Off the wire

GOLF

Kuchar beats par at Doral

Matt Kuchar birdied the 18th hole Friday to join an exclusive group - one of only four players to beat par at Doral. The Blue Monster gobbled up just about everyone else in raging wind at the Cadillac Championship at Doral, Fla. Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan and Patrick Reed were the survivors to par going into the weekend. They were at1-under 143. The conditions were so severe that only three players broke par in the second round, and no one shot in the 60s. Tiger Woods did well to post a 73 and was six shots behind. Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy were among those at even par. The average score was 76 on the overhauled Trump National Doral, thanks to more than 100 balls that went into the water.

James Driscoll matched the Puerto Rico Open record with a 9-under 63 on Friday to take a onestroke lead after the second round. Playing in wind gusting to 20 mph after morning rain at Trump International, Driscoll had an eagle and seven birdies in his bogey-free round. He had a 12-under 132 total. PGA Tour rookie Chesson Hadley was second after a 65. Eric Axley was 10 under after a 66, and Jonathan Byrd, Wes Roach, Ben Martin and Danny Lee were another stroke back. Byrd and Roach shot 66, Martin 67, and Lee 68. Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) had three birdies and three bogeys for an even-par round of 70 (142). John Daly (Dardanelle, Razorbacks) had an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys for a 3-under 69 (143). Scott Gardiner (Farmington) had four birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys for a 3-over 75 (147). Glen Day (Little Rock) had three birdies and four bogeys for a 1-over 73 (147).

Byron Smith had six birdies in his first 10 holes and then played even-par for a 66 (13-under 131) to take the lead Friday in the second round of the Chile Classic at Santiago. He was one shot ahead of Jorge Fernandez-Valdes. Firstday co-leader Sebastian Vazquez had a 2-under 70 and is alone in third place at 10 under par. Garth Mulroy (71), Roger Sloan (69) and Bhavik Patel (68) share fourth place. The weather was mostly good Friday at the Prince of Wales Country Club, although the wind was up in the afternoon.

FOOTBALL Cowboys work on salary cap

The Dallas Cowboys have released center Phil Costa and reworked guard Mackenzy Bernadeau’s contract to get under the salary cap. Costa’s agent, George Mavrikes, said Friday his client would look to compete for a starting job elsewhere after rookie firstround pick Travis Frederick started all 16 games last year. Costa was the starter in 2011. The Costa move saves the Cowboys $1.5 million on the salary cap. They were slightly less than $1 million over the cap after restructuring the contracts of quarterback Tony Romo, linebacker Sean Lee and cornerback Orlando Scandrick earlier this week. Bernadeau started 10 games at right guard last season. He signed a four-year deal worth $11 million as a free agent in 2012.

A person familiar with the situation said Darren Sproles has been informed that the Saints will release him if they are unable to trade him before free agency begins. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the club’s decision, first reported by NFL. com, has not been made public. New Orleans’ decision to part with Sproles is the latest in a series of cost-cutting moves, including Friday’s release of receiver Lance Moore. Sproles, used as a running back, receiver and return specialist, is due $3.4 million in base salary in 2014. Moore was due $3.1 million. The moves give the Saints more flexibility under the NFL’s salary cap as they try to sign free agent tight end Jimmy Graham to an extension.

BASKETBALL

Martin apologizes to fans

Suspended South Carolina Coach Frank Martin apologized to fans for his harsh words aimed at Gamecocks point guard Duane Notice in the loss to No. 1 Florida this week. Martin was suspended one game by athletic director Ray Tanner on Thursday. He is not travelling with the team to its regular-season finale at Mississippi State today. Associate head coach Matt Figger will take over the team in Starkville. Martin will resume his duties before the Gamecocks play in next week’s Southeastern Conference tournament. Martin says he’s talked to his players all year long about maturity and “I think it’s time I work on my maturity as well.” Martin said he also apologized to Tanner on Wednesday when he saw that his tirade had gone viral.

HORSE RACING Hall finalists named

Jockey Garrett Gomez and trainer Steve Asmussen, along with two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, are among 10 finalists named to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame ballot. The late Chris Antley, Craig Perret and Alex Solis are the other jockeys chosen as finalists. Trainer Gary Jones, and thoroughbreds Ashado, Kona Gold and Xtra Heat are the others on the ballot. Voters may select as many candidates as they like, and the four with the highest vote totals will be elected. Results will be announced April 25 and the induction ceremony will be Aug. 8 at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

BASEBALL Expanded replay won’t travel

Major League Baseball’s expanded replay system won’t be expanding to Australia for opening day. The new replay format that allows managers to challenge most calls by umpires won’t be in place when the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks start the regular season with a two-game series on March 22-23. The games will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The technology that MLB will use at other games during the regular season won’t be in place for the opener. Standard replay will be available in Australia for disputed home run and boundary calls under the format in place since 2008. MLB is testing out the new system at spring training games in Florida and Arizona. Most calls other than balls and strikes are subject to review.

A person familiar with the negotiations said left-hander Oliver Perez and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $4.25 million, two-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the agreement was subject to a successful physical. The 32-year-old was 3-3 with a 3.74 ERA last year in his second season with the Seattle Mariners after spending 2011 in the minor leagues. He has a 62-75 record in 195 starts and 105 relief appearances over 11 big league seasons. Perez would join a veteran-laden bullpen that includes Addison Reed, J.J. Putz and setup men Brad Ziegler and David Hernandez.

MOTOR SPORTS Logano takes pole for Vegas race

LAS VEGAS - Joey Logano believes two facts are abundantly clear after he emerged from the organized chaos of NASCAR’s first three-round knockout qualifying session Friday with the pole position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

This new qualifying system is a whole lot more interesting than the prior system.

And nobody is quite sure what they’re doing yet.

“It gets crazy out there,” said Logano, who earned his eighth career pole. “I think it’s way cooler than old-style qualifying, don’t get me wrong. It’s awesome. … We’re all learning right now. It’s all new to us, but we’re having fun with it. I enjoy it. I think it’s cool.”

The Penske Ford team has figured it out better than most. Logano won the pole for Sunday’s Las Vegas race with a qualifying lap at a track-record 193.28 mph, and he’ll start on the front row next to teammate Brad Keselowski, who came in second at 193.099.

The Penske drivers swept the top two spots for the second consecutive race, reversing their two-round qualifying finish in Phoenix a week ago. Clint Bowyer finished third, with Austin Dillon in fourth and Jimmie Johnson in fifth.

NASCAR added the knockout system to goose interest in a dull weekly ritual, and it’s working. The teams are challenged by multiple chances to hit top speed. The drivers are both worried about the danger and excited by the challenge.

And fans seem quite intrigued, judging by the larger-than-normal crowd in the Speedway stands.

“That’s the whole point of this,” Logano said of the fan turnout. “A lot more preparation goes into it, a lot more communication between myself, my spotter, my crew chief. Not really about our race car, but how are we going to go out there, and what’s our game plan? Every time we’ve had a game plan going into it, it’s changed so far. At least we’re pulling audibles and they’re working.”