Digest

Golf

Tiger off to a strong start

Tiger Woods rebounded from a dismal US Open with a 4-under-par 66 in Thursday's opening round of the Greenbrier Classic, four shots behind leader Scott Langley.

Helped by a morning rain that softened the Old White TPC course in West Virginia, Woods posted his lowest score of the season and matched his best in relation to par. It was only the fourth time he shot in the 60s in 21 rounds; none on the first day of a tournament.

Soccer

Milan signs sniper Adriano

Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano's scoring exploits for Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in last season's Champions League earned him a move to Italian giant AC Milan on Thursday, the club said on its website.

The 28-year-old - who along with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo scored nine goals in last season's Champions League including five in one game against Belarussian club BATE Borisov - signed a five-year contract for a reported fee of $8.8 million.

Dempsey no longer captain

Clint Dempsey has been stripped of the US captain's armband for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup following his ban for ripping up a referee's notebook.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann said on Thursday he'd spoken to Dempsey, and decided that Michael Bradley will captain the Americans for the tournament, which kicks off next Tuesday. The change, Klinsmann said, would let Dempsey "focus on what he's all about."

Ice Hockey

St. Louis closes curtain on career

Martin St. Louis, who led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup title in 2004, announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Thursday.

The 40-year-old Canadian played 16 NHL seasons and finished his career with 391 goals and 1,033 points in 1,134 games.

"I have been blessed to play for 16 years in the NHL; it has been an amazing ride," said St. Louis, who played his final season in 2014-15 with the New York Rangers. In 74 games with the Rangers, he tallied 21 goals and 52 points.

Baseball

A-Rod, Yanks holding talks

Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees are in negotiations designed at reaching middle ground in their standoff over the $6 million contract bonus due Rodriguez for hitting his 661st home run.

The disagreement over the home run that pushed Rodriguez ahead of Willie Mays into fourth place on baseball's all-time list could be settled by involving charity or reducing the payment, according to reports by FOX Sports and CBS.

Aussie Rules

Son arrested after Crows coach killed

The coach of the Australian Football League's Adelaide Crows was killed at his house on Friday during a domestic dispute, police alleged, and his son was arrested. Phil Walsh, 55, was treated at the scene by paramedics after police were called to the home in the Adelaide suburb of Somerton Park but they were unable to save him. Walsh's wife is in hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Agencies

(China Daily 07/04/2015 page11)