Fernando Alonso says he would rather not continue alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next year.
The Spaniard, set to lose the title to his team-mate, said: "I'd be delighted if I didn't carry on with Hamilton."
"If we are not together next season and I can go to a good car, then great. If we have to carry on together then we will have another great battle."
Meanwhile, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has confirmed he has offered Alonso his old job back.
"I told Fernando that the moment he is free from McLaren we would be pleased to have him back," said Briatore.
Briatore is convinced Alonso would not have quit Renault if he had been aware he would receive the same treatment as a rookie.
"If, before signing the contract, they told Fernando, 'Come with us, but you won't have any sort of advantage', he wouldn't have gone," Briatore told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
"If you hire a world champion, then you must give him the number one status."
The relationship between the two McLaren drivers deteriorated after Hamilton criticised Alonso last week.
Alonso, who was speaking in an interview with Spanish radio station SER, also denied speculation he could take 2008 off, returning to Formula One to drive for Ferrari when his McLaren contract runs out in two years' time.
"It hasn't entered into my plans not to race next year," he said.
"I don't have any news about Ferrari. They have a contract with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa for next year, it's not a possibility that has entered into my thoughts for the coming year."
Hamilton says he would rather Alonso was not still at McLaren next year, even if it meant the double world champion ending up at Ferrari.
"I'd much rather it were Fernando at Ferrari and me at McLaren," said Hamilton prior to winning at Fuji Speedway on Sunday.
Alonso's relationship with McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has broken down after a series of disagreements during the year.
It reached a low point during a row at the Hungarian Grand Prix in August over Alonso's status in the team.
Alonso threatened during the row to reveal incriminating e-mail evidence about McLaren's involvement in the spy row that has dominated the sport this summer to the sport's governing body, the FIA.
He quickly apologised and withdrew the threat, but not before Dennis had telephoned FIA president Max Mosley to tell him of the conversation.
It ultimately led to McLaren being thrown out of this year's constructors' championship and fined £49.2m for having confidential Ferrari technical information in their possession.
And Hamilton has turned up the pressure on McLaren to tear up Alonso's contract, which still has two years to run, by saying he sees a long-term future at the team.
Alonso wants split from Hamilton
Tottenham 4-4 Aston Villa
Younes Kaboul completed an amazing comeback by Tottenham as they fought back from 4-1 down to hold Aston Villa.
Dimitar Berbatov nodded Spurs in front but Martin Laursen levelled after Paul Robinson's error, then made it 2-1 when he deflected in Zat Knight's header.
Gabriel Agbonlahor drilled home a third and Craig Gardner's low free-kick made it 4-1 before Pascal Chimbonda replied after Jermain Defoe had hit the post.
Robbie Keane's penalty made it 4-3 before Kaboul's last-gasp leveller.
Tottenham remain in the bottom three of the Premier League but their under-fire boss Martin Jol can take heart from the way his side responded when facing almost certain defeat.
But while the manner in which the home side earned their point will ease the pressure on Jol, he will know he must solve the defensive problems which meant they had to work so hard to get something from this game.
Spurs had celebrated their 125th anniversary with a parade of legends before kick-off but the party did not continue for long once the game was underway.
True, Jol's side were looking dangerous going forward but Tottenham's continuing difficulty in dealing with Villa's attacks meant that, just two minutes after Berbatov rose to nod the home side ahead, the visitors were level.
Robinson inexplicably dropped Gareth Barry's corner and the ball bounced kindly for Laursen, who smashed his shot into the unguarded net. 
Villa's second goal was almost as embarrassing for the Tottenham defence, a quick free-kick catching them unawares and, from another Barry cross, Knight headed the ball against Laursen, through Robinson's legs and into the net.
Things got even worse for Spurs before the break when Gabriel Agbonlahor latched on to a clearance from Villa keeper Scott Carson, held off Michael Dawson and fired into the bottom corner.
And when Robinson failed to keep out Craig Gardner's low free-kick early in the second half, things looked ominous for Spurs and for Jol.
But Tottenham never gave up and, with Defoe brought off the bench, they belatedly began to threaten again.
The England striker hit the post before Chimbonda netted from the rebound to give his side hope, then Robbie Keane brought the score back to 4-3 from the spot after Marlon Harewood clumsily fouled substitute Darren Bent.
It still looked like Villa would hold on but Kaboul had other ideas, slamming home in stoppage time after Villa failed to clear a corner.
Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Bale, Lennon (Malbranque 86), Zokora, Huddlestone, Tainio (Defoe 54), Berbatov (Bent 73), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Rocha.
Booked: Kaboul.
Goals: Berbatov 20, Chimbonda 69, Keane 82 pen, Kaboul 90.
Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Gardner (Petrov 73), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Moore (Harewood 66), Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Davies, Osbourne.
Booked: Reo-Coker, Gardner, Carson.
Goals: Laursen 22, 33, Agbonlahor 40, Gardner 59.
Att: 36,094
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Terry could make return in mask
Chelsea captain John Terry could face Valencia in Wednesday's Champions League clash after having a protective mask made for his broken cheekbone.
Terry, who underwent surgery on Sunday, will travel with the rest of the team to Spain for the key encounter.
"The reason for getting it all done as soon as possible is so he can be back and playing," Chelsea doctor Bryan English told the club website.
"The mask will be taken with us whether he is going to play or not."
England skipper Terry, 26, suffered the injury in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fulham and although the operation was a success, he was unable to train on Monday.
English added: "I don't know when he is going to be back playing but the mask needs to fit properly or another blow will just knock that small piece of bone back."
England manager Steve McClaren said he still hoped Terry would be fit for the country's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia later this month.
England play Estonia on 13 October and Russia four days later.
Chelsea are struggling for form, with the spectre of Jose Mourinho's exit from the club still hanging over them.
They have not won a Premier League game in their last four attempts and were held by Rosenborg in their opening Champions League game.
Striker Didier Drogba returned from injury against Fulham at the weekend but was then sent off.
Drogba can play against Valencia but his suspension in England's top flight comes at a time when Chelsea are struggling for goals, with only two in their last six League games.
Terry was injured in a challenge with Clint Dempsey early in the game against Fulham and was taken off at half-time, despite wanting to continue.
Grant said: "He didn't complain about it at half-time and he wanted to continue but we didn't want to take a risk.
"For me, if it is something with the head, you don't have to take a risk.
"I didn't see the challenge so well. The players mentioned it and said it was an elbow."
There were suggestions Dempsey may be punished but it appears that will not be the case after referee Martin Atkinson did not report the incident to the Football Association.
Schumacher set to quit Toyota
Ralf Schumacher is to quit Toyota at the end of the season after three years with the Japanese team, but has not confirmed which team he will move to.
Schumacher's future has been the source of speculation following a torrid season in which the 32-year-old has taken five points in 15 Grands Prix.
"I have opted to look for a new challenge," he told his website.
"I'm going to have conversations in the coming weeks, and I will announce my decision when the season is over."
Schumacher is on course for his lowest points tally since joining Formula One in 1997. In each of his two previous seasons at Toyota he has amassed 20 points.
It is a far cry from his time at Williams, where he recorded six Grand Prix wins between 2001 and 2003 and was touted to follow in the footsteps of his world champion brother, Michael.
Schumacher added: "The financial aspect is far less important than the chance of being involved in the development of a car and being successful afterwards.
"On the one hand, I regarded it as a major and exciting challenge to be involved in the development of a new racing car.
"On the other hand, I also learned to like the Japanese style of living during my long stay in Japan before entering Formula One, and I still get on well with the Japanese mentality.
"But I have been waiting for years for a competitive car.
"Toyota was still a nice and interesting experience - particularly the co-operation with the team, engineers and mechanics, but it's time now to look for a new challenge."
Olympic discus great Oerter dies
America's former Olympic discus champion Al Oerter has died aged 71 after suffering from high blood pressure and heart problems.
He won gold medals in four consecutive Olympics, a record only he and American sprinter Carl Lewis share in track and field.
But in each of Oerter's successes in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968, the thrower from New York, set an Olympic record.
His wife Cathy Oerter said: "He was a gentle giant, he was bigger than life."
Peter Ueberroth, chairman of the United States Olympic Committee, added: "His legacy is one of an athlete who embodied all of the positive attributes associated with being an Olympian.
"He performed on the field of play with distinction and transferred that excellence to the role of advocate for the Olympic movement and its ideals."
McLaren exposed by spy evidence
Friday, 14 September 2007
McLaren received a systematic flow of information from a spy within rivals Ferrari for nearly three months this year, the FIA has revealed.
Drivers Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa were aware of the information.
It was the possession of this "highly sensitive" data that led the FIA to fine McLaren £49.2m and deduct their constructors' championship points.
The information came to McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan from Ferrari chief mechanic Nigel Stepney.
The data McLaren received over the three-month period concerned the Ferrari car's brakes, weight distribution and aerodynamic balance tyre inflation.
In a 16-page document, the FIA said e-mails showed that test driver De la Rosa and reigning world champion Alonso had been aware of the Ferrari data.
"The emails show unequivocally that both Mr Alonso and Mr de la Rosa received confidential Ferrari information via Mike Coughlan.
"Both drivers knew that this information was confidential Ferrari information and that both knew that the information was being received by Coughlan from Nigel Stepney," the report states.
In what is being viewed as the most damning section of the report, the FIA has published an e-mail exchange between De la Rosa and Alonso.
"All the information from Ferrari is very reliable," De la Rosa wrote to Alonso on 25 March in an exchange about the Ferrari's weight distribution.
"It comes from Nigel Stepney, their former chief mechanic - I don't know what post he holds now.
"He's the same person who told us in Australia that Kimi (Raikkonen) was stopping in lap 18. He's very friendly with Mike Coughlan, our chief designer and he told him that."
These are the main points raised in the statement on the FIA website:
*
Coughlan had more information than previously appreciated
*
Information included sensitive technical information and sporting strategy
*
De la Rosa requested and received secret Ferrari data
*
The information was shared with Alonso
*
Intention by McLaren personnel to use data in their own testing
McLaren has refused to comment on the FIA's revelations, published on the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa.
The extent of the information Coughlan received about the Ferrari goes far beyond what was revealed at a first meeting of the FIA's world motorsport council in July.
At that time, the FIA decided not to punish McLaren because there was no proof the information had been used "in such a way as to interfere with the running of the FIA F1 world championship".
But the new evidence persuaded the world council to change its verdict at Thursday's meeting.
De la Rosa revealed plans to test Ferrari's weight distribution in McLaren's simulator, plans that were later abandoned.
It was revealed that Alonso agreed it was "very important" that McLaren tried out the gas Ferrari were using to inflate their car's tyres.
It also emerged that De la Rosa had asked Coughlan for specific details of Ferrari's braking system, and that the designer revealed to the test driver "we are looking at something similar".
The document appears to explode the view that this was only a case of two rogue employees using the information to find better jobs at other teams, and that the confidential information had not been circulated within McLaren, as the team contended at the first world council meeting.
The world council said it had decided to inflict such a heavy punishment on McLaren because "there was an intention on the part of a number of McLaren personnel to use some of the Ferrari confidential information in its own testing".
It added: "The evidence leads the WMSC to conclude that some degree of sporting advantage was obtained, though it may forever be impossible to quantify that advantage in concrete terms."
Alonso and team-mate Lewis Hamilton were not punished in the drivers' championship because "primary responsibility lies with McLaren, and also because McLaren's drivers were offered individual sanction".
By Andrew Benson
McLaren 'came close to exclusion'
Friday, 14 September 2007
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone says McLaren were "minutes away" from being thrown out of the World Championships of 2007 and 2008 because of 'spygate'.
McLaren were fined £49.2m and lost their points in the constructors' championship after being found guilty of receiving data from a Ferrari spy.
But Ecclestone told the BBC: "It came very close to McLaren being thrown out, it really was a genuine possibility.
"A few of us sort of battled on and campaigned for the fine instead."
Had McLaren been thrown out of the championship altogether, it would have meant the end of the drivers' title challenges of both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
The row centred on McLaren being in possession of a confidential 780-page technical document belonging to Ferrari.
In a 16-page document, motorsport's governing body, the FIA, said e-mails showed that McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa and reigning world champion Fernando Alonso had been aware of the Ferrari data.
Ecclestone said there was no doubt that a similarly heavy punishment would be handed out in future if any other team was found guilty of the same offence.
"Formula One is now more open than it has ever been because the threat is definitely there now if any team is helping anyone else," added Ecclestone.
"Even if it is a smaller team than McLaren, they're gone, without any hesitation.
"The alternative to the fine was worse, being excluded from the championship for two years. It was much closer than everybody says it was.
"It really would have been bad news. McLaren would have lost more than they have been fined, if they'd have been able to keep going."
McLaren duo lead field in Belgium
Friday, 14 September 2007
McLaren cast aside their off-the-track distractions as Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were fastest in second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen had been quickest in the morning session but was pushed into fourth spot after lunch, behind team-mate Felipe Massa.
The Brazilian did well to recover, having slid off at the Rivage hairpin on his first morning warm-up lap.
David Coulthard was 13th, Jenson Button 14th and Anthony Davidson came 21st.
With four rounds of the championship remaining, debutant Hamilton leads the two-time world champion Alonso by just three points.
The Spaniard showed he meant business with a one minute 46.654 second lap of the circuit, which at seven kilometres is the longest on the Formula One calendar.
Hamilton was just over one tenth of a second behind him.
Alonso's time bettered the fastest lap of the morning session, 1:47.339, set by Raikkonen.
The sight of the Finn at the front of the field will have given heart to Ferrari as it proved he is not suffering any ill-effects from his 200mph smash in practice for the Italian Grand Prix.
He drove that race in severe pain with a neck injury but still managed to come a creditable third behind Alonso and Hamilton.
Belgian Grand Prix second free practice times:
1 F Alonso (Sp) McLaren 1 min 46.654 secs
2 L Hamilton (GB) McLaren 1:46.765
3 F Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:46.953
4 K Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:47.166
5 J Trulli (It) Toyota 1:47.491
6 R Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:47.946
7 G Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:48.086
8 M Webber (Aus) RedBull - Renault 1:48.271
9 R Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:48.279
10 H Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1:48.567
11 N Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:48.606
12 N Rosberg (Ger) Williams - Toyota 1:48.840
13 D Coulthard (GB) RedBull - Renault 1:48.883
14 J Button (GB) Honda 1:48.919
15 R Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:49.364
16 A Wurz (Aut) Williams - Toyota 1:49.393
17 S Yamamoto (Jpn) Spyker - Ferrari 1:49.697
18 S Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:49.720
19 T Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri - Honda 1:50.168
20 A Sutil (Ger) Spyker - Ferrari 1:50.399
21 A Davidson (GB) Super Aguri - Honda 1:50.542
22 V Liuzzi (It) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:50.865
First session times:
1 K Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1 min 47.339 secs
2 L Hamilton (GB) McLaren 1:47.881
3 F Alonso (Sp) McLaren 1:47.994
4 N Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:48.052
5 N Rosberg (Ger) Williams - Toyota 1:48.372
6 R Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:48.605
7 A Wurz (Aus) Williams - Toyota 1:48.920
8 J Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:48.994
9 H Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1:49.138
10 J Button (GB) Honda 1:49.330
11 G Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:49.380
12 R Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:49.548
13 M Webber (Aus) RedBull - Renault 1:49.894
14 D Coulthard (GB) RedBull - Renault 1:49.931
15 R Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:50.264
16 S Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:50.482
17 T Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri - Honda 1:50.640
18 A Davidson (GB) Super Aguri - Honda 1:50.648
19 A Sutil (Ger) Spyker - Ferrari 1:50.768
20 V Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:51.628
21 S Yamamoto (Jpn) Spyker - Ferrari 1:52.379
22 F Massa (Brz) Ferrari
Sri Lankans cruise to record win
Friday, 14 September 2007
ICC World Twenty20 Group C, Johannesburg:
Sri Lanka 260-6 (20 ovs) bt Kenya 88 (19.3 ovs) by 172 runs
Sri Lanka amassed the highest Twenty20 international total and crushed Kenya by a record 172 runs in Johannesburg.
Having been put into bat, they blasted 30 fours and 11 sixes in a pulsating 260-6, Sanath Jayasuriya firing 88 off 44 balls with 11 fours and four sixes.
Mahela Jayawardene added an attractive 65 from 28 balls with nine fours and two sixes and Jehan Mubarak lashed four sixes in an over in 46 from 13 balls.
Chaminda Vaas then struck with the third ball as Kenya made only 88.
The Sri Lankans, sporting a new lighter blue strip, quickly recovered from the loss of Upul Tharanga, who failed to make contact with an attempted pull and saw his middle stump knocked back in the third over.
Jayasuriya was soon into his stride with some trademark strokes, a square drive fizzing like a tracer bullet to the point fence for six and a short-arm jab sailing over mid-wicket for another maximum.
The assured Kumar Sangakkara kept the scoreboard ticking over competently, working the ball into the gaps before he was bowled around his legs trying to sweep.
Skipper Jayawardene allowed himself one delivery to acclimatise before nonchalantly flicking his second delivery many rows back at mid-wicket, to bring up the 100 from the final ball of the 10th over.
The Kenyans did themselves no favours, Thomas Odoyo and Lameck Onyango colliding in comical fashion when a rare Jayasuriya top-edge looped to deep mid-wicket.
Then skipper Steve Tikolo, perhaps still conscious of his belief he could restrict Sri Lanka to 150-160, over-stepped, allowing a free hit which was promptly thumped past mid-wicket for four more by Jayasuriya.
Jayawardene was stylish at all times, often backing away effectively to glide the ball through the off-side.
Jayasuriya sent his final six into the back of the large tunnel, the same distant territory found by Chris Gayle on Tuesday, but could not emulate the West Indian's century and departed for 88 from 44 balls when he miscued to mid-on. 
Obuya fumbled a skier from Chamara Silva on the boundary but atoned with a smart piece of ground fielding that ran out the right-hander.
The innings did not exactly need extra impetus, but Mubarak gave it some anyway, despatching the ball to all parts of the ground in a pulsating cameo.
He took 29 from one Onyango over, but was denied the fastest Twenty20 fifty when he failed to connect with the final ball of the innings.
Whatever was said between the Kenyan batsmen in the short interval failed to provide the inspiration as they chased 13 per over.
Chaminda Vaas found immediate swing and trapped Ouma in an opening wicket maiden.
Dilhara Fernando'sopening over went for 17 and Tanmay Mishra provided the highlight of the innings, connecting perfectly with a swipe at Vaas that sailed many a mile at mid-wicket.
But it did not last.
The experienced left-arm seamer exacted his revenge on Obuya, who sank to the turf in a fashion that could only mean he had been hit in one specific area.
Lasith Malinga, complete with an extravagant new hairstyle, was rather too sharp and tricky for the hapless Kenyans, deprived of the injured Odoyo with the bat, and they were swept away by the stylish Sri Lankans.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene: "We played some smart cricket, it was crucial for us in the first few overs not to lose too many wickets.
"We managed to keep it down to just one and then we batted really well. If you lose too many wickets you can dig yourself into a hole but we had wickets in hand and were able to accelerate.
"Mubarak batted brilliantly, I haven't seen him do that for a while, so that was really good."
Kenya captain Steve Tikolo: "After winning the toss we should have done better than we did.
"When you come up against a team like Sri Lanka and the likes of Sanath you have to be on the money."
England battle to hold Germany
Friday, 14 September 2007
England put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup knockout stages as they held tournament favourites Germany to a goalless draw.
Hope Powell's side dominated much of the game and now know a two-goal win over pointless Argentina in their final group game will see them through.
A well-organised England side had few real chances in a tight game.
But it took a fine late save from Rachel Brown to deny Kerstin Garefrekes and secure a well-deserved point.
England coach Powell made two changes of personnel and sweeping changes to her formation from the team that drew with Japan, with only four players starting in the same position.
Anita Asante came in to the centre of defence and Mary Phillip moved to right-back, allowing Alex Scott to move to the right wing and Fara Williams to play a more advanced role in support of Kelly Smith.
The plan was to contain a German side who opened the tournament with 11 unanswered goals against Argentina, whilst still maintaining an attacking edge of their own.
The ploy worked well as England immediately carried the greater threat. Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, winning her 50th cap for Germany, misjudged a long punt forward from Faye White as she raced out of her area and was lucky to flick the faintest of headers behind for a corner as Kelly Smith closed in. 
Even then, the World champions were nearly punished from the corner as White thumped a header wide after rising well.
Karen Carney, switched from her favoured right wing to the left, looked an early threat and it was her glorious cross on 12 minutes which could so easily have produced an opener for England had Katie Chapman been more lively on the edge of the box.
Chapman's frustrating opening continued when she was booked for chopping down Simone Laudehr, ruling her out of England's final group game against Argentina on Monday.
But England continued to boss the game, with Chapman undaunted at the centre of much of their best play as Germany's defence - as yet untested at this tournament - looked shaky at times.
Fara Williams opened that defence up with a neat pass 10 minutes before half-time but her chipped pass was lobbed wide by Alex Scott; then Williams turned provider again as Kelly Smith just failed to get a touch to her free-kick.
At the other end, Germany threatened only from long range, Melanie Behringer finishing a fancy free-kick routine with a piledriver that flew high over Rachel Brown's bar and left-back Linda Bresonik sending a speculative dipper off target.
But, as the rain started to pour down just before half-time, so Germany began to stream forward. Kerstin Garefrekes sent a header straight at Brown, who then did well to turn a Birgit Prinz cross-shot round her near post as the German striker threatened for the first time.
Following her hat-trick against Argentina, Prinz needed only one more goal to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cups, but she found White and the hugely impressive Asante in defiant mood.
No more so than when England captain White, who missed the whole of last season through injury, threw herself into a tangle with Prinz to prevent the striker from getting a clear strike on goal.
Chapman was forced into similar action to deny Garefrekes a shooting chance as England - with one less recovery day than their rivals - began to visibly tire.
And it took a stunning save from Brown to keep out Garefrekes's snap shot in a crowded area and secure the draw England deserved.
Woods storms into lead in Atlanta
Friday, 14 September 2007
SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
(US unless stated)
-13 T Woods
-10 W Austin
-9 M Calcavecchia, T Clark (SA), A Scott (Aus)
-8 S Garcia (Spa), KJ Choi (Kor) Selected others:
-7 P Harrington (Ire), P Mickelson (US)
Tiger Woods took control of the Tour Championship in Atlanta with a stunning second round of 63.
The world number one made five birdies and an eagle, going out in 28 on his way to a 13-under total.
Woody Austin was alone in second on 10 under with a 65, with Mark Calcavecchia (66), Tim Clark (69) and title-holder Adam Scott (66) on 9 under.
Open champion Padraig Harrington shot 70 to tie for eighth place on seven under par.
Woods parred the first three holes before making five successive birdies, including a 60-foot bunker shot at the fifth, followed by the eagle at the ninth.
"You just play shot for shot," said Woods.
"You place the golf ball and you don't worry about anything else. I didn't know I shot 7 under on the front nine. I don't know if it's a zone or not.
"I just felt that the rhythm was good."
And of the eagle, Woods said: "Pure luck.
"If you could have been right behind the ball and seen how that thing was bouncing all over the place, it was actually quite funny.
"It was left of the hole, right of the hole, left of the hole, right of the hole, and then it went in.
"I knew at that time I had a three-shot lead over Woody, and I just wanted to make sure I could increase that on the back nine.
"If felt if I shot under par I would, but two bogeys kind of derailed that."
England face crisis at fly-half
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
England could start the crunch World Cup match against South Africa on Friday without a regular fly-half after Olly Barkley was injured in training.
Barkley has been named in England's XV but faces a scan on a hip injury, while Jonny Wilkinson is not in the 22.
Coach Brian Ashton has dropped Lawrence Dallaglio, Mark Cueto and Joe Worsley from the team that faced the USA.
Nick Easter, Martin Corry and Paul Sackey come into the team, with Jason Robinson moving to full-back.
Skipper Phil Vickery is named in the side, despite the threat that he could be suspended for the game.
He faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday after being cited for kicking USA centre Paul Emerick during Saturday's unimpressive 28-10 win.
If Vickery is ruled out, Ashton confirmed Matt Stevens will start at tight-head with Perry Freshwater coming onto the bench.
Easter comes in for Dallaglio at number eight, while Corry replaces Worsley at flanker and Sackey starts on the left wing.
The other changes are on the bench where Steve Borthwick will provide second-row cover, as Corry is promoted to the starting XV, while Andy Gomarsall takes over from Peter Richards as back-up to Shaun Perry.
Ashton said the Barkley injury, a strained hip flexor, was just another piece of bad luck for the team, coming after the injury that ruled Dave Strettle out of the tournament altogether, and Wilkinson out of the first two games - all three of them non-contact training incidents.
"There was no-one anywhere near him - as usual for an England injury," he said ruefully.
"It would be nice to think there were 10 people on the floor kicking hell out of him," he joked.
Ashton could have a major dilemma on his hands if both Barkley and Wilkinson, who could still be involved depending on the speed of his recovery, are ruled out of Friday's game. 
If Barkley's injury is deemed serious enough to keep him out of contention for both Friday's game and England's next pool game against Samoa, they are likely to send for a replacement, with either Toby Flood or Charlie Hodgson likely to be flown out.
World Cup rules state a player can only be replaced on medical or compassionate grounds, which has to be ratified by a tournament medical officer.
If England want a replacement to be involved in Friday's game, such a move would need to be ratified by 2000BST on Wednesday, 48 hours before kick-off against South Africa.
Alternatively, Ashton might decide to start with Mike Catt or Andy Farrell at number 10, with the other playing centre, although he would then have no back-up fly-half cover on the bench.
"If Olly is not fit and Jonny becomes fit, then problem solved," Ashton said. "But that is just speculation until we know the extent of Olly's injury."
Just to make England's situation worse, Mathew Tait and Dan Hipkiss have been ill and in isolation since the weekend, which is why there is no back three replacement yet in the 22-man squad, which includes one unallocated place on the bench.
Ashton admitted the decision to replace Cueto at full-back was one that had to be taken.
"He's been struggling a bit to find his form, both in the warm-up games and against America," he said.
"He's got a bit of a niggle with a groin injury which might have had some influence (on his play).
"I spoke to Jason Robinson and asked if he was happy to play at full-back, and he's very keen to - it was the obvious choice to make."
The other two personnel changes from the win over the United States are in the back row, with Worsley and former captain Dallaglio the players to make way.
"No-one is dropped in a World Cup tournament, you just pick a different team," said Ashton when asked about the omission of Dallaglio.
"This is a game which could be determined by line-outs, so it's important to have a big line-out presence in the back row.
"That's the reason for putting Martin Corry in - he's played there before, including in the warm-up games, and it was pretty successful in the set-piece.
"If we scrummage well, it gives us the opportunity to do things from the base of the scrum, which we think Easter is pretty adept at.
"He scrummaged reasonably well in South Africa and hopefully this game will give him a chance to show what he's capable of with the ball in his hand."
England team to play South Africa in Stade de France, Friday 14 September:
Robinson; Lewsey, Noon, Catt, Sackey; Barkley, Perry; Sheridan, Regan, Vickery (capt), Shaw, Kay, Corry, Rees, Easter.
Replacements: Chuter, Stevens, Borthwick, Moody, Gomarsall, Farrell, AN Other.
England hatch defence for Habana
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Defence coach Mike Ford says England must starve prolific South Africa winger Bryan Habana of possession if they are to stop him in his tracks.
Habana scored four tries on Saturday as the Springboks demolished Samoa 59-7 in their opening match.
"You can't man-mark him," Ford told BBC Sport ahead of Friday's key pool game.
"What you can do is stop his source, and try to stop the ball going towards him. It is going to be a tough day but not one we are frightened of."
Ford believes Habana has been made more dangerous thanks to the influence of former Australia coach Eddie Jones, who is working as a consultant with the Springboks.
"Eddie Jones has got him popping up here, there and everywhere," said Ford.
"Probably a year ago he stayed on the left wing, but now he can be in the middle of the field or even on the right wing."
England will go into Friday's game on the back of a desperate performance against the USA in their opening game.
The world champions struggled to a 28-10 victory and could be without both Jonny Wilkinson, who is battling injury, and captain Phil Vickery, who faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.
But Ford insisted that England's lacklustre display against the USA would not alter the way they approach the game against South Africa.
"It makes it a bit tougher, in that maybe we didn't get the confidence-boosting performance we would have wanted," he said.
"It hasn't happened, but the fact is South Africa are still the same side - even if we had beaten the USA by 50 points, we still know how the Springboks are going to play.
"We have played them four times since November; I have got so much footage of them it is untrue.
Ford warned that anyone expecting a try-fest in Friday's encounter will probably be disappointed.
"International rugby nowadays, when you get to the top eight nations, is a game of field position.
"Sometimes it is better if you don't have the ball and for the opposition to have it, because it is harder to attack in rugby union.
"It becomes a game of turnovers, about keeping your discipline, kicking your penalties, keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
"When you are up against the top sides in the world, that is the game. There won't be many tries on Friday night.
"You can talk about attack all you want but it rarely happens at this sort of level."
Women's World Cup set to kick off
Monday, 10 September 2007
World champions Germany kick off the 2007 Women's World Cup in China on Monday with a Group A game against Argentina in Shanghai.
Sixteen teams, including England, are taking part in the tournament, which runs from 10 September to 30 September.
This is only the second Women's World Cup finals that England, who with Japan are also in Group A, have reached.
Key to England hopes will be striker Kelly Smith, who has scored 21 goals in 61 games for England.
Described by Dutch coach Vera Pauw as "the best player in the world", the 28-year-old Smith is the first and only English player to have played professionally in the United States.
"It's been a dream of mine to play at a World Cup for well over a decade," Smith recently told the FA website.
"I can't wait to play on the biggest stage of them all - in a competition which everyone says is amazing. Hopefully, we can come out and have a good tournament."
England's first game is against Japan on Tuesday in Shanghai, before Hope Powell's side face Germany in the same city on 14 September.
Their final Group A game is against Argentina in Chengdu on 17 September.
England qualified for the finals after finishing top of their five-team qualifying group, ahead of nearest rivals France, by three clear points.
Having won the tournament in 2003 in the United States, Germany bring a wealth experience to China in defence of their title.
Half of Silvia Neid's current squad were involved in the triumph at USA 2003.
While England have Smith, Germany will look to Birgit Prinz - voted Fifa Women's World Player in 2003, 2004 and 2005 - for inspiration.
This year's tournament will be broadcast to more than 200 countries, up 25% from the previous finals four years ago.
Asians must play in Europe - Park
Monday, 10 September 2007
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung has urged more Asian players to come to Europe.
Park, 26, joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven after impressing for South Korea at the 2002 World Cup before moving to Old Trafford in July 2005.
"For me, it's important for Asian players to come to Europe's top-level teams to learn how to play," Park told the Fifa website.
"Asian football is improving. It will take time to reach European standards."
Park, who is currently injured, believes that the superior facilities at European clubs is a major factor in a player's development.
"In England, they play on grass, whereas back home in Korea they play on hard surfaces or artificial turf," he added.
"Generally, young professionals in the Netherlands and England belong to a club that has great facilities in order for them to develop their talent.
"In Korea they only play for their school and are not part of a club."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that Asian players should move to a club in Europe if they hope to secure a move to one of the top clubs.
"Park came to us from PSV in Holland, so he had already proved himself in a high quality and competitive European league before arriving at United," commented Ferguson.
"That is what Asian players need to do."
Jones must play fly-half - Davies
Monday, 10 September 2007
Stephen Jones must play at fly-half against Australia next Saturday, says Wales great Jonathan Davies.
Jones came on off the bench on Sunday to help inspire Wales from 9-17 down to eventually win 42-17 against Canada.
"I've always said that James Hook should play, but Stephen Jones showed what a good player he is," Davies told BBC Wales' Scrum V programme.
"We needed his experience on the pitch and when he came on he gave us direction and the tactics changed."
It was Jones' first game since the groin injury that almost ruled him out of the entire 2007 World Cup campaign.
There had been doubts over his fitness, but the 29-year-old Scarlets fly-half looked rejuvenated and fresh as he took on the Canadians after replacing Hook.
"Jones and Hook are both different players, but Stephen showed exactly what he is capable of and I think he has played his way back into the team," added Davies.
"He dictated the play when he came on and that is what we need from a number 10.
"We shouldn't write James Hook off and I'm sure he can have a big impact on the game off the bench, but against a side like Australia we need Stephen Jones' experience."
Gareth Jenkins will name his team for Saturday's crucial Pool B match in Cardiff at Wednesday lunchtime.
Vickery faces ban for crunch game
Monday, 10 September 2007
England captain Phil Vickery has been cited after appearing to trip USA centre Paul Emerick during their World Cup match on Saturday.
Vickery now faces a disciplinary hearing and could be banned for England's crunch Pool A game against South Africa in Paris on Friday.
The 31-year-old prop insists he did not deliberately try to trip Emerick.
"It was unfortunate," said Vickery after England's 28-10 win. "But there was certainly no malice from my part."
The incident went unnoticed by referee Jonathan Kaplan, but Vickery has now been reported by the match citing commissioner Steven Heines and the hearing is expected to take place within the next 48 hours.
England are due to name their team for the South Africa clash on Tuesday but will now have to wait on Vickery's availability before finalising their line-up.
If the Wasps prop is suspended, Durban-born Matt Stevens will start at tight-head against his native country, with Perry Freshwater coming on to the replacements' bench.
Emerick, who has also been cited for a dangerous tackle on England fly-half Olly Barkley late on in the match, played down the incident with Vickery after the encounter.
"The referee was behind the play and maybe he will look back on it and say 'maybe I missed a call there'," Emerick told BBC Sport.
"But hands go one way and legs go another, that is just the way the game goes. I am sure it was a reaction, rather than pre-meditated."
England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is already a major doubt for Friday's crunch game with an ankle ligament injury and the loss of skipper Vickery would be another major blow to coach Brian Ashton.
If Vickery is banned then Ashton is likely to turn to Bath prop Matt Stevens to fill the tight-head berth.
An England statement said: "Captain Phil Vickery will attend the hearing with the squad's legal representative Richard Smith and a further comment will be made after the hearing is concluded."
Vickery, speaking on Saturday, outlined his version of events.
"I was back-tracking like a good prop forward, always looking for a corner flag, and unfortunately I tapped him," he added.
"I thought the game was played in a good spirit and I am glad there was no damage done to him or myself."
US Open 2007
Monday, 10 September 2007
Roger Federer admitted he was starting to think about the all-time record for Grand Slam victories after claiming his 12th at the US Open on Sunday.
Federer, 26, beat Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 in the final and is now two Grand Slam victories from equalling Pete Sampras on 14.
"I think about it a lot now," he said. "To come so close already at my age is fantastic - I really hope to break it.
"I don't know (how many I can win). I hope more than Pete."
Federer became the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win four US Open titles in a row, but he had to come from a break down in all three sets against 20-year-old Serb Djokovic.
"I played well when I had to," said the Swiss, who had to save seven points in total. "I've played better matches no doubt.
"A lot of pressure for both of us. He made it hard for me in the beginning. All in all, I'm happy with my performance."
The world number one revealed that he still feels the affect of nerves, despite his extraordinary success.
"I've had an upset stomach the last few days, I've been nervous, shaking, had cold hands before the match, I've had it all," he said.
"I'm supposed to be the experienced guy who has got used to the situation but you never do get used to it."
Djokovic was honest in his assessment of the match, saying he was "mentally weaker" than Federer at the key moments.
"I think at the important moments," he said, "especially in that first set when I served at 40-40 and I had the wind behind me so I was in a good position, everything was good and suddenly I started making these unforced errors, which were really not understandable.
"Then I was quite nervous, there was a lot of pressure and I knew that I have to make some shots.
"Obviously that was a mistake and I just had to calm down and wait for my chances. I made a lot of first-shot unforced errors in that game, I think that was pretty crucial.
"I think I was weaker mentally on the important points and he was mentally stronger. So that was my mistake and my weakness today.
"It's normal, it's a bad day, in general looking at the whole US Open I've been performing really well. Today I had a lot of chances, I didn't use them."
And the world number three took some positives from his impressive fortnight in New York.
"Looking at the situation it was a first Grand Slam final for me, 23,000 people and everybody expected a nice match," he said.
"I had quite a lot of pressure but on the other hand I enjoyed it, it was an amazing experience."
Hargreaves and Lampard ruled out
Monday, 10 September 2007
England v Russia
Wembley Stadium
Wednesday, 12 September
Kick-off: 2000 BST
England midfielders Owen Hargreaves and Frank Lampard have both been ruled out of the Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia because of injury.
The pair have thigh injuries that led to them also missing Saturday's 3-0 win over Israel at Wembley.
More encouragingly, midfielder Steven Gerrard is fit to play.
Gerrard played against Israel without having a painkilling injection in his fractured toe but suffered from cramp and was substituted after 71 minutes.
The Liverpool midfielder told BBC Sport: "I'm fit for selection on Wednesday and the toe is feeling good."
Manchester United midfielder Hargreaves has returned to Old Trafford, while Lampard has gone back to Chelsea.
The absence of Hargreaves and Lampard is likely to mean that Gareth Barry keeps his place in the England side after an impressive display against Israel.
Peter Crouch is available again after his ban and competes with Emile Heskey to partner Michael Owen up front.
In the absence of the injured David Beckham, Shaun Wright-Phillips is likely to continue on the right flank at Wembley after his man-of-the-match display there on Saturday.
And former England captain Alan Mullery feels another impressive Wright-Phillips performance against Russia should be enough for him to keep his place - even when Beckham is fit.
Asked if he thought the diminutive winger should be first choice, Mullery told Radio 5live's Sportsweek: "If he plays like that on Wednesday, then definitely.
"He gives you something different and has also looked extremely sharp playing for Chelsea this season.
"David has been a great distributor of the ball, great from dead ball situations and with his passing ability.
"But what you have got with this boy is a lad who can take people on and beat them with his pace.
"David has never been blessed with pace, nor was I - I did a job.
"David has done his job extremely well over the years, but now you have a new era of player.
"At international level, you have got to have players who can beat people."
US Open 2007
Sunday, 9 September 2007
Justine Henin cruised to a second US Open and seventh Grand Slam title with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova in Saturday's final.
The Belgian went into the match with a 14-2 record against Kuznetsova, and having beaten Serena and Venus Williams in her last two matches.
And Henin, 25, played some more fabulous tennis as she broke three times in dominating the first set.
She kept up that form in the second to regain the title she first won in 2003.
"It's such a great feeling - my first win four years ago was an amazing memory and this is just fantastic," said Henin.
"I want to thank my coach Carlos Rodriguez who has made me a better player and a better person."
It was a disappointing match as a contest but that was more to do with Henin's brilliance than a particularly bad performance from Kuznetsova.
The Russian, who won the title in 2004, has been playing well enough to ensure she will be ranked second in the world come Monday but was out of her depth against Henin.
Winners flowed from the Belgian's racquet from the outset and the pace of her groundstrokes and attacking game plan simply overwhelmed Kuznetsova at first.
Henin moved 4-0 clear with some heavy forehands and sharp net play, and Kuznetsova's only game of the set was a brief respite from the onslaught.
A few Henin double faults gave Kuznetsova moments of hope in the second set but when the top seed came back from 40-0 down to break in game four, it was as good as over.
The only wobble for Henin came when she served for the title, with two more double faults seeing her face three break points.
But Kuznetsova could not find the necessary consistency at key moments and, after a Henin ace, two errors let the world number one off the hook.
When championship point arrived, Henin closed out a fine rally with a delicate lob volley that, for the final time, left Kuznetsova stranded.
Kuznetsova said: "I think the match was much closer than the score, for sure.
"When she plays her best game I have to play my best game. I didn't play my best game so that's why I lost.
"She is number one now and I think she deserves it. She works very hard. She's very professional.
"She still had some ups and downs today, and I just didn't use it."
