Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Mickelson makes fast start at U.S. Open
Phil Mickelson, who is yearning to complete a career grand slam of the four majors by winning his first U.S. Open, made a fast start to seize the early lead in the opening round on Thursday. The American left-hander, a runner-up at the U.S. Open a record six times, birdied the third, fifth and eighth holes in firm, fast running conditions on the links-style Chambers Bay layout to reach the turn in three-under 32.
Woods sinks to bottom at Chambers Bay
Tiger Woods sank to the bottom of the U.S. Open leaderboard after an opening round 10-over 80 on Thursday, but vowed to fight on and return to the top. Without a major title since his U.S. Open victory seven years ago at Torrey Pines, Woods chances of ending the drought seems unlikely after he carded the fourth highest score in his professional career to leave him 15 shots behind co-leaders Dustin Johnson and Swede Henrik Stenson.
Disgraced NBC anchorman Brian Williams blames ego for exaggerating stories
Fallen anchorman Brian Williams said on Friday he was not trying to mislead people by exaggerating stories about his work but that his ego drove him to make the mistakes that cost him his job on NBC's "Nightly News." Williams, who will end a six-month NBC-imposed suspension in August, appeared on the network's "Today" show and said he was sorry for the inaccuracies.
Vettel quickest in Austrian GP practice
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was first and last in Austrian Grand Prix practice on a Friday that team principal Maurizio Arrivabene will not forget in a hurry after nearly being run over by Felipe Massa. Vettel completed only four laps in the morning session before pulling over with a gearbox problem but he did 28 in the afternoon and ended the day with the fastest lap of one minute 09.600 seconds.
Karlovic hits record 45 aces for spot in Halle semis
Croatian Ivo Karlovic hit a record 45 aces en route to beating third seed Tomas Berdych and reach the Halle Open semi-finals on Friday. The big-serving Croatian, standing at 2.11 meters tall, improved the record for a three-set ATP tour match by one ace, winning 7-5 6-7(8) 6-3.
Farah denies doping, says missed tests 'simple mistakes'
Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah has denied ever taking performance-enhancing drugs and said rumors and speculation over his career after the revelation that he missed two drugs tests "are completely false". The 32-year-old has been under the spotlight since his coach Alberto Salazar was accused of violating anti-doping rules in a BBC documentary earlier this month.
Violinist Mae has four-year ban annulled
Pop violinist Vanessa Mae has overturned a four-year ban and been cleared of fixing Alpine skiing races but she was still ineligible to compete at the Sochi Winter Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Friday. CAS found there was "insufficient evidence" to back last year's suspension imposed by the International Ski Federation (FIS) for manipulating giant slalom races in Slovenia which allowed her to qualify for the Sochi Games at the last minute.
No lapses if Williams wants Serena Slam: Evert, McEnroe
Serena Williams has a great chance to sweep to victory at Wimbledon and hold all four grand slam titles at the same time but she must raise her consistency, former champions Chris Evert and John McEnroe said on Thursday. Williams is one Wimbledon title away from completing what she calls the Serena Slam for the second time in her career -- having followed up her 2014 U.S. Open success with victories at this year's Australian and French Opens -- but must overcome her recent lean spell on grass.
Park In-bee: South Korea's unsmiling, silent assassin
Few golfers would describe Park In-bee's languid, truncated swing as "textbook", but after winning her sixth career major at the Women's PGA Championship on Sunday, the South Korean is no doubt content to have played her way into the record books. While New Zealand teen Lydia Ko's stunning rise from amateur to world number one hogged the global golfing headlines over the last year, Park has quietly cemented her place as one of the game's all-time greats.
Tour de France could withdraw from 2016 UCI calendar
Tour de France organizers ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) have threatened to pull their races from the International Cycling Union calendar because of a lack of progress in the UCI's reform program, Reuters has learned. A source close to the UCI management committee told Reuters that ASO sent a letter to the UCI saying they would withdraw from the 2016 calendar if the reform does not go forward, with their main concern centered on ensuring major race dates do not clash.
