2012 » dddddd The Broncos defensive coordinator discusses the jar

TROON, Scotland -- Matthew Southgate was laid up on his sofa during the 2015 British Open at St. Andrews, barely able to move following surgery for testicular cancer.Thankful to be alive, he initially figured his career as a European Tour pro was dead and buried. Doctors told him it would be a long process before he could even swing a club again.Yet, there he was on Tuesday, walking down the 18th fairway under sunny skies at Royal Troon in the company of Rory McIlroy, preparing for his second attempt at the claret jug.Its a great life, the 27-year-old Englishman told The Associated Press next to Troons clubhouse. Ive just been very lucky.Lucky, maybe. But dont underestimate the effort hes put in to get this far.A couple of weeks after surgery and finally able to walk, Southgate started hitting some balls, mostly putting and chipping. He took it gently to start off with, but stepped up things by using a light set of clubs belonging to his girlfriend -- Charlotte Thompson, a pro on the Ladies European Tour -- to gain confidence in making full swings.Before long, Southgate was competing in the first stage of Tour school. And he defied the odds by earning his card for a third season on the main European Tour.Im back now playing the best golf Ive ever played, Southgate said, with a smile.He wept after finishing fourth at the Irish Open in May, which earned him $225,000 for the biggest pay check of his career. And there was more joy when he had the low score at final qualifying for the British Open at Royal Cinque Ports last month. This will be his second Open Championship, after missing the cut at Hoylake in 2014.Sitting there at home last year really gave me the inspiration to come back again and qualify, Southgate said. That final qualifying, everybody is trying hard but there was a little bit extra in the tank for me.Its a tournament that means so much to me and obviously, with it being a year to the day since my problems, its a special thing for me to be here.Golf is full of players who have fought back from adversity. Jarrod Lyle of Australia, for example, returned to the U.S. PGA Tour in 2014 after twice overcoming acute myeloid leukemia. Erik Compton came back to earn his tour card after two heart transplants, and finished tied for second at the U.S. Open in 2014. J.B. Holmes had brain surgery in 2011 after being diagnosed with structural defects in the cerebellum.Add Southgate to the list. A few weeks ago, he was told that doctors were happy with his progress and that he doesnt have to go to see them as regularly. Hes involved in a charity that raises awareness of testicular cancer.The earlier people get it checked, and dont dilly-dally or get embarrassed, the better, Southgate said. Its nice that people know my story. It gives the opportunity for an 18 or 19-year-old lad, whos maybe not confident, to just get up, get to the doctors and think, `If that Matt Southgate did it, I can do it, too.If I can by any way help somebody else, it would be a huge achievement for me, golf aside. To be able to use the golf to reach so many people.Uppermost in his mind this week was his 3-year-old niece, Hattie, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014 and was coming to the end of her chemotherapy. Southgate is wearing a wristband that has Hatties Heroes on it.Yet another source of motivation for a man who has dug deep for the past 12 months.Im appreciating every minute of it, Southgate said of his time at Troon. Its going to be a case of getting to 55, 60, putting my feet up on a nice comfy sofa, and going, `Wow, that was incredible.Adidas Superstar Mujer . 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. Adidas Superstar Hombre . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. http://www.superstarbaratasespana.es/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Superstar Baratas . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Adidas Superstar Outlet . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that.Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- CHICAGO -- No more Lovable Losers. Forget about curses, too. For the first time in 108 years, the Cubs can -- get this -- turn their attention toward a championship repeat.- CLEVELAND -- Nobody gave the Indians a chance all season, yet there they were in extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series. The future looks promising for a team that spent 2016 overcoming every obstacle in its path.- CLEVELAND -- Theo Epstein, baseballs drought-buster, ended long runs of failure for the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs. Its safe to say this baseball guru will find his way to the Hall of Fame.- Theyll relive the game for generations, these Cubs fans, talking about the magical night in Cleveland when the skies opened and the curse of the Billy Goat was buried once and for all.- MIAMI -- President Barack Obama invites the Cubs to visit him at the White House. But Obama (a White Sox fan) reminds them to act quickly. He leaves office in mid-January.- TAMPA, Fla. -- Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons try to tighten their grip on first place in the NFC South when they face Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Game starts 8:25 p.m.- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady has played in only four games, but at 39 he is in the conversation to become the oldest winner of the MVP award.- ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Wade Phiillips didnt lose his sense of humor when Melvin Gordon plowed over him on the sideline.dddddddddddd The Broncos defensive coordinator discusses the jarring crash.- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kevin Durant faces Russell Westbrook and the rest of his former Oklahoma City teammates for the first time since joining Golden State. Oklahoma City is 4-0. Game starts 10:30 p.m.- NEW YORK -- Rookie sensation Jimmy Vesey and the surging Rangers look for their sixth win in seven games when they play the Western Conference-leading Edmonton. Game starts 7 p.m.- Two Top 25 college football games Thursday night: No. 12 Oklahoma at Iowa State (7:30 p.m.) and UCLA at No. 21 Colorado (9 p.m.).- The AP announces its womens basketball preseason All-America team.- VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Villanova has basked in a championship celebration for seven months. Now its time to defend the crown. The Wildcats are the Big East favorites and ranked fourth in the nation.- PARIS -- Marin Cilic earns a spot in the ATP finals by defeating David Goffin to reach the Paris Masters quarterfinals. The 2014 U.S. Open champion will next face top-ranked Novak Djokovic or Grigor Dimitrov.- LAS VEGAS -- Opening round of Shriners Children Hospitals Open on PGA Tour. Davis Love III is playing for the first time since he was the winning captain at the Ryder Cup. ' ' '