Stricker lurks as Matteson stays in front - ESPN.co.uk
Steve Stricker remained on course to defend his John Deere Classic title for a third time as he lurks three shots off the pace in Illinois.
Despite picking up a bogey at the 11th, Stricker, who started his round on the back nine, compensated for a slow start with five birdies to sign for a 67.
Troy Matteson continues to lead the way at TPC Deere Run after the American carded a 68 on Friday. Matteson failed to replicate his sparkling opening round 61, but had enough in reserve to fend off Brian Harman and Jeff Maggert, who birdied the final hole to finish on 12-under.
Ricky Barnes threatened to snatch the lead late on Friday when he moved within one shot of Matteson with a sparkling eagle, but he slipped back to 11-under following a bogey after finding the bunker with his approach at the 18th.
Barnes sits in a tie for third alongside compatriot JJ Henry and England's Gary Christian, who remains in contention to claim his maiden PGA Tour victory after his second round 66 moved him within two shots of the lead.
Playing in his first season on the PGA Tour at the age 40, Christian saw his challenge pick up pace with an eagle at the second. Another four birdies and a solitary bogey moved him to 11 under.
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Farah fires Olympic home hopes with London win - Reuters UK
LONDON |
LONDON (Reuters) - World 5,000 metres champion Mo Farah underlined his credentials to become Britain's first Olympic long-distance gold medallist by winning his final warm-up in style at the London Grand Prix on Friday.
Farah, who also won world silver in the 10,000 in Daegu last year, was confronted by a wall of sound from a bumper home crowd as he pulled away from Australia's Collis Birmingham on the final lap to win in 13 minutes, 6.04 seconds.
"It definitely went well, I'm definitely happy. Training's been going well so I'm looking forward to the Games," said Farah who crossed the line in his customary manner with arms outstretched as fireworks were set off from the roof of one of the stands.
American Tyson Gay made a poor start in the men's 100 final but came through in the final 20 metres to win in a time of 10.03 into a headwind.
"It felt pretty good just to get the victory and if the wind had been in our favour I think we all would have run under 10 seconds," said the 29-year-old.
"I'm glad I ran. My groin is a little tender but it held up," added Gay, who had surgery on his right hip last year.
POWELL INJURED
In the absence of former world record holder Asafa Powell -- who pulled out of the meeting with a groin problem -- Ryan Bailey of the U.S. was second as Jamaica had to settle for third place with Nesta Carter.
Gay said he could understand why Powell chose not to compete so close to the London Games, which start on July 27.
"I know what it's like to have a groin injury. I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery," he said.
Injury problems also struck China's 2004 Olympic champion Liu Xiang who had to pull out of the final of 110 metres hurdles after tweaking his back while warming up.
With Liu sidelined, world indoor champion Aries Merritt defied the cold, damp conditions with a dominant display to win in 12.93 and equal his world leading time.
Britain's Perri Shakes-Drayton provided some early cheer for home fans, winning the women's 400 hurdles ahead of European champion Irina Davydova in a personal best of 53.77, a time that took her to second in the world this year.
Beijing gold medallist Melaine Walker of Jamaica was fourth.
"I know I'm doing the right thing with my coach so roll on the Olympics," Shakes-Drayton said.
"I'm very happy with today's performance. I wanted a season's best so I'm very happy," added the 23-year-old.
CULSON UNBEATEN
World champion Dai Greene could not provide the crowd with a British double in the event as Puerto Rica's Javier Culson maintained his unbeaten record for the season, winning the men's 400 hurdles in 47.78 to equal his world leading time.
Greene finished strongly to snatch second place ahead of Olympic champion Angelo Taylor in 48.10.
"I've got a few more weeks to get a bit sharper for the Olympics and I'm going in the right direction I think. So I'm looking forward to the Olympics and hopefully I can get one over Culson then," said Greene who narrowly lost to Culson in Paris last week.
Kenyan double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot showed why she is a medal favourite at the Olympics by winning her 11th successive 5,000 metres race.
Cheruiyot, who also plans to run the 10,000 in London, was shadowed by compatriot Mercy Cherono coming into the final bend but with a quick look over her shoulder, the world champion kicked again and pulled away to win by a metre.
Pole vaulter Steve Hooker's problems continued after the Australian Olympic champion did not register a height, failing three times at 5.40 metres in the difficult conditions.
Hooker has been battling psychological problems he compares to the "yips" golfers suffer and only cleared the qualifying height for the Olympics at a special event organised by his sponsor.
It was not much better for Olympic favourite Renaud Lavillenie of France, whose only clearance was at 5.40. The event was won by Germany's world indoor silver medallist Bjorn Otto with a height of 5.74.
American Chaunte Lowe won the women's high jump with a leap of 2.00 metres and Australian Mitchell Watt took the men's long jump with 8.28 metres, two centimetres further than Britain's Chris Tomlinson.
(Editing by Justin Palmer)
Millar ends nine-year drought as Wiggins keeps yellow - ESPN.co.uk
David Millar became the fourth British winner at this year's Tour de France as Bradley Wiggins maintained control of the yellow jersey.
Nine years after his last stage win in the race, Millar beat Jean-Christophe Peraud in a sprint finish to deny the Frenchman a popular home victory on Bastille Day.
In the longest stage of the race, Millar was part of a five-man breakaway group on the 226 kilometre ride from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay Davezieux.
Millar crossed the line in five hours 42:46, nearly eight minutes clear of the peloton, but it had no bearing on the general classification, with Wiggins finishing in the chasing pack, led by Matt Goss. However, the Australian was stripped of his points after he was found to have obstructed green jersey holder Peter Sagan in the final sprint.
With team leader Ryder Hesjedal out of the Tour following a high-speed crash on Stage Six, Millar was given the freedom to ride and the 35-year old made it count to become the fourth British winner on the Tour following stage victories for GB team-mates Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome.
"There's nothing quite like the sensation of winning a road stage, it's much more emotional than winning a time trial or prologue," said Millar. "It's taken our team going through turmoil to bring out the best in me. We needed it and I wanted to do it."
A large escape group made an early move, but two category one climbs in the opening 80km, the Col du Grand Cucheron and the Col du Granier cut the leading group to just five: Millar, Peraud and fellow Frenchman Cyril Gautier as well as Spaniard Egoi Martinez De Esteban and Croat Robert Kiserlovski.
Sagan did make a solo attempt to close the gap, but the peloton reeled him in before Team Sky opted to set a leisurely pace with Wiggins' yellow jersey rivals not in the leading pack.
However, there was bad news for veteran Frenchman David Moncoutie, who was forced to abandon his final Tour after suffering a suspected broken collarbone following a crash on the descent from Col du Grand-Cucheron.
Stage 12 result
1 David Millar (GBR) Garmin-Sharp - 05:42:46
2 Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA) - 0:00
3 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (SPA) Euskaltel-Euskadi - 0:00:05
4 Cyril Gautier (FRA) Europcar - 0:00:06
5 Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) Astana Pro Team - 0:00:06
6 Matt Goss (AUS) Orica GreenEdge - 0:07:53
7 Peter Sagan (SVK) Liquigas-Cannondale - 0:07:53
8 Sebastien Hinault (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale - 0:07:54
9 Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing Team - 0:07:54
10 Luca Paolini (ITA) Katusha Team - 0:07:54
General classification
1 Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky Procycling - 54:34:33
2 Christopher Froome (GBR) Sky Procycling - 0:02:05
3 Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Liquigas-Cannondale - 0:02:23
4 Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing Team - 0:03:19
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Lotto Belisol Team - 0:04:48
6 Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (ESP) RadioShack-Nissan - 0:06:15
7 Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing - 0:06:57
8 Janez Brajkovic (SLO) Astana - 0:07:30
9 Pierre Rolland (FRA) Europcar - 0:08:31
10 Thibaut Pinot (FRA) FDJ-Big Mat 0:08:51
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