Final-round drama at Open produces high TV ratings
This year’s Open had plenty of story lines to draw viewers, from the play of Wie – who shot an 11-over-par 82 in the final round after being tied for the lead heading into Sunday – to Annika Sorenstam’s quest to win her third consecutive major of the season. She finished nine shots behind Kim, and was over par in a 72-hole event for the first time in four years.
Teenager amateurs Morgan Pressel and Brittany Lang were also impressive, tying for second at 5-over 289, two shots back of Kim.
Overnight ratings measure the 55 largest TV markets in the United States, covering nearly 70 percent of the country. Each overnight rating point represents about 735,000 TV homes.
GOLF
Pernice, Ogilvy head British Open qualifying
Tom Pernice Jr. shot a course- record 8-under-par 64 in the morning round and shared medalist honors with Geoff Ogilvy of Australia in the international qualifying final for the British Open on Monday.
Pernice and Ogilvy had 10-under 134 totals on the North and South courses at the Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J., to head the 14 qualifiers who earned berths for the Open at St. Andrews on July 14-17.
Duffy Waldorf, Alex Cejka of Germany, Joe Durant, Steve Gutschewski and Jason Allred finished a stroke back at 135 on the rainy day that mimicked British Open conditions without the chill. Tom Byrum was alone at 8-under 136, while Bo Van Pelt, Daniel Chopra of Sweden and Australians Scott Hend and Robert Allenby also earned berths with 137 totals.
Wilhelm Schauman, a Swede who carried his own bag, and Richard Barcelo got the final two berths by recording birdies on the first hole of a seven-man playoff that included former U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin. The group finished at 138.
Fourteen spots also were at stake in England, with Simon Khan and Peter Lawrie topping the 120-player field at 8-under 132. John Bickerton, Robert Coles, Simon Dyson, Marcus Fraser, Andrew Oldcorn, Peter Baker, Alastair Forsyth, Ian Woosnam, Patrik Sjoland, Andrew Butterfield and Robert Rock also qualified. David Geall, Kenneth Ferrie, Henrik Stenson, Jean-Francois Lucquin and Tom Whitehouse will return today for a playoff to determine the last spot.
U.S. Women’s Open champion Birdie Kim played her way into the HSBC Women’s World Match Championship in Gladstone, N.J., with her dramatic victory Sunday at Cherry Hills, taking the final spot away from Brittany Lincicome.
The final place in the 64-woman field was reserved for the U.S. Open winner if she had not qualified. The first 60 spots were set June 19 from the LPGA Tour money list, with Kim failing to qualify at 66th. Lincicome, 61st after the Rochester LPGA, would have received the last spot if a qualifier won at Cherry Hills.
The match-play pairings will be announced today for the tournament that starts Thursday.
BASEBALL
Rough start leads to Rocker’s release
John Rocker was released by the Long Island (N.Y.) Ducks after the left-hander told the independent Atlantic League team he wanted to reassess his future.
Rocker, who earned notoriety in 1999 by making derogatory remarks in Sports Illustrated about gays, minorities and foreigners, joined the Ducks in April and went 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA in 23 games, striking out 19 and walking 28 in 18 innings.
Cleveland Indians minor- league pitcher Kyle Denney remained hospitalized in Buffalo, N.Y., with a fractured skull, a day after he was hit in the head by a line drive.
Buffalo Bisons athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk said Denney was experiencing dizziness and nausea but was expected to be released from the hospital today. Tomczyk said tests revealed Denney had a ruptured ear drum and a cerebral contusion, which is more severe than a concussion. The contusion was caused by the brain jarring against the skull.
Denney will be placed on the disabled list, but Tomczyk said it’s too early to determine when he will be able to begin rehabbing or return to the field.
Denney was hurt during Buffalo’s International League game against Durham (N.C.) when he was struck by a hard liner hit by Joey Gathright, the first batter of the game. Denney was completing his follow-through when the ball struck him behind his right ear. He fell to the ground, immediately clutching his head and kicking his legs in pain, but never lost consciousness.
Denney, who appeared in four major-league games with the Indians last year, is no stranger to unfortunate injuries. He made national headlines in September when he was hit in the right calf by a bullet that came through the side of Cleveland’s bus in Kansas City as the team traveled to the airport.
The bullet caused only a flesh wound, probably because of the tough leather of the knee-high go-go boot he was wearing, Denney and his trainers said. That day, all of Cleveland’s rookies were decked out in outrageous outfits on the bus as part of a hazing ritual.
NHL
Roenick to fans: Don’t come if we’re greedy
Philadelphia Flyers center Jeremy Roenick has some advice for hockey fans who blame the league’s lockout on players’ greed: Once it’s finally settled, stay home.
“We’re going to try to make it better for everybody, period, end of subject. And if you don’t realize that, then don’t come,” Roenick said. “We don’t want you at the rink. We don’t want you in the stadium. We don’t want you to watch hockey.”
FOOTNOTES
Linebackers Lewis, Jones to retire as Jets
The New York Jets signed former linebackers Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones so they can retire as members of the team. Lewis and Jones were released in March 2004 and never signed with another team. They officially will retire today and will be honored at a home game during the upcoming season.
The Oakland Raiders signed defensive tackle Ed Jasper, who played in the first 12 games last season before missing four with a hand injury.
Toyota will end a 12-year run in U.S. open-wheel racing after the 2006 IRL season, the Japanese auto manufacturer said.
D.C. United’s Santino Quaranta replaced injured Dallas forward Eddie Johnson (toe) on the U.S. roster for next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.
