Enquirer news services

Tiger Woods lost out on the majors. Next up could be his No. 1 ranking.

The top candidate to replace him is Vijay Singh, who tees off in the NEC Invitational in Akron today after winning the PGA Championship Sunday.

Having closed the gap to a mere one-tenth of a point, Singh to beat Woods to end the record reign of 262 consecutive weeks atop the world ranking.

The NEC Invitational is for players on the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams, the top 50 in the world ranking and winners of top tournaments around the world.

LPGA: The word "children" in the Wendy's Championship for Children isn't intended to describe who's playing in it.

Some of the top players in the world will play at Tartan Field Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, but much of the attention will be on a pair of teens.

Amateurs Paula Creamer, 18, and Michelle Wie, 14, tee it up against the pros in today's opening round. Both were given special exemptions to play in the 72-hole tournament.

"I hope Michelle Wie opens the floodgates for young girls to have the opportunity to play golf," said Meg Mallon, 41, a former Ohio State player.

Creamer isn't as famous as Wie, who has graced the cover of every major golf magazine. Yet she may have the stronger game now.

In June, she almost became the youngest winner of an LPGA tournament, and the first amateur to win one since JoAnne Carner in 1969. Cristie Kerr birdied the final hole to beat Creamer by a shot at the ShopRite Classic.

U.S. AMATEUR: Kevin Hall of Cincinnati lost his first-round match to Terrence Miskell of New Braunfels, Texas, 4 and 3, at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

NCAA champion Ryan Moore was among 32 golfers who advanced. Moore, who won the U.S. Amateur Public Links and the Western Amateur this year, beat Clint Deibert of Doylestown, Pa., 4 and 2.

Boxing

TWO TUBBS ON CARD: Cincinnati heavyweight brothers Tony and Nate Tubbs committed to comeback bouts on a Sept. 24 fight card in Dayton.

Tony (43-10-0, 24 KOs), a former world champion who has not won a fight since March 2002, will fight Rocky Phillips of Dayton in the main event. Nate (17-4-0, 14 KOs), who has not fought since a 1998 loss to David Tua, will appear on the undercard along with Cincinnati heavyweight David Long (2-0-0, 2 KOs).

The card, consisting of five pro bouts and eight "tough guy" bouts, will start at 7 p.m. at the Dayton Metro Boxing Club Metrodome.

Soccer

Brian Ching scored the tying goal in the 89th minute as the United States tied Jamaica in a World Cup regional semifinal qualifying game in Kingston. With the entire island nation ready to celebrate Jamaica's first victory over the Americans, Cobi Jones crossed into the penalty box, and Landon Donovan dropped it off to Ching who sent a right-footed shot into the net.

The United States, which was sloppy early, came alive after falling behind on Ian Goodison's second-half goal.

But the Americans couldn't find the tying score until the dying moments, when veteran Jones and newcomer Ching came through.

Tennis

LEGG MASON: Lleyton Hewitt moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Alejandro Falla. Hewitt faces seventh-seeded Cyril Saulnier, who advanced with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) win over Gilles Elseneer. Fourth-seeded Robby Ginepri moved into the quarters with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over qualifier Harel Levy. Ginepri will play Raemon Slutier, who beat Alberto Martin 7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-6 (2).