Watney takes lead in PGA Tour opener

Nick Watney took the lead Thursday at the PGA Tour’s season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship with a five-under-par 68 at Kapalua, Hawaii. Watney’s round featured only one bogey.

Watney poured in enough putts to take a one-shot lead over Daniel Chopra.

Scott Verplank was at even-par 73, rattled by a ruling he continued to dispute after his round that cost him a double-bogey on the 13th.

With his ball positioned on the slope of the fairway, the wind gusting some 30 mph in his face, his ball moved about a quarter-inch. Verplank did not think he had addressed the ball, but after a discussion with rules official Mike Shea, he was told he caused the ball to move.

BASEBALL

White Sox acquire Swisher from A’s

The Oakland Athletics sent outfielder Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for three minor leaguers.

The A’s received left-hander Gio Gonzalez and right-hander Fautino De Los Santos, along with outfielder Ryan Sweeney.

The 27-year-old Swisher batted .262 with 22 homers and 78 runs batted in during 2007.

Right-hander Matt Clement and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year deal with a club option for 2009.

TENNIS

Davenport advances to final in Australia

Former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport reached her third final in four tournaments since her comeback as she beat Tamira Paszek, 6-4 6-3, today at the Auckland Classic in New Zealand.

In the final, Davenport will play unseeded Aravane Rezai, who ended the surprise run of Marina Erakovic, 6-3 7-5.

The United States had a 1-0 lead in its Hopman Cup mixed teams final against Serbia hours before the first match was scheduled to begin today in Perth, Australia.

Jelena Jankovic, hobbled because of strained buttock and hamstring muscles, was not able to play her singles match against Serena Williams, giving the United States a walkover win and 1-0 lead.

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal beat Rajeev Ram, 6-4, 6-1, in the Chennai Open quarterfinals in India. Nadal will play Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who beat Werner Eschauer, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3).

MISCELLANY

Martirosyan puts his perfect record on the line

Glendale super-welterweight Vanes Martirosyan will attempt to remain unbeaten tonight when he fights Clarence Taylor (12-12) in a bout scheduled for eight rounds at the Alameda Swap Meet in Los Angeles.

A 2004 U.S. Olympian, Martirosyan (17-0, 12 knockouts) is fighting only 15 days removed from a first-round, technical knockout victory in Las Vegas.

-- Lance Pugmire

Mexican clubs Toluca and Atlas played to a scoreless tie in the third game of the InterLiga 2008 soccer tournament at Houston.

The Czech Republic routed Finland, 5-1, to finish fifth at the world junior hockey championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic. In today’s semifinals, the United States plays Canada and Sweden takes on Russia.

Germany’s women’s biathlon team won its third relay race this season despite poor shooting in the opening leg of the World Cup meet at Oberhof, Germany.

A private memorial service for broadcaster Stu Nahan, who died Dec. 26, will be held Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations go to the Providence St. Joseph/Disney Cancer Center in Burbank.

PASSING

Elliott, 48, was a former nose tackle with Saints

Tony Elliott, the New Orleans Saints nose tackle in the 1980s who was later paralyzed in a shooting, died at his home in Bridgeport, Conn. He was 48.