DieBruderschaft.com

NAPLES, Fla. -- By Lydia Kos standards, this is a major slump.She hasnt won in nine starts since mid-July, her best finish being a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. She hasnt been among the top 10 in any of her last five starts and wasnt even in the top 40 in three of those.Despite all that, all the big prizes -- player of the year, money title, scoring title and the yearlong points chase called the Race to the CME Globe -- are well within Kos reach this week. The LPGA Tour season wraps up with the CME Group Tour Championship that starts Thursday, when Ariya Jutanugarn and Ko will basically go head to head for year-end honors.Obviously, Im not coming into this week with the greatest form, said Ko, who won the Globe in its inaugural season in 2014 and retained it last year. But I still feel like its been a season where Im really proud of it. For me to be in this position, to have an opportunity to go for the Globe again -- and all the other things -- its a pretty cool position to be in.Only a win this week would be enough to give Ko her second straight player-of-the-year award; any other result, and that title goes to Jutanugarn. They come in separated by $17,305 in the money standings, and Ko (69.611) enters with a minuscule edge over In Gee Chun (69.632) for the Vare Trophy presented to the player with the lowest scoring average.It would be a pretty special Sunday, Ko said.Its probably going to be anyway, whether thats the case for Ko or someone else. The LPGA got a dream scenario last season, when all the trophies were decided in the final holes on the final day.Such a scene could repeat itself this week, and the LPGA wouldnt mind some final-hour drama.Im not going to be nervous, Jutanugarn said.The points in the CME Globe standings reset for the final week, so Jutanugarn, Ko and Brooke Henderson all truly control their destinies when it comes to the $1 million bonus that goes to the points champion. Win this week, and the Globe is hers.Going into this year it was a big goal of mine to be in the top three and give myself a great opportunity in the final event of the year, Henderson said. Im really looking forward to it. I know itll be a tough week, a tough four rounds, but I know if I get off to a fast start and am able to play my game, maybe good things will happen.Jutanugarn turns 21 next week. Still, shes the elder stateswoman among the three who arrived in Naples this week with the most realistic chances of hoisting the CME Globe on Sunday.Im old? she asked.Well, yes, in this example.Ko, who has been the worlds No. 1 player for more than a year and will remain there for the foreseeable future, is 19. Henderson turned 19 in September. Of the nine players with a mathematical chance of finishing atop this years Race to the CME Globe standings, the oldest -- Shanshan Feng -- is all of 27.The average age of the players in that group is 21.9, though this event last year saw a tour veteran prevail.Definitely felt like a walk-off home run, said defending tournament champion Cristie Kerr, who is 39, essentially meaning shes been alive as long as Jutanugarn and Ko combined. Yeah, Ive had great memories since Ive been back walking around kind of remembering some of the shots I hit or how I felt. Ive played pretty well the last couple days, so fingers crossed.DIVOTS: Ko won on the Tiburon course in Naples two years ago, finishing at 10-under 278. Kerrs winning score last year was 271. ... As was the case last year, the three players atop the Globe points standings -- this time, Jutanugarn, Henderson and Ko -- will play together on Thursday. Adidas Nmd Dámské . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Basketbalové Boty Adidas .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. http://www.botynmdlevne.com/adidas-nmd-panska-levne.html . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Adidas Nmd Dámské Cerne . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Adidas Nmd Levně Damske . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. A look at the two semifinal series in the WNBA playoffs. The series are best-of-five format.---No. 8 Phoenix vs. No. 1 MinnesotaSeason Series: Lynx won 3-0.Playoff History: 2011 Western Conference Finals (Minnesota won series, 2-0); 2013 Western Conference Semifinals (Minnesota won series, 2-0); 2014 Western Conference Finals (Phoenix won series, 2-1); 2015 Western Conference Finals (Minnesota won series 2-0).Phoenix: The Mercury went on the road to beat Indiana and New York in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Now theyll face a familiar foe in the semifinals. Diana Taurasi improved her mark to 13-3 in elimination games, including an astounding 6-0 record on the road. While the Lynx swept the three meetings, the two teams havent played since June 7. Brittney Griner has really picked up her play in the postseason, averaging 20 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. The Mercury tightened up their rotation in the first two rounds, they probably wont be able to have their starters log as many minutes in an extended series.Minnesota: The Lynx are well rested after playing their last regular season game on Sept. 17. The team won a franchise record 28 games led by their four U.S. Olympians Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus. The Lynx are trying for their fourth title in six seasons and looking to become the first repeat champion since the 20011-02 Los Angeles Sparks.ddddddddddddPrediction: Minnesota in four games.---No. 4 Chicago vs. No. 2 Los AngelesSeason Series: Sparks won 3-0.Chicago: The Sky put up a franchise record number of points in their second round victory over Atlanta. More impressively they did it without star Elena Delle Donne, who is sidelined after having surgery on her right thumb. It was a total team effort led by point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who had 21 points and 13 assists in the victory. Chicago is 4-2 without Delle Donne and hasnt played Los Angeles since July 13. The Sky have been getting a big contribution from rookie Imani Boyette on both ends of the court. She had eight points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in the win over the Dream.Los Angeles: The Sparks are refreshed and relaxed after earning the second-seed. They havent had a game since Sept. 16. Los Angeles is led by newly crowned league MVP Nneka Ogwumike . Shell receive her trophy before the teams first game Wednesday which will be played at Long Beach because of a preseason hockey game at Staples Center. Los Angeles was 21-3 before the Olympic break and 5-5 afterward. Three more wins will get the Sparks to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2003.Prediction: Los Angeles in four games. ' ' '