GOLF
Woods withdraws
Tiger Woods withdrew Tuesday from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla., because of persistent pain in his back, creating even more uncertainty for golf’s No. 1 player with the Masters only three weeks away, and that’s if Woods can even play in the Masters. “I personally called Arnold today to tell him that, sadly, I won’t be able to play in his tournament this year,” Woods said on his website. “I would like to express my regrets to the Orlando fans, the volunteers, the tournament staff and the sponsors for having to miss the event. Unfortunately, my back spasms and the pain haven’t subsided.” Woods had to withdraw after 13 holes of the final round at the Honda Classic three weeks ago because of what he called back spasms and pain in his lower back. He tried to defend his title the following week at Doral, only for his back to flare up again in the final round. He closed with a 78, the highest Sunday score of his PGA Tour career and the first final round without a birdie. After a week of rest and treatment, he didn’t feel fit to play Bay Hill, where he is an eight-time winner, including the past two years. “I am certainly sorry that Tiger is not able to play,” Palmer said. “Quite obviously, we will miss having him here this week. He called me to tell me that his back was still giving him a lot of trouble and he didn’t feel he should play. I told him I understood and wished him well.”
Jay Monahan has been promoted to deputy commissioner of the PGA Tour. The announcement Tuesday is an indication that the tour is making plans for a successor to Tim Finchem, who is in his 20th year as commissioner. The last deputy commissioner was Finchem, who in 1994 took over for Deane Beman. Monahan joined the PGA Tour in 2008, first as head of The Players Championship. He more recently was promoted to chief marketing officer in charge of corporate marketing and sponsor relations, one of the most critical roles in the business of the PGA Tour. Finchem said Monahan would be transferred to the office of commissioner and report only to him. Finchem’s latest contract extension is through the end of 2016.
BASKETBALL
2 coaches fired, 1 resigns
The men’s basketball coaches at Washington State and Boston College have been fired and the Montana State coach has resigned, it was announced Tuesday. Washington State fired Coach Ken Bone after five seasons. Athletic Director Bill Moos announced the firing. Bone was 80-86 in five seasons at Washington State and 29-61 in the Pacific-12. He failed to reach the NCAA Tournament during his tenure and was not able to sustain the success the program had under Tony Bennett, who left after the 2009 season to take the top job at Virginia. Boston College fired Steve Donahue after an 8-24 season. The Eagles failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in his four years in the job. Athletic Director Brad Bates made the announcement with one year left on the five-year contract Donahue signed to replace Al Skinner in 2010. BC was 54-76 under Donahue. Montana State Coach Brad Huse resigned after eight seasons. Athletic Director Peter Fields said Huse resigned during a meeting Tuesday morning. Fields said MSU will pay out the final year of Huse’s contact, which paid him $135,000 a year. Huse’s teams posted a 107-133 record, including a 64-72 mark in Big Sky Conference play. The Bobcats didn’t qualify for the league tournament this year.
Women’s teams competing in the NCAA Tournament are graduating their players at a higher rate than their male counterparts. A study released Tuesday by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport shows the women graduating at a rate of 87 percent, compared to 72 percent for the men. The women’s field has 21 teams graduating at 100 percent. Northwestern (La.) State University was the lone women’s NCAA Tournament team to fall below the NCAA-mandated Academic Progress Rate score of 930, or 50 percent graduation rate equivalent. Eight men’s teams were below that standard. The women also saw a 1 percentage point decrease in the disparity between the graduation rates of white players and black players. That gap is 5 percentage points. It is a 24-point gap for men’s teams.
FOOTBALL
4 arrested for theft
Four Georgia players have been released on bond following their arrests Monday on misdemeanor charges of theft by deception. University of Georgia chief of police Jimmy Williamson said an investigation found that three players — starting safety Tray Matthews and defensive linemen Jonathan Taylor and James DeLoach — received double payments for stipend checks of $71.50 issued by the Georgia athletic department. Williamson said the players deposited the paper checks through a mobile device and also cashed the checks at a convenience store. Wide receiver Uriah LeMay was charged with cashing a roommate’s check after the check already had been deposited through a mobile app. Georgia Coach Mark Richt said in a statement Tuesday the matter “will be handled in an appropriate way.” Georgia opened spring football practice Tuesday.
A Massachusetts judge has refused to alter a gag order she imposed in the homicide case against former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez. Judge Susan Garsh declined prosecutors’ request Tuesday. They had said the order is too broad and was issued without evidence they had been leaking information. Defense attorneys who requested the order accused the state of allowing leaks and prejudicial out-of-court statements. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in the 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, a 27-yearold Boston man dating the sister of the ex-player’s fiancee. Garsh’s order requires both sides take “reasonable precautions” against prejudicial disclosures and says prosecutors must investigate any reports of leaks. She said she found no ethical lapses by prosecutors. Prosecutors have also asked a state Supreme Judicial Court justice to stay the order.
The family of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said Tuesday he has placed himself in a treatment facility after police found multiple prescription drugs in his vehicle during a traffic stop. Irsay, 54, who acknowledged a painkiller dependency more than a decade ago, faces preliminary charges of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and four felony counts of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested near his home in suburban Carmel late Sunday and released the next day. “Yesterday, Jim Irsay took the first step toward regaining good health,” the family said in the statement released by the Colts. “He voluntarily checked into a highly-respected health care facility and is committed to undergoing the treatment and care necessary to help him meet his challenges head-on. Jim, the Irsay family and the Colts organization are all deeply appreciative of the incredible outpouring of support and compassion from our fans and the Indiana community.” Colts spokesman Avis Roper said the comments came from Irsay’s family and he had no further information. If Irsay is charged and convicted on the felony counts, he could face six months to three years in prison on each count. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Andre Miksha said Monday no decision had been made on formal charges and a hearing was set for March 26. An NFL spokesman said Irsay is subject to discipline but didn’t elaborate on what that might be.
TENNIS
Shvedova advances
Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan defeated 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday to advance to a second-round match against top-seeded Serena Williams at the Sony Open at Key Biscayne, Fla. Williams, who will open defense of her title against the 59th-ranked Shvedova on Thursday, has won all three matches they have played. Williams did drop a set to Shvedova in their 2012 Wimbledon fourth-round meeting. American Varvara Lepchenko defeated Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, but fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands fell to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Monica Puig of Puerto Rico, who lives in Miami, defeated Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-1, 7-6 (7).