Shortened in Slim Lead at Barclays‎

What may or may not have been the last shot anyone had to catch Matt Kuchar at the Barclays fizzled when Vijay Singh’s approach shot from the right rough plopped onto the soft green at his final hole on Friday, some 40 feet from the cup.

Hurricane Irene, which already has forced tournament organizers to shorten the event to 54 holes, could shorten it to 36 holes if the heavy rains forecast for Saturday afternoon soak the already saturated golf course at Plainfield Country Club. “If we don’t get 18 in tomorrow, we will resort back to 36 holes,” said Slugger White, the vice president for rules and competition for the PGA Tour.

Kuchar, who leads Singh and Dustin Johnson by a stroke, set the pace in the early going Friday, with six birdies on the soft greens with the aplomb of a master chef ladling a nice Mornay sauce on crepes.

“I just tried to birdie every hole I could,” said Johnson, who eventually was tied for second by Singh’s 64. Singh is looking for his first victory on tour since he won his third Barclays title and first Deutsche Bank title back to back in 2008.

Matt Kuchar lead with birdie on 18th

The PGA Tour on Friday reduced its first playoff event to 54 holes because of the rain and potential damage expected from Hurricane Irene.

Slugger White, the tour's vice president of competition, said the plan was finish 36 holes Friday and start the third round first thing Saturday morning, with hopes of getting in a 54-hole event before the rain arrives.

If they can't finish Saturday, he said it would revert to a 36-hole tournament. Left unclear was whether a 36-hole tournament - if that were the case - would count as an official win. Six years ago, Adam Scott won the Nissan Open at Riviera in a playoff after rain reduced the tournament to 36 holes. What mattered more at this FedEx Cup playoff event was advancing to Boston. The Barclays was a sellout at Plainfield.
Confused? Kuchar.

Last year's winner at Ridgewood Country Club finished his first round this morning and walked off with the leader at 8-under par. His 63 puts him one shot ahead of Harrison Frazar, Robert Allenby and William McGirt.

Played really well today and the conditions were there. Right now, no one's is lower than Kuchar.

McGirt — the last man to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs field here at Plainfield Country Club — began his completion round staring at a 10-footer for birdie on the 12th hole. The North Carolinian parred his next four holes, before carding his only bogey of the round at the 17th hole.

PGA Tour in 2011 and for $10 Million,Review

Defending champion Matt Kuchar is also without a win this season, but he still managed to finish higher on the points list (12) than any winless player on the PGA Tour in 2011. No player has successfully defended his title at this event since Ernie Els, who won in 1996-97 and will go for another win this week.
Singh has won it more times than anyone with four victories dating from 1993 to 2008.

Next week, the top 100 points leaders will take part in the second postseason event, the Deutsche Bank Championship, which Charley Hoffman won by five strokes in 2010.

EUROPEAN TOUR
JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP AT GLENEAGLES, The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland - The European Tour heads to Scotland this week for the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, which Edoardo Molinari won in 2010.

The win catapulted Molinari onto the European Ryder Cup team last year, becoming the first player to play in The Ryder Cup the year following graduation from the Challenge Tour.
Golf Channel will carry coverage of all four rounds.

CHAMPIONS TOUR
Fred Couples is also participating after winning his first senior major last week at the Senior Players.
After two weeks off, the Champions Tour heads to Asia for the Songdo Championship Korea, which Russ Cochran won last year.

LPGA TOUR
Wie has struggled of late, however, without a top-10 finish in a stroke play event since finishing sixth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. NATIONWIDE TOUR
Next week the Nationwide Tour heads to Canonsburg, Pennsylvania for the Mylan Classic, where Kevin Kisner won in 2010.

CANADIAN TOUR
CANADIAN TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, Ambassador Golf Club, Windsor, Ontario, Canada - The Canadian Tour is in Ontario this week for the Canadian Tour Championship, which Aaron Goldberg won in 2010.

The Canadian Tour is off for over two months following this event until November 3-6 for the Desert Dunes Classic, where Adam Hadwin won in 2010.

Pocono winning Keselowski

In the closing laps of the Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway, Kurt Busch was running third, with his teammate Brad Keselowski leading and his younger brother, Kyle, running in second.

Keselowski ran the whole race, overtook rival Kyle Busch for the lead after the final caution, then drove away for his third career win.
The heroes are the guys who died in Afghanistan.
We’re not saving the world or curing cancer, I just drive a race car.”
Busch and Keselowski have had serious conflicts in the past, but even Busch gave credit.

Kurt Busch outran Jimmie Johnson for third, with some bumping and banging leading to a show of temper on Johnson’s part after the race.
“That’s just good, hard racing,” said Busch. “That’s what the fans pay good money to see, hard racing. “I have no problem racing hard. Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Paul Menard completed the top 10.

Kevin Harvick beat Kyle Busch to the checkered flag in the rain-delayed Camping World Truck Series race earlier in the day.

NASCAR notes,Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards will trim his Nationwide Series schedule next year to spend more time with crew chief Bob Osborne and their Sprint Cup effort.

The 31-year-old driver has 34 career Nationwide wins and won the 2007 title for Roush Fenway Racing. He’s run the full Nationwide and Cup schedules for the past seven years, one of the most taxing schedules in NASCAR history.

“The racer in me wants to run the Truck Series, the Nationwide Series, and the Cup Series every week. (Five-time Cup champion) Jimmie Johnson doesn’t run (many) Nationwide races.”

Edwards hasn’t set his ’12 schedule, but it likely will include only Nationwide companion races at Cup venues. Until he abruptly decided to skip Road America in June, he had run 210 consecutive Nationwide races. He was scheduled to fly from Pocono to Newton, Iowa, on Saturday afternoon for Saturday night’s US Cellular Nationwide 250.

I’ll run Watkins Glen almost certainly; there’s a huge benefit to the Cup Series. Instead of leaving Infineon Raceway on Saturday to run the Nationwide race, he stayed and spent more time with Osborne and their Cup car.

Tiger Woods.Falls further behind Scott at WGC-Bridgestone

Adam Scott was losing ground Saturday at Firestone when he decided to stick with what was working. Scott was at 12-under 198, the lost 54-hole score at Firestone in 10 years.

Scott atop the leaderboard should be compelling enough, especially with Woods back to golf. Ishikawa might be the only other player in golf to appreciate what it's like to get attention like Woods. He has been a star in Japan since he won his first tournament as a 15-year-old amateur, and his 10 wins on the Japan Golf Tour include shooting a 58 in the final round to win The Crowns.

A win would make him the youngest winner of a PGA Tour-sponsored even since John McDermott won the 1911 U.S. Open at 19. PGA Tour rookie Keegan Bradley had a 68 and was two shots behind, along with Martin Laird (67). The group another shot behind included world No. 1 Luke Donald, who had a 64 despite a bogey on the last hole, and Rickie Fowler, who holed out from the fairway for eagle for the second straight day. Woods opened with a bogey that started with shots to the right and left of the fairway, and he didn't hit a single fairway on the front nine.

Canadian national open Golf

It may be a truism in golf that half the players on any given day of a PGA Tour event hate the way the course is set up - usually the half that aren't playing worth a damn.
But give Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club credit: this week at the RBC Canadian Open, you can't find anyone who likes the rough. In fact, if you conducted a mass interview of all those players who caught the Golf Canada national open Golf charter flight back to Vancouver from the Open Championship at Royal St. George's on Sunday night, this might be the average comment: "Define easier," Goydos said, sounding a lot like the substitute school teacher he once was. "Worrying about what Paul Goydos thinks of the rough is just silliness.

"I don't know if it should be a one-shot penalty for a guy who lands his tee shot in the fairway and two-bounces into the rough. It's one of those courses that every shot - tee shot, approach shot, first putt - if you don't hit a good shot, you're going to struggle to make par. Tommy (Two Gloves) Gainey hit just five fairways and shot 65. If I hit it in the rough on a par-4, I immediately start thinking par-5. If you miss it, then whatever.
The golf course, at 36 holes, is starting to identify the best players in the field. Richard Zokol knows all about that pressure having played the country’s national golf tournament 26 times. Weir once called the chance of a Canadian winning the Canadian Open the equivalent of “lightning in a bottle. Zokol agrees.
“It is tough to play well on that one week you need to play well. Weir is one of five regulars playing on the PGA Tour this year, all posting very mixed results. Others in the field include Canadian national open Golf Mid-Am champ Dave Bunker, a high school gym teacher when he’s not playing golf. Former amateur standouts Matt Hill, from Bright’s Grove, Ont., and B.C.’s Nick Taylor, both currently playing Canadian Tour, are also back this year.
Among those late qualifiers to the field are former Canadian national open Golf Amateur champion Darren Wallace, a native of Langley, B.C., who know plays on the Canadian Tour, along with veteran Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont. and Mitch Evanecz, a member of Canada’s men’s amateur national team from Red Deer, Alta.
Top amateur golfers Albin Choi of Toronto, and Eugene Wong of Vancouver, who missed the cut at last year’s Canadian national open Golf, are also teeing it up at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club this week, while Canadian PGA Club Pro champ, Brian Hutton of Burlington, Ont., rounds out the list of Canadians. Truthfully Canadian professional golf, at least on the PGA Tour level, seems to be in a state of transition.
Matt McQuillan might very well be the hottest Canadian golfer right now. SCOREGolf: You’ve had two big weeks in a row.

Turkish Club to Kobe Bryant‎

We’re still not sure how serious this is from Turkish Club to Kobe Bryant‎ Besiktas — the club that signed Deron Williams to play for them next fall and had Allen Iverson last season — is still trying to court Kobe Bryant. The club’s very talkative coach explained to the Los Angeles Times how the team hopes this will go down.

As we’ve said before, Ataman likes to talk but don’t bet on a deal. For one, Kobe’s body could use the rest. Then there’s the matter of money. Besiktas was reportedly looking for a special sponsor to pick up Kobe’s salary (he does have an existing endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines).

Kobe Bryant's representatives have had conversations about a deal to play for Turkish club team Besiktas this season in Istanbul, Besiktas coach Ergin Ataman told the Los Angeles Times in a telephone interview Thursday. Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, didn't return repeated phone calls Thursday.

The Pistons fired John Kuester on June 5. From the Los Angeles Times: Ataman said the team is trying to satisfy Bryant's salary demands so that he can join New Jersey Nets All-Star point guard Deron Williams on the team. Williams signed with Besiktas about a week ago.

via Kobe Bryant:Turkish Club to Kobe Bryant‎ reportedly in talks with Turkish club - latimes.com.

It's surprising that Besiktas continues to pursue Bryant despite the match-fixing issue and the fact that Bryant has yet to publicly speak on the supposed talks, even through a representative.

Angels fall 5 games back to Rangers‎

The Los Angeles Angels fall 5 games back  to Rangers‎ found out firsthand what the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners discovered last week - the Texas Rangers are a difficult team to score against.

Alexi Ogando extended an extraordinary run by Texas pitchers with eight innings of four-hit ball and the streaking Rangers beat the sputtering Angels 7-0 Tuesday night for their 12 straight victory.

Texas' winning streak is the second-longest in club history behind a 14-game run in 1991, and it has put the Rangers (56-41) a season-high 15 games over .500. Tyler Chatwood (5-6) gave up three runs, seven hits and four walks in five innings. Ian Kinsler drove in Napoli with a single.

Napoli, who spent his first five big league seasons with the Angels, was 2 for 3 with a pair of walks and scored twice in his first game at Anaheim since Los Angeles traded him and Juan Rivera to Toronto for Vernon Wells on Jan. 21. Rangers part-owner and team president Nolan Ryan was scheduled to throw a first pitch and take part in a pregame ceremony inducting former Angels owner Gene Autry posthumously into the Angels Hall of Fame. Conger batted .214 in 50 games with five homers and 16 RBIs, and threw out only eight of 56 runners attempting to steal. Ryan's youngest son, Reese, was named after the Angels' former conditioning coach. Chatwood has allowed one home run over his last 11 starts and 66 2-3 innings, a two-run shot by Tampa Bay's Justin Ruggiano on June 6 at Angel Stadium.

The American League West standings show the Texas Rangers five games ahead of the Angels with more than two months to play, hardly an insurmountable deficit for the Angels.

The Angels fall 5 games back  to Rangers‎ won 20 of 27 games before the All-Star break, erasing all of the Rangers' five-game lead, but they've lost four of five games coming out of the break, going from one game behind Texas to five games back in six days.

The pitching staff has given up 23 earned runs in 108 innings for a 1.92 earned-run average, with five shutouts.

The Angels? The Rangers put plenty of pressure on starter Tyler Chatwood (5-6), who gave up three runs and seven hits and walked four in five innings, and reliever Michael Kohn, who gave up Chavez's two-run home run in the eighth inning and both ninth-inning shots.

It was this kind of night for the Angels: They hit consecutive doubles in the fifth inning … and didn't score.

Basketball star Yao Ming

Basketball star Yao Ming announced his retirement after a trailblazing career that made him China's best-known athlete abroad and helped spur the game's global growth.

Yao joined the Rockets as the first pick in the 2002 NBA draft amid scepticism about whether the signature product of China's massive state sports system would ever earn the affection of the league's fans.

The eight-time NBA all-star routinely tops Forbes' list of China's most valuable celebrities and his international appeal has in the past led to endorsement deals with Nike, Pepsi, McDonald's and China Telecom.

NBA commissioner David Stern released a statement in New York shortly after Yao's announcement that praised him as a "transformational" player for the game.

Fellow NBA All Star Kobe Bryant told reporters in Shanghai on the eve of Yao's announcement that the Chinese player had "opened doors for young people in China to believe it's possible to become an NBA player."

"Today I'm retired from basketball and a door has closed.

After helping pro basketball gain a foothold in the world's most populous market, Chinese star Yao Ming has retired.

Yao played eight seasons in the NBA, but missed 250 regular-season games over the past six years.

Houston general manager Daryl Morey attended Yao's farewell conference Wednesday, and NBA Commissioner David Stern sent a message via video link. Yao's wife, Ye Li, and their young daughter, Yao Qinlei, and Yao's parents were in the room. "I will be always with you," Yao said. Despite news of Yao's pending retirement being out for several weeks, the actual announcement was treated with the pomp that Yao's appearances in China bring. China Central Television planned to carry five continuous hours of Yao coverage beginning at 1 p.m. local time, including 90 minutes live from the media conference.

Selected to the NBA All-Star team eight times, Yao averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds. After his rookie season, Yao helped the Rockets reach the playoffs in the next two seasons.

Yao played in 77 games in the 2008-09 season, when Houston reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

NASCAR new Hampshire

Entering Sunday's Sprint Cup event at Nascar New Hampshire Motor Speedway, eight races remain before the Chase. For the first time, the 11th and 12th spot in the playoff are decided based on wins for drivers ranked in the top 20. Drivers will tell you they always try to win in every race.

"If I could win a race, I'd win a race,"Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday. Earnhardt could use a victory. The difficulty and the pressure will mount as the Chase approaches if a team needs a win to get in. If a driver is inside the top 10, points racing might be the best option -- playing it safe and having a good finish to earn as many points as possible.

If a driver is outside the top 10, taking a few risks to try to win becomes the best option as the races wind down before the Chase.

"The single-race winners this year will change the dynamic of the points.

"Last year we were that one-race win team that would have made it with this year's type of points system. So yeah, we want to win."

David Ragan, who won at Daytona two weeks ago, is the only driver outside the top 10 that would make the Chase right now based on wins. Stewart is 11th and winless, but he's only two points behind Denny Hamlin in 10th.

Burton’s No. 31 Chevrolet was seventh or better in both practice sessions on Saturday and Burton holds the most track records at NHMS – most wins (four), most laps led by a race winner (300, September 2000), least laps led by a race winner (two, July 1999) and race record (2:42:35 and 117.134 mph, July 1997).

In 32 Cup races at the track, Burton has four wins, eight top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.

Clint Bowyer put the trophy from last year’s victory at Nascar New Hampshire in his house.Bowyer is stuck in 12th place again, a spot that, thanks to NASCAR’s revamped points system, puts him outside the Chase field.Eight races remain until the Chase field is set.Bowyer and his Richard Childress Racing team have huddled at the shop for solutions.

Women's World Cup final sets Twitter record

The Women's World Cupsets Twitter record final between Japan and the United States set the record for tweets per second, eclipsing the wedding of Prince William and Kate and the death of Osama bin Laden.

The exciting climax drew 7,196 tweets per second, according to Twitter. The record-breaking numbers on Sunday reflect a sharp rise in Twitter usage. Did you Tweet about it? Twitter tweeted that by the end of the Women's World Cup final, users were sending out a record 7,196 tweets per second (TPS). The previous record for TPS was 6,939, set in Japan on New Year's Eve. Twitter pointed out that this announcement prompted the highest sustained rate of tweets ever.

Last summer, a record for TPS was set during the Men's World Cup, but the number of tweets sent out during the Women's World Cup vastly trumped that figure. At the time, a record number of 3,051 TPS were posted. SAN FRANCISCO — Twitter users fired off a record number of tweets per second at the final whistle of Japan's thrilling upset win over the United States in the women's World Cup final.

The San Francisco-based real-time blogging service said Twitter users sent 7,196 tweets per second after Japan defeated the United States in a penalty shoot-out.

Twitter users sent 7,166 tweets per second at the conclusion of that match.

Other peaks for Twitter activity include April's royal wedding, with 3,966 tweets per second, and the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan, with 5,530 tweets per second.

2011 ESPYs Red Carpet‎

 2011 ESPYs Red Carpet‎ 

The magnitude of Adrian Peterson's celebrity crush would crush them all. I don't kiss feet at all, but she has good features and her feet are one of those features. Meanwhile, Shawn Marion of the Mavs says his new NBA championship ring is a license to dress in a blue-and-white Mavericks-colored suit: "We're world champions. I enjoy life anyway, but I'm going to enjoy it a little bit more now that I'm a champion."

"I guarantee you, some guys want the lockout to last a little bit longer," one NFL player says.

• World-class athletes do not lack confidence. Sarah Burke, for one, liked her chances of winning Female Action Sports Athlete of the Year. (Stephanie Gilmore ended up winning.) (The Dallas Mavericks took home the trophy.)

"I just love coming to the 2011 ESPYs Red Carpet‎. Luckily, my husband doesn't care. 

• Even as wide-eyed BYU standout Jimmer Fredette attempted to find his red carpet legs, he was thinking ahead to his rookie season.

Serena Williams, Danica Patrick, Maria Sharapovawho? These ladies might be superstars in their own right, but they weren't named the Best Female Athlete of the year at last night's ESPYs on ESPN. That honor went to Olympic and world championU.S. Ski Team racer Lindsey Vonn. Oh yeah, PLUS she won the silver medal in downhill at the 2011 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Successful athlete or not, it turns out she's a big fan herself ... of Justin Bieber. When she won last night, she requested a photo with him for her Facebook page. Ha. Next up on her agenda is the Teen Choice Awards on August 7, where she's nominated again for favorite Female Athlete.

2011 British Open‎

(Reuters) Ignoring 35-mph gusts, the strongest winds of the week at Royal St George's, and squally showers, Mickelson picked up an early birdie at the second.

Mickelson, a four-times major winner, picked up another stroke at the sixth before joining Clarke on five-under by coaxing in a 20-foot putt for an eagle three at the seventh.

Mickelson tied his personal-record for a nine-hole score at a major by scoring an even 30 through the first nine holes. For more 2011 British Open news and results, stay with this StoryStream, visit SB Nation's golf hub, and check out our golf blog, Waggle Room. For full 2011 British Open scores, visitthe official Open Championship leaderboard.

36: Johnson has short putt to remain -4. Really a disappointment for Mickelson as Clarke hits his par putt. 11:33: Mickelson hits a poor approach to 13 and goes not hit the green. Clarke's bunker shot does not appear to a tough one. 11:31: Johnson safely on No. 11, a 253-yard, par 3. Clarke takes 4-iron and hits short and watches is shot roll into the bunker. 11:26: On No. 13, Mickelson's splits the fairway. 11:25: Clarke rims out his birdie putt to remain at -7 and two stroke lead on Mickelson. Johnson's birdie attempt at No. 10 is perfect. 11:24: We should not forget Dustin Johnson who is playing with Clarke. He has a makeable birdie putt to get to -4. 11:20: Clarke's approach at No. 10 is excellent. He's about 12 feet from another birdie. Just a great golf shot. 11:14: Clarke's tee shot on No. 10 hops into the left-hand rough. 11:07: Clarke's long birdie putt comes about 3-4 feet short. Mickelson on No. 11 comes up wide on his birdie putt and then blows his par putt. 11:03: Clarke's approach on No. 9 hops over the bunker and onto the green. 11:01: Clarke's tee shot on 9 puts him a little in trouble but the hole is only 412 yards.

10:59: Mickelson's birdie try on No. 10 from 19-feet drops and he's at -6 and off by a stroke.

10:55: Mickelson on No. 10 throws his approach to within 20 feet. 10:51: Clarke from 180 yards out on No. 8 hits another beauty onto the green. 10:50: Clarke (-7) and Mickelson (-5) are battling but lurking are Dustin Johnson (-30, Thomas Bjorn (-2) and Rickie Fowler (-2).

Leader Darren Clarke (-7) is heading there now.

10:43: Mickelson's settles for par on No. 9 and shoots a -5, 30 for the front nine. He now trails Clarke by 2.

2011 Iowa: NASCAR Truck Fina,Review

Rookie Cole Whitt topped the speed charts in Friday night’s rain-shortened final Happy Hour practice round for the Coca-Cola 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway.

Coming into Saturday night’s race, Johnny Sauter leads the 2011 Iowa: NASCAR Truck Fina points race by 23 points over Whitt and 25 over Dillon.

All three of NASCAR’s touring series are in action this weekend as the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series head to New Hampshire while Camping World Truck Series teams visit Iowa Speedway for race number eleven on their 2011 schedule.

Cup final: US vs. Japan

USA vs Japan Women’s World Cup 2011 Final showdown. The story of the United States women’s soccer team continues to dominate the sports headlines as they defeated France 3-1 in a dominating fashion as they advance to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final to face Japan on Sunday.

The United States lead in the early stage of the game when Lauren Cheney scored. France was completely surprised by the United State late scores as they suffered this defeat in the FIFA World Cup semifinals against USA.

In the other semifinals match, Japan upsets the favorite Sweden 3-1 to arrange the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final against the United States.

(NewsCore) - The United States advanced to the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup Wednesday with a 3-1 semi-final win over France.

Bidding for a hat-trick of World Cup titles following victories in 1991 and 1999, the US team went into Wednesday's clash on the back of draining quarter-final victory over Brazil on penalties.

Alex Morgan sealed victory for Team USA three minutes later with a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner.

Texas Rangers Fan Dies

BROWNWOOD, Texas - Last thursday night, firefighter Shannon Stone took his young son to a Texas Rangers baseball game. 

Monday afternoon, Shannon Stone's friends, family and colleagues turned out to say goodbye.

With full firefighter honors, Shannon Stone, 39, was laid to rest.  The firefighters Stone spent the last 18 years with carried his casket to the fire engine.

One by one, they placed Stone's helmet and fire uniform in the fire engine beside him.  His wife and 6 year old son Cooper walked slowly behind.

More than a thousand people turned out in Brownwood, Texas, Monday for the funeral of firefighter Shannon Stone, the Rangers fan who died after falling over a railing while attempting to catch a foul ball last week.

Stone, 39, fell to his death after reaching out to catch the ball for his six-year-old son, Cooper Stone, who was sat beside him during Thursday's game with the Oakland A's at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Stone's wife Jenny and their son Cooper followed the truck hand in hand.

Stone, a local firefighter, was honored by family, friends and law enforcement personnel who stood across from the First United Methodist Church holding American flags and also carried his stone casket to a lone fire engine in front of the church.

Rangers Fan Dies over the railing in an attempt to catch the ball, Stone fell headfirst about 20 feet onto the concrete below. Club president Nolan Ryan and vice-president Jim Sundberg were among Rangers officials who attended the funeral.

Hamilton said Monday that Stone's family was still in his thoughts and prayers.

"I know Mr. Stone's funeral was today, and obviously the organization is being represented at the funeral," Hamilton said. My family is still praying for their family."

wins US Women's Open

So Yeon Ryu won the U.S. Women's Open on Monday, sinking a clutch birdie on the final hole to force a playoff and beating Korean compatriot Hee Kyung Seo with another birdie on the second extra hole.

The countrywomen went to a three-hole aggregate playoff beginning at the 16th hole, when both players had pars. Ryu pounced as she drained a 10-footer for birdie and a two-stroke swing.

Ryu finished in style with another birdie at 18. Seo, 25, also bogeyed the 17th hole Sunday. She is an LPGA Tour rookie with 11 wins on the Korean Tour.

Ryu Wins U.S. Women's Open in Monday Finish

After finishing tied in regulation at 3-under 281, South Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo went to a three-hole playoff, with the lowest aggregate score deemed the winner of the U.S. Women's Open on the East Course at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo.

After both players parred the par-3 16th, Ryu birdied the final two holes - the par-5 17 and par-4 18th - to sew up the championship, which had a Monday finish due to rain delays in all four rounds.

The win was worth $585,000; Seo took home $350,000.

Ryu was stunned after the victory. "I won the KLPGA tournament six times, but no major. With three holes to play Monday morning and a stroke behind her countrywoman, Ryu managed a crucial birdie on the 18th hole for a 69 to force the overtime session.

I hope to win this tournament, but I think I did best. "(Sunday) was tough," said the 14-time LPGA winner. Defending champion Paula Creamer shot a fourth-round 75 and was tied for 15th at 6-over 290.

Creamer enjoyed her reign and was disappointed she couldn't retain the biggest trophy in women's golf.

MLB All-Star Game

Nobody appreciates being an MLB All-Star Game more than a first-timer, and Pablo Sandoval and Ryan Vogelsong of the Giants and Oakland's Gio Gonzalez demonstrated that Monday.

Long after the National League finished batting practice at Chase Field, Vogelsong remained on the field. Sixteen players, including no-show Derek Jeter, have bowed out of tonight's All-Star Game, but Sandoval, Vogelsong and Gonzalez wouldn't dare miss it. Vogelsong was told by NL manager Bruce Bochy that he'd pitch only in extra innings, and AL manager Ron Washington said Gonzalez at most could be a situational lefty and face one batter.

The AL's utility guy is Young.

ncaa football 12

•Fixed an exploit with the QB Contain assignment.

•Fixed an issue where defensive coverage assignments were not updated correctly when the offense called an audible.

•Fixed and issue that was causing defenders to play the curl route too effectively.

•Fixed an issue where the play was not always whistled dead when the kicking team touched the ball.

•Fixed an issue where a safety playing deep zone did not cover properly against a Trips set.

•Fixed an issue to prevent linebackers from man aligning when in Cover 3 Zone.

•Fixed an issue in Online Dynasty where multiple Dynasty members using the same playbook caused a bug preventing both users from being able to edit their playbooks.

•Fixed an issue with record breaker banners in Online Dynasty that caused the banner to appear too often.

•Fixed an issue where custom playbooks were not displayed properly for coaches when at the Coaching Carousel screen.

Online
•Fixed a very rare crash that occurred when entering online games on PS3.

•Fixed various disconnect and dysnc issues.

•Fixed an issue in Custom Playbooks where removing too many formations resulted in an empty playbook.

•Fixed an issue with the look of the sparkle on helmets in night games.

Year after agonizing year, the Bully's have been portrayed as a team that plays more like a high school team...and not even a good high school team.  I've been playing the game for years and it shames me to say that when a friend challenges me to a game, I usually pick another team instead of my beloved Bulldogs.  I came across a list of all the NCAA '12 team ratings. 

According to pastapadre over on the pastapadre.com website, the patch (which is already available) has added the ability to edit rosters from within the NCAA Football 12 game’s Dynasty Mode. The patch has also fixed a problem in Custom Playbooks, where removing too many formations would result in an empty playbook.

In terms of online play, the patch has fixed a rare crash that occurred when entering online games on the PlayStation 3, as well as fixed a number of dysnc and disconnecting problems. The issue on the Job Openings screen of the Coaching Carousel that would always default players back to the top of the list has also been fixed with the launch day patch.