Sports Briefs May 23, 2011
A day after blowing a seven-stroke advantage to go into the final round trailing Charlie Wi by one, David Toms made an eagle with a wedge shot from 83 yards at the par-5 11th hole Sunday to take the lead for good and went on to win at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, his first PGA Tour victory since January 2006.
The 44-year-old Toms closed with a 3-under 67 at Hogan's Alley to get to 15 under. His long-elusive 13th career victory came a week after a playoff loss to K.J. Choi at The Players Championship, his sixth runner-up finish since last winning.
Wi shot a 69, ending up a stroke back for his fourth career runner-up finish without a win.
After that playoff loss at TPC Sawgrass, Toms had an opening 62 at Colonial for his best score in 429 rounds - since a career-best 61 during his last victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Toms followed with another bogey-free 62 to match the PGA Tour scoring record for the first 36 holes of a tournament (124). But the 2001 PGA Championship winner dropped a stroke back with a third-round 74.
• Ian Poulter denied Luke Donald the top spot in the world ranking, beating the fellow Englishman 2 and 1 in the final of the World Match Play Championship in Casares, Spain.
The second-ranked Donald could have risen to No. 1 for the first time, supplanting compatriot Lee Westwood if he'd won the tournament, but failed to find the consistent form that swept him to the final.
• Suzann Pettersen won the Sybase Match Play Championship, beating Cristie Kerr 1-up in Gladstone, N.J., to end a 20-month victory drought.
Baseball
A tip from a parole officer led to the arrest of one of the suspects in the attack on a San Francisco Giants fan outside Dodger Stadium after the rival teams' season opener, a brutal beating that prompted an outpouring of support for the victim and outrage in the sports world and beyond.
The man detained is believed to be the "main aggressor" in the March 31 beating that left Bryan Stow with brain damage, Los Angeles Chief Charlie Beck said at an afternoon news conference at the stadium.
An emotional Beck hailed the work of 20 full-time detectives who he said have pursued 630 leads in the case so far. The police chief choked back tears as he described getting a call at 7 a.m. Sunday from Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger.
• Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will be activated off the 15-day disabled list before today's game against Cincinnati.
The five-time All-Star returned to the team Sunday. Utley hasn't played this season because of tendinitis in his right knee.
• Josh Hamilton went 0 for 4 and Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer in round Rock, Texas, in the final game of their minor league rehab assignments before rejoining the Texas Rangers.
The two outfielders are expected to be activated off the disabled list in time for today's home game against the Chicago White Sox.
Cycling
Lance Armstrong's former teammate, Tyler Hamilton, says Armstrong and other team leaders encouraged, promoted and took part in a doping program in an effort to win the Tour de France in 1999 and beyond, according to a report aired Sunday night on "60 Minutes."
Hamilton said he saw Armstrong take performance-enhancing drugs, EPO and testosterone and also saw him receive a banned blood transfusion in 2000.
Auto racing
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. held off Sprint Cup drivers Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski to win a NASCAR Nationwide series race in Newton, Iowa, becoming the first series regular to pick up a victory this season.
• Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel held off Lewis Hamilton to win the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain, edging his closest championship contender to capture his fourth victory in five races this season.
• Robert Hight gave John Force Racing its 200th victory, beating teammate Mike Neff in the Funny Car final in the NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan.
Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Shane Gray (Pro Stock) also won.
- The Associated Press