weeks, Kjeldsen won the Irish Open in tough conditions for his first title in six years

LOS ANGELES -- The bye week always seems to come at the right time for Southern California wide receiver Deontay Burnett.Burnett parlayed extra reps in practice as a freshman into strong performances when the Trojans were beset by injuries last season. Now Burnett gets extra time to prepare after starting slot receiver Steven Mitchell tore his ACL in the win at Arizona last Saturday.Burnett and Mitchell had been sharing that role, producing nearly identical totals in receptions, yards receiving and touchdowns. The sophomore has been especially effective during USCs current three-game winning streak, making 13 receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown.Were very fortunate since Deontay has played so well all the way back since the Notre Dame game last year, the way he has progressed, coach Clay Helton said. He is playing great football right now and will be pushed up in that starting role.Working with Sam Darnold last year allowed Burnett to develop a rapport that has carried over after the redshirt freshman was promoted to starting quarterback last month. Burnett set career highs in receptions and yards receiving against Arizona State and caught an 11-yard touchdown pass against the Wildcats after Darnold broke the pocket to buy more time.That kind of awareness and a massive catch-radius are among Burnetts best attributes, first noticed by offensive coordinator Tee Martin when he was recruiting star cornerback Adoree Jackson. Martin saw Burnett go toe-to-toe with Jackson in practice. What followed was even more impressive.After practice they would do all this flipping, backflips, catching the ball with one hand, who could throw the ball the farthest, Martin said. It was all this freaky stuff that all of them would do after practice. And Adoree, you know the stuff he can do, and Deontay was like right there. I was like, `Who is this kid? It got my attention and I started recruiting him from that point on.But USC didnt have a spot for Burnett in its 2015 recruiting class, its first coming off scholarship reductions handed down by the NCAA in the Reggie Bush case. Burnett committed to Washington State before USC gave him a chance to join the program as a blueshirt, an un-recruited player who can receive a scholarship after arriving on campus.We were out of scholarships and Coach (Steve) Sarkisian asked me if there was any guy I needed or wanted and Deontay was the first name, Martin said. We were just lucky that he bought in to wanting to come to USC any way he could.Once I got this offer, this scholarship, I told myself I was coming here because this has always been my dream school, Burnett said. The best come to USC.Burnett impressed during a bye week last October, leading to extensive playing time against Notre Dame and California. Burnett had 82 yards receiving against the Golden Bears, the same team he will face in his first start on Oct. 27.It was exciting getting to show the coaches why I came to USC and beginning to put together film so they could see I could play and hopefully make plays on Saturdays, Burnett said.Burnett wants to refine his consistency during this bye week, but anyone walking past Loker Stadium in the next few days might get a glimpse of the athletic feats that initially caught Martins attention. Burnett plans to challenge Jackson to a catch contest this week, though his motivations go beyond one-upmanship.I always tell myself if you practice the hardest catches that they come easy in a game, Burnett said. Vapormax Sleva . 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"Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. TROON, Scotland -- Just 18 months ago, Soren Kjeldsen was wondering how hed survive in the world of golfs power hitters.Hes 5-foot-7 (1.70 meters). Hits his drives 280 yards. He was approaching age 40 and had plummeted the world rankings. How was Kjeldsen supposed to compete in the modern game of ever-lengthening courses, against the likes of Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, and Rory McIlroy?The graph was going down, the Danish player said.Now its on the up.Thanks to a shift in mentality, a new caddie, and a big win, Kjeldsen is a changed man -- and a contender at major championships.After finishing tied for seventh at the Masters in April, Kjeldsen is in third place -- three shots behind Phil Mickelson -- at the British Open on Friday following rounds of 67 and 68. Hed previously only broken 70 in two of 20 rounds at golfs oldest major.You certainly heard that story before when people get to 40 and then its downhill from there, Kjeldsen said. So I was fighting pretty hard but determined to get through, and its nice being in this position now.A Scandinavian male has never won a major but the drought could end at Royal Troon. Sandwiching Mickelson (10 under) and Kjeldsen (7 under) is Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who is on 9 under.Few can have thought Kjeldsen would bloom like this. In 2014, he had his lowest finish on the European Tours Race to Dubai since his maiden campaign in 1998 and was ranked No. 367 in the world. He also had an inferiority complex.My problem was mainly on the tee shots, he said. I felt very insecure. I just felt really weak because I dont hit it a long way. You play with guys that are flying 320 (yards) and seem to hit it down the middle every time, and you do sort of wonder.I never considered not playing golf, he added, but I certainly considered if I was ever going to bee good enough to continue to compete.ddddddddddddjeldsen now has an open mind about that.We all have limitations, he said.I look at most of the top players, and one thing thats helped me quite a lot is getting to know the top players, I know what they struggle with. Theyve all got something. It doesnt matter how good you are, theres always a little if in there, some part of the game. So Ive accepted that.Hiring Alistair Matheson as his caddie in 2015 was also significant. Within two weeks, Kjeldsen won the Irish Open in tough conditions for his first title in six years, and the Dane responded to Mathesons enthusiasm and can-do-better mindset.Now Kjeldsen, with his bright blond hair and smiley demeanor, is a picture of serenity on the golf course.At Troon, he made six birdies in his first round and then went bogey-free in the wind and rain for the third-lowest score among the morning starters in the second round. His short game, which he describes as very strong, is holding up as usual.I think the biggest difference now is like when I go into a major like this, I feel normal, Kjeldsen said. I dont make it more important than anything else really. I know the importance of the tournament, but I also know that for me to perform well, I need to get into my little world and get lost in that.And if I control what I can control, then Im doing OK. And thats what I learned from Augusta.And if the wind is howling and the rain is pouring on the weekend, dont bet against the little Dane with the big heart.These conditions (are) what I grew up in, Kjeldsen said. I like playing this kind of golf. I like the battling mentality that you need to play. Yes, I do thrive in this. ' ' '