SYDNEY — Tiger Woods bogeyed his first three holes today, and it didn’t get much better in the Australian Open. He wound up with a 3-over-par 75, going from a one-shot lead to six shots behind John Senden.
It was the third straight time Woods had at least a share of the lead and failed to break par.
Senden, who won the Australian Open five years ago at Royal Sydney, birdied his last two holes to finish off a 9-under 63 that gave him a one-shot lead over Jason Day (68—205) going into the final round.
It was a good day for scoring — except for Woods.
He made a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 4, then didn’t make another birdie until a two-putt from 50 feet up the slope on the par-5 14th.
• Hall of Famer Juli Inkster shot a 3-under 69 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead with Anna Nordqvist (65—136) in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico.
• James Morrison shot a 3-under 68 to take the clubhouse lead by two shots during the suspended second round of the Singapore Open.
Marlins make pitch to Pujols
MIAMI — Albert Pujols, a free agent for the first time after spending his first 11 major-league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, was courted in Miami by the Marlins, only hours before they officially changed their name — from Florida to Miami — during a ceremony at their new ballpark. Pujols had lunch with team officials, checked out the stadium and received a contract offer.
• Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton had surgery to repair a sports hernia. He is expected to be fully recovered for the start of spring training in February.
• Charlie Lea, the first French-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the major leagues when he beat the San Francisco Giants 4-0 on May 9, 1981, while pitching for the Montreal Expos, died of undisclosed causes at his Tennessee home. He was 54.
• Benjamin “Benny” McCoy, a player for the Detroit Tigers in the 1930s, died Wednesday in Grandville, Mich. He was 96.
Footnotes.
The NCAA suspended Marquette freshman Juan Anderson for the first three games of the basketball season for accepting a free ticket to a Milwaukee Brewers playoff game.
• Loic Remy outmuscled defender Clarence Goodson to score in the 72nd minute, giving France a 1-0 exhibition victory that dropped the visiting Americans to 1-4-1 since Jurgen Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley as coach in late July.
• Del Worsham (top fuel), Tony Schumacher (top fuel), Robert Hight (funny car), Mike Edwards (pro stock) and Andrew Hines (pro stock motorcycle) were the top qualifiers heading into today’s season- ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona.
• Roger Christian, who helped the U.S. hockey team win the 1960 Olympic gold medal, died Wednesday in Warroad, Minn. He was 75.
• North Carolina State forward C.J. Leslie will miss three games after he and a relative received $410 in improper benefits.
