In brief: Mickelson stays on top despite subpar day
Phil Mickelson rarely found the fairway, twice knocked down flags and nearly holed out from the fairway. Despite all those thrills, what kept him in the lead Friday at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., was a couple of pars.
Mickelson found dry land on the island-green 17th, then saved par from the right rough on the closing hole at TPC Sawgrass for an even-par 72 that gave him a one-shot lead over Nathan Green of Australia.
Peter Lonard took two double bogeys on his back nine, Carl Petterson finished bogey-bogey and Sean O’Hair three-putted the 18th to lose costly shots, leaving them two shots behind and chasing Mickelson.
Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett was four shots back.
“Sarah Lee shot a 3-under 68 to take a two-shot lead over Becky Morgan in the Michelob Ultra Open at Williamsburg, Va.
Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., is tied for 51st at 2 under and Rathdrum’s Tracy Hanson is tied for 62nd at 1 over.
Football
Vick doesn’t talk
Michael Vick made it clear he wouldn’t be talking about his ties to an alleged dog-fighting ring after an Atlanta Falcons minicamp practice in Flowery Branch Ga.
“As of right now, that situation is still under investigation. My attorney has advised me not to talk about the situation right now,” said Vick.
“Adam “Pacman” Jones was ticketed for speeding four days before he met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended him from the NFL for the 2007 season as a result of five arrests and 10 incidents in which he has talked with police since the Titans drafted him in 2005.
Jones was stopped at 12:45 a.m. Monday in Nashville, Tenn., for doing 79 mph in a 55 mph zone.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers’ top two draft picks, linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley, were hurt during a minicamp practice in Pittsburgh and might not practice the rest of the weekend.
“Penn State offensive lineman Elijah Robinson’s football career is over after he sustained a neck injury in spring practice.
Robinson walked off the field, but examinations revealed that Robinson was born with a tight spinal canal and that any impact to his head could result in paralysis.
“Charley Ane, a tackle for USC in the early 1950s and then an All-Pro lineman for the Detroit Lions, died in Honolulu of pneumonia. He was 76.
Miscellany
Nadal ties record
Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-3 in the Rome Masters for his 75th consecutive win on clay, matching John McEnroe’s streak for most consecutive victories on one surface.
Nadal can break the record today in the semifinals against fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, who rallied to beat Tommy Robredo 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
“Martina Hingis has withdrawn from next week’s Italian Open with hip and back injuries.
“Katharine Dennis Hall, the wife of former Kentucky basketball coach Joe B. Hall, died of cancer in Lexington, Ky. She was 75.