current internationals such as Jason Roy and Chris Woakes,

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Bubba Watson so often is his own worst enemy. He fidgets and frets, to his own detriment. For a man so gifted at swinging a golf club, it can be maddeningly frustrating.This week, Bubba is own best friend.He has embraced the Olympic golf experience unlike just about anyone else in the mens field. Instead of bemoaning how it would impact his schedule in a crowded golf year, he never wavered on his desire to be in Rio.And he has taken advantage of being at the Olympic Games in a way that is refreshing, trying to attend as many sporting events as possible, meeting other athletes, posing for photos, posting frequently on social media.Even when Watson played relatively poorly in an opening-round 73 at the Olympic Golf Course, he remained upbeat.And now, after a third-round 67 that has him in a tie for fourth and just 3 shots out of a place on the podium, he has a chance to earn an Olympic medal.Its absolutely amazing, Watson said. What a privilege and honor that golf is in the Olympics and to be a part of this. Right or wrong, its hard for me to focus on golf because of the fact that its just a dream of a lifetime to be associated with these great athletes.Perhaps Bubba is onto something. He has played steadily better each day, overcame a bizarre stubbed putt on the 14th green, signed his card and couldnt wait to get back and watch ... badminton.Playing for gold on Sunday will enter his mind that morning.Itll take another strong effort, but the way Watson has improved each day while reveling in the experience has been something to behold.For instance:We went to fencing first, Watson said in explaining how he has taken in the various Olympic events. It was Russia against Estonia womens for (the) bronze medal. We didnt know. We just had tickets and we went and thats what was happening. And fencing was unbelievable.I always talked about learning how to fence, and so going to it was special. It was amazing watching these girls Im going to say girls, Im going to say Im older than them. These girls, the athleticism to move around it, was just amazing. And they were screaming and hollering and I guess I would, too, if I won a bronze. It was amazing.That is just one example. Watson is like a kid in his Pensacola, Fla., candy store (Bubbas Sweet Spot), taking in the sights and sounds, watching the other athletes, getting to know who they are and appreciating what they have accomplished and what it means for them to be here.He has been inquisitive, gotten involved, figuring maybe something will rub off.Just like any athlete, you ask questions and you learn from them, he said. At dinner, we are asking how they train and what they do and how they prepare and what strategies they take in their event.Thats what Im taking in this week is just how amazing this is to be able to see sports that weve never seen, and golf just gets to tag along and say were athletes now.Maybe that has rubbed off on his golf. Maybe Watson got a reality check by coming to Rio and realizing that hes got it pretty good, playing for millions of dollars every week, getting to travel on private jets, staying in five-star hotels.That is not the reality for most Olympic athletes, certainly not the ones who toil in obscurity and aspire for greatness in sports that get little attention or publicity.Watson has been known to think too much, complain too much. He gets frustrated when a golf course doesnt fit his eye, and lets it affect his play. At times, he mopes. Here, it seems, nothing can bother him.A couple of back-nine bogeys put a damper on what was shaping up to be a great third round Saturday. One included a strange incident where mud dropped off the bottom of his putter in mid-stroke, distracting him. He tried to stop, and ended up hitting the ball only 6 feet -- when he was 35 feet from the hole. It was one of those freak things, he said. Thatll be talked about for years.But Bubba persevered.Even with all the stuff going on this week, even if youre sitting in your room watching the other events on TV, youre so focused on what an unbelievable experience this, youre not going to focus on golf that much off the course, Watson said. When you come back tomorrow, youll start thinking about it. But when youre at your house or around eating in the cafeteria, theres definitely no thoughts going through my head.That strategy might not play at Augusta National or St. Andrews or even in a few weeks at The Barclays or the Tour Championship. And it certainly wont be a good idea at the Ryder Cup, where time constraints all but negate any ability to relax and enjoy.Watson acknowledged that at a tournament like the Masters, he grinds. The golf course is so difficult, it requires that kind of concentration. And yet, there is something to consider going forward.This is a dream of a lifetime, golf just gets in my way, he said. Im taking it all in and learning. It shows how lucky and blessed golfers are. Its my profession and income and its beyond belief. We should never be disgruntled about anything that happens in our life.Who would have thought Bubba Watson would become such a great ambassador for golf in the Olympics? Chicago White Sox Pro Shop . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Chicago White Sox Store . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/ . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Stitched White Sox Jerseys . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Wholesale White Sox Jerseys . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. At the end of a week where the future shape of the English domestic game was again at the forefront, it was another reminder that the Lords one-day final does not have the lustre it once did. However, the cumulation of the Royal London Cup on Saturday should not lack for quality and a lot rests on 100 overs for Surrey and Warwickshire.This is the last match of Surreys season, their Championship campaign having finished with a narrow defeat against Durham at Chester-le-Street but their Division One status is secure. The same cannot be said of Warwickshire. If Hampshire win against Durham, who are now safe, in the final round of matches then Warwickshire will be in a relegation dogfight against Lancashire.Dougie Brown, the Warwickshire coach, has termed it two finals in a week. We know what we are playing for, Brown said. We have two finals in effect. We are the ones who have got ourselves into this position in the Championship but we are taking some pretty good form into the final and we are hopeful we can take that into the game and then into the match next week.While the news of Gareth Battys England recall dominated the agenda, the player himself was determined not to lose focus on a game that will also define Surreys season.Surrey failed to get out of the group stages of the NatWest T20 Blast - a particular disappointment for a club that puts such a huge stack on the format on and off the field - while a mid-table finish in the County Championship, although very respectable in their first year after promotion, means tangible success rests on this match.It is a huge day for us, Batty said. It will be the difference between us feeling we have had an okay season - maybe just about average - or that we have just flattered to deceive a little bit. We didnt start particularly well. We had a good bit in the middle and we have just dropped off in the Championship.I feel like in this competition we have played some good cricket and we are a good team but Warwickshire are too so we need to be at our best. It would be a wonderful end to a progressive seasoon.ddddddddddddast year there was heartbreak for Surrey when Gloucestershire pipped them to the title in a thrilling final-over finish. They were on track as Kumar Sangakkara and Rory Burns added 101 for the third wicket, but when Sangakkara chipped to mid-on the innings started to unravel with Gloucestershires spinners to the fore.It came down to needing seven off the last over with Batty alongside Sam Curran, who had played a fantastically mature hand, but he fell to the first ball of the over and then Batty swung to deep midwicket. It is something he still takes to heart because of his decision to bowl first.I made a decision at the toss and we lost a game of cricket on the back of that, I take full responsibility and never shirked away from that but it is up to us tomorrow to play our best cricket.It has the makings of a superb final, involving a mouthwatering blend of players. There are the current internationals such as Jason Roy and Chris Woakes, the new call-ups of Batty and Zafar Ansari, the great Sangakkara, two outstanding batsmen of recent England vintage in Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott alongside those - Sam Hain, the Curran brothers and Ben Foakes - pushing for higher honours.Hain, the 21-year-old batsman, who is a doppleganger for Trott at the crease, is the leading scorer in the tournament with 528 at 66. Trott has also made 433 runs including three centuries. Surreys leading run-maker is Steven Davies with 373 at 41.44 this will mark his final match for the county, having signed with Somerset.On a late-season pitch, and despite the heavy rain which swept through London on Friday, spin is likely to play a key role. Surrey have their two England men, Batty and Ansari, who was a crucial absentee for them last year after breaking his thumb, while Warwickshire can call on the leading slow bowler of the competition in Jeetan Patel as well as the promising legspin of Josh Poysden if they require a second option. ' ' '