GOLF
Tiger Woods was out before he was officially back, withdrawing Monday from his Hero World Challenge with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
The Hero World Challenge was to be the start of a December in golf ruled by Woods, who also has a made-for-television match next weekend, followed by the PNC Championship with his 13-year-old son on Dec. 17-18.
Two of those are still on his schedule. The foot injury was a surprise and is a big setback for those who haven’t seen Woods play since July at St. Andrews. The Hero World Challenge has network coverage on NBC for the weekend.
“In preparation and practice for this week’s Hero World Challenge, I’ve developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot, which is making it difficult to walk,” Woods said on Twitter. “After consulting with my doctors and trainers, I have decided to withdraw this week and focus on my hosting duties. My plan is still to compete in The Match and the PNC Championship.”
The Match is Dec. 10 with Rory McIlroy as his partner competing in a 12-hole match against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
Woods has played only three tournaments this year because of a right leg weakened by a February 2021 car crash outside Los Angeles that shattered so many bones that Woods said doctors contemplated amputation.
HIGH SCHOOLS
GIRLS’ HOCKEY: Freshman Katie Berard had three goals and an assist as Winslow (2-0) rolled to an 8-2 girls’ hockey win over Brunswick (0-1).
The Black Tigers – made up of players from Winslow, Gardiner, Messalonskee, Lawrence, Maranacook, Erskine Academy and Mt. Blue – got goals from five other players and 25 saves from goaltender Emma Michaud.
Solveig Ledwick and Sydney Drake scored for the Dragons.
SOCCER
FIFA: A ban preventing Kenya from taking part in international soccer activities has been lifted after nine months.
Soccer governing body FIFA notified the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) the decision was made following the reinstatement of the federation’s executive committee by Kenya’s new sports minister.
The ban took effect on Feb. 24 after the sports ministry disbanded the FKF over alleged misappropriation of funds and appointed a caretaker committee.
The FIFA letter stated that “upon the lifting of the suspension, a FIFA-CAF mission will be deployed to Nairobi in order to define the next steps for the FKF and also meet with the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Sports.”
OLYMPICS
PARIS OLYMPICS: Organizers of the 2024 Paris Olympics say that they are soon launching a unique new system – an online public draw from Dec. 1 to allocate tickets worldwide.
Officials revealed details in a press conference, explaining that the ticketing draw would be open to everyone around the world in stages from Thursday until Jan. 31, 2023. Some 10 million tickets for the games and 3.4 million for the Paralympics will be made available on the online platform.
“For the first time in Olympic history, tickets will be sold exclusively on a single, centralized and digital platform which will be open to all fans at the same time,” a statement from organizers said.
Lucky ticket winners will effectively be able to purchase their tickets from the month after the draw closes, in February of next year.
Just under half of the tickets cost 50 euros ($52) or less, with packages of three-sessions from 72 euros ($75).
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