Golf: Greg Norman has spoken up for John Daly as the controversial American makes his latest attempt to rebuild his golf career.
Daly plays in the Australian star's own tournament, the Greg Norman Holden International, in Sydney this week still seeking his first victory since the 1995 Open at St Andrews.
At the age of 33, Daly remains better known for his drinking, gambling, broken marriages and misbehaviour than his game.
But Norman, who issued a personal invitation to the recovering alcoholic to come and play at The Lakes, said: "I have a lot of time for John. . . Any time I can help I will."
Daly played in the Phoenix Open last week and after the long journey to Australia chose to go straight to his hotel and therefore limit himself to one practice round for the £880,000 event starting on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Bernhard Langer revealed that he nearly pulled out of the tournament on Saturday after spending three days in bed. He saw a specialist before getting the all-clear to fly, but is still having trouble hearing in his right ear.
It has not affected his memory, though, and he needed no reminding that last year he needed a par-three on the closing hole to win - and took six.
New Zealander Michael Long took the title then, but he is unable to defend after breaking his neck in a surfing accident a month ago.
A less serious neck problem has put Open champion Paul Lawrie out as well and the same complaint is threatening to make Thomas Bjorn a non-starter too.
Cycling: Ciaran Power yesterday achieved his highest placing yet in the Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia, when he placed eighth in mass bunch sprint at the finish of stage seven.
Power and his Linda McCartney team-mates had been told to assist designated sprinter David McKenzie in the approach to the line, but when the Australian punctured with two kilometres to go, Power opted to go for a high placing himself.
The stage was won by Ivan Quaranta of the Mobilvetta Design team. Power remains 41st overall, nine minutes and nine seconds behind race leader Christopher Horner of the Mercury squad.
Motor Sport: FIA president Max Mosley yesterday threatened to reduce the number of grands prix in Europe if television rights for Formula One on the Continent are taken out of their hands by the European Union.
Mosley attacked the EU for claiming his organisation are exerting an unfair monopoly on the rights.
Squash: Derek Ryan equalled his best ever run in a major event on the professional circuit when he reached the semi-finals of the Tournament of Champions in New York last night. The Dubliner led by two sets to one when his opponent, Scotland's John White, was forced to retire with an ankle injury. He will meet the winner of the quarter-final between Jonathan Power, the world number two, and Anthony Hill in the last four.
Ryan's success matches that of November, 1995, when he reached the semi-finals of the Pakistan Open.
