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Tiger Woods tied a major championship record with a spectacular 63 in charging to a two-stroke lead over fellow American Scott Verplank in the second round of the U.S. PGA Championship on Friday. Woods came agonizingly close to setting the all-time low round in a major as his putt for birdie at the 18th hole spun out of the cup leaving him to tap-in for par."I knew if I made that putt on the last hole, it would have been a nice little record to have," world number one Woods said about missing the birdie putt for 62. "But I...

The World Cup is generating record television audiences for soccer in the U.S. But some diehard fans think the coverage deserves a red card. Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN and ABC have been hit with complaints from soccer devotees that their telecasts are unsophisticated and mistake-ridden. The popular Web site Big Soccer has a thread titled "Pick your favorite insane thing said by the announcers so far."A major gripe: ESPN selected an announcer, Dave O'Brien, who had never called a soccer game before this year to serve as the tournament's lead play-by-play man. Some English-speaking viewers have switched to Spanish-language Univision,...

Long unknown at home and ridiculed abroad, the United States isn't being written off in the soccer world anymore. But the Americans will need to pull together as team to get past their tough World Cup group. A motorcade of police cars with flashing blue lights and a massive, unmarked FIFA bus has announced the arrival and often rapid departure of the US soccer team in Hamburg over the past week. But when the American players are on their own, it's a different story. On Friday, star midfielder DaMarcus Beasley sat, blissfully anonymous, at a sidewalk café outside the Americans'...

OK..here's what we know..Senate is in recess for the weekly party caucus luncheons. Supposed to resume at 2:15. on C-span 2.. The Foreign Relations committee is supposed to meet at 2:45 to vote on the Bolton nomination. Lugar has refused requests for a delay. Just before the Senate recessed, Reid objected to Frist's UC request for the Froeign Relations committee to meet today. Frist withdrew his request..

PODIUM SCHEDULE - MONDAY, JULY 26TH4:00 pm to 7:00 p.m.4:00 pm   Call to OrderTerry McAuliffe Chairman, Democratic National CommitteeInvocationReverend Stephen AyresOld North Church, BostonPresentation of ColorsPledge of AllegianceThe Honorable Jake WheatleyPennsylvania House of RepresentativesNational Anthem  Credentials CommitteeThe Honorable Shirley Franklin Mayor of Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Honorable Debbie Stabenow United States Senate, MichiganRepresentative Robert Menendez U.S. House of Representatives, New JerseyRules CommitteeRepresentative Robert MatsuiU.S. House of Representatives, CaliforniaRepresentative Gregory MeeksU.S. House of Representatives, New York  The Honorable Jennifer GranholmGovernor of MichiganThe Honorable Steny HoyerDemocratic Whip; U.S. House of Representatives, MarylandParliamentarian, Democratic National ConventionAndrew TobiasTreasurer, Democratic National CommitteeMaureen WhiteNational Finance Chair, Democratic National CommitteeAlice GermondSecretary, Democratic National Committee Roll CallLinda...