GOLF

CLARKE’S COLLAPSE GIVES LONARD HERITAGE TITLE

Darren Clarke went on a startling streak of bogeys and double bogeys yesterday in a closing 76 that handed Australia’s Peter Lonard his first PGA Tour title at the MCI Heritage.

“I can’t believe I’ve done what I’ve done,” Clarke said.

Clarke, who birdied four of the first five holes to take a four-stroke lead, was tied with Lonard entering the final hole. The drama ended quickly, though, when Clarke lost his ball after pulling his approach into the thatchy beach area next to the green en route to a double bogey. He had played the first 36 holes in a career-best 12-under 130.

Lonard’s final-round 75 gave him a 7-under 277 total, while Clarke’s 76 dropped him into a tie for second at 5 under with five-time Harbour Town winner Davis Love III (71),Jim Furyk (69), and Billy Andrade (68). It was a crazy finish for Lonard, who opened with a career-best 62 on Thursday, then fell six shots behind Clarke with a 74 in the second round. Lonard rebounded on Saturday with a 66. Yesterday, Lonard’s 75 was the highest final round by an MCI Heritage winner, surpassing Arnold Palmer’s 74 in the inaugural event in 1969.

SOCCER

MANCHESTER UNITED TO FACE ARSENAL IN FA CUP FINAL

Manchester United got two goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy yesterday to help the defending champions beat Newcastle 4-1 and set up an FA Cup final against Arsenal.

Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo also scored for ManU while Shola Ameobi had one for Newcastle with his team already down by three goals. Man United and Arsenal, the two most successful teams in the history of the world’s oldest cup competition, will meet in the final at Millennium Stadium on May 21.United has won the trophy 11 times and Arsenal nine times. Arsenal defeated Blackburn 3-0 on Saturday.

Manchester United has beaten Arsenal in the English Premier League this season and also eliminated the Gunners from the League Cup. It will be first the FA Cup final between the two teams since Arsenal beat ManU 3-2 in 1979.

CYCLING

ARMSTRONG TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT FUTURE

Lance Armstrong is set to make an announcement today that is expected to settle questions on whether he will retire from cycling after this summer’s Tour de France, where he will try for a seventh straight title.

Earlier this month, Armstrong called retirement “a possibility” and said, “I am still thinking about that.” Armstrong’s announcement will come as a prelude to the Tour de Georgia, a race he won last year. The six-day, 648-mile event begins Tuesday in Augusta, and this could be the 33-year-old Texan’s last race in the U.S. The Tour de Georgia said Armstrong will make a “don’t miss statement” today.

– Associated Press