In brief: O’Hair tied for lead; Mickelson drops out

Sean O’Hair, who played great golf for the second straight tournament except for a blemish on the 17th, managed a 7-under-par 65 Thursday and was tied with Rod Pampling and Nick O’Hern for the lead at the Memorial in Dublin, Ohio.

Phil Mickelson withdrew after 11 holes because of an injury to his left wrist. Masters champion Zach Johnson had to stop after 15 holes with strep throat so severe he turned down his first interview.

Ernie Els ran off five straight birdies for a 66, a score he shared with Tim Herron, Ryan Moore, Bubba Watson and Aaron Baddeley. Tiger Woods finished the day at 3 under.

“Annika Sorenstam was satisfied with her even-par 72 in the Ginn Tribute at Mount Pleasant, S.C., after nearly two months off the tour because of a ruptured disk and a bulging disk. Michelle Wie withdrew after shooting 14 over for 16 holes – including a 10 on the par-5 third when her drive hit a parked car and fell down a storm drain – and saying she had reaggravated a season-long wrist injury.

Rookie Angela Park was the leader at 6-under 66, two shots ahead. Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., is tied for 12th at 2 under. Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum is 1 over.

Soccer

Wembley Stadium ready after 6 years

England will add to Wembley’s illustrious history today when it plays at the rebuilt national stadium in London for the first time.

The match against record five-time world champion Brazil will be the first full international at the 90,000-seat arena in north London and is a fitting opening fixture for a soccer ground billed as the best in the world.

It took more than six years to replace the old stadium at a cost of $1.57 billion, which easily makes it the most expensive stadium built.

Miscellany

Street Sense will not run in Belmont Stakes

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense will not enter the Belmont Stakes for a rematch with Preakness victor Curlin.

Trainer Carl Nafzger and owner James Tafel debated for two hours the viability of sending the colt to New York for the final leg of the Triple Crown and decided Street Sense will skip the Belmont to prepare for the Travers Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic later this year.

“Track and field’s governing organization proposed a rule that would prevent a South African amputee sprinter from competing at the Beijing Olympics.

Oscar Pistorius, who had both legs amputated below the knee as an infant, wants to run in the 2008 Games. With high-tech blades attached just under his knees, he has run nationally competitive times in the 400, 200 and 100 meters. Officials consider the blades artificial aids that give Pistorius an advantage over other athletes.

“Gene Gibson, who coached the Texas Tech men’s basketball team from 1961-69, has died in Plano, Texas. He was 82.

“Alessandro Petacchi won the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia in a sprint finish in Riese Pio X, Italy, while Danilo Di Luca held on to the overall leader’s pink jersey.