Michelle Wie was next to last after an opening nine-over-par 79 at the US Tour’s Sony Open

Michelle Wie was next to last after an opening nine-over-par 79 at the US Tour’s Sony Open in Honolulu on Thursday. It left her 14 strokes behind the leader Rory Sabbatini and probably requiring a 64 to survive the halfway cut – her goal since she started playing against men two years ago. Britain’s Justin Rose also faces a fight to make it through to the weekend after his first round of the new season began promisingly, turning in one under, before he had five bogeys in the next eight holes to fall away to a 74.
Wie missed the cut by just one shot on her debut in the event at the age of 14 – she shot 72 and 68 then – and the spotlight has been on her since to see whether she can emulate Babe Zaharias, the last woman to play all four rounds on the US Tour back in 1945. With Stilian Petrov nearing match fitness, Strachan must decide whether to play the Bulgarian as well as Keane and Neil Lennon in midfield, and if not, who to drop or where to relocate one of them.
Strachan revealed that contract talks with Petrov, who is wanted by Fulham, are on hold.”He’s not going anywhere and we don’t understand why people think the worst when we decide to break contract negotiations,” Strachan said.Another player on the agenda was Hibernian’s captain, Garry Caldwell, who could become a Celitic player in the summer.Strachan would not be drawn on speculation that he hopes to sign Chelsea’s Wayne Bridge on loan or Dundee United’s Mark Wilson on a permanent basis.

“Everyone is in this together and we want to pull through.”

Strachan’s second dilemma comes today, when the SPL leaders host Kilmarnock, who have not won a league game at Parkhead for 51 years but lie fifth this morning, still chasing a Uefa Cup spot. “Everything was laid on the table,” the 22-year-old said yesterday. He opened the floor for everyone to have their say, according to one of his young defenders, Adam Virgo. Milan yesterday signed Marcio Amoruso from Sao Paolo to replace Christian Vieri, who will make his Monaco debut today.. Gordon Strachan’s first dilemma of the Roy Keane era at Celtic was how to dissect last Sunday’s embarrassing Scottish Cup defeat at Clyde. I don’t think Bar?will be able to maintain their pace.”Valencia hope to have Edu, their Brazilian midfielder, back in action next month. He has not played since signing from Arsenal in the summer after damaging knee ligaments.In Italy Juventus are likely to stretch their nine-point lead as Milan, beaten four times away already this season, are at Roma while Juventus host Reggina.

Ballack will be available on a free transfer and with Manchester United ruling themselves out Real are favourites to sign him. Real’s need is illustrated by their sixth-placing in La Liga. Tomorrow they play Seville but the big match is at the Mestella tonight.
Valencia, in third, play second-placed Osasuna. Though 10 points adrift of Barcelona – who expect a 17th successive win against struggling Athletic Bilbao tomorrow – Valencia’s coach Quique Sanchez Flores said yesterday: “It is reckless to say Barcelona are already champions.”He added: “They are about to lose one of their most decisive players [Samuel Eto'o] for up to a month in the African Nations’ Cup and are playing in three competitions. The prospect of Michael Ballack joining Real Madrid grew yesterday when his agent Michael Becker arranged to meet Emilio Butrague?Real’s director of sport, later this month. Only two minutes remained when Wolves’ captain swung his left boot at the ball 25 yards out.