Newcomers crowding PGA landscape

DORAL, Florida (AP) ― The road to the Masters is just getting started, and already two players have combined to win five times on the PGA Tour.They’re not Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.How many would have guessed Jimmy Walker (three wins) and Patrick Reed (two wins) when the wraparound season began in October?Reed might have had his hand up.In a moment of bravado on national television after he went wire to wire (with ties) to win the Cadillac Championship, the 23-year-old Reed said, “I’m one o

GolfMarch 11, 2014

More than 3,500 police planned for Boston Marathon

FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts (AP) ― The number of police officers patrolling this year’s Boston Marathon will be doubled to over 3,500, one year after two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 260.The enhanced police presence is part of a beefed-up security plan detailed Monday by public safety officials as they prepare for the April 21 marathon.Spectators who plan to attend the marathon are being strongly discouraged from bringing backpacks, rolling bags,

More SportsMarch 11, 2014

Pele says Neymar can handle WC pressure

PARIS (AP) ― Pele is counting on Neymar to lead Brazil to a World Cup title and erase the painful memory of the last time the country hosted the tournament.Considered by many to be soccer’s greatest player, Pele was only 9 years old when Brazil lost to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final. Pele then led Brazil to the title eight years later, when he was 17 and again in 1962 and 1970.With Brazil holding the tournament this year, the pressure is on the 22-year-old Neymar, who scored a hat trick las

SoccerMarch 11, 2014

LPGA ready for Bay Area return in Swinging Skirts

DALY CITY, California (AP) ― When Yani Tseng found out the Swinging Skirts Golf Team from her native Taiwan planned to host an LPGA event on U.S. soil, she had her initial doubts.Then, the top Taiwanese women’s golfer changed her tune as she realized just how determined this group ― a private, Taiwanese nonprofit of amateur golfers ― is to promote its countrywomen on the world stage and boost the women’s game globally.“It’s pretty easy to talk about crazy people out here,” Tseng joked Monday in

GolfMarch 11, 2014

Golfer Park In-bee retains world's top spot for 48th week

South Korea's Park In-bee has held the top spot in the women's world golf rankings for the 48th consecutive week.In the latest Rolex Rankings announced Tuesday, the 26-year-old solidified her position after picking up her first victory of 2014 at a Ladies European Tour tournament in China last week.Park got an average of 10.28 ranking points, followed by Suzann Pettersen of Norway with 9.36 points and Stacy Lewis of the United States with 8.25.There was no change in the top tier of the rankings

GolfMarch 11, 2014

Schedule finalized for national team

The South Korean men’s national soccer team has finalized its schedule in its buildup to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil this summer, officials said on Monday.The Korea Football Association said the team is scheduled to land in Brazil on June 12, five days before it is to face Russia to open Group H action. South Korea will set up training camp in Foz do Iguacu and will play Russia in Cuiaba, about 1,100 kilometers north of the camp.The other teams in Group H are Algeria and Belgium. South Korea fa

SoccerMarch 10, 2014

City ousted from FA Cup

LONDON (AP) ― Manchester City suffered an unceremonious exit from the FA Cup on Sunday, three days before it tries to overturn a 2-0 deficit at Barcelona in the Champions League.Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, had little trouble guiding his rampant Real Madrid to another win that left it alone at the top of the table in Spain.Juventus won to continue its march to the Italian title. Borussia Dortmund eked out a victory as it remained in a distant second place behind German leader Bayern Munich, and

SoccerMarch 10, 2014

New season off to rousing start

The 2014 K League Classic season got off to a rousing start as a record number of fans enjoyed a weekend of action-packed soccer.All 12 clubs got into action over the past two days and the defending champs Pohang Steelers opened with a 1-0 loss to the 2013 runner-ups Ulsan Hyundai at home on Saturday.It was a rematch of a thrilling season finale from last year.Ulsan held a two-point lead over Pohang before that game and only needed a draw to secure its first championship. Pohang then scored only

SoccerMarch 10, 2014

Kim Yu-na to hold farewell ice shows in May: agency

South Korean figure skating icon Kim Yu-na will hold farewell ice shows in Seoul this spring, her agency announced Monday.All That Sports said Kim will take the center stage at her corporate-sponsored ice shows from May 4 to 6 in the nation's capital.The 23-year-old star retired from competition after the Sochi Winter Olympics last month. She picked up the silver medal behind Adelina Sotnikova of Russia, after winning the gold at the previous Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010.The agency said

More SportsMarch 10, 2014

Hadley leads in Puerto Rico

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico (AP) ― Chesson Hadley took the third-round lead Saturday in the Puerto Rico Open, shooting a 5-under 67 in windy conditions at Trump International.Making his 13th PGA Tour start, the 26-year-old Hadley had four birdies in an early five-hole stretch and also birdied the par-4 14th in wind gusting to 40 kph.“It was frustrating, to be honest with you, even though I was playing well, just because I hit it so well today and I missed quite a few putts, a lot of putts the last 1

GolfMarch 9, 2014

Barca stumbles again

LONDON (AP) ― Bayern Munich has virtually wrapped up the German league title, the French championship is Paris Saint-Germain’s to lose and there’s seemingly no stopping Chelsea’s march to the English Premier League trophy.As for Spain, however, who knows where the title will end up after Barcelona lost on Saturday for the third time in six games.Barcelona’s title defense took a blow when it stumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Valladolid, missing the chance to move to the top of the Spanish standings.Lio

SoccerMarch 9, 2014

Park In-bee picks up first win of 2014 on Ladies European Tour

   The world's No. 1-ranked female golfer Park In-bee picked up her first win of 2014 at a Ladies European Tour (LET) tournament in China on Sunday.   Park fired a 6-under 67 in the final round of the Mission Hills World Ladies Championship at the par-73 Mission Hills Hainan's Blackstone Course, beating world No. 2 Suzann Pettersen of Norway by five shots.   Park shot a 24-under 268 over four rounds, making just five bogeys.   Pettersen, breathing down Park's neck in the world rankings, began th

GolfMarch 9, 2014

Anna Fenninger wins World Cup giant slalom

ARE, Sweden (AP) ― Olympic silver medalist Anna Fenninger won a World Cup giant slalom race Thursday, and closed the gap on overall leader Maria Hoefl-Riesch.The Austrian, who also won the Olympic super-G in Sochi, won the race despite finishing seventh in the first run.Her combined time of 2 minutes, 26.39 seconds was 0.21 faster than surprise runner-up Anemone Marmottan of France. Lara Gut of Switzerland and Eva-Maria Brem of Austria tied for third, trailing Fenninger by 0.39.Hoefl-Riesch plac

More SportsMarch 7, 2014

Hong worried about media spotlight on striker Park

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of the South Korean men’s national football team, said Friday he is concerned about the excessive amount of media attention being paid to forward Park Chu-young. Hong returned from Athens, where South Korea defeated Greece 2-0 in the countries’ pre-World Cup friendly on Wednesday.Park scored the first goal in that win. It was Park’s first international appearance in more than a year, and his first goal for South Korea since November 2011. Even tho

SoccerMarch 7, 2014

Russia opens Sochi Paralympics as Crimea crisis escalates

SOCHI, Russia (AFP) ― Russia opens its first-ever Winter Paralympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Friday, an opportunity for people with disabilities to triumph but which the crisis in Ukraine threatens to derail.Amid a chill reminiscent of the Cold War, athletes continued to train ahead of the opening ceremony, which is scheduled for 8:14 p.m., and raised their national flags in the Olympic village at the welcoming ceremony Thursday.Among them were 31 Ukrainians, yet to announce their fi

Olympic GamesMarch 7, 2014