MILWAUKEE — Tiger Woods remained No. 1 in the world golf ranking Monday, though not even close to that on two lists — the Ryder Cup and FedEx Cup — that mean much more these days.
Woods failed to qualify for the Ryder Cup for the first time — he had led the standings every other time since 1997 — and now must rely on U.S. captain Corey Pavin spending one of four wild-card picks on him.
In a hotel conference room Monday, Pavin would only say that Woods is “high on my list” and will be a “big consideration” when he announces his selections Sept. 7.
“I’m looking at him in essence like any other player,” Pavin said. “I’m certainly not going to disrespect other players by considering him different from other players.”
Woods wound up No. 12 in the Ryder Cup standings, but is No. 108 in the FedEx Cup standings — one spot behind Pavin.
Haslem: I will be vindicated
MIAMI — Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat released a statement Monday expressing confidence he will be vindicated, one day after he was charged with possession of marijuana following a traffic stop.
A passenger in Haslem’s 2008 Mercedes sedan told the Florida Highway Patrol that marijuana found in the car Sunday afternoon after the Heat forward was pulled over for speeding on a South Florida highway was his — and Haslem’s attorney insisted that’s enough reason for the third-degree felony charge to be dropped.
Haslem is accused of possessing more than 20 grams of marijuana, a third-degree felony, along with four misdemeanor counts of having drug paraphernalia.
• Prosecutors in New York say Pacers draft pick Lance Stephenson pushed his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, then grabbed her and hit her head on the bottom step.
A judge released Stephenson, 19, without bail Sunday night after his arrest on assault, menacing and harassment charges.
Bobek sentenced in meth case
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Former U.S. figure skating champion Nicole Bobek was ordered to spend five years on probation for her role in a New Jersey methamphetamine ring.
The 32-year-old pleaded guilty in June to a charge of conspiring to distribute crystal meth as part of a network that allegedly distributed $10,000 worth of the drug per week.
Footnotes.
Ninth-seeded Andy Roddick advanced to the second round of the Cincinnati Masters with a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 win over Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky.
• Michael Phelps will swim the 400-meter individual medley at this week’s Pan Pacific championships in Irvine, Calif., for the first time since the 2008 Olympics.
• Former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach will be an analyst on games for cable network CBS College Sports this season.
• Former Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee, 63, signed a contract to play with the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League.
• The Chicago Blackhawks have re-signed veteran defenseman Nick Boynton to a one-year deal.
The Associated Press
