SPORTS BRIEFS

FOOTBALL

Crystal Palace’s Lee plays his second game of preseason

Lee Chung-yong of Premier League club Crystal Palace has played his second consecutive preseason match.

In a 2-2 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer on Wednesday at BC Place in Vancouver, Lee started the match for Crystal Palace. He was on the pitch for 59 minutes until he was substituted out in the second half.

Lee played in the midfield and flank but was unable to tally any goals or assists.

Crystal Palace is currently touring North America for preseason games.

By Choi Hyung-jo

GOLF

Tiger Woods withdraws from the PGA Championship

Tiger Woods withdrew from the PGA Championship, the first time he will go an entire year without playing a major.

The decision, while not a surprise, also means he will go an entire PGA Tour season without playing.

His agent, Mark Steinberg of Excel Sports Management, said in a text to The Associated Press on Wednesday that Woods will not play the remainder of the tour season as he continues to rehab following back surgeries. That would have amounted to only three more tournaments before the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Steinberg said Woods will continue to work hard and assess when he can play the following season, which starts in October.

In public appearances dating to April, whether it was opening his golf course in Houston or hosting his tournament in Washington, Woods has given no indication when he will be ready to compete. He had his second and third back surgeries last year and has said he wants to take his time making sure it heals.

Woods now has gone eight full years since winning his 14th major championship at the 2008 U.S. Open.

He was replaced by Harold Varner III at the PGA Championship, which starts July 28 at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey.

AP