Briefs | Golf: Woods fires 66 to lead Australian Masters

Golf

Woods shoots 66 for lead in Australia: Tiger Woods has opened the Australian Masters with a 6-under 66 in Melbourne, putting him atop the leaderboard in his first appearance Down Under in 11 years.

Woods surged into the lead by nearly driving the 294-yard sixth green, the start of three straight birdies. He had a birdie putt on every hole until hitting into the bushes on his final hole, pitching out and making his lone bogey.

The gallery stood three-deep behind both sides of every fairway, and marshals allowed them to encircle the front of every green. Woods only sees a crowd this big at major championships.

Ballesteros receives honorary membership at R&A: Three-time British Open champion Seve Ballesteros has accepted honorary membership of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews almost a year after undergoing multiple operations to remove a malignant brain tumor.

Tennis

Federer falls early at Paris Masters: Top-ranked Roger Federer lost to Julien Benneteau of France 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in the second round of the Paris Masters, continuing his miserable run at the indoor event.

The 15-time Grand Slam champion has never been further than the quarterfinals in seven appearances.

Federer's exit capped a dramatic day at the Bercy arena, where Rafael Nadal saved five match points to beat Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5, and former three-time champion Marat Safin bid farewell to the tennis circuit after losing to U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Fourth-seeded Andy Murray had 21 aces in beating James Blake 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4).

NHL

Forbes has Maple Leafs most valuable team: For the fourth straight year, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the NHL's most valuable team, according to Forbes magazine's annual survey. The Leafs are worth $470 million, an increase of 5 percent over last year. They easily are worth more than the next franchise, the New York Rangers at $416 million, up just 1 percent.

Avalanche activate Tucker: The Colorado Avalanche activated right wing Darcy Tucker from the injured-reserve list after he missed eight games with a concussion.

Ward goes on injured list: The struggling Carolina Hurricanes have placed goalie Cam Ward on injured reserve with a sliced left leg.

Thrashers' Kovalchuk out at least one more game: Atlanta Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk's return from a foot injury will have to wait at least one more game. Kovalchuk did not accompany the Thrashers to New York for tonight's game against the Rangers but hopes to play Friday night's home game against Los Angeles.

Swimming

Phelps second in 200 medley: Michael Phelps finished second in the 200-meter medley final at the short-course World Cup in Stockholm, struggling in the old-style swimsuit that will become standard next year.

Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, clocked 1 minute, 53.93 seconds. He was more than two seconds behind South Africa's Darian Townsend, who won in 1:51.79.

"I'm swimming OK," Phelps said, adding his time "wasn't bad."

"I haven't practiced regularly."

Earlier, Phelps failed to qualify for the 100 butterfly final after finishing 11th in qualifying heats in 51.06 seconds. It was the third final that Phelps missed at the meet.

A total of nine world records were set in the World Cup, three by Jing Zhao of China.

Boxing

Tyson detained at airport: Mike Tyson allegedly hit a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport and was detained on suspicion of battery, police said. The paparazzo told police Tyson struck him once. The photographer fell to the ground and was treated for a cut to his forehead at a hospital.

Tyson's spokeswoman said the boxer was traveling with his wife and 10-month-old child when he was attacked by an overly aggressive paparazzi. Tyson and the unnamed photographer both want to press charges for misdemeanor battery, police said. Tyson was being held at the airport police station and will be booked and released later. The photographer also will be booked once he is released from the hospital, police said.

Soccer

Germany stunned by Enke's suicide: The suicide of Robert Enke left Germany stunned, sending the soccer-obsessed country into mourning and leaving the national team without its top goalkeeper for next year's World Cup.

Enke's widow appeared at a news conference, broadcast live throughout the country, saying her husband battled depression for years before he stepped onto the tracks and got hit by an express train Tuesday evening not far from his home in Hannover.

"I tried to be there for him," Teresa Enke said, choking back tears. "When he was acutely depressive, it was a difficult time. We thought we'd manage everything. We thought with love, we could do it. But you can't."

Auto racing

NASCAR docks Kyle Busch 25 points: NASCAR docked Kyle Busch 25 Nationwide points and fined crew chief Jason Ratcliff $5,000 after Busch's No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota failed inspection before last week's race at Texas.