Newsmakers

Announced Captain Fred Couples told Tiger Woods that he decided to add him to the 12-member Presidents Cup team. Couples took the drama out of the debate over whether Woods would be on the team, saying Thursday it’s already a done deal.

Claimed Two employees of the bar where LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and three teammates are accused of injuring four people in a parking lot brawl said Thursday that one of the victims “threw the first punch” shortly after he had been escorted outside by staff.

Suspended LSU suspended receiver Russell Shepard for the football season opener against Oregon on Sept. 3. Shepard is expected to miss a number of games while the university seeks his reinstatement. LSU said Shepard violated university and NCAA codes by discussing an NCAA inquiry with a teammate who was scheduled to be interviewed about the same matter.

Sidelined Sprinter Asafa Powell has been ruled out of the 100 meters at the world championships because of a groin injury, eliminating defending champion Usain Bolt’s biggest rival from the marquee event at Daegu, South Korea.

Fined Driver Will Power’s obscene gesture after last week’s IndyCar race at New Hampshire will cost him $30,000. The Australian driver was fined and put on probation for the rest of the IRL season because of his actions following the aborted restart on a wet track Aug. 14. He will also have the option of working off the fine by making a series of appearances for the series.

Named Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said Tyler Wilson will start at quarterback in the Razorbacks’ opener against Missouri State. The junior takes over the position following Ryan Mallett’s graduation.

Pleaded Former University of Toledo football player Quinton Broussard pleaded guilty in a sports-bribery investigation, admitting he accepted more than $2,000 from a Detroit- area gambler, including $500 to fumble the ball in a 2005 bowl game.

Confirmed U.S. Open golf champion Rory McIlroy says an arm injury won’t keep him out of next week’s European Masters, and confirmed he’s dating top-ranked women’s tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.