in the NBA Finals, when he insisted that the Heat needed

ATLANTA -- Tiger Woods and Henrik Stenson, the top two seeds in the FedEx Cup, could not have been more different in the opening round of the Tour Championship. Stenson hardly missed a shot on the front nine. He had such control over his game that six of his first seven iron shots were 10 feet or closer to the hole. He converted five of them for birdies, added a 5-iron from 223 yards to 4 feet for one last birdie on the par-3 18th, and wound up with a 6-under 64 and a one-shot lead at East Lake. Tiger Woods was the model of frustration. He missed a short birdie putt on the opening hole that set the tone for a most unusual day. When it was over, Woods failed to make a birdie for only the seventh time in his PGA Tour career -- three of them at East Lake. Woods opened with a 73, nine shots behind. "Its a nice feeling to hit those kind of shots playing with the worlds best player," Stenson said. "Normally, its him who does it to everyone else, but it was kind of nice to throw a couple at him. We know he didnt have the best of days, and hes going to fight hard to try to come back into the tournament. Its still a long way to go, but its always nice to perform the way I did when youre playing with the worlds best player." Woods walked off the course without speaking to reporters. Perhaps he could learn from Stenson how to cope with a frustrating day on the golf course. Or maybe not. "I dont think Im the right person," Stenson said. What made Stensons round so remarkable was that just three days ago, his emotions were boiling. Angry at the way he was playing -- and the fact he had to be at Conway Farms north of Chicago for a Monday finish brought on by rain -- that he smashed his driver into the ground so hard that the head snapped out. Then, he took out his frustrations by damaging his locker. And that was just one tournament after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship. "I really knew I had to be in a good frame of mind coming out there if I wanted to play good golf this week," he said. "As some of you noticed, I wasnt that on Monday when I finished up in Chicago. So it was a good turnaround mentally. I stayed very level-headed -- kept the head on, both myself and drivers, and played a great round of golf." More than feeling better about his attitude, Stenson was helped by feeling no pain in his left wrist. He suspects he slept it on wrong last weekend, and it reached a point where it hurt to hold a toothbrush. He played only nine holes of practice -- the front nine -- on Tuesday and iced his wrist and took anti-inflammatories. It seemed to have worked. The biggest change was his attitude. Stenson is known for public displays of frustrations -- remember that poor tee marker at Carnoustie in 2007? -- but this was peculiar because he had just won the Deutsche Bank Championship in his previous tournament. That capped off an amazing summer that began with four straight tournaments in the top 3, including two majors and a World Golf Championship. He said he apologized to the club and told the locker room attendants to keep in contact, presumably so he can pay for the repairs. Why so much anger so soon? "I can tell you dont have much experience with Swedes, do you?" Stenson said, handling it with his dry humour. "No, Ill tell you Ive always been a bit of a hot-head, and I just havent been able to get any rest. I was looking forward to that Monday back home and lying on the couch -- the kids in school and me just doing nothing, and I ended up playing golf again on that Monday. I was just tired, and I pushed myself over the edge there. "Thats not the best place to be and not the best frame of mind to play good golf," he said. "Im really delighted with the change I made to today." Stenson had a one-shot lead over Masters champion Adam Scott, who deals with his frustrations internally. He was irritated by missing the green three times with a wedge, thus wasting good birdie chances, and missing a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth to stay 1-over at the turn. Two shots into the 10th changed everything. Scott made six birdies in seven holes for a 29 on the back nine and a 65. Stenson, the No. 2 seed and the hottest player in golf over the last three months, and Scott (No. 3) only have to win the Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize. Even more is at stake for Scott, who would be a strong candidate for PGA Tour player of the year if he were to win this week. That would give him three wins, compared with five wins for Woods, though Scott would have a major and the FedEx Cup. "There havent been too many guys who have been in the position the last 12 years to even warrant thinking about it," Scott said. "So its an opportunity that might not come along too often. Im going to be working hard to try and make my case for it." Leonardo Bonucci Juventus Jersey . New York (16-9-8) took over first place in the Eastern Conference and has the best record in the league with one game remaining. Houstons five-game unbeaten streak was snapped, and the Dynamo (13-11-9) are sixth in the East with one game remaining. Juventus Jerseys . This week they discuss Russias mens hockey team, the ineptitude of the IOC handling the Nicklas Backstrom situation, John Tortorellas many apologies, and Canadas strong showing in curling. http://www.juventusfcpro.com/Kids-Blank-Jersey/ . Onyshko, from Minnedosa, Man., will compete in artistic gymnastics while Hanet, from Kelowna, B.C., will compete in lawn bowling as a para-athlete. "It is exciting that our Canadian athletes are starting to arrive at the Games Village," said Chantal Petitclerc, Canadas Chef de Mission. Alex Sandro Jersey . Kevin Durant certainly played like there was on Sunday night, scoring 36 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Thunder made quick work of the visiting Pacers with a 118-94 win. Blaise Matuidi Jersey . Dancevic won his singles match on Friday, defeating Go Soeda 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-1, to even the best-of-five series at a game apiece. World No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky in the opening match, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.LAS VEGAS -- Pat Riley made his pitch. And now, LeBron James wants time to think. The Miami Heat president met with the four-time NBA MVP on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because neither side publicly disclosed details of the meeting. James, his agent Rich Paul, Riley and Heat executive Andy Elisburg were at the meeting, said one of the people. James has not made a decision and will not make any announcements before Thursday, a person said, adding, "He wants to meet with his family." As he weighs his options, James will not meet with any other teams, the person added. So now, Miami waits. So does Cleveland. So, too, does just about the entire NBA -- because once James picks the Heat or the Cavaliers, the teams believed to be serious suitors for his services, the domino effect of other free agent moves will surely follow. The meeting in Las Vegas lasted for more than an hour and took place more than two weeks after James opted out of his contract and elected to become a free agent, and the day before free agents may begin signing contracts. James spent part of his day before the meeting at his annual skills academy with some of the nations top high school and college players, interacting and observing workouts. That was part of the reason why Riley had to fly across the country to make the meeting happen, with hopes that he would return to Miami from the gambling haven with a huge win -- keeping James in Heat colours for at least another season. He returned to the camp after the meeting, jumping into some games with the high school players. James spent a few minutes on each court during the evening session, high-fiving the kids as he played. And when Shake Milton of Owasso, Oklahoma, hit the deck on one play, James shouted, "Hold on, I got you, stay down," then promptly helped his teammate to his feet. Another highlight came when James showed off his passing skills, throwing a no-look assist to Jayson Tatum of St. Louis for a two-handed slam. When his night of play was over, James got stretched out, had icepacks strapped to his knees and back, then went to the stands and sat with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski -- his Olympic coach -- for about five minutes.dddddddddddd James then exited the building. Several teams have met with Paul during the free-agent process, but it appears James has only one decision to make: Cleveland or Miami, the same choice he pondered four years ago when he decided play with the Heat. With James, the Heat won four Eastern Conference titles and two NBA championships. The Cavaliers didnt sit idle waiting for James and Riley to meet. Cleveland created salary-cap space earlier Wednesday with a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, ensuring they have enough to offer the James a maximum contract. But James had said he would meet with Riley and the Heat before making his decision. The meeting came nearly three weeks after Riley addressed reporters following Miamis loss to San Antonio in the NBA Finals, when he insisted that the Heat needed to make some adjustments to get better -- but didnt need a massive rebuilding job to stay at a championship level. "Youve got to stay together if youve got the guts, and you dont find the first door and run out of it if you have an opportunity," Riley said on June 19. "This is four years now into this era, this team, four finals. Its only been done three other times before. And two championships. From day one to the end, it was like a Broadway show. Sort of ran out of steam, and we need to retool. We dont need to rebuild, we need to retool, and thats what were going to do." If James leaves, itll be more than a retooling project that awaits Miami. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh -- the other members of Miamis "Big 3" of the past four seasons -- are also free agents, and neither has given any hint as to what they will do, though its still expected Wade will not leave the Heat. Miami has just two players under contract for next season, one of those on a partially guaranteed deal. The Heat have also reached agreements with forwards Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger, as well as the draft rights to guard Shabazz Napier, but theres still plenty of jobs to be filled. And the Heat have mostly been in a holding pattern while waiting for James to make his next decision. ' ' '