09/05/2008 - Crans Montana, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Brett Rumford of Australia fired a four-under 67 on Friday to tie Rory McIlroy for the lead midway through the European Masters.
McIlroy, the 19-year-old former amateur star from Northern Ireland who grabbed the first-round lead with a 63 on Thursday, followed with a 71 in the second round.
The duo was knotted at eight-under 134 for a one-shot advantage over Juan Abbate (67), Alejandro Canizares (68) and Jean-Francois Lucquin (67).
Fredrik Andersson Hed (67), Simon Dyson (67) and Peter Lawrie (69) stood another stroke further back at six-under 136.
Mikko Ilonen had a one-shot lead on the field before making four bogeys in his last five holes to fall back to five-under, where he joined eight other players in a tie for ninth place.
Rumford, 31, birdied three of his first five holes Friday after beginning his round on the back nine at picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre. He went on to birdie two of the first three holes on the front nine, but a bogey at No. 5 and four subsequent pars derail his chances for sole possession of the overnight lead.
Seeking his fourth European Tour win -- and first since he was victorious at this tournament last year -- Rumford said the course was getting tougher.
"This is how it played at the Pro-Am and the greens dried out and the course changed completely from Wednesday to Thursday with all the rain," said Rumford.
"As we all know it only takes on day of good weather to get these greens reacting so differently. I guess this will be the day. The weekend will be a completely different."
McIlroy, chasing history in his quest to become the European Tour's third- youngest winner, was derailed Friday by a trio of bogeys -- including two on par threes.
"It's always difficult to follow up a really low round. I've learned that before," said McIlroy, who also made three birdies during his even-par round.
There was an off-the-course development Friday when it was announced that next year's European Masters will become the first European Tour event on European soil to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, signaling another step forward in the already strong relationship between the two circuits.
Included in next year's field of 156 players will be 30 automatic berths for players from the Asian Tour, with 10 more spots to be offered as sponsor's exemptions.
The collaborative effort is only new in that it will mark the first time the tours come together to sanction an event on European soil. Their relationship already extends back nearly a decade.
"It is a terrific milestone for the Asian Tour," said Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han. "With the Asian Tour scheduled to visit Europe for the first time in 2009, I believe it will pave the way for our tour and playing members to enjoy greater achievements."
There are several Asian players in the field this week. Among them, India's Gaurav Ghei and Digvijay Singh and China's Li Chao finished outside the even- par cut line.
<< Orioles to bring back Trembley in 2009
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dave Trembley will manage the Orioles for at
least one more season, and maybe more.
The Baltimore Orioles have exercised their option on Trembley for the 2009
season and added a club option for 2010, the
<< LPGA changes tune on language requirement
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Facing substantial criticism, the LPGA
Tour announced Friday that it would rescind a recently-announced policy that
would have required players to learn and speak English.
The tour was to call for
<< U.S. names Davis Cup squad for semis
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The USTA and captain Patrick McEnroe
announced that the defending champions named world No. 8 Andy Roddick, No. 9
James Blake and the doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan to represent the U.S.
in the 2008 Davis C
<< Men's semis on tap for Saturday at U.S. Open
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The men's semifinals are scheduled
to be staged Saturday at the U.S. Open, where top-ranked Rafael Nadal will
take on sixth-seeded Andy Murray and second-seeded and reigning four-time
champion Roger Fe
Cavs sign C Wright >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers signed veteran center
Lorenzen Wright to an undisclosed contract Friday.
Wright, 33, played in 12 games last season with the Atlanta Hawks and five
games with the Sacramento King
Bucs Face Challenge Vs. Saints In Superdome >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's all systems go for both the New Orleans Saints and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will open their respective 2008 seasons with a key
NFC South clash Sunday at the Superdome.
This showdown between division rivals had been i
Can Eagles Match Hype Against Rams? >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Philadelphia Eagles want to prove the folks at
Sports Illustrated right, Sunday afternoon's home matchup against the St.
Louis Rams is the place to start.
In its NFL preview issue published two weeks ago, the venera
Can the Colorado Rockies do it again? >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers do
their best to lose the NL West, a third team has entered the fray in by far
the league's worst division.
That's right, the Colorado Rockies are right back in the mi
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
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