sports in brief

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Sep 2, 2008

Golf: Singh dominates to win Deutsche Bank Championship

Another victory for Vijay Singh is turning the FedEx Cup into another snoozer.

Singh made three long birdie putts and closed with an 8-under 63 to win the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday at Norton, Mass., for his second straight victory in the PGA Tour's playoff system. That gave him such a big lead that he could win the $10 million prize without even showing up at the Tour Championship.

Singh's putter was amazing.

Singh rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole to stretch his lead to three shots, then raised the belly putter like a trophy when he holed a 60-foot birdie putt on the next hole. He capped off his amazing run with a 35-foot birdie on the 17th hole.

Weir, who had a one-shot lead until a double bogey on the ninth hole, simply couldn't keep up. He closed with a 71 to finish five shots behind.

Scott Verplank was a footnote in 2002 when he became the first American to be a captain's pick without any previous experience in the Ryder Cup.

There might be four Ryder Cup rookies who get picked this year.

U.S. captain Paul Azinger announces his four wild-card selections early today in New York, having asked for an additional three weeks to find the hottest players but getting a tepid response from his candidates.

The final audition was the Deutsche Bank Championship, where the only American to finish in the top five was Tim Herron, who recorded his first top 10 of the entire season.

The Ryder Cup will be played Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

One who is considered a good bet for selection is Steve Stricker, who is No. 10 in the world ranking.

Another likely captain's pick will be J.B. Holmes, a Kentucky native who has enormous power off the tee. Verplank is another possibility.

Others under consideration are D.J. Trahan, Brandt Snedeker, Sean O'Hair and perhaps Heath Slocum.

NFL: Superdome 'in good shape' for Saints-Bucs opener

The Louisiana Superdome, for now still scheduled to host an NFL regular-season opener Sunday between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, appeared to be in good condition after the worst of Hurricane Gustav had passed, the stadium's operator said.

"We're in good shape," said Doug Thornton, vice president of SMG, the company that manages the Superdome and neighboring New Orleans Arena.

Thornton said there was no noticeable structural or interior damage, but stressed that a more thorough inspection still needed to be done.

New England coach Bill Belichick usually knows which players are likely to be released by other teams. So after two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Deltha O'Neal was cut, the Patriots signed him.

Monday's move came two days after O'Neal was released by the Cincinnati Bengals and cornerback Fernando Bryant, an exhibition- season starter, was released by the Patriots.

The Denver Broncos spent Labor Day juggling their secondary, claiming hard-hitting safety Calvin Lowry off waivers from Tennessee and trying to trade nickel back Domonique Foxworth.

SeaTTLE quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returned to practice on Monday and expects to start Sunday's regular-season opener in Buffalo.

Hasselbeck participated in just his second full practice since injuring his back nearly a month ago.

The Raiders agreed to terms on a one-year contract with discarded receiver Ashley Lelie on Monday in hopes that the former first- round pick can regain his form and help bolster an inexperienced position group.

General: Venus, Serena match to come in Open quarterfinals

Now comes a challenge for Venus Williams and Serena Williams at the U.S. Open: a match against each other.

Except unlike so many of their all-in-the-family faceoffs at Grand Slam tournaments, including at Wimbledon in July, this Williams vs. Williams showdown will not decide the championship. Instead, this one will come in the quarterfinals.

Both advanced through the fourth round quite easily Monday.

In men's action, No. 1 Rafael Nadal faced a tough challenge from 55th-ranked Sam Querrey, a 20-year-old Californian. Querrey hung in during extended baseline rallies, and even briefly led in the third set, before losing 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3.

Five-time champion Tony Schumacher capped off a historic performance at the 54th Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis on Monday with his decisive final-round win over longtime foe Doug Kalitta.

Schumacher set NHRA Top Fuel records for wins in a row (6) and wins in a season (11) and he tied Joe Amato for most wins all-time in Top Fuel (52). It was also his seventh Mac Tools U.S. Nationals win and third in a row.

Anak Nikal surged ahead of the favorites to win the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park in Bensalem, Pa., on Monday.

With 13-time Monmouth Park riding champion Joe Bravo in the saddle, the 3-year-old worked his way through traffic on the far turn, switched to the middle of the track in the home stretch and cruised home.

The Associated Press