und in a month. "This is great because its a great test," Mickelson said. "

MADRID -- Gerard Pique says the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be his final tournament with Spain because he feels he is not wanted in the national team.The Barcelona defender made the announcement after Spains 2-0 win at Albania on Sunday in European qualifying for the World Cup. Spain currently tops Group G, with only first place giving automatic qualification.I always give everything I have on the field, but there are people who think its better if Im not here, Pique said. After Russia, a stage will have ended for me.The player is often jeered by many Spaniards because of his pro-Catalonia stance. He recently appeared to support a pro-independence move by the Catalan region, upsetting those who opposed it.Pique stirred a social media controversy during Sundays match by cutting the sleeves of his soccer jersey instead of changing into the short sleeves which have the colors of the Spanish flag. He said the long sleeves were bothering him.Pique said his decision to retire had already been made before this latest controversy.Its not a `heat of the moment decision, Ive given a lot of thought to this. the 29-year-old Pique said. Its not because of what happened today, its because I always give my best on the field and, although there are some people who have thanked me, some dont think its OK for me to be here.The defender said he also wants to give way for younger players.You need to give them some space, Pique said. Ill be 31, Ive won everything with the national team. Ill try to play my 100th game with the team, and I want to win the World Cup again, which is the most important thing.Pique, who has two children with his long-term partner, Colombian singer Shakira, helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.With Barcelona, he won six Spanish league titles, as well as three club World Cups and three Champions Leagues.Life goes on, he said. I still want to be with Barcelona for several years.The Spanish football federation released a statement supporting the player. Kyrie Irving Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Channing Frye Cavaliers Jersey . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. http://www.cavaliersbasketballpro.info/terrell-brandon-cavaliers-jersey/ . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Channing Frye Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. LeBron James Cavaliers Jersey . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Davis Love III is busy still trying to play his way back into shape after back surgery in February. Playing with Brandt Snedeker and Dustin Johnson, he did a bit better than just keep up. The 49-year-old Love shot a 4-under 66 for his best round of the year Thursday for a share of the lead with five other players after the first round of the St. Jude Classic, the final event before the U.S. Open next week at Merion in Ardmore, Pa. "I still hit some bad shots," Love said. "At the Players and Memorial, I felt like I was playing better than I was scoring. I think its rust. Im excited to be back, and Im anxious and I want to play better than Im playing. Im a little bit tired from the two 36-hole qualifiers as well. You got to be a little bit more patient and polished. Thats going to take some rounds of golf to get back." Stuart Appleby, Harris English, Nathan Green, Martin Flores and Glen Day also pushed their way into the lead on a day where at least three others had a piece of the top spot lead at some point. Defending champ Dustin Johnson was 5 under through six holes, taking advantage of near perfect conditions at the TPC Southwind with a temperature in the low 80s and only a slight breeze early. But Johnson finished with a 67 and was tied with 10 others including David Toms, a two-time winner here, and Shawn Stefani, who was tied for the lead before he hit into a fairway bunker and bogeyed No. 18. Snedeker, currently No. 6 in the world, opened with a 70. Boo Weekley, who won at Colonial, shot a 68 and was tied with seven others. Phil Mickelson had a 71. Love took off in February for surgery to relieve numbness and weakness caused by spinal stenosis and bone spurs. He didnt play at all in March or April, and this is his fourth tournament back on tour. He tied for 29th at Memorial last week, and tied for third here a year ago in what wound up being his best finish of 2012. He credited his good start to being grouped with Johnson and Snedeker, who also like to play fast. "I tried to keep up with Dustin and Brandt," Love said. Love made the turn at 2 under and birdied Nos. 10 and 11 to move into a five-way tie at 4 under with six others a stroke back at that point. He bogeyed No. 12 and bogeyed the par-3 14th. But Love birdied two of his final three holes to finish with a piece of the lead. Appleby had five birdies and a bogey for his best round this year. The Australian with nine victories hasnt won since The Greenbrier Classic in 2010, and his best this year was a tie for 35th at the Heritaage in South Carolina.dddddddddddd He said he was surprised the scores werent lower on a day where there wasnt any wind. "I thought there were some more birdies out there," Appleby said. "I think just with the pace of the greens if youre above the hole its tricky. Im happy with the way I played today. Anybody who got under par today, the scoreboard, certainly fought to get there." English, a 23-year-old from Georgia, got to 5 under on his back nine only to bogey his next hole at No. 5. Flores also got to 5 under when he birdied No. 13 to take the lead to himself only to double bogey the 14th after hitting into a bunker. He birdied No. 16 to get back into the lead group. Green, who lost his card last year, was the clubhouse leader at midday. The Australian who won the 2009 Canadian Open has been busy rebuilding his chipping and putting. This is his best round this year, but it had been a while since Green had seen his name at the top of a leaderboard. "I was starting to get nervous seeing my name on the board and made two good up and downs to finish off the round, which is nice," Green said after hitting into bunkers on Nos. 17 and 18 on his way in. Mickelson struggled on Nos. 15-17 with two bogeys and a double bogey on the par-5 16th where he hit into a greenside bunker into the rough and into another bunker before finally holing out. He said he wasnt sharp with his short game on small, fast greens that dont hold shots well in his first competitive round in a month. "This is great because its a great test," Mickelson said. "The guy that strikes it well is going to have a big advantage, but when you do miss greens, youve got to be pretty sharp with your short game because the lies around the greens are some of the most difficult that we get." But for someone who hadnt played in so long, Mickelson said he was happy with how he hit the ball. "Its about as good as Ive been striking it, and I feel like theres a good round in me," Mickelson said. Notes: Paul Goydos, who shot a 73, may have re-injured his left wrist hitting out of some deep rough on 15. This was his first event in more than a year after extensive surgery on his wrist. He wrote on Twitter that he got some therapy after his round and planned to ice every hour but will not know how bad it is until he warms up Friday morning. ...Guan Tianglang, the 14-year-old from China who made the cut at the Masters, opened with a 73. ... Matt Bettencourt withdrew because of illness after shooting a 39 on the front nine. ' ' '