Nicklaus backs Asian stars mission
Nicklaus backs Asian stars mission
KUALA LUMPUR: Jack Nicklaus is backing Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Zhang Lianwei of China to fly the flag for Asian golf when they make a rare foray in the United States this week on the US PGA Tour.
Both players have been invited to play in The Memorial event hosted by Nicklaus and will be looking to eclipse the likes Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh.
Nicklaus, arguably the best golfer of all time, was delighted that Chinese number one Zhang and Thailand's Thongchai, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader had been invited. -- AFP
;AFP; ANPAs..r.. Putbrief-Auto-USA-Indy Rice collects record purse for Indy win JP/9/Brief
Rice collects record purse for Indy win
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: American Buddy Rice received a record purse of US$1.76 million for capturing the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
Rice gave Rahal-Letterman Racing a sweep of every event at the track in May, including the pole on May 15, a victory in the Rally's/Checker's Pit Stop Contest last Thursday and a win in Sunday's race, which ended 50 miles short of its scheduled 500- mile distance because of rain.
Rice's winning share broke the record of $1.6 million earned by Helio Castroneves in 2002. -- AFP
;REUTERS; ANPAs..r.. Putbrief-Baseball-AL-NL O's bats explode again JP/9/Brief
O's bats explode again
NEW YORK: Melvin Mora drove in four runs with a homer and two singles to help the Baltimore Orioles to a 13-4 pasting of the host Boston Red Sox in the American League (AL) Monday.
BJ Surhoff also had a big part to play for the O's, collecting four of his team's 16 hits, including a solo home run.
Newcomer Nick Green's three-run homer launched a six-run seventh inning which propelled the host Atlanta Braves to an 8-2 pounding of the Montreal Expos in the National League (NL) Monday.
Green's blast, his first in the majors, was served up by loser Livan Hernandez (3-5), who surrendered an early home run to JD Drew. -- Reuters
;AFP; ANPAs..r.. Putbriefs-athletics-Greene Greene sprints to victory JP/9/Brief
Greene sprints to victory
PALO ALTO, California: Three time world champion Maurice Greene is back in Olympic form after winning the 100 meters at the Payton Jordan athletics meet here on Monday.
With a strong breeze behind him, the reigning Sydney Olympic gold medalist clocked a wind-aided 9.78 seconds, equaling the second fastest time in history under any conditions.
Greene also tied the world record but he benefited from a favorable wind of 3.7 meters per second which means he won't share the fastest man in the world title with fellow American Tim Montgomery. -- AFP