Plauderkasten^^ » in a stop-start match featuring many fouls

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Barely able to tie his shoes three days ago, Tiger Woods is ready to tee it up in the PGA Championship. Woods caused the biggest sensation of the week Wednesday afternoon simply by driving his silver SUV into the parking lot at Valhalla. He has never arrived so late for a major championship and had so little time to prepare -- just nine holes at Valhalla, which he had not seen since winning the PGA Championship in 2000. But at least hes playing. That much was in doubt Sunday when he withdrew from the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational because of back pain that made it a chore to switch out of his golf shoes. Woods said he suffered a pinched nerve, but that it was not at all related to back surgery he had March 31 that kept him out of golf for three months. He said his trainer adjusted the area above the sacrum. "Once he put it back in, the spasms went away," he said. "And from there, I started getting some range of motion." The latest injury occurred when Woods tried to play a shot from just above a deep bunker on the second hole at Firestone, and his momentum caused him to land hard in the sand. He kept playing, and hit some horrific shots before deciding to withdraw after a tee shot on the ninth hole. That was only his third tournament since his return from surgery, leading to concern that he might be done for the year. "It was a different pain than what I had been experiencing," Woods said. "So I knew it wasnt the site of the surgery. It was different and obviously it just the sacrum." His arrival put some life into what had been an ordinary week. Dozens of cameras captured Woods putting on his shoes with ease at his car. He got a big cheer just walking onto the practice range and the crowd was six-deep down the first hole, about like it was for the Ryder Cup at Valhalla six years ago. In the nine holes he played with Steve Stricker, Davis Love III and Harris English, Woods looked the same as he did last week. He drilled his driver down the first fairway. He badly pulled his tee shot on the third hole. It was a mixture of good and bad, about what can be expected from someone who has played only nine rounds in the last five months. "Nothing great," Woods said. "Its only Wednesday." Woods tees off Thursday alongside Phil Mickelson and Padraig Harrington. He simply said, "Yes," when asked if he expected to win, which seemed to be a tall order considering his return from surgery. Woods missed the cut by four shots at the Quicken Loans National, had his worst 72-hole finish in a major at the British Open and was in the middle of the pack at Firestone when he withdrew. Barring a victory, this likely will be his last tournament for at least six weeks. Woods is not eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs, and he hasnt given U.S. captain Tom Watson much reason to pick him for the Ryder Cup. Woods said he would have to "play well" to give reason for Watson to take him. "Thats the only thing I can control," Woods said. "Try to go out there and win this event. Thats all Im focused on." Watson has said he wanted Woods on the team if he was healthy and playing well. About the time Woods arrived at the course, Watson was successfully dodging questions about his chances of making the team. "Its speculation whats going to happen," Watson said. "I cant tell you whats going to happen with Tiger." The excitement over his arrival was sure to be tempered by the reality of the task ahead. Not only has Woods gone more than a year without winning -- and six years since he last won a major -- Rory McIlroy has replaced him as the overwhelming favourite. McIlroy went wire-to-wire at the British Open, then rallied from a three-shot deficit to win the World Golf Championship at Firestone. Sergio Garcia was a runner-up both times. Garcia, who went 0-3 playing in the final group with Woods at three majors, was asked about similarities between the two. "When they are both at their best, to me it seems like Rory is less afraid of hitting driver," he said. "And when hes hitting it as well as hes hitting it now, hes hitting it very far and quite straight. So its a little bit of an advantage at that point." Woods might have lost his advantage from being a past champion at Valhalla. He missed the Ryder Cup in 2008 while recovering from knee surgery, and course architect Jack Nicklaus has made plenty of changes, particularly on some of the greens. Woods spent much of his time chipping from collection areas that werent around 14 years ago. "Its a totally different golf course than what I played in 2000," he said. "The greens are all different. I have my book from 2000 -- its useless. Theres some new things that we have to learn out there." With that, he headed to the back nine to walk the remainder of the course with his putter. He had 15 hours before teeing off in the final major of the year. Marouane Fellaini Jersey . The Heat centre scored 10 of his 30 points early in the first quarter to silence the Toronto fans as Miami defeated the Raptors 113-101 on Friday night. Sergio Romero Jersey . Simona Halep of Romania claimed the fifth title of her career by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the womens final. After trading sets, Gasquet trailed 4-3 in the decider but broke back to 4-4 in a game that went to seven deuces with Kukushkin constantly failing on his forehand shots. http://www.manutdfcsoccershop.com/c-5-ma...-fc-jersey.aspx. Saltalamacchia has agreed to a $21 million, three-year deal with the Miami Marlins, two people familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday. Chris Smalling Jersey . New York City FC introduced Frank Lampard in Brooklyn on Thursday after signing the 36-year-old former Chelsea midfielder to a two-year contract. Scott McTominay Jersey . 17.A string of English Premier League teams, most in the lower end of the standings, has been linked to the 32-year-old forward but most have seemingly balked at the cost given his wages and transfer fee.MADRID, Spain -- Chelseas defensive game plan worked perfectly as it held Atletico Madrid to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday. Jose Mourinhos ultra-defensive tactics succeeded at the Vicente Calderon Stadium despite the exit of goalkeeper Petr Cech to injury in the 18th minute. Mark Schwarzer came on, with Cechs long-term replacement -- Thibaut Courtois -- playing in the opposite goal, on loan from Chelsea. Atletico nearly broke through in the final 15 minutes as Raul Garcia and substitute Arda Turan sent headers wide, while Gabi Fernandez and Diego Costa forced Schwarzer into saves. But Chelsea looked too strong at the back, despite also losing captain John Terry to an injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the Premier League season. The result will leave the English side feeling upbeat about its chances of returning to the final, two years after beating Bayern Munich on penalties. Atletico, which is top of the Spanish league and hasnt been this far in Europes top competition since 1974, needs a plan for breaking open a Chelsea defence that will be handicapped by injuries and suspensions in the return leg. "Were not happy with the draw since we wanted to win at all costs. Were left with a bad taste in our mouth even if the series is still open," Gabi said. "We knew they didnt want to concede, but we tried to score through our best attacking football." The second leg is at Stamford Bridge on April 30 with the winner playing either Bayern or Real Madrid in the May 24 final at Lisbon. Chelsea striker Fernando Torres started on his first return to his boyhood club -- but made little impact like much of his sides attack -- as Oscar and Andre Schuerrle were left on the substitutes bench. Eden Hazard and Samuel Etoo were out due to injury. "We had to be safe, dont concede and score in the chances you create," Mourinho said. "If you score a goal in one of those situations the result would be very good. We didnt, but this result means everything will be decided at Stamford Bridge." Mourinhos game plan waas not pretty, but certainly proved effective as the Blues stifled Atletico, whose best opportunity of the first half forced Cech out with an injured shoulder as he tipped Kokes wicked in-swinging corner kick over the bar.dddddddddddd Schwarzer came on to chants of "Courtois" as Atletico supporters mocked Chelseas decision to loan out the Belgian goalkeeper. Chelsea should have been ahead moments later when Gary Cahill headed Frank Lampards corner kick wide from inside the area, shortly before Ramires broke through -- only for the Chelsea midfielder to fire wide. Schwarzer was busy gathering failed crosses and long balls as the home side attempted to break through without success, while Chelseas defenders did well to contain Diego Costa and block a series of shots, including the Spain strikers 41st-minute volley from inside the area. After Lampard forced Courtois into a save to start the second half, Atletico slowly began to break through the Chelsea wall through efforts from Diego Ribas, who came off for Turan after an hour. Terry picked up an injury after appearing to land awkwardly and made way for Schuerrle in the 73rd, while Atletico players grew frustrated with referee Jonas Eriksson. The Swede gave neither team leeway in a stop-start match featuring many fouls and also handed out a booking to Gabi that will rule the Atletico captain out of the return match. Yellow cards for Lampard and John Obi Mikel means the Chelsea midfield pair will also miss the game at Stamford Bridge. "We will fight, we will fight," said Mourinho, who said he now saw the Blues priority as being Europe rather than the Premier League. "(Branislav) Ivanovic is back, Schwarzer showed we could trust him. If we have to play the kids, we have to play the kids." Raul Garcia, who limped off at the end, headed a pair of chances over the top in the final 10 minutes, when Atletico pressed forward for a winner. Diego Costa was unable to direct his header past Schwarzer, who will now be vital for Chelseas Premier League campaign, as the London club held on for a valuable draw. Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseys discount uswnt jersey Wholesale AC Milan Jerseys Wholesale Arsenal Jerseys Wholesale A.S. Roma Jerseys Wholesale Atletico Madrid Jerseys Wholesale Chelsea Jerseys Cheap Barcelona Jerseys Bayern Munich Jerseys For Sale Cheap Borussia Dortmund Jerseys Cheap Inter Milan Jerseys Juventus Jerseys From China Leicester City Jerseys For Sale Discount Liverpool Jerseys Wholesale Manchester City Jerseys Manchester United Jerseys For Sale Wholesale Paris Saint-Germain Jerseys Real Madrid Jerseys From China Cheap Sevilla Jerseys Authentic Tottenham Hotspur Jerseys ' ' '