WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- At least one Woods is a winner this year.

Tiger Woods' title slump certainly hasn't extended to his niece Cheyenne. After winning the Atlantic Coast Conference individual golf title, the Wake Forest junior wants to keep establishing her own identity during the upcoming NCAA regionals.

"Coming into Wake Forest (in 2008) ... there was a lot of spotlight on me as Tiger Woods' niece," Woods said Tuesday. "Now that I'm into college a little more, I've shown that I am able to play, not being known as Tiger's niece, but I have my own game, too. I feel people are starting to recognize that, and this past weekend, I think, helped a lot."

A few more weekends like this one, and people might start to wonder if Cheyenne ought to offer some tips to her uncle after he has gone 17 months without a victory -- the longest drought of his career.

During that span, Cheyenne Woods has won twice.

The Phoenix native ranks fourth in the ACC with an average score of 73.59. Most recently, she was the only player under par for all three rounds at the ACC championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.

Closing the tournament with a 68 that marked her best round of the season, Woods shot a 5-under 208 at the par-71 course to claim a seven-stroke win.

That lopsided margin of victory was reminiscent of the way Tiger used to dominate fields during his 71 career victories, including 14 majors. Describing their relationship as "decently close -- as close as I am with any other uncle," Cheyenne Woods said Tiger watched her victory on the Internet, sent her text messages and posted a congratulatory tweet after her victory.

Though having the Woods name stitched onto her golf bag undoubtedly brings extra pressure, she insists coming from her family has been a positive. Her father Earl Jr. is Tiger's half-brother, and her paternal grandfather was Earl Sr.

"It's definitely gotten my name out there as a collegiate golfer about to turn pro next year. It's a good thing to have," Cheyenne Woods said. "It's helped me grow as a person and a player, being able to handle the interviews, the cameras, the spotlight."

Said Wake Forest golf coach Dianne Dailey: "She's just laid back -- you don't see her get bent out of shape about much. I don't think her heart rate goes above 50."

There's definitely a family resemblance between uncle and niece. It's found in their faces, not necessarily in their playing styles.

Cheyenne Woods says her swing compares more favourably to Ernie Els' because it's "nice and smooth, but still powerful." Meanwhile, she says her uncle "is always hitting it, swinging out of his shoes, hitting it 400 yards."

"My game is probably not as aggressive, but when I do need to make those shots, I will make them," Cheyenne Woods said.

Dailey praises Woods' calmness and her handiwork with the putter, saying she "reads greens better than anybody on our team."

Woods' immediate focus focus is on the NCAA regionals, and Wake Forest is almost certain to claim a spot in one of the three regional tournaments when the bids are announced Monday. After the NCAAs comes one final season with the Demon Deacons before she plans to turn pro.

"I know it's going to be hard getting started -- I'm not going to expect myself to jump up to the No. 1 spot and be the female Tiger Woods, like he was," Cheyenne Woods said. "But I know I am talented, and I'll just take it as it comes, work hard. I know there's going to be ups and downs, so I know it's a hard life, living the professional life, travelling. ... I think it will be a struggle, but it's one that I'm looking forward to and willing to work towards."

It has captured the imagination of Twenty20 fans and attracted many of the world's finest players. The seven week competition is an unrelenting, all-you-can-eat, whistles and bells carnival of flashing blades in a mad dash for glory.
But there is a price to pay.
It has nothing to do with money and everything to do with hearts and minds. International cricketers are in high demand. They are imported by the IPL to lend star quality, but sooner or later the club versus country tug of war catches up with them.
Cricket is a year round business. Depending on location and willingness to globetrot, a professional player, with the requisite ability, can find gainful employment 12 months of the year.
For the best it's not a matter of getting a job – it's having too much of a good thing.
And it is a dilemma that just caught up with Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Recently appointed captain of Sri Lanka, Dilshan has waited his whole career for this moment. Succeeding Kumar Sangakkara is a huge honour for the 34-year-old all-rounder and something he, rightly, wants to focus his attention on.

Problem is he can't – at least not yet. Dilshan is being paid a small fortune to turn out for the IPL franchise in Bangalore and the Royal Challengers, understandably, want their money's worth.
On current form they are not getting it.

Dilshan has failed with the bat and ball. He cannot be blamed for the weather related washout against Rajasthan but his impact can charitably be described as spotty. He scored a quick fire half century against Mumbai but the effort was in vain as the Indians cruised to a 9 wicket victory.
His other knocks have been brief. Dilshan has compiled a total of just eight runs in three more appearances and his single IPL wicket has so far cost 85 runs and rising.

Is this the sign of a man whose tank is empty after the World Cup or whose mind is elsewhere?
There is no question he wants to go home – apparently the sooner the better. Dilshan and his fellow Sri Lankans have a fast approaching tour of England for which to prepare.
The timing of their departure from the IPL has been the subject of controversy in recent days.
An accord has been reached which suits neither Sri Lanka nor India's Board of Control, which administers the IPL.

Dilshan, who confessed: "I am not unhappy to return early," will remain with Bangalore until May 18th. He'll be gone before the Championship playoffs begin.
If ever there was a perceived conflict of loyalties, Dilshan was quick to set the record straight.
"Playing for my country is more important than playing the IPL," he assured reporters on a brief visit to Colombo, which probably didn't go down so well back in the Garden City.
Of Course Dilshan wants to play Test cricket in England. Of course he wants to make a century at Lord's – the home of cricket. Of course he wants to kick off his captaincy in style.
But being a captain means learning the art of diplomacy. It might be an idea if he acquires some and scores some runs, before abandoning his Indian paymasters.

VALENCIA, Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo headed home the winner in extra-time as Real Madrid ended an 18-year Copa del Rey trophy drought with a 1-0 victory over biggest rival Barcelona on Wednesday.
Ronaldo guided Angel Di Maria's 103rd-minute cross back across goal and past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto into the top corner as Madrid won silverware for the first time since a 2008 Spanish league title.

"It was a very tough game, Barcelona played very well, but, as you know, whoever scores, wins," Ronaldo said. "We are very happy, Madrid had not won this cup for many years."

Madrid dominated the first half and then relied on goalkeeper Iker Casillas' second-half stops as Barcelona took control after the restart in an electric atmosphere at the Mestalla Stadium.
Madrid's 18th domestic cup also ends a six-game winless run against Barcelona, which lost for only the 10th time in its 35th final appearance.

Madrid's Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho bowed before King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia as he received his mini-trophy while Casillas hugged the pair before using the king as support to climb up on a support and hoist the trophy high.

Mourinho has brought silverware to the club in his first season, while Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola saw his side fail for the first time with a trophy on the line under his stewardship
.
The winning goal came from an incisive attack by Madrid. Fullback Marcelo played Di Maria into the left side of the area and the Argentina forward beat Daniel Alves to the well-laid ball to find Ronaldo at the far post for the winner at the site of both clubs' last cup win -- Madrid over Zaragoza and Barcelona over Athletic Bilbao in 2009.

"We are very happy, because we knew that we could," said Di Maria, who was sent off late as Madrid finished with 10 men against Barca for the second time in five days. "(The key) was the force of the group and the way we wanted to win this game."

After a 1-1 draw in the league on Saturday, Madrid took the second of four meetings in 18 days ahead of the two-legged Champions League semifinal.

The charged atmosphere for the ninth cup final at the Mestalla might have played a hand in a frantic and physical first half dominated by Madrid, which disrupted Barcelona's cool with constant pressure. The Catalans didn't manage a single shot on goal until the second half as it abandoned its slick passing game for long balls at times.

With Javier Mascherano filling in for Carles Puyol at centerback, Barcelona's defence looked unsure as Madrid forced turnovers with constant upfield pressure.
And Madrid created chances on the break as expected with Mesut Oezil picking up where he left off in Saturday's 1-1 draw by creating Madrid's best opportunities. But the Germany playmaker missed his own in the 11th after hesitating.

Pinto remained alert as he stopped Ronaldo's hard shot in the 36th after Oezil played the Portugal forward down the right.

The bruising matchup led to a number of run-ins between players who normally represent Spain together, with David Villa and Alvaro Arbeloa exchanging shoves while even a frustrated Lionel Messi had trouble hiding his emotions as the acrimonious rivalry bubbled up with silverware on the line. Barcelona had won three of the five previous cup finals between the two before this one, including the last one in 1990.

Madrid nearly capped a strong first half in the 44th as Pepe got over Daniel Alves to meet Oezil's cross but his header found the near post.

Barcelona was more composed after the restart as it worked the ball around to set up Villa's dangerous shot in the 51st.

Messi and Alves neatly combined for a good effort minutes later as the Spanish champions rediscovered the possession game that helps them thrive, with Villa again threatening.
Mourinho, meanwhile, screamed at Ronaldo for skirting his defensive duties while Messi was booked for blocking a free kick in the 64th as the teams' two stars -- who have now combined for 90 goals this season -- found it hard to show off their offensive talents.

The Barcelona half of the stadium exploded in the 69th as Messi found a streaking Pedro to slide the ball under Madrid 'keeper Iker Casillas, but the goal was chalked off for offside.
Only Casillas denied Barcelona a second-half winner as he dived to keep out Messi's low screamer and then swatted away Pedro's top corner bound curler away in the 75th. Casillas again stood tall in the 81st as the Spain goalie tipped Andres Iniesta's shot wide of the post.

With Barcelona dominating, Madrid nearly scored an injury-time winner but Pinto -- usually a backup except for cup games -- tipped Di Maria's rising shot over the bar.

Madrid nearly hit on the break in the 98th as Ronaldo sprinted down the right and beat Pinto with a cross-goal shot that flashed by the far post.

Ronaldo was quick in the 118th as he jumped to Emmanuel Adebayor's tipped shot but his shot was deflected high as Madrid withstood Di Maria's sending off in the 120th and Barcelona pressure for the win in front of over 52,000 fans.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chang-won Han.

CHENGDU, China -- South Korea's Han Chang-won shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the suspended first round of the China Open.

Han had six birdies in a front-nine 30 on the Luxehills International Country Club course.

Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin, England's James Morrison, Wales' Bradley Dredge and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen opened with 65s in the event sanctioned by the European Tour, China Golf Association and OneAsia Tour. South Africa's Keith Horne also was 7 under with four holes play.

Heavy morning mist delayed the start an hour and 24 players were unable to finish before dark. Defending champion Y.E. Yang and Chinese star Liang Wen-chong opened with 68s, and three-time major champion Padraig Harrington had a 71. Ronald Harvey, of Sussex, N.B., had a 75 and is tied for 139th.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer says the Los Angeles Galaxy will make the decision on whether to try to re-sign David Beckham based on his soccer ability and not his celebrity.

MLS president Mark Abbott said "there have been so many benefits" to the league's having Beckham, who is in the final season of a US$32.5-million, five-year contract he signed to leave Real Madrid.

The midfielder, who turns 36 next month, has been criticized for leaving the Galaxy twice on loan to AC Milan. He missed most of the 2010 season after tearing an Achilles tendon while playing in Italy.

Beckham will travel next week to London for the royal wedding April 29. The Galaxy plays at Dallas on May 1 but Abbott said the league doesn't have an issue with his schedule.

"He came here first and foremost as a soccer player," Abbott said Thursday at a meeting with the Associated Press sports editors. "You can't ignore that he's a famous soccer player."

1. Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings With Henrik Zetterberg sidelined, there is huge pressure on Datsyuk to lead the Red Wings. That is exactly what he has done, scoring two goals and adding three assists (he's also plus-4) as the Wings have taken a 2-0 series lead over the Phoenix Coyotes.Datsyuk's breathtaking between-the-legs shot in Game 2 that led to a goal for his team was something to behold.

2. Mike Fisher, Nashville Predators Fisher was acquired from Ottawa in hopes of adding some much-needed playoff experience as well as additional scoring punch and thus far in the post-season he's delivered. Fisher's three goals and two assists have him tied for the scoring lead and he engaged in a fight with Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf.

3. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals While Ovie has concentrated on becoming a more complete player with a defensive conscience, he hasn't abandoned his offensive game. In the first two games against the Rangers Ovechkin has two goals and four points. More impressive is the fact he leads the NHL in playoff hits with 17!

4. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens Price faltered a bit down the stretch of the regular season, but in the playoffs he has returned to his calm, cool and collected ways. Price leads all stoppers with a 0.50 goals-against average and sparkling . 985 save percentage.

5. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators One of the leading contenders for the Norris Trophy, Weber has extended his spectacular play into the playoffs. A shutdown defender who plays with an edge, Weber has also contributed two goals and three points as his Predators try to make it out of the first round of playoffs for the first time in franchise history.