IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Golf

Sweden's Chopra captures PGA opener in playoff

KAPALUA, Hawaii: Sweden's Daniel Chopra edged Steve Stricker with a birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole to capture the Mercedes-Benz Championship and collect his second career PGA Tour victory.

Chopra and Stricker both finished at 18-under-par 274 before the Swede hit a tap-in birdie on the par-five ninth hole to win it in the playoff on Sunday.

Chopra signed for a seven-under 66 while Stricker shot a sizzling nine-under 64 to earn a spot in the playoff.

Stephen Ames shot 66 to finish third at 17-under and fellow Canadian Mike Weir, who entered the final round with a one-shot lead, finished fourth at 16-under 276 after a 70.

Alpine Skiing

Matt dominates Adelboden slalom

ADELBODEN, Switzerland: Mario Matt led an Austrian 1-2 in the men's slalom on Sunday to record his ninth career World Cup success and eighth in the discipline.

The reigning world champion in the discipline timed 1min 48.45sec over the two legs to beat home compatriot and World Cup titleholder Benjamin Raich by 0.10sec while Felix Neureuther of Germany was third at 0.14sec.

"It's a great victory because it was achieved despite a bad back," said Matt.

"It's a long-standing spinal problem but I don't have any choice: I have to continue training and racing."

Raich's second place allowed him to extend his lead in the overall World Cup standings to 115 points ahead of Swiss Didier Cuche, who does not compete in the slalom.

NHL

Red Wings beat Blackhawks with first-period goal blitz

CHICAGO: The Detroit Red Wings scored three first-period goals to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 and register their third successive win on Sunday.

The victory was the Red Wings' first over the Blackhawks this season after four losses, one of them in overtime.

Henrik Zetterberg, Dan Cleary and Mikael Samuelsson had goals for the NHL-leading Red Wings, who have won seven of their last eight games.

Detroit's Jiri Hudler had two assists and net-minder Chris Osgood made 19 saves.

Rene Bourque scored Chicago's goal in the second period. The loss was the fifth in a row for the Blackhawks.

Tennis

Holder Blake makes early exit in Sydney

SYDNEY: American James Blake lost his chance to equal a 68-year record when he was knocked out of the Sydney International yesterday by Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

Third-seed Blake had been bidding to win the title for the third year running, a feat last achieved in 1940 by the late John Bromwich, but was beaten 7-6 6-2.

"Fabrice is a great player, he's been around the tour for a while and knows how to win matches and give the top guys headaches," said Blake, whose offseason was shortened by his commitments to the successful US Davis Cup team.

Santoro, 35, is one of the oldest players on the men's tour but says he has lost none of his enthusiasm for the sport.

"I love the game and I love to play and fight," he said. "What is going to push me out of the tour is being in the hotel, taking planes and having to leave my daughter and my friends."

Santoro was one of three Frenchmen who recorded first-round wins at Sydney's Olympic tennis center yesterday.

Top seed Richard Gasquet brushed past Russian Igor Andreev 6-3, 7-6 while Sebastien Grosjean beat Australian wild card Peter Luczak 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.

(China Daily 01/08/2008 page24)