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Lochte gives USA its fifth swimming gold

ROME, July 30 (UPI) -- Ryan Lochte gave the United States its fifth gold medal of the World Swimming Championships Thursday and China won two of the five events contested in Rome.

Lochte, winner of a backstroke gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, captured the 200-meter individual medley Thursday in the world record time of 1:54.10.

Laszlo Cseh of Hungary, who finished second behind superstar Michael Phelps three times in Beijing, was runner-up to Lochte in 1:55.24. American Eric Shanteau was third in 1:55.36.

The United States came up with a silver medal in the women's 800-meter freestyle relay behind China. Allison Schmitt anchored an American team that finished a half second behind the Chinese.

China's Zhao Jing took the gold medal in the women's 50-meter backstroke, Jessicah Schipper captured the women's 200-meter butterfly and Cesar Cielo of Brazil was the winner in the men's 100-meter freestyle.

Phelps, who has two gold medals and a silver thus far in these championships, did not compete Thursday. He will be a part of the American 800-meter relay team in Friday's final.

With three days left in the event, the United States led the way with five gold medals and 12 overall. China and Italy had three golds each and China was second in the overall race with seven.

Swimmers from 13 different nations have won gold at the tournament.

Lowery leads, Woods struggles at Buick

GRAND BLANC, Mich., July 30 (UPI) -- Steve Lowery shot a 9-under 63 Thursday to lead after one round of the Buick Open and Tiger Woods found himself in danger of missing his second straight cut.

Woods failed to qualify for the final two rounds at the British Open two weeks ago and had to settle for a 1-under 71 Thursday on a Warwick Hills Country Club course that yielded 115 sub-par rounds. It could take a score of 4-under to survive the cut Friday -- which would mean Woods would have to turn in at least a 69.

Woods has never missed consecutive cuts in his career.

"I didn't hit my irons very good and it was probably one of my worst putting rounds," Woods said. "It was just one of those days, one of those weird days."

He brushed aside thoughts that he will not be around for the weekend.

"I'll come up with the number I need to come up with," he said.

John Senden was alone in second after firing a 64 while those tied for third at 65 included Y.E. Yang, James Nitties, Vaughn Taylor and Brian Vranesh.

Lowery, 48, has three PGA Tour wins to his credit. The most recent came at last year's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Report: Lakers re-sign Lamar Odom

LOS ANGELES, July 30 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to re-sign veteran forward Lamar Odom, the Los Angeles Times said.

No terms were disclosed by the team, but the newspaper said it was told by an unnamed source that the 6-foot-10 inch Odom got a four-year deal worth $33 million if the Lakers exercise the final year of the contract.

"LA was the first place that came to my mind, that's where my heart was at," he told the newspaper Thursday. "I was going to fight for what I wanted."

Odom will be 30 years old in November and had admitted that his age and the poor economy would force him to take a pay cut if he came back to the NBA champion Lakers next season.

He averaged 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in 16 playoff games last season and his scoring average is 15.1 points in 665 NBA contests.

Ortiz overcomes controversy to hit key homer

BOSTON, July 30 (UPI) -- David Ortiz, embroiled in the latest of baseball's drug controversies, hit a key three-run homer Thursday that rallied Boston to an 8-5 win over Oakland.

Ortiz had two of Boston's 10 hits on a day when he and former teammate Manny Ramirez were named by The New York Times as two of 104 players who allegedly violated baseball's substance abuse policy in 2003.

The two-out homer erased a 5-3 deficit in the seventh.

Jason Varitek also had three RBI, while Mike Lowell and Jacoby Ellsbury drove in one run each. The Red Sox had lost their previous two games.

Manny Delcarmen (3-2) got the win with 1 1/3 relief innings. Jonathan Papelbon, who blew a ninth-inning lead against Oakland on Tuesday, earned his 26th save.