Olympics-2008

Hollywood star Jessica Alba shoots a new series of fashion-featured photos for "Elle" magazine. [Photo: ent.sina.com.cn]

Latest promotional photos of actress Fan Bingbing. [Photo: sohu.com]

Actress Paris Hilton arrives at the premiere screening for "Rex" at cinespace on June 8, 2009 in Hollywood, California. [CFP]

DUBLIN, Ohio - Two holes, two towering shots, two clutch birdies. Just like that, Tiger Woods broke out of a four-way tie and won the Memorial on Sunday with a 7-under 65 to cap off a high-charged comeback. And just as suddenly, he silenced the skeptics who wondered if he was ready to defend his title in the US Open in two weeks at Bethpage Black.

"I knew I could do this," Woods said after birdies on the final two holes gave him a one-shot victory. "I was close to winning, but the game wasn't quite there when I really needed it on Sunday. I rectified that."

First came a 9-iron at No. 17 that Woods launched as high as he could, allowing the ball to land softly on the top shelf of a rock-hard green for a 9-foot birdie putt. More brilliance followed on the 18th, when Woods hit a 7-iron from 183 yards that stopped a foot from the hole, wrapping up his fourth title at Muirfield Village.

Jack Nicklaus (L) poses with Tiger Woods as he presents Woods the winner's trophy at the 2009 Memorial golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio June 7, 2009.

 

Then came a bold observation by tournament host Jack Nicklaus. He had said earlier in the week that Woods, with 14 career majors, would probably break his record of 18 majors in a couple of years.

"I suspect No. 15 will come for Tiger Woods in about two weeks," Nicklaus said at the trophy presentation. "If he drives the ball this way, and plays this way, I'm sure it will. And if not, it will surprise me greatly."

There were no surprises Sunday for Woods, the best sign of all.

He hit the ball where he was aiming and found every fairway in the final round, the first time he had done that on the PGA Tour in more than five years. He missed only five fairways all week, his best performance off the tee since the 1998 Masters.

"It was nice to play this well going into the US Open," Woods said. "This is how you have to hit it in order to win US Opens."

He managed to work in some of Muirfield Village magic along the way, surging into contention by chipping in for eagle from a nasty lie in thick rough behind the 11th green.

"I don't even know how to describe it," said Michael Letzig, who played with Woods. "It was the best golf I'd ever seen."

Jim Furyk, part of the four-way tie on the back nine, made a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole that gave him a 69 and allowed him to finish alone in second. Furyk is close friends with Woods, and had been hearing the speculation that Woods was not the same.

"I just wish you all would just quick (ticking) him off ... so he has to come back and keep proving stuff," Furyk said. "I think he answered a lot of questions today."

Woods finished at 12-under 276 and won for the 67th time in his career. The timing could not have been better. He was within one shot of the lead going in to the back nine at Quail Hollow and made nothing better than par for a 72. He played in the final group at The Players Championship, couldn't find a fairway and closed with a 73.

On a firm, fast course under steamy sunshine at Muirfield Village, he was close to perfect.

"It wasn't just the last two holes, it was all week," Woods said. "I felt comfortable hitting it left-to-right, right-to-left. Didn't have a problem taking the ball up in the air or bringing it down. That's what I was looking for. That's what I was able to do at home in my practice sessions, and now it's just a matter of carrying it out here onto a tournament venue and doing it."

After a bogey from the bunker on the 16th, Woods was tied with Furyk, Jonathan Byrd and Davis Love III.

But not for long.

His two final birdies gave him a cushion, and no one could catch him.

Byrd had the best chance to catch Woods. Two shots behind, he hit his approach to 4 feet on the 17th, but missed the birdie putt. Byrd finished with a meaningless double bogey for a 72 and tied for third with Mark Wilson (73).

Love, who could have avoided 36-hole US Open qualifying Monday with a victory, got into contention with consecutive birdie putts of about 50 feet, only to miss an 8-foot birdie try on the 15th. He fell out of the hunt with a bogey from the fairway bunker on the 17th, then hitting his tee shot into the water on the 18th and closing with a triple bogey.

Matt Bettencourt, the PGA Tour rookie who started the final round tied with Wilson, held his own for seven holes until a three-putt bogey, followed by a chunked wedge into the water for a double bogey. He closed with a 75 and tied for fifth.

Letzig had never experienced such an environment as playing with Woods in the final round.

"I've never seen anyone hit irons like that," Letzig said. "I tried not to watch him, but some of those shots were unreal."

Woods' driving set up those iron shots. The fairways at Muirfield Village are among the most generous, but he wasn't close to missing them and often set himself up on the right side to attack the pins.

"I don't know why everyone talks about how bad he drives it," Letzig said. "Every drive I saw was perfect."

 

PARIS - Roger Federer ended his French Open jinx when he swept past Swede Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6 6-4 in the final to clinch his first Roland Garros title on Sunday.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after winning the men's final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2009. [Agencies]

The Swiss equalled Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles and became the sixth man to win all four major tournaments, sealing victory in just under two hours in cloudy conditions.

"It was really not easy to deal with my emotions," said the 27-year-old Federer, who lost to world number one Rafael Nadal in the three previous finals.

"It might be the greatest victory of my career."

The 23rd-seeded Soderling had ended Nadal's four-year reign on the Paris clay in the fourth round.

"To me, he is the best player in history," the Swede said.

Federer, the second man after Andre Agassi to win all four grand slam titles on four different surfaces, started the match confidently by racing into a 4-0 lead with two breaks.

Soderling held serve for 4-1 but Federer, who had never lost to Soderling in nine previous matches, kept up the pressure and clinched the first set on the Swede's serve with a crosscourt passing shot.

BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED

The match was briefly interrupted after a man came on to Centre Court with a red and blue flag during the fourth game of the second set.

The man jumped from the stand opposite the media box and approached Federer, touching him with the flag.

Leaping over the net towards Soderling, the man was tackled by Roland Garros security officers and carried away from the court.

Federer lost three points in a row after the incident as Soderling levelled for 2-2.

Both players held serve to a tiebreak which Federer cruised through 7-1 after serving four aces.

The Swiss broke in the first game of the third set when his opponent sent a forehand wide and he never found a solution to turn the situation around.

Federer ended his wait on the first match point when Soderling netted a service return, the Swiss falling on his knee in tears and triggering a deafening roar from the 15,000 crowd.

Roger Federer of Switzerland holds the trophy in the locker room after winning his men's final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2009.

Roger Federer of Switzerland cries as he receives his trophy during the presentation ceremony after winning the men's final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2009.

Roger Federer of Switzerland kisses his trophy during the presentation ceremony after winning the men's final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2009.

 

Roger Federer of Switzerland kisses his trophy during the presentation ceremony after winning the men's final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2009.

Roger Federer of Switzerland cries as he receives his trophy during the presentation ceremony after winning the men's final against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 7, 2009.

(china daily)

Emma Watson attends a private party at Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor restaurant in London June 3, 2009. The “Harry Potter” actress looked very fashion-forward as she arrived at the Fifth Floor restaurant in London, sporting a black and blue deconstructed multi-texture dress with black and silver heels.[CFP]

Emma Watson attends  a private party at Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor restaurant in London June 3, 2009.

 

 

 

 

Britney Spears can't motivate herself to exercise. The 'Womanizer' singer - who has two sons, Sean Preston, three, and two-year-old Jayden James with ex-husband Kevin Federline - insists she is nowhere near as fit as she used to be because she has lost the desire to visit the gym.

She said: "I used to be a workout freak but after I had my kids it was a lot harder to get back into that routine. "I used to love going to the gym but as you get older and have more responsibilities, you lose that kind of discipline. Even now I have a much harder time getting mentally psyched to train.

But once I'm in the gym I start getting into it and I feel great." Despite her hatred of exercise, Britney says she is taking more care of herself by ensuring she gets enough sleep. She added: "I like going to bed early and getting up early. I think it's a much better way to live my life, especially when I have the kids - I need to have a lot of energy because they have so much energy themselves.

"I'm just not that into going out late at night or going out to clubs any more. It's the last thing I want to do."

Amy Winehouse is the "mother hen" of her social circle. Reality TV star Aisleyne Horgan Wallace has been friends with the 'Rehab' star for 18 months and insists she's nothing like her party-girl public persona.

Aisleyne said: "She is the mummy in our friendship group. She's really like a mother hen and likes to look after everyone. I know that's not how she comes across in the press, but everyone who knows her, or has ever met her, says the same about how wonderful she is. "Although she's had problems with her addiction to drink and drugs, she's such an amazing, good person with a kind heart.

She's a great laugh and always fun on a night out, but she's also a fantastic listener." Amy's father Mitch recently revealed he is terrified her alcohol addiction will kill her. Mitch told documentary maker Daphne Barak: "After she almost died twice from drug related problems, to see her walking, smiling - she has progressed so much.

"But now, if it's alcohol instead of hard drugs - I don't think I can go through that again. I've decided to distance myself, and whatever happens, happens. It's her life. It's her career. It's her decision."

Actress Megan Fox poses at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles May 31, 2009.[Agencies]

Megan Fox thinks news is "mindless bulls**t." The 'Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen' actress has no interest in watching world events on TV, and is just as negative about costume dramas and comedy movies.

She said: "'Sex And The City: The Movie' was so tragic. Costume dramas bore me and Hollywood comedies are total garbage, not funny at all. Fame doesn't mean anything because anyone can be famous, and TV news is mindless bulls**t."

The 23-year-old star also heaped scorn on politics, claiming much of what is reported is manipulated to make the public feel good. Referring to her previous admission she enjoys smoking marijuana, Megan told Britain's GQ magazine: "America's war on drugs is propaganda.

I can't tell you how much bulls**t I've been through because I will openly say that I smoke weed. People look at it like it's this crazy, hippy, f***ed-up thing to do. And it's not! "I hope they legalise it and when they do I'll be the first f***ing person in line to buy my pack of joints."

A copy of Thailand's Daily XPRESS newspaper reporting the obituary of actor David Carradine, is seen at a newsstand in Bangkok on Friday, June 5, 2009. Carradine, star of the 1970s TV series 'Kung Fu' who also had a wide-ranging career in the movies, has been found dead in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

LOS ANGELES – David Carradine's family members, dissatisfied with Thai investigators and "profoundly disturbed" by the publication of a forensics photo in a Bangkok tabloid, are seeking help from the FBI and an independent pathologist and have threatened legal action against any media outlet that reprints images of the actor in death.

Keith Carradine has filed reports with the FBI that could lead to the agency's involvement, said Mark Geragos, attorney for the "Kung Fu" actor's half-brother. The FBI confirmed that Carradine's family had contacted the agency.

The family will also seek an independent autopsy by famed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to determine whether another person could have been involved, Geragos said. Results of an autopsy performed Friday in Bangkok were not expected for at least three weeks.

A chambermaid found Carradine's body Thursday at Bangkok's Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel. Thai authorities said they have all but ruled out foul play, based on surveillance footage and interviews with hotel staff that indicate no one was in Carradine's room before he died, said Col. Somprasong Yenthuam, who is heading the investigation.

A grainy photo published on the Saturday cover of the tabloid Thai Rath shows a naked body suspended from a clothes bar in a hotel closet, hands apparently bound together above the head and feet on the floor. The face is blacked out and other areas are obscured.

The paper did not indicate the source of the image, but Thai police said they believed it was a picture of Carradine's body taken by a forensics team.

Keith Carradine said in a statement that the family was "profoundly disturbed by the release in Thailand of photographs taken at the scene of David Carradine's death," and threatened legal action against further distribution.

"The family wants it understood that, per attorney Mark Geragos, any persons, publications or media outlets will be fully prosecuted for invasion of privacy and causing severe emotional distress if the photos are published," the statement read.

The actor's family hopes the body will arrive in Los Angeles by Monday, Geragos said, but he did not give specifics.

Geragos said the family decided to intervene because of conflicting information about Carradine's death and a lack of direct information from Thai authorities.

"All we really know is not much more than what the public knows, and that's disturbing," Geragos said.

Agents were checking with the FBI's legal attache at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok to see if Thai authorities "are requesting or would welcome FBI assistance in this matter." FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the agency generally only gets involved in death investigations overseas if a crime is suspected.

Investigators initially said Carradine's body was found "naked, hanging in a closet," causing them to suspect he had taken his own life. But his family, friends and representatives have said they doubt the 72-year-old actor would have killed himself.

Police later said the actor may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure after revealing that he was found with a rope tied around his wrist, neck and genitals — leading to speculation that Carradine may have engaged in a dangerous form of sex play known as auto-erotic asphyxiation.

But Geragos said he expects the examination by the New York-based Baden, a celebrity among forensic pathologists who frequently consults on high-profile cases, will clear up many unanswered questions.

"It's an amazing thing what a good pathologist can accomplish," Geragos said.

Carradine flew to Thailand last week and began work on a film titled "Stretch" two days before his death. His friends and associates told CNN's Larry King he had a happy marriage, recently bought a new car, and had several films lined up after he finished work in Bangkok.

A martial arts practitioner himself, Carradine was best known for the U.S. TV series "Kung Fu," which aired from 1972-75. He played Kwai Chang Caine, an orphan who was raised by Shaolin monks and fled China for the American West after killing the emperor's nephew in retaliation for the murder of his kung fu master.

Carradine also appeared in more than 100 feature films with such directors as Martin Scorsese, Ingmar Bergman and Hal Ashby. He returned to the top in recent years as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's two-part saga "Kill Bill."

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
(Agencies)