WOMBAT-Empfang » nce for the Astros on Friday night. Altuve had f

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Even without Tiger Woods around, Sergio Garcia couldnt avoid reminders of a week to forget at The Players Championship. The 17th hole is where Garcia last year lost the battle, along with the war of words. After two days of verbal sparring with Woods, the Spaniard put two balls in the water to make quadruple bogey, and he put another in the water on the 18th for good measure. Garcia already was 4 under on Thursday when he came to the par-3 17th with an island green. "It did cross my mind. Im not going to lie to you," Garcia said. "I was trying to be positive. Its a new year -- lets improve on it. I pulled it a little bit there, but it was an OK shot. I was able to do much better there, and much better on 18, so I was very happy to see that." Garcia was six shots better than the last time he played those holes. He wound up with a 5-under 67 and was four shots behind leader Martin Kaymer, a good start for a past champion who has shown he can manage his way around the Stadium Course. As for those other memories? Garcia has put those behind him. Much like his golf shots, hes looking forward. Woods won The Players last year in a tournament marked by a weekend of squabbling with Garcia -- such public feuds are rare in golf -- that ended badly a few weeks later in London when Garcia made a racially insensitive comment about Woods while trying to be funny. It started in the third round, when Garcia blamed Woods for pulling fairway metal from his bag on a par 5 to stir up the gallery just as Garcia was trying to play his shot. Video doesnt support that sequence of events, but it set off a weekend of bickering -- and Woods got the last word by winning. "I think its over. I think its passed," Garcia said. "I didnt think I was a villain, but I think that weve all moved ahead of that. I certainly have. Im just looking forward to now and hopefully whats coming soon." Garcia says he is in a happier place, and it shows. He conducted a clinic for kids on Wednesday, and he is at his best in the presence of children. He played beautifully on Thursday, losing momentum with one bogey on his 14th hole, but no less satisfied with a 67. Even so, he conceded his battle with Woods last year unsettled him. He was at an awards banquet in London when asked if he would invite Woods over to dinner during the U.S. Open. "We will serve fried chicken," Garcia replied. He apologized twice, though it didnt quell the criticism that followed him the rest of the summer. Garcia spoke of the ups and downs in his career, of trying to play good golf when he feels miserable. Garcia went into a deep funk when longtime girlfriend Morgan Leigh Norman left him. He said after a poor third round in the 2012 Masters that he did not have the game to win a major. "You go through ups and downs in your life, in your career," Garcia said. "And Ive had really, really good times; really, really happy times. And then Ive had times that were a little bit more down. I think it happens to all of us. Youve got to try to enjoy those good times as much as possible and learn from the tough ones and hopefully make them as short as possible. I think at the end of the day, thats all you can really do." He said the last four years have been "pretty good," but not always. "I dont know, probably (what) comes to mind maybe last year is when everything went on with the little problem with Tiger," he said. "I think that was tough." Lately, he is on an upward swing. Garcia won in Thailand late last year. He won in Qatar at the start of this year. He is No. 9 in the world. He is thinking positively. And it probably doesnt hurt that Woods is sidelined indefinitely while recovering from back surgery. And yes, at 34, he believes hes good enough to win a major. "I think that when Im on, I can definitely win anywhere," he said. "I think Ive proven that. Its just a matter of getting that week where you feel good, where you feel comfortable, where things go your way, where everything feels relaxed, everything feels at ease and you manage to do things the way you know how to do them. Im still waiting for that particular week." Cheap Michael Jordan Jersey .com) - Nino Williams posted 18 points and seven rebounds, as Kansas State edged No. Cheap Frank Thomas Jersey . -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are disappointed, though not discouraged. http://www.cheapwhitesoxjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-name-jersey. And follow TSN.ca right through Wednesdays 3pm et trade deadline for all the updates. Blue line help for Red Wings? In addition to what he reported in Insider Trading, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun wrote on ESPN. Wholesale White Sox Jerseys ." Bach is in Rome for the European Olympic Committees general assembly and meetings with Pope Francis. He also visited with Italian Premier Enrico Letta. "The prime minister appeared to be interested in a bid from Italy for 24, because he has realized that the games can serve as a catalyst for development for a city and a country," Bach told The Associated Press on Saturday. Cheap White Sox Jerseys China . According to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the deal will pay Schenn $2.25 million in the first year and $2.75 million in the second year. In 82 games with the Flyers in 2013-14, Schenn scored 20 goals and added 21 assists. HOUSTON -- Even Jason Castros game-winning hit couldnt overshadow Jose Altuves all-around performance for the Astros on Friday night. Altuve had four hits, an RBI and two steals, including one of home, in Houstons 4-3 win in 11 innings over Detroit that snapped the Tigers seven-game winning streak. Castro launched a pitch from Blaine Hardy (0-1) into the seats in right field with one out in the 11th to give Houston the victory. The Tigers tied it when Eugenio Suarez scored on an error in the eighth inning. Jake Buchanan (1-1) pitched a perfect 11th for his first major league win. Altuve had his MLB-leading 33rd multi-hit game of the season. He leads baseball with 111 hits and the AL with 32 stolen bases. "Im somewhat speechless," Houston manager Bo Porter said when asked about Altuves night. "Its impressive to have the kind of impact hes having on the baseball game each and every time he takes the field." Altuve scored a run in the first and tied it up with a RBI double in the fifth. He stole home later that inning to give Houston a 3-2 lead. "He can do it all," Castro said. "Stole home, laid down an infield single. Hes fun to watch and hes one of those guys in your lineup (where) anytime hes at the plate you know hes got a great chance of getting on and getting in scoring position on his own. Its huge to have at the top of the lineup." Altuve left before reporters were allowed in the clubhouse after the game and wasnt available for comment. First baseman Jon Singleton let a foul ball hit by Suarez drop for an error with no outs in the eighth inning. Suarez then drew a walk and reached second on a groundout by Torii Hunter for the second out. Jonathan Villars error on a ball hit by Miguel Cabrera allowed him to reach and Suarez to score to tie it at 3-3. Nick Castellanos had a solo homer to give the Tigers the lead in the fourth inning and Ian Kinsler had three hits for his sixth straight multi-hit game, a career-high. Hes second to Altuve with 32 multi-hit games this season. It was the first trip to Houston as a manager for Detroits Brad Ausmus, whose 10 seasons catching for the Astros included the franchises only World Series appearance in 2005..dddddddddddd J.D. Martinez, who spent three seasons with the Astros before they released him in March, had two hits to snap his 14-game hitting streak a day after going 0 for 4. L.J. Hoes singled to start Houstons fifth and took second on a throwing error by Justin Verlander on a pickoff attempt. Hoes reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Villar. Then Altuve went to work. His 24th double of the season scored Hoes to tie it 2-2. George Springer singled and Altuve moved to third before Verlander tried to pickoff Springer at first with two outs. Altuve broke on the throw and stole home, sliding under the attempted tag by Alex Avila to put the Astros on top 3-2. Martinez singled to start the second inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. He scored on a single by Avila with two outs to tie it at 1-1. But Avila was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double to end the inning. Altuve led off the game with a single and stole second base. He advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out and scored on the same play on a throwing error by Avila to put Houston up 1-0. Astros starter Brad Peacock allowed seven hits and two runs -- one earned -- in 6 2-3 innings after missing his last start while recovering from food poisoning. Verlander allowed six hits with three runs and eight strikeouts in six innings to remain winless since May 30. He lamented allowing Altuve to steal two bases while he was on the mound. "Being able to take that base in the (first) led to a run," he said. "Being able to take the extra base on the pickoff to first was another run. Hes one of those guys you have to keep off the base paths, and that is not easily done." NOTES: Houston left-hander Dallas Keuchel has been scratched from Saturdays start because of inflammation in his throwing wrist. Brett Oberholtzer will start in his place against Max Scherzer. ... The Astros signed fourth-round draft pick RHP Daniel Mengden on Friday. ... Houston centre fielder Dexter Fowler was scratched before the game because of tightness in his back. Alex Presley was moved from left field to centre to take his place and Hoes was inserted in the lineup in left field. 01:36ET 28-06-14 ' ' '