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Tiger in charge at Hazeltine

Author: Rose Young
Date: 16/08/2009

Tiger Woods appears to be in charge of the USPGA Championship after opening a four-shot lead over the rest of the field at the halfway stage.

The world number one and online betting favourite fired a second-round 70 to climb to seven under par and move comfortably ahead of a chasing pack which includes defending champion Padraig Harrington.

Alongside the Irishman on three under are England's Ross Fisher, Vijay Singh, Brendan Jones and Lucas Glover.

Woods has never lost a Major championship when leading after 36 holes and is bullish about his chances of topping the leaderboard at Hazeltine National on Sunday evening.

Can Tiger close out victory and win another Major Championship? - Latest Cricket Betting

England look set to name uncapped Jonathan Trott in the side for the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia.

Warwickshire batsman Trott has been rumoured to be the selectors' favourite to replace under-pressure number three Ravi Bopara for the series decider at The Oval.

Mark Ramprakash and Rob Key had been mentioned as possible new number threes following the fourth Test thrashing at Headingley which levelled the series at 1-1.

However, Trott has now been left out of the England Lions team to face Australia at Canterbury starting on Saturday and is expected to be included in the England squad when it is announced on Sunday morning.

In football, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has reopened his war of words with Sir Alex Ferguson on the eve of the new Premier League season after claiming the Manchester United boss is 'worried' by Manchester City.

Last season Benitez and Ferguson jousted verbally as the race for the league title reached a climax.

But this season Benitez has struck the first blow after suggesting that Ferguson is concerned by Manchester City's summer spending spree which has taken the likes of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Kolo Toure to Eastlands.

Birmingham City chairman David Gold has refused to play down speculation linking him with a takeover bid for West Ham United.

Gold, who once owned a stake in the Hammers alongside business partner and current Blues co-owner David Sullivan, has been linked with a return to the Hammers should Carson Yeung complete a takeover at St Andrew's.

Wigan Athletic have signed Spanish defender Antonio Amaya on a three-year deal, subject to international clearance.

The 26-year-old joins the Latics from Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano and spoke of his eagerness to get started after meeting new manager Roberto Martinez.

Meanwhile, Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension at Craven Cottage.

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