Meister der Farbe » led off all three Nashville power plays. Otta

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.Justice Hill Womens Jersey . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Hayden Hurst Youth Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Lamar-Jackson-Jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Lamar Jackson Ravens Jersey . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Marquise Brown Jersey . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Pekka Rinnes toughest test came 6 minutes into the game.Nashvilles goalie made a huge save early on, and James Neal and P.K. Subban each had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators over the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Tuesday night.Ryan Ellis also scored for Nashville, and Rinne stopped 33 shots. The Predators had lost their previous two games in shootouts.Rinnes best save came at 5:59 of the first period. After defenseman Mattias Ekholm turned the puck over inside the Nashville zone, Ottawas Bobby Ryan had an unchallenged shot from the slot that Rinne stopped to keep the game scoreless.Of course that gives you confidence, Rinne said. The crowds response and everything like that, its a big boost. Thats one of those things that you just battle to make that save and once in a while, you get that save.It was one of 13 stops Rinne made in the opening period.I did everything right on it, Ryan said. Youre supposed to raise the puck and go for the far side. He made an incredible save. So sometimes you tip your cap.Kyle Turris scored and Craig Anderson made 27 saves for Ottawa, which has lost consecutive games.Nashville has defeated the Senators in five of the last six matchups.Neal scored the games first goal 46 seconds into the second. On a delayed penalty to the Senators, Subban carried the puck around the Ottawa zone. He passed to Roman Josi, who found Neal in the slot, where he fired a shot past Anderson.The first 10 games, to be honest with you, I dont think Ive really been at my best, Subban said. I dont know why that is, but Im just fluid and skating out there. This game, I just felt better and I felt I had my legs under me. When I feel that way, I can create and open up some space..dddddddddddd.Subban doubled the Nashville lead at 3:52 of the second on a slap shot from the right point through traffic. Subban had been held without a goal in his last seven games.P.K., I thought, was real good, Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. I thought he got the puck out of our end well. He got out of our end with speed sometimes and jumped into the offense. When we got to the offensive zone, I thought he did a good job of picking and choosing his spots to add offensively.Both of Subbans points came at even strength. Entering the game, five of his six points had come on the power play.Ellis made it 3-0 at 2:23 of the third with a slap shot from the top of the right circle. The goal was his first of the season.Turris ruined Rinnes shutout bid at 5:20 of the third with his team-leading sixth goal.They are a free-wheeling team, Ottawa coach Guy Boucher said. Theyve got high-end skill and we didnt want to fall into their game, but we did. We tried to get it back after that and we hurt ourselves. We had a push in the third, but we couldnt get that second one there to keep that push going. We got away from how we play.Game notesNashville C Mike Fisher missed his third consecutive game with an upper-body injury. ... Predators LW Pontus Aberg made his NHL regular-season debut. He appeared in two playoff games for Nashville last season. ... The Senators successfully killed off all three Nashville power plays. Ottawa has not allowed a power-play goal in its last seven games.UP NEXTSenators: Travel to Buffalo on Wednesday.Predators: Host the St. Louis Blues on Thurled off all three Nashville power plays. Otta' ' '