Golf
NELSON ELECTED TO HALL: Larry Nelson, overlooked as a Ryder Cup captain and often forgotten despite his remarkable journey from Vietnam War veteran to three-time major champion, got his due as he was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
"Of all the awards, nothing can top this," Nelson said.
Nelson was elected on the PGA Tour ballot by getting 65 percent of the vote, the minimum required. He will be inducted Oct. 30 at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., along with the late Henry Picard, selected through the veteran's category, and Vijay Singh, who deferred his induction after being elected last year. That will bring membership in the Hall of Fame to 112.
Nelson's election came in his 11th year on the PGA Tour ballot. He won the PGA Championship twice and the 1983 U.S. Open at Oakmont, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Seve Ballesteros as the only players to capture three majors in the 1980s.
Soccer
U.S. HITS HIGH MARK: The United States moved up one spot into fourth place in April's FIFA world rankings, the Americans' highest showing. The U.S. ranking went up despite a 4-1 loss at Germany and a 1-1 tie at home against Jamaica last month. Defending champion Brazil maintained the top spot, which it has held since taking over from France in July 2002.
The Czech Republic, which plays its World Cup opener against the United States on June 12, remained second, followed by the Netherlands. At the World Cup, the United States also plays Italy, which dropped two spots to 14th, and Ghana, which is No. 50.
Hockey
RECORD FANS FOR NHL: NHL attendance was up 2.4 percent from the last season before the lockout, with the league setting records for average and total fans and the Montreal Canadiens selling out all of their home games to set a team record. The NHL played to 91.7 percent of capacity, drawing 20,854,169 fans for 1,230 regular-season games for an average of 16,955 In 2003-04 — the last season before the lockout — the league drew 20,356,199 for an average of 16,550. The previous records of 16,760 a game and 20,614,613 overall were set in 2001-02.