Choi will last Toms to win players after the playoffs

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - K .J. Choi did all that was required of the winner at The Players Championship.

Not only did he hit the Green Island on the 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass, he did three times in a day. With the tournament on the line, he obtained tumultuous under for by 80 feet on the final hole Sunday.

Despite all that Choi did win, the players Championship may be remembered as much for the way it has been lost.

David Toms, who reached a plugs 6 - iron and made a birdie from 18 feet on the hardest hole putt to force a playoff, missed a putt 3? feet by 17 to hand Choi, the biggest victory of his career.

"No excuses, no mark spike ball without marks, nothing," Toms said of his bogey three-putt on the first hole of sudden death playoff. "Maybe that much pressure." "But other that that, no there was no excuse."

On a hole designed to provide a large theatre - 17 Green Island - finishing fell flat.

The two players hit the green in the playoffs, and the advantage went Toms with a shot which is about 18 feet more far. Choi drags his putt birdie from long approximately 3 feet by the hole and Toms believed only to have a winner with his putt from 18 feet until he slipped by laminated cutting 3? feet by the Cup. In the grain, slightly upward, he is not hitting it solidly and missed.

Choi tapped in the putt and pumped his fist, but his heart felt for the 44-year-old Toms.

"As a player of colleagues, I felt very sorry for him," Choi said. "Because I know how that feels." And I felt bad for him. ?

Choi had reason to rejoice for his own prowess. Winless on the PGA Tour for three years, he took the outright lead with a birdie from 10 feet 17 in the regulations, registered by September 18 with a putt of just next to 5 feet to close with a 2-70 and kept its constant nerves.

The Korea of the South lived in Jacksonville briefly when he arrived in America and practised once at the TPC Sawgrass, although he said his game wasn't good enough then to break by.

Now, Choi is a champion of The Players, won the biggest event on the PGA Tour.

"For me to turn as each day on this course this week, it's like a miracle, to be honest with you," Choi said.

Choi won for the eighth time in his PGA Tour career, harvested the largest scholarship $ 1.71 million in the golf tournament, moved to no. 15 in the world and all but assured itself a place in the Presidents Cup team.

Toms, winless in five years, had an easy time with positive. He was the head of 36 holes, finished the round third rain delay Sunday morning only one ball behind and spent some five hours with his name at the top of the ranking in the final series.

And his birdie on the 18th century - one of the only four birdies on the toughest hole at Sawgrass last round - he hit 6 - iron to a clods of 18 feet and forced a playoff.

"It was the best putt I had an awful long time", said Toms.

Despite this, it is difficult to pass a pair of errors.

One came by-5 16, when he had a One-Shot forward on Choi and tried to reach the green in two. His approach found the water, and Toms wound up making bogey. It was the famous guy to lay the 18 by 4 at Atlanta Athletic Club when he won his lone major at the PGA Championship 10 years earlier.

TOMS was trying to put pressure on Choi.

"I thought that I could hit the shot," he said.

And then came the putt when part him already thought password on the second playoff hole decided the tournament. A consolation for Toms, with knowing that his game is close, is that he moved to no. 46 in the world and can avoid US Open qualification if it can stay there a week more.

TOMS also finished with a 70, join Choi in the playoffs at 13-under 275.

For many players felt that they also wasted chances, no more than US Open champion Graeme McDowell and Nick Watney.

McDowell, who had a One-Shot lead when the third round held Sunday morning due to rain delays, has lost its way after the fact of a tee wandering in the trees on the sixth hole. He hit four shots in the water the rest of the road, and closed with a 79.

Watney was in control late in the third round until, playing a stretch of three holes in 4-over par, then fell with consecutive turn bogies in the final round and could never catch up.

Paul Goydos, who has lost a match to Sergio Garcia in 2008 when the tour decided to make 17 of the first hole of the playoff, closed with a 69 to finish alone in third.

Luke Donald was never on the right track, but still managed a 71 for his seventh consecutive top 10. He shared fourth with Watney (71) and moved to no. 2 in the world, giving England the top two places in the world ranking.

Donald and McDowell wore a blue suit for all Navy in honour of Severiano Ballesteros - its famous Sunday color - who died last week.

TOMS took a share of the lead on the second hole and never towed until the finish line.

It is a long day for each of them - 32 holes for Toms, 27 holes for Choi, because the third delayed round rain which had to be completed Sunday morning.

A single shot by McDowell, with a wicked bounce, give the tone for the final round - for him and those chasing him.

With consecutive birdies in several collapses, McDowell suddenly had a three-shot lead as he closed the third round. Right rough on 18 September, his ball took a hard hop short of the green, made the slope with a speed and did not prevent roll until it was on the edge and into the water. After a fall, he has three launcher for double bogey back to 12-under 204.

This One-Shot lead did not last long, and neither has McDowell.

He drilled a putt of 50-foot birdie on no. 5 to catch the Toms and then collapsed with a tee shot into the trees on no. 6, a tee shot in the water on no. 7 and particular to try to blast off squarely behind a plant on the ninth. He made bogey on all of them, then dropped another blow in the water on the 13th, 17th and 18th.

What makes the three final holes so dramatic, it is that anything can happen. No one could suggest that would end as he has done.

Copyright 2011 by the Associated Press

Ferriero's OT winner in the early days of the playoffs throws sharks

SAN JOSE, California - in a series filled with some of the greatest stars of hockey and the most accomplished players, is someone who has spent almost the entire second half of the season in minors who came up with the largest play - the day of his birthday no less.

Little used Benn Ferriero scored 7: 03 in overtime in his debut match on a deflected goal that gave the Sharks in San José, a 2-1 victory on the Red Wings in Detroit Friday night in game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinal series.

"Must always be ready," said Ferriero, who provided the capper perfect of his 24th birthday. "You never know when they will appeal to you." You will practice and do everything you can be ready to play. When your number gets called you must be prepared. ?

Ferriero kick hit off the coast of Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart stick and exceeded Jimmy Howard for the game winner seconds after the Red Wings had killed a penalty four minutes. Stuart violently his stick on the ice at the rejection after the goal, the Red Wings to fall back into their series with the Sharks.

Ferriero has only seven goals in 57 games of the season regular and played only once in the NHL after February 5 this season.

"You never know who will be the hero," said defenceman Dan Boyle sharks. "You never know where it will come." This is just an example of just shooting, just making the net in overtime. You never know what will happen. ?

Joe Pavelski scored the equalizing goal on the game of power in the third period for San Jose. Antti Niemi made 24 saves as the sharks won their fourth hours additional game of this postseason.

In the first period for Detroit, Nicklas Lidstrom scored the day after his 41st birthday. Howard made 44 saves, including three in the Justin Abdelkader double minor for asking, but had little chance on the Ferriero deflected winner game.

"It is very disappointing, especially after the leader for most of the game," Lidstrom said. "" "". We could kill this penalty four minutes in overtime. They kept coming at us; our guy came out of the box, and it is still a rush in our area. This is what happens in the playoffs. You will have these oscillations of momentum. ?

Game 2 is Sunday in San Jose.

After be averted more than two periods by Howard, the Sharks finally pierced in the middle of the third on their third power play out night with Todd Bertuzzi for boarding Pavelski.

Joe Thornton took a big shot from just inside the blue line that Howard has stopped, but Pavelski lays low rebound of flight with his stick and in the net tied with 9: 38 to go with first power play goal from San Jose in four games this postseason.

Pavelski played a major role in the San Jose victory series over Detroit a year ago, scoring four goals in the first two games, including the equalizer tally in the third period of game 2. It was one of two third-period returns in this series for the Sharks, who got him again in the first game this year.

The Red Wings killed an another power play later in the third and withstood a flurry of end of San Jose, with Howard doing a pad difficult to save on a deflection by Dany Heatley to send the game to overtime.

"There were not enough," said Howard. "All that matters is to win." I felt well there and I saw lots of fire. ?

Led by a strong turn by the Couture line, Logan, Ryane Clowe and Heatley, Sharks dominate the room in the first half of the second period, but were unable to score. Howard made a tough on Pavelski judgment and helped kill a power as Detroit maintained the head play despite being outshot 16-2 in the first 10 minutes of the second period.

Detroit allowed two shots the rest of the period and was likely to extend the lead, but a blow rolled along the goal line and away from the net, and arrested Niemi Jiri Hudler shot per minute of closure of the wrist.

It is the third time in five seasons these teams met in the second round, each team has won once.

The Red Wings have been rested, with eight full days off since their sweep of Phoenix in the first round. This is in striking contrast with their one day off the coast of last year after a series of seven games against the Coyotes, who has been a factor in their fall behind 3-0 in the series.

Free time also allowed two of the most powerful players in Detroit to heal the wounds which maintained at least a part of the first round action. Johan Franzen, who led the team with 28 goals during the regular season, has recovered from his injured left ankle that forced to miss game 4 against the Coyotes. Top scorer Henrik Zetterberg is also back after missing the first round with a left knee injury.

There was a feeling process from the start, with both teams apparently mistrustful of a mistake at the beginning. San Jose killed a game of power at the beginning, before the Red Wings from Percé term when Pavel Datsyuk has obtained the puck on the boards and fed Lidstrom in the slot for a slap shot that beat Niemi from glove.

Game notes
The last player to get his first goal in the playoffs in his first playoff game EO Niko Dimitrakos in San Jose, Game 1 of the first round against St. Louis in 2004. ... Detroit Mike Babcock lit 48 coach Friday.

NBA playoffs in 2011: fault of Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers in game 5 gets upgraded to flagrant 1

NEW ORLEANS -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's foul on New Orleans Hornets center Emeka Okafor with 3:14 remaining in the fourth quarter of Los Angeles' 106-90 Game 5 win has been upgraded to a flagrant 1, according to a Lakers team spokesman.

Hornets coach Monty Williams was unhappy with the level of physicality in Game 5 that gave L.A. a 3-2 series lead, saying, "A lot of it, it's just not basketball."

He thought Lakers guardShannon Brown could have also faced some discipline for using his elbows against Willie Green and Jarrett Jack.

"I know it's going to be a physical game, but I thought they swung at us a few times last game," Williams said. "I thought Shannon should've been ejected, and if he's not going to be ejected, he shouldn't be able to play tonight. When you throw your elbow like that at a guy, I know the rule is you have to connect, but if he connects, that's a fight. It could turn into more stuff. So I expect a physical game, but I expect a fair game. That's how we play."

Bryant did not participate in the team's shootaround on Thursday morning, sitting off to the sidelines wearing sunglasses while icing his sprained left ankle.

"There's limitations to what he can do, obviously, but he tries to overcome," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "He's still a guy that's working on not 100 percent."

Bryant is expected to play in Game 6 on Thursday night, however.

"I think he can play 40 minutes tonight if he has to," Jackson said.

The Lakers were 4-0 in close-out games during the postseason last year, including 3-0 on the road. If they beat the Hornets on Thursday, they would have three days' rest before opening up the second round at home on Monday against the winner of the Dallas-Portland series.

"The key is not about the rest as much as you don't want to play any more games than you have to," Jackson said. "These games are full of physical contact and there's many things that can happen to take teams out of their rhythm, take players out of the game. It's a big challenge not to play a whole lot of games."

Jackson expected the physical nature of Game 5 to extend to Game 6.

"Tonight is going to be a tussle so we have to be prepared," Jackson said. "I don't know whether it's going to be a tussle that's going to come out in the second period or it's going to come out in the fourth."

Williams said he thinks the league should take a more active role in looking at physical play.

"There's no way you can throw your elbow at a guy in a basketball game and get away with that without a review," Williams said. "We review 3-point shots, we review all this other stuff, yet a guy can rear off? Before the second quarter was over, [Brown] swings at Jarrett Jack and fakes like he was blocking a shot. To me, those incidents turn into more stuff. Enough is enough. We teach our guys to play the game the right way. It's the playoffs, and we need to play through it, but I also feel like there needs to be a little more legislation."

After Thursday's shootaround at the New Orleans Arena, Williams told his players they just have to overcome what he considered unbalanced officiating.

"I was like, 'Look we're not getting the calls. We've got to overcome more than we normally would,'" Williams said. "I can complain about referees all day, but it's not going to change the score if we're focused on that. We've got to focus on the Lakers."

And the Lakers are focused on closing out.

Said Lamar Odom: "We feel good about our chances."

Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.ESPNLosAngeles.com's Arash Markazi contributed to this report.

NBA playoffs in 2011: MRI reveals hamstring strain for Atlanta Hawks Kirk Hinrich

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks are preparing to be without injured playmaker Kirk Hinrich when their series of second round of the playoffs against the Chicago Bulls starts Monday.

Hinrich underwent a test of MRI Friday on his right leg, which revealed a significant strain of his right thigh. Hinrich is considered doubtful for 1 game in Chicago. He suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the victory of clinching the series Thursday against Orlando when he landed awkwardly on a drive in the basket.

Hinrich has not returned to the game and was in a wheelchair as players left Philips Arena Thursday night. Hawks coach Larry Drew said Friday that Hinrich was optimistic when the team is gathered for meetings, but Drew is inevitable if focused on the defensive guard would be ready for the match on Monday.

"I saw him when he left the building and its spirits were really good, but it was limp," said Drew. "And this was not a good sign."

The Hawks were Hinrich account to play a crucial role against Chicago, which won two of the three meetings during the regular season between the teams. Hinrich has entrusted the defensive task to try to contain Derrick Rose.

If it is unable to play - or is limited by the injury - Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson, Damien Wilkins and Jeff Teague said Drew all could devote time to the Rose.

"It certainly change things," said Drew. "He is our leader." If all goes well, he will be able to go. But if it is not the case, we need to make an adjustment. Not knowing truly if Kirk can go or if it cannot go, if he can play some or may not play at all, many of which will change things. ?

Players said Hawks that Hinrich will be useful in the series any how it contributes to the Court in the first few games. Hinrich spent his first seven seasons with the Bulls before last summer to the Washington Wizards, who dealt him to the Hawks in February, he was transferred.

Hinrich averaged 13 points, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals over eight seasons and is considered one of the top defensive point for the League. Even with a healthy Hinrich, the Hawks expect to have their hands full with Rose, top candidate MVP of the League registered 27.3 points and 6.2 assists in series of first round of Chicago against the Indiana Pacers.

"It is difficult," said Crawford. "Kirk is the head of our defence." He is the guy who makes stuff happen from the beginning. I hope that it is sufficiently healthy to get there. He knows their system. He knows that their players as well as anyone. It can certainly give us an idea. We certainly will come his brain during timeouts and other things. ?

NBA playoffs in 2011: Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat without relying on Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem

MIAMI - Despite the problems of injuries throughout the regular season, the Miami Heat had hoped that their key bench players would be sufficiently healthy for playoff crucial.

Is not that it will be the case when they begin their series with the Boston Celtics Sunday afternoon.

Practice later Friday, heat coach Erik Spoelstra has been suggested that it was not count on Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem for game 1 and probably beyond.

Miller has a left thumb injury which he limited seven total minutes in the series of the first round with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Haslem has an injury to the slow-healing foot that he hoped he would return from a month ago, but also is not ready.

Miller has a new brace on his left thumb still more complex than the accolade for his right thumb, which needed surgery earlier this season. Spoelstra, said that the brace helps but he is always in fashion "assessment" on the availability of Miller. He was active but is not in the last three games.

"Coach includes I'll be ready if he calls my number of" Miller said. "If this is not the case, I'll be pom - pom girl best that i can be.".

Haslem, whose recovery was slowed by persistent pain who have little time to practice, has recently adapted to its workload and appeared near is enabled. But Spoelstra tried to throw water on this possibility.

"While we all see the light at the end of the tunnel, the series will not be our chronology [on Haslem]," Spoelstra said. "It may not happen next week or the next two weeks."

Haslem has admitted that recent strong piece of heat - they have won 19 of their past 23 games - can be made coaches are reluctant to change the rotation of the team to make room for him.

"All that I would love to be there, I understand that this is a very important series for us," Haslem said. "We have a fairly good chemistry right now and I do not want that disrupt.". I don't want to force anything right now. That being said, is not as easy as a decision as people think it would be and I understand. ?

Playoffs 2011 NBA: Miami Heat paste with starting lineup despite struggles

MIAMI - Despite the departures of first quarter slow underperformance of their starting unit, and the Miami Heat coach Erik Spolestra be field the same range to the tipoff of game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night.

"I see a need [edit] right now", said Spoelstra. "We can change what we have in ourselves and do so with an athletics better motor and better and better outreach to start the game.".

Miami leads Philadelphia 3-1 in the series-of-seven. But the 76ers were out sighted the heat in the first quarter in three of four games.

Partante heat - point guard Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Mike Bibby and Chris Bosh - has been outperformed by 29 points in the series for 60 minutes of time of global game, over the entrance in the first quarter.

"This line is not our most energetic range, said Wade." Obviously, when Joel [Anthony] comes in the game and, sometimes, with [Mario Chalmers] came into play, much time is our best defensive line, live and energetic. The starting unit is not this kind of range and we understand that, but we first have better. ?

Sunday afternoon in game 4, Philadelphia jumped to a lead of 20-6 in the first quarter, after which Spoelstra inserted Chalmers and Anthony for Bibby and Ilgauskas. With them, the heat outperformed the 76ers 41-26 in the rest of the first half.

Practice Tuesday, Spoelstra has quickly remind the media that the unit, including Chalmers and Ilgauskas, performed up to in height in the victory of 94-73 of heat in the second game.

"In the second game, he was not a problem," Spoesltra said. "I will not respond to it as early as now or overanalyze." I can change this immediate rotation in the game, so much of that is so exaggerated. We have confidence in them and that they provide. ?

Spoelstra said in the past that Bibby, who shot 45.5% of the range of 3 points in the regular season, and Ilgauskas, a skilled midrange shooter, provide heat with more offensive punch and perimeter threats.

During the regular season, the unit of five men with Bibby and Ilgauskas performed, overwhelming opponents 99-90 in 48 minutes of time together.

"It opens the floor a bit because you have shooters," Ilgauskas said. "We have been successful spacing the floor".

Sunday, Ilgauskas scored only one point in 10 minutes, while Bibby has failed to score in 14 minutes, ranging from 0 to 6 on the field, including 0 for 4-3 - points.

"Many people will look at their credit rating, but we will take these same as Mike Bibby blows received [in game 4] and the guys have," said Wade. "Many take their new then game."