Recordpub.com - From The Sports Wire

Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A senior golf official in Dubai says Tiger Woods can wait until the last minute to decide whether he wants to play in the Desert Classic in February.

The vice chairman and chief executive of golf in Dubai told The Associated Press on Sunday that Woods hasn’t officially canceled his participation in the event that begins Feb. 2.

Mohammed Juma Buamaim says Woods would be welcome “if he decides just two days before to come.”

Woods announced on Friday that he was taking an indefinite break from golf after acknowledging extramarital affairs. He has played the Desert Classic eight times, winning twice. He also designed his first golf course in Dubai.

Kansas hires Turner Gill as head

football coach

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas has hired former Nebraska quarterback and assistant coach Turner Gill as its new head football coach.

The university officially announced the offer Sunday.

The Associated Press and other news outlets had reported Saturday evening that the 47-year-old had accepted the offer of a multiyear contract to replace Mark Mangino.

Gill has been head coach at Buffalo the past four years and took the Bulls to the Mid-American Conference title in 2008. He will be formally introduced at a news conference on Monday.

Buffalo begins coaching search to replace Gill

BUFFALO, N.Y. — University at Buffalo offensive coordinator Danny Barrett has been named the team’s interim head coach after Turner Gill accepted Kansas’ offer to take over as head coach.

Buffalo athletic director Warde Manuel announced on Sunday that he’s begun a national coaching search shortly after Kansas formally hired Gill. Manuel said Barrett is a candidate to take over the job on a full-time basis.

In wishing Gill well at Kansas, Manuel credited his former coach with turning around Buffalo’s program in four seasons. Gill had a 20-30 record and led the Bulls to their first Mid-American Conference title and the program’s first bowl appearance last year.

Prior to Gill’s arrival, Buffalo had a 7-49 record since joining the MAC in 1999.

Jim Harbaugh

staying at Stanford through 2014

STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh’s long-awaited three-year contract extension is finally official.

The school announced a deal on Sunday that keeps Harbaugh under contract through 2014. The two sides were close to announcing the extension last year, but put it on hold because of the economy.

Athletic director Bob Bowlsby confirmed the deal was done Saturday. But the official announcement was put on hold until after Saturday’s Heisman Trophy ceremony. Cardinal running back Toby Gerhart finished second to Alabama’s Mark Ingram.

Harbaugh is finishing his third season at Stanford. He guided the 19th-ranked Cardinal (8-4) to their first bowl bid in eight years. They will face Oklahoma in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

Stricker, Kelly win Shark Shootout

NAPLES, Fla. — Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly have won the Shark Shootout by a stroke.

Stricker made an eagle on the par-5 17th — hitting the second shot and the putt — to give them the lead Sunday.

Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes, who had been in the lead most of the day, both missed birdie putts on No. 18 that would have forced a playoff in the scramble format.

Kelly and Stricker, who carried a one-shot lead into the day’s play, split $750,000 out of the $3 million purse.

It was the second Shootout title for Kelly, who also won with Rod Pampling in 2006.

Tournament host Greg Norman didn’t play in his event for the first time in its 21 years after having right shoulder surgery in September.

Allenby wins

Australian PGA

COOLUM, Australia — Robert Allenby won his fourth Australian PGA title for his second victory in two weeks, closing with a 5-under 66 on Sunday to beat fellow Australians John Senden and Scott Strange by four strokes.

Allenby, the Nedbank Challenge winner last week in South Africa, won the Australian PGA for the first time since 2005, when he swept all three tournaments in the so-called Australian Triple Crown — the PGA, Open and Masters.

The 38-year-old Allenby, who only entered the tournament on a sponsor invite three weeks ago after Vijay Singh withdrew because of a knee injury, finished with a 14-under 270 total on the Hyatt Regency resort course.

Senden closed with a 67, and Strange shot a 69.

Xavier beats No. 19 Cincy 83-79 in 2 OT

CINCINNATI — Jason Love got his 19th rebound with 9.8 seconds left and made a clinching free throw, leading Xavier to an 83-79 double-overtime victory over No. 19 Cincinnati on Sunday night in a nasty and classic renewal of their crosstown rivalry.

Xavier (6-3) wasted a 10-point lead in regulation, survived Lance Stephenson’s off-target shot at the end of the first overtime, then pulled it out on its home court behind its lone senior.

• OXFORD — Kenny Hayes scored 11 points, including dropping in a layup with 22 seconds left to lift Miami (Ohio) to a 56-55 win over Wright State on Sunday.

• CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Sixth man Dominique Keller scored 15 points and forward Mike Davis had 12 Sunday to lead Illinois past Western Michigan, 88-53.

• TAMPA, Fla. — Robbie Harman had 14 points and Jordan Bitzer added 12 points as Central Michigan topped South Florida 59-56 on Sunday.