Report: Strahan may return to the Giants
NEW YORK, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- All-pro defensive end Michael Strahan could rejoin the New York Giants this week.
Strahan has not attended training camp, possibly pondering retirement. But New York Newsday reported on its Web site Sunday the 14-year veteran could be back by Tuesday.
"We were hit with (Strahan’s holdout) as a surprise at the beginning of camp," Coach Tom Coughlin told the newspaper, "but I thought we handled it well. It really was not a distraction."
Speculation is Strahan was not happy with his contract.
Earlier this month, he said in an e-mail message he was still in Southern California, and had not made up his mind about when he might return to the New York area.
The 35-year-old Strahan is tied with hall-of-fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor with 132 1/2 career sacks, and his 22 1/2 sacks in 2001 is the NFL's single-season record.
He missed most of the 2006 season with a left foot injury.
Steve Stricker wins the Barclays Classic
HARRISON, N.Y., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Steve Stricker birdied four of the last five holes Sunday afternoon to win the PGA’s Barclays Classic at Harrison, N.Y., by two strokes over K.J. Choi.
Stricker closed with a 2-under-par 69. His 72-hole total was 16-under 268.
He stumbled early on the back nine, but recovered long enough to win the first event in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
"It was hard, but it was a lot of fun," Stricker said after his first win since the 2001 WGC-Accenture Match Play in Australia. "It's been a long time, six years. I was wondering if I was going to do it again today."
Stricker earned a winner’s check of $1,260,000.
Choi shot 1-under 70 Sunday for a final total of 14-under 270, but did not make enough key shots to withstand Stricker's late charge.
Ochoa wins the Safeway Classic
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Lorena Ochoa Sunday managed a 1-under 71 to win the LPGA’s Safeway Classic at Portland, Ore., by five shots over a group of four players.
It was Ochoa’s third straight title, following wins at the Women’s British and Canadian Opens. Her 54-hole total was 12-under 204.
"I think it's hard to realize right now, you know, but every week I play, I play to win," Ochoa said. "I knew I could do it. I'm really happy with my three wins. And the three of them are very special in different ways."
Sophie Gustafson (75), In-Bee Park (64), Mhairi McKay (72) and Christina Kim (69) tied for second place at 7-under 209.
Gustafson, who was one stroke behind Ochoa at the start of the final round, dropped four shots in her final five holes.
Massa captures Turkish Grand Prix
ISTANBUL, Turkey, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Felipe Massa was dominant Sunday while winning the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul, Turkey.
Massa’s Ferrari crossed the finish line 2.275 seconds ahead of runner-up and Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen.
It was Massa’s third victory this season and the fifth of his F1 career.
“It’s amazing,” Massa said. “The third time here in Istanbul but the second race in a row winning from pole. I love the track, I love the place and here is where my career made a switch and I started to win races and fight with the front runners. It is a very special place for me and to have a second consecutive win here, it’s difficult to find the right words.”
Fernando Alonso (McLaren) was a distant third.
Rookie Lewis Hamilton maintained his lead in the points’ race with 84, followed by Alonso (79) and Massa (69).
The next race is the Italian Grand Prix Sept. 9.
U.S. beats Japan, 3-2, for LLWS crown
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Dalton Carriker hit a walk-off solo homer in the eighth inning Sunday as Georgia edged Japan, 3-2, to win the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa.
Zane Conlon was the winning pitcher, as Warner Robins, Ga., became the third straight U.S. team to win the title. He faced only one batter in the sixth.
Starter Scott Kendall gave up one hit and two runs in 5 2/3 innings, but had to be lifted because of a Little League rule limiting pitchers to 85 pitches in a game.
Japan’s Masaya Ogino and Yuri Yasuda each had one RBI.
In the third-place contest, Garret Williams and Taylor Bridges combined on a no-hitter, as Texas beat Curacao, Venezuela, 1-0.
