Tiger Woods builds four-shot lead
LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods made an emphatic statement in his 2008 debut tournament Friday, seizing a four-shot lead at the midway point of the Buick Invitational.
Seeking his fourth straight win at this event and his sixth overall, Woods fired a 7-under 65 on the Torrey Pines North Course for a 36-hole total of 12-under 132.
The world's top-ranked player has not bogeyed a hole this week.
Woods' closest competitor is Kevin Streelman, who is playing in only his seventh PGA Tour event. Streelman made it successfully through this year's qualifying tournament and he barely avoided disqualification this week when he showed up for his Thursday tee time with only minutes to spare.
Streelman shot a 69 Friday for a 136 total and will be paired with Woods for Saturday's third round.
"I don't know if it's really set in yet," Streelman said. "I'm really looking forward to it, to be honest. It's still just me and the golf course."
Stewart Cink was alone in third at 137 while Aaron Baddeley, Boo Weekley and rookie Brad Adamonis shared fourth at 138.
Phil Mickelson, making his first appearance of the season, was tied for 40th at 143.
Report: Davis wants Oakland coach to quit
ALAMEDA, Calif., Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis is pressuring Coach Lane Kiffin to resign, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday.
Kiffin has held the Oakland head coaching job for one year. His team went 4-12 in 2007 and he has two years remaining on his contract.
The newspaper said Davis had not fired Kiffin because to do so would mean the Raiders would have to pay the coach $4 million in guaranteed money.
The report also said Davis sent Kiffin a letter this week saying Kiffin would not be involved in the NFL draft, would not be involved in free agent meetings and would no longer have control of his coaching staff.
Amy Trask, the Raiders chief executive officer, denied Kiffin had been stripped of any authority.
"That's simply not true," Trask told the Chronicle. "He has all the authority he had when he was hired."
Twins give Morneau, Cuddyer new contracts
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Twins Friday signed first baseman Justin Morneau and outfielder Michael Cuddyer to long-term contracts.
Cuddyer, who was eligible for arbitration, earned $3.5 million last season, but was seeking a $6.2 million.
The Twins had filed for $4.7 million.
The Saint Paul Press reported being told by a source that he would receive $23 million over three years and his new deal could reach $35 million if the Twins add an option for a fourth year.
The team said on its Web site that Morneau will get $80 million for six years.
Last season, Morneau batted .276 with 31 home runs and 111 RBI and Cuddyer batted .276 with 16 homers and drove in 81 runs.
He is Minnesota's first player to hit 30 homers in back-to-back seasons since Gary Gaetti in 1987.
Texas A&M players face robbery charges
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Two Texas A&M football players have been indicted on felony robbery charges for a Nov. 29 home invasion at an apartment complex in College Station.
The Bryan-College Station Eagle reported the indictments of Yemi Babalola, 21, and Brandon Joiner, 18, were handed down Thursday.
The district attorney's office said Joiner also was indicted on one felony count of manufacturing or delivering methamphetamine and two misdemeanor counts of possessing marijuana and hydrocodone. Babalola also faces a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge, the Eagle said.
Aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison. Manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance is a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
Police said an investigation led to searches of both suspects' homes where marijuana, ecstasy and hydrocodone were found.
Both players have been suspended pending the outcome of their cases.
