A-Rod to have hip surgery
TAMPA, Fla., March 8 (UPI) -- New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez will have arthroscopic surgery on his injured right hip, General Manager Brian Cashman said Sunday.
The surgery will be performed Monday in Vail, Colo., by Dr. Mac Philippon of the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic for sports medicine and orthopedic surgery, Newsday reported.
Rodriguez will stay in Colorado for "the foreseeable future," Cashman said.
The Yankees had previously decided against surgery, choosing a rest and rehabilitation period instead.
Rodriguez has had tightness in his hip during spring training in Tampa, Fla. A cyst caused by a torn labrum in the hip was drained Wednesday.
Cashman said the decision to go ahead with the operation to repair torn cartilage was made during discussions the past two days.
"The goal here is to allow Alex to rehab rapidly in a safe manner," Philippon said. "The approach we're using is much safer than letting Alex play the way he is now."
The 33-year-old third baseman could be ready to play in six to nine weeks, Philippon said.
Rodriguez has 553 home runs and a .306 batting average in his major-league career.
South Korean Yang captures Honda Classic
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., March 8 (UPI) -- Y.E. Yang of South Korea fired a 2-under-par 68 Sunday, winning the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., by a stroke over John Rollins.
The 37-year-old Yang finished at 9-under 271 for his first victory on the PGA Tour.
Yang held a one-shot lead entering the final round and birdied three straight holes on the front nine, enough to hold off Rollins, who birdied four of five holes around the turn.
Rollins closed with a 67 for 272 and Ben Crane (68) was third at 274. Jeff Klauk (71) was another two strokes back in fourth place.
Yang joined K.J. Choi as the PGA Tour winners from South Korea.
"I'm just very happy right now for the way I played today," Yang said through a translator. "Before I went out this morning, my coach told me not to rush anything and keep your own routine, take it steady, and that's what I did today."
Kurt Busch wins Kobalt Tolls 500
HAMPTON, Ga., March 8 (UPI) -- Kurt Busch led for 235 laps Sunday on the way to winning the Sprint Cup Kobalt Tolls 500 auto race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga.
The race was marred by 14 caution flags.
Busch grabbed the lead from Carl Edwards with one lap remaining, and then held off a hard-charging Jeff Gordon to record the 19th Sprint Cup win of his career.
The ecstatic winner drove his No. 2 Dodge Challenger backwards almost a full lap to celebrate his second career win at the AMS.
"This was an incredible race (and) this car was unbelievable," Busch said in a post-race television interview. "I've got to thank my (crew)."
Gordon, the series' points leader, finished second. Edwards was third, with Kevin Harvick and Brian Vickers rounding out the top-five.
Mark Martin, 50, who was the second-oldest pole-winner ever, smashed his car into the wall and finished in 31st place.
Report: Beckham return to LA delayed
LOS ANGELES, March 8 (UPI) -- Star midfielder David Beckham will continue to play for AC Milan until the MLS season starts in July, the BBC reported Sunday.
The Italian club worked out a deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy that allows the 33-year-old Beckham to forgo his expected return to the U.S. Monday.
"I'm really grateful to the LA Galaxy and AC Milan for making this dream deal happen," Beckham said in a statement to the British network. "The perfect result for 2009 would be for me to help Milan to reach the Champions League and for the LA Galaxy to make the playoffs and win the MLS Cup."
Beckham has struggled since the Galaxy signed him Jan. 11, 2007. He has played in 30 games with five goals and 12 assists, and was hampered by a knee injury in his first MLS season.
"We are hoping he comes back to help (Galaxy Coach) Bruce (Arena) and his team win the MLS Championship," said Tim Leiweke, president and chief executive officer of the Galaxy's parent company.
