Mickelson, Woods set for duel today

Last update: November 8, 2009 - 12:43 AM

Phil Mickelson moved from a two-shot deficit against Tiger Woods to a two-shot lead over the final eight holes Saturday in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Woods stalled with pars and Mickelson poured in three birdies over his last five holes for a 5-under 67 and a two-shot lead over Woods and Nick Watney in the final World Golf Championship event of the year. Mickelson and Woods will be the final group for the final round. Woods shot 70 Saturday.

It will be the first time the world's top two players have been in the final group since their Duel at Doral in 2005, won by Woods.

TENNIS

Italy leads U.S. in Fed Cup final

Alexa Glatch and Melanie Oudin lost in straight sets, and Italy took a 2-0 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup final in Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Glatch lost to Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-1, and Francesca Schiavone rallied after a two-hour rain delay to defeat Oudin 7-6 (2), 6-2 on the outdoor red clay court.

Reverse singles and doubles will be played today.

HOCKEY

Canada tops U.S. in final

Canada rallied from a goal down to beat the United States 5-1 in the Four Nations Cup final in Tikkurila, Finland.

Former Gopher Jocelyne Lamoreux, now at North Dakota, gave the United States the lead midway through the first period, but Canada took control, piling on three power-play goals after pulling ahead 2-1.

NFL

Broncos add veteran Law

The Denver Broncos shored up their secondary, signing cornerback Ty Law.

Law, 35, who has been to five Pro Bowls. He gives the Broncos five players over 30 in the defensive backfield.

Law, a 15-year veteran, had been training in Florida.

AUTO RACING

Busch wins again in Texas

Kyle Busch won his fourth consecutive Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, and today he will try to become the first driver to win all three of NASCAR's national series on the same weekend. He won a Truck Series race Friday and will drive in the Sprint Cup race today.

It was Busch's eighth Nationwide victory this year.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

St. Paul fighter takes loss

Fedor Emelianenko stopped St. Paul fighter Brett Rogers in the second round in a Strikeforce M-1 Global heavyweight bout in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Emelianenko (31-1) landed a right hook that sent Rogers (10-1) to the mat, then hit him with a flurry of punches.

Rogers had a measure of success. Emelianenko had won his past five fights in the first round until Saturday.

AROUND THE HORN

Baseball: Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge will have surgery on his right elbow Wednesday to remove a loose body. ... Catcher Shinnosuke Abe drove in the game-winning run to help the Yomiuri Giants defeat the Nippon Ham Fighters 2-0 in Tokyo and win the Japan Series in six games.

Figure skating: Brian Joubert of France won the NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan, earning his first Grand Prix title of the season with a strong performance in the free skate. He finished 15 points ahead of Johnny Weir of the United States.

Boxing: David Haye won the WBA heavyweight title in Nuremburg, Germany, with a majority decision over Nikolai Valuev. Haye is 23-1, Valuev 50-2.

Soccer: John Thorrington and Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored as the Chicago Fire advance to the MLS Eastern Conference final with a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution in Bridgeview, Ill. Chicago will host Real Salt Lake on Saturday.

FROM NEWS SERVICES