A Sight for Murphy’s Eyes: First-Round Senior Lead

Senior golfer Bob Murphy’s biggest adjustment was made at his eye doctor’s office, not on the putting green, and it helped him to a six-under-par 66 and the first-round lead Thursday in the $1.85-million Senior Tour Championship at Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Murphy birdied the final two holes and led Hubert Green by a shot. Hale Irwin, chasing a record 10th Senior PGA Tour victory, was next with a 68, tied with Bruce Summerhays at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

When Murphy went to the optometrist last week, he was told his vision had changed so much in a year’s time that he couldn’t correctly line up putts. A week ago, a new prescription cleared his vision and restored his putting stroke.

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David Toms, who won his first PGA Tour event in the Quad Cities Classic in July, birdied four of the first six holes and four of the last five for an eight-under 63 and a one-stroke lead over Loren Roberts and Olin Browne after one round of the Kapalua International in Hawaii. . . . Scotland’s Sam Torrance posted a four-under 68 for a one-stroke lead in the rain-delayed opening round of the $2-million Sarazen World Open at Braselton, Ga. PGA Tour regulars Scott Hoch and Vijay Singh were next at 69 over the 6,993-yard, par-72 Legends at Chateau Elan.

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The U.S. Golf Assn. pledged to spend $50 million over the next 10 years to increase participation in the game by minorities, youth and players with disabilities.

Tennis

Serena Williams, the 16-year-old sister of U.S. Open finalist Venus Williams, upset fifth-seeded Mary Pierce of France, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), in their second-round match at the Ameritech Cup in Chicago.

“Since I’ve been able to watch Venus, I don’t have to make the same mistakes,” said Williams, ranked 304th to Pierce’s No. 7.

Sweden’s Magnus Larsson advanced to the quarterfinals of the Stockholm Open by defeating countryman Thomas Enqvist, 6-1, 6-2. Four-time Stockholm Open champion Boris Becker lost to Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (3-7), 6-3.

Second-seeded Petr Korda of the Czech Republic beat Alex O’Brien, 7-5, 6-3, and advanced to the semifinals of the $1,125,000 Kremlin Cup at Moscow. Korda will face former USC standout Wayne Black of Zimbabwe, who defeated Daniel Vacek of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2.

Jurisprudence

Oakland Athletic outfielder Jose Canseco was arrested in Miami and charged with battery for hitting his wife, Jessica Canseco, during an argument in a friend’s car in Miami at 2:30 a.m. Canseco, 33, was released from the Dade County jail after posting a $2,000 bond. . . . Rafer Alston has been suspended for Fresno State’s basketball opener because of an altercation with an ex-girlfriend. . . . Gilbert Brown, a 350-pound nose tackle for the Green Bay Packers who admitted striking his live-in girlfriend last summer, was sentenced to a year’s probation. He was also ordered to perform 20 hours of community service, undergo counseling and pay $130 in court costs. . . . Two Iowa State football players are accused of looting dormitory rooms after the building was evacuated because of a fire. Jamel Joyner, 18, a freshman wide receiver, and Shaka Jones, a sophomore linebacker, were charged with burglary and have been suspended from the team.

Basketball

Shanda Berry had 26 points and 14 rebounds as the New England Blizzard defeated the Colorado Xplosion, 82-75, in an American Basketball League game before 7,180 at the Hartford Civic Center.

Defending national champion Arizona was picked to win the Pacific-10 men’s title by reporters who cover the conference. UCLA was picked to finish second, USC sixth. . . . Cincinnati has asked the NCAA to restore Ruben Patterson’s eligibility. Patterson averaged 13.7 points and 5.6 rebounds last season.

Miscellany

The Galaxy lost midfielder Danny Pena and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman to the Chicago Fire and forward Bryan Taylor to the Miami Fusion in Major League Soccer’s expansion draft. . . . Thomas Ravelli, the 38-year-old Swede who holds the record for national team goalkeeper appearances with 147, agreed to a multiyear contract with MLS.

Mike Haynes, former Raider and New England Patriot who was inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame last summer, will be honored today by his former high school, John Marshall, where the Mike Haynes Hall of Fame mural will be unveiled. Haynes will address the students there after similar visits to his other schools, Lockwood Elementary and King Middle School.