that it's going to be an incredibly tough race. But as I always say, and as I always do, whatever grid position I start a Grand Prix from, I'll always race my heart out."

The race stewards rejected McLaren's argument that the incident was a case of force majeure.

"The stewards heard from the team representative Sam Michael who stated that the car stopped on the circuit for reasons of force majeure," said a statement.

"A team member had put an insufficient quantity of fuel into the car thereby resulting in the car having to be stopped on the circuit in order to be able to provide the required amount for sampling purposes.

"As the amount of fuel put into the car is under the complete control of the competitor the stewards cannot accept this as a case of force majeure."

McLaren accepted the stewards' decision.

"We accept that the stewards did not agree with our interpretation of force majeure. Our aim is now to maximise the points we can score," said a spokesman.

McLaren team chief Martin Whitmarsh declined to explain precisely why Hamilton had been asked to stop.

"There was enough fuel to take a fuel sample, but we stopped the car. There was 1.3 litres of fuel taken out of the car," insisted Whitmarsh.

Hamilton and McLaren were given a reprimand and a $10,000 fine at the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix in similar circumstances.

Whitmarsh said Saturday's drama was due to a problem in the McLaren garage.

"It is a technical problem that happened in the garage that didn't impede the performance of the car in any way and we stopped when it had 1.3 litres of fuel in the car," he added.

He was adamant that Hamilton had enough fuel to complete his lap back to the pit lane and also to supply a one litre sample.

Hamilton had a best lap of 1min 21.707sec to finish half a second clear of Maldonado.

Fernando Alonso was next fastest in a Ferrari ahead of Romain Grosjean and his Lotus team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.

They were followed by Sergio Perez of Sauber, Nico Rosberg of Mercedes and defending champion Sebastian Vettel in a Red Bull.

Maldonado's promotion was a great present for team founder Sir Frank Williams, who was celebrating his 70th birthday in the team garage.

"We have worked so hard to understand these tyres and develop our car around them and this is a great step forward for the team. We have such a good spirit and the car feels fantastic," said Maldonado.

Williams have their first pole since Nico Hulkenberg secured his maiden and sole pole position at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix.

It is also the first ever for a Venezuelan driver.

NBA: Miami's James named MVP winner again Beat Durant, Paul and Bryant in voting

Miami Heat forward LeBron James was named on Saturday as the National Basketball Association's Most Valuable Player for the 2011-12 season, cementing his place among the game's greatest players.
It was the third time in four years that 'King' James has won the game's most prestigious individual award, elevating him alongside the sport's biggest names.
Only seven other players - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Moses Malone - have won the trophy at least three times.

Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for six MVP wins, one ahead of Jordan and Russell but James, still just 27 years old, has plenty of time on his side.


"I never dreamt about being an NBA Most Valuable Player," an emotional James said in a presentation in Miami broadcast live on national television.

"I never dreamt about doing the things that I do now at a high level.

"Now that it's in me now, and it's happening, it's overwhelming."

James, who twice won the award with the Cleveland Cavaliers before moving to Miami last season, averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists during the 2011-12 regular season, which was shortened to 66 games because of a labor dispute.

He totaled 1,074 points, including 85 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 voters that decided the award.

"We do not take LeBron James for granted, not here in this organization," Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

"He's as committed as ever... and we all respond to his energy on the court."

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, the leading scorer for the third season in a row, finished second in the vote, followed by Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and Kobe Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Chicago's Derrick Rose, who won the MVP award last year, finished 11th in the voting after missing more than a third of the season because of injury.

James, despite his individual success, has yet to win an NBA title, but has perhaps his best chance this season with Miami.

"This is very overwhelming to me as an individual award," James said.

"But this is not the award I want, ultimately. I want that championship. That's all that matters to me."

The Heat, who finished runners-up to Dallas last year after James left Cleveland to link up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, cruised through the opening round of the playoffs.

They now face the Indiana Pacers in a best-of-seven series, starting in Florida on Sunday, for a place in the Eastern Conference final.

James is sure to feature in the star-studded United States team at this year's London Olympics after being a member of the team that won the gold medal in Beijing four years ago.

RugbyU: New Zealand clinch world sevens crown

New Zealand clinched their 10th IRB world sevens series crown in 13 years on Sunday after downing South Africa 36-0 to advance to the semi-finals of the final leg of the championship at Twickenham.The New Zealanders needed only one more win to be assured of clinching the crown after victories over Russia, Kenya and Argentina on Saturday.

The men in black had looked vulnerable during their win over Argentina, trailing 10-0 before recovering to win 15-10.


But the New Zealanders came roaring back on Sunday morning against South Africa, romping home in style to reach the last four after the opening quarter-final in the cup competition.

"It's an awesome feeling," New Zealand's long-serving coach Gordon Tietjens said.

"I was worried last night because we played very sketchily against Argentina. I woke up at four o'clock this morning and didn't get back to sleep but we played very well today. We're very happy."

Donald surrenders No. 1 spot to McIlroy

England's Luke Donald will surrender golf's World No. 1 ranking to Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy on Monday after a poor showing at the US PGA Heritage tournament.

Donald fired a level-par 71 on Sunday to finish on two-over par 286 for 72 holes, sharing 37th place, 16 strokes behind winner Carl Pettersson of Sweden.

Donald needed to share eighth place or better this week to keep his razor-thin margin ahead of McIlroy in the rankings. He finished six strokes adrift of that mark after matching his highest score in seven Heritage starts.

Once eight players reached the clubhouse ahead of him, Donald was ensured of giving the top spot back to McIlroy, whom he passed last month for the honour.

"Is it a concern? No," Donald said. "I would have liked to have played a bit more consistently this year. I built it up nicely last year through tournaments and winning a bunch.

"As a result there's a little bit of fluctuation in the world rankings now."

Donald, still seeking his first Major title, first claimed the top ranking after winning last year's BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour.

"It's a lot more the focus the first time around," Donald said. "Now my focus is on winning tournaments."

Reigning US Open champion McIlroy, who turns 23 on May 4, claimed the top spot for the first time in his young career last month when he won the US PGA Honda Classic, ending a 40-week run by Donald.

But Donald moved past McIlroy two weeks later, reclaiming the top spot by winning the US PGA Transitions Championship.

McIlroy, who was off this week, is not expected to play again until the US PGA Wells Fargo Championship in May at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Donald will return to PGA play in two weeks at New Orleans starting April 26.

Mena Golf Tour provides platform for emerging talent Second edition will have regional flavour

Shaikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Arab Golf Federation and the Emirates Golf Federation, Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the Mena Golf Tour, and Khalfan Al Kaabi, a board member of the Emirates Golf Federation, with the Mena Golf Tour trophy. (FILE)

The Mena Golf Tour fits perfectly into the larger scheme of things if the region’s players, including the UAE, are to realise their ambitions of competing on the bigger stage, especially the Asian Games or even the 2016 Olympics where the sport is making a comeback after a 112-year absence.


The tour, now in its second edition, has assumed a special significance with the UAE National Olympic Committee officially endorsing golf in its portfolio of sports, thus clearing the way for the country’s leading players to start dreaming about the biggest moments of their careers.

"There are hundreds of young golfers in the region who would be proud to represent their country and it would be an honour for anyone who plays this game to be part of the Asian Games and Olympic Games,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour.

“Hard work and exposure to high-intensity competitions are vital ingredients to preparing the players for top flight golf, and the Mena Golf Tour has the strength in depth to provide competition that would challenge the players and fine tune their skills required to compete at this level.

“Our intention is to develop amateurs who represent their country through this Tour because we feel they are the ones who will encourage more people to take up golf – and not Woods and Westwoods,” he said. “The added incentives, of course, are the spots that we offer to top golfers on the Order of Merit - three professionals and one leading amateur - to compete in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

“We have created a springboard for the players to benefit from it and, hopefully, they will set new standards,” said Buamaim, who thanked the UAE NOC for its initiative to recognise golf, which is fast becoming popular among the Emiratis.

The Tour, he explained, is not UAE specific. “It is meant to create playing opportunities for all those keen on playing at the top level or planning on making a career out of golf. It’s a stepping stone to the exciting world of international golf.”

The second edition of the Mena Tour, which is scheduled to kick off in September this year, will have a true regional flavour with stops in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and possibly, Morocco. With more tournaments, more prize money on offer, the tour is expected to attract a strong field with players who have featured on the Challenge Tour and Asian Tour events adding to its strength.

If a Mena Golf Tour player goes on to establish his credentials on the international circuit, it will just be a sign of the times in an ever-changing world. “This calls us to join hands, group our efforts and set off to make this dream come true,” he said.

Westwood retains Indonesian Masters title World number three secured his 38th career victory

Lee Westwood played an "exhausting" 32 holes on Sunday to successfully defend his Indonesian Masters title and pick up his first win of the year.The world number three secured his 38th career victory after he returned early in the morning to complete his third round before closing with a final round two-over-par 74 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.Englishman Westwood's winning total of 16-under-par 272 meant he finished two shots ahead of Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, with the Indian duo of Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur tied in third place.

The 38-year-old, who finished tied third at the Masters two weeks ago, held an eight-shot lead going into the final round but tiredness began to kick in on his homeward nine as he shot three bogeys.

Play at the Asian Tour event had been abandoned on Saturday due to lightning.

"It was draining out there and I was really feeling it on the back nine. When you are in contention and under pressure, it seems to zap your energy faster," said Westwood.


"You never know how to play with such a big lead. You don't know if you should attack or defend. It is quite hard to get your mental attitude around it.

"It was a case of staying patient and calm and playing the holes correctly. It was exhausting."

Westwood, who collected a winner's cheque of ê118,875, said he hoped the win would kick-start this year's attempt at winning an elusive Major championship.

"I've played well without any wins so hopefully I can go on and win other tournaments.

"It is tough when you are the favourite because if you don't win then it will be disappointing. There was a lot of pressure so I'm glad I did it."

Thaworn, winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2005, birdied the last two holes to claim his best finish of the season.

"I felt tired after the 12th hole but I held on. I couldn't really hit my shots properly so I'm quite surprised with the way I finished.

"I haven't won in a while but I've come close this season so I hope to keep the momentum going."

Leading final scores (par 72)
272 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 65-68-65-74
274 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 72-69-66-67
276 - Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 72-70-65-69, Shiv Kapur(IND) 68-71-70-67
277 - Anirban Lahiri (IND) 74-68-66-69
278 - Seuk-hyun Baek (KOR) 72-70-68-68
279 - Angelo Que (PHI) 69-73-68-69, Lee Sung (KOR) 68-71-67-73, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 70-68-72-69
281 - Berry Henson (USA) 69-73-69-70, Wade Ormsby (AUS) 71-73-66-71, Masanori Kobayashi(JPN) 69-68-74-70, Zaw Moe (MYN) 68-67-75-71

Meydan launches the Track for golf enthusiasts No membership fees and a real challenge guaranteed for all players

Meydan Golf today launches The Track - a unique new pay-and-play golf course at the world famous Dubai racecourse.Challenging enough for even the best players, it is also extremely welcoming for novices looking to take up the sport and those with limited experience.There is no membership fee at The Track with players simply booking a tee time to take on the brilliant nine-hole course.Bookings for preview play rounds are now being taken, at Dh300 per player. Players in this introductory period can choose to play nine holes or double up to 18 holes at no extra charge.

Permanent rates for 9 and 18 holes will be announced following the preview period.

Tuition packages and one-off lessons will also be available from professional instructors who will tailor sessions to the individual’s needs.


From the summer, The Track will be floodlit and open until midnight so golfers can beat the heat and keep their game sharp.

Developed by Meydan Golf and run by leading golf management company Troon Golf, The Track is nestled alongside Meydan racecourse, home of the Dubai World Cup.

Just a ten minute drive out of the city, the facility makes the most of the natural contours and lakes in the area and is home to a variety of wildlife.

The Track, which is open from 6.30am, was designed by renowned golf course architect Peter Harradine, with every hole posing a unique challenge.

“Water is a predominant feature of the course thanks to the natural lakes we have here,” said Paul Dennis, The Track’s general manager.

“These make sure the course is a challenge for better players off the back tees with the forward tees also allowing it to be really enjoyable for the novice golfer.”

The course can be played as 9 or 18 holes, with a challenging 18 hole yardage of 7,416. The course offers something for players of all ages and abilities, as distances from the tees vary from 633 yards on the 1st hole at the toughest level, down to 100 yards for novices on the 6th.

Stunning views across Meydan and towards the Burj Khalifa add to an unforgettable golfing experience for everyone.

“The Track opens up the sport to those who are a little intimidated by traditional golf clubs or who cannot commit to becoming a member,” added Dennis.

“It gives people somewhere to play where they receive five-star service but without the fees which usually accompany being a member of a golf club.

“It is really all about getting everyone out and enjoying golf at The Track.”

At the heart of the stunning two-tier clubhouse is The Track Restaurant.
A light and modern space, it is open daily between 6.30am and 10.30pm and offers a variety of food - from classic full breakfasts through to gourmet sandwiches, salads, steaks and curry.

A family room and children’s play-area will open later in the year.

Upstairs is Qube – a revolutionary sports lounge whose sleek design offers an airy and sophisticated setting without compromising on all the fun elements of a sports lounge.

Four giant screens are suspended in a cube at the centre of the vibrant venue with a further 16 big screen televisions around the perimeter. A range of games including pool tables, shuffleboard, darts and fussball will keep guests entertained all evening.

For more information on The Track or for golf bookings and enquiries, please visit www.meydangolf.com

For more information on Qube sports lounge, programming and events please visit www.qubesportsbar.com

Haya extends patronage of Dubai Ladies Masters Dh2.45m European Tour event is growing in stature

Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has extended her patronage to the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters (ODLM) for another two years, reaffirming her support of the premier women’s golfing event in the region.Promoted and organised by 'golf in DUBAi', the euro 500,000 (Dh2.45 million) Ladies European Tour’s season-ending event has grown in stature and popularity since its inception in 2006, showcasing the talent of the world’s leading players in what is billed as the ‘Ladies Major of the Middle East.’

Princess Haya’s kind gesture of extending her patronage to the 2012 and 2013 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters is a fitting recognition to the role played by the event in promoting women’s golf in the region and is part of a long-term Dubai goal to become a solid foothold for sports in the world.


“It is indeed a great honour and privilege for all of us at golf in Dubai to have HRH Princess Haya extend her patronage to the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters," said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Vice-Chairman and CEO of golf in Dubai.

“A former Olympic athlete, humanitarian, member of the International Olympic Committee, UN Messenger of Peace and President of the International Equestrian Federation, HRH Princess Haya is a woman of substance who has inspired many people with her strong values and forceful conviction," he said.

“Her patronage has certainly raised the profile of our event and we will strive and do everything possible to raise the bar for future events befitting Dubai’s image as the region’s sporting capital. Every international sporting event hosted in Dubai has its own appeal and aura, reflecting on the Emirate’s dynamic and innovative sporting culture,” he added.

The 2011 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, the first event to be held under patronage, generated tremendous media coverage around the world. The independent facts provided by the Ladies European Tour show the event, won by US teenage prodigy Alexis Thompson, generated international media exposure worth Dh383 million via 380 broadcasts.

Tiger ready for Quail Hollow with 'fixed' swing Woods has spent past fortnight working on his game

Tiger Woods returns to PGA Tour action at this week's Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, confident he has solved the ball-striking problems which plagued him at this month's Masters.
The former world number one failed to break 72 in any of his four rounds at the year's opening Major, completing his worst performance at Augusta National since he turned professional.
He battled his way to a closing two-over-par 74 for a five-over total of 293, ruing his tendency to allow old habits to creep back into a swing he has grooved with coach Sean Foley over the last two years.

"At the Masters, I was kind of struggling with my ball-striking a little bit," Woods said during a question and answer video session with his fans posted on his website on Monday.

"Sean and I fixed it. It had to do with my posture. My setup wasn't quite right, as well as my takeaway so we worked on that. I just needed to do hundreds of (repetitions). I'm getting dialed in."



Woods, a 14-times Major champion, took a week off after the April 5-8 Masters and has since spent the past fortnight working on his game.

Asked if he liked his chances of winning a 73rd PGA Tour title in this week's event at Quail Hollow, he replied: "I feel like I do, yes.

"I feel like if I can do the things that we've been working on, and get my posture and my takeaway dialed in, then yes, I have a good chance.

"I'm going to a golf course I like in Charlotte. I've won there before. The very next week is a tournament that I've also won at," the 36-year-old American added, referring to the May 10-13 Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Woods triumphed at Quail Hollow in 2007 and won his only Players title in 2001 at the event regarded by many as the unofficial 'fifth' Major.

Monday's video session, based on questions sent in by fans via Facebook and Twitter, was an interesting choice by Woods who will not be giving his customary pre-tournament news conference ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship.

The world number seven typically addresses the media before every event in which he plays but is not scheduled to speak to reporters until after he completes Thursday's opening round at Quail Hollow.

Woods fielded 19 questions from fans in the video session, among them a query as to the best putt he has ever sunk on the PGA Tour.

In reply, he cited the par putt he knocked in from just inside four feet on the 72nd hole of the 1997 Masters, his first Major title which he clinched by a staggering 12 strokes with a record low total of 270.

"To set the record, all the history it meant at the time, to have my dad there at the back of the green," Woods added. "By far it was the biggest."

As for his favourite Major trophy, Woods did not hesitate in selecting the cherished Claret Jug awarded to winners of the British Open.

"The history and what it represents," he said. "Every single great champion has played in the British Open."

Fowler wins maiden PGA title in playoff McIlroy reclaims number one world ranking from Donald

Rickie Fowler delivered on his vast potential by claiming his first PGA Tour win at the Wells Fargo championship with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff against Briton Rory McIlroy and fellow American D.A. Points at Quail Hollow on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Fowler finally justified his billing as one of the game's top young players when he sank a four-footer for birdie at the 18th hole to claim victory at the Charlotte, North Carolina course.
"It's a good feeling right now," Fowler told reporters after winning in his 67th professional start. "Definitely some relief, satisfaction.

"I definitely knew I was good enough, and it was just getting everything to come together and stay patient."

Despite losing out in the playoff, the finish ensured US Open champion McIlroy, who is also 23, would reclaim the number one world ranking from Luke Donald.



Fowler fired a three-under-par 69 to join McIlroy (70) and Points (71) in the sudden-death playoff after tying at 14-under-par 274 after the regulation 72 holes.
Fowler, who had made the last US Ryder Cup team despite lacking a tour victory, saw the pressure lift off his shoulders when both Points and McIlroy missed their long birdie putts and had to settle for par.

McIlroy had left himself 34 feet from the cup after his approach shot, and Points was 41 feet away.

Home-town favorite Webb Simpson, the third-round leader who lives about a mile from the course, finished one stroke out of the playoff at 275 after posting a 73 for fourth place.

Two shots further back on 277 were Briton Lee Westwood (66) and Americans Ben Curtis (67) and Ryan Moore (74).

The Wells Fargo finish could presage a dynamic rivalry between the young Fowler and McIlroy, who two years ago fired a sensational, course-record 62 to win this tournament.

"I'm looking forward to playing with Rory for a long time," said Fowler, whose colourful outfits and all-orange Sunday get-up had brought him more attention than his tour results.

"We've always had a great camaraderie, been good buddies," Fowler said about the Northern Irishman.

"I've had a lot of fun playing against him. We first played against each other at the Walker Cup in '07, and I look forward to playing against him and hopefully having plenty more tournaments like this where we're battling back and forth."

After all three players found the fairway with their playoff drives, Fowler set up victory with his brilliant approach.

All three golfers had the chance to clinch victory during the final holes.

Points had a one-shot lead going to the final hole of regulation but knocked his approach shot into a bunker and took a bogey.

McIlroy had a shot at winning in regulation but missed a 15-foot birdie putt at the last.

Fowler had the outright lead until he drove into a fairway bunker at the 16th and then hit to a greenside bunker. He two-putted from 10 feet for bogey to slide back.

Dubai Ladies Masters raises global media value Alexis Thompson's triumph contributed to phenomenal success

The 2011 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, won by US teenage sensation Alexis Thompson, generated a massive global media exposure giving ‘golf in Dubai’ and ‘Brand Dubai,’ in particular, a massive boost.
Held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya bint Al Hussein - wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai - the season-ending event of the Ladies European Tour played from December 14 to 17, reached millions of homes of worldwide, producing Global Media Value worth Dh382.5 million – a whopping 466 per cent increase in value since the inaugural edition in 2006.



In addition, commercials produced by CNN International in the run up to the event, reached over 170 million households and hotel rooms across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, bringing an unprecedented level of promotion to the euro 500,000 (Dh2.5 million) tournament, which has become the torch-bearers for ladies golf in the region.

The independent statistics, provided by Ladies European Tour, clearly shows ladies golf, once considered alien to the sporting fabric of the nation, has become very much part of Dubai’s vision in putting the Emirate on the sporting map, thus enhancing the Emirate’s image as an Arab city with “an international spirit and sensibility.”

Promoted and organised by ‘golf in Dubai,’ an event management company that operates under the umbrella of the Dubai Investment Corporation, the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters has grown in stature and popularity over the years, thanks to the regular participation of the world’s leading players, making it the 'Ladies Major of the Middle East'.

The tournament website (www.dubailadiesmasters.com) also recorded a new high with 27,737 visits from 120 countries, an increase of 22.46 per cent. Also, a total of 11,119 spectators turned up at the Emirates Golf Club to watch the proceedings, a healthy figure considering ladies golf is still new to the region.

The stunning victory of Thompson, who at age 16 years, 10 months and seven days, became the youngest professional to win tournaments on both sides of the Atlantic, greatly contributed to the phenomenal success of the tournament as the “breaking news” was splashed all over the newspapers and news sites in the United States of America.

Also included in the field were a slew of other LPGA stars, led by Michelle Wie and Christina Kim who joined Britian’s all-time great and golf in Dubai ambassador Laura Davies, Melissa Reid and Sophie Gustafson and a host of other top-draw from the Ladies European Tour, giving the tournament truly a global look.

The action on the course was equally thrilling with the strong 108-player field, representing 28 countries, producing six eagles (all on par-3, fifth hole), 995 birdies, 4,160 pars and 997 bogeys over the four days.

“The facts provided by the Ladies European Tour amply confirm the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters was well received on the international circuit and contributed immensely in showcasing Dubai’s attractions to the world,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of golf in Dubai.

“We strive and assemble a top quality field that creates new storylines every year. The success of an event of this magnitude would not be possible without the generous support of key sponsors and I would like to especially thank the title sponsor, Omega, for their association. In fact, we have a great family of partners and patrons, and we value their support in raising the profile of the event.

“We feel proud and privileged to be part of a tradition that began in 2006 with the winner’s trophy serving as ladies golf’s one of the most valued treasures that holds significance to the players. Very soon we will announcing some big names who will be competing in the 2012 event.”

Donald hopes for duel for top spot with McIlroy

Luke Donald believes golf fans could be in for a treat in the coming months as he and world number one Rory McIlroy battle it out head-to-head for top spot in the world rankings.

Donald and McIlroy have exchanged the position throughout the season but the sense of drama has been lost given the way the rankings changes have come about, with the two players taking advantage of each other's off-weeks.

McIlroy is enjoying his third spell as number one after first climbing to the peak with victory in the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens in March.

"I kind of enjoy the going back and forth. I think the fans enjoy it," Donald told reporters on Wednesday, ahead of this week's Players Championship in which both are competing.

"I think the last couple of months it probably has not been as exciting because Rory and I really haven't been playing in the same events. I think that will change a little bit and hopefully there will be some situations coming up in the next few months where we'll be playing in the same tournament and both having a chance to win the tournament.

"And that's more exciting rather than me one week playing okay and getting in when he's having an off week and vice versa. I think the fact that I think coming up, we'll be playing a lot more of the same tournaments that will make it a bit more relevant," he said.

Donald gained the number one position when he came third in New Orleans two week ago as McIlroy rested.

The Northern Irishman lost in a playoff for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow on Sunday and leap-frogged Donald, who had sat the week out.

Top spot could change again this week if Donald, or third-ranked Lee Westwood win or have a good finish well ahead of McIlroy.

Donald is grouped with Westwood for the first two rounds of a tournament which the Englishman says would be his biggest win yet.

"It's probably sometimes talked as the fifth major, because of the strength of field. It doesn't have quite that feel of a major, but because of the strength of field, it's just a small step down."

Opposition grows to… fingerprinting illegals?

Most of the stories I cover involving my home stomping grounds of New York are uniformly negative, I’m sorry to say. (And yes, that includes the New York Jets.) But the state is what it is. What’s a guy to do? This fact makes it all the more pleasant for me, though, when I come across something positive to report, and it seemed as if I’d found just such a story this weekend. Next week the Empire State will finish rolling out a program called Secure Communities.

A program that gives federal immigration officials access to the fingerprints of undocumented immigrants booked into local jails will start Tuesday across New York state despite staunch opposition from advocates and lawmakers, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo.



A law-enforcement official familiar with the program, called Secure Communities, confirmed that New York City and 30 other jurisdictions would join the 31 communities that already have the program in place. Suffolk, Nassau and Westchester counties, among others, have participated in Secure Communities for more than a year.

Right off the bat, this one should ring up significant support – or so you might think – because it’s actually nothing new. We’re not talking about some program where cops are cruising the parking lot at Home Depot asking people for “their papers” every morning. This is simply taking the fingerprints of illegal immigrants who are already in jail and charged with a crime and getting them into the right database. The prints were already being sent to the FBI, so shipping them over to ICE shouldn’t be much of a leap.

A representative of the immigration enforcement agency is quoted as saying that the program has already delivered results, and “has helped ICE remove more than 135,000 convicted criminal aliens, including more than 49,000 convicted of major violent offenses like murder, rape and the sexual abuse of children.” So what could possibly go wrong?

Asked about the program at a Friday news conference, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said “we prefer that they not do that here.”

…

Speaking on the radio Friday, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said there will be a rally on City Hall’s steps on Monday to urge the federal government to refrain from forcing the city’s hand.

She also said the police were being put in a “terrible position.”

“It’s just so counter to what New York is about as an immigrant city,” she added. “And I’m real proud of our mayor and our governor, who have all spoken out…. The police can’t disregard the law at the end of the day, but it’s a terrible thing to put them in when they should be focusing on real crime.”

New York – particularly the Big Apple – does have a great tradition of welcoming immigrants. Legal immigrants. They built the city and the harbor and made New York a focal point of the economic development of an emerging nation. Unfortunately, its vast size and compressed population also eventually made it a haven for gang activity and illegal trade, including illegal immigration. Contrary to what Ms. Quinn may feel, a program such as Secure Communities is not contrary to “what New York is about.” It’s precisely what New York was and should always have been about. A safe haven and open door for those who follow the legal process we have in place and wish to join America as citizens.

But now we have everyone from the Governor and the Chief of Police carping about it along with every advocacy group in the state. So I suppose there’s no such thing as a good story in New York without at least one worm in the apple.

Julia: A paean to subservience in the Hubby State?

You’ve come a long way, baby. The old advertising motto that targeted women who thought of themselves as liberated in the 1970s came with no small measure of irony, since the point of the ad was to get women hooked on Virginia Slims cigarettes. Jessica Gavora sees a similar kind of irony in the Barack Obama campaign’s rollout of “Julia,” their composite woman who lives her 67-year life under the beneficence of the Obama presidency. Gavora argues that Obama wants to create not just a nanny state but a Hubby State, in which women marry the federal government — a far from liberating existence:

“The Life of Julia,” the Obama campaign’s new interactive Web ad, follows a cartoon everywoman, Julia, through the milestones of a middle-class American life: education, work, motherhood, retirement. One milestone is pointedly missing: marriage.

But, then again, why should Julia get married? She doesn’t need to. Like a growing number of single women with children, Julia is married to the state.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in this rather creepy slide from the Life of Julia presentation:

Note that there is no mention of a husband, or even a father, biological or involved. In the entire slide series, Julia never gets married, and indeed except for one single reference to having sex, is never shown as being with a man at all. Her son shows up in just one slide, and is never mentioned again after the slide shows Julia handing Zachary off to the Nanny State:

Zachary then disappears from Julia’s life. Meanwhile, Julia continues her lifelong reliance on the Hubby State, through to her 67th year, at which the Life of Julia comes to an abrupt end.

Gavora warns that women are selling themselves into bondage, and this time on the cheap:

Julia is just the latest makeover. She is the Democrats’ answer to Romney’s family Christmas card. A nation of women on their own, after all, doesn’t relate very well to fecund portraits of smiling white moms and dads with kids and golden retrievers underfoot. With her spare, faceless affect, Julia is meant to evoke a more modern, independent sensibility — with the exception of her life of endless government dependency, that is.

Julia is Mary Tyler Moore on the government’s dime. You’re gonna make it after all, Julia! Just remember who’s responsible on Election Day.

The problem is, like so much of our political rhetoric, Julia is not a composite; she’s a myth. Some of the nation’s single moms may be successful Web designers, but many are poor — fully half have incomes of less than $30,000 a year, compared with just 15 percent of married women. It’s not Pell grants and SBA loans these women rely on but Medicaid and food stamps. And it’s not comfortable retirements in community gardens they contemplate but bleak old age.

Whereas government benefits were once the state’s compassionate response to women who had lost their husbands, in Julia’s world they are the unquestionable entitlement of women who never married. The decline of marriage and Democratic political opportunism have combined to transform what used to be a situation to be avoided — single motherhood — into a new and proud American demographic, citizens of Obama’s Hubby State.

Gone is any acknowledgment that remaining single is a less than ideal situation for women — or for men, for that matter — or that raising children outside of marriage is anything less than these women’s inalienable personal choice.

The bleak, lonely existence of Julia is a warning to voters. This is the Brave New World that Obama envisions for all of us — dependent on government instead of real families, children who all but become wards of the state and are nothing more than optional accessories that are easily discarded when appropriate. This could be the bleakest political vision ever deliberately constructed as an argument to vote for someone.

Blind shooter gets his guns back

Is justice blind? Sometimes. And so is New Jersey resident Stephen Hopler, a gun collector and enthusiast from the Garden State. (Hat tip to Warner Todd Huston.) Or at least he was until the local authorities decided that a blind guy shouldn’t have weapons. Then things began to look ugly, at least for those who could see.A blind gun collector can keep his gun permit and will have the weapons previously seized from his house by police returned to him, following a judge’s order handed down Friday in Superior Court in Morristown.

Steven Hopler, 49, of Rockaway Township won the latest battle in an ongoing war over his Second Amendment rights. The Morris County Prosecutor’s office had asked Judge Thomas Manahan to revoke Hopler’s firearms ID card and seize all guns in his possession, arguing Hopler abused alcohol and posed a danger to others by being a gun owner.


Hopler’s attorney, Gregg Trautmann, said, “First it was, ‘He can’t own guns because he’s blind.’ Now they tried, ‘you’re a habitual drunkard and we think it’s improper because you’re a habitual drunkard.’” .

You’d think for the police and the courts to step and and stomp on Mr. Hopler’s second amendment rights that he’d have had to done something terrible, like… shoot somebody. Well, in a way you’d be right.

The most recent legal scuffle began in 2008 when Hopler, who became legally blind as a result of diabetes in 1991, shot himself in the shin while cleaning one of his guns.

This is a tawdry story all around. But it looks as if the judge has looked over the evidence and found that the man has never done anything to harm others or indicate that his second amendment rights should be abridged. His permit will be restored and he can go back to collecting as he chooses. It’s certainly a long time overdue, but this looks like at least one story of a happy outcome in New Jersey.

Video: Get off of Jonah Goldberg’s lawn, you darned kids

I love a curmudgeonly rant, and so this interview of National Review’s Jonah Goldberg is right up my alley. This excerpt of a longer interview with the Daily Caller’s Ginni Thomas focuses on Jonah’s issues with the “youth culture,” the obsession with the worldview of the least experienced of our citizenry. Goldberg notes that “we’re all born idiots,” and that some people are a lot closer to that point in time than most of the rest of us:


“It is a simple fact of science that nothing correlates more with ignorance and stupidity more than youth,” the National Review Online editor said in an interview. “We’re all born idiots, and we only get over that condition as we get less young.”

So why all the focus on the youth vote and “millennials” in politics? Goldberg says young people having so much influence in a society is unhealthy.

“My view is, they’re going to run the country some day, so we should really explain why they’re so frickin’ stupid about so many things,” he said.

Goldberg says in the interview that he would prefer a much higher voting age than 18, and while I agree that these voters tend to be the least sophisticated and informed voters in any election, I still disagree with Goldberg on this point. The law treats 18-year-olds as fully responsible for their actions. The purpose of elections is to form a representative government that binds all citizens and holds them accountable. That includes 18-year-old citizens, which means that they should have the right to participate in the formation of legislatures and executive branches that create and enforce those laws.

That doesn’t mean that politicians should pander to them, or at least at the expense of both older voters and common sense. They may be running the country someday, it is true, but it is equally true that they may be performing brain surgery someday too. That doesn’t mean I want them practicing on my head when they’re 18 and haven’t learned anything about it yet.

In fact, I’d say that a sure sign of political desperation is when a politician has to focus on the least-sophisticated and least-experienced voters to gain any traction. That’s a giveaway that their policies are probably too simplistic and unrealistic to sell elsewhere. One case in point: ObamaCare. Obama got a great deal of support from young voters on this policy — and now they will be forced to needlessly buy comprehensive health insurance at great expense when a simple catastrophic policy would suit their needs much more economically, in order to subsidize the health-care costs of middle-aged and senior voters. Suckers!

Perhaps that experience will have taught the youth culture an important lesson. If so, Jonah will try not to bark at them when their radios are too loud or order them off his darned lawn. Jonah also has a new book out, The Tyranny of Cliches: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas — be sure to check it out.

Quotes of the day

Former President George W. Bush’s pollster for his 2004 re-election, Jan van Lohuizen, has put out a memo to Republican operatives suggesting a shift in the way the GOP discusses same-sex marriage…
“Recommendation: A statement reflecting recent developments on this issue along the following lines:

“‘People who believe in equality under the law as a fundamental principle, as I do, will agree that this principle extends to gay and lesbian couples; gay and lesbian couples should not face discrimination and their relationship should be protected under the law. People who disagree on the fundamental nature of marriage can agree, at the same time, that gays and lesbians should receive essential rights and protections such as hospital visitation, adoption rights, and health and death benefits.’”



***

“You can make a case that this is a perfect example of this president as the most liberal president in history and he is systematically changing what America is about,” Brabender said. “What we are betting the ranch on is the October labor statistics, and that is a high risk. … We are playing a dangerous game by raising the stakes too high on something we have too little control of and is often in great flux, and we are bailing on talking about who we are as a country. I think that is a mistake.”…

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said Obama handed Romney and the Republican Party a gift — and both will be negligent if they don’t take advantage of it.

“The president yesterday interjected an element into this election cycle that, while some may be uncomfortable dealing with on the Republican side, could very well be a deciding factor for the election if they respond to the president’s challenge to marriage,” Perkins said. “It’s no secret the Republican leadership has not wanted to be out front waving the banner.”

***

So to figure out whether gay marriage will hurt Obama in the fall, you have to figure whether gay marriage alone is likely to block any of these five paths—that is, whether Obama is likely to receive fewer votes from these specific constituencies in these specific states than Kerry received in 2004. For that to occur, Obama would have to suffer a 32-point net loss in Latino support in Nevada; a 27-point net loss in Latino support in New Mexico; a 27-point net loss in Latino support in Florida; a 9-point net loss in black support in Virginia; a 19-point net loss in black support in North Carolina; a 12-point net loss in working-class support in Iowa; and a 5-point net loss in working-class support in Ohio.

In other words, it’s unlikely. Right now, 43 percent of Latinos—a group made up largely of the kind of younger men and women who are driving population growth in key states—approve of same-sex marriage. Among independents that number is up to 52 percent. And opposition among African-Americans has fallen 20 points since 2008. It’s hard to imagine that Obama’s personal opinion about same-sex marriage—remember, he’s not pushing any kind of federal legislation—will be such a turn-off for key demographic groups in key states that their support for the president will plummet to sub-Kerry levels come November.

***

Black voters and especially black churches have long opposed gay marriage. But the 40-year-old barber and other African-Americans interviewed in politically key states say their support for Obama remains unshaken…

Mel Brown, a 65-year-old project manager in Philadelphia, says same-sex marriage “is between them and their God. The God I serve does not agree with that.”

Does Obama’s announcement change Brown’s support for the president? “Absolutely not. Because Scripture says we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”…

Many black pastors have been reluctant to address same-sex marriage from the pulpit; the topic remains taboo in much of their community. Now, “with the president taking such a clear stand on the issue, and his being such a beloved figure and historic symbol for African-Americans, I think it will advance the conversation,” said the Rev. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

***

It’s true, says Carmen Fowler LaBerge: You can be a Christian and support same-sex marriage, but, she says, “nobody can say gay marriage is biblical. That’s just foolishness.”

LaBerge resigned her post as minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) after the denomination voted last year to ordain noncelibate gay clergy. She says the Bible is clear.

“From the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament, the only sexual relationships that are affirmed in scripture are those in the context of marriage between one man and one woman,” she says…

Not so fast, says the Rev. Susan Russell, an Episcopal priest at All Saints Church in Pasadena, Calif. She takes her cues from Jesus.

“Jesus never said a single word about anything even remotely connected to homosexuality,” she says.

***

This new bipartisan politics of religion is a good thing — both for religion and for politics. For several decades, the right has held a monopoly over what it means to be religious in the United States, not to mention Christian or evangelical. The result has been devastating for the image of Christianity. When the Barna Group polled Americans ages 16 to 29 on what words best describe Christianity, the top response was “anti-homosexual.” The other common associations were “judgmental,” “hypocritical” and “too involved in politics.”

It has not helped that for years, conservative politicians have explained their opposition to gay rights by simply stating, “I’m a Christian,” as if that automatically requires one to abhor the idea of same-sex marriage. Recent debates about the protection of religious freedom have assumed that the only religious motives that count are conservative ones. That’s the concept at the core of arguments about the contraception mandate, as well as a number of religious freedom bills moving through state legislatures. Enthusiasm for those efforts might well flag if religious progressives were to demand protection for their beliefs as well…

After years of pretending that the culture wars were a matter of religious views lined up against secular beliefs, politicians are recognizing what average Americans knew all along. A majority of Americans now believe that there is more than one way to get to heaven, pollsters report. Our political discussions finally reflect that there’s also more than one answer to the question: “What would Jesus do?”

***

Romney did remain consistent on one point: He said he does not intend to use President Obama’s flip-flop of same-sex marriage against him in the campaign. Obama, who opposed gay marriage when he ran for president in 2008, said this week he now supports it. Romney said, “I think the issue of marriage and gay marriage is a very tender and sensitive topic. People come out in different places on this. The president has changed course in regards to this topic. I think that’s his right to do that. I have a different view than he does. I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman, but I just don’t think that this becomes a hot political issue dividing our nation.”

***

“The father of the modern conservative movement, former US Senator Barry Goldwater, once said of Jerry Falwell that he needed a kick in the ass. With his speech at Falwell’s Liberty University, it is clear that Governor Romney’s message to Goldwater conservatives is: drop dead…

“We have said since our founding in 2009, that we are committed to defeating Barack Obama. We remain committed to Obama’s defeat. However, if Governor Romney expects to be the candidate who can beat Obama in November then he needs to embrace a strategy that makes victory possible – falling into the culture war trap laid by Obama is a guaranteed electoral loser.

“It is not too late. If Governor Romney wants to unite conservatives and motivate Tea Party voters then he needs to embrace bolder positions on taxes, entitlement reform, healthcare and spending, not pander to big government theocrats.”

***

Via Mediaite.