Golf

McIlory stands up for his caddie

US Open champion Rory McIlroy refused to back down in his Twitter spat with broadcaster Jay Townsend after safely making the cut in the Irish Open on Friday.

A second-round 68 put him on 138, six behind new leader Marcel Siem of Germany, who fired a 66 for the second day running.

Northern Irishman McIlroy did, however, explain why he had responded so acerbically to Townsend's criticism on Thursday of McIlroy's "shocking" course management - which was interpreted by McIlroy as another attack on his caddie, Irishman J.P. Fitzgerald.

"It was one comment too far, I've got to stand up for my caddie," McIlroy said.

"It started in Switzerland back in 2008 and it was just one comment too far. J.P. has taken me from 200th in the world to major champion and fourth in the world."

Tiger enters PGA Championship

Tiger Woods has formally entered the PGA Championship after missing two other majors earlier this year.

Woods, who will play Aug 11-14 at Atlanta Athletic Club, has been out of golf for nearly three months so that injuries to his left leg can properly heal. He will make his return this week in the World Golf Championship event at Firestone.

PGA spokesman Julius Mason said on Friday that Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, told him that as long as everything goes well at Firestone and there are no complications to his left leg, that Woods intends to play the PGA. Woods has failed to win the past nine majors he has played.

Soccer

Kilnsmann is new US coach

Juergen Klinsmann was appointed the US national team coach on Friday, a day after Bob Bradley was fired.

The former Germany coach will be a familiar face to American fans, given that he nearly got the job after the 2006 World Cup and then again last year before Bradley was given what turned out to be a short-lived contract extension to 2014.

The former German striker's first game in charge will be a friendly against archrival Mexico in Philadelphia on Aug 10. Qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil begins next year.

Klinsmann will be formally introduced on Monday at a news conference in New York.

Basketball

Frank to lead the Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are giving Lawrence Frank another chance to lead an NBA team.

A person with knowledge of the situation said on Friday that the Pistons have agreed to a three-year deal with Frank to be their new head coach. The agreement includes a team option for a fourth year, according to the person who spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the move.

Frank, an assistant coach with Boston last season and a former head coach in New Jersey, will be Detroit's sixth coach in 11 seasons when the NBA lockout ends.

Ap-AFP-Reuters

(China Daily 07/31/2011 page7)