Off the wire

GOLF Scott continues roll

Adam Scott keeps putting his name in the Bay Hill record book. One day after Scott opened with a record-tying 62 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Orlando, Fla., he hit his stride around the turn Friday with five birdies in an eight-hole stretch to leave everyone else far behind. Even with a three-putt bogey on his final hole, Scott still had a 4-under 68 for a seven-shot lead. He was at 14-under 130,matching the 36-hole record at Bay Hill first set by Tom Watson and Andy Bean in 1981. And his seven-shot margin at the halfway point broke the previous record held by Tiger Woods in 2002 and Paul Azinger in 1988. J.B. Holmes (69), Chesson Hadley (68) and Francesco Molinari of Italy (70) were tied for second at 7-under. Keegan Bradley had the low score of the blustery second round with a 67, putting him in a group at 138 that included Brandt Snedeker (71) and Jamie Donaldson of Wales (71). Bryce Molder (Conway) had five birdies, three bogeys and double bogey for an even-par round of 72 (144). David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) had five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey for a 1-under 71 (146). Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) failed to make the cut after an even-par 72 left him at 5 over (149).

Fred Couples has been playing some terrific golf. Now he is at one of his favorite courses on the Champions Tour. So it wasn’t much of a surprise that Couples bolted to the front of the pack Friday at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Fallen Oak. The 54-year-old Couples shot a 6-under 66 to take a two-shot lead in nearly ideal conditions. Couples has been on a recent roll, winning the Toshiba Classic last weekend in Newport Beach, Calif., but said his steady first round was more about his comfort at Fallen Oak. Couples started the day on No. 10 and made five birdies over his first eight holes. It was his 12th consecutive round in the 60s on the Champions Tour, dating to last season, which is one shy of the record set by Hale Irwin in 1999. Last year’s tournament champion Michael Allen was paired with Couples and shot a 68 to join a group of five in second place. Jeff Maggert, who was making his Champions Tour debut, is also in second place, along with Kenny Perry, David Frost and Jay Haas.

Mirim Lee remained atop the leaderboard at the JTBC Founders Cup in her third LPGA Tour start. The 23-year-old South Korean player shot a 5-under 67 on Friday to take a two-stroke advantage over 16-year-old Lydia Ko into the weekend at Desert Ridge’s Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix. A three-time winner on the Korean LPGA, Lee played the final eight holes in 5 under, making an eagle and three birdies to reach 13-under 131. She opened with a 64 on Thursday for a one-shot lead. Ko, the Canadian Women’s Open winner as an amateur the last two years, shot 66. The first-year pro played a late six-hole stretch in 6 under with an eagle and four birdies. Sun Young Yoo was third at 10 under after a 65. Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) had two birdies and a bogey for a 1-under 71 (137) and is tied for 13th with two others.

FOOTBALL Vick in, Sanchez out

The New York Jets signed quarterback Michael Vick and released Mark Sanchez on Friday. Vick was a free agent after spending the past five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He will be reunited with Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who helped the quarterback have the best season of his career in Philadelphia in 2010. Vick was plagued by injuries the past three years and lost the starting job last year to Nick Foles. He could present a real challenge to Jets starter Geno Smith, who played well down the stretch of his rookie season but finished with 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Vick, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was once considered the most dynamic player in the NFL, particularly during his first six NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. His playing career was abruptly halted for two seasons in 2007, when he pleaded guilty to being part of a dog fighting ring. He served 21 months in federal prison and two more in home confinement. Since his release in 2009, Vick has worked with the Humane Society of the United States to stop organized animal fighting. He signed with the Eagles in 2009 and revived his career thefollowing season, being selected the AP’s 2010 Comeback Player of the Year and starting in the Pro Bowl. With Mornhinweg as his coordinator, Vick threw for 3,018 yards that season with a career-high 21 TDs and just 6 interceptions. He also ran for a career-best nine scores.

TENNIS Federer advances

Roger Federer made a victorious return Friday to the Sony Open at Key Biscayne, Fla., after skipping last year’s tournament. Federer’s back, as he showed by beating big-serving Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 7-6 (4). Federer lost just three points on his serve to his 6-foot-11 opponent, and in a match with few rallies, he committed only three unforced errors. Three-time champion Novak Djokovic followed Federer onto the stadium court and into the third round, beating Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-3. At 32, Federer has looked rejuvenated recently, and was the runner-up to Djokovic last week at Indian Wells. The 17-time Grand Slam champion says his new racket gives him more power, and he’s moving as he did in the old days. After falling out of the top five last year for the first time since 2002, Federer returned to No. 5 this week. He led from the start against Karlovic, making the surprising choice to receive after winning the toss and earning the lone break of the match in the opening game. On the women’s side, No. 2-seeded Li Na reached the third round when Alisa Kleybanova withdrew because of a viral illness. Kleybanova, who won in doubles Thursday, is a former top-20 player mounting a career comeback from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. No. 6 Simona Halep withdrew because of a right toe injury. American Varvara Lepchenko outlasted No. 7 Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (2).

BASEBALL

Wilson shines for Angels

C.J. Wilson allowed 3 runs and struck out 9 over 5 2/3 innings Friday as the Los Angeles Angels defeated a Kansas City Royals’ split squad 7-3. Making his fifth spring training start, Wilson labored early during a 99-pitch outing. Raul Mondesi and Alex Gordon singled with one out in a four-hit first, Justin Maxwell singled in a run and Gordon scored on Chris Iannetta’s passed ball. Alex Gordon added an RBIsingle in the second. Just one run was earned against Wilson, who gave up seven hits and two walks. Kole Calhoun and Iannetta each hit their second home run of spring training. Iannetta hit a three-run drive in the second off Aaron Brooks, who allowed 4 runs - 3 earned - and 4 hits in 2 innings.

The Detroit Tigers have quickly moved to help replace injured shortstop Jose Iglesias, acquiring Andrew Romine from the Los Angeles Angels for left-hander Jose Alvarez. The AL Central champions dealt for Romine on Friday, a day after they learned Iglesias could miss the season because of stress fractures in both legs. Romine, 28, played in 47 games for the Angels last season and batted .259. He is considered a good defensive player and stole 15 bases in 89 minor league games last year. General Manager Dave Dombrowski expects the left-handed hitter to share time at shortstop with either Hernan Perez or Danny Worth.Perez made his major league debut last year and Worth has been a utilityman with the Tigers the past four seasons. The 25-year-old Alvarez pitched in 14 games for the Tigers last season, making six starts. He was 1-5 with a 5.82 ERA. Reliever Bruce Rondon needs surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow and will be sidelined for the entire season. A candidate to become Detroit’s eighth-inning setup man, Rondon felt discomfort Monday after pitching a scoreless inning against Washington the previous day. Dombrowski said Rondon was examined Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews, and an MRI revealed the tear. Dombrowski said the 23-yearold will have surgery next week.

Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish was scratched from his minor league start because of a stiff neck. Darvish was to throw 90-100 pitches Friday, while Tanner Scheppers, who is auditioning for a rotation spot, was to start against Milwaukee. Darvish said the stiffness is not as acute as he had in spring training last year. Darvish said the discomfort began two nights ago when he slept wrong. He insisted this is not connected to his back problems he had at the end of last season. The major league strikeout leader last year with 277, Darvish said he should be fine to make his final spring training start Wednesday and will be ready for the March 31 season opener against Philadelphia.

Sports, Pages 20 on 03/22/2014

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