GOLF

FUNK WINS MARATHON PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Fred Funk sank a 5-foot put on the final hole, giving him a one-shot victory yesterday in the toughest final round the The Players Championship at Sawgrass has ever had. Funk closed with a 1-under 71, then had to wait until Luke Donald missed a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green before celebrating the seventh victory of his career after finishing with a 9-under 279.

After numerous rain delays over the weekend, the final round began yesterday with 35-mph winds wreaking havoc on the course. There were 16 rounds in the 80s and more than two dozen balls in the water on the island-green 17th. Bob Tway alone needed 12 shots to escape number 17.

Vijay Singh was within four shots of the lead until he three-putted from 8 feet for a double bogey on no. 15. He closed with a 72 and tied for 12th, enough to retain his no. 1 ranking by finishing ahead of Tiger Woods. Woods tied for 53rd by shooting a 75. Phil Mickelson dropped out of contention with two balls into the water on the 17th in the morning, and another one in the afternoon. He shot 75 and tied for 40th. Ernie Els started his day with a double bogey and a triple bogey, but closed with a 69 to tie for 17th.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UTAH’S BOGUT TO ENTER NBA DRAFT

Utah center Andrew Bogut will enter the NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of eligibility to possibly become the no. 1 choice.

Bogut, the leading vote-getter on the AP All-America team, averaged 20.4 points and 12.2 rebounds while leading the Utes to a 29-6 season. The 7-foot Australian is expected to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft and possibly the first player chosen overall with his exceptional ball handling skills for a center. Bogut led Utah in scoring and rebounding and was third on the team in assists with 82.

Also yesterday, Arizona State junior forward Ike Diogu made himself eligible for the NBA draft, following a season in which he led the Pac-10 in scoring and rebounding. The 6-foot-8 Diogu hasn’t hired an agent and could return to Arizona State if he decides not to turn pro. He has until June 21 to remove his name from draft consideration.

TENNESSEE HIRES PEARL AS NEW COACH

Bruce Pearl, who led Wisconsin-Milwaukee on a surprising run through the NCAA tournament, was introduced yesterday as Tennessee’s new basketball coach. Pearl took 12th-seeded Wisconsin-Milwaukee to the round of 16 this year for the first time in the program’s 109-year history. He also spent nine years at Division II Southern Indiana and won the national championship there in 1995.

Tennessee failed to make the NCAA tournament in four years under coach Buzz Peterson, who was fired March 13 after a 14-17 season.

TENNIS

DENT OUSTS CORIA AT NASDAQ-100

Taylor Dent beat a top-10 player for the fourth time this year yesterday, eliminating Guillermo Coria 6-3, 6-4 in the third round at the Nasdaq-100 Open. Dent, seeded 31st, lost only four points on his first serve, never faced a break point, and won 37 points at the net.

Also yesterday in the third round, Roger Federer survived a scare before beating Mariano Zabaleta 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. The world no. 1 extended his winning streak to 18 matches, but he hardly looked invincible against the unseeded Zabaleta.

Also reaching the fourth round was six-time champion Andre Agassi, who hit 12 aces and took barely an hour to beat Arnaud Clement 6-2, 6-4. While Coria was eliminated, fellow Argentine Gaston Gaudio advanced and will play Agassi next. The no. 7-seeded Gaudio beat no. 27 Sebastien Grosjean 6-2, 6-3. No. 6 Tim Henman swept another Argentine, no. 28 Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-3, 6-1.

– Associated Press