The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • Page 23

THE DESERT SUN TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2007 C7 SCOREBOARD GOLF SCOREBOARD Seve ends charismatic career Sports Snapshot Las Vegas Line Spaniard won 50 European titles By Doug Ferguson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CARNOUSTIE, Scotland The Spanish eyes that came to life whenever Seve Ballesteros faced NLToday FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG St Louis 6-5 FLORIDA Colorado PICK PITTSBURGH Houston 6'A-5 WASHINGTN ATLANTA -5 Cincinnati MILWAUKEE 8-5 Arizona CHI CUBS 7-5 San Fran SAN DIEGO 7-5 NY Mets DODGERS 6'A-5 Philadelphia ALToday FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG CLEVELAND 7h -5 White Sox BOSTON no line Kansas City NY YANKEES 6 -5 Toronto TAMPA BAY no line LA Angels Detroit PICK MINNESOTA SEATTLE 8-5 Baltimore OAKLAND 8-5 Texas Gambler's Anonymous (760) 325-2808 Jose Acasuso and Juan Monaco, Argentina, def. Hugo Armando, United States, and Diego Hartfield, Argentina, 7-6 (5), 6-2. WTATOUR INTERNAZIONALI FEMMINIU Dl PALERMO Monday's results at Country Time Pub, Palermo, Sicily, Purse: $145,000 (Tier IV), Surface: Clay-Outdoor. Singles First Round Eva Birnerova, Czech Republic, def. Michaella Krajicek (1), Netherlands, 6-2, 6-4.

Sandra Kloesel, Germany, def. Tsvetana Pironkova, Bulgaria, 6-2, 6-3. Flavia Pennetta, Italy, def. Aravane Rezai (6), France, 6-3, 7-5. Doubles First Round Alice Canepa and Karin Knapp, Italy, def.

Maria Elena Camerin, from golf Monday, ending a charismatic run filled with spectacular shots that carried him to a record 50 victories on the European Tour, five major championships and a Ryder Cup career that helped Europe shed its underdog image. He has not been a factor the last decade because of back injuries, rarely playing the last couple of years. Ballesteros was the youngest Masters champion (23) until Tiger Woods came along, and he returned to Augusta National this year to give his career one last chance. He had rounds of 86-80 to finish in last place, then tried one Champions Tour event after turning 50 in April, but again came in last. "There was a fight, internal fight," Ballesteros said.

"My head said, 'I think you should I keep saying that over and over, but my heart was telling me you would be better to continue playing and compete. It was difficult." He said he would keep playing golf with his children, and his focus would be spent on his family and his business, which includes golf course design. His announcement follows television' reports from Spain that he tried to commit suicide, which Ballesteros said "were not even close to reality." He arranged to make the announcement at Carnoustie, where he made his British Open debut in 1975 and missed the cut. an impossible shot were soft and sad. The man who bounced on the balls of his feet when he won at St.

Andrews sat calmly at a table to announce his career was over. Ballesteros "I don't have the desire," Ballesteros said. Ballesteros officially retired 4 1 v. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Argentina's Boca Juniors' Pablo Ledesma (left) and Peru's Alianza Lima's Visa Junior battle for a header during the Copa Panamericana tournament Monday in Glendale, Ariz. The four-day tournament runs through Sunday.

FY A 'V SUSQUEHANNA Named Bob Jordan men's tennis coach. TENNESSEE TECH Named Tammie McMillan assistant athletics director for business and personnel. UCLA Promoted Derek Freeman to men's golf coach. WAKE FOREST Announced junior LB Eric Berry was ruled academically ineligible for this season. WESTERN CAROLINA Named Bobby Moranda baseball coach.

Basketball WNBA GLANCE; Italy, and Emilia Loit (1), Italy, 6-7 (9), 6-2, 104 tiebreak. Sara Errani, Italy, and Conchita Martinez Granados, Spain, def. Marta Marrero and Laura Pous Tio, Spain, 7-5, 2-6, 10-8 tiebreak. WTATOUR WESTERN SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP WOMEN'S OPEN Monday's results at The Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio, Purse: $175,000 (Tier TH), Surface: Hard-Outdoor Singles First Round Akiko Morigami (7), Japan, def. Camiile Pin, France, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2).

Lilia Osterloh, United States, def. Viktoriya Kutuzova, Ukraine, 6-2, 6-3. Sania Mirza (3), India, def. Abigail Spears, United States, 64, 6- 3. Doubles First Round Monique Adamczak, Australia, and Anda Perianu, Romania, def.

Salome Devidze, Georgia, and Iryna Kuryanovich, Belarus, 6-L 6-4. Alina Jidkova, Russia, and Tatiana Poutchek, Belarus, def. Alexa Glatch, United States, and Olga Govortsova, Belarus, 6-1, 7- 6 (4). ATP MONEY LEADERS Through Sunday 1. Roger $4,059,820 2.

Rafael Nadal $3,997,135 3. Novak Djokovic 4. Fernando Gonzalez $979,050 5. Nikolay $934,525 6. Andy Roddick $869,420 7.

Tomas Berdych $868320 8. Mikhail Youzhny $798,140 9. Ivan Ljubicic $790,795 10. Richard Gasquet $756,890 11. Guillermo Canas $722,115 12.

Tommy Haas $690,035 13. Juan Ignacio Chela $645,465 14. Marcos Baghdatis $631,155 15. Mike Bryan $630,210 16. David Ferrer $630,152 17.

Bob $626 385 18. Tommy Robredo $622,047 19. Fabrice Santoro $561,980 20. Andy Murray $544,955 WTATOUR MONEY LEADERS Through Sunday 1 I Soccer MLS STANDINGS EASTERN CONFERENCE TPtsGFGA N.E. 7 3 5 26 26 17 Kansas City 7 5 4 25 27 22 ac United 7 5 3 24 26 21 New York 7 6 3 24 25 21 Columbus 5 5 7 22 21 23 Toronto FC 5 7 4 19 18 24 Chicago 4 8 4 16 13 26 WESTERN CONFERENCE TPtsGFGA Houston 10 5 3 33 25 10 FC Dallas 9 6 3 30 24 24 ChivasUSA 7 5 3 24 20 16 Colorado 4 8 5 17 14 22 Los Angeles 3 5 4 13 17 18 Rl.

Salt Lake 1 8 6 9 12 24 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. Thursday's Game MIS All-Stars vs. Celtic FC at Commerce City, 6 p.m. Sunday's Games Houston at New England, 1 p.m. DC.

United at New York, 2 p.m. Toronto FC at Columbus, 2 p.m. Colorado at Kansas City, 5 p.m. Thursday, July 26 CD Chivas USA at New York, 4 p.m. Saturday, July 28 New England at Rl.

Salt Lake, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 29 Chicago at Toronto FC, 12 p.m. CD Chivas USA at Kansas City, 4 p.m. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS John Daly tees off on the first hole Monday at Carnoustie golf course in Scotland. Carnoustie is hosting the British Open, which starts Thursday.

BRITISH OPEN NOTES EASTERN CONFERENCE Pet GB Indiana 15 4 .789 Detroit 14 5 .737 1 New York 10 9 .526 5 Connecticut 9 11 .450 6I2 Chicago 8 12 .400 7i2 Washington 7 12 368 8 WESTERN CONFERENCE Pet GB San Antonio 12 6 .667 Sacramento 12 8 .600 1 Phoenix 11 9" .550 2 Seattle 11 9 .550 2 Los Angeles 7 12 .368 54 Houston 6 14 .300 7 Minnesota 5 16 .238 8i2 Monday's Games No games scheduled Today's Games Minnesota at Connecticut, 4:30 p.m. Seattle at Phoenix, 6:30 p.m. San Antonio at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday's Games Houston at Washington, 8:30 a.m. New York at Detroit, Noon Chicago at Indiana, 10 a.m.

Tennis ATP DUTCH OPEN Football CFL GLANCE 1. Justine Hemn $2,534,430 2. Serena Williams $1,799,034 3. Venus Williams $1,481,448 4. Ana Ivanovic $1381,270 5.

Jelena Jankovic. $1,307,255 6. Svetlana $1,051,574 7. Maria Sharapova $1,001,652 8. Marion Bartoli $904,081 9.

Daniela Hantuchova $767,565 10. Nicole Vaidisova $726,232 11. Anna Chakvetadze $606,792 12. Mara Santangelo $599,591 13. Liezel Huber $573,156 14.

Cara Black $563,464 15. Martina Hingis $546,236 16. Shahar Peer $541,780 17. Amelie Mauresmo $539,284 18. Samantha Stosur $530,366 19.

Katarma Srebotnik $509,889 20. Nadia Petrova $492,906 Local Softball clubs, which failed to make it on his flight from the United States. He wasn't alone, either. Masters champion Zach Johnson couldn't practice Monday for the same reason. Ditto for Pat Perez and Carl Pettersson, who were on the same flight with Glover.

And then there was Justin Leonard, who arrived Sunday after a week off. His clubs had still not arrived by Monday afternoon, and die airline wasn't sure where they were. "We just made him a new set, too," Nike manager Kel Devlin said. OPEN PROMOTER: Ben Curtis has a clothing endorsement with Reebok to wear NFL logos of the cities where he plays, which would seem to give him a choice at the British Open. But the former champion had the New York Giants logo on Sunday, and then the Miami Dolphins on Monday.

That's no accident The Giants and Dolphins will play the first regular season NFL game in Europe next month. Curtis said Reebok asked him to wear those teams to help promote the game. "I'm the promoter," the unassuming Curtis said. "I'm the Don King of the NFL in Europe." The Associated Press look when someone mentioned Van de Velde. "Who?" he said.

He slowly shook his head, as if trying to recall the name of someone who went to kindergarten with him. "What did he do?" Weekley said. Reporters were halfway through the memorable shot sequence when they gave up. The trip otherwise has been uneventful for Weekley, although no way is he getting behind the wheel of a car not on the wrong side of the road, and with cars coming mighty fast in the other direction. "I ain't driving.

Nooooo," Weekley said. "TTiese people over here, they all drive like Mario Andrew. They drive way too fast" WILL TRAVEL, NEED CLUBS: Lucas Glover missed qualifying for the British Open, but headed over to Carnoustie as the first alternate, hopeful someone would drop out He strolled casually onto the grounds Monday wearing blue jeans, apparently unaware that Shlngo Katayama had withdrawn with back and knee injuries. "I'm on the bubble," Glover said. Actually, you're in.

"Really?" Glover replied. That was the good news. His more immediate concern was locating his BOO DOES BRITAIN: Boo Weekley brought his backwoods charm to Britain, and already committed a faux pas. Only it had more to do with history than culture. Weekley says he doesn't pay attention to golf when he's not playing, and he made that abundantly clear last week while playing with Paul Lawrle at the Scottish Open.

Weekley, who grew up in the Florida Panhandle, was delighted to have qualified for his first British Open through a money list for PGA Tour players: So he was happy to hear that Lawrie would be going to Carnoustie, too. "I asked him, 'How'd you get in? You Weekley said in his syrupy drawl. Lawrie won the British Open in 1999 the last time it was held at Carnoustie, setting a major championship record with a 10-shot comeback on the final round, helped mightily by the famous collapse by Jean Van de Velde on the 72nd hole. British Open champions are eligible through their 65th birthday. Lawrie is often overlooked because of Van de Velde's follies, making triple bogey on the final hole to blow a three-shot lead.

Then again, Weekley had a quizzical Transactions BASEBALL AL BOSTON RED SOX Named Curtis Leskanic pro scouting consultant. CLEVELAND INDIANS Signed Eric Wedge, manager, to a three-year contract extension through 2010. Signed RHP Joey Mahalic, RHP Josh Judy and Brian Juhl. KANSAS CITY ROYALS Activated OF Reggie Sanders from the 60-day DL. Optioned OF Joey Gathright to Omaha (PCL).

Designated LHP Sean Thompson for assignment Placed RHP John Thomson on 15-day DL Recalled LHP Neal Musser from Omaha. OAKLAND ATHLETICS Recalled LHP Dallas Braden from Sacramento (PCL). Designated RHP Colby Lewis for assignment. Activated RHP Conner Robertson from the 15-day DL and optioned him to Sacramento. SEATTLE MARINERS Activated LHP Horacio Ramirez from the 15-day DL TEXAS RANGERS Agreed to terms with RHP Tommy Hunter.

NL CHICAGO CUBS Recalled RHP Billy Petrick from Iowa (PCL). Traded Rob Bowen and LHP Jerry Blevins to Oakland (AL) for Jason Kendall. CINCINNATI REDS-Recalled LHP Bobby Livingston from Louisville (IL). FLORIDA MARUNS-Suspended LHP Scott Olsen two games for. Insubordination.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS Placed RHP Ben Sheets on ttie 15-day DL retroactive to July 15, and RHP Chris Spurling on the bereavement list. Recalled LHP Manny Parra from Nashville (PCL). NEW YORK METS Activated RHP Jorge Sosa from the 15-day DL. BASKETBALL NBA DENVER NUGGETS Signed Chucky Atkins. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Signed Marco Belinelli.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS-Re-signed DeShawn Stevenson. FOOTBALL NFL NFL Suspended Kansas City DE Jared Allen for the first two games of the 2007 season following two DUI arrests. CAROLINA PANTHERS Signed DE Charles Johnson. Waived DT Marques Thornton. CINCINNATI BENGALS Waived TE Ronnie Ghent.

DETROIT LIONS Re-signed DT Cory Redding to a multiyear contract. NEW YORK JETS Signed WR Juan Wong. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Waived Jermaine Hardy. Placed CB B.J. Tucker on injured reserve.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS Signed LB H.B. Blades. Agreed to terms with LB Dallas Sartz and QB Jordan Palmer. Released QB Sam Hollenbach. HOCKEY NHL ANAHEIM DUCKS-SignedD Aaron Rome to a one-year contract.

DALLAS STARS Signed RW Junior Lessard and RW Marius Holtet to one-year contracts. DETROIT RED WINGS-Signed Matt Ellis and Randall Gelech to two-year contracts and Brad Ference, Garrett Stafford, Carl Corazzinl, Mark Cullen, Mark Hartigan and Adam Berkhoel to one-year contracts. FLORIDA PANTHERS Agreed to terms with RW Michal Repik. Announced Kami! Kreps and RW Rob Gtobke accepted their qualifying offers." MINNESOTA WILD-Re-signed Matt Foy, Aaron Voros, Joel Ward and Erik Reitz to one-year contracts. NASHVILLE PREDATORS Resigned Darcy Hordichuk and Kevin Klein to one-year contracts and Greg Zanon to a two-year contract Signed Robert Dietrich and Andreas Thuresson to three-year contracts.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS-Signed Chris Campoli to a three-year contract. PHOENIX COYOTES-Re-signed matt Jones to a one-year contract PITTSBURGH PENGUINS Signed Michel Therrien, coach, to a contract extension through the 2008- 09 season. Signed Mark Ardelan and Oeryk Engelland. SAN JOSE SHARKS-Re-signed Rob Davison to a one-year contract. COLLEGE DAYTON Named Lesley Dickinson women's assistant basketball coach.

DELAWARE Promoted Curt Krouse to assistant director of athletics-marketing, Jen Chapman to assistant director of athletics-operations and Scott Selheimer to assistant director of athletics-media relations. DUQUESNE Named Bill Barton men's assistant basketball coach and Daryn Freedman director of basketball administration and recruiting coordinator. LEHMAN Announced the resignation of Kim Santoiemma, Softball coach and senior women's administrator MANSFIELD Named Angie Stackhouse assistant Softball coach. MUSKINGUM Named Gene Ford men's basketball coach. NJIT Named Alex Broadway, Mary Kacic and Siobhan Kilkenny women's assistant basketball coaches.

OKLAHOMA Named Brandon Meier executive director of athletic video productions. OKLAHOMA STATE-Suspended men's basketball senior G-F Marcus Dove indefinitely for violation of team policy. OTTAWA, KAN. Announced the resignation of Arabie Conner, women's basketball coach. PRESBYTERIAN Named Dionna McPhatter women's assistant basketball coach and Jon Cole assistant Sports information director.

ST. AUGUSTINE'S Named UTanya Collins women's basketball Coach. SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA Named Lamar James assistant football coach. British Monday's results at Sportlokaal de Bokkeduinen, Amersfoort, Netherlands, Purse: $487,000 (Intl. Series).

Surface: Clay-Outdoor Singles First Round Evgeny Korolev, Russia, def. Dominik Hrbaty (6), Slovakia, 6-3, 6-7 (3)r6-3. Nicolas Devilder, France, def. Agustin Calleri (5), Argentina, 6-3, 6-1. Mariano Zabaleta, Argentina, def.

Kristof Vhegen, Belgium, 6-3, 6-3. Gilles Simon, France, def. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, Spain, 6-2, 6- 4. Victor Hanescu, Romania, def. Albert Montanes, Spain, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7- 6(4).

Robin Haase, Netherlands, def. Felix Mantilla, Spain, 6-3, 6-2. Nicolas Massu, Chile, leads Thiemo de Bakker, Netherlands, 5-4, rain. Sergio Roitman, Argentina, vs. Jeremy Chardy, France, 6-6, rain.

Doubles First Round Jasper Smit and Martijn van Haasteren, Netherlands, def. Tomas Behrend and Christopher Kas (2) Germany, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 tiebreak. Juan Pablo Brzezecki and Juan-Pablo Guzman, Argentina, def. Werner Eschauer, Austria, and Lovro Mo, Croatia, 6-4, 5-7, 10-7 tiebreak. ATP COUNTRYWIDE CLASSIC Monday's results at Los Angeles Tennis Stadium, Los Angeles, Purse: $525,000 (Intl.

Series). Surface: Hard-Outdoor Singles First Round Nicolas Kiefer, Germany, def. Teimuraz Gabashvili, Russia, 6-3, 6-3. Michael Berrer, Germany, def. Amer Delic (8), United States, 6-4.

Lee Hyung-taik (7), South Korea, del Kevin Kim, United States, 6-3, 6-2. Dmitry Tursunov (5), Russia, def. Danai Udomchoke, Thailand, Doubles First Round Fernando Gonzalez, Chile, and David Nalbandian, Argentina, def. Teimuraz Gabashvili, Russia, and Vince Spadea, United States, 7-6 (3) 6-3. ATP MERCEDES CUP Monday's results at TC Weissenhof, Stuttgart, Germany, Purse: $885,620 (Intl.

Gold), Surface: Clay-Outdoor Singles First Round Boris Pashanski, Serbia, def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Spain, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. Marin Cilic, Croatia, def. Benjamin Becker, Germany, 6-3, 6-2. Fernando Verdasco, Spain, def.

Florian Mayer, Germany, 6-3, 6-2. Jiri Vanek, Czech Republic, def. Ivan Navarro Pastor, Spain, 6-1, H. Gael Monfils, France, def. Tommy EAST DIVISION TPts PF PA Toronto 2 1 0 4 100 44 Winnipeg 111 3 86 81 Montreal 1 2 0 2 59 68 Hamilton 0 3 0 0 34 96 WEST DIVISION Pts PF PA B.C.

3 0 0 6 95 45 Saskatchewan 2 1 0 4 79 57 Edmonton 111 3 67 83 Calgary 1 2 0 2 60106 NOTE: Two points for a regulation or overtime win and one point for a tie. Thursday's Games Winnipeg at Montreal, 4:30 p.m. Hamilton at B.C., 7:30 p.m. Friday's Game Saskatchewan at Edmonton, 6 p.m. Saturday's Game Toronto at Calgary, 4 p.m.

AFL PLAYOFF GLANCE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP National Conference Saturday's Game: Columbus 66, Georgia 56 American Conference Saturday's Game: San Jose 61, Chicago 49 ArenaBowl At New Orleans Sunday, JUty 29: Columbus vs. San Jose, 12 p.m. Cycling TOUR DE FRANCE Standings (After eight stages) 1. Michael Rasmussen, Denmark, Rabobank, 39:37:42. 2.

Linus Gerdemann, Germany, T-Mobile, :43. 3. Iban Mayo, Spain, Saunier Duval-Prodir, 2:39. 4. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 2:51.

5. Andrey Kasfiechkin, Kazakhstan, Astana, 2:52. 6. Cadel Evans, Australia, Predictor-Lotto, 2:53. 7.

ChristopHe Moreau, France, AG2R Prevoyance, 3. 8. Alberto Contador, Spain, Discovery Channel, 3:10. 9. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team CSC, 3:14.

10. Denis Menchov, Russia, Rabobank, 3:19. 11. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Team CSC, 3:35. 12.

Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, 3:46. 13. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Discovery Channel, 3:53. 14. Oscar Pereiro, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 3:54.

15. Haimar Zubeldia, Spain, EuSkaltel-Euskadi, 4:00. 16. Manuel Beltran, Spain, Liquigas, 4:19. 17.

Juan Manuel Garate, Spain, Quick Step-Innergetic, 4:22. 18. David Arroyo, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 4:51. 19. Kim Klrchen, Luxembourg, T-Mobile, 5:02.

20. Tadej Valjavec, Slovenia, Lampre-Fondital, 5:03. Next stage: Today, the last of the three Alpine climbs, 99.1 miles from Val d'Isere to Briancon. PALM SPRINGS SENIOR SOFTBALL SUMMER LEAGUE Standings as of Sunday NATIONAL LEAGUE LOSSES K.PJ.R. Radio 10 2 Regency Homes 5 7 Canyon National Bank 5 7 Desert Dawgs 4 8 AMERICAN WINS LOSSES The Signal Source 14 10 Desert Ortho.

Center 13 11 Desert Med. Group 12 12 Palm Springs Motors 9 15 This Day In Sports July 17 1939 Henry Picard beats Byron Nelson 1-tip in 37 holes to win the PGA championship. 1941 Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak of 56 games is stopped by Al Smith and Jim Bagby of the Indians before 67,000 at Cleveland. 1955 Beverly Hanson beats Louise Suggs by three strokes in a playoff to capture the first LPGA championship. 1966 Jim Ryun becomes the first American to hold the record in the mile since 1937.

With a time of 3:51.3 at Berkeley, Ryun shatters Michel Jazy's mark of 3:53.6 by 23 seconds. 1974 Bob Gibson strikes out Cesar Geronimo of the Reds in the. second inning to become the second pitcher in major leagueJiistory to record 3,000 strikeouts. 1979 Sebastian Coe breaks the world record in the mile with a time of 3:48.95 in Oslo, Norway. The time is rounded up to 3:49.

1983 Bobby Hebert passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Michigan Panthers to a 24-22 win over the Philadelphia Stars in the first USFchampionship game. 1990 Minnesota becomes the first team in major league history to pull off two triple plays in one game, but it Isiit enough to overcome Boston as the' Red Son beat the Twins 1-0. 1994 Brazil wins a record fourth World Cup soccer title, taking the first shootout in championship game history over Italy. 2005 Tiger woods records another ruthless performance at St Andrews, closing with a 2-under 70 to win the British Open for his 10th career major. He wins by five shots, the largest margin in any major since Woods won by eight at SL Andrews five years ago.

He joins Jack Nicklaus as the only players to Haney found it valuable for his star pupil to face the elements. Woods was grinding like it was the tournament and he celebrated as if he had won when his driver yes, driver barely reached the green on the par-3 1 6th, traveling some 225 yards. "That's what I'm talking about, baby," he said. Alas, his hopes of finishing with pars were' finished on the 18th, a 499-yard hole playing into the full strength of the wind. Woods tried to find a way, hitting 2-iron to the adjacent 17th fairway, then another 2-iron to clear the Barry Burn.

It went a tad too far and disappeared into the rough. "He ain't making par from there," Pampling said. They were long gone when the rain stopped and fog rolled in; perhaps napping when the sun burst out from behind the clouds and the British Open looked as it has the last four years. Phil Mickelson, a runner-up at Loch Lomond on Sunday, arrived late in the afternoon wearing shorts and flip-flops. Campbell, who heard the rain pelting his window when he first woke up, headed out for a practice round with the sun casting shadows all around him.

Could any good have come out of a three-hour struggle against Mother Nature? "You never know what you might get around here," Woods said. off the deck for his second shot (on a par 4), and doubled over in laughter when Pampling hit a 2-iron to the 176-yard 13th hole that didn't clear a bunker 150 yards in front of them. But the joke was on Woods at the 14th, a par 5 at 514 yards known for the Spectacle bunkers some 65 yards in front of the greens that players usually can carry easily. But not on this day. Woods hit driver in the fairway and hit 2-iron short of the Spectacles, just left in a sparse patch of rough.

He swung hard and watched his third shot over the bunkers, and stopped in his tracks when he arrived at the green and found his ball a few yards from the green. "I didn't get there," Woods said incredulously. "With a 4-iron!" Even more stunning was the yardage he had with that 4-iron 112 yards to the front, 128 yards to the hole. At this poim.it became a quest, not just to finish the round, but neither wanting to yield anything to par. This became an impossibility, especially since Pampling hit 3-wood short of the green on the next hole.

The day earlier, it was a 3-wood and a 7-iron. Memories of Muirfield for Woods? "Muirfield, by far, was worse than this," he said. "Do you realize it was 34 degrees that day?" This wasn't exactly Florida in summer, yet another reason that Continued from Cl Sunday and hit a 4-iron to the fourth fairway and a 7-iron to the green. One day later, hands stuffed in his pockets as he practiced alone, Howell hit a driver and a 3-iron to reach the green at the 412-yard hole. No telling how Mother Nature will behave when the British Open begins Thursday, or the rest of the week.

Woods, Pampling, Howell, Brett Quigley and Robert Karls-son were among those who left nothing to chance. Woods was on the first tee at 6 a.m., his typical starting time during, practice rounds at the British Open. Once he made the turn, he must have wondered why he bothered. "One good thing about today is he's playing in a rain jacket," swing Coach Hank Haney said. "He hasn't done that all year.

The round was quiet and quick. The harder the wind blew, the more the rain blew sideways, the more fun they seemed to have. "Good thing we're playing today," caddie Steve Williams said. "It could be worse tomorrow." No one bothered practicing putts or chips around the greens because the green was too soft, and some of them had puddles on the edges. Woods was duly impressed when Pampling hit driver 1 win the career Grand Slam twice.

Doubles First Round Andreas Beck and Torsten Popp, Germany, def. Nicolas Lapentti, Ecuador, and Feliciano Lopez, Spain, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 10-8 tiebreak. 2006 Stacey Nuveman and Lovieanne Jung each homer to power the United States to the World Cup of Softball title with a 5-2 victory over Japan. A 1i a.