USC's Saunders likely to play against Vandy

The Associated Press Nick O'Hern hits from the 18th fairway during the first round of the Frys.com Open on Thursday. O'Hern is the leader heading into the second round.

COLUMBIA -- South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier says tight end Weslye Saunders will likely play against Vanderbilt after all.

Spurrier said after practice Thursday that Saunders' ankle has gotten noticeably better, and he expects him to play some against the Commodores on Saturday. The day before, Spurrier had said Saunders would likely miss his second game of the season with the injury.

The coach says Saunders likely can't play the whole game, so freshman Justice Cunningham will still get the start.

Spurrier says deep snapper C.D. Turner hasn't practiced this week because he got a slight concussion in practice. The coach expects Turner to be cleared to play, but says backup Matt Grooms is ready to step in if necessary.

O'HERN PGA LEADER
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Brandishing a hot putter on a warm afternoon, Australian Nick O'Hern cruised to a career-low 63 and the first-round lead in the Frys.com Open on Thursday.

O'Hern, who finished at 7 under, putted only nine times while posting a 28 on the par-35 back nine at Grayhawk Golf Club. Eight of O'Hern's nine birdies came in that stretch.

Bob Heintz and Heath Slocum were one stroke back at 64, and D.A. Points, Rory Sabbatini, Greg Owen and Rickie Fowler shot 65s to finish two shots off the lead.

With little wind on an 82-degree day in the desert, scores fell as players attacked Grayhawk's Raptor Course.

CABLE WON'T BE CHARGED
NAPA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable won't face charges after being investigated over allegations that he assaulted one of his assistants, ending a two-month saga that was a cloud over the team's season.

Napa County district attorney Gary Lieberstein said Thursday that the investigation concluded no charges were warranted.

"Our duty is to do the right thing for the right reasons," Lieberstein said. "Under the facts and circumstances of this case, it would be a miscarriage of justice to pursue criminal charges and we will not ask our citizens to give up their valuable time for jury duty, nor will we allow our criminal justice system to be compromised."

SIM NATIONWIDE LEADER
CHARLESTON -- Michael Sim had eight straight birdies and finished with a course-record 8-under 64 on Thursday to take a three-stroke lead in the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island.

Sim, the Australian who has won three times this year and tops the money list with a record $536,142, fell one short of matching the tour record for consecutive birdies set by Omar Uresti at the 1994 Shreveport Open.

The birdie run ended on the par-3 12th when Sim's 30-footer stopped inches short.

"It was in. It was definitely in the hole," Sim said. "It was more of a lag putt coming over the spine on that green. The run had to stop sooner or later."

The streak began with four iron shots inside 4 feet.

Andrew Buckle and Justin Bolli opened with 67s, and D.J. Brigman and Adam Bland, had 68s on the Ralston Creek Course.

Buckle, also from Australia, began the week 27th on the money list. The top 25 after the tournament will earn 2010 PGA Tour cards.

"I've got to play well," Buckle said. "I'm not really worried about that. I'm just trying to play the best I can and just enjoy it and try to have some fun out there."