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Show Friday, June 20, 2008 HERALD DAILY OLYMPICS CS GOLF ROUNDUP 4 players shoot 64s in Travelers THE Johnson CROMWELL, Conn. Wagner says he could shoot a 61 while playing the TPC River Highlands on his old Sega Genesis video game as a . - NBA source: Pistons' Prince makes U.S. hoops team , ago. "It was pretty easy out there," he said. "It wasn't very stressful." Wegmans LPGA: At Rochester. N.Y., Japan's Ai Miyazato, celebrating her 68 to join 23rd birthday, shot a Cristie Kerr and five South Korean players atop the crowded leaderboard at the Wegmans LPGA. Jeong Jang, lnbee Park, Song-He- e Kim, Jimin Jeong and Kang, shot for an ace who holed a sevent h hole, also on the Soo-Yu- n 165-yar- d Lu-cid- Hee-Wo- . 199-yar- d tree-line- d An-nik- 296-yar- Larry Lage PRESS y... cross-countr- y 13-1- Tiger "There's no way to quantify it. Yes, he has an impact. He's the most dominant figure in any sport in America. He has an impact on ratings. But when you construct a golf package, you don't know that Tiger is going to compete, And you don't know that he's going to be in contention." Continued from CI remainder of the season to have reconstructive surgery on his left knee. Television networks no longer can count on higher rat- ings driven by the world's No. I player. Woods had planned to compete nine more times this year, and organizers must try to put a positive spin on any tournament that no longer has him as a headliner. His will be interesting to see how we do in August and September." r The Tour Championship has about sold 17,000 already tickets, meaning 8,000 will be available in August. Rhinehart is hopeful that a revamped points system in the FedFx Cup playoffs at least will allow for more possibilities and in the season more drama finale at East Lake with $ 10 million for the winner. TV ratings likely will see the biggest change. Woods spikes ratings when he plays, even more when he is in contention, with ratings ' more than 50 percent higher last year on the weekend in tournaments where he competed. The U.S. Open went prime time last week in San Diego, and drew the highest ratings for a U.S. Open in six ; at ;. A week ago, Woods was listed at "When he plays, everyone in golf benefits," Kaczkowski said. This is not the first time Woods has been on the disabled list. He missed two months in 2006 when his father died, and two months this year when he had surgery on his left knee to clean out cartilage. His absence is most strongly felt in St. Louis, a golf hungry -- town that again had dessert snatched away. "We've had a few callers to our office that have asked for a refund, which is to be expected," Kaczkowski said. "I'm surprised we haven't had more. They're deflated a little bit. They understand we have a great field and a great tournament. But they thought they would have a chance to see the greatest player maybe ever in their town." The tournament typically is played in Chicago, but moved to St. Louis for this year in an experimental rotation. Kaczkowski said ticket sales are still double what they had been at Cog Hill, and corporate sales also doubled. Even so, with weekly tickets still available, he estimated Woods' absence will cost the tournament $500,000. "It's hard to say how much this is costing us in ticket sales, but the tickets feed into concessions and merchan- years. NBC Sports might have gotten off easy. It broadcasts a dozen PGA Tour events. Woods played in four of them and won three the Accen-tur- e Match Play Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and U.S. Open. "There's no way to quantify it," NBC Sports president Ken Schanzer said Thursday. "Yes, he has an impact. He's the most dominant figure in any sport in America. He has an impact on ratings. But when you construct a golf package, you don't know that Tiger is going to compete. And you don't know that he's going to ' be in contention." The rest of NBC's tour events are part of the FedEx Cup playoffs. The other is the Ryder Cup, which was popular even before Woods turned pro and is the one event that can get by without him. CBS Sports televises half of the tour's regular-seaso- n dise," he said. A year ago, Woods won the events, but ends the year showing Woods just twice at the Buick Invitational, which he won by eight shots to start his season, and the Masters. It will not have him at the Bridgestone Invitational, which he has won a record six times, or the PGA Champitournament," said Todd Rhine-har- t, onship, the final major of the the tournament director. year where Woods is the two-tim- e "From our perspective, this defending champion. has not impacted us yet. But it But there are 20 weeks left season-endin- g Tour Champi- onship in Atlanta to capture the first FedEx Cup. Ticket sales already were 20 percent ahead of last year, but daily tickets won't go on sale until August. , "That's a big time, the last eight weeks leading up to the J? . n. Hi;? - l!itr f r c ""'-''x- in the season, and Woods was scheduled to play nine times. PGA Tour spokesman Ty Vol aw said Woods' absence likely will be felt early, but he noted that other story lines emerged during his layoff after the Masters when Anthony Kim and Adam Scott were part of a youth movement winning tournaments. He also pointed to tournaments with large attendance (John Deere Classic) and those that raise the most money for charity (Valero Texas Open), as ones Woods doesn't play, iiiitiiMlttiriiiiiiiMfllfcaiiaiNMM FILE Jack Nicklaus even more amazed at Tiger's victory was inundated with requests for comments. As for Woods missing the rest of the year, Nicklaus said Jack Nicklaus always even if he thought the U.S. Open was the he understood could not relate. hardest and most complete "I am sincerely sorry for test in golf. That's what made him," said Nicklaus, captain . Tiger Woods' victory even of four Presidents Cup teams more impressive to the man whose major record Woods is on which Woods played. "I understand now aitncuit it is trying to beat. "To have a will as strong as for him to walk away from that, I take my hat off to him," the game, especially with two Nicklaus said Thursday. major championships and a Nicklaus was in Utah on Ryder Cup on the horizon. But I also know that Tiger is Monday while Woods was a very intelligent young man, going 19 holes for a playoff and he has made a de'cision victory over Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines, and later that is best for the long term learned the source of Woods' and the rest of his career." Nicklaus won a record-tyin- g pain. four U.S. Opens among Woods said Wednesday his 18 professional majors, that he had a torn ligament the last 10 months and a and he was never slowed by double stress fracture in his injury until late in his career. left leg that he suffered two He only withdrew from one weeks before the U.S. Open. major, the 1983 Masters, with He twice rallied from a one-sha back injury after the tournadeficit on the 18th hole, ment started. first to get into a playoff on surWoods' season-endinSunday, then to extend the gery means he will not be able to catch one record that Nickplayoff one extra hole. 146 consecutive He said he will have surlaus owns majors played, a streak that gery to repair a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the coincidentally ended 10 years season. ago at Royal Birkdale when "In light of this week's revNicklaus did not play the Britelation about Tiger's health, ish Open. it makes his performance in "Tiger is one of the the U.S. Open that much more golfers I have ever been around, so I fully phenomenal," Nicklaus said. "I have always said that the expect for him to do what U.S. Open is the most difficult is necessary to get back to and. complete examination competitive shape in the of a golfer, and for him to shortest amount of time pos sible and return strong next persevere with a damaged knee and stress fracture is a testament not only to his abilsonally, I look forward to ity, but his tremendously high that return. Tiger is a great level of competitiveness." person and great champion, Nicklaus issued a statement and he is important to the through his office because he game of golf." Doug "Ferguson anyway." "Does that mean Tiger being out the rest of the year isn't going to influence the casual fan from watching? There will probably be a negative impact in that regard," Votaw said. "But it's not going to prevent us from growing." One area where Woods could boost business is gambling. William Hill spokesman THE ASSOCIATED PRESS . Graham Sharpe said the bookmaker was refunding money to those who bet on Woods winning two or three majors because he won't be playing the British Open or PGA Championship. Anyone who bet on him winning one was paid off. Those who bet on Woods winnirfg no majors or all four have already lost. Sharpe, however, said the volume of wagers could go up now that Woods isn't playing Royal Birkdale. "It's an enormously wide-ope- n contest now," Sharpe said. "Before, what was the point of backing Tiger? Because the odds were too short, and there was no point betting the field because he was going to win. That prevented a lot of people from betting. Now the punters will say they have a reasonable chance of winnings, and they'll get good odds." But he is worried about one man from Scotland who recently bet 10,000 British odds that sterling on Woods will match Jack Nick-lau- s' ot g -l record 18 majors by the endof2010.v "He's probably sending Tiger some special medication for his leg," Sharpe said. 5 VROVO Awaken Your PaUtc M the .onibay House i- - H Associated Press of Tiger Woods' victory at the U.S. Open while Woods was suffering from a double stress fracture: uTo have a will as strong as that, I take my hat off to him." Jack Nicklaus said two-mont- h it i in 7 NBC Sports president Ken Schanzer On what type of impact Tiger Woods' season-endin- g knee surgery will have on golf broadcasts departure'even affects bookmakers, who are making refunds on wagers that Woods will win two majors this year. Maybe the biggest reminder that Woods is done for the Wilyear is that British-base- d liam Hill lists Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia as the betting favorites for the British Open mid-Jul- Car-mel- die,-har-d tournament with his family, won the event in 2006 and tied for 13th a year i, shot 68s. Morgan Pressel, Becky Sweden's Helen Alfredsson and n South Korea's Han, Na On Min, Kyeong Bae and Young-Yang opened with 69s. Thom'pson shot 65s. Thompson, comDefending champion Lorena Ochoa, ing off a U.S. Open that saw him tie for .the No. 1 player in women "s golf, 72 in cool, blus29th place, had the shot of the day. His carded an even-pa- r FRED BECKHAMAssociated Press approach on the par-- 4 10th tery conditions at the tight, a Johnson Wagner reads his putt on the hole found the cup. Locust Hill course, one better than Sorenstam. Michelle Wie, who is ninth hole in the first round of the "I'm here to have fun," he said. Travelers Championship in Cromwell, ranked 200th in the world and received "There's no pressure, there's nothing to lose, just going out and playing golf a sponsor exemption, shot a 71. Conn., on Thursday. Wagner ended the round tied for first at par. and see how I do." Only three of the top ten players on I BMW International Open: At Munich. tour are playing in this year's tournaGermany, Australia's Peter O'Malley 66 for a ment, which has a $6 million purse and shot a bogey free "Regardless of the golf courses, a top prize of just over $1 million. share of the lead in the BMW Internawhen I'm tired I don't do as well, and tional Open, while Jolm Daly struggled when I'm rested I tend to play better," Stewart Cink, Vijay Singh and 72 in a round that inhe said. "Hopefully, I'll stay rested this Kenny Perry each finished at 4 under. to an even-pa- r cluded five wild holes on the back nine. week." " Many other big names decided not to make the Davis, looking for his first tour win, O'Malley shared the top spot with trip from last in San Diego. he felt fatigued. and is coming off disk injuries to his week's U South Africa's Anton Haig, SingaHe sat at home and played with the back and neck that he says have af- Fairfield native J.J. Henry, the winpore's Mardan Mamat and Argentina's kids and watched the Open on TV. He fected his swing since late last season. ner two years ago, also was among Rafa Echenique. Daly, the 2001 winner, had two double bogeys, a bogey and practiced a bit, but said he didn't play a He started the day hitting his first shot those who finished two shots back. into the trees. two birdies on Nos. single round of golf. Henry, who grew up coming to the play for the U.S. basketball team in the Beijing Olympics. Tayshaun Prince earned a spot on the USA Basketball team for the Beijing Games, a person in the NBA told The Associated Press on Thursday Dwyane Wade will join Prince on the team barring a change for the Miami Heat guard, according to a person familiar with the decision. The two sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the roster will be announced Monday during a news conference in Chicago. Wade's Olympic selection first was reported by the South Florida Wade could not be reached for comment Thursday. The guard missed 31 games last season because of injuries. He has been rehabbing since May 5 in Chicago, and hosted USA Basketball ing director Jerry Colangelo there for a workout last week. Colangelo came away impressed, and apparently convinced that Wade's surgically repaired left knee could hold up to the rigoys of the Olympic schedule. Earlier this month, Colangelo said the squad would be selected without a try out. The team will formally begin y and is schedtraining in uled to start the Olympic series of games in Beijing Aug. 10. The gold medal game is Aug. 24, the day the games close. Colangelo, on Thursday, said Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire had told him he was withdrawing from consideration. Stoudemire apparently was concerned about about pushing his body too hard after knee surgery in 2005 and 2006. Stoudemire's withdrawal was first reported by The Arizona Republic earlier Thursday. "He and I had had conversations along the way, and he wasn't sure," Colangelo said. "I think the bottom line is that he was tentative. He didn't want to take any chances, so he took himself out of consideratioa" Last year, Prince played for a U.S. team that was le3 by Kobe o Bryant, LeBron James and Anthony during an unbeaten run in an Olympic qualifying tournament. The 215pound Prince gives the U.S. team a playoff-teste- d player who can slow down opponents with his defensive skills. He can also score occasionally with an array of runners and spin moves around the lane. Prince helped the Detroit Pistons advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth straight year, making them the most consistent in the playoffs since the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s. He has played in 114 playoff games to surpass the total of any player his first six NBA seasons. Wade would be playing in his second Olympics; he was part of the bronze-medwinning squad in Athens in 2004. And his workouts in Chicago over the past few weeks have been going on with a gold medal at the forefront of his mind. "It would mean everything to me," Wade told The Associated Press last month. "It's wftat we talked about after getting the bronze, right after getting that medal, and I really want to be part of the team that puts the USA back on top." Prince's Pistons teammate Chauncey Bilhips pulled himself out of consideration for a spot on the US. team earlier this week. The point guard might have had a hard time making the team anyway because of available guards such as Jason Kidd, Wade, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. 25-fe- With temperatures hovering in the low 70s and soft greens from rain Wednesday night, conditions set up nicely for the field. Seven players were a shot back at 65, and another 16 shot 66s. Of the 156 players, 104 shot under par. "We had no wind and it was just kind of there for the taking today with it being so soft," Wagner said. "But get a little wind and get this place firm and it's all you can ask for, so I'm happy to get a good round when I needed too. Wagner, who is looking for his second career victory after winning in Houston earlier this season, eagled d 15th after hitting his apthe proach shot within 18 inches of the pin. Lowery also won this year, at Pebble Beach in February. He was the first leader in the clubhouse, after playing his first golf in almost two weeks. Lowery decided to skip this year's qualifying for the U.S. Open because FILEAssociated Press All-St- Oft. first-roun- According to a person in the NBA, Tayshaun Prince will ASSOCIATED . kid. The actual course didn't give Wagner much more of a challenge Thursday in the Travelers Championship 64 to match when he shot a Steve Lowery, Brad Adamonis and d Englishman Brian Davis for the lead. v:: THE "I didn't have a lot of good vibes for then," he said. "I holed a bogey. It's funny how a round somehow starts with a bogey and ends up being good. I mixed in a couple of birdies and kept on rolling." Adamonis, from nearby Cumberland, R.I., also eagled the 15th and had to overcome a heckler who yelled during his swing on the second shot on the 17th hole. Despite a bit of a miss-hi- t, the shot managed to clear the course's signature lake and land on the green, from the hole. "It must have been a Yankees fan," said Adamonis, a Red Sox rooter. "I think I would have been a little more mad if it had hit the water." John Huston, Peter Karmis, Justin Rose, Lucas Glover, Ken Duke, Tom Pernice Jr. and amateur Michael ASSOCIATED PRESS ilM! 14) - 463 M. Vnivcrsity Ave. SOH73-667- 7 SLC-27- 51 Mom -- E.PArlcvj'sWAVj SM 4:00 pm- - )0:00 pm IP |