Tiger’s chances of playing PGA Championship not good

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/08/2014 (4394 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A day after withdrawing after eight holes in the last round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational with a bad back, Tiger Woods doesn’t know if he’ll be playing in this week’s PGA Championship.

His latest injury “doesn’t bode well right now” for his chances to play in the Ryder Cup, U.S. captain Tom Watson said Monday.

Woods flew back Sunday afternoon to his South Florida home instead of heading to Valhalla Golf Club for the year’s last major championship after he aggravated his back and was forced to withdraw.

“He has to rest and get treatment and assess later,” said Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, in a text. “Pointless to make that decision (on playing) now without proper time to give him the best chance.”

Steinberg said there would be no further update Monday. Perhaps not even an update today.

Woods had back surgery March 31. He was playing in his third tournament since returning to competitive golf.

 

Sabres add Trottier, Irbe

 

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres head coach Ted Nolan is leaning on NHL experience by hiring Bryan Trottier and Arturs Irbe to his staff.

Trottier, the former New York Islanders star, has nine years of NHL coaching experience split between Pittsburgh, Colorado and the New York Rangers. It was with the Rangers where he spent part of the 2002-03 season as head coach.

Irbe will serve as goalie coach. He is a two-time all-star goalie who spent 13 seasons in the NHL before leaving to play in Europe. From Latvia, Irbe worked with Nolan, who is coach of the country’s national team.

Nolan filled out his staff on Monday by hiring Danny Flynn and Tom Coolen. Nolan took over in Buffalo on an interim basis in November before signing a three-year contract in March.

 

Early exit for Isner

TORONTO — For the second straight tournament John Isner didn’t get to play on centre court. And for the second straight tournament he bowed out in his first match.

Isner, the 10th seed at the Rogers Cup, lost to Croatian Ivan Dodig, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 on the grandstand court Monday night at Rexall Centre. The match was originally scheduled for the afternoon in the stadium, but a lengthy rain delay wreaked havoc on the day’s schedule.

Earlier in the day, France’s Julien Benneteau had little trouble dusting off former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, 6-1, 6-2. Benneteau and Hewitt endured two rain delays, the second of which lasted two hours.

“I tried to keep the same momentum and the same rhythm of the match,” Benneteau said. “I just tried to stay focused to be able to play the same way.”

Benneteau was leading 4-1 in the first set when the first brief rain delay occurred. He was up 4-2 in the second when storms moving through the Toronto area halted his and every other match taking place.

In other early action, France’s Jeremy Chardy beat Argentina’s Federico Delbonis, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, French qualifier Benoit Paire defeated Colombian Alejandro Falla, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, and American qualifier Tim Smyczek downed German qualifier Tobias Kamke, 6-3, 6-2.

The Rogers Cup Hall of Fame induction ceremony was also postponed because of the weather. Stefan Edberg and former Rogers Cup Master of Ceremonies Don Goodwin will now be inducted Tuesday night.

 

Mets part ways with Abreu

NEW YORK — The New York Mets have cut slumping 40-year-old Bobby Abreu and are calling up outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis from the minors.

The Mets designated Abreu for assignment after Monday’s 4-3 loss to San Francisco. His final appearance came in the sixth inning when he was sent in as a pinch-hitter, then pulled after the Giants made a pitching change.

Abreu had been out of the majors since 2012 when the Mets promoted him from Triple-A on April 21. He provided a left-handed bat and good patience at the plate as a pinch-hitter, occasional outfielder and designated hitter for games at American League stadiums.

Abreu started well, but quickly dropped off. He was hitless in his last 22 at-bats as a pinch-hitter. He hit .238 with one home run and 14 RBIs in 142 plate appearances, and finished up 0 for 13.

Overall, Abreu has hit .291 with 288 homers in 18 seasons with Houston, Philadelphia, the Yankees, the Angels, the Dodgers and the Mets.

“It was a big step to be out for one year and come back this year,” Abreu said. “The feeling right now, it’s not going to put me down. I’m going to stay with my head up.”

Abreu said he will play winter ball back home in Venezuela.

 

— from the wire services