Happy Day for Toms After a 66

David Toms could not have asked for a better day at the Mercedes Championships at Kapalua, Hawaii.

He celebrated his 35th birthday by shooting a seven-under-par 66 for a share of the lead.

Despite the strong Kona winds that knocked down Tiger Woods in a hurry, Toms had a bogey-free round on the Plantation Course at Kapalua and was at 11-under 135, tied with Kenny Perry (67).

Scott Verplank had a 69 and was another stroke back. First-round leader Mike Weir shot a 74, putting him at 137.

A birdie on the final hole gave Woods a one-over 74, leaving him seven strokes off the lead.

Perry, the Buick Open champion, offset a couple of early bogeys with three consecutive birdies to earn a share of the lead.

Tennis

Jan-Michael Gambill beat Xavier Malisse, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), giving the United States a decisive lead over Belgium and a berth in today’s Hopman Cup final against Spain at Perth, Australia.

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Top-seeded Venus Williams won the Australian women’s hardcourt championship at Gold Coast today, defeating defending champion Justine Henin of Belgium, 7-5, 6-2. Williams won her 22nd career WTA Tour title and increased her tour winning streak to 20 matches with the victory. ... Israeli Anna Smashnova earned her first WTA Tour title when she defeated fifth-seeded Russian Tatiana Panova, 6-2, 6-2, today in the ASB Bank Classic at Auckland, New Zealand. ... Jennifer Capriati defeated Amanda Coetzer, 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the final of the Hong Kong Ladies Tennis Challenge exhibition tournament. She will play Elena Dementieva today.

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Top-seeded Tim Henman advanced to the semifinals of the AAPT Australian men’s hardcourt championships at Adelaide with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Greg Rusedski. Henman will play Spaniard Alberto Martin, who defeated third-seeded Thomas Enqvist, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. ... Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco and Felix Mantilla of Spain won in straight sets to advance to the final of the Qatar Open at Doha. El Aynaoui beat Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 6-3, 6-4. Mantilla defeated Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-1.

Miscellany

The Minnesota Twins, uncertain if they’ll even play this season, hired third-base coach Ron Gardenhire, as expected, to be their manager.

Players and owners agreed to start labor negotiations Tuesday, two months and a day after their previous collective bargaining agreement expired.

Mia Hamm, bothered by a lingering leg injury, was dropped from the U.S. roster for an upcoming exhibition game against Mexico and a four-team tournament in China. Hamm was replaced on the 24-woman roster by forward Christie Welsh. ... Washington Mystic coach Tom Maher and general manager Melissa McFerrin resigned, four months after the team finished last season tied for the WNBA’s worst record at 10-22. ... Defending giant slalom champion Sonja Nef of Switzerland had a spectacular second run to win a World Cup race at Maribor, Slovenia, finishing in 2 minutes 21.48 seconds. ... World rhythmic gymnastics champion Alina Kabaeva and silver medalist Irina Tchachina of Russia have tested positive for the banned drug furosemide.

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A memorial service for jockey Dusty Stimpson, who was killed early Tuesday morning in a single-car accident, will be held Monday at 3 p.m. at Westminster Memorial Park in Westminster.

There will be a reception for friends and horsemen afterward in the Vessels Club at Los Alamitos beginning at 4:30 p.m.

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The AMA/EA Sports Supercross arrives tonight for the first of three races in five weeks at Edison Field. Tonight’s event is sold out, and about 80% of the tickets have been sold for the event Jan. 19.

Ricky Carmichael, who won a record 67 amateur national titles in 11 years of motocross, is the defending champion. Jeremy McGrath had won seven titles in eight years before finishing second last year.