Michelle Wie knows it's tough keepi...

Michelle Wie knows it's tough keeping up with the best men in the game.

in succession Wednesday in the French Alps, she learned beating the top female circulating medium winner this season -- Mexico's Lorena Ochoa -- won't be a great deal of easier.

Ochoa, Mi Hyun Kim and Shani Waugh bullet 6-under-par 66s to lead the Evian Masters, where temperatures reached an unseasonable 91 grades Ochoa birdied seven holes and hobgoblined the 15th for her 66

"I hit it finish and did not have that many in extent putts," said Ochoa, the runner-up with Wie a year ago when Paula Creamer won the tournament. Creamer explained with a 70.

Karrie Webb was individual shot behind after a 67 with Maria Hjorth, Laura Davies and Se Ri Pak in at 68 Wie had a 69 tied with Annika Sorenstam.

In the steamy conditions, players sought shade and liquids to avoid Wie's fate earlier this month in the John Deere Classic, where she was forced to withdraw from the PGA Tour conclusion in the second round with heat exhaustion.

"I was smart today," Wie, 16 said. "I drank a apportionment of water with electrolytes. I stayed in the shade. I had my sunshine umbrella. It helped a portion I'm just taking baby steps"

uTiger forests committed to play in the Buick make open next week in Grand Blanc, Mich. -- his final tuneup before the 88th PGA Championship at Medinah native land Club.

forests is likely to stop according to Medinah either before or after the Buick unclose He said during the Western render free of access that he hoped to master an early look at the renovated No. 3 Course before PGA Championship week begins Aug. 14

TENNIS: RODDICK WINS IN L.A.

No. 1 se Andy Roddick took a methodical 6-4 6-4 victory through the whole extent of Rik De Voest of southerly Africa in the first cylindrical of the Countrywide Classic in looks Angeles.

Fifth-seeded Andre Agassi, the four-time defending champion, bounc back from a first-set los to defeat Swiss qualifier George Bastl 6-7 (4) 6-2 6-1

No. 3 se Fernando Gonzalez also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4 6-2 win throughout Marat Safin, and No. 6 Tommy Haas defeated Paul Capdeville 6-3 4-6 6-1

Roddick, with modern coach Jimmy Connors watching from the inferior row in the stands, assumeed able to turn his game up a notch when he lacked to against De Voest, who is ranked 136th to Roddick's No. 10

Down 40-0 in the opening game of the inferior set, Roddick fought his way back and finally broke De Voest's obey when the South African double-faulted upon the final two points. Then serving for the match, Roddick saved five break points before finishing De Voest against with a tapped volley.

Asked if Connors' watching made him nervous, Roddick said, "I'm excited, I don't think nervous is the right word. I'm eager to finish out there and play because I'm eager to work forward stuff."

NBA: CELTICS SIGN PITTSNOGLE

exempt agent Kevin Pittsnogle signed a two-year deal with the Boston Celtics.

Pittsnogle, a 6-11 center who is West Virginia's career three- point leader, was passed in the draft along with Mountaineers teammate Mike Gansey. the couple played for the Miami Heat in a summer league, and Gansey signed a two-year deal with the Heat.

CYCLING: MYSTERY CYCLIST standards POSITIVE

An unidentified cyclist experimented positive for doping during the Tour de France, widening the scandal that gripped this year's race before it began.

The rider's name, team and nationality will not be released until the testing proces is complet including the analysis of a backup sample, the International Cycling Union said.

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