Internationals stick close to United States Mercury rules WNBA again again

For the second consecutive day Friday, the Americans were poised to take a comfortable lead in the Presidents Cup in San Francisco. The International team just wouldn't go away.

It rallied to win two late matches and split the fourballs session, keeping the Americans' lead at one point, 6 1/2-5 1/2

Ernie Els and Mike Weir won the final three holes to turn defeat into a 2-up victory. In the final match on the course, Tim Clark ripped a 3-wood to 15 feet and dropped to his knees when the eagle putt curled into the cup. He and Vijay Singh won the last two holes for a 1-up victory over Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover.

The U.S. team of Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker won again and hasn't had to play the 16th hole this weekend.

Golf's return to Games embraced Golf has a tee time for 2016, and Tiger Woods can hardly wait. The sport returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1904, giving Woods the chance to win Olympic gold.

Olympic officials voted golf in Friday -- along with rugby, giving Woods and his fellow players their chance to compete on sport's biggest stage.

"I think it's great for golf," Woods said from the Presidents Cup in San Francisco. "It's a perfect fit for the Olympics, and I think we are all looking forward to golf getting into the Olympics."

"With no doubt, I think it's going to be exciting," he said.

The contenders are upstart Ryan Briscoe, 2007 IRL king Dario Franchitti and defending champion Dixon, separated by eight points heading into the finale, one of the closest races in IndyCar history.

"I think all three of us are fairly confident," Franchitti said.

Hamlin takes Sprint Cup pole

Denny Hamlin won the pole for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., his first pole of the year.

The fifth-year player averaged 12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 65 games, 36 starts, for Sacramento last season.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal moved into the semifinals of the China Open in Beijing, defeating Marat Safin 6-3, 6-1. Novak Djokovic also reached the semifinal, defeating Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

Horse racing: Rachel Alexandra's handlers made it official that she will not race again in 2009. The star 3-year-old filly concludes her season with an 8-0 record.

Women's basketball: Angel McCoughtry scored 17 points to lead five players in double figures and the U.S. women's basketball team beat ZVVC UKA Prague 100-81 in the opening game of a tournament in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

FROM NEWS SERVICES