Dein erstes Forum » Gaudreau knows hell have to be vigilant about managing

PINEHURST, N.C. - The one thing Rory McIlroy wont lack heading into this U.S. Open is advice. In the few weeks since his breakup with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, only some of it has been worth much. Gary Player told him to lay low. Jack Nicklaus told him not to be afraid to change the way he plays, even in the middle of a round. Smartly, he only followed up with one of them. "Do you just ring him up," a reporter asked about McIlroys budding relationship with Nicklaus, "and say, Im popping in?" "I dont ring him up," McIlroy chuckled, "I ring his secretary up and say, Id like to schedule a meeting, please. But its been great to spend some time with him. I feel like Ive got a really good rapport." The two had lunch in Florida a week after the Memorial, the PGA Tour stop where Nicklaus plays the gracious host but isnt shy about asking tough questions. Not about relationships, mind you, unless you count questions about where to slot the club at the top of the backswing. "He said to me, he goes, How the hell can you shoot 63 (in the first round) and then 78 (in the second)?" McIlroy recalled. "I said, I wasnt meaning to, Jack. Im trying not to." That began a conversation between the two on the subject of trust. Nicklaus told him the moment he sensed his swing was sliding off the rails in that second round, he would have made a change "right then and there." "The mental strength to be able to do that," McIlroy paused, still marveling at the idea. "Hopefully," he added a moment later, "some of those little nuggets of wisdom that he passed on to me might help this week." Success came so fast for the 25-year-old Northern Irishman it was easy to assume hed mastered most of golfs lessons. But it took an old soul like Nicklaus to point out where some of the big gaps remained. When McIlroy wins, he usually wins big, running away from the field the way he did at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional. What he has yet to prove is whether he has the patience and toughness to grind out victories, a trait that served Nicklaus and Tiger Woods well over decades. If nothing else, the back-and-forth with Nicklaus has put the idea in his head. "Its going to be a test of patience," McIlroy said about Pinehurst No. 2. "And I think I am better equipped than I was a few years ago. The U.S. Open I won was a very ... was abnormal. It was wet. It was low scoring. I havent won a tournament whenever its been like this. Thats why Im relishing the challenge. "Its conditions that I havent won in before and Id love to be able to prove to myself, but also prove to other people that I can win in different conditions. Its a great opportunity to do that this week." While Nicklaus will be McIlroys model this week, he hasnt ignored Players advice altogether. In the wake of his very public breakup with Wozniacki, he has lowered his social media profile and already won once. He concedes that balancing his public life he has with the private one he wants is an act hes still working on. "Its nice when you get out on the golf course because youve got five hours of youre just out there with your clubs, with your caddie, trying to shoot the best score possible," McIlroy said. "Thats the approach that Im sort of adopting from now until whenever." The conversation with Nicklaus appears to be taking hold. Much harder to learn will be the desire that catapulted Nicklaus to 18 major victories — the stubborn pride that made him back off a 4-footer on the last hole of a tournament he wasnt going to win even in the final years of his career, because it mattered to him to shoot 77 instead of 78. "Golf has sort of been a nice release for me the past few weeks. I just want to try to keep focused on that," McIlroy said. ___ Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. 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Fake NMD R1 For Sale . The unrestricted free agent agreed to terms with the club on Thursday on a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000.CALGARY - Johnny Gaudreau was still living in a Calgary hotel seven weeks after reporting to Flames training camp.The hotel room represents both sides of a coin for Gaudreau. The Flames havent yet committed to keeping the 21-year-old in the lineup, but theyve liked Gaudreaus play enough to keep him in the NHL for now.Ive got a clean bed made every morning so thats nice, the rookie forward said Wednesday. Im going to sit there in the hotel and wait until Im told to get a place.Hopefully, I keep showing I belong here.Listed at five foot nine and 150 pounds by the Flames, there were questions about Gaudreaus ability to take NHL-sized checks over an 82-game season, and whether he should start the season with the American Hockey Leagues Adirondack Flames in upstate New York.But Gaudreau led the Flames in shots on net in the pre-season and dazzled with moments of brilliant playmaking. He earned his spot on the opening-day roster, but then managed just one shot on goal in his first five games.Gaudreau was a healthy scratch Oct. 17 in Columbus. He responded by scoring his first NHL goal of the regular season two days later in Winnipeg.After getting zero shots on net Saturday against Washington, Gaudreau shone in Calgarys 2-1 shootout loss to Montreal on Tuesday.He assisted on Calgarys lone goal and put six shots on Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who stole the game for the Habs.That was Johnnys best game, Flames head coach Bob Hartley said. I felt he was our best forward.Calgary (5-4-2) is at home against the Nashville Predators on Friday. Hartley is giving Jonas Hiller a second straight start in net. The Flames open a five-game road trip Sunday in Montreal.It would have been surprising if Gaudreaus first month in the NHL was a smooth learning curve. While he did turn the puck over during an early power play against Montreal, he hasnt been a major defensive liability despite his inexperience.After 11 games, the right-winger from Carneys Point, N.J., was plus-five along with a goal and three assists.Ive definitely been trying hard lately to be better in the defensive zone, Gaudreau said. Ive been talking to the coaching staff and going over clips about things I need to get better at.But its been Gaudreaus puck and passing skills that gets Flames fans buzzing. His nickname is Johnny Hockey. Its good timing if Gaudreaau feels more confident on offence because the Flames are suddenly thin up front.dddddddddddd.Centre Matt Stajan is out up to six weeks with a knee injury he sustained in Tuesdays collision with Montreals Jarred Tinordi.Centre Joe Colbornes status is day-to-day following a wrist injury that took him out of that game. Winger Mason Raymond was already sidelined with a shoulder injury and is said to be week-to-week. Calgary called up centre Markus Granlund from the Adirondack Flames on Wednesday.The Flames drafted Gaudreau in the fourth round in 2011. Calgary signed him to a contract April 11, which was the same day he won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA Division 1 mens hockey.After his college career with Boston College concluded, Gaudreau tantalized Flames fans by scoring a goal in Calgarys final game of the regular season and his first in the NHL.When combined with NHL pre-season games and rookie-camp games, Gaudreau has played almost half a college season before the end of October.To prepare for the NHL marathon, he says he spent more time in the weight room to build strength and less time on the ice to build up his reserves in the off-season. Gaudreau knows hell have to be vigilant about managing his energy if hes to stick with the Flames.I definitely feel how many games weve played, Gaudreau said. Its my rookie year so its something Im going to try to think (about) and make sure Im getting rest and getting fluids in me throughout the days when I do have days off.Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy expects Gaudreaus learning curve to continue rising as he adjusts to NHL defences.Last year when I watched him, every time he got the puck, the first thing (the opposition) did was back up, Conroy said. They gave him all that room. In college, if they tried to pinch on him, he could make them look silly.Now in the NHL, the guys skate so well, theyre so big, they close gaps quickly.Theres going to be times, maybe four or five games, hes not very good. This is the best league in the world and guys are not going to cut him any slack. Theyre going to try to win the game and run him over and make it hard as they can on him.I think hes done a great job up to now. Hes got to protect himself and put himself in good positions. Hes starting to figure that out which is good for us. 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