Changing room chat: Sandelin saves pensioner from fire

Published on Thursday 30 April 2009 22:05

SWEDISH golfer Jarmo Sandelin completed his first round at the Spanish Open yesterday just days after being involved in a fatal fire.

The former Ryder Cup player carried a neighbour to safety when fire struck his apartment block in Stockholm, but he was unable to save the 77-year-old woman's husband.

The 41-year-old European Tour player smashed down a door with a fire extinguisher and plucked the woman from the burning building after evacuating his wife Linda and family from their own apartment.

Sandelin was visibly still shaken yesterday when he completed a six-under-par 66 to finish one shot behind the early leaders.

"My family and I could have lost our lives so I am still in shock," he said.

"I would prefer not to talk about it at the moment.

"It's hard, but I'm trying to block things off so I can play golf."

Film star's Indy transformation

WITH Tom Cruise's early Nineties movie Days of Thunder no longer even an audible distant rumbling, it is time for American race fans to embrace a new silver screen star.

Actor Josh Duhamel will this year lead out drivers at the Indianapolis 500 behind the wheel of his pace car, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro – the same car which will appear in Duhamel's forthcoming movie, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Last year the honour went to two-time Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi. There's progress for you.

Fast starters to make a splash

JUST as the deep pool at Beijing's Water Cube resulted in a raft of record-breaking swims during last year's Olympics, so the introduction of another cube, or block to be precise, looks poised to create a new burst of best ever times.

Revolutionary new angled starting blocks will this month be put to the test by Australian swimmers after being approved by the sport's world governing body FINA.

"I would not be surprised by up to a tenth of a second of a better start," Australian Institute of Sport swimming coach Shannon Rollason said.

TALES FROM THE TABS

HODGE FOR HIBS

IT'S NEAR enough the end of the season for the transfer gossip to begin again, and there are no shortage of rumours doing the rounds.

The Daily Express claims Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen, pictured, has already agreed a deal to sign 21-year-old Blackburn Rovers midfielder Bryan Hodge on a three-year contract after a successful trial with the Easter Road club. The Scotland Under-20 international, who was born is Hamilton, is said to be seeking regular first-team football. The same paper also says Paatelainen is tracking Crewe midfielder Michael O'Connor and right-backs Gary Irvine of St Johnstone and Carl Regan of MK Dons.

Celtic have added Real Sociadad's Xabi Castillo to a list of potential recruits for their problem left-back position, according to the Daily Mail .

The Sun reports that Dundee United have won the race to sign former Everton striker Danny Cadamarteri from Huddersfield Town as a replacement for the injury-prone Jon Daly.