In Brief

GOLF

American Gates claims lead
in Australia; Daly misses cut

Bobby Gates shot a 3-under-par 69 today to take the second-round lead in the Australian PGA at Coolum, but fellow American John Daly had an 83 to miss the cut on the Coolum layout where he had one of his most famous career meltdowns.

Gates, who earned a 2011 PGA Tour card with a 16th-place finish this season on the Nationwide Tour money list, had an 11-under 133 total for a one-stroke lead over China's Liang Wenchong (68) and Australian John Senden (65). Defending champion Robert Allenby (68) was five strokes behind Gates.

Daly, who opened with a 71, refused to speak to the media after his round and was driven from the course by the tournament promoter.

In the 2002 event, after taking a triple-bogey 7 on his final hole, Daly threw his putter and ball into a greenside pond and later failed to sign for a 78 on his scorecard, disqualifying himself from the tournament.

Also: Greg Norman said his 22nd Shark Shootout features the best field ever.

Half the U.S. Ryder Cup team, two from Europe and two more who were assistant captains are playing at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., starting today.

Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, 2010 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Rickie Fowler, money champion Matt Kuchar and Jeff Overton played for the Americans.

Graeme McDowell, coming off beating Tiger Woods in a playoff Sunday, and Ian Poulter were part of Europe's winning team.

Lydia Hall of Wales shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over Anna Nordqvist of Sweden in the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters at Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Hall is at 7-under 137.

Michelle Wie limped around the back nine because of a bad back and finished with a 72, six shots behind the leader.

For the first time in three years, a Las Vegas Valley golf course has been sold.

Par 4 Management has bought the 27-hole Silverstone Golf Club from foreclosure. Located in the northwest valley, Silverstone's purchase price was $3.1 million. The Clark County Assessor's Office's assessed value of the 9-year-old course and amenities, for tax purposes, is $13.4 million for 2010-11.

miscellaneous

Wladimir Klitschko foe accuses Ukrainian of running scared

British challenger Dereck Chisora has cast doubt on the reason behind Wladimir Klitschko's withdrawal from their heavyweight title fight Saturday in Manheim, Germany.

The Ukrainian fighter, who holds the WBO and IBF belts, pulled out Wednesday because of an abdominal injury.

Chisora said on BBC radio "when we saw him ... everything was good. ... I just think he didn't want it."

Klitschko's adviser, Shelley Finkel, said the champion should be fit to fight again within two months.

Also: Top heavyweight contender Tomasz Adamek successfully defended his IBF international heavyweight championship when he stopped Vinny Maddalone in the fifth round in Newark, N.J.

Adamek (43-1, 28 knockouts) dominated the fight from the outset and put Maddalone (33-7) away with a series of hard punches in the fifth round.

The Wranglers will host the Idaho Steelheads at 7:05 p.m. today and Saturday at the Orleans Arena in their first home games since Nov. 13.

Las Vegas (11-4-2, 24 points) has won four straight at home and is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games. The Wranglers lead the ECHL in goals-against average (2.18 per game) and penalty-kill percentage (93.4). Idaho is 11-5-5 for 27 points.

Wranglers goalie Michael Ouzas (7-1-1) leads the league in goals-against average (1.86) and is second in save percentage (.934).

Las Vegas' other goaltender, Joe Fallon, was recalled by San Antonio of the American Hockey League on Thursday. He was 4-3-1 and ranked third in the ECHL with a 2.25 goals-against average.

The Wranglers also will be without injured defenseman Aaron Power and three of their top five scorers. Ned Lukacevic (15 points), Vince Bellissimo (10) and Colin Long (eight) are injured.

Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin might play doubles together at the 2012 London Olympics. The Belgian stars said they are open to the idea but need to overcome scheduling difficulties.

"Obviously for the Olympics, it would be beautiful," said U.S. Open champion Clijsters, noting 2012 might be her last full competitive season. "It would be nice to go out in such a way."

The president of the International Tennis Federation has offered Pete Sampras a replica trophy from his two Davis Cup wins following the theft of much of his tennis memorabilia.

The World Anti-Doping Agency is challenging a decision that cleared German Olympic table tennis medalist Dimitrij Ovtcharov of doping despite his positive test for clenbuterol.

Ovtcharov tested positive in August for the banned anabolic agent, which burns fat and builds muscle. The German federation accepted that Ovtcharov probably ate contaminated meat.