Morning roundup: Rickie Fowler falls at Frys.com Open

Recovering from a late collapse, Troy Matteson birdied the second playoff hole to beat former Oklahoma State golfer Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark in the Frys.com Open on Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Matteson bogeyed the final two holes of regulation to fall into the playoff with Fowler and Lovemark, who are both seeking PGA Tour cards.

After all three players parred the first playoff hole, Matteson hit his approach within 3 feet on the 464-yard, par-4 17th hole. He rolled in the putt for his second PGA Tour win.

Fowler, playing in just his second PGA Tour event, shot a final-round 64. He led briefly when he aced the par-3, 203-yard fifth hole, but his bogey on 18 cost him a chance to win in regulation.

Fowler won $440,000 and now has $553,700, which gives him special temporary membership because the amount exceeds the 150th spot on the money list last year. That allows him to skip the first stage of Q-school next week.

Phil Blackmar won his first Champions Tour tournament, birdieing five of his first six holes en route to a 7-under 64 and a one-stroke victory over Jay Haas, Tom Kite and Andy Bean in the AT&T Championship in San Antonio.

Blackmar, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour who joined the Champions Tour late in 2007, had a 10-under 203 total on the Oak Hills course. The 6-foot-7 former University of Texas golfer earned $255,000 in the final full-field event of the year.

The Cleveland Indians hired Manny Acta to be their manager, giving him the job about three months after he was fired by the Washington Nationals.

Acta signed a three-year contract with a club option for 2013, Indians spokesman Bart Swain said. Additional terms were not disclosed. Acta went 158-252 in 2 1/2 seasons with the Nationals.

The Indians chose Acta over former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine and Indians Triple-A manager Torey Lovullo.

Baseball analyst Steve Phillips was fired by ESPN after admitting to an affair with an assistant at the cable network.

ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said the network determined Phillips’ ability to be an effective analyst was "significantly and irreparably damaged.”

Phillips took a leave of absence Wednesday after acknowledging the affair with 22-year-old production assistant Brooke Hundley.

Cliff Lee will start Game 1 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies, regardless of the opponent.

The left-hander has been dominant in the postseason, going 2-0 with an 0.74 ERA in three starts.

Lee, the AL Cy Young Award winner last season with Cleveland, will take the mound Wednesday night at New York or Anaheim, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

The Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament is headed back to Atlanta in a few years — but to a different venue.

Commissioner John Swofford said the 2012 tournament will be played at Philips Arena. That’s the 18,729-seat home of the NBA’s Hawks and NHL’s Thrashers.

Last year’s event was held at the spacious Georgia Dome.

The Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum will host the tournament this season, in 2011 and from 2013-15.

Defending national champion North Carolina and Duke share the honor of being co-favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference basketball title.

The Tar Heels and Blue Devils represented the first tie in the 41-year history of the ACC Operation Basketball preseason poll.

Duke earned 25 of 48 first-place votes from media members, while North Carolina earned 20 first-place votes and also had 545 points. Clemson was picked third and Georgia Tech fourth.

FROM WIRE REPORTS

---

Leave a Comment

Sports Photo Galleriesview all