Sports in Brief: Masters field announced

Ernie Els

and

Retief Goosen

enter the 2012 season without any assurances of playing in the Masters. But

Sean O'Hair

is among those who have qualified.

Players can qualify by winning a PGA Tour event that offers the full FedEx Cup points, or by being in the top 50 of the world ranking published March 26. O'Hair, who lives in West Chester, won the RBC Canadian Open in July.

Els, a three-time major champion, fell to No. 56 in the final ranking. Els has been eligible for the Masters every year since his debut in 1994. Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion, is at No. 53.

Jim Furyk narrowly claimed a spot in the Masters, to be played April 5-8, when he finished at No. 50. Furyk began the year at No. 5 in the world.

BOXING: NBC will start its newest sports venture on Jan. 21 from South Philadelphia's Asylum Arena. Philadelphia's Gabriel Rosado and Eddie Chambers will be featured in separate, co-headlining bouts. The 25-year-old Rosado (18-5, 10 knockouts) will face Jesus Soto Karass (24-6-3, 16 KO) in a light-middleweight bout, while the 29-year-old Chambers (36-2, 18 KO) will take on Siarhei Liakhovich (25-4, 16 KO) in a heavyweight clash.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Temple left guard Derek Dennis will participate in the East-West Shrine Game, according to sources close to the fifth-year senior. The game is scheduled for Jan. 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Wayne State football coach Paul Winters withdrew from consideration for the Akron job and signed an extension to stay with the Warriors through the 2016 season.

Winters led Wayne State to the Division II national championship game, but the Warriors lost to Pittsburg State last weekend.

ARENA FOOTBALL: Defensive lineman Darrell Campbell (Notre Dame) became the 13th player to rejoin the Soul for the 2012 season. The others are: Nyere Aumaitre, Dustin Barno, Larry Brackins, Melik Brown, Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Chris Frank, Drew Gardner, Jerome Hayes, Donovan Morgan, Brandon Perkins, Kent Richardson, and Tanner Varner.

Campbell led the team with nine sacks.

BASEBALL: The Arizona Diamondbacks reached agreement on a two-year, $15 million contract with free-agent outfielder Jason Kubel.

General manager Kevin Towers confirmed the deal, saying it was contingent on Kubel's passing a physical.

TENNIS: Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams withdrew from next month's ASB Classic in Auckland because of health issues, tournament organizers said.

Williams, 31, is being treated for Sjogren's syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain.

SOCCER: Barcelona striker David Villa has only a slim chance of playing for Barcelona again this season and could miss the 2012 European Championship after surgery on his broken leg Monday.

Villa was hurt during Barcelona's semifinal win Thursday.

- Staff and wire reports