Bounce back
LONDON - Adam Scott's shattering late British Open collapse will serve as a catalyst for future success, says Greg Norman. Squandering a four-shot lead with bogeys on the last four holes at Royal Lytham and St Annes earlier in July, Scott's runner-up performance was immediately compared to Norman's famous failure to turn a six-shot overnight lead into victory at the 1996 Masters. Former world No.1 Norman was Scott's childhood idol and Norman has spoken with him since the British Open and offered his advice on how to handle it. He defended Scott on Tuesday, saying such collapses were commonplace in golf and it was only the enormity of the occasion that made his stand out.
Pienaar return
LONDON - South African international midfielder Steven Pienaar has completed a permanent transfer back to former club Everton from Tottenham on a four-year deal, the Merseyside club announced on Tuesday. Pienaar, 30, left Goodison Park for Spurs in January 2011 but failed to impress in North London and started just five league games before returning to Everton on loan in January.
Ruled out
WELLINGTON - West Indies pace bowler Ravi Rampaul has been ruled out of the second cricket Test against New Zealand in Kingston due to a groin injury. Rampaul has been replaced in the 13-man West Indies squad by paceman Fidel Edwards, who has a fine record at Sabina Park, where the Test will start on Thursday. Edwards has taken 25 Test wickets at the ground at an average of 22.28.
Ebden loses
WASHINGTON - Australian Matthew Ebden lost his first-round match on Tuesday at the Washington Open tennis tournament. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain had little trouble accounting for Ebden 6-3 6-2. Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine advanced to the second round with a 6-1 6-3 win over Italy's Flavio Cipolla, while fourth-seeded Tommy Haas defeated American qualifier Michael Russell 6-4 6-2.
NRL comeback
SYDNEY - Brett Stewart will undergo a final fitness test on his troublesome hamstring on Thursday, but is confident of returning to the Manly side for Saturday's NRL clash with North Queensland. The NSW custodian has not played since Manly's win over Parramatta in round 18, but has been named in coach Geoff Toovey's side for the long trip to Townsville in what is shaping up as an important clash for both sides. The Cowboys sit in fourth spot on the ladder just ahead of the sixth-placed premiers on points differential and Stewart is itching to return.
Blurry return
WELLINGTON - World class outside centre Conrad Smith is unclear how long his eye injury will keep him sidelined from the All Blacks. Smith underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his left eye on July 24, one day after approaching a Wellington specialist about what he believed was a minor eyesight problem. The 30-year-old said his vision was worse than before the operation but he had been assured he was making progress.