Choi 3 ahead of Tiger at windy Chevron

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12/01/2011 - Thousand Oaks, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - K.J. Choi fired a six-under 66 in windy conditions Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Chevron World Challenge.

Tournament host Tiger Woods gutted out a three-under 69 and shares second place with his playing partner on Thursday, Steve Stricker, at Sherwood Country Club.

Wind gusts were expected close to 50 mph on Thursday. They never got that high, but when the last group teed off, wind was a substantial factor.

For example, Stricker lined up a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to get a share of second place. He stepped off when the wind carried a candy wrapper into his site line.

Stricker made the putt to join Woods in second.

Woods almost missed his own event. He was 49th in the world rankings when the qualification period ended, so he got in and didn't have to use an exemption on himself and possibly cost the tournament its world-ranking points.

His first round was a mixed bag.

He rattled off four birdies in his first five holes, then the gusts arrived and the birdies blew away.

"It didn't start blowing till we were on sixth green. It was dancing all over the place," Woods said in a televised interview. "It was tough. It's hard to hit the ball pin-high. It's weird out there."

It got weird out there for Woods.

He bogeyed the ninth when he advanced his second shot from the side of a hill about 10 yards. Woods made two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine, including an ugly six at the par-five 16th.

One of those birdies came at the par-three 17th, getting him his share of second and a date with Choi in Friday's second round.

And Woods, for one, was very impressed with Choi's performance.

"That's one hell of a round," Woods said of the man atop the leaderboard.

If Woods' start was good, Choi's was great.

Choi birdied the first five holes, including a long one at three, an eight- footer at four and a tap-in at the par-five after a beautiful chip from over the green.

After seven consecutive pars, Choi knocked his approach to six feet to set up another birdie at the par-five 13th. He missed the green at the par-three 15th and dropped a stroke, but got it back one hole later when he played his third to tap-in range at the par-five hole.

Choi encountered some trouble at the last, but hit his third to four feet. He rolled in the par-saver to stay three clear of Woods and Stricker.

Nick Watney, Jim Furyk and Rickie Fowler share fourth place at one-under 71.

Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan are knotted in seventh at even-par 72, while Gary Woodland, Webb Simpson and Zach Johnson are tied for ninth at one-over 73.

NOTES: Heavy winds are in the forecast for much of Friday as well...Although it offers world-ranking points, this is an unofficial PGA Tour event...Woods has won the title four times and was runner-up to Graeme McDowell last year. McDowell is not in the field this week.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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