Tue, Feb 17, 2004 page19

• Sports Birefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ 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.
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