s. Several other men advanced, including Stepanek, Rola,

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Tom Watson gives an edge to the long hitters at rain-soaked Shoal Creek. Watson figures guys like Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry and Fred Couples could have an easier time of it on some holes in rainy, chilly and windy weather at the $2.2 million Regions Tradition starting Thursday. It is the first of the Champions Tours five major championships. "The par 5s really play into their hands," Watson said on Wednesday. "The rest of us, were stretching it getting to the par 5s, especially when it gets wet. "With the predicted rains, it will be tough to get to these par 5s. But Kenny and Freddie Couples shouldnt have a lot of problem." Then theres Langer, who has already won twice this season and reached 20 victories on the 50-and-over tour. "The way Bernhard Langer is going, we need to break his leg," Watson joked. The weather could once again have a big impact on the scenic 7,145-yard, par-72 Shoal Creek course. Rain shortened the pro-ams on Wednesday with more showers expected on Thursday and temperatures possibly plunging into the 40s over the weekend. Play was twice suspended in last years Tradition, the second straight year rain and/or lightning had affected the tournament. It remains to be seen if rain can slow down Langer, coming off his third victory at the Insperity Invitational and finishing eighth at the Masters. "The rain will make the course play much longer," the German said. "The rough will be heavier because of the wet grass. The greens will be a little bit slower. Id rather see the other conditions, but Ive played well in all sorts of conditions. You just have to adjust and do the best with what you find." Langer finished second behind two-time winner Tom Lehman in 2012 and 10th last year. He beat Couples by a stroke at The Woodlands in Texas on May 4. David Frost held on for a one-stroke win over Couples last year at Shoal Creek. Couples opened the season tying for second with Jeff Sluman in Hawaii, behind Langer. "Fred Couples made it pretty clear, I think, in Hawaii, that hes trying to win the Schwab Cup, so were trying to give him some competition here and make it hard for him," Langer said. Fellow World Golf Hall of Famers Watson and Colin Montgomerie arent as well acquainted with the course as some of their peers. Watson, a two-time Masters champion, is competing in the Tradition for the first time since the events debut at Shoal Creek in 2011. He finished tied for 32nd. His history with the course goes back a few decades, though, to the 1984 PGA championship won by Lee Trevino. Watson said the Bermuda rough was so deep "they had three marshals on each side of the fairways because you could lose your golf ball." "Lee Trevino, it was right in his wheelhouse," he said. "He hit the ball so straight off the tee, and he just rarely missed a fairway. And thats what you had to do on this golf course." Montgomerie of Scotland is nearing his anniversary on the 50-and-over tour and makes his Shoal Creek debut. He said the course has a good reputation. "Ive heard a lot about it," Montgomerie said. "You talk about youre going to Alabama and then you say Shoal Creek and everybody in golf knows where youre going or where youve been. This is one of those classic courses. Having played nine holes (Tuesday) and nine holes today, I understand what theyre talking about. A very, very good golf course. "You can drive the ball great but at the same time its more of a second-shot course where I can see there are some pins in awkward places — backside, middle, front, whatever. It will be a great test. Im looking forward to trying to challenge this course." Cheap Soccer Jerseys China . - Mathew Barzal scored 3:47 into overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds downed the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action. 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Juan Francisco and Colby Rasmus both went deep for the Blue Jays, who are second in the American League with 34 home runs on the season.INDIANAPOLIS - Andrew Luck is embarking on the most critical part of the season.He has two games to find solutions to the Colts problems before the playoffs, and theres still too much at stake for the Colts to go into full tuneup mode.Its, Lets go out and win. We need to win, Luck said Wednesday. Theres no holding back, theres no easing off the gas pedal.In his short NFL career, Luck has learned momentum matters in the post-season.Indianapolis (10-4) heads to NFC East-leading Dallas (10-4) on Sunday with a four-game winning streak. A win would give Luck the longest winning streak of his career and could keep Indys fading hopes alive for a first-round bye.Yet he still has plenty to prove.Despite leading the NFL with 4,492 yards passing and 38 touchdown passes and wrapping up his second straight AFC South crown, Luck is just 1-2 in the playoffs.A year ago, Lucks miscues were the problem. He threw three interceptions in a stunning comeback against the Chiefs and four more in a lopsided loss at New England.So during the off-season, Luck tried to figure out what went wrong and came back this summer hoping to reduce what he often referred to as bone-headed mistakes.Recently, though, the problems have resurfaced.Indy has had 29 penalties and 12 turnovers over the past four weeks, with opposing defences scoring three times off those turnovers. Yet Indy has still won each game.While the miscues cannot all be blamed on Luck, the Colts quarterback is tied for the league lead with 12 fumbles and six lost and has the third-highest interception total (14) in the NFL.If that continues, the Colts know the deep playoff run theyve been hoping for could be short-lived.Obviously weve got things to clean up. Weve had issues with turnovers, nobody likes that, coach Chuck Pagano said. Weve had issues with penalties. Weve left yards out on the field because of penalties. Weve stalled drives because of penalties. Weve kept (opponents) drives alive because oof penalties.ddddddddddddf were going to go where we want to go and get to where we want to get to weve got to keep addressing those things and get them cleaned up, he added.So rather than looking ahead to the post-season, as Colts teams have done in the past, Pagano and Luck are going full-steam ahead.While Indys defence has played well in victories over Jacksonville, Washington, Cleveland and Houston, and the Colts improved ground game has helped seal three of those victories, Pagano is hoping to see even better results over the final two regular-season games.Its going to be a heck of a challenge to see exactly where were at, Pagano said when asked about Dallas. The whole idea is to stay consistent and go play well, play better than we did last week.Pagano doesnt intend to sit any healthy starters.And Luck, for one, doesnt want the rest. Hed rather fight through the miscues, find solutions and keep extending the Colts winning streak.We know weve got to keep improving and it starts in practice when it comes to cleaning up the mistakes, Luck said. We have a chance to go out and play a good football team this Sunday and try and execute. Thats huge.Notes: Receiver T.Y. Hilton (hamstring), right tackle Gosder Cherilus (groin), cornerback Vontae Davis (groin), offensive linemen Joe Reitz (ankle) and Hugh Thornton (knee) and linebacker Erik Walden (knee) all missed Wednesdays practice with injuries. Return specialist Josh Cribbs, linebacker DQwell Jackson both sat out to rest. ... The Colts signed offensive tackle Tyler Hoover to the practice squad Wednesday. ... Punter Pat McAfee was selected the Colts man of the year for his community work. ... Playoff tickets will go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. They will be sold exclusively thru www.colts.com, www.ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000 until the date and time of the game has been determined.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '