Woods’ hold on No. 1 is slipping

Tiger Woods runs the risk of being deposed at the top of the world golf rankings in the first quarter of next year.

Woods has been out of action since having major knee surgery after winning the U.S. Open in June, when he had a lead of 11.328 ranking points over second-place Phil Mickelson. Spain’s Sergio Garcia has since climbed into second and trails Woods by 3.865 points going into the new year.

For Woods to surrender the grip he has held since June 2005, one of his rivals would have to make a fast start to 2009 while also winning at least one of the big tournaments early on.

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Subotic chooses Serbia over U.S.

Defender Neven Subotic has chosen to play soccer for Serbia instead of the United States. Subotic, who was born in Bosnia and holds a U.S. passport, has played for the U.S. under-17 and under-20 teams.

Subotic had until next Dec. 10, his 21st birthday, to choose his senior national team under soccer’s governing body’s rules. He could have picked the U.S., Bosnia or Serbia.

Sammy Sosa is still waiting for an offer to play baseball in the major leagues, according to a report published by Dominican newspaper Listin Diario.

Mary Pierce, 34, a two-time Grand Slam tennis tournament winner who has been sidelined because of a knee injury since 2006, told French sports daily L’Equipe that she isn’t ready to retire.