Host Woods takes one-stroke lead
Tiger Woods holed two long birdie putts on consecutive holes on his way to a 4-under-par 68 that turned a four-shot deficit into a one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson of Sweden in Friday’s round of the Tiger World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
“Two lucky breaks,” said Woods, who was at 8-under 136 and in position to win his tournament for the third time in eight years.
Stenson had four birdies and one good hop that set up an eagle, but two holes dropped him to a 71 that left him at 7 under. U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (70) and Chris DiMarco (68) were another shot behind.
Trailing by four shots as he approached the turn, Woods hammered a 40-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole that looked as though it might go off the green until it banged into the back of the cup, went airborne and disappeared for birdie. One hole later, a birdie putt even longer was picking up steam when it found the bottom of the cup.
Auto Racing
Earnhardt race track, venue site picked
A $600 million Dale Earnhardt race track and entertainment complex will be built on 2,500 acres just north of Mobile, Ala., the track’s investors announced.
It could take about two years to build the four-track motorsports park off Alabama 158, near Interstate 65, with a full season of activity expected in 2010, track spokesman Bill Futterer said. The site faces the University of Mobile campus.
“Former Formula One driver Clay Regazzoni was killed in a highway crash near Parma in northern Italy. He was 67.
“Marco Andretti became the third generation of his family to drive a Formula One car, making his debut on the final day of winter testing in Jerez, Spain.
“A jury has acquitted four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Sr. on misdemeanor charges of resisting and disobeying police in Albuquerque, N.M.
Skiing
Unhappy Miller tops super-G field in Italy
American Bode Miller won a super-giant slalom by a large margin in Val Gardena, Italy, racing to his 23rd World Cup victory and second in two weeks. Afterward, he again criticized U.S. team rules that don’t allow him to sleep in his motor home.
Miscellany
Americans dominate World Cup skeleton
Katie Uhlaender and Zach Lund extended their World Cup skeleton winning streaks and U.S. teammates took three other medals at Lake Placid, N.Y.
“The United States tennis team will play the Czech Republic on an indoor clay court in the first round of the 2007 Davis Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
“Hall of Fame trainer Flint “Scotty” Schulhofer, who saddled two Belmont Stakes winners during a 40-year career, has died of cancer in New York. He was 80.