By Times Staff and Wire Reports
Published March 31, 2004
David Duval withdrew from the Masters, saying Tuesday he needs more time to work on his game and enjoy his new family.
Duval has not played on the PGA Tour since he missed the cut in Las Vegas in October. He withdrew with a sore back during the first round of the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan in November.
Duval said he has a "decent idea" when he might return to the tour, though he declined to say. It will be the first time he has not played the Masters since he first qualified in 1996.
Duval got married March6 to Susie Persichitte, whom he met last year in Denver. He now is a husband and father. "I've been blessed with the greatest wife in the world and ... kids who are unbelievable," he said.
TAVISTOCK CUP: Stuart Appleby shot the low score of the day, 6-under 66, as three Isleworth members swept their matches, giving the club bragging rights over Lake Nona with a 141/2-91/2 victory. The two-day exhibition was between the clubs in Orlando where several tour pros live.
AUTOS: Spencer gains wheels
Jimmy Spencer will replace Kevin Lepage in the No.4 Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet for Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. "We are changing drivers to evaluate our race team," owner Larry McClure said. Spencer has driven in one Cup race this season, finishing 24th in Daytona.
COLLEGES: More allegations at CU?
Two more women have come forward in the past three months to say they were sexually assaulted by Colorado football players, according to the head of a rape crisis center in Boulder. Janine D'Anniballe made the allegations during a public meeting of the panel investigating recruiting practices at the university. The panel said its investigation confirmed underage recruits had access to alcohol and one said there was a "strong indication" university officials knew what was going on. D'Anniballe said confidentiality rules barred her from disclosing details, including if the players still are on the team.
MORE FOOTBALL: Miami receiver Roscoe Parrish was held out of practice with an ankle injury and could miss the rest of spring practice. ... James Banks, Tennessee's leading receiver last season, was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules, coach Phillip Fulmer said.
BASEBALL: Jeremy Brand tripled, homered and drove in four runs as visiting USF (19-8) defeated Stetson (17-11) 9-2.
GOLF: Senior Camilo Villegas set a Florida record by winning his eighth tournament, and the Gators won their seventh title of the season, the Atlanta Intercollegiate. UF's 25-under 839 was 14 shots better than South Carolina (853). Villegas was 12-under 204, two ahead of fellow Gator Jessie Mudd. FSU (885) was 10th.
OLYMPICS: More delays in Athens?
A one-day nationwide strike by Greece's largest labor union could disrupt already delayed construction projects for the Aug.13-29 Games. The strike, which is to include all labor organizations, is scheduled today and is expected to shut down some public services, close some banks and cause flight delays and cancellations around Greece.
ET CETERA
EQUESTRIAN: McLain Ward of Brewster, N.Y., rode LaBelle to victory in the $5,000 1.40-meter event at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa. This is Ward's final week of competition in the Winter Equestrian Festival.
HOCKEY: Natalie Darwitz's three goals led the United States 9-1 over Switzerland in an opener at the women's world championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
SAILING: Sweden's Gustaf Fresk and Aron Andersson led after the first day of the Disabled Two-person World Championship. Dan Fitzgibbon and Grahme Rayner of Australia were second. Racing concludes Saturday off the St. Petersburg waterfront.
