Sports briefs

GOLF

Westwood, Woods near lead

The way Lee Westwood played Thursday in the HSBC Champions, it doesn't look as though he wants to give up his prized No. 1 ranking after just one week.

Even as Francesco Molinari of Italy made a charge to a first-round 7-under 65 for a one-shot lead, the focus in the final World Golf Championship of the year quickly shifted to what could be a prolonged and fascinating battle for No. 1.

Westwood birdied some of the toughest holes at Sheshan International in Shanghai and showed hardly any signs of rust from playing in his second stroke-play tournament in three months. He finished with back-to-back birdies for a 66.

Two shots behind was Tiger Woods, without his No. 1 ranking for the first time in more than five years. Woods made a most improbable par from behind the bushes with a 4-iron he had to aim away from loose tree roots. Not to be forgotten is the defending champion, fourth-ranked Phil Mickelson, who rallied for a 69. PGA champion Martin Kaymer, the No. 3 player, opened with a 72.

SOCCER

Red Bulls eliminated

Chris Wondolowski scored in the 81st minute, giving the visiting San Jose Earthquakes a 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls and Thierry Henry and a 3-2 aggregate win in the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal series. Bobby Convey scored twice, connecting in the sixth and 77th minutes, to help San Jose rebound from a 1-0 first-leg loss in California on Saturday night. Juan Pablo Angel, in likely his last game for the Red Bulls, scored in the 78th minute.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Auburn's Newton in trouble?

ESPN.com is reporting that a man saying he represented Auburn quarterback and Heisman hopeful Cameron Newton during his recruitment out of junior college last year asked for payment to secure the quarterback's commitment to Mississippi State. The website is citing unidentified people saying former MSU player Kenny Rogers was the one soliciting payment. ESPN.com reports the school refused to get involved with Rogers, who has separately come under scrutiny from the NFL Players Association and the NCAA.

More probation for Michigan

The NCAA handed Michigan a third year of probation for practice and training violations, declining to sharply punish Rich Rodriguez or his program for an embarrassing problem that cropped up just a few days before last season.

Rutgers' LeGrand hospitalized

Paralyzed Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand has been hospitalized with a high fever. Hours after being admitted to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, N.J., the 20-year-old LeGrand was moved to St. Barnabas Medical Center late Wednesday with a high fever, Rutgers said. He will remain at the hospital in Livingston, N.J., until he is able to return to Kessler.

The junior defensive tackle was paralyzed from the neck down Oct. 16 against Army. - AP