■ Golf
Daly back on top
John Daly birdied the first playoff hole on Sunday to edge out Chris Riley and Britain's Luke Donald at the US$4.5 million Buick Invitational and seize his first PGA Tour victory for nearly nine years.
All three competitors finished 72 holes on 10-under-par 278. Riley (69) and Donald (69) birdied the 18th in regulation play while Daly could only muster a par as he carded a closing three-over 75. The trio then played the 18th again in the playoff and Daly came out on top when he splashed out to 14cm from a greenside bunker and tapped in for a birdie four. Donald missed his birdie putt while Riley's attempt at a four lipped out. Daly, 37, earned US$864,000 for his first PGA Tour win since the 1995 British Open.
■ Baseball
A-Rod deal moves forward
Alex Rodriguez moved one step away from playing for the New York Yankees. New York and Texas finalized the terms of a trade on Sunday, and the players' association gave its approval. The last hurdle was for commissioner Bud Selig to OK the deal, a high-ranking baseball official said on the condition of anonymity. The Rangers will pay US$67 million of the US$179 million left on the AL MVP's record contract. Texas will get All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named. Selig told the teams he would not decide on the deal until yesterday at the earliest, the Rangers and Yankees said. The Yankees already began planning for a news conference today in New York to introduce the first reigning MVP ever traded.
■ Soccer
Neville admits mistake
Manchester United defender Gary Neville admitted he "made a mistake" when he headbutted Manchester City's Steve McManaman in the FA Cup fifth round tie at Old Trafford on Saturday. Neville clashed with the City midfielder after reacting badly to being tackled by Michael Tarnat late in the first half. He shoved Tarnat, then McManaman and then headbutted the former Real Madrid midfielder. Neville was shown the red card by referee Jeff Winter but despite the man disadvantage, United won 4-1. "I made a mistake but I am not going to beat myself up about it," Neville said in his column in The Times newspaper yesterday. "I am annoyed with myself because I will be suspended for some important matches but that is the only reason to regret what happened with Steve McManaman. It was out of character and I am confident it was a one-off."
■ Cricket
Warne denies betting claim
Shane Warne and Cricket Australia have dismissed a claim in an Indian magazine that Warne was seen in the company of an Indian gambler during Australia's 1999 World Cup campaign in England. Warne described as "total rubbish" claims he and West Indies captain Brian Lara were seen emerging from a London pizza restaurant with Delhi-based gambler Ratan Mehta. India's Outlook magazine reported the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit suspects Mehta of fixing a match between India and Pakistan during the 1999 World Cup, which India won by 47 runs after batting first and making 227. Australian Associated Press reported yesterday that Outlook said that Warne and Lara were allegedly seen in Mehta's company by an unidentified Delhi-based businessman, who has since been interviewed by members of the anti-corruption unit. Outlook has made no connection between Warne and the alleged match-fixing. Warne has denied ever dining -- or meeting -- with Mehta.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care