Reuters Sports News Summary

Wentworth is littered with sand traps and world number six Justin Rose says he needs to avoid them at all costs to achieve a "bucket-list" target by landing this week's BMW PGA Championship crown. The European Tour's flagship tournament represents a local event for the 34-year-old Londoner and, aside from golf's big four prizes, it is the title he craves the most.

Patriots owner Kraft will not appeal NFL's 'Deflategate' penalty

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said on Tuesday he will reluctantly accept rather than appeal a $1 million fine and loss of draft choices imposed by the NFL against the Super Bowl champions for the team's role in the "Deflategate" scandal. Electing not to escalate the Patriots' confrontation with the league over the cheating controversy, Kraft said he disagreed with the NFL's punishment but respected Commissioner Roger Goodell and wanted to end the "rhetoric" swirling around the issue since January.

Timberwolves win lottery for top draft pick

The Minnesota Timberwolves won the National Basketball Association's draft lottery on Tuesday, giving them the first selection in the NBA draft for the first time. The Timberwolves had a 25 percent chance -- the best odds among the 14 non-playoff teams in the draw -- at winning the weighted lottery after finishing with the worst record in the 2014-15 regular season.

Cantona says NY Cosmos soccer club owes him salary, equity interest

Former Manchester United forward Eric Cantona has sued the New York Cosmos, alleging the team fired him without paying him nearly $1 million in salary and a 4 percent equity interest. Cantona, 48, a Frenchman who won four Premier League titles in five years with Manchester United in the 1990s, was hired by the Cosmos in 2011 to be the team's director of soccer.

New guide will help players read Wentworth greens better

Europe's top golfers have long since used precise yardage books to plot their way to success and this week they will have access to a new putting guide at the BMW PGA Championship. Australian Graeme Heinrich, who once caddied for Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, has studied every millimeter of the 18 greens at Wentworth in order to supply the players with detailed plans on how to read the tricky putting surfaces.

Truth 'too shocking' for IOC but pressure must stop: Vizer

SportAccord president Marius Vizer has urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to end pressure on federations to withdraw their membership of his organization after he criticized the Olympic body last month. Vizer, who heads the international judo federation and the umbrella body SportAccord, which has about 100 sports federations as members, had accused the IOC of being dated, blocking new events and lacking transparency among other things.

Blackhawks edge out Ducks in marathon to tie series

The Chicago Blackhawks overcame a blown lead, fatigue and a disallowed headed goal to edge the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in an exhausting triple overtime encounter to tie up their Western Conference Final series on Tuesday. Swedish center Marcus Kruger tipped in the winner at 16:12 of the third overtime period as the Blackhawks leveled the best-of-seven series at 1-1 in the longest game in franchise history.

Oliver flies past rivals to set alight Bird's Nest

Justin Gatlin may have flown home but at least the Bird's Nest Stadium could thrill instead to another 33-year-old American speedster, David Oliver, running the fastest 110 meters hurdles this year at Beijing's World Challenge meeting on Wednesday. Gatlin's fall-out with the organizers had led to him departing on the eve of the meeting in a huff but the smiling world champion Oliver proved a popular top of the bill with his second win in China in four days.

Combining Europe with U.S. is tough juggling act: McDowell

Ryder Cup stalwart Graeme McDowell has explained how hard a juggling act it is for the top European players to commit to events on their home circuit and compete in the best tournaments in the U.S. The European Tour has struggled to find new sponsors and keep tournaments on its schedule in recent years with the likes of world number one Rory McIlroy, third-ranked Henrik Stenson and number six Justin Rose spending most of their time in the U.S.

Curry sparks Warriors to Game One victory over Houston

Stephen Curry won his personal duel with James Harden as the Golden State Warriors overcame an early deficit and survived a late scare to edge the Houston Rockets 110-106 in Game One of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday. Curry poured in 34 points, six rebounds and five assists and added key buckets in the closing stages to give the top-seeded Warriors a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series in front of a raucous home crowd.