Haas illness said to be swine flu

FRANKFURT, Germany, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Tommy Haas withdrew from this week's ATP tournament in Switzerland after becoming ill with what turned out to be swine flu.

Haas, 31, also pulled out of the Stockholm Open last month because of illness. He said he then decided to be tested and was diagnosed with having the H1N1 variant of the flu.

"It was really bad for three days and I couldn't leave my hotel room," Haas told the German newspaper Bild.

"I am quite relaxed because I know that swine flu is a particularly strong form of flu but when you are in good physical conditions like I am, then you can quickly beat it off."

Haas said he was feeling better this week but has withdrawn from next week's Master's tournament in Paris.

Haas is ranked No. 17 in the world and has won one tournament -- the event in Halle, Germany, in June -- this year. He has 12 ATP titles over a 13-year professional career.

Bucs boot kicker Andrus, bring in Barth

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided Tuesday to jettison kicker Shane Andrus and bring in Connor Barth.

Andrus had only appeared in three games this season, missing his only field-goal attempt but making all six of his point-after attempts.

Barth had been cut by Miami in late August after playing with Kansas City in 2008. He made 10-of-12 field goals and all 24 PATs for the Chiefs that year but was released July 28.

PGA announces 2010 tour schedule

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Next year's PGA Tour will include a full slate of 37 events despite the ongoing economic doldrums, tour officials announced Tuesday.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said the regular season will kick off Jan. 7-10 with the SBS Championship in Kapalua, Hawaii, and wrap up with the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., Aug. 19-22.

"We are very pleased to announce our schedule through the 2010 FedEx Cup season," Finchem said in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. "Despite difficult economic times we once again have a full slate of events and look forward to yet another exciting season for the PGA Tour."

He said the four FedEx Playoff events after Wyndham will remain the same in 2010 with The Barclays Aug. 26-29, followed by the Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship, and after an off-week, the PGA Tour Championship Sept. 23-26.

The PGA says changes this year include the debut of the Greenbrier Classic during the last week of July at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., while the Turning Stone Resort Championship has been moved from the Fall Series to the first week of August.

Del Zotto top NHL rookie in October

NEW YORK, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The NHL Tuesday named New York Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto its rookie of the month for October.

Del Zotto, 19, led all rookies with 12 points in 14 games. He scored his four goals and eight assists in nine games.

The Ontario native was the 20th overall pick in the 2008 draft.

Others considered for the monthly honor were Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly (two goals, nine assists), Islanders center John Tavares (four goals, six assists), Stars left wing Jamie Benn (three goals, seven assists), Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers (two goals, three assists) and Flyers left wing James vanRiemsdyk (two goals, eight assists).

Copyright 2009 by United Press International
All Rights Reserved.