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08/03/2007 - St. Andrews, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lorena Ochoa will carry a lead into the weekend of a major championship for the second time this season, still looking for that last bit of validation for her No. 1 world ranking.
The Mexican star managed just an even-par 73 in the second round of the Women's British Open on Friday, but it was good enough to keep her head above a pool of challengers that included Annika Sorenstam, who has was three shots back at St. Andrews using a yardage book given to her by Tiger Woods.
Relying solely on her own measurements, Ochoa was at six-under 140 following a steady, if not unremarkable, round that included two birdies and two bogeys.
Her last bogey came at the par-four 18th, narrowing her lead over Wendy Ward and Catriona Matthew to just a shot.
"I think we are in good shape and I think we understand the golf course pretty good," said Ochoa.
Matthew fired a five-under 68 on Friday, equaling the round of the day. She birdied the 17th -- the famous "Road Hole" -- which has been converted to a par five for the women's first event at the Old Course.
"I'm delighted the wind didn't pick up as much as I thought it would and happy with my round," Matthew said.
Ward had a 70 to join Matthew in second place at five-under 141.
Sorenstam led a group of five players who were two shots further back at three-under 143.
Seeking her first win of the season, her first major since last year's U.S. Women's Open and a jolt to her middling play, Sorenstam shot a 71 on Friday to post her lowest 36-hole British Open score in relation to par since 2004.
Sorenstam has just one British Open crown among her 10 major championships, winning at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in 2003.
She woke up at 4 a.m. local time Friday for her 6:52 tee time, having relaxed little after shooting a 72 in the first round.
"It's tough to go to bed so early knowing I have to get up because I was so wound up after the first round and was thinking about all of the different shots," said Sorenstam. "I tried to tell myself, 'You've got to sleep, you've got to get up in about six hours.'"
Three players will be on the course at 6 a.m. local time Saturday morning to finish their second rounds after play was suspended for the second day in a row due to darkness.
The third round is scheduled to begin an hour later.
Ochoa didn't tee off until noonish on Friday. Her round got started on a good note with a seven-iron to six feet to set up birdie at No. 1, but it would be her only birdie in the first 13 holes.
In between, she made bogey at the 11th, trimming her lead to one shot over Ward. Ochoa reached the green in two at the par-five 14th, then two-putted from 15 feet for a birdie.
She three-putted for her closing bogey at the 18th.
"I'm upset about that three-putt on 18, but I didn't leave myself in a good position for my second shot," said Ochoa. "Nothing I can do now. I'm just glad I still have the lead."
Although Ochoa has won nine times in the last 16 months to supplant Sorenstam as the top-ranked women's player in the world, a major championship has eluded her.
Could her first time come in the first professional women's tournament ever held on the Old Course?
"Hopefully we can keep doing the same thing for a couple more days," was all she offered.
Ochoa also led after the second round of this year's Kraft Nabisco, but she finished in a tie for 10th place after shooting rounds of 77 and 72 on the weekend. She is 6-8 in her career with the 36-hole lead, and would like nothing better than to prove she can hold on to win a major.
"I can't wait to be here tomorrow," she said.
After shooting par on Thursday, Michelle Wie stumbled to a seven-over 80 and will miss the cut. Her round included a triple-bogey at the par-four 13th.
"It's like a puzzle," the 17-year-old Hawaiian said of piecing her game together. "I'm just getting one bit at a time ... But just playing two rounds here is an amazing feat because it's two more than I've ever played here."
Defending champion Sherri Steinhauer was one of four players who joined Sorenstam in a tie for fourth place at three-under par. Yuri Fudoh, Rebecca Hudson and Karine Icher were also there.
Kraft Nabisco champion Morgan Pressel and 2005 Women's British Open winner Jeong Jang will join Wie in missing the cut.
<< Broncos LB Holdman released from hospital
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One day after suffering a spinal cord
concussion, Denver Broncos linebacker Warrick Holdman was discharged from Sky
Ridge Medical Center on Friday.
Holdman was injured during Thursday's morning pr
<< Revs hope to extend East lead against United
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New England notched one of its biggest wins
Thursday to secure its spot atop the Eastern Conference, but goalie Matt Reis
believes the team needs to continue to separate itself.
The Revolution beat Kansas
<< Blanco makes MLS home debut as Fire host Crew
Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago will try to continue its resurgence
into the Eastern playoff picture when it hosts the Columbus Crew Saturday
night at Toyota Park.
The Fire, who are primed to climb out of the Eastern Confer
<< Tigers' Perez suspended for 80 games
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Tigers infielder Neifi Perez has been
suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a banned stimulant.
The suspension was announced Friday by the office of the commissioner under
the terms o
Mariners bring up Jones >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners recalled outfielder Adam
Jones from their Triple-A farm club on Friday.
Jones, who hit .314 with 25 homers and 84 RBI in 101 games with Tacoma, will
be available to play in Friday's
Mets rally in ninth to clip Cubs >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ruben Gotay went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring
single as the New York Mets scored four runs in the ninth inning to down the
Chicago Cubs, 6-2, in the opener of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.
Orlando Her
Canadiens bring back Brisebois >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens signed free agent
Patrice Brisebois to a one-year contract on Friday, returning the 36-year-old
defenseman to where he spent the first 14 years of his career.
Brisebois, a membe
A's place Chavez on DL >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics placed third baseman Eric
Chavez on the 15-day disabled list Friday with lower back spasms.
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Chavez has not appeared in a game since July 26 and has ma
Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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