Woods won’t play in Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods removed himself from consideration for the Ryder Cup team with a clear message that he is not healthy enough to play.

One day after U.S. captain Tom Watson said he trusted Woods to give him the “straight skinny” on the condition of his back injury and his game, Woods said he called the 64-year-old captain to say he would not be available.

The decision spares Watson from having to leave Woods off the team, and it eliminates a distraction over the next three weeks before Watson announces his three captain’s picks for the Sept. 26-28 matches against Europe at Gleneagles.

Woods’ best finish this year was a tie for 25th because of nagging back issues at the start of the year that led him to have surgery on March 31. He missed two majors, including the Masters for the first time, and did not return for three months. In the four events he played upon his return, he missed the cut twice, withdrew during the final round at Firestone and finished 69th in the British Open for his worst 72-hole result in a major.

Woods said he would not return until his World Challenge in Orlando the first week of December.

Police clear Marshawn Lynch

BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) — Police have cleared Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch in an assault and property damage case.

The Bellevue Police Department issued a statement late Wednesday night saying Lynch wasn’t involved and that the case remained open. The police department expressed appreciation for cooperation from Lynch and the Seahawks.

Police initially released a statement Monday mentioning Lynch. The Seahawks released a statement a day later saying they believed the accusations to be “bogus” after speaking with Lynch.

Serena, Federer both win in Cincinnati

MASON, Ohio (AP) — Top-seeded Serena Williams won an opening match that was as close as it gets, rallying in both tiebreakers to move on at the Western & Southern Open.

Williams needed 1 hour, 54 minutes to beat Samantha Stosur 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7), showing a little more poise on the toughest points.

Most of the top players advanced, though not without a struggle.

Roger Federer needed 2 hours to beat Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-2. Federer took control in the middle of the third set, breaking the Canadian twice in a row.

Andy Murray had a much easier time, taking little more than an hour to beat Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-3. John Isner, who reached the finals last year, also advanced.

Tottenham gets Yedlin in transfer

TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — U.S. national team defender DeAndre Yedlin signed a four-year deal with Tottenham on Wednesday but will remain in the United States with the Seattle Sounders through the remainder of the MLS season and potentially into 2015.

Both clubs announced the deal after Yedlin spent last weekend in London visiting with Spurs officials and the sides were able to finalize the deal. Tottenham said Yedlin would join the club ahead of the 2015-16 season, but Seattle general manager Adrian Hanauer said the window for the move is still unknown.

Hanauer said Yedlin could make the move during the January transfer window depending on where Tottenham stands. Or the move could come next summer and Yedlin could remain with the Sounders a little longer.