Feel-Good Golf Victories for Paula Creamer, Edoardo Molinari and Steve Stricker

　　

　　

　　If ever there were three winners that make you feel good about the game, they are Paula Creamer, Edoardo Molinari and Steve Sticker.

　　Creamer was not expected to do well at the Women’s US Open at Oakmont CC. She was still recovering from surgery on her left thumb, could only hit 40 practice balls each day and had come up short in prior US Opens. But on Sunday Creamer, aka Pink Panther, showed us once again to beware the injured golfer, beware the golfer who can hit fairways, and beware the winner with a shopping list.

　　Two keys to her victory were tips from Arnold Palmer who knows a thing or two about Oakmont. They had played a charity function on Wednesday. When she asked him what was the most important thing about Oakmont, Palmer’s answer was no three putts and to keep her head down the whole time.

　　“I listened to that,” she said, adding that she still had a few three-putts. “I really tried to keep my head down as long as I could. Looking up, you can start to see a lot of crazy things. You know, there's a lot going on out there. I tried to make it as simple as I could.”

　　The biggest surprise is that she did not look at a leaderboard on the final round. When her caddie Colin Cann told her she should lay up on the drivable par four 17th , she suspected that she was in good shape.

　　In the end, Creamer said pars as much as the birdies helped her to victory. “They're never gonna kill you in an Open championship,” she explained. “If you get birdies, that's like getting a shot and a half to the field.”

　　With her victory secured, first on Creamer’s to do list is to buy a Birkin bag.

　　“It's like a really crazy bag,” Creamer explained to a room of mostly male journalists who hadn’t a clue as to what it was. “The waiting list is like years. We'll see. It's so bad. I know.”

　　Birkin bags are named after an actress, Jane Birkin. They are hand made. However, should Creamer want a faster track to bag happiness, new ones are available on eBay from $995 to $62,995.

　　Second on her list is skydiving with her father who was a military pilot. Hmmm. Birkin bag and skydiving. This is a new definition of a US Open champ.

　　Steve Stricker is the guy every mom wants to feed apple pie. He’s Opie, one of the Hardy Boys, a Mouseketeer. When he wins, even over a guy who threw a 59 at him, it’s un-American not to be happy.

　　Stricker is so nice he can have a hard time closing out victories, even with a six shot edge going into the final round, which is he had Sunday. In the end, he had a two-shot edge over Paul “ Mr. 59” Goydos, just as his did over Luke Donald at the Northern Trust earlier this season.

　　Stricker had a chance at the 72-hole scoring record which stands at -31, held by Ernie Els, although it was on a par 73 course, but he was unable to go low.

　　“I wasn't the same player as I was for three days, for sure, today,” Stricker said about his round. “You're just afraid to make a mistake, and that's hard to play golf that way.”

　　The lowest he got in relation to par was -27. His final round 70, one under par, gave him -26 on a par 71 course. He was only worried about the victory, not about records of any kind.

　　“I think it's just human nature that you don't want to screw up, and it's hard to overcome,” he continued. “I still had the thought if I shoot 2 or 3-under, they're going to have to shoot 9-under to catch me, and that's a heck of a round.”

　　Stricker made an important putt on the 17th for birdie to give him a little breathing room on the 18th . But on the final hole, he hit a drive into the trees on the right. It looked like he might have a harder road to grab the trophy.

　　“I was trying to hit it in the fairway off the tee,” he said about the errant shot. “I'm thinking to myself, you know, bogey is going to force him to make a birdie, and that's one heck of a hole to try to make a birdie on. So after I hit the tree and my objective was just to get it down there where I could get my third shot on the green and make a five and force him to make a birdie. You know, I don't have to make it -- it doesn't have to be pretty. I just wanted to win, and fortunately it worked out.”

　　At the Barclays Scottish Open, Edoardo Molinari, former US Amateur champion, got his first European Tour victory in windy, rainy conditions, beating veteran Darren Clarke.

　　“When I saw the conditions this morning, you could have shot any number today to be honest,” Molinari said. When we teed off, it was so windy that I thought I didn't have any chance against Darren because he's a great player when conditions are like that.”

　　As it turned out, it was Clarke who could not stay with Molinari. The question was, would Molinari’s victory in Scotland bump the World Cup matches off the front pages in Italy.

　　“I saw one of the first pages in the newspaper this morning,” Molinari said about reporting after his third round. “There was a small picture with about this much on the first page ( small amount of coverage) , and so I think that tomorrow there will be a bigger picture and probably big comments.”

 

Manolos, Manbags Set to Outdo ‘It’ Bags as Luxury Growth Driver

　

　　As some customers struggle to justify spending thousands of dollars on Hermes Kelly or Chanel 2.55 bags, shoes like Jimmy Choo gladiator sandals are set to become a faster-growing luxury, according to estimates by Euromonitor International Plc.

　　Having trailed bags in the five years before and during the recession, sales of luxury shoes will rise 20 percent in the four years through 2013, compared with 16 percent growth in handbag revenue, according to a study by the research company.

　　Demand for $1,000-plus bags may not match pre-recession levels as consumers now hang on to their clutches and totes for more than one season, said Fflur Roberts, Euromonitor’s luxury goods research manager. While also curbing spending on shoes, shoppers may purchase more designer footwear than bags because it’s “more forgivable” to pay $500 for a pair of Manolo Blahnik blue satin heels, Roberts said in a phone interview.

　　“There are still ‘It’ bags out there, but it’s not the same as it was,” Roberts said, citing the mania of three or four years ago for “arm candy” such as Mulberry’s Paddington and Fendi’s Spy. “The entry price for shoes is easier.”

　　In the past decade, PPR SA’s Gucci Group NV and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA boosted sales and earnings by expanding their seasonal bag ranges to tap demand for the latest “must-have” accessory. Luxury bag sales advanced 49 percent in the period from 2004 to 2008, while designer shoes rose 35 percent, according to Euromonitor.

　　Luxury chains in the U.S. are driving retail sales to the fastest pace of growth in the past four years, a sign consumers may be overcoming concern about unemployment and depressed home values, the International Council of Shopping Centers said in advance of its June report.

　　Burberry, Valentino

　　Excluding currency swings, sales of designer shoes fell about 8.7 percent to $9.77 billion in 2009, the lowest level since 2006, according to Euromonitor. Sales of designer bags declined about 8 percent to $6.7 billion in 2009.

　　Growth is set to resume this year, the researcher predicts. Footwear revenue is forecast by Euromonitor to rise 3.2 percent this year, faster than the 2.1 percent predicted for bags.

　　As demand returns, so are the rewards. Burberry Group Plc, the U.K.’s largest luxury company, said in May annual profit increased 23 percent as it sold more shoes and accessories. Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, the Florence, Italy-based shoemaker, has seen “very significant” growth in sales of men’s footwear in Asia as businessmen upgrade to luxury shoes, according to Chief Executive Officer Michele Norsa.

　　Rubber Soles

　　“We have a very functional offer in Asia, including shoes with rubber soles,” Norsa said in a May interview. In Japan, sales of Ferragamo shoes grew by more than 10 percent in the first quarter, he said.

　　Valentino Fashion Group SpA’s shoes are “performing in an outstanding way,” CEO Stefano Sassi said in an interview. “It’s the product category that is doing more right now.”

　　High-end shoe sales may accelerate fastest through 2013 in Malaysia, Russia, Canada, the U.S. and South Korea, with growth being split equally between men’s and women’s footwear, according to Euromonitor forecasts.

　　Handbag sales will get a lift from a non-traditional customer -- men, particularly in Russia, Malaysia and China, according to the researcher. Excluding suitcases, sales of men’s designer bags may grow 18 percent between 2009 and 2013, compared with 16 percent for women’s luxury handbags.

　　‘Manbag’

　　“It’s all to do with the ‘manbag’,” Roberts said. “It’s more acceptable now for men to walk down the street with a Mulberry bag. It’s the norm.”

　　Mulberry Group Plc’s fall 2010 bag range includes the 495- pound ($750) East West oak natural leather messenger bag and the 895-pound Picadilly chocolate natural leather tote, according to the London-based fashion company’s website.

　　“The Mulberry boys are functional before being fashionable and are looking for value for money,” said Nicholas Roberts, the company’s retail director. “Our functional, understated bags sell well in season, while our high-fashion products sell more in sale.”

　　With sales of men’s luxury bags in the U.S., the world’s biggest market for the category, projected to grow 23 percent through 2013, according to Euromonitor, retailers including Saks Inc. and Barneys will add competitively priced own-label men’s satchels, purses and messenger bags from spring 2011, executives at both department-store chains said in interviews last month.

　　“Whatever product we offer needs to offer value, especially in men’s wear,” said Thomas Ott, Saks senior vice president of men’s wear.

　　And for the fashionable female still seeking her luxury fix, albeit at a lower price point, Roberto Cavalli SpA and Ferragamo are making less expensive products. Cavalli is cutting production costs by putting one brooch on a handbag instead of two, CEO Gianluca Brozzetti said in an interview last month. Ferragamo is making more bags priced around $500, Norsa said.

　　“Brands have possibly got a bit carried away with all the markups that they’ve been allowed to get away with,” said Euromonitor’s Roberts. “People are more careful about buying.”

Illegal bushmeat 'rife in Europe'

　　

　　

　　Two primate species were among the seizures of bushmeat by customs About 270 tonnes of illegal bushmeat could be passing through one of Europe's busiest airports each year, the first study of its kind estimates.

　　A team of researchers says the illicit trade could pose a risk to human or animal health and increase the demand for meat from threatened species.

　　The figure is based on seizures from searches carried out over 17 days at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

　　The findings appear in the journal Conservation Letters.

　　A team of researchers from France, Cambodia and the UK said it was the "first systematic study of the scale and nature of this international trade".

　　"We estimate that about five tonnes of bushmeat per week is smuggled in personal baggage through Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport," they wrote.

　　During the 17-day study, a total of 134 passengers arriving on 29 flights from 14 African nations were searched.

　　Nine people were found to be carrying bushmeat, which had a combined mass of 188kg.

　　In total, 11 species were found - including two types of primates, two kinds of crocodiles and three rodent species - four of which were listed as protected species.

　　'Lucrative trade'

　　Co-author Marcus Rowcliffe from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) explained why the international team of researchers decided to carry out the research.

　　Continue reading the main story

　　

　　Only a small proportion of Africa's bushmeat is exported

　　Calls for bushmeat ban rejected

　　"As no study like this had been carried out before, we really had no idea as to the volume of bushmeat coming into airports," he told BBC News.

　　"It was a surprise when we saw how much was arriving."

　　The products were not only imported for personal consumption, but were part of a lucrative organised trade with high prices indicating luxury status, Dr Rowcliffe added.

　　"A 4kg monkey will cost around 100 euros (£84), compared with just five euros in Cameroon," he said.

　　Based on the data gathered from the 29 flights covered by the study, the researchers then calculated the weekly and annual inward flow of bushmeat.

　　"Assuming that (the study's) rates are representative of the average weekly rate over the year, this equates to... 273 tonnes of bushmeat," they calculated.

　　The team suggested that there were likely to be a number of factors behind the large volume of bushmeat being imported.

　　"First, detecting and seizing these products is not a priority," they explained.

　　"Second, penalties for importing illegal meat or fish are low and rarely imposed. Third, the rewards for transporting bushmeat are potentially high."

　　The researchers acknowledged that the study had a short time scale and limited geographical coverage, and said that a longer and large scale survey was now required to build on the findings.

　　However, they added that their study did allow them to consider ways to control the trade.

　　They suggest offering incentives to customs officers, increasing the penalties for illegally importing the products and raising awareness among passengers that bringing such products into the EU was prohibited.

　　The team concluded: "The large scale of current imports makes it important to consider all options for reducing the flow of illegal meat and fish, and of bushmeat in particular."

Times Square car bomb suspect Faisal Shahzad indicted

　　

　　

　　Faisal Shazhad, 30, was arrested two days after the car bomb attempt The main suspect in the alleged attempt to set of a car bomb in New York's Times Square last month has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

　　Faisal Shahzad, 30, is facing terror charges, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

　　The explosives found in a car on Times Square on 1 May failed to detonate.

　　Mr Shahzad, a Pakistani-born US citizen, was later arrested at New York's JFK airport. He faces life in prison if convicted.

　　He did not enter a plea at a court appearance on 18 May, but officials said he was co-operating.

　　The SUV found on Times Square was loaded with fertiliser, fireworks, gasoline, propane and alarm clocks.

　　Investigators traced the vehicle back to Mr Shahzad.

 

Blast at Colombia coalmine kills 16 and traps dozens

　　

　　

　　A blast at a coalmine in Colombia has killed 16 miners and left about 70 trapped underground, officials say.

　　The explosion happened late on Wednesday at the San Fernando mine in Amaga, Antioquia province.

　　Officials say there is little likelihood of finding survivors as rescuers tried to get into the mine.

　　"To be honest there is not much [hope], very little, practically none," Luz Amanda Pulido, a national disaster official, told local radio.

　　The blast happened at 2200 local time on Wednesday when miners were changing shift, officials said.

　　For that reason, the exact number of people inside the mine was unclear, they said.

　　Rescuers were trying again to get inside the shaft on Thursday morning.

　　'Huge tragedy'

　　It is not yet clear what caused the blast but officials said there may have been a build-up of gases. There are fears the death toll could rise further.

　　President Alvaro Uribe described the disaster as "a huge tragedy" and said "my heart goes out" to the families of the dead.

　　Colombia is one of the world's largest coal exporters.

　　COLOMBIA'S MINE DISASTERS

　　Continue reading the main story

　　2009: Methane gas explosion kills eight, also in Antioquian

　　February 2007: Gas explosion in north east kills 32

　　October 2007: At least 24 gold prospectors killed in mine collapse

　　April 2001: 15 dead after gas explosion in northern Colombia

　　1997: 16 miners buried alive after blast at coal mine in same region

　　It has the second-largest reserves in South America, after Brazil. According to the US Energy Information Administration, it was the fourth largest coal exporter in the world in 2008.

　　Dozens of workers have been killed in explosions at mines, many of which are makeshift.

　　A methane gas explosion killed eight workers in a mine last year, also in Antioquia province.

　　In February 2007, a gas explosion at a mine in north-eastern Colombia killed more than 30 workers.

　　After the blast at the makeshift La Preciosa site, about 580km (360 miles) north of the capital, Bogota, authorities said they would step up their supervision of Colombia's mines.