Former Capitals Coach Wilson Is Fired by the Sharks

The San Jose Sharks fired Coach Ron Wilson yesterday after the team's latest early ouster from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Wilson, hired by the club in December 2002, is the Sharks' leader in wins and winning percentage, but San Jose only advanced past the second round of the postseason once with him behind the bench.

The Sharks were the No. 2 seed in this year's Western Conference playoffs, but were eliminated in six games in the second round by the Dallas Stars.

San Jose earned two Pacific Division titles, including this season when the Sharks went 49-23-10, under the former Washington Capitals coach and reached the Western Conference finals in 2004 before falling to upstart Calgary. . . .

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn is doubtful for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals after taking a puck in the face on Sunday night.

There was no structural damage to Coburn's face, but the blow opened a cut that required more than 50 stitches to close.

· GOLF: Tiger Woods is chipping and putting again, and he hopes to play in the Memorial in two weeks. But even if he can't compete until the U.S. Open, he does not expect the same result as his last layoff during a season.

Two years ago, Woods didn't play for nine weeks while coping with the death of his father. He returned to competition in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and missed the cut for the only time in a major.

"That was a totally different mental situation than I am now," Woods said. "Even when I came back for the Open, I probably wasn't ready to play yet. I was eager to get back and play and be in a competitive environment, but I wasn't ready to deal with all the things you have to deal with inside the ropes."

Woods had surgery on his left knee April 15 for the second time in five years, this time to clean out some cartilage. He has not played since the Masters. . . .

Don't look for Michelle Wie at this year's Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam.

Wie did not seek an exemption into the event she played a year ago, the tournament said. Last May, Wie, citing a wrist injury, withdrew after playing 16 holes of her opening round.