Without the world's No. 1 player on a golf course for the past eight months, the game's top story became the effect of Woods' absence. ...more

February 22, 2009

Lightning rookie and overall No. 1 draft pick Steven Stamkos recorded a natural hat trick in Tuesday's game against Chicago, scoring three consecutive goals. Stamkos, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Feb. 12, scored his first goal of the game at 12:58 of the first period when he jumped on puck that caromed off the end boards to the side of the net that he put past Cristobal Huet that tied the game 1-1. Then Stamkos went to work on the power play in the second period. With Craig Adams in the penalty box for a high sticking double-minor at 9:45, Stamkos gave Tampa Bay the lead at 10:28 when he took a down-low, cross-ice feed at the left point from Vinny Prospal and fired a wrist shot to the top of the neat post and over the right shoulder of Huet. Seventy seconds later, with Stamkos back on the left point on the second half of the power play, Stamkos one-timed a Steve Eminger feed past Huet that gave the Lightning a 3-1 lead 11:38 into the second period. Stamkos took to one knee and gave a Tiger Woods-esque fist pump as hats began to rain down from the stands in celebration of the rookie's first career hat trick performance, the first rookie hat trick in franchise history. It is Stamkos' second multi-goal game of the season. The overall No. 1 pick failed early on to live up to the lofty expectations placed on him when Tampa Bay selected him first at the draft in Ottawa back in June. He had four goals through the first 42 games of the season. But since the coaching staff put him onto a strength-training program, which saw him sit out three games as a healthy scratch, Stamkos has improved his play. In his past 13 games, including Tuesday, Stamkos has six goals and five assists. ...more

February 17, 2009

Mark O'Meara said Sunday that Tiger Woods looks better than ever and is ready to return to the PGA Tour, but he stopped short of saying the world's No. 1 player would be at the Accenture Match Play Championship that starts Feb. 25. ...more

February 16, 2009

Dustin Johnson followed his plan by overpowering the par 5s at Poppy Hills on Saturday for a 5-under 67, giving him a four-shot lead over Mike Weir heading into a final round of uncertainty at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. ...more

February 15, 2009

An old Sussex spaniel taught dogdom a new trick. At 10, Stump became the oldest best in show winner ever at the Westminster Kennel Club, coming out of retirement only last week and walking off with the top prize Tuesday night. ...more

February 11, 2009

Stump, who came out of retirement only last week, is the oldest winner ever at the Westminster Kennel Club show. ...more

February 10, 2009

On the day Tiger Woods usually hoists a trophy at Torrey Pines, the world's No. 1 golfer was busy with the birth of his first son. ...more

February 9, 2009

Nick Watney appeared to be along for the ride Sunday until making two birdies in the final three holes to take advantage of a late collapse by John Rollins and win the Buick Invitational. ...more

February 9, 2009

Did Robert De Niro just walk into the restaurant? And is that Paris Hilton there drinking champagne with Tiger Woods? And did six Playboy Playmates just saunter to the private lounge? ...more

January 29, 2009

If those A-list celebrities really are in Tampa, it's likely at a Super Bowl party, and it probably was months in the making, with dozens of managers, promoters and staff all toiling in anonymity to create a temporary atmosphere of sheer luxury and celebrity glitz. ...more

January 28, 2009