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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? Cheap Jerseys .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Custom Jerseys . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Cheap Jerseys From China . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. MLB Jerseys BOSTON -- July just keeps getting better in Boston.The Red Sox continued their midsummer surge with another offensive barrage, getting 17 hits and routing the Minnesota Twins 13-2 on Thursday night.After closing out June by losing four of five, the Red Sox are 12-3 in July and standing alone atop the AL East.The month of July has been a very good offensive month as weve kind of gotten past that stretch in June, manager John Farrell said. Just great to see that number of quality at-bats.Mookie Betts homered on the first pitch Boston faced and the Red Sox added home runs by Jackie Bradley Jr. and David Ortiz. Boston has won three straight and nine of 10.The Red Sox managed to outdo their 16-hit total from an 11-7 win against San Francisco on Wednesday night and finished with at least 15 hits for the 15th time this season.Betts, Ortiz and Xander Bogaerts had three hits apiece and Dustin Pedroia went 5 for 5 with two doubles as Boston climbed to a season-best 15 games above .500 (54-39).Steven Wright (12-5) tied his career high with nine strikeouts and held Minnesota to four hits in eight innings. He had just set down the Twins in order in the top of the first when Betts gave Boston a 1-0 lead by driving the first pitch he saw from Tyler Duffey out to left-center for his 19th homer.Wrighty had a quick inning and I figured we might as well ride that momentum going into our first at-bat, Betts said. We were ready to play. Today it was our turn, but tomorrow it could be the opposite.Maybe, but not lately in Boston. The Red Sox have won seven straight at home.The Twins didnt reach base against Bostons knuckleballer until the fifth inning and finished with five hits.My goal is just to go as deep as I can until they tell me Im done. Today I was lucky enough to go eight, Wright said. It makes it easy when the guys score 11 runs or 12 runs, but today was an all-around good day.Wright allowed four hits and Minnesota added a ground-rule double by pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar in the ninth off reliever Clay Buchholz. The former starter came on to finish the game after Ortiz had capped off Bostons outburst with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth.It got ugly, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. Weve havent had a game like that in a while.Boston was up 3-0 after getting four hits against Duffey (5-7) in the first. Betts started it with the homer and Pedroia, Bogaerts and Ortiz followed with connsecutive singles.ddddddddddddTheyre a pretty aggressive team. Theyre confident, Duffey said. When theyre in a groove like that, if you dont make them uncomfortable they can lean on some stuff.Betts hit the first pitch Duffey threw out to left, then led off the third with a single as Boston added three runs and led 6-0. Duffey allowed six runs before being pulled with one out in the third after Bradley doubled for Bostons ninth hit.Max Kepler got Minnesotas first hit, singling with one out in the fifth to start a two-run rally that turned out to be the only offense for the Twins.The Red Sox were up 11-2 in the eighth when Ortiz continued his farewell tour with his 24th homer, a shot deep into the seats in right field.PEDROIA PERFECTPedroia entered Thursday without a four-hit game so far this season, then went 5 for 5 with three singles and two doubles.The thing that you love is when he hits the ball into right field, right-center field. He did it a couple times tonight, Farrell said. Thats when his swing is, I think, most pure. He might argue that. He takes pride in being able to turn on some pitches and pulling the ball.ONE FOR THE SKIPPERThe win was Bostons 300th under Farrell, who managed the Red Sox to the 2013 World Series title in his first season at the helm.It means Ive been fortunate to be in a position with a lot of good players and work with a lot of really quality people, Farrell said.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: OF Bryon Buxton was not in the starting lineup for the Twins as Molitor rested him against Wrights knuckleball. Buxton was 1 for 9 as Minnesota took two of three games against Detroit.Red Sox: Plans to get C/LF Blake Swihart (sprained left ankle) a minor-league rehab stint are on hold because of recurring soreness in his ankle. Swihart has been out since severely spraining the ankle on June 4. Farrell said Swihart started feeling the soreness as he increased the intensity of his workouts.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson (2-6, 5.12 ERA) gets his 12th start of the season for the Twins. Gibson allowed four runs and 10 hits in six innings last week against Cleveland.Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-3, 7.18) goes for his second straight win. Rodriguez threw seven strong innings in a win over the Yankees on Saturday, allowing one run and four hits. ' ' '