GOLF
Woods has fusion surgery
Tiger Woods said he had fusion surgery on his back because he could no longer tolerate the pain, and that he wants to get back on the PGA Tour. "I haven't felt this good in years," he said Wednesday in an update on his website. Woods had the fusion surgery on April -- the fourth surgery on his back dating to the spring of 2014 -- and said it provided "instant nerve relief." Woods said he was encouraged that Davis Love III, Retief Goosen, Lee Trevino, Lanny Wadkins and Dudley Hart are among those who have had fusions or disc replacements and all returned to play. "But more than anything, it made their lives better," Woods wrote. "That's the most important thing ... that I can have a life again with my kids." Woods said he is not contemplating when he might play again. He said he can't twist for three more months and he is concentrating only on short-term goals. "There's no hurry," Woods said. "But I want to say unequivocally, I want to play professional golf again."
BASKETBALL
Swanigan to stay in draft
Big Ten player of the year Caleb Swanigan has decided to stay in this year's NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 sophomore will become the first Purdue player to leave school early since Glenn Robinson was taken No. 1 overall in 1994. Swanigan averaged 18.5 points and was second in the nation with 12.5 rebounds last season. The 2015 Indiana Mr. Basketball also led the nation in double-doubles. Meanwhile, Boilermakers forward Vince Edwards announced he would return to school. Both players had said they would explore their NBA prospects after last season. The deadline to withdraw from the draft was Wednesday. Edwards averaged 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists and should play a key role for the defending Big Ten champs. Kansas forward Svi Mykhailiuk said he would return for his senior season, ending months of speculation about whether he would remain in the NBA draft with a simple Instagram post on Wednesday. The 6-foot-8 Mykhailiuk was among the most noteworthy players weighing whether to remain in the draft or return to school. He averaged 9.8 points for the Jayhawks last season, and his ability to shoot from the perimeter made many NBA scouts believe he would be selected in the draft. But despite performing well in shooting drills during the scouting combine, Mykhailiuk did not get enough reassurance he would be selected and chose to withdraw his name by the deadline Wednesday.
FOOTBALL
Bridgewater on mend
Teddy Bridgewater has reached the point in rehabilitation where he's able to drop back to pass on his surgically repaired left knee. Just when the 24-year-old quarterback might return to live action with the Minnesota Vikings remains largely unknown. Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said Wednesday that Bridgewater has not been cleared for full practice. That's predictable, less than nine months after the dislocation, torn ACL and other damage that occurred to his knee during a non-contact drill. The Vikings raised optimism about Bridgewater's recovery Tuesday by posting to their website a 38-second, slow-motion video clip of him taking drop-backs and throws in their first organized on-field workout of the offseason. Spielman, however, said there's still no timetable or guarantee for his return.
Garrett not practicing
Cleveland Browns rookie defensive end Myles Garrett, the No. 1 overall draft pick, is not practicing because of an unspecified injury. Garrett was not on the field Wednesday, and after the workout he said the team is being "cautious about a little nick." The former Texas A&M star would not reveal what the injury is and said he'll be back practicing next week. Garrett signed a four-year, $30 million contract last week and the Browns aren't taking any chances with him risking further injury. Coach Hue Jackson indicated Garrett might be dealing with some soreness following last week's rookie minicamp, but he did not disclose Garrett's problem.
BASEBALL
Beltre back this week
Adrian Beltre is going to start playing baseball games this week, perhaps as early as today. For the second consecutive day, Beltre did some early running, fielding and hitting with the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, then was cleared to head to extended spring training in Arizona to begin playing in games there. He is expected to play a minimum of three days worth of games there before the Rangers re-evaluate his situation. Beltre has not played this year because of three separate calf injuries, the last of which occurred on April 8 during what was expected to be his final workout before being activated from the disabled list.
Chapman may toss soon
Injured All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman may be cleared by the New York Yankees to start a throwing program on Saturday. Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said the reliever is scheduled to see a doctor Friday and the team hopes he will be given the go-ahead. Chapman has not pitched since May 12 because of what Girardi has called tendinitis and bursitis in his left shoulder. Dellin Betances has closed in Chapman's absence, with Tyler Clippard moved back to the eighth inning and Adam Warren to the seventh. Warren wasted a seventh-inning lead in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Kansas City, the second blown lead in five games for New York's bullpen. Chad Green has been used in long relief.
MOTOR SPORTS
Cup champion Yates, 4 others elected to Hall
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Robert Yates still remembers a college professor telling him he'd never make anything of himself.
It turns out his professor was wrong.
Yates' 40-year career in auto racing culminated with his selection to the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Wednesday, an achievement that left him in tears.
Yates, 74, admitted he wasn't the smartest guy, but said "I knew how to work on cars."
Yates, a NASCAR Cup champion as both an engine builder and owner, was voted in along with three-time NASCAR Cup championship crew chief Ray Evernham, drivers Red Byron and Ron Hornaday Jr. and broadcaster Ken Squier. Hornaday and driver Alan Kulwicki tied for the fifth and final spot, and Hornaday won the tiebreaker.
Yates was an overwhelming favorite, selected by 94 percent of the voters.
He grew up in Charlotte and couldn't play baseball and football because of a heart murmur.
"So I worked on engines," Yates said.
While Yates' passion was engine building, he achieved most of his notoriety as an owner, with his drivers winning 57 Cup races.
After providing the power behind Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough with his engines, he started his own racing team in the late 1980s. Success came quickly with driver Davey Allison winning the 1992 Daytona 500, while finishing third in the standings. Dale Jarrett would win two more Daytona 500s and a Cup Series championship for Robert Yates Racing.
Yates is currently battling liver cancer, but said being selected into the Hall of Fame left him feeling like grabbing a jack, jumping over a pit wall and changing a tire.
"I may not sleep a wink," he said with a wide smile.
Sports on 05/25/2017