In brief: O’Hair takes one-shot lead at FedEx Cup

Golf: Sean O’Hair knew he would need some help from Tiger Woods to win the FedEx Cup. He got more than he expected.

And it was about putting, not points.

Woods and O’Hair practiced together on the back nine at East Lake on the eve of the Tour Championship in Atlanta, and O’Hair sought some advice on his putting from the world’s No. 1 player, regarded as among the best in golf with the putter.

Woods suggested that O’Hair open the face of the club on the way back so that he could release the blade through the ball. It paid off Thursday when O’Hair made enough putts for a 4-under-par 66 and a one-shot lead over three players – including Woods.

“I’m going to go chew him out right now,” Woods said.

Woods was joking, for it is typical in this sport for players to help each other even as they’re trying to beat each other.

O’Hair is the first to concede that his putting has held him back in his five years on tour, and he wasn’t afraid to ask.

“I believe in what he said, and I think it’s the key for me to kind of take my putting to another level,” O’Hair said.

Woods recovered from a shaky start with three birdies over a four-hole stretch on the back nine for a 67, putting him one shot behind with Padraig Harrington and British Open champion Stewart Cink.

Only eight players managed to break par in the final FedEx Cup playoff event, with a $10 million bonus going to the winner with the most playoff points. O’Hair is the No. 7 seed, meaning he would have to win the Tour Championship and have Woods finish in a three-way tie for second or worse.

•Gustafson leads CVS: Sophie Gustafson shot a 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge in Danville, Calif.

Sophia Sheridan matched Angela Stanford and Na Ri Kim at 67.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 2-under 70 to grab a share of 20th place.

Jayhawks players apologize for fight

Basketball: Kansas basketball players involved in fighting with Jayhawks football players apologized, saying they embarrassed themselves and the school.

During an impromptu news conference, basketball coach Bill Self called the fighting bad for the entire university. He and a few of his players met with reporters for the first time since fighting erupted Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning at two different sites on the normally peaceful campus in Lawrence, Kan.

•Bid for Nets called unpatriotic: Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov’s bid to buy the New Jersey Nets was called unpatriotic by a member of his country’s upper parliament chamber’s sports committee.

“I can’t consider this action as anything other than unpatriotic,” sports committee member Aslambek Aslakhanov said Thursday, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti.

“We also have talented children here, but sports isn’t being developed. They’re not trying in order for us to return to our former sports ranking of best in the world.”

U.S. tops Cuba 5-3 at World Cup

Baseball: Former major leaguer Terry Tiffee hit his fourth home run of the baseball World Cup in Rome and the United States beat Cuba 5-3 in a likely preview of this weekend’s final.

The United States stretched its winning streak to 12 games after opening the tournament with a loss to Venezuela.

Lucas Harrell earned the victory, allowing only one hit over four innings. Ehren Wasserman was rewarded the save, giving up one hit in 21/3 innings.

SEC Commissioner speaks to Kiffin, Myer

Miscellany: Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive has once again spoken to Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin and Florida’s Urban Meyer about public comments both have made recently.

SEC spokesman Chuck Dunlap would not elaborate on what Slive told the coaches or when but told the Associated Press the commissioner considers the matter resolved.

•Cancellara wins third time trial title: Fabian Cancellara dominated his cycling rivals and won the time trial at the road world championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

The Olympic champion from Switzerland beat his 65 opponents by 1 minute, 27 seconds and delighted fans on the Swiss-Italian border.

Cancellara’s third world title was never in doubt as he finished in 57:55.74 over the 31-mile course.

•Arreola weighs in slim for bout: Chris Arreola has weighed in at a surprisingly slim 251 pounds for his WBC heavyweight title fight against Vitali Klitschko this weekend in Los Angeles.

Klitschko is favored to defend his title in Saturday’s fight, and the Ukrainian champion weighed in at 252 pounds with a more sculpted build.

•Well Said wins Little Brown Jug: Well Said won the $609,150 Little Brown Jug, the second leg of the Triple Crown for pacers, at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio.

Well Said came from behind on the rain-soaked half-mile track, catching If I Can Dream in the homestretch to win by one length in a time of 1:51 4-5 for the mile, and paid $2.40, $2.10, and $2.10.

Straight Shooting finished third.