Sorenstam’s injury may move Ochoa to No. 1
Lorena Ochoa would prefer a head-to-head victory against Annika Sorenstam to become No. 1 in the women’s world rankings.
The 25-year-old Mexican star might have to settle for gaining the top spot a different way – with Sorenstam injured and out of the mix.
Ochoa shot a 6-under-par 66 Thursday in the opening round of the Ginn Open at Reunion, Fla., tying Laura Davies for the lead and moving a step closer to supplanting Sorenstam atop the rankings. “I would love for her to be playing, yes,” Ochoa said. “So I guess right now it’s the way it is. But I think I better keep playing good and just take advantage of that. But I wish her all the best. Hopefully, she will be (back soon).”
Sorenstam, a 10-time major winner, will be sidelined at least a month because of a ruptured disk in her back. She withdrew from the Ginn and planned to see a neurosurgeon in Miami to figure out what to do next.
“I’ve been playing with quite a bit of pain for the past several weeks,” Sorenstam said in a statement. “I couldn’t take it much more and decided it was time to see someone.”
Rathdrum’s Tracy Hanson opened with a 70 and is tied for 15th place. Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 74.
•Masters champion Zach Johnson said he came to the Verizon Heritage to win. Johnson’s tired play showed otherwise.
After three days of celebrity meetings and TV guest appearances, the weary Johnson shot an up-and-down 70 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. He was seven shots behind Jerry Kelly, the first-round leader at 8-under 63. Ernie Els was second at 65.
Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett fired a 72.
Basketball
Hairston will stay
Forward Malik Hairston will return to Oregon for his senior season rather than make himself available for the NBA draft.
Hairston averaged 11.3 points and six rebounds a game last season as the Ducks went 29-8, won the Pac-10 tournament and made the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
•Oregon State forward Marcel Jones plans to make himself available for the NBA draft but will not hire an agent. Jones led the Beavers in scoring last season by averaging 15.3 points.
•Washington will honor former men’s coach Marv Harshman by naming a practice court inside Hec Edmundson Pavilion for the man who won 246 games in 14 seasons while leading the Huskies decades ago. Harshman turns 90 on Oct. 4 and still regularly attends UW home games.
•Tamika Catchings had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the U.S. women’s national team to a 72-49 win over Phard Napoli at Naples, Italy.
Football
Saints sign Patten
The New Orleans Saints signed receiver David Patten to a one-year contract, hoping the 10-year veteran can rebound from two disappointing seasons with the Washington Redskins.
•The Denver Broncos signed free-agent wide receiver David Terrell to a one-year contract.
Miscellany
Hard Spun to run
Hard Spun, a winner in five of six races, passed his test at Churchill Downs and will return in three weeks for the Kentucky Derby.
The 3-year-old colt handled the dirt track with ease during a workout, which was what trainer Larry Jones needed to see before committing to run in the Derby on May 5.
•Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson appeared in court at Mesa, Ariz., and learned he will go on trial Aug. 20 on charges of drug possession and driving under the influence of drugs.
•The United States will play in Goteborg, Sweden, for the Davis Cup tennis semifinals, facing the Swedes in an arena where they twice beat the Americans for the title. The surface has not yet been selected for the Sept. 21-23 matches.