GOLF

JONES TAKES EARLY LEAD AT PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Former U.S. Open champion Steve Jones stole the spotlight yesterday in the first round of The Players Championship at Sawgrass with an 8-under 64, the lowest first-round scoring at Sawgrass in nine years. Jones made seven birdies in eight holes during one stretch on a Sawgrass course that was so soft that the fairways could not be mowed.

Jones leads by one stroke over Fred Funk, Zach Johnson, and Lee Westwood, while Sergio Garcia headlines a group of three at 66.World no. 1Vijay Singh made an strong start with a 67, while Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson did themselves little harm by carding 70.

BASEBALL

POLL SHOWS MCGWIRE MAY NOT MAKE HALL

Mark McGwire could miss out on making the Hall of Fame because of baseball’s swirling steroids scandal, an Associated Press survey showed yesterday.

Barry Bonds would get enough support to make it into Cooperstown, but he’s far from being a shoo-in, according to results from 155 Hall voters polled this week among the roughly 500 eligible. Only 65 said they would vote for McGwire when he becomes eligible or were leaning that way; 52 said no or were leaning that way and 38 were undecided.

Bonds received 105 votes for election, 25 against and 25 were undecided. Players need 75% of the vote to get into the Hall.

JOHNSON EARNS OPENING DAY START AFTER SOLID OUTING

Randy Johnson pitched like an opening day starter then was given the honor of making his first start in pinstripes the Yankees’ opener. Johnson learned that he will start April 3 against Boston after he gave up one hit over six scoreless innings yesterday, and Derek Jeter went 2-for-3 in his return from a foot injury to lift the Yankees to a 12-2 win over Atlanta. Johnson retired 10 straight batters at one point, including four on strikeouts.

CAMERON RETURNS TO THE LINEUP IN METS LOSS

Mike Cameron returned to the Mets’ lineup with a different view from the outfield. Cameron played his first game since having offseason wrist surgery and moved to right field to accommodate the Mets’ new center fielder, Carlos Beltran. Cameron went 1-for-3 and lost a ball in the overcast sky in six innings of the Mets’ 6-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers yesterday.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

REPORT: FORD TO TAKE OVER AT UMASS

Eastern Kentucky’s Travis Ford has been chosen as the next basketball coach of Massachusetts, a university source told the Associated Press. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed yesterday that UMass officials had reached an agreement with Ford, and planned to announce his hiring today.

Ford, 35, guided the Colonels to a 22-9 record this season and an NCAA tournament bid, the school’s first in 26 years.

TENNIS

CLIJSTERS CONTINUES COMEBACK WITH WIN AT NASDAQ

Kim Clijsters needed just 46 minutes to win her first-round match yesterday at the Nasdaq-100 Open. Clijsters continued her comeback from a career-threatening wrist injury by winning the first 11 games and beating Sandra Kloesel 6-0, 6-1.

In men’s play, Ivo Karlovic fell to Olivier Rochus, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3); American Mardy Fish overcame 60 unforced errors to beat Tomas Zib 7-6 (2), 6-7 (3), 6-3; Donald Young, a 15-year-old wild card from Chicago, lost to Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-4, 7-5; and Mark Philippoussis overcame a nasty tumble to complete a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Christophe Rochus.

– Associated Press