THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Fred Couples shot a 4-under 68 in his first competitive round in eight months, while Bernhard Langer withdrew without hitting a shot Friday in the PowerShares QQQ Championship.Returning from a chronic back injury, the 57-year-old Couples had three straight birdies on the back nine at rain-softened Sherwood in the PGA Tour Champions playoff opener. He was tied for eighth, three strokes behind leader Colin Montgomerie.Honestly, I could have shot 80 and been OK with it because my goals were just to be able to swing and play, Couples said. Today was just a very nice day. Just to get out of the house and walk around and see if Ive made any progress in the last seven months.Langer re-aggravated a left knee injury at home in Florida doing routine spinning, had an MRI on Monday and wasnt able to play a practice round. I cant transfer my weight, Langer said Thursday. I cant put any pressure on my left knee.Montgomerie shot a 65, closing with a birdie after nearly holing his approach on the par-4 18th. The Scot birdied the first three holes, and had four more on the back nine. He won in Canada this season for his fourth tour title and is fourth in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.Even Ben Hogan allowed himself two mistakes a round of golf, so no bogeys around here is good, very good and that was key today, Montgomerie said. Hit the fairways, hit the greens. Fairways and greens, thats what this course is all about.Fred Funk was two strokes back at 67 along with Scott McCarron, Jim Carter, Joey Sindelar, Jerry Smith and Brandt Jobe.Couples played the rainy front nine in 1 under with a birdie on the par-5 fifth. He birdied the par-4 10th, dropped a stroke on the par-5 11th, then birdied the par-3 12th, par-5 13th and par-4 14th.Playing in that rain early, it just kind of made the course maybe, I hate to say, easier, Couples said. But it was really hard, the greens were rock hard and that little rain I think helped us. There were a lot of good scores in the morning.In 1999 at Sherwood, Couples teamed with David Duval to win the final Shark Shootout at the course. Couples also won with Raymond Floyd in 1990 and Brad Faxon in 1994.Ive played a hundred rounds here probably and I dont know how many guys can say that, or if they need to even worry about it, Couples said. But all the little nooks and crannies and thats what I did today. I didnt really hit many bad shots.Langer leads the tour with four victories and has wrapped up the season money title with $2,697,459. The 59-year-old German star tops the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs standings, and has a big enough advantage over second-place Miguel Angel Jimenez that he will keep the No. 1 spot without playing this week.The top 72 players on the money list earned spots at Sherwood. The playoff field will be cut to 54 for the Dominion Charity Classic next week in Richmond, Virginia, and to 36 for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship the follow week in Scottsdale, Arizona. Each dollar earned in the first two events is worth two points and will be added to the regular-season total. At the Charles Schwab Championship, points will be reset so that the top five only have to win to capture the Charles Schwab Cup.Jimenez shot a 71.John Daly also had a 71, making bogeys on two of the last three holes. He qualified 70th and has five top-25 finishes in 14 starts since turning 50.I really kind of lost it there, Daly said. You cant bogey the last two out of three any day out here. I think 7 will be leading, so Im pretty much out of it really. I would have to shoot really, really low on the weekend to even have a chance. Miami Marlins Pro Shop .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Marlins Jerseys China . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Marlins Jerseys 2020 . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Marlins Jerseys 2019 . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Floridas home finale against South Carolina could be an awkward affair.Not only is former Gators coach Will Muschamp returning to the school that fired him just two years ago, but the first-year Gamecocks coach will be in the stadium for Floridas Senior Day, when most of the players honored will be guys Muschamp recruited to Gainesville.And if the banged-up and 22nd-ranked Gators struggle again -- they were noncompetitive in a 31-10 loss at Arkansas last week -- Muschamp surely wont be the target of the home crowds angst.Its going to be different, Florida receiver Ahmad Fulwood said. I havent had him as a coach for two years, but to actually be playing against him is something different.It also could be costly for the Gators (6-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference).Florida leads the SECs Eastern Division and could clinch a spot in the leagues title game in Atlanta with a victory Saturday coupled with Kentucky beating Tennessee. If the Gators falter against the Gamecocks (5-4, 3-4), who have won three in a row, they also could lose control of the division race.So Muschamp has a chance to spoil his former teams season.Even crazier, the Gators are essentially paying him to do it.As part of his buyout at Florida, Muschamp got a $3.15 million payment following his termination on Nov. 16, 2014. The deal also included four annual payments of $787,500 on the anniversary of his firing. The second installment is due next week.Less than a month after he was fired, Muschamp landed at Auburn as defensive coordinator and started recruited against the Gators. Florida was seemingly so frustrated by the situation that it added a Muschamp Clause to coach Jim McElwains contract, which gives the Gators some financial protected if they fire McElwain without cause and he takes a job with another SEC school within 90 days.Muschamp has downplayed his return this week, declining to dissect his four years at Florida or offering insight into what it might feel like to be on the visiting sideline.I have been there before, he said earlier this year. Some Gator fans wanted me there when I was there.Being a visitor in the Swamp probably wont be as daunting as it once was, especially given Floridas mounting injuries .Quarterback Luke Del Rio, who threw six interceptions in hiss last three games, is sidelined indefinitely with a right shoulder injury.dddddddddddd Center Cam Dillard is out for the season with a knee injury, forcing the Gators to shuffle a line that has little depth. And maybe more troubling, Florida will be without its top two tacklers. Defensive leader Jarrad Davis (ankle) will miss his first game in nearly two years and fellow senior linebacker Alex Anzalone (arm) is out for the season.Losing those two, definitely a big loss, safety Marcus Maye said. But I mean were still going to go out with the young guys stepping up. ... Were still going to be the same defense, you know, go out, fly around and just compete.---Some other things to know about South Carolina and Florida:APPLEBY IN: Purdue transfer Austin Appleby will make his third start in place of Del Rio. But McElwain said hes not afraid to play freshman Feleipe Franks. Appleby threw for 440 yards, with three touchdowns and an interception, in his two previous starts.YOUNG GAMECOCKS: South Carolinas second-half surge has been led by its youngest players. Freshman quarterback Jake Bentley is 3-0 as a starter. Freshman Rico Dowdle had a career-high 127 yards rushing in a win against Tennessee. And Bryan Edwards, another first-year player, has 11 receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the past three victories.GATORS HONORED: Florida will honor coach Steve Spurriers first title teams Saturday. Spurrier and players from his 1990 and 1991 teams will be recognized on the field between the first and second quarters. The 1990 team went 6-1 in league play but was ineligible for the title. The 1991 squad was Floridas first official SEC champions. Will really be neat to see all the guys, Spurrier said. I know all our guys want to give our guys a special recognition. Thats what its all about.DEFENSIVE TOUCH: Muschamp clearly has not lost his defensive touch. The man who molded Floridas current defense during his four seasons in Gainesville has had a similar impact on South Carolina. The Gamecocks are fifth in SEC scoring defense and sixth in total defense, improvements from a year ago.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '
