Sports in brief

NHLPens' Malkin has injured kneeThe injury news just keeps getting worse for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Evgeni Malkin - who had just returned from a five-game absence - has a major knee injury, coach Dan Bylsma said Saturday. And from the looks of it, the center won't be back soon. Sidney Crosby already is out with a concussion, and his return date is unknown. Mark Letestu has a meniscus injury. He's out four to six weeks. According to Bylsma, Malkin, an All-Star who has 15 goals and 22 assists this season, has two torn ligaments in his right knee. It's not clear if he'll need surgery.

GOLFMickelson gets in the hunt

Phil Mickelson thrilled the huge crowd on the par-3 16th with a 30-foot birdie putt and closed within four strokes of leader Tommy Gainey halfway through the frost-delayed Phoenix Open. Mickelson, the former Arizona State star who won in 1996 and 2005 at TPC Scottsdale, birdied six of the last 11 holes for a 6-under 65. He was 10 under for two rounds in the event that will end tomorrow because of long delays Thursday and Friday. Gainey played nine holes yesterday, finishing off a 65 after shooting a career-best 63 on Friday. Rickie Fowler had a 62 to join Mickelson at 10 under. Jarrod Lyle had a hole-in-one on No. 16. The crowd was estimated at 131,627, up from 121,221 on Saturday last year.

U.S. Open changes criteria

The U.S. Open will rely more on the world ranking than money list in America and Europe to determine which players will be exempt from qualifying. In sweeping changes to the criteria, the U.S. Golf Association said that players now will have two chances to crack the top 50 and get into the U.S. Open - on May 23 and June 13, the final ranking before the championship. Thomas O'Toole, the USGA's chairman of competition, said the change was a "direct response" to last year, when Memorial winner Justin Rose and runner-up Rickie Fowler moved into the top 50 two weeks after the cutoff.

SOCCERManU suffers first lossFirst-place Manchester United's unbeaten start to the English Premier League season ended with a startling 2-1 defeat at last-place Wolverhampton. The upset came on the highest-scoring day in Premier League history, with 41 goals from eight games. Arsenal, up 4-0 after 26 minutes, ended in a 4-4 draw when Newcastle dominated the second half.

TENNIS

U.S. down 2-0 to Belgium

Melanie Oudin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States lost their singles matches at Antwerp, giving Belgium a 2-0 lead in the first-round Fed Cup matchup. Oudin lost to Australian Open winner Kim Clijsters 6-0, 6-4, and Mattek-Sands fell 6-1, 7-6 (6) to Yanina Wickmayer in the opening match. The reverse singles are today.- AP