Talk » years after his return, Dutta got his first big br

TROON, Scotland -- Jordan Spieth, going for the third leg of the career Grand Slam, spent more time talking about a golf course he will never see.The majority of his press conference was taken up with questions about the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and why he chose not to play. Spieth knew that was coming. It was only when he was leaving the room that the 22-year-old Texan smiled and said to no one in particular, Do we have a tournament this week?Finally, yes.Colin Montgomerie, who lived across the street from Royal Troon when his father was the club secretary, hits the first tee shot when the British Open begins on Thursday. That should put to rest three days of consternation about another tournament -- the Olympics -- that doesnt have nearly the history or the tradition of golfs oldest championship.The International Golf Federation, run by former R&A chief Peter Dawson, took over Open week on Monday to announce that Olympic qualifying had ended and that Spieth (along with Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and 16 other men) was not playing.The next day, Spieth stood by his decision (health concerns) and said his goal would be to get to the Tokyo Games in 2020, assuming the men are still in the games. McIlroy followed him into the room and blasted golf officials who for the last seven years have preached the Olympics as an opportunity to grow the game.I didnt get into golf to grow the game, McIlroy said. I got into golf to win championships, and win major championships.Even on Wednesday, the day before the 145th Open began, another press conference was held with the IGF backdrop to announce Britains golf team.Claret jug, anyone?Spieth let it slip through his fingers last year at St. Andrews going for his third straight major, and he wound up holding it later that evening -- but only because he was with Zach Johnson, the champion golfer of the year, when it was over.I crave to have that trophy in my possession at some point, Spieth said. And to reach a third leg of the Grand Slam this week would be a fantastic achievement.History is on his side, even if its more of a coincidence. The last six British Open champions at Royal Troon dating to 1950 are Americans, and it didnt escape Spieth when he looked at photos of the winners in the clubhouse. The last two winners, Todd Hamilton and Justin Leonard, lived in Dallas.Spieth arrived on the weekend and already saw the unpredictable nature of these Ayrshire links off the Irish Sea.The wind was into his face on Saturday and Sunday on the easier opening holes, and the prevailing wind at his back returned the following three days. Royal Troon is clearly a tale of two nines. The front nine typically is downwind and doesnt have a par 4 longer than 422 yards. The back nine turns into the wind and doesnt have a par 4 that his shorter than 430 yards.The common denominator? Bunkers dot the landscape on both sides, along with thick, prickly gorse bushes more prevalent at the turn. Fairway bunkers effectively are a half-shot penalty, possibly a full shot or more if the ball rolls up against the vetted faces.We looked at the holes, and on paper it looked relatively simple, Masters champion Danny Willett said. But you start knocking it in a couple of the bunkers, up near the faces, the bunker design is a little bit sneaky.The closing holes into the wind can be a three-club difference.You can see when its flattened out, you can have a go at the golf course, he said. But if you get it breezy, like in any Open venue, this place really shows its teeth.The record score at Royal Troon is 12-under 272 when Leonard won in 1997.McIlroy has been feisty this week. Along with taking on the purpose of golf in the Olympics, he was annoyed by a newspaper headline that referenced the Fab Four and suggested he was close to becoming Ringo Starr, regarded as the least of four Beatles.It was only two years ago that McIlroy ended the summer of 2014 by winning two straight majors and leaving no question who was No. 1. Spieth, Day and Johnson have combined to win four of the last six majors, and McIlroy is now at No. 4 in the world.I cant worry about other guys, McIlroy said. Im pretty confident that if I go out and play my best golf Im going to win more times than not. Ive got four major championships, and Id love to add to that tally -- just as those guys would love to add to their one or two majors that they have and just keep going.What the Fab Four has in common is all of them want a claret jug -- and none are going to the Olympics, anyway.Drew Pomeranz Jersey Red Sox .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Jerry Royster Jersey Braves . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. https://www.discountjerseysonline.com/keith-foulke-jersey-red-sox-644 . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Rico Carty Jersey Braves . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Nicholas Castellanos Jersey Cubs . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer.Former India footballer Amal Dutta has died at the age of 86. Dutta, the countrys first full time diamond coach, was bedridden for the last six months and had stopped eating, according to his family. He is survived by his son Ashish and daughter Anita.?A midfielder who represented Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and also India at the 1954 Asian Games, Dutta made a name for himself as a tactical genius as he pioneered professional coaching in India.Known for his humility and gentle behaviour, Dutta was the brain behind Mohun Bagans 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation in the late 1990s which took the club to great success. ?After retiring, Dutta went to England for a one-year FA coaching course.Four years after his return, Dutta got his first big break when he took over as East Bengals coach in 1963, midway through the Calcutta League. He managed the club till 1964.He quiit his job to become a full time coach, thus becoming Indias first professional coach and was the technical director of the Indian team for the Nehru Cup in 1987.ddddddddddddHe was an institution in himself. We shall miss you. May his soul rest in peace, Mohun Bagan said.?Former footballer PK Banerjee, who played alongside Dutta in the Indian team, described him as a true fighter.He took sport to a different level during his playing days at East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and India. He fought till the end, Banerjee said.In a condolence message, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on Twitter: Saddened at the passing away of Amal Dutta. Football world will miss him. Its a great loss. My condolences to his family and friends. ' ' '