Star-Telegram.com: Sports

Nowitzki's ex denied lower bond, says she had January miscarriage

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:59 CDT

By TODD FRANKEL and BRAD TOWNSEND

A Missouri judge on Monday morning denied a request to lower the $25,000 cash-only bond in a decade-old case for Cristal Taylor, the ex-fiancee of Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki.

Taylor did not appear in court in St. Charles County, located about 30 miles west of St. Louis. But her attorney, Matthew Fry, argued that she should be released because she is pregnant.

Fry told Judge Nancy Schneider that Taylor needs outside medical care because she has a "higher risk" pregnancy due to her being 38 years old, "just a little over two months pregnant," and had suffered a miscarriage in January 2009.

If a miscarriage indeed occurred, it would represent a new wrinkle in the Nowitzki-Taylor saga. During past interviews with The Dallas Morning News, Taylor had not mentioned having a miscarriage.

Fry said Taylor, if released, could live with her mother in University City, a suburb of St. Louis.

"I believe she is not a flight risk specifically because she is pregnant," Fry said.

Prosecutors objected, noting Taylor's extensive use of aliases and the reason for today's hearing: a 12-year-old forgery case in St. Charles County.

Schneider denied Fry's request, saying she had reviewed a health screening from Beaumont, Texas, where Taylor had been held before being extradited to Missouri.

"It is my understanding these [pregnancies] are self-reported by an inmate." the judge said.

While Schneider did not say she doubted the pregnancy was real, she pointed out that Taylor appeared in stable condition.

The judge also set a parole violation hearing for Aug. 24. Fry said after the 10-minute hearing that Taylor would not likely be able to post bond.

Todd Frankel is a staff writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Hamilton, Young make All-Star roster for Texas Rangers

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:34 CDT

By DREW DAVISON

ARLINGTON — A year after taking New York by storm with a remarkable showing in the home run derby, Josh Hamilton is going back to the All-Star Game for the second consecutive year.

Hamilton, who is currently at Triple A Oklahoma City on a rehabilitation assignment from surgery on a torn abdominal muscle, received the third-most votes for outfielders and will start for the American League in the 80th All-Star Game on July 14 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

"It’s definitely an honor, but I do have mixed feelings about it," said Hamilton, who will not compete in this year’s home run derby. "I don’t feel personally I should go, but, at the same time, the fans voted me in, so I’m real happy about that."

Hamilton, who has played in only 35 of the Rangers’ 79 games, will be joined by teammate Michael Young, who was selected for the sixth straight season as a reserve. Young moved from shortstop to third base in the off-season and entered Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay hitting a team-high .314 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI.

"It means a lot," Young said. "Going back to the winter, there was tons of uncertainty on how it all would play out. I’m really honored to be a player selection. It’s the ultimate honor."

While Hamilton and Young certainly appreciated their selections, Rangers ace Kevin Millwood and second baseman Ian Kinsler were left off the team.

Millwood had All-Star credentials in the first half, posting a 2.80 ERA, the fifth best in the AL. Still, that wasn’t enough for AL and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon to select him. Instead, Maddon went with Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has 10 wins and a 4.30 ERA.

Maddon said Millwood was one of three pitchers left off that easily could’ve been selected, along with Seattle reliever David Aardsma and Tampa Bay left-hander J.P. Howell.

"It was real tough," Maddon said. "Once you get a chance to walk in the choosing shoes, it’s not fun. You know you’re going to disappoint some people and it really stinks. But I’m a big admirer of Kevin and I think he’s a great pitcher.

"Wakefield is having a good year, obviously. He’s pitches in Boston and he’s had a tremendous body of work throughout his entire career. I just felt that getting him on the team was the right thing to do."

Millwood, who is scheduled to start today against the Angels, was not available for comment Sunday because he was flying to Los Angeles.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said he was "really disappointed" Millwood was left off the team.

"I don’t think there’s anyone in the game who has been more important to his team as he has been for us," Washington said. "Whenever we needed it, he delivered."

Kinsler, who led fan voting the majority of the time until Boston’s Dustin Pedroia passed him in the final week, still has a chance to make the team.

Kinsler is one of five players vying for the final AL spot, which is voted on by the fans through the Sprint Final Vote. Kinsler’s competition includes Chone Figgins of the Angels, Adam Lind of the Blue Jays, Brandon Inge of the Tigers and Carlos Pena of the Rays.

"I don’t have much of a reaction, it’s pretty simple: he got more votes than me," Kinsler said. "Playing in Boston is an advantage, I guess, when it comes to popularity or whatever it takes. I want to go to the game, so I’m glad I’m in the final vote."

Jason Kidd agrees to return to Mavs for 3-year deal

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:04 CDT

By EDDIE SEFKO

DALLAS — Jason Kidd has told the Dallas Mavericks he will return to the team after they offered him a three-year contract worth more than $25 million.

Kidd, whom the Mavericks traded for in February 2008, had been pursued by the New York Knicks, among others, in the free-agent period this summer, but has agreed to come back to the Mavericks, owner Mark Cuban said.

"We are excited to have Jason Kidd back in a Mavs uniform," Cuban said. "He was a major contributor for us last year and we expect more of the same next year.

"We also are excited to have him tutor Roddy Beaubois and J.J. Barea. This is hopefully the first of several deals to come in the next couple of weeks."

Kidd was wooed by the Knicks, but they could not offer a contract that would be competitive with what the Mavericks could offer. Barring a sign-and-trade, the Knicks were limited to offering a contract starting at about $5.5 million, expected to be the mid-level exception when the salary cap is confirmed by the NBA this week.

Free agents were open to negotiations since last Wednesday, but cannot officially sign contracts until the upcoming Wednesday. The Mavericks had the hammer with Kidd because they could offer considerably more money than any other team could.

They also are in the running for restricted free agent Marcin Gortat, the 6-foot-11 center who played for Orlando last season.

The Mavericks were eager to re-sign Kidd for many reasons. He is one of the keys to their pursuit of other free agents in 2010 who might give the organization a better chance at competing for a championship.

Next summer is viewed as a huge free-agent bonanza.

Kidd came to Dallas before the trade deadline in 2008 in a deal that sent Devin Harris to New Jersey.

Kidd was finishing up a contract that paid him more than $21 million last season. He helped the Mavericks finish with a 50-32 record.

Texas Rangers activate Josh Hamilton, demote Chris Davis

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:51 CDT

By JOHN HENRY

ARLINGTON — Josh Hamilton is rejoining the Rangers for the start of their series against Los Angeles tonight. And to make room for him, the team announced that first baseman Chris Davis will be sent down to Triple A Oklahoma City.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said the decision is an opportunity for Davis, who has struggled all season at the plate, "to get things together."

"It was only a matter of time," said Davis, who is hitting .202 with 114 strikeouts in 258 at-bats. "I wasn’t making adjustments, and you can’t expect them to stick with me all this time. I’m not down about it. It’s just kind of a relief to know I can go get my head on straight down there."

The Rangers activated Hamilton, who has been recovering from surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle.

The decision on Hamilton lingered for a few days while he worked to regain his swing and timing in rehabilitation starts at Double A Frisco and Oklahoma City. As recently as Sunday afternoon, Washington said the timetable for Hamilton’s return, though thought to be this week, was "still not set in stone."

But that changed after Hamilton played center field and went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple in Game 1 of the RedHawks’ doubleheader Sunday against Omaha. He went 0-for-3 in Game 2 as the designated hitter.

"He’s been down there for a while now," Washington said after the game. "It’s time for him to get back here."

Washington said Hank Blalock will get the lion’s share of time at first base.

"Chris needs to get down there and get things together," said Washington, who added that the team kept rookie Julio Borbon on the roster for now because he offers good speed off the bench, and "he’s another guy who can bunt if I need him to."

Padilla held back

Vicente Padilla, who missed his last scheduled start because of a sore shoulder, experienced some discomfort during a bullpen session Sunday and will not start as expected Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.

Instead, right-hander Dustin Nippert will come off the disabled list and start in Padilla’s place.

General manager Jon Daniels said the team expects Padilla to make his next start Wednesday against the Angels or Thursday to start the Seattle series.

Padilla will be reassessed after another scheduled bullpen session today.

What big series?

The Rangers start what, by all appearances, is a big road trip tonight in Los Angeles against the Angels, their division front-running rival.

Next, they travel to the creeping Seattle Mariners, who are 3 1/2 games back in the AL West.

Ron Washington has a message for anybody looking ahead to the last two series before the All-Star break: Just relax.

"I haven’t thought about it. All I’m thinking about is" Tampa Bay on Sunday, Washington said. "We’ll think about LA when we get there."

Harrison update

Struggling Feldman good enough

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:49 CDT

By DREW DAVISON

ARLINGTON — Michael Young realizes how valuable Scott Feldman has been for the Texas Rangers. So does manager Ron Washington.

It showed Sunday night, a night when Feldman didn’t have his best stuff. Despite that, Feldman fought through and carried the Rangers to a series sweep of the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-2 victory at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The Rangers have now won five in a row and remain tied with the Los Angeles Angels atop the American League West with a record of 45-35.

"Felly has been massive for us," Young said. "He has been here since Day 1 and he’s been huge every time out. Anytime he’s out there, he gives us a chance to win."

Said Washington: "What impressed me most with Feldman is that he kept fighting. He was his own enemy tonight, trying to touch the corners. But he’s growing and getting better each time."

Feldman, who improved to 7-2 on the season, went six innings, allowing two runs — one earned— on three hits in six innings. The stat line is impressive, but Feldman struggled with his command all night, issuing a season-high four walks.

But he managed to end every Rays’ threat with minimal damage. After issuing two walks and facing a bases loaded jam in the second, Feldman ended the inning by striking out Rays catcher Dioner Navarro with a 1-2 slider in the dirt.

In the third, Feldman got into trouble when the first two hitters, B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford, reached. Upton would score on a sacrifice fly by Evan Longoria and Crawford would also score on the play because of a Texas throwing error. Feldman, though, responded and got two grounders to end the inning.

"There were a couple of different instances that I was trying to be too fine around the plate and those guys don’t swing at it," Feldman said. "I was able to challenge them, though, and get to them."

Feldman also received defensive help, particularly in the fifth and sixth innings. Both innings ended on double plays.

In the fifth, Longoria had a soft, broken-bat liner that Young hauled in and then fired to first to double up Crawford. In the sixth, Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler caught Rays designated hitter Pat Burrell’s line drive and doubled up Carlos Pena at first.

Offensively, the Rangers got a spark from outfielder David Murphy.

After starting the season in an 0-for-23 slump, Murphy, who batted third for the third time this season, had his second consecutive three-hit night, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.

And, it’s not just that Murphy had a good statistical night. Every time up, he was productive. In the first, he singled to move Kinsler to third base. Kinsler ended up scoring on Marlon Byrd’s single.

In the third, Murphy singled to put runners at the corners with no outs. In the fourth, Murphy produced the Rangers’ third sacrifice fly of the night. And, he capped off his night with a single in the sixth.

"Murphy was perfect," Washington said. "There is no perfection in baseball, but he was big for us tonight. He’s starting to swing the bat and staring to look like he did lat year."

Armstrong jumps from 10th to 3rd at Tour de France

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:39 CDT

By JAMEY KEATEN

Lance Armstrong jumped from 10th to third place at the Tour de France on Monday, positioning himself for a shot at the yellow jersey after evading trouble on a windy ride along the Mediterranean.

Britain's Mark Cavendish won his second straight stage. He and Armstrong and overall leader Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland kept up with a breakaway group that bolted from the pack with 18 miles left in the 122-mile third stage.

Armstrong, a seven-time champion coming out of retirement, is 40 seconds behind. He was able to make his big jump because riders in front of him at the start of the day got trapped in the main pack.

The race is set for a shakeout featuring Cancellara, Armstrong and Germany's Tony Martin in Tuesday's team time trial. Each team is strong in the 24-mile event, which starts and finishes in Montpellier. If Astana wins, Armstrong could take the yellow jersey. The race ends July 26 in Paris.

The Tour said Armstrong will be fined the equivalent of $92 for failing to sign in before the stage. His Astana team said the Texan was delayed because of autographs and interviews.

This was the sixth time Cavendish won a Tour stage. He finished in 5 hours, 1 minute, 24 seconds on the hot and breezy ride from Marseille to La Grande-Motte.

Armstrong, Cancellara and 22 other cyclists had the same time. Cancellara, who rides for Saxo Bank, extended his lead and is ahead of Martin by 33 seconds.

Cavendish mimed talking on a cell phone - in recognition of one of the Columbia team sponsors - as he led a sprint finish ahead of Norway's Thor Hushovd and France's Cyril Lemoine.

"It was brilliant," Cavendish said. "We were the only sprint team that wanted to ride today."

The pack, including expected contenders like Armstrong's Astana teammate Alberto Contador of Spain, the 2007 Tour champion, and two-time runner-up Cadel Evans of Australia, finished 41 seconds behind.

Columbia took control with about 18 miles left. Its riders led a 29-man breakaway that included several Astana cyclists, among them Armstrong and Cancellara.

They used the gusty conditions to their advantage in a tactic known as "bordure," which can help breakaway groups gain time on the main pack. Contador and other favorites were caught off-guard.

"We knew the wind was going to be a factor," said Armstrong, noting Columbia's move. "When you see a team at the front like that, you have to pay attention."

Armstrong said it was "not my objective" to gain ground on Contador, insisting he was "just trying to stay up front and out of trouble. ... I turned around and was surprised there was a split."

Contador dropped to fourth from second and is 59 seconds back from Cancellara. Fellow Astana rider Levi Leipheimer slipped to 10th, from sixth, and is 1:11 behind.

Millwood didn’t get a break on All-Star selections

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:23 CDT

JIM REEVES

ARLINGTON — You win some, you lose some and sometimes you just get screwed.

Welcome to Kevin Millwood’s world today.

Millwood knows he should have made the American League All-Star team. His manager and teammates know he should have made it. You and I know he should have made it. Even the guy who didn’t pick him knows it.

Which, of course, doesn’t mean spit.

Instead of spending a couple of days with baseball’s best in St. Louis on July 13-14, the Rangers’ right-hander will take his four days off and get himself mentally and physically ready for what could be the most important three months of baseball he’s ever played.

There’s something to be said for that, too.

It’s just not right, that’s all.

"Nobody ever said there was justice in baseball," Rangers manager Ron Washington grumbled Sunday, before his team wrapped up the homestand with a 5-2 victory that completed a sweep of the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays. It extended the Rangers’ winning streak to five games as they head for Anaheim.

I’d say that sweep is exactly what Joe Maddon deserves for leaving Millwood off his AL team, but truthfully, I hold no grudges against the Rays’ manager. His job is as tough as they come and whatever he decided, he was going to have to leave some deserving players off the team.

I just wish one of them hadn’t been Millwood, who departed for Anaheim late Sunday afternoon to rest up for tonight’s start against the Angels.

After the players voted Zack Greinke, Roy Halladay, Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Josh Beckett onto the team as starters and Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon and Mariano Rivera as relievers, Maddon filled out his 13-pitcher roster by adding Chicago’s Mark Buehrle (the White Sox’s only selection), Seattle’s Felix Hernandez and Boston’s Tim Wakefield as starters and Oakland’s Andrew Bailey (the A’s only pick) and the Angels’ Brian Fuentes as additional bullpen depth.

"It was real tough. Once you get a chance to walk in the choosing shoes, it’s not fun," Maddon said of his decision-making process. "You know you’re going to disappoint some people and it really stinks."

Maddon said Millwood was one of three pitchers left off the team who probably deserved to be there. Relievers David Aardsma (Seattle) and J.P. Howell (Tampa Bay) were the other two.

"It came down to it, there [were] different choices based on different teams not having a player selected, so we had to look at other teams, also. That put less options with regard to pitching."

In other words, Millwood was stung by the rule that says each team must be represented in the game. Buehrle and Bailey were the most deserving from their respective teams, taking two of Maddon’s 13 spots for pitchers.

The only pitcher on Maddon’s list I can honestly say definitely should have been left off in order to add Millwood is Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who has a zippy 10-3 record but a less-than-impressive 4.30 ERA.

"Wakefield is having a good year, obviously, pitches in Boston and he’s had a tremendous body of work throughout his entire career," Maddon explained. "I just felt that getting him on a team was the right thing to do."

No, the right thing to do would have been to pick the most deserving pitchers and players, no matter where they play or pitch, but there were probably other factors involved in the Wakefield decision.

He is 42, had never made the All-Star team and this might be his last shot. Yes, like it or not, sentiment does come into play in these situations.

Besides that, the rubber-armed Wakefield is also a strategic choice in that he’s capable of pitching multiple innings should Maddon need that from him in an extra-inning game. Don’t think Maddon and MLB officials weren’t thinking about that when they added him to the team.

Southlake's Knowles wins his first Wimbledon title

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:55 CDT

Mark Knowles of the Bahamas and Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany won the mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon on Sunday by beating top-seeded Leander Paes of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe 7-5, 6-3.

Knowles has won the men's doubles titles at the other three Grand Slam tournaments, but he had never before won at Wimbledon.

"I've always wanted to win Wimbledon. It's the most important tournament in my mind," Knowles said. "Like everybody, it's the tournament we all look up to. It's extremely special."

The match was played on Centre Court at the All England Club, but the four players had to wait for Roger Federer to complete his 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 win over Andy Roddick. That final went a Grand Slam record 77 games.

"We were waiting and waiting," Groenefeld said. "But, yeah, you never know when it's going to happen, when it's finished, the match before. But you're always ready."

Many of those who watched Federer win his record 15th Grand Slam title stayed to watch the mixed doubles.

"I wasn't expecting that many people to be there," Knowles said. "Obviously after such a thrilling encounter in the men's singles, it's pretty tough to follow that."

Knowles and Groenefeld, who converted four of their 10 break points and finished the match with 20 winners, trailed 5-2 in the first set.

"I actually said to Anna on the changeover, 'Let's stay positive,'" Knowles said. "We had lost a couple of close games really. We were playing pretty well."

Whatever was said worked because Knowles and Groenefeld won the next five games to take the first set.

"I think that attitude helped us turn it around," Knowles said. "We obviously won six or seven or eight games on the trot. I think things started going our way."

The language is still important to the game

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:49 CDT

RAY BUCK

FIRST SHOT: It irks me to no end when baseball announcers, be it radio or TV, pro, college or high school, use the wrong terminology.

"Time out" is not called in baseball, there is no clock. It’s time to interrupt play for a bit.

It’s not "out-of-bounds" or "in-bounds." It’s "fair" or "foul." And "signs" — not "signals" — are given to players.

I coached youth baseball here for 12 years and tried to teach my players the game as it should be, the way my dad taught me. I know my son and two grandsons know the game, and love it as I do.

— Michael Donaldson, Artesia, N.M.

BUCKSHOT: I think George Carlin got a lot of laughs from this routine, didn’t he?

SECOND SHOT: The race for the Cy Young is going to be very crowded this year. Every pitcher I’ve seen pitch against the Rangers has made a strong case to be considered.

— Jim Walker, Fort Worth

BUCKSHOT: One little June swoon, and everybody’s a comedian.

THIRD SHOT: If the Mavs don’t make a significant roster move, then there will not be another 50-win season in their future. Dirk is getting older/running out of time (at least with this team). Howard? Terrible letdown. Kidd? Almost too old to make much of a difference. That’s the core of this team, and it’s going nowhere fast.

— Bob Dingler, Tyler

BUCKSHOT: Not even that fast anymore.

FOURTH SHOT: Without a significant roster move, the Mavs will be insignificant. Surely Mark Cuban won’t allow that, or would he?

— Kerry Horn, Benbrook

BUCKSHOT: I have no idea, or do I?

FIFTH SHOT: I get sick and tired of fans saying our local teams haven’t won a championship in years. What about the Fort Worth Cats?

They’ve won three titles in the last four years, and they just qualified for the playoffs again.

I’m a Cats season ticket holder. If you want to see championship baseball, go see these guys. Along the way, you might see a future major leaguer like Luke Hochevar (Royals), Max Scherzer (Diamondbacks) or Aaron Crow (just drafted 12th overall by KC).

— Michael Herrera, Keller

BUCKSHOT: You forgot the awesome view over the right-field wall.

Host has most: Woods wins own event for 1st time

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:35 CDT

By JOSEPH WHITE

Tiger Woods was on the back nine at Congressional, trying to win his own tournament for the first time. His main competition was relaxing in the clubhouse, having a bite to eat and joking with Woods' wife and daughter.

This wasn't a typical Sunday showdown. After all, there was no way Woods could intimidate a player who finished more than an hour earlier with a round that tied the course record. All he could do was try to find a way to make one birdie somewhere between hole No. 12 and the end of the round.

Woods got what he needed at the par-5 16th, sinking a 20-foot putt that proved to be enough to beat Hunter Mahan by one stroke at the AT&T National.

"Six holes to go, and at the time I was tied for the lead," Woods said. "It was just like, 'You can go either way. You can win the tournament or you can lose the tournament from here.' Just got to keep plodding along and hopefully maybe sneak one or two birdies coming in and get the title."

As the tournament host, Woods then got to present the Capitol dome replica trophy to himself and interview himself on the 18th green - "So Tiger, how did you play today?" he said as thousands of fans laughed - and complete an unusual trifecta of winning all three PGA Tour player-hosted events in the same year, having taken the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March and Jack Nicklaus' Memorial last month.

"It was great shaking my hand today," said Woods, whose closing round of 67 gave him a 13-under 267 total.

The large Fourth of July weekend crowd arrived Sunday expecting a traditional mano-a-mano battle between Woods and defending champion Anthony Kim. They started the day tied for first and thus shared the final pairing, but Kim fell behind on the front nine and never seemed poised to make a run. He shot 71 to finish third.

"I had a lot of fun," said Kim, paired with Woods for the first time. "I know I'll be knocking on the door again. It's only a matter of time. I learned if you have a birdie putt, you better make it."

Instead, it was Mahan who was shaking up the leaderboard, his 62 tying the Congressional record that Kim had set Thursday. When he was done, Mahan went to the family dining area to wait alongside Woods' wife, Elin, and 2-year-old daughter Sam, watching Woods' pursuit of the needed birdie.

"When he missed on 14, I yelled 'Yes!' in a joking manner," Mahan said. "It wasn't like I was rooting against him, but it was just funny because you usually don't see him miss putts."

Besides, Mahan knew Woods would probably have the last laugh.

"He knows how to play this game better than anybody," Mahan said. "I thought he would get to probably 13 (under) or 14 actually, maybe even 15."

When Woods got to the 16th hole, Mahan headed to the range to warm up in case there would be a playoff. When he heard a roar a half-mile away, his caddie checked his phone and saw that Woods had made birdie.

Mahan finished hitting balls and was headed to the putting green when a young girl approached him for an autograph. He might not have noticed the words on the back of her white T-shirt: "Tiger's Back."

Indeed, it was true. Woods, who missed his tournament last year with a knee injury, finished with routine pars at the 17th and 18th for the win.

Bryce Molder closed with a 68 to finish alone in fourth, putting him atop a special money list that puts him and Paul Goydos into the British Open.

Brandt Snedeker, finally healthy after a rib injury, had a 68-67 weekend and tied for fifth with U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover. Snedeker also earned a spot at Turnberry as the leading player among the top five not already eligible for the British Open.

For Woods, the accolades seem endless. He won for the 68th time on the PGA Tour and the third time this year, moving him to the top of the overall money list and the FedEx Cup standings.

All three of his victories have come in his final start before a major. Woods wasn't able to keep his winning form at either the Masters or the U.S. Open, finishing four shots behind in both tournaments. His next stop: the British Open in two weeks.

"Hopefully," Woods said, "I can play like I did this week."