Woods returns for Memorial

Golf: Tiger Woods (pictured above) is the defending champion at Memorial and a four-time winner at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.

It just doesn’t seem that way.

He arrived at the course that Jack Nicklaus built – the one that Woods at times seems to own – with his game as unpredictable as ever. Woods is coming off a neck injury that he said now feels good enough to practice and play. He no longer has a swing coach, having split with Hank Haney three weeks ago.

Since returning to golf in April, he has completed only one tournament, a tie for fourth in the Masters. That takes on greater significance with the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach two weeks away.

“Maybe this time I’ll get four rounds in and get ready for the Open,” Woods said Wednesday.

He remains as capable as ever, and Woods wasted no time showing that in the Memorial Skins Game. Playing in the second group of five players, he hit a towering shot out of the right rough behind a tree on the 10th hole to about 18 feet and rolled in the quick putt for a birdie to win a skin. Next up came the par-5 11th, where he followed a pure tee shot with a 4-iron to just outside 4 feet for eagle.

Associated Press

Austin captures Gatorade award

Prep baseball: Senior catcher Devon Austin of Coeur d’Alene High School is the Gatorade Idaho baseball player of the year.

The award, which recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Austin as Idaho’s best high school baseball player.

Austin led the Vikings (22-10) to the State 5A semifinals this season, batting .433 with four home runs, 48 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He maintains a B average and has volunteered as a youth baseball coach and umpire.

Durfey enjoys rides up north

Rodeo: Canada continues to be a second home for Colbert cowboy Tyson Durfey.

The tie-down roper has used his success in Canada to qualify for three straight National Finals Rodeos. Durfey won the Bonnyville (Alberta) Pro Rodeo last weekend, and with the check of $1,773 stands seventh in the PRCA standings with more than $34,000.

Durfey won five Canadian rodeos last season.