struck out a career-high seven and walked one in

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - No matter how hard he tries or how well he plays, Rickie Fowler just cant seem to get the better of Rory McIlroy.A golfing rivalry that began at the 2007 Walker Cup and is being talked about as potentially the biggest of the new generation was one-sided in 2014, with McIlroy outgunning Fowler in the final rounds of the British Open and U.S. PGA Championship to win both major titles. McIlroy then crushed the American 5 and 4 in a singles match at the Ryder Cup.Would the new year bring new luck for Fowler in his burgeoning competition with the worlds best player? Not quite.The friends — separated in age by six months — were grouped together for the opening two rounds of the Abu Dhabi Championship, but Fowler couldnt capitalize on a fast start that put him three shots clear of McIlroy after 10 holes on Thursday.The pair, chatting away for much of their first rounds, traded birdie putts in a high-quality back nine but a strong finish from McIlroy — and Fowlers bogey at the last — saw them post 5-under 67s.I cant get rid of him, the 10th-ranked Fowler said with a smile as he looked across to McIlroy in a joint interview just off the 18th hole.Obviously being able to go back and forth and play against each other, its good fun, Fowler added. We got to see quite a bit of that last year and hopefully theres a lot more to come this year. Its going to be a long career, battling each other.Fowler conceded on the eve of the tournament that McIlroy — the younger of the pair but on tour for two years longer — currently has the edge, chiefly because of his better ball striking and his length and consistency off the tee. Yet, the 26-year-old American believes his putting is stronger and that was the case on Thursday.During a hot streak from No. 15 to No. 7 (they started at No. 10), Fowler made six birdie putts ranging from 10 feet to 35 feet and was assured with his par putts from closer in, too. McIlroy said he was inspired by Fowlers brilliance on the greens as he birdied five of his last seven holes.I just needed to hang on his coattails, McIlroy said. He was kicking me on today, for sure. I was trying to keep up with him and didnt want to let him get too far ahead.Golf is always looking for big rivalries and this McIlroy-Fowler one could endure. They are good friends, too, with Fowler having pledged to play in this years Irish Open at Royal County Down that is being hosted by McIlroys foundation.Indeed, Europe could be seeing more of Fowler, who is looking to become more of a global player. Fellow American Patrick Reed announced on Twitter last month that he had become a member of the European Tour and Fowler is hinting he could follow suit.Definitely moving forward, that could be a possibility with the amount I could play in the future on the European Tour schedule, said Fowler, who is planning to play in the Scottish Open — the warmup for the British Open — again this summer.Thats for the future. As for 2015, Fowler is simply looking to make inroads into McIlroys dominance — and capture a first major title after top-five placings in the four biggest tournaments in golf last year.I guess Im not off to the hottest of starts for my career, with only two worldwide wins, one on the PGA Tour, Fowler said. Id like to start adding to that and make myself a little bit more of a prominent player. Justin Jones Chargers Jersey .Fiji striker Roy Krishna scored in the 14th minute to give Wellington its fourth win, along with a draw, from its past five matches, putting the Phoenix fourth but only a point behind third-placed Adelaide. Kyzir White Jersey .com) - A top-10 showdown is on tap in at the McKale Center on Saturday, as the 10th-ranked Arizona Wildcats play host to the eighth-ranked Utah Utes in a key Pac-12 matchup. http://www.chargersauthenticofficialonli...n-jersey.html.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres reassigned forward Sam Reinhart to the WHLs Kootenay Ice on Friday. Mike Pouncey Jersey . Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas appeared to be on track to gain election from the Baseball Writers Association of America on Wednesday, and Craig Biggio could join them. Uchenna Nwosu Jersey . Ozuna hit Reeds 2-2 pitch off the batters eye far above the 407-foot sign in straightaway centre. It was the fifth blown save in 25 tries for Reed (1-5) and the ninth home run the closer has allowed in 38 appearances. Nuno, acquired in the deal that sent Brandon McCarthy to the New York Yankees, gave up three hits, struck out a career-high seven and walked one in seven innings.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Suspended Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon has voluntarily checked into a treatment facility and seems to be doing well.Coach Gus Bradley told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the former Oklahoma State star and 2012 first-round NFL draft pick is doing very well and hes learning a lot. Bradley said he is getting updates from Blackmons agent, who is Todd France.Hes healing and taking time for himself, Bradley said. The great thing is he has chosen this for himself. Its awesome to hear about.Blackmon is checked into a 90-day program at an undisclosed location, Bradley said, and has completed nearly half of his commitment.Its a voluntary program he has chosen to do, Bradley said.Blackmon was suspended without pay in November for repeated violations of the leagues substance-abuse policy. He was previously suspended the first four games of last season for violating the policy. He played four games before getting suspended again a€” at least for a year.NFL rules prohibit coaches and general managers from having contact with players suspended indefinitely.The Jaguars made it clear in May that they had lost contact with Blackmon. His NFL future looked even bleaker following his latest arrest July 23. Blackmon was arrested in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond on a complaint of marijuana possession.Owner Shad Khan said the next day that Blackmon would remain on the roster.I think its very important for him to get the help, Khan said. I think thats the most important thing. ... I think its good for him and good for us. We want him to get the help and really beat this.ddddddddddddEven before Blackmons latest off-the-field issue, the Jaguars had decided to move on without him.They selected receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson in the second round of Mays NFL draft. They also seemingly hit on undrafted rookie Allen Hurns, who has 12 catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns in four games.Blackmons decision to seek help a€” he told reporters repeatedly that he didnt have a substance-abuse problem a€” could be the first step in a possible return to the league.He caught 29 passes for 415 yards and a touchdown in the four games he played last season and was the teams leading receiver during that stretch. He has 93 catches for 1,280 yards and six scores in 20 career games.But his problems have overshadowed his play.He was arrested on a misdemeanour DUI charge in Texas in 2010 after officers caught him speeding on a suburban Dallas highway. The charge was later reduced to an underage alcohol possession charge. A little more than a month after the Jaguars traded up to draft him fifth overall, he was arrested during a traffic stop in Stillwater, Oklahoma, after a breath test allegedly showed his blood alcohol content to be three times the legal limit. That landed him in the leagues substance-abuse program.A subsequent violation landed him the four-game suspension. Another one got him the indefinite suspension.And then there was Julys traffic stop that led to the marijuana possession charge.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Stitched College Jerseys Cheap UCLA Jerseys NCAA Louisville Cardinals Jerseys North Carolina Jerseys Stitched Kentucky Wildcats Jerseys Stitched Alabama Crimson Tide Jerseys Cheap Basketball Wisconsin Badgers Jerseys Authentic NCAA Jerseys Store Wholesale Basketball NCAA Jerseys Cheap Duke Gear Stitched Alabama Jerseys Stitched Georgia Jerseys Cheap Clemson Jerseys Authentic Authentic Texas Jerseys Wholesale USC Jerseys Stitched Oklahoma Jerseys Stitched Ohio State Jerseys Cheap Notre Dame Gear UCLA Jerseys From China Cheap Louisville Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap North Carolina Jerseys Authentic Cheap Kentucky Jerseys Authentic Wisconsin Jerseys From China Cheap Michigan Gear Cheap Florida Gear Wholesale Arizona State Jerseys Cheap LSU Gear Cheap Auburn Gear Cheap California Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Miami Jerseys Authentic Cheap Michigan State Gear Cheap Tennessee Jerseys Authentic Texas A&M Jerseys From China Authentic Wake Forest Jerseys West Virginia Jerseys From China ' ' '