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MEMPHIS, Tenn. Ahmad Bradshaw Jersey . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. Jude Classic wanting to tune up for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst by finishing strong. He did just that Thursday. Mickelson shot a 3-under 67, birdieing three of his final four holes in windy conditions before a thunderstorm softened up TPC Southwind. It was his first round in the 60s since the third round at the Wells Fargo Championship. He hadnt shot below 70 since. He missed the cut at The Players Championship and tied for 49th last week in the Memorial following a visit from FBI agents and lingering questions about an insider-trading investigation. Lefty hasnt won in 19 events dating to the British Open and is among the players in Tennessee tuning up for Pinehurst. "I did exactly what I need to do and some momentum that I need heading into the U.S. Open," Mickelson said. "Tomorrows round, the same thing. Finish strong and play a good round." Ben Crane shot a 7-under 63 giving him the lead in the suspended first round, taking advantage of the 3 1/2-hour delay that left nearly perfect scoring conditions with no wind and rain-softened greens. He had five of his seven birdies on his final nine, the last a few minutes before play was suspended because of darkness. Sixty players were unable to finish the round. Peter Malnati shot a 65, and Billy Horschel also was 5 under with two holes left to play. Retief Goosen and Joe Durant each had a 66, while Stuart Appleby, Zach Johnson and Jason Bohn were on the course at 4 under. Appleby had a hole-in-one on the 157-yard eighth hole, using a 7-iron. That was his 17th hole, and the last one he completed. Crane needed only 24 putts for his best round of the season, including a 27-footer for birdie on his final hole at No. 9 with only a handful of people watching because officials closed the course to spectators because of the high winds with the storm. "We caught a huge break being on this side of the wave," Crane said. "You know this is ideal Memphis weather. Its as good as it gets. It was calm, barely any wind. The greens softened up. We were able to attack some of the pins." Mickelelson, who tied for second at Southwind last year, was among the 53 players who finished before play was delayed. Even with tricky wind Thursday morning, Mickelson said his focus on each shot was much better. Hes trying to better visualize the shot and curve his irons so that his approach shots land closer to the hole, giving him more tap-in opportunities. Finishing with the three birdies in his final four holes was exactly what he wanted in a round with five birdies and two bogeys. He hit his approach from 135 yards on the par-4 sixth to 5 feet and rolled in the birdie putt. He left himself longer putts with a 7-footer on the par-3 eighth and an 11-footer on the par-4 ninth, but knocked them in for his strong finish. "Ive been struggling with finishing the round strong," Mickelson said. "I had a good round last week on Thursday and then played poorly. To birdie three of the last four made it a great round. Thats exactly what I need to do." Firm greens made it tough to land balls close, but Goosen credited them with helping him roll in some of his birdie putts. He sunk a couple from 5 feet or closer, but also had a couple birdie putts from 14 feet. Goosen also saved par on No. 7 with a 12-foot putt. "The greens are as good as greens as you can get," Goosen said. "The greens are rolling close to 13 on the stimpmeter. They are really good. You hit the right putt, they are going to go in." A seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, Goosen hasnt won on tour since 2009. He has two top-10 finishes this year as he continues his comeback from back surgery in August 2012. He tied for third in Memphis in 2011 and said he really likes the course. Divots: Robert Garrigus withdrew after hurting his wrist in the 18th fairway. He had a 79 that included three bogeys, a double and an 8 on the par-4 17th. ... Players will resume the second round at 7 a.m., with the second round starting approximately 40 minutes later. Jonathan Newsome Jersey . "First, I would like to offer my deepest and sincerest apologies for any harm I have inflicted on University of Missouri defensive lineman, Michael Sam," the statement read. Dwayne Allen Jersey . Bryan Murray made an announcement after the GMs meetings - and as was reported by Pierre LeBrun a couple of weeks ago - that Jason Spezza wants a trade out of Ottawa. Whats the latest on that? Pierre LeBrun: Yes, he made it public.LOS ANGELES -- The ball was dropping everywhere for the Giants through the first two innings. After that, they couldnt get a hit. They made their early runs hold up, beating Los Angeles 8-4 Friday and spoiling the Dodgers home opener played nearly two weeks after they began the season in Australia. Michael Morse keyed a six-run first inning with a two-run single in the Giants highest-scoring opening inning since they scored six on June 2, 2008, against the Mets. "We had some breaks and we know it," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, "so you take them." David Huff (1-0) got the victory, allowing two hits in 1 2-3 innings of relief while striking out three. After retiring the first two batters, Hyun-Jin Ryu got pummeled for six runs while giving up six hits, including four in a row as the Giants batted around. They finished Ryu with two more runs in the second, extending their lead to 8-0. It was the South Koreans shortest outing as a Dodger. Ryu and four relievers combined to hold the Giants hitless over the final 7 1-3 innings. "I dont really feel like he got thumped," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We didnt help him for sure. Things didnt go his way, but I like the way he handled himself. He could have gotten irritated." Ryu (1-1) gave up a career-high eight runs -- six earned -- and eight hits while getting six outs. The left-hander walked three and struck out two while making his third start in six games. He was moved up in the rotation after injured ace Clayton Kershaw went on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a strained muscle in his back. Kershaw may be out a month. "You wish it was one of those games buried on a Tuesday night in August instead of opening day," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. "It was one of those games where he (Ryu) just couldnt catch a break." Pablo Sandoval walked, Buster Posey singled and Morse singled them in for a 2-0 lead. Center fielder Matt Kemp bobbled Morses hit, allowing him to take second on the error, and Brandon Belt singled in another run. Activated from the disabled list before the game, Kemp wasnt originally in the lineup but was inserted after Yasiel Puig arrived late to the ballpark and was removed from the batting order. "The first two innings were sloppy defensively," Kemp said. "We didnt do a good job of anything, but we kept fighting. We kept grinding. Youre going to have those games when you start out slow.&quoot; Puig said after the game through a translator that he had already apologized to his teammates and Mattingly. Mike Adams Colts Jersey. "Im sincerely sorry. It was my fault," he said. "Ill be here early tomorrow." Pitcher Ryan Vogelsongs bloop single scored Belt and Brandon Hicks after an intentional walk to Joaquin Arias, extending San Franciscos lead to 5-0. Angel Pagans RBI single tacked on another run. Hicks had an RBI double and Arias added an RBI single to make it 8-0 in the second. Bochy successfully challenged a call in the seventh after Hanley Ramirez singled leading off and was called safe in stealing second. Second base umpire Marty Fosters call was overturned under the new video review rule. "Thats a big call. Theres nobody out and they got the leadoff hitter on, but it worked out well," Bochy said. "We also had one before today that didnt work out well, so hopefully at the end of the season, you have more that go your way. But I like it. I just take it for granted that you have to use your challenge if you have one." The Dodgers got back-to-back homers by Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier leading off the fourth to trail 8-2. Kemp doubled in a run in the fifth, his first hit in his season debut after rehabbing left ankle and shoulder injuries. "It felt good to come back. Its been a rough 1 1/2 years for me," Kemp said. Vogelsong allowed seven hits and four runs in four-plus innings. He struck out four and walked two. "Ive been throwing the ball exactly the way I wanted to. I just got away from it a little bit," he said. "Ill try to get my stuff cleaned up before the next outing." Notes: The Dodgers streak of winning every home opener since 2008 ended at six. They are 28-25 in home openers. ... The Dodgers allowed the most runs in a home opener since 2006, when they lost 11-10 to Atlanta. ... The Dodgers entire team was introduced for the fifth time this season, including twice in Australia and twice in San Diego, where they opened the North American portion of the schedule. ... Dodgers Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully rode in a baby blue 1965 Mustang convertible to home plate, where he handed rather than tossed the first pitch to Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax while other Dodger greats who had defining career moments announced by Scully ringed the plate. ... Former Dodgers broadcaster Ross Porter, who spent 28 years with the team starting in 1977, served as honorary public address announcer. cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
