IN BRIEF

NBA

Suns down to four candidates for coach

The search for a replacement for Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni apparently is down to four candidates.

The last of the group, San Antonio Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, was interviewed Tuesday, one day after Detroit Pistons assistant Terry Porter had his second interview for the job. Two other assistant coaches, Elston Turner of Houston and Tyrone Corbin of Utah, also have had second interviews.

Porter, who played in the NBA for 17 seasons, is the only one of the four known remaining candidates with head coaching experience, with two seasons at the helm of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Also: Michael Jordan's lawyers have asked a judge to permanently bar a western Pennsylvania woman from having contact with him.

Jordan's lawyers asked a Meadville judge Wednesday to order a permanent no-contact order against Lisa Miceli. The woman claims Jordan fathered her 4-year-old son.

Utah Jazz forward Kyle Korver plans to have surgery to remove a bone spur on his left foot.

Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor isn't sure how long he'll have to stay off his foot, but expects Korver to be fine by training camp.

GOLF

Woods plays first round since knee surgery

Tiger Woods played his first round of golf since knee surgery two days after the Masters, getting a thumbs-up from swing coach Hank Haney after 17-plus holes at Torrey Pines riding in a cart.

Eight days before the start of the U.S. Open, Woods played on the South Course in La Jolla, Calif. No spectators or media were allowed on the course, which has been closed since May 21.

Woods had surgery to clean out cartilage in his left knee on April 15, two days after his runner-up finish at the Masters.

Also: UNLV freshman Therese Koelbaek was named to Golfweek's Honorable Mention All-American team.

Koelbaek, a native of Holte, Denmark, was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year. She also shared medalist honors at the NCAA West Regional.

Koelbaek is the third Rebel to earn All-America honors, joining Sunny Oh, who was an honorable mention selection in 2003 and a second-team member in 2004, and Da Sol Chung, who was a first-team member in 2006.

MISCELLANEOUS

U.S. men's soccer team loses exhibition to Spain

The United States ended a two-game European trip with its second loss, giving up a late goal to Xavi Hernandez in a 1-0 defeat against Spain in Santander, Spain.

The Americans lost the opener of the trip 2-0 at England last week. They play Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday night before starting World Cup qualifying against Barbados on June 15 in Carson, Calif.

Also: Argentina extended its lead over Brazil at the top of the FIFA monthly rankings. Argentina has 1,559 points and Brazil 1,513.

World champion Italy remained third with 1,424 points, Spain was fourth and Germany fifth. The United States remained at No. 21.

Several new high-tech swimsuits were approved to compete with Speedo's record-breaking LZR Racer at the Beijing Olympics.

New bodysuits from Arena, Adidas and Mizuno were all given the OK by swimming governing body FINA.

Since the Speedo LZR Racer was introduced in mid-February, swimmers wearing the suit have set 37 world records.

Tony Stewart won his own charity dirt-track race in Rossburg, Ohio, leading nearly the entire way.

Robby Gordon finished second in the Prelude to the Dream, followed by Clint Bowyer.

Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year, is headed toward Churchill Downs' Grade I, $750,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap next week.