Sports Briefs March 15, 2010
Golf
Ernie Els showed his South African protege what it takes to win a World Golf Championship. Just as important was that he showed himself how to win again, too.
Ending the longest drought of his 20-year career, Els played the final 23 holes on the Blue Monster in Doral, Fla., without a bogey and closed with a 6-under 66 on Sunday to win the CA Championship by four shots over 25-year-old Charl Schwartzel.
• Chad Collins birdied the par-5 fifth hole for a share of the Puerto Rico Open lead with Kevin Streelman just before third-round play was suspended because of darkness in the rain-delayed PGA Tour event in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Football
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan underwent a weight-loss procedure, a lap-band, to help him fight obesity.
• The Denver Broncos acquired quarterback Brady Quinn from the Cleveland Browns for fullback Peyton Hillis, a 2011 sixth-round draft pick and a conditional pick in 2012.
• LaDainian Tomlinson's agent, Tom Condon, said that the New York Jets signed the running back to a two-year contract.
Baseball
Felix Hernandez pitched out of early trouble, allowing four hits over 2 2/3 innings in the Seattle Mariners' 5-4 exhibition loss to Colorado in Tucson, Ariz
NBA
Cavaliers 104, Celtics 93: LeBron James scored 30 points, 24 in the second half, and host Cleveland beat Boston.
Bucks 98, Pacers 94: Jerry Stackhouse tied his season-high with 20 points and host Milwaukee beat Indiana.
Heat 104, 76ers 91: Dwyane Wade scored 38 points, helping host Miami over Philadelphia.
Bobcats 96, Magic 89: Stephen Jackson scored 28 points and visiting Charlotte held off Orlando.
Thunder 119, Jazz 111: Kevin Durant scored 35 points to lift host Oklahoma City over Utah.
Suns 120, Hornets 106: Steve Nash had 13 points and 12 assists and host Phoenix beat New Orleans.
Kings 114, Timberwolves 100: Rookie Tyreke Evans had 29 points to lead host Sacramento over Minnesota.
Trail Blazers 109, Raptors 98: Nicolas Batum scored 22 points to lift host Portland over Toronto.
Coyotes 3, Thrashers 2, SO: Adrian Aucoin scored the shootout winner and visiting Phoenix beat Atlanta.
Islanders 4, Maple Leafs 1: Richard Park's goal lifted host New York over Toronto.
NHL
Penguins 2, Lightning 1: Pascal Dupuis and Sergei Gonchar scored goals to help visiting Pittsburgh beat Tampa Bay.
Avalanche 5, Stars 3: Craig Anderson made 48 saves and visiting Colorado beat Dallas.
Predators 3, Kings 2: Patric Hornqvist scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:31 to play and visiting Nashville beat Los Angeles.
Rangers 3, Flyers 1: Sean Avery scored twice to help host New York past Philadelphia.
Capitals 4, Blackhawks 3 OT: Nicklas Backstrom raced up the ice and scored with 1:50 left in overtime and visiting Washington beat Chicago.
Wild 4, Blues 2: At St. Paul, Minn., Josh Harding made 36 saves, propelling Minnesota past St. Louis.
Ducks 4, Sharks 2: Teemu Selanne scored to help host Anaheim over San Jose.
Canucks 3, Flames 1: Roberto Luongo made 32 saves and Vancouver beat visiting Calgary.
Soccer
David Beckham will miss the World Cup after tearing his left Achilles' tendon while playing for AC Milan in a 1-0 win over visiting Chievo Verona.
Auto Racing
Will Power made a late overtaking move to take the lead from Ryan Hunter-Reay to win the rain-shortened IndyCar season opener on the streets of Sao Paulo.
Sled Dog Racing
Reigning champ Lance Mackey was first to Unalakleet, Alaska, in the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
- The Associated Press