Ogilvy takes lead in Hawaii Back in the swing of things

Geoff Ogilvy opened the PGA Tour season Thursday without making bogey on his way to a six-under-par 67 and a one-shot lead in the Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua, Hawaii. In his eight previous rounds on the Plantation course at Kapalua, Ogilvy had never shot better than 72.

However, the former U.S. Open champion is coming off a victory in the Australian PGA Championship and a tie for sixth in the Australian Open last month, and he was just as sharp in taking the first-round lead over Ernie Els, Kenny Perry and Johnson Wagner.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Wells to leave for NFL

Ohio State tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells is giving up his final year of eligibility to make himself available for the NFL draft.

Wells fought nagging injuries much of his career at Ohio State. He was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate before sitting out three full games this season because of a right foot injury; he still managed to run for 1,197 yards.

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Matt Capurro has been hired as USC’s director of football operations. Capurro, 27, worked the last six years as the assistant to the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

-- Gary Klein

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Wisconsin junior running back P.J. Hill will make himself available for the NFL draft.

BASEBALL

Smoltz headed to Red Sox

Pitcher John Smoltz reached preliminary agreement on a $5.5-million, one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox after failing to work out a deal to return for his 22nd season with the Atlanta Braves. The Red Sox also agreed to a $500,000, one-year contract with outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who played with Tampa Bay last season.

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Closer Brian Fuentes, who last week signed a two-year, $17.5-million deal with the Angels, has accepted an invitation to pitch for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, joining Angels ace John Lackey, who committed to play in the WBC in December.

-- Mike DiGiovanna

ETC.

‘Rampage’ avoids jail time

Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts contender Quinton “Rampage” Jackson avoided jail time by striking a plea bargain that will allow a felony charge against him to be dropped next year if he complies with stipulations including routine visits to mental health physicians.

Jackson, 30, pleaded guilty in Orange County Superior Court to one felony count of evading a peace officer and driving against traffic and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving after a July 15 incident. Jackson struck two vehicles; weaved through traffic while talking on his cellphone; ran red lights, endangering bicyclists; and then steered his vehicle onto sidewalks, where pedestrians were forced to flee to safety, according to law enforcement officials.

Jackson, a single father who lives in Irvine, has said personal problems have plagued him during his career, and UFC President Dana White has blamed the fighter’s delirium on an overuse of energy drinks during a fast. Jackson will be required to submit bimonthly mental health reports to the Orange County district attorney from doctors who will evaluate him, perform 200 hours of community service and pay restitution.

-- Lance Pugmire

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Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was eliminated from the Qatar Open in Doha, and Roger Federer advanced to the semifinals of the tuneup for the Australian Open. Nadal lost to Gael Monfils of France, 6-4, 6-4, and Federer saved three set points to defeat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, 6-2, 7-6 (6).

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Petty Holdings, the venerable but struggling NASCAR team led by the legendary Richard Petty, said it agreed in principle to merge with Gillett Evernham Motorsports. The deal was expected after the teams announced last month that they were in exclusive talks to merge their operations. The combined team plans to field four Dodges in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series this year, including the famed No. 43 that Petty drove to a record 200 victories in his storied career.

-- Jim Peltz

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Jordan Staal and the Pittsburgh Penguins agreed a four-year contract extension worth a reported $16 million. The second overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft, Staal has 11 goals and 21 points this season.

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Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton has sent a letter to Villa Park Principal Ed Howard warning that the boys’ basketball team could be barred from playoff consideration if the school fails to impose appropriate punishment against Coach Kevin Reynolds for allegedly violating Southern Section rules.

The school and Orange Unified School District suspended Reynolds for two games earlier this season, but the Southern Section believes that punishment was not enough.

-- Eric Sondheimer and Lance Pugmire