UPI NewsTrack Sports

Cink returns to golf's Top 10

VIRGINIA WATER, England, July 20 (UPI) -- Stewart Cink's playoff victory at the British Open returned him to the Top 10 in the world men's golf rankings released Monday.

The 138th British Open will be remembered as the one that eluded 59-year-old Tom Watson, but Cink needed a clutch 15-foot birdie putt at No. 18 to get into position to win. When Watson missed his par putt on the 72nd hole, he was forced into a playoff that Cink won easily.

It was the first major championship for Cink and moved him from 33rd to No. 9 in the latest golf rankings. He has previously been ranked as high as No. 5 in the world.

Watson, at age 59, doesn't appear often on the regular tour but his finish at the British Open moved him from No. 1,364 to 105th in the world. The jump of 1,269 spots is believed to be the largest in the history of the rankings.

Last week's results brought many changes across the rankings, except at the very top. Tiger Woods, who missed the cut at the British Open, remains No. 1, followed by Phil Mickelson, who missed the Open due to family health concerns.

Paul Casey is third followed by, in order, Kenny Perry, Sergio Garcia and Steve Stricker.

Henrik Stenson improved one spot to No. 7 with Geoff Ogilvy slipping one place to eighth. Jim Furyk, ninth last week, is 10th. Vijay Singh dropped from 10th to 11th.

Thome is AL player of the week

NEW YORK, July 20 (UPI) -- Chicago's Jim Thome, with two home runs in three games, was selected the American League player of the week Monday.

The All-Star break limited player-of-the-week consideration to games played Thursday through Sunday.

Thome appeared in three games over the period, collecting five hits, including a double and two home runs, in 10 at bats. He led the American League with seven runs batted in in those games.

Both home runs and all the RBI came Friday against Baltimore.

Monday marked the sixth time Thomas has won the player-of-the-week honor.

Also considered this week's award were Seattle's Franklin Gutierrez, who hit two home runs and drove in five runs with an AL-best 12 total bases; and Toronto's Roy Halladay, who started the All-Star Game for the American League and followed it up with a complete-game performance in Sunday's 3-1 win over Boston.

Escobar powers way to NL player award

NEW YORK, July 20 (UPI) -- Atlanta's Yunel Escobar, who hit .500 over four games last week, was given the National League player of the week honor Monday.

Escobar, appearing in all four of the Braves' games from the All-Star break through and Sunday, capped the period with a three-hit, four-RBI game against the New York Mets.

For the week, Escobar had two home runs and three doubles while hitting .500. He also scored four runs.

Escobar is the second Braves' infielder to be selected NL player of the week this month. Martin Prado won the honor two weeks ago.

Other players nominated for Monday's National League weekly honor were Arizona's Miguel Montero, Chicago's Alfonso Soriano, Cincinnati's Edwin Encarnacion, Houston's Roy Oswalt, St. Louis' Chris Carpenter and Washington's Nyjer Morgan.

Vick's prison term officially over

HAMPTON, Va., July 20 (UPI) -- Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick was released from federal custody Monday, ending a sentence imposed after he pleaded guilty to dogfighting charges.

Vick, 29, served 20 months in a federal prison in Kansas and had been under home confinement in Virginia for three months. The Washington Post reported Vick's term of detention ended Monday.

The Virginian Pilot newspaper in Newport News, Va., said Vick had worked for a construction company after release from prison but in July began work as an aide at the Boys and Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula. He was allowed to travel to work as part of his home confinement but wore an electronic monitor until Monday.

Vick and three other men pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to a dogfighting operation on property the former quarterback owned in Virginia. In addition to the prison sentence, Vick was ordered to pay about $1 million for the care of animals used for dog fights.

Vick has played his entire NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons but was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the player entered his guilty plea. Vick has since been released by the Falcons and it was unclear when Goddell might take up possible reinstatement.