IN BRIEF

GOLF

PGA Tour could lose tourneys, Finchem says

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem says its highly unlikely that golf will make it through the end of next year without losing corporate sponsors and possibly some tournaments.

Finchem said Wednesday that marketing budgets remain small even as the economy is showing signs of a recovery. The tour has about a dozen sponsors that have contracts through 2010, and negotiations are ongoing.

"I think it's possible we could lose a couple of events," Finchem said. "It's probable that we're going to lose some sponsors. They're two different things, really. ... It most likely will be some more sponsorship loss."

Also: Heath Slocum was in danger of losing his PGA Tour card a month ago. Now he has a chance to win $10 million from the FedEx Cup.

His fortunes have changed. But not his priorities.

Slocum donated $40,000 Wednesday to three charities associated with the Tour Championship. The East Lake Foundation will receive $20,000, and the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the Chron's and Colitis Foundation each will get $10,000.

"We're in a good position to help out," Slocum said. "This is something that we've been talking about for a while."

Part of the charity is personal. Slocum has suffered from ulcerative colitis for the last 10 years.

Lorena Ochoa is running out of tournaments in a startlingly average season for a player who won 21 times in the previous three years.

Since winning the Corona Championship in her native Mexico in late April for her second victory of the year, the top-ranked Ochoa is winless in 10 starts.

South Korea's Jiyai Shin leads the player of the year -- and rookie -- races and is within striking distance of catching Ochoa in the rankings. Norway's Suzann Pettersen and a handful of other players are also close heading into the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge, set to start today in Danville, Calif.

HOCKEY

Forsberg to play today in Swedish League

Peter Forsberg will play for his hometown team Modo in a Swedish Elite League home opener against Frolunda today in yet another comeback attempt following a lingering foot injury.

The former NHL Most Valuable Player has practiced with the team since early August and played two games during a preseason tournament in Switzerland.

Modo has given the 36-year-old Forsberg a one-week tryout contract, which means he'll play at least three games. He can play with Modo until the NHL season begins Oct. 2 without jeopardizing a possible comeback in the NHL.

Also: Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie has pledged to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz., this season if he wins an auction for the financially troubled club.

The revised offer came during an emergency hearing Wednesday before bankruptcy Judge Redfield T. Baum, who called Balsillie's proposal "a fairly significant change."

Balsillie still plans to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, as part of his $242.5 million bid.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean O'Donnell has been suspended five games, including the first two of the regular season, for a match penalty during a preseason game against the New York Islanders.

Coyotes forward Francis Lessard was suspended for the first three games of the season for his hit on Anaheim's Ryan Donally last weekend.

Veteran goaltender Olaf Kolzig is retiring after 14 seasons in the NHL.

The 39-year-old former Vezina Trophy winner -- known as "Olie the Goalie" -- spent most of his career with the Washington Capitals.

The San Jose Sharks signed free-agent center Manny Malhotra to a contract.

Malhotra has played 12 seasons in the NHL, posting a career-high 35 points last season with Columbus when he had 11 goals and 24 assists.

MISCELLANEOUS

Federer, Nadal could meet in Davis Cup play

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal could face each other in the first round of next year's Davis Cup after Spain drew Switzerland on Wednesday.

Federer and Nadal, the world's top two players, have never met in the Davis Cup.

The draw for the World Group also sends the United States to Serbia, making a match between Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick a possibility.

Also: Alejandro Valverde can race for a road world title, despite moves by Italy to have the Spaniard thrown out of the race because of doping allegations.

Kristin Armstrong won the women's time trial at the road cycling world championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, then confirmed she will retire after competing in this weekend's road race.

Oprah Winfrey is going on the road, this time in support of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics. The TV talk-show host will travel to Copenhagen next week ahead of the Oct. 2 vote.