WOODS FIRES SWING COACH IN FAVOR OF COACHING HIMSELF
Tiger Woods is embarking on his latest comeback without a swing coach.
Woods tweeted Friday that since fusion surgery on his lower back in April, he has been relearning his body and his golf swing by relying on feel and the previous three years of work with Dallas-based Chris Como.
“For now, I think it’s best for me to continue to do this on my own,” Woods said. “I’m grateful to Chris Como for his past work, and I have nothing but respect for him.”
Como was not in the Bahamas when Woods returned following his fourth back surgery. In his first competition in 10 months, Woods had plenty of speed and power in his swing, shot three rounds in the 60s at the Hero World Challenge and tied for ninth against an 18-man field, 10 shots behind Rickie Fowler.
Tax law changes landscape.
YORK» Teams in Texas, Florida, NEW
Nevada and Washington state may have become more attractive destinations for free agents following the enactment of tax law changes.
Deductions for state and local taxes are capped at $10,000 in the year starting Jan. 1 for married couples filing jointly. That has a huge impact for athletes with seven- and eightfigure salaries.
Geography, family comforts, playing time and winning remain the most important factors for many.
“I understand the tax differential issue but have rarely thought it was outcome determinative in where a player signs,” said baseball commissioner Rob Manfred.
The $10,000 limit also includes deductions for property and sales taxes — large numbers for the most prominent athletes.
• Omar Minaya returns to the New York Mets as a special assistant to Sandy Alderson, who replaced him as general manager after the 2010 season.
• No player will wear No. 34 for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018, which was Roy Halladay’s number with the organization.
2 convicted, 1 to be determined.
YORK» Two former South American NEW soccer officials were convicted of corruption charges at a U.S. trial stemming from the FIFA bribery scandal, while deliberations will continue next week for a third official.
A federal jury deliberated a week before reaching a partial verdict Friday in New York.
Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, and Juan Angel Napout, of Paraguay, were convicted of racketeering conspiracy. Jurors remain undecided on Manuel Burga, of Peru.
The three were arrested in 2015. Prosecutors accused them of agreeing to take millions of dollars in bribes from marketing firms seeking commercial rights to big soccer tournaments.
Jurors heard the testimony of businessmen who pleaded guilty. Defense attorneys argued the cooperators couldn’t be trusted.
Hirscher king of Italian slalom hill.
Marcel Hirscher reclaimed his superiority on Italy’s most challenging slalom hill.
After setting the fastest opening run, the six-time defending overall champion from Austria recovered from a major error toward the end of his second trip down the steep Canalone Miramonti course and claimed his 49th World Cup win.
Hirscher finished 0.04 seconds ahead of combined world champion Luca Aerni of Switzerland.
Director wants quick investigation.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme wants cycling authorities to act quickly in their investigation of four-time champion Chris Froome.
Froome has been ordered to explain to the International Cycling Union why a urine sample he provided at the Spanish Vuelta in September showed a concentration of the asthma drug salbutamol that was twice the permitted level.