Gallerie » stem who might fill some of their needs but whether the

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Phil Mickelson is going ahead with his Phoenix Open title defence after testing his ailing lower back on Wednesday at exclusive Whisper Rock. "I had a good practice session, though I didnt go full speed for much of it," Mickelson said in a statement. "I feel fine. I expect to play and play well." He first felt soreness two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi, and then withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open on Friday after making the cut at Torrey Pines. He flew to Georgia to see back specialist Tom Boers and was told his facet joints locked up. Last year at TPC Scottsdale, the former Arizona State star opened with an 11-under 60 and matched the Phoenix Open record of 28 under. He was set to make his 25th start in the event that he also won in 1996 and 2005. Mickelson lived in the Phoenix area for 12 years. "If it was any other tournament Id skip it," Mickelson said this week. "But Im defending, its my second hometown and I love the event." Lefty also said he expects to play next week at Pebble Beach, where hes a five-time champion. He is skipping Riviera and the Match Play Championship because his oldest daughter has spring break a week earlier than his other two children. On Thursday at TPC Scottsdale, the 43-year-old Mickelson was scheduled to open play on the 10th tee in a morning group with Bill Haas and Ryan Moore. While Mickelson now lives near his hometown of San Diego, Torrey Pines winner Scott Stallings is setting up a winter base in Scottsdale. He also is joining Whisper Rock, the club where Mickelson and other tour players are members. "My wife and I are renting in Scottsdale at Grayhawk, so we are five minutes away from here," Stallings said. "I have been playing and practicing out of here, actually also at Whisper Rock -- went through the whole process and we are going to make somewhat of a winter home out here. Especially, with the vile weather thats been in the South, I dont miss that at all. We miss our families, but I dont miss that weather at all." Stallings won Sunday in San Diego for his third tour title. "That venue and that event was very special and a huge stepping stone in my career," he said. Stallings is getting over an illness that also hit his wife and son. "Honestly, if you asked me yesterday, Id say there is no way Im playing in the tournament," he said. "The Mayo Clinic and the tournament got me hooked up with some good doctors and nurses, all kind of IVs and fluid and stuff like that. Im a completely different person than I was yesterday." Patrick Reed is coming off a victory two weeks ago in California in the Humana Challenge. Riding a self-described "putting coma" at La Quinta, Reed opened with three straight 9-under 63s and closed with a 71 for a two-stroke victory. "The greens, when I first saw them, there were a couple brown spots on them, and I thought that meant it was going to be not rolling very true, but I didnt see any putts really hop," Reed said about TPC Scottsdale. "Whenever you have greens like that that are just really pure, just like they were at Humana, Im excited." Lee Westwood is making his first start in the event. He also played last week at Torrey Pines, in part because of the tours new wraparound schedule. "Normally, I would go play the Middle East swing. I would go and play Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Dubai or two of those three," the Englishman said. "I decided not to go this year and wanted to play a few more events in the States. "If you dont play these, then youre giving up a big start, because they have played six before the season, so it started last year. So its like a quarter of the schedule gone if you dont start until Pebble or L.A., so it makes sense to play a couple of these." Mickelsons decision to play cost Ryo Ishikawa a spot in the field. The Japanese player tied for seventh last week at Torrey Pines, but didnt get into the Phoenix Open as a top-10 finisher because the field was full before that entry category. Zack Greinke Jersey . -- C.J. Wilson parked his car and laughed while signing autographs for faceless fans who handed bats, balls and cards to the pitcher from the other side of a brick wall. Fake Astros Jerseys . Asdrubal Cabrera had four hits and three RBIs, Michael Brantley also homered and the Indians beat the injury-riddled Minnesota Twins 9-4 Thursday for their first three-game winning streak this season. https://www.cheapastros.com/2693o-wade-miley-jersey-astros.html . The unrestricted free agent agreed to terms with the club on Thursday on a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000. Bob Watson Astros Jersey . Noah finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes. He was headed for his fourth triple-double of the season, but sat down with about three minutes left because of the lopsided score. Kirk Hinrich scored 19 points for Chicago, going 5 for 6 on 3-pointers, Carlos Boozer added 18 points, D. Cesar Cedeno Astros Jersey . UCI President Brian Cookson said Wednesday the commission will investigate allegations "that the UCI has been involved in wrongdoing in the past -- allegations which have done so much to hurt the credibility of the UCI and our sport.WINNIPEG -- Grant Clitsomes name is off the list but plenty remain as the Winnipeg Jets work their way through a long list of restricted and unrestricted free agents. Clitsome has signed a three-year extension with the Jets for a reported US$6.2 million, almost double what he was making, keeping him off the free-agent market. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday they liked what they saw from the 28-year-old defencemen during the lockout-shortened season, particularly at the end when they were coping with injuries. "The last 33 games of the season last year he had 14 points, he was plus 14, he was averaging 21 minutes a night," said Cheveldayoff. "His game seemed to step up." He finished the season with a plus-10 rating after 44 games, the best of any Jets defenceman. Not bad for a player picked up on waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012. At just 28, hes also younger than many of the other defencemen on the pending free agent market and Cheveldayoff says he still sees potential for growth. For his part, Clitsome said he wanted to stick with the Jets. "They took a chance on me when they picked me up on waivers and gave me an opportunity to show I can play in the league," said the native of Gloucester, Ont. "I like the coaching staff and the management and Ive been treated first class the whole way. The whole time it was definitely a priority for me to sign in Winnipeg." The Jets have also said theyre interested in keeping unrestricted free agent Al Montoya as backup netminder to Ondrej Pavelec. He played in only seven games last season and started just five, but finished with a record of 3-1-0. Cheveldayoff said Wednesday he had been talking with Montoyas agent "as recently as last night." The Jets are ready to let some of the unrestricted list test the market but theyve already made qualifying offers to their list oof 13 restricted free agents.dddddddddddd That list includes two-thirds of their top line, centre Bryan Little and right-winger Blake Wheeler, as well as key defenceman Zach Bogosian. Cheveldayoff says some of the high-profile deals will likely take longer to conclude. But its like a big jigsaw puzzle as he works through which players to keep and which new players he might be able to add. "There are a lot of moving parts here," said Cheveldayoff. "Youre kind of looking at all of your options. Looking at what might be available in front of you." That includes free agents coming on the market this week as well as possible trades, he said. The Jets are looking for a right-winger to pair with Evander Kane on their second line and also could do with another top-six centre. They may have more room for deals under the salary cap, which comes down $6 million this season, than some other teams. But how much they have to pay to retain their restricted free agents will ultimately determine that number. There are players already in the Jets system who might fill some of their needs but whether they are ready yet also remains a question mark. They have centre Mark Scheifele finally coming up from junior this season and he has matured significantly since he first tried to crack the lineup in 2011-12. But after two disappointing finishes in their new home, the Jets are looking to finally make the playoffs and must do it in a new conference as they move west under realignment. Other deals may be in the works as free-agent talks get under way in earnest, and Cheveldayoff at least appears a little more engaged than he might have in past years. "The interview period has started and we are active in that regard," he said. "There have been conversations that weve had and will continue to have for the different positions that might be available." ' ' '