LPGA Tour:

Australian teenager Minjee Lee made four birdies and an eagle in her opening round of 5-under 67 to join Candie Kung at the top of the leader board at the LPGA’s Women’s Champions tournament in Singapore.

SOCCER

A federal judge is poised to make a highstakes ruling on whether the Women’s World Cupwinning American national team has the right to strike before the Summer Olympics, an action the sport’s governing body warns could stunt the development of soccer in the United States.

The case stems from a suit the Chicago-based U.S. Soccer Federation filed in February against the players’ union. During

the first status hearing on Thursday, Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman set incourt arguments for May 25; she also set deadlines to file written arguments leading up to that hearing.

The battle pits the federation against the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Players Association, with their dispute centered on whether a collective bargaining agreement is still in effect. The union says it no longer is, giving its members the right to strike if they so choose.

The union hasn’t said it will or identified any grievances that might trigger a strike.

NBA

Carmelo Anthony said the decision to issue an apology for his interaction with a fan was made by Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan.

Anthony told a heckling fan Tuesday during the Knicks’ loss to Portland to ask Dolan for his money back, pointing to the owner sitting nearby. On Wednesday, the Knicks sent a statement on Anthony’s behalf in which he said he shouldn’t have responded the way he did.

Anthony says he spoke to Dolan, who felt it would be best to apologize.

“It was Mr. Dolan’s decision,” Anthony said Thursday after practice.

From Journal Sentinel wire reports