National

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Charl Schwartzel gave this Masters a finish it deserved.

On an amazing Sunday at Augusta National, where the roars came from everywhere and for everyone and didn't stop until it was over, Schwartzel emerged from the madness by becoming the first Masters champion to close with four straight birdies.

His final putt from 20 feet curled into the side of the cup for a 6-under 66, the best closing round at the Masters in 22 years. It gave the 26-year-old South African a two-shot victory over Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day.

"Just an exciting day," Schwartzel said. "So many roars, and that atmosphere out there was just incredible. A phenomenal day."

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — One of the five charges in Barry Bonds’ perjury trial has been dropped and the defense has rested without calling a single witness.
Bonds’ attorney Allen Ruby announced the move Wednesday morning, which means the slugger will not take the stand in his own defense against charges that he lied to a federal grand jury by saying he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
The jury of eight-women and four men was sent home and ordered to return Thursday to begin deliberations after hearing closing arguments and instructions from the judge.

HOUSTON (AP) — John Calipari didn't come up with the "one-and-done" rule.

Didn't write it. Didn't implement it. The Kentucky coach didn't even really approve of it when the NBA decided in 2006 that players needed to be a year removed from high school before heading to the pros.

Yet Calipari has mastered it in a way few of his peers have, pulling off a seemingly impossible task season after season: molding the nation's top recruiting class into NBA-ready pros in six short months while somehow getting them to buy into the team-first concept in the process.

Kentucky plays Connecticut in its first Final Four game in 13 years Saturday with a roster headlined by freshmen Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb.

Depending on which side of “The Pond” you’re on, arguably the biggest event in the realm of golf is upon us once again.
Monday begins the practice rounds at Augusta National, which hosts The Masters tournament.
With the possible exception of St. Andrews, Augusta is the most storied course in golf. Augusta has hosted some of the most exciting (I’m using “exciting” in relative terms, of course) golf that has ever been witnessed.
As a player I met a few years ago told me, “the grass is like carpet” at Augusta. There is little about the place that isn’t eye-catching, even for the non-golfer.