GolfTom Kite and Seve Ballesteros still don’t...

Golf

Tom Kite and Seve Ballesteros still don’t agree on why Europe defeated the United States in the Ryder Cup. But they are getting closer.

Kite acknowledged that Europe played better, and Ballesteros conceded that the course hurt the Americans.

Ten days ago, Kite blamed everything on a lack of knowledge of Spain’s Valderrama course, an argument Ballesteros flatly rejected in the emotional moments immediately after the 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory by Europe.

Now Kite--while still calling lack of knowledge of the course the main factor--is at least willing to acknowledge that there was a failure to perform by his players.

“I don’t think,” Kite, the U.S. captain, said from Williamsburg, Va. “that anybody would say that all of our guys played to their potential, for sure. . . . Several guys came in playing tremendous golf and, for one reason or another, they did not play their best.”

In Bordeaux, France, Ballesteros said, “It was difficult for Tiger Woods, Davis Love and Freddy Couples because of the course set-up. They had no chance to show off their power.”

Tennis

French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten was eliminated at the $800,000 CA Trophy tournament in Vienna, Austria, joining the top two seeded players who were beaten in the opening round.

Kuerten, fifth seeded from Brazil, lost to Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4. Also losing were No. 7 Felix Mantilla and No. 8 Thomas Enqvist.

Jim Courier withstood the attacking play of an 18-year-old wild card from Thailand, beating Paradorn Srichaphan, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round of the Heineken Open in Singapore.

Swiss teenagers were big winners at the Porsche Cup in Filderstadt, Germany, with Martina Hingis and Patty Schnyder advancing to the quarterfinals of the $450,000 tournament.

Second-seeded Jana Novotna did not fare as well, losing, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, to Lisa Raymond. And No. 4 Lindsay Davenport was beaten by Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7).

Top-seeded Hingis, 17, defeated Natasha Zvereva, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, in the second round of an event where, in 1996, she won her first title on the Women’s Tennis Assn. Tour.

Schnyder, 18, enjoyed a surprisingly easy upset, beating third-seeded Iva Majoli, the French Open champion, 6-2, 6-2.

Three years after they faced each other in the Davis Cup final, the United States and Russia will meet in the first round in 1998.

The countries were paired against each other in Wednesday’s World Group draw in London with the United States hosting the April 3-5 matches.

The United States defeated Russia, 3-2, in the 1995 final in Moscow as Pete Sampras accounted for all three points.

Horse Racing

The total purse for thoroughbred racing’s Visa Triple Crown Challenge has been raised to $3 million guaranteed.

Purses for the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the final two jewels of the Triple Crown, are being boosted from $500,000 to $1 million guaranteed.

The New York Racing Assn. board of trustees approved the Belmont purse increase and Pimlico officials did likewise for the Preakness. The Kentucky Derby became a $1-million event in 1996.

On top of the $3 million in guaranteed purses in the three-race series, the program offers a $5-million bonus to the owner of any horse that wins all three races.

Auto Racing

Johnny Capels, U.S. Auto Club competition director, will move up to president and chief executive officer of the race sanctioning body in December.

The International Automobile Federation excluded the French Grand Prix from its 1998 Formula One 16-race schedule because of a battle over television rights.

Miscellany

High winds forced the British Thrust SuperSonic Car team to abandon a planned attempt to break the sound barrier on land for the first time.

“It’s absolutely hopeless. We’ll have to give it a miss today,” Thrust team leader Richard Noble said as winds whipped up a dust storm in Nevada’s Black Rock desert.

The team will try again today, weather permitting. But even stronger winds and a chance of rain or snow have been forecast for today.

A year after pledging his support to reconstruct two of the venues used in the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York Gov. George Pataki came through on his promise with a $5-million commitment from the state.

Ken McRae scored two goals and Peter Skudra stopped 32 of 35 shots as the Houston Aeros beat the Long Beach Ice Dogs, 5-3, in an International Hockey League game at the Long Beach Arena.

The Ice Dogs are 1-2-1.

Norm Duke beat top-seeded Pete Weber, 236-194, in the title match of the Professional Bowlers Assn. Ebonite Challenge at Windsor Locks, Conn.