Park, Lewis in LPGA title hunt

NAPLES, Florida (AP) ― Stacy Lewis has never been closer to a $1 million payoff, in points or in person.Lewis is leading the inaugural “Race to CME Globe” that will be decided this week in the LPGA Tour’s season finale. The top three players ― Lewis, Park In-bee and Lydia Ko ― need to win the CME Group Tour Championship to capture the $1 million bonus. In a promotional stunt Wednesday, the tour asked them to pose next to a glass case neatly packed with $100 bills that amount to the richest payof

GolfNov. 20, 2014

Big league scouts upbeat on Yang Hyeon-jong’s potential

Until recently, Kia Tigers’ left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong had largely been an unknown commodity in the international market. Then toward the end of the Korea Baseball Organization season mid-October, Yang threw himself into the mix, saying he wanted to sign with a foreign club next season as long as the Tigers granted him his wish.By completing his equivalent of seven full KBO seasons, Yang earned conditional free agency, a status that would allow him to be posted for interested Major League Baseb

BaseballNov. 20, 2014

Lee Sang-hwa looking to extend winning streak on home ice

Lee Sang-hwa. (Yonhap)South Korean Olympic speed skating champ Lee Sang-hwa will look to extend an early season winning streak on home ice this week.Lee is scheduled to compete in the women’s 500-meter races in the second leg of the International Skating Union Speed Skating World Cup, which will open Friday at Taeneung International Skating Rink in Seoul. It’s the first international speed skating competition held on South Korean ice since March 2004, when the same rink hosted the ISU World Sing

More SportsNov. 20, 2014

Messi hints he may not end career at Barca

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (right) shakes hands with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of their international friendly in Manchester, England, Tuesday. The two stars only played the first half as Portugal won 1-0. (AFP-Yonhap)BUENOS AIRES (AP) ― Lionel Messi, who has always planned to end his career at Barcelona, is hinting that might not happen.In an interview published Tuesday by sports newspaper Ole, the 27-year-old Argentine said: “While I always said that I would like to stay there (Barcelon

SoccerNov. 19, 2014

Big league dreams

Hard-hitting shortstop Kang Jung-ho said he will ask to be posted for interested Major League Baseball clubs by mid-December and join two other players from the top South Korean league who have taken steps toward the big leagues.Kang of the Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization said he plans to meet his agent sometime next week. The 27-year-old is being represented by veteran agent Alan Nero of Octagon.Kang has completed his equivalent of seven full seasons in the KBO and has become a

BaseballNov. 19, 2014

Kim Yuna breaks up with hockey player: report

 Figure skater Kim Yuna recently broke up with her boyfriend Kim Won-joong, news outlets reported Wednesday.Korean entertainment news site Star News reported that Yuna and ice hockey player Won-joong had ended their relationship, citing multiple acquaintances of the two.“We don’t know exactly when they split, but it is true that they are no longer together,” a source was quoted as saying.Yuna’s agency All That Sports has yet to confirm the reports.The pair made their romance public in March afte

SportsNov. 19, 2014

Germany struggles after title

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ― From one red carpet to the other, Germany is still celebrating the World Cup title.On the field, however, Germany is looking far from being the best team in the world.As year-end honors pour in and Joachim Loew’s team gets feted across the country, the World Cup champions have struggled to keep up their reputation and so far have had a lackluster European Championship qualifying campaign.“Somehow, we’ve landed hard on the surface of reality,” Loew said last week.No wond

SoccerNov. 18, 2014

Staggering contract

MIAMI (AP) ― The Marlins are no longer pinching pennies, and Giancarlo Stanton won’t be, either.Stanton agreed to terms with the team Monday on a $325 million, 13-year contract, Miami owner Jeffrey Loria said. It’s the most lucrative deal for an American athlete and averages $25 million per season, or $154,321 per game.The deal includes a no-trade clause, and Stanton can opt out after six years, Loria said. A news conference was planned Wednesday.“It’s a landmark moment for the franchise and Gia

BaseballNov. 18, 2014

Seo Geon-chang voted MVP

Seo Geon-chang, the record-breaking second baseman for the Nexen Heroes, on Tuesday bagged his first MVP award in South Korean pro baseball.Seo garnered 77 of 99 media votes to claim the 2014 Korea Baseball Organization MVP honors. He established new KBO single-season records with 201 hits, 135 runs scored and 17 triples. The 25-year-old also batted .370 for his first batting title. He played in all 128 games this year.Seo, the 2012 Rookie of the Year, became only the second KBO player ever to w

BaseballNov. 18, 2014

Long time coming

MEXICO CITY (AP) ― Christina Kim won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title in nine years, beating Shanshan Feng in a playoff after blowing a five-stroke lead.Kim won with a tap-in par on the par-4 18th on the second extra hole.The 30-year-old American celebrated with an exuberant dance and jumped up and down on the green. Kim hugged caddie T.J. Jones, boyfriend Duncan French and friend Michelle Wie, with Wie wiping away tears after embracing the winner. French is

GolfNov. 17, 2014

Yang Hyeon-jong to be posted for MLB teams

The top South Korean baseball league said Monday it requested Major League Baseball to post South Korean left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong for interested clubs.The Korea Baseball Organization said it has filed the necessary paper work with the MLB after being notified of Yang’s availability by the Kia Tigers earlier in the day.They are steps to have the 26-year-old pitcher available for an MLB-wide silent auction this week. Once he is posted, interested MLB clubs will have four business days to submit

BaseballNov. 17, 2014

Korea looks to solve Iran

TEHRAN (Yonhap) ― South Korea will try to end its winless streak versus Iran when the two rivals clash in a friendly match in Tehran on Tuesday.The kickoff will be 4:25 p.m. Tuesday at Azadi Stadium in the Iranian capital, or 9:55 p.m. in Seoul.It will be the last match of 2014 for South Korea, coached by ex-German international Uli Stielike. South Korea defeated Jordan 1-0 in Amman on Friday to begin its two-match Middle East road trip.South Korea is ranked 66th in the world, fourth-highest amo

SoccerNov. 16, 2014

Rooney finds net in 100th match for England

Wayne Rooney celebrated his 100th appearance for England by scoring in a 3-1 win over Slovenia, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a goal in his return for Sweden in a 1-1 draw at Montenegro in European Championship qualifiers Saturday.Along with England’s fourth win in as many games, San Marino ended its streak of 61 losses by tying 0-0 against Estonia in Group E.Defending champion Spain won 3-0 at home over Belarus, but Slovakia remained atop Group C with a 2-0 victory at Macedonia.Austria strengthene

SoccerNov. 16, 2014