Els wraps up win at Palmer Invitational
ORLANDO, Fla., March 29 (UPI) -- Ernie Els picked up his second consecutive PGA title, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational by two strokes in a tournament completed Monday.
Els needed to play four holes Monday after play was suspended Sunday because of a thunderstorm.
The South African star recorded pars on each hole Monday and ended up at 11-under 277 for the tournament, two strokes better than Edoardo Molinari and Kevin Na. Chris Couch and Retief Goosen tied for fourth at 8-under.
Na pulled within one stroke of Els going into his final hole but finished with a bogey.
It was Els' second win at Bay Hill. His first there was 12 years ago.
The win was Els' 18th on the PGA Tour and second in three weeks. He won the WGC-CA Championship at Doral on March 14 after going two years without a PGA victory.
Steelers' Holmes sued for alleged assault
ORLANDO, Fla., March 29 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes is being sued in Florida by a woman who alleges he threw a glass at her in a nightclub, cutting her face.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in 9th Judicial Circuit Court, Anshonoe Mills says the attack occurred March 7 in the Rain nightclub in Orlando after she refused to comply with Holmes' demand she get up from a couch arm on which she was sitting, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday.
Mills contends she was cut when the glass hit her below the eyebrow and was temporarily blinded by the liquor in the glass. She also maintains Holmes offered her money and Orlando police didn't file a report on the alleged incident while pressuring her to not seek charges against the professional football player, the newspaper said.
In a post on his Twitter account Monday, Holmes apparently cautioned people to be wary of the validity of Mills's allegations.
"Before anyone decides to state unknown fact, please do research 1st. In the end it makes you look like the fool!" he tweeted.
Mills's suit also names J.J. Whispers Group Inc., which runs the bar, as a defendant for failing to protect her.
The Steelers are looking into the matter, team spokesman Dave Lockett said.
"We just found out today," he said. 'We're gathering information and have no further comment at this time."
Power wins again on IndyCar circuit
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 29 (UPI) -- Will Power won the rain-delayed Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Monday, picking up his second IndyCar victory in as many races.
Power, who started from the pole position, was especially sharp in the second half of the 100-lap race. He grabbed the lead in the 74th lap and didn't trail after that.
He finished 0.8 seconds ahead of Justin Wilson, driving for Dreyer and Reinbold Racing, with Power's Penske teammates Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves third and fourth, respectively. Briscoe, who started in the 19th slot, set a race record by improving 13 places from start to finish.
The race was postponed Sunday when rain left the street course under 4 inches of water.
Power also won the season-opening race two weeks ago in Brazil. He is the first driver to win the first two IndyCar races of the season since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2001.
Obama to throw Nats' 'first pitch'
VIERA, Fla., March 29 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Washington Nationals home opener next week.
The Nationals open their season at 1:05 p.m. EDT April 5 against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.
Obama's appearance is a continuation of a presidential traditional begun 100 years ago when William Howard Taft tossed the first pitch on April 14, 1910, to open the Washington Senators' game with the Philadelphia Athletics.
"Opening day of the baseball season is a special event for our country and its importance has been reinforced by the 100-year history of presidential participation," baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.
"I am proud that President Obama will continue the long presidential tradition of throwing out the first pitch of opening day in Washington, D.C."
The Nationals plan to start left-handed John Lannan, 9-13 last season, and the Phillies are going with right-hander Roy Halladay, 17-1-0 for Toronto last year.
