Baseball Owners Approve New Steroid Policy

Baseball owners voted unanimously Thursday in Milwaukee to ratify a tough new steroid policy, which includes a 50-game suspension for a first positive test. Approval from the players’ association executive board is considered a formality.

“I think everybody’s very, very happy this is finally behind us,” Dodger owner Frank McCourt said. “It’s a very strong policy, and it’s great to have this behind us so we can talk about baseball, not steroids.”

The policy would start before spring training and could run for several years. Commissioner Bud Selig said he hopes it can be tied to the next collective bargaining agreement.

Players will be suspended 50 games without pay for a first offense, 100 games for a second offense, and a lifetime ban for a third.

The sport’s current penalties are a 10-day suspension for a first offense, 30 days for a second offense and 60 days for a third. The earliest a player could be banned for life is a fifth offense.

The owners also agreed to transfer control of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from Vince Naimoli to Stuart Sternberg.

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Outfielder Jason Bay agreed to a four-year, $18.25-million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates that covers his arbitration-eligible seasons.... Free-agent reliever Scott Eyre agreed to terms of a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.

GOLF

Pressel Goes Pro Before She’s Eligible for LPGA

Morgan Pressel turned pro two weeks before the 17-year-old goes through the final stage of Q-school and six months before she’s old enough to join the LPGA Tour.

If she gets her card through qualifying school Dec. 1-5 in Daytona Beach, Fla., her grandfather said they would ask the LPGA to reconsider its policy that players cannot join the tour until they are 18.

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Paula Creamer wasn’t about to give Annika Sorenstam an inch. The season-ending ADT Championship in West Palm Beach, Fla., got off to a rocky start when the top two players on the LPGA Tour got into a dispute on the 18th fairway over where Sorenstam should have taken a drop from the hazard.

After a debate that lasted so long it was almost too dark to finish at Trump International, the ruling ultimately went Sorenstam’s way.

She was allowed to go to a ball drop instead of returning to the tee, although she still made double bogey and fell out of a tie for the lead.

Hee-Won Han led with a five-under 67, Creamer followed with a 68 and Sorenstam was tied for third with a 69.

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David Duval made eight birdies in his round of six-under 64 to hold a one-shot lead over Tiger Woods at the Dunlop Phoenix in Miyazaki, Japan.

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Japan’s Joe Ozaki shot a three-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Champions Tour qualifying tournament in Beaumont.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Levy to Replace Ayoob as Cal Quarterback

Steve Levy was named California’s starting quarterback for the 108th Big Game on Saturday, replacing struggling Joe Ayoob in the Golden Bears’ regular-season finale.

Levy, a junior who played fullback last season, will make the first start of his career when Cal (6-4, 3-4 Pacific 10 Conference) faces archrival Stanford (5-4, 4-3).

TENNIS

Federer Nears Record After Toughing Out Win

Roger Federer overcame a second-set lapse against Guillermo Coria at the Tennis Masters Cup to claim his 34th consecutive victory and move within two of a 21-year-old record.

Federer had a stop-start 6-0, 1-6, 6-2 win over fourth-seeded Coria in Shanghai.

Argentina’s David Nalbandian joined Federer in the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ivan Ljubicic in 67 minutes, serving out at love in the last game.

Federer improved to 80-3 this year, two wins shy of John McEnroe’s Open era record (82-3) for best winning percentage in a season.

JURISPRUDENCE

Oriole Pitcher Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

Baltimore Oriole pitcher Todd Williams was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after causing a traffic accident in Tampa, Fla.

Williams, 34, was arrested Wednesday after a three-vehicle crash that caused no injuries. He was released on $500 bond.

A breathalyzer test showed Williams’ blood-alcohol content was zero, but he was charged with DUI with property damage, police spokesman Joe Durkin said. The results from his urine test will be available in a few weeks.