Reuters Sports Schedule at 0001 GMT on Saturday, April 1
Reuters sports schedule at 0001 GMT on Saturday:
GOLF
Woods says will miss Masters due to back issues
Tiger Woods will miss the April 6-9 U.S. Masters due to a troublesome back and has no timetable for his return to competitive golf, the former world number one said on Friday. (GOLF-MASTERS/WOODS, moved with updates top follow, 400 words)
PGA Tour: Shell Houston Open (to 2)
Fowler leads by one stroke
Rickie Fowler takes a one-shot lead over South Korea's Kang Sung-hoon into the second round at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas, site of the final tune-up event ahead of next week's Masters. (GOLF-HOUSTON/, expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, 400 words)
LPGA: ANA Inspiration, Rancho Mirage (to 2)
First-round play resumes with Icher in front
Players return to the course to finish their opening rounds after high winds suspended play at the LPGA's first major of the year with about half the field still out of the course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (GOLF-WOMEN-INSPIRATION/, expect by 0230 GMT/10:30 PM ET, 400 words)
TENNIS
ATP: Miami Open (to 2)
Nadal powers past Fognini into Miami Open final
Rafa Nadal rolled by unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1 7-5 on Friday to reach his fifth Miami Open final and a potential rematch of the Australian Open decider with Roger Federer. (TENNIS-MIAMI/MEN, moved with updates to follow, 205 words)
NBA
Warriors battle Rockets, Cavs face Sixers
The Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors host the Houston Rockets while the Cleveland Cavaliers, in a tight battle with the Boston Celtics for top spot in the East, host the Philadelphia 76ers in two of the 11 games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)
NHL
Streaking Caps face Coyotes
Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals try to extend the league's longest active win streak to seven games when they visit the Arizona Coyotes while the Los Angeles Kings visit the Vancouver Canucks in two of the seven games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)
NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS
Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
RUGBY
Super Rugby, week six
Auckland Blues v Western Force (0415)
Queensland Reds v Wellington Hurricanes (0845)
Stormers v Cheetahs (1305)
Chiefs look for winning form against Bulls
The Chiefs will hope to keep their perfect record intact for the season when they host the Bulls who are desperate to get their campaign back on track after a rocky start (RUGBY-SUPER/CHIEFS, expect by 0830 GMT / 4:30 AM ET, 300 words)
Lions aim to consolidate top spot
JOHANNESBURG - The Lions can consolidate top spot in the South African Group when they host the Sharks at Ellis Park with both sides having four wins from five matches this term. (RUGBY-UNION-SUPER/LIONS, expect by 1715 GMT/ 1:15PM ET, 300 words)
We will also move rolling highlights of the weekend's matches
EQUESTRIAN
No bull: Minikus thrives as show jumping rider
Professional show jumper Todd Minikus, who was once a regular on the professional bull-riding circuit, stared down 1,500-pound snarling bulls with the same philosophy he now guides elegant chestnut mares. (EQUESTRIAN-MINIKUS/, moved, by Jahmal Corner, 495 words)
SOCCER
Premier League
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur (1400)
Chelsea v Crystal Palace (1400)
Hull City v West Ham United (1400)
Leicester City v Stoke City (1400)
Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion (1400)
Watford v Sunderland (1400)
Southampton v Bournemouth (1630)
Chelsea bid to extend lead at the top in London derby
LONDON - Runaway league leaders Chelsea will extend their 10-point lead at the top of the table if they beat struggling London rivals Crystal Palace after Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside derby. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/ (PIX), expect first lead at 1630 GMT/11:30 AM ET, by Ian Chadband, 500 words)
We will also run individual reports on each match and sidebars on merit.
La Liga
Villarreal v Eibar (1100)
Osasuna v Athletic Club (1415)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (1630)
Malaga v Atletico Madrid (1845)
Atletico eye third
BARCELONA - Atletico Madrid can provisionally climb above Sevilla into third place with a win at Malaga, who have lost four of their last five games. (SOCCER-SPAIN/ (PIX), expect by 2045 GMT/1645 ET, by Richard Martin, 400 words)
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich v FC Augsburg (1330)
Hamburg SV v Cologne (1330)
RB Leipzig v SV Darmstadt 98 (1330)
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (1330)
Schalke 04 v Borussia Dortmund (1330)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach (1630)
BERLIN - Bayern Munich defend a 13-point lead at the top when they host Augsburg while second-placed RB Leizpig welcome bottom side Darmstadt 98. (SOCCER-GERMANY/ (PIX), expect from 1530 GMT/11:30 AM ET, by Karolos Grohmann, 500 words)
Serie A
Roma bid to put pressure on leaders Juve
ROME - Second-placed Roma entertain Empoli looking to put pressure on leaders Juventus, who have an eight-point lead at the top of Serie A before they face a tricky trip to third-placed Napoli on Sunday. (SOCCER-ITALY/ (PIX), expect by 2045 GMT/1645 ET, by Richard Martin, 400 words)
FIGURE SKATING
World championships
Fernandez targets hat-trick, Virtue & Moir going for gold
HELSINKI - Javier Fernandez will be out to complete a hat-trick of world titles as he takes a commanding lead into the the free skate, while 2010 Olympic gold medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will be favourites to cap a remarkable comeback season by winning gold in the ice dance. (FIGURESKATING-WORLD/(PIX), expect by 1600 GMT/12 PM ET, by Pritha Sarkar, 600 words) (Asia desk editor: Nick Mulvenney)
