Briefs | Golf: Tiger Woods triumphs in Memorial Skins

Golf

Woods wins Memorial Skins Game: In a closest-to-the-pin chipping contest on the 18th hole at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, Tiger Woods won the Memorial Skins Game on Wednesday over Jack Nicklaus by holing his chip from 25 yards in the rough.

"Didn't surprise me," Nicklaus said. "Didn't surprise him."

Nicklaus, on the par-5 11th, hit an 8-iron to 4 feet for a birdie to win two skins. Woods answered on the 13th hole with a 25-foot birdie putt to win two skins. Stewart Cink collected a skin with a birdie on the 14th. Kenny Perry, the defending champion, looked like he would take four skins on the 18th with a par save from the bunker until Woods made a 12-footer.

New course for Pebble Beach Pro-Am: The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will have a new golf course in its rotation next year with the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club replacing Poppy Hills.

NFL

Labor talks begin with early formalities: The NFL and its players union started on a long road they hope can avoid a work stoppage in 2011, when the labor contract expires. The talks began in New York with commissioner Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith, the new executive director of the NFL Players Association, both present.

They were mainly about procedural issues rather than substantive ones. One early subject of contention: the union's demand that NFL teams open their books and the league's position that the union already has all the relevant financial information.

NBC hires Dungy, Harrison: NBC announced that Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison have joined its NFL studio team, replacing Cris Collinsworth, who moved to the game booth, and Jerome Bettis, who was not retained, for "Sunday Night Football."

The former Colts coach and retired Patriots safety both were part of the network's Super Bowl coverage last season.

Westbrook to have ankle surgery: Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will have surgery on his right ankle Friday.

Dr. Mark Meyerson will perform the operation in Baltimore. The Eagles called the procedure "a debridement" of the ankle.

Westbrook missed one game last season with a high-ankle sprain. He had minor knee surgery after the Eagles lost to Arizona in the NFC Championship Game.

Olympics

USOC loses Bank of America as sponsor: The U.S. Olympic Committee recently lost another high-profile corporate partner, with Bank of America's departure leaving holes in three major sponsorship categories eight months before the 2010 Vancouver Games.

A USOC sponsor for 16 years, Bank of America followed the lead of General Motors and The Home Depot, not renewing a four-year agreement worth $12 million to $15 million that ended after the 2008 Beijing Games.

Kellogg's also dumped the USOC after Beijing, and Johnson & Johnson terminated an International Olympic Committee sponsorship that would have paid as much as $100 million the next four years. J&J could become a USOC sponsor.

NBA

Congressman urges NBA to drop age restriction: A lawmaker urged the NBA to repeal its requirement that players be at least 19 years old and a year out of high school before entering the league, calling the restriction unfair.

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., sent identical letters to NBA commissioner David Stern and union leader Billy Hunter, asking that they scrap the requirement in the next collective-bargaining agreement.

Boston guard has ankle surgery: Boston Celtics guard Tony Allen has had surgery on his right ankle and leg.

Colleges

NCAA trimming costs, suspending dues: The NCAA announced it would suspend membership dues for the next school year, plans to give schools an additional $5 million and intends to trim about $500,000 in travel expenses for committee meetings.

Auto racing

Former Indy driver Christie dies at 85: Former Indianapolis 500 driver Bob Christie has died in his hometown of Grants Pass, Ore. He was 85.

Stewart's charity race postponed by rain: Rain has forced postponement of NASCAR driver Tony Stewart's charity race at a dirt track he owns in Rossburg, Ohio. Organizers said the race has been rescheduled for Sept. 9.

WNBA

Zierden resigns as Lynx coach; Gillom promoted: The Minnesota Lynx have promoted Jennifer Gillom to head coach after Don Zierden resigned to join Flip Saunders' staff with the Washington Wizards.

Cycling

Astana cleared to race: Cycling's governing body cleared Astana to race after Lance Armstrong's team guaranteed its immediate finances.

Boxing

Haye pulls out of fight: David Haye has pulled out of his IBF and WBO heavyweight title fight against Wladimir Klitschko because of an injury.

Seattle Times news services