Singh wins playoff for second PGA title
KOHLER, Wis., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Vijay Singh birdied the first extra hole of a playoff Sunday to beat Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard and win his second PGA Championship.
Singh won the PGA title in 1998 and the 2000 Masters. It was Singh's fifth victory of the season.
Singh, the third-round leader, struggled to a four-over 76 in the final round. Leonard, who held a two-shot lead on the back nine, shot a 75 and DiMarco posted a one-under 71. The trio finished regulation tied at eight-under-par 280.
"I played really well in the playoff," said Singh, who pocketed $1,125,000 for the win. "My putter kind of fell asleep on me, but I got a new life."
Ernie Els and Chris Riley each bogeyed 18 in regulation to fall one short of the playoff. They posted one-over 73s and tied for fourth at seven-under-par 281.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson shot a two-over 74 and tied for sixth with K.J. Choi (70) and Paul McGinley (69) at minus-six.
Tiger Woods, a two-time former champion, only managed a one-over 73 and shared 24th place at two-under-par 286.
Phelps hoping for another gold swimming medal
Athens, Greece (UPI) -- Michael Phelps isn't going to break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at Olympoic Games.
The 19-year-old American swimmers, who won the 400-meter individual medley on Saturday, had been trying to break Spitz's mark of seven golds set in 1972 in Munich, but that attempt failed on just the second full day of competition at the Athens Games as the Americans finished with a bronze medal in the 400-meter relay on Sunday, behind South Africa and the Netherlands.
Sunday, Phelps matched up in the lane next to Australian superstar Ian Thorpe in the semifinals of the 200-meter freestyle and on Monday he'll be right next to defending Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband in the final. It marks one of four swimming finals.
Phelps may have to overcome big odds just to even medal in the 200m freestyle as Thorpe currently holds the world record, while American Klete Keller and Aussie Grant Hackett are also considered strong contenders in the final.
A total of 14 gold medals will be awarded on Monday, including four in swimming. Also at the pool will be the finals of the women's and men's 100- meter backstroke, as well as the women's 100-meter breaststroke.
Diving gold medals will be awarded in the women's synchronized 10-meter platform and the synchronized 3-meter springboard for the men, where the Dumais brothers, Justin and Troy, lead the American contingent.
While the U.S. men's basketball team has a day to think about their shocking 19-point loss to Puerto Rico, the focus on Monday will be back on the women as they resume the preliminary round with a game against the Czech Republic. The U.S. won by 52 points over New Zealand in its drive for a third straight gold medal..
The American men have never won the team gold medal in gymnastics, but on Monday they'll field probably their strongest team since 1984. Paul Hamm and his twin brother, Morgan, lead the way for the Americans. However, in order to win the gold they'll have to get past several tough countries, including China and Russia, the last two team champions at the Olympics..
Going into Monday, China, Australia and the United States are tied for the lead with eight medals. Russia has six, while Japan and France each have five.
Blues' Pronger withdrsws from World Cup
TORONTO, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- All-Star defenseman Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues has become the latest player for Team Canada to withdraw from the World Cup of Hockey.
Pronger, whose injury was not disclosed, will be replaced by Jay Bouwmeester of the Florida Panthers,
Detroit's Steve Yzerman, Colorado's Rob Blake and Toronto goalie Ed Belfour all have dropped out of the international competition due to injury.
"We are disappointed that Chris could not participate, but this gives a great opportunity to one of Canada's rising young stars," said Wayne Gretzky, executive director of the team. "When you can replace Chris with a player of Jay's caliber, it shows you how much depth we have in this country."
Team Canada, which begins play against the United States on Aug. 31, is set to open training camp on Friday.
Stewart wins NASCAR race at Watkins Glen
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Tony Stewart captured Sunday's Sirius at the Glen Nextel Cup race at the Watkins Glen International circuit.
The Home Depot Chevrolet crossed the finish line 1.517 seconds ahead of runner-up Ron Fellows.
The victory was Stewart's second of the season and 19th of his "Cup" career.
Mark Martin, Casey Mears and Dale Earnhardt Jr. completed the top-five.
The next race in the championship, the GFS Marketplace 400 at the Michigan International Speedway, is scheduled for next Sunday, Aug. 22.
M. Schumacher sets single season record
BUDAPEST, Hungary, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Ferrari's Michael Schumacher captured the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix Sunday and set the all-time single season win record at 12.
Schumacher finished 4.696 seconds ahead of runner-up Rubens Barrichello. The victory was the 82nd of Schumacher's F1 career. It also clinched the manufacturer's championship for Ferrari, a record 14th overall and sixth consecutive, and guaranteed that a Ferrari driver will win the 2004 drivers championship.
With five races remaining in the 2004, Schumacher leads teammate Barrichello by 38 points (120-82). Jenson Button is a distant third with 65 points.
This race was never in doubt from the moment the Ferraris arrived in Hungary. They sat one-two on the grid and except for a great start by the defending champion Fernando Alonso, were never under attack.
The Spaniard started fifth on the grid behind Ferrari and the two BAR/Honda machines.
