Capriati Out of Aussie Open

Two-time Australian Open champion Jennifer Capriati withdrew from the Grand Slam tournament Monday because of a back injury.

Capriati, who was injured in November in the season-ending WTA Championship, missed a tournament in Hong Kong last week.

The 27-year-old American, the 2001 and 2002 Australian Open winner, lost in the opening round last year, becoming the first defending champion to lose in the first round.

Capriati is the third high-profile woman to withdraw. Serena Williams withdrew last week, and Mary Pierce pulled out because of fitness concerns.

Soccer

Midfielder Simon Elliott, a major component of three championship teams in five seasons with the Galaxy, has been traded to the Columbus Crew for a first-round pick in the 2005 Major League Soccer draft.

Elliott, a native of New Zealand, appeared in 122 games, starting 115 times, and registering 10 goals and 33 assists.

His departure opens an international roster spot for the Galaxy.

FC Barcelona announced it had officially added Dutch international midfielder Edgar Davids from Juventus of the Italian league after the teams agreed to the transfer over the weekend.

Johan Rodriguez and Hector Lopez scored goals five minutes apart in the second half Sunday in Dallas to lift Santos Laguna to a 2-1 victory over Toluca to clinch the top spot in Group A of the Interliga tournament.

In another match at Dallas, Morelia edged Chivas of Guadalajara, 2-1, on goals by Damian Alvarez and Carlos Pavon, to clinch second place in Group A.

College Sports

The major realignment that affects seven conferences will take place in 2005-06 -- and not in the fall of 2004 -- because conference commissioners failed to produce a financial resolution to pay Conference USA to move up the process by a year.

Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese told espn.com that he informed his school presidents that he was shutting down negotiations with Conference USA.

As a result, Miami and Virginia Tech will be the only major conference teams to switch conferences in 2004-05.

Georgia defensive end David Pollack and Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards will return to school for their senior seasons, while Michigan State defensive tackle Matthias Askew made himself available for the NFL draft.

Former Nevada and Idaho coach Chris Tormey was hired to coach linebackers at Washington, where he was an assistant from 1984 to 1994.

South Florida Athletic Director and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon is taking a six-week sabbatical to “assess a private health matter.”

Sophomore offensive lineman Quentin Holman was suspended indefinitely by Texas A&M; Coach Dennis Franchione for conduct detrimental to the team.

Golf

Tiger Woods became the first golfer to surpass $40 million in career winnings although he never challenged for the lead of the Mercedes Championships in Hawaii. Woods finished seven strokes behind winner Stuart Appleby at Kapalua’s Plantation Course in Maui at the first PGA Tour event of the season.

Woods received $275,000, pushing his earnings to $40.05 million for his eight-year career.

Track

Marion Jones will return to the track next month at the Millrose Games in New York, her first event since taking a year off to have a baby. Jones is set to run the 60 meters at the indoor event held in Madison Square Garden on Feb. 6.