week. Couples won the B.C. Open and then went 3-1-1 at Kiawah Island.Hopefully, I can continue to play the way Ive been playing and produce q

CHASKA, Minn. -- Rory McIlroy didnt think his 10th birthday could get any better.His father took him to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the first time. He also received a new wedge with a rust finish, popular back in those days. And he was on the chipping green when he got perhaps the best gift of all.All of a sudden, I meet Darren Clarke, McIlroy said Tuesday at the Ryder Cup. It was a great birthday for me.And thats what makes this week even more special at Hazeltine.McIlroy took part in Clarkes foundation at Portrush, which was aimed at developing junior players. Clarke was a star in Northern Ireland, especially after 2000 when he took down Tiger Woods at his best in the 2000 Match Play Championship at La Costa.I remember him saying to me -- I was chipping around the practice green and he was doing the same thing -- and he just said to me, `Practice, practice, practice. And thats always been his motto, McIlroy said. That day has always stuck with me, and even this week, all those memories come rushing back.This is the fourth Ryder Cup for McIlroy, who has yet to experience what its like to lose on Sunday in singles or lose the Ryder Cup as a team. He doesnt want to see that streak end with Clarke as the European captain.I think its special for both of us, that he is now a Ryder Cup Captain and Im a player under him, McIlroy said. Ive always wanted the win for the captain, but probably even more so this year just because of Darren and the relationship that we have.The best thing McIlroy has given Clarke so far is good form.McIlroy was on the verge of falling out of the conversation of top players. He won the Irish Open at home in May, but he wasnt a factor in any of the majors, had slipped from No. 1 in the world a year ago to No. 5, and had yet to win on the PGA Tour, the strongest circuit in golf.So much has changed in the last month.McIlroy struck the ball so purely at the Deutsche Bank Championship that a good week of putting -- finally -- allowed him to rally for a 65 to win by two shots. Then, he had everything fall into place at East Lake on Sunday, playing the final three holes in 3 under and winning the Tour Championship in a four-hole playoff over Ryan Moore. That also made McIlroy the FedEx Cup champion for the first time.He is not lacking for confidence at Hazeltine, where he tied for third in his PGA Championship debut.Im confident in my game, Im confident coming in here and I feel like Im obviously playing pretty well, he said. I dont know how much bearing it will have on the team as a whole. Obviously, Im very excited to get going again and play, but just happy with where my game is.Never experienced a loss before, and thats the goal this week gain to take that cup home.McIlroy has a 6-4-4 record, but he has been particularly strong in singles. He was on the verge of a loss to Stewart Cink at Celtic Manor that might have cost Europe the Ryder Cup. But he won the 15th hole to square the match, and earned a half-point when he got out of a bunker on the second try and saved par.He forgot Chicago was in the central time zone in 2012 at Medinah and nearly missed his tee time, getting a police escort to the course, lacing up his shoes and beating Keegan Bradley as Europe rallied for another victory. Two years ago at Gleneagles, he was in the feature pairing against Rickie Fowler and crushed him from the start, winning 5-and-4 to build momentum early.He does have one tiny piece of history working against him.McIlroy is only the fifth player to win a PGA Tour event the week before a Ryder Cup, and only one of them -- Fred Couples in 1991 -- went on to have a winning record that week. Couples won the B.C. Open and then went 3-1-1 at Kiawah Island.Hopefully, I can continue to play the way Ive been playing and produce quality shots under pressure like you need to in a Ryder Cup, McIlroy said. Thats all Im focused on this week is just trying to play the best possible golf that I can and win the most points, and ultimately that will help the team do what we want to achieve.Yeezy Boost 350 Wholesale . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. Cheap Adidas Nmd Womens .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. http://www.nmdsneakerssale.com/yeezy-boost-350-deals.html . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Adidas Nmd Sneakers Style . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Nmd Fake Vs Original . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay.SAN FRANCISCO -- Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz gave up a homer to Brandon Crawford to lead off the second inning, then got three straight outs on 12 pitches.The 24-year-old right-hander with electric stuff is growing up quickly, and its already paying dividends for Atlanta.Matt Kemp hit a three-run homer and Foltynewicz pitched 7 2/3 strong innings, leading the Braves over the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Saturday night.Foltynewicz (7-4) struck out six and allowed five hits and a walk for just his second quality start in eight games.Best one of the year I would think, said Braves interim manager Brian Snitker. I thought he kept everything together really well.His only mistake came when Crawford socked an 0-1 fastball for his 12th homer. Crawford also doubled.A couple of starts before that, I might have gotten a little upset after that, maybe the next guy wouldve been walked, Foltynewicz said. I just kept the same game plan and didnt shy away from anything.San Francisco fell to 13-26 since the All-Star break, the worst record in the majors over that stretch. The Giants were seeking their first three-game winning streak since winning four in a row just before the break.The Giants fell two games behind the Dodgers for first in the NL West. Los Angeles beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 earlier Saturday.Kemp homered in the fourth to make it 3-1 against emergency starter Albert Suarez (3-2). Suarez was called up from Triple-A Sacramento to start in place of Jake Peavy, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.For the first three innings all his pitches were crisp and hitting their spots, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Suarez. The pitch hed like back would the one to Kemp. It got away from him. That three-run homer was the difference in the game and our (bullpen) did a great job to hold them there.Kemps homer helped settle the young Braves pitcher.It was hit well, Foltynewicz said. I think at that point when he hit tthat home run, thats all I needed.ddddddddddddThe last-place Braves had lost 12 of 16 going into Saturday.The Giants were 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.Jim Johnson pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save.SCORELESS STREAK SNAPPEDPrior to Kemps homer, the Giants had thrown 25 consecutive scoreless innings going back to the fifth inning of a 1-0 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: RHP Chris Withrow, on the DL with right elbow inflammation, started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnet on Thursday and is on track to return the team by Sept. 1, interim manager Brian Snitker said.Giants: 1B Brandon Belt was a late scratch with neck tightness. Belt struck out pinch-hitting in the eighth inning. INF Conor Gillaspie replaced Belt at first. ... Peavys move to the DL is retroactive to Aug. 21. Peavy underwent an MRI on Saturday, the results of which werent immediately known, manager Bruce Bochy said. ... OF Hunter Pence also underwent an MRI on Saturday for his strained right hamstring. Bochy said Pence is day to day and he expects Pence to return to the lineup on Tuesday in Arizona. ... RHP Matt Cain, who went on the DL on Aug. 18 with a lower back strain, was scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. Hes expected to slot into the fifth spot in the rotation the next time it comes up on Sept. 2.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Aaron Blair was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnet to pitch the series finale in San Francisco. Blair is 0-5 with a 7.99 ERA in 11 starts with the Braves.Giants: Since the All-Star break, LHP Madison Bumgarner is 2-4 with a 3.71 ERA and four quality starts in eight outings. Bumgarner gave up a season-high five earned runs in five innings against the Dodgers last time out. Hes 6-0 with a 1.75 ERA in his last seven starts against the Braves. ' ' '