Sports in Brief: Woods and Els teamed in Open

Tiger Woods

will play the first two rounds of next week's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach with a familiar foe.

Woods will be in a threesome that includes Ernie Els, the runner-up to Woods 10 years ago at Pebble Beach by a record 15 shots.

Lee Westwood, who has finished in the top three in the last three major championships, rounds out the threesome.

Westwood birdied his final three holes to grab a share of a 1-stroke lead with Garrett Willis on Friday after the second round of the PGA Tour's St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis.

The team representing Great Britain and Ireland got off to a strong start in the 36th Curtis Cup competition against the United States, a biennial event matching female amateur golfers.

The visitors took a 3.5-to-2.5 lead at the Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass. The U.S. team needs 10 points to keep the Cup; GB&I needs 10.5 to take it.

Alexis Thompson, who is expected to turn pro as early as next week, was the star of the day for the U.S. team. The 15-year-old and Jennifer Johnson scored the lone U.S. win,

M.J. Hur shot a second consecutive 6-under 66 that gave her a 1-shot lead over Amy Yang after the second round of the LPGA Tour's State Farm Classic at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill.

Michelle Wie shot 69 for the second day in a row and was 6 back.

Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and Carlos Del Moral of Spain shared the lead at 12 under after two rounds of the Estoril Open at Penha Longa in Portugal.

COLLEGES: UCLA sophomore Ryann Krais, a graduate of Methacton High, finished 16th in the women's heptathlon during the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. Krais ran the second-best time in the 800 meters - 2 minutes, 12.65 seconds - and scored well in the 100-meter hurdles (14.13).

Oklahoma freshman Karen Shump, a Penncrest graduate, was second in the women's shot put. LSU senior LaTavia Thomas, a West Catholic grad, was third in the women's 800, and Penn State senior Ryan Fritz, an Octorara grad, finished fourth in the men's high jump. Villanova junior Amanda Marino and freshman Bogdana Mimic were 11th and 13th, respectively, in the women's 5,000.

Sophomore Sheila Reid of Villanova advanced to Saturday's final of the women's 1,500, qualifying in 4:18.34.

Rutgers senior Bruce Owens, a Deptford High graduate, qualified for Saturday's final in the men's 200, clocking a time of 20.81 in his semifinal heat.

Washington decathlete Jeremy Taiwo fell hard during the 110-meter hurdles and was hospitalized as a precaution.

Oregon's Andrew Wheating successfully defended his 800 title in 1:45.69, well in front of freshman sensation Robby Andrews of Virginia, the runner-up in 1:46.83.

Fellow Duck Ashton Eaton won his third consecutive decathlon title, while Florida running back Jeff Demps won the 100 meters in a wind-aided 9.96 seconds.

Houston Baptist named Mary Gleason as head women's basketball coach. She is a former Dartmouth and Princeton assistant.

TENNIS: French Open champion Rafael Nadal lost to fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in the quarterfinals of the Queen's Club tournament in London, ending his grass-court winning streak at 14 matches.

Third-seeded Andy Murray of Britain fell, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (2), to Mardy Fish.

Swiss star Roger Federer extended his winning streak in the Gerry Weber Open to 28 matches by defeating German Philipp Kohlschreiber, 7-5, 6-3, to reach the semifinals in Halle, Germany.

NHL: An estimated 2 million fans turned out in Chicago to cheer for the Blackhawks, holding a parade for the NHL champions.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia and will require a month to six weeks of rehabilitation.

- Staff and wire reports