Phil Mickelson tries to spread news about arthritis treatments | Golf

Golf

Mickelson was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last year: Masters champion Phil Mickelson played a practice round at Pebble Beach in California on the Saturday before last year's U.S. Open and was walking back to his car when he felt pain in his ankle, hip and finger.

"I thought it might just be wear and tear of the joints over the years," he said.

The scare came a week after the U.S. Open, when the pain returned during a family holiday in Hawaii.

"I went and laid down on the couch, and it hurt so bad to move," the 40-year-old Mickelson recalled. "Thereafter, I went to try to play golf and the pain had gone to my shoulder. I couldn't take the club back halfway. And I was concerned about the impact on my golf career."

Mickelson was lucky to detect it early. He saw a rheumatologist in San Diego and went to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion. Both agreed he had psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes pain, stiffness and swelling around the joints.

Mickelson got on a treatment plan and resumed full workouts by November. He wants to educate others about the disease.

Mickelson has created a partnership with Amgen and Pfizer, Inc. and will launch a public-awareness campaign Wednesday called "On Course with Phil."

The goal is for people with psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or plaque psoriasis to have it diagnosed early and get on a treatment program that is best for them.

Tennis

Nadal says he is fit for Davis Cup: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who injured his left hamstring during the Australian Open on Jan. 26, said he has recovered from a thigh injury and is ready to play for Spain in a first-round Davis Cup match Friday against host Belgium.

"If I am here, it is because, physically, I am 100 percent," said Nadal, who has been participating in two practice sessions a day with Davis Cup teammates.

Spain is an overwhelming favorite to beat Belgium.

Auto racing

Formula One head targets August date for Bahrain Grand Prix: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone said the Bahrain Grand Prix could be staged during the series' summer break after being called off due to unrest on the island.

Maintaining "we need a race in Bahrain," Ecclestone said he believes the event can go ahead in August despite the intense summer heat.

Anti-government protesters forced Bahrain's crown prince to cancel the March 13 race, which would have been the F1 season opener.

Soccer

Chelsea beats Manchester United: Alex Ferguson was angry. After the second English Premier League loss by his team this season, the Manchester United manager said David Luiz should have been ejected before Frank Lampard scored the go-ahead goal in Chelsea's 2-1 victory.

Ferguson said Luiz, who already had a yellow card, should have been sent off by referee Martin Atkinson for fouling Man U's Wayne Rooney. Lampard converted a penalty kick in the 80th minute, shortly after Ferguson said Luiz should have been sent off.

"You want a fair referee — or a strong referee, anyway — and we didn't get that," Ferguson said. "I don't know why he has got the game.

"I must say, when I saw who the referee was, I did fear it. I feared the worst."

Chelsea has won three consecutive league matches against Manchester United (17-2-9), which has 60 points and leads second-place Arsenal by four points. Chelsea (14-7-6) is fourth with 48 points.

Reading ousts Everton from FA Cup: Everton was eliminated from England's FA Cup with a 1-0 loss to second-tier Reading in the fifth round. Matt Mills beat American goalkeeper Tim Howard in the 26th minute.

Real Salt Lake advances to semifinals: Javier Morales scored two goals to put Real Salt Lake in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Columbus Crew. Real Salt Lake is the first team from Major League Soccer to reach the semifinals of the tournament for pro teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Mascot owl dies in Colombia: The Colombian team Atletico Junior's mascot owl that was kicked by Deportivo Pereira defender Luis Moreno during a match Sunday in Barranquilla is dead.

An apologetic Moreno, who has been ordered to pay the owl's medical bills and do volunteer work at a zoo, might face other sanctions.

The owl had been expected to recover from what were thought to be minor injuries, including what was described as a small fracture of its right leg. But veterinarian Camilo Tapia said the owl went into shock after it was brought in for treatment and died.

The owl was struck by a ball and landed near the corner of the field before Moreno walked over and kicked it about 3 yards. Some fans shouted "murderer, murderer."

Volleyball

McCutcheon to stay with team through 2012 London Olympics: U.S. women's coach Hugh McCutcheon will remain with the team through the 2012 Olympics in London before taking the job as Minnesota's coach.

McCutcheon guided the U.S. men to the gold medal in 2008 in Beijing and took over the women's national team when Jenny Lang Ping resigned shortly after the Beijing Olympics.

Minnesota assistant coach Laura Bush will lead the Golden Gophers on an interim basis.

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