BRIEFLY : DUVAL OFF TO A BRISK START AT TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP.

David Duval, who finished second seven times before finally winning a PGA event earlier this month, shot a 5-under-par 66 to tie Jesper Parnevik and Jim Furyk for the first-round lead in the Tour Championship at Houston as he tries to win his third consecutive start.

Duval eagled the 509-yard ninth hole, Parnevik had two-putt birdies on all three par-5s, and Furyk rolled in seven birdie putts as the trio finished the day one stroke ahead of Brad Faxon.

Five others, including PGA champion Davis Love III, were two strokes back with 68s as the top 30 players on the PGA Tour money list chased the $720,000 first prize. The tournament is the richest in the world, with a $4 million purse.

Colin Montgomerie, trying to wrap up his fifth straight European money title, shot a 7-under 65 and was one stroke ahead of No. 2 money winner Bernhard Langer after the first round of the Volvo Masters at Jerez, Spain.

TENNIS: Pete Sampras, the world's top-ranked player, got revenge against Patr Korda, beating him 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 and advancing to the quarterfinals at the Paris Open.

Korda had beaten Sampras at the U.S. Open in five sets, ending the American's chance of winning a third Grand Slam title this year.

Top-seeded Jana Novotna beat former UCLA star Kimberly Po of the United States 6-0, 6-2 in the second round of the $926,250 Kremlin Cup at Moscow's indoor Olympic Stadium.

BASEBALL:For the third time since 1992, former Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela is heading to his native Mexico in an attempt to revive his career.

Valenzuela, who will turn 37 on Saturday, will join the Hermosillo Naranjeros on Sunday, his agent said. The winter-league season, already under way, continues into January.

Valenzuela played for San Diego and St. Louis last season before being released by the Cardinals on July 15. He was 2-12 on the year.

Four days after he made the error that led to Cleveland losing the World Series, infielder Tony Fernandez filed for free agency.

Cleveland wasted a 2-1 lead with one out in the ninth inning of Game 7 when Fernandez, playing second base, committed a crucial error on a grounder by Florida's Craig Counsell. Three batters later, Edgar Renteria singled home the championship-winning run.

Angels first-base coach Dave Parker, who was invited back by manager Terry Collins, accepted an offer from the Cardinals to become hitting instructor and bench coach. Collins' staff otherwise is expected to return intact - provided third-base coach Larry Bowa doesn't get hired as manager in Toronto to replace Cito Gaston.

Detroit infielder Damion Easley, who could have been eligible for free agency after next season, agreed to an $8.7 million, three-year contract. Easley, whose career with the Angels was disrupted by a string of injuries, played in 151 games for the Tigers this year, hitting .264 with 22 homers and 72 RBI.

BOXING: Mike Tyson, who punctured a lung and broke a rib when he took a spill on his motorcycle in Hartford, Conn., was issued a $77 ticket for not having a license to operate the cycle.

Police said the Nevada driver's license Tyson was carrying during his spill Wednesday night was not valid for motorcycles.

Meanwhile, doctors say the 31-year-old former heavyweight champion was expected to recover fully within six weeks but will be spending a day or two in the hospital.

The judges probably will have to score on a first-name basis in two fights at the Olympic Auditorium on Nov. 21.

In the featured match on the Top Rank promotion, Genaro Hernandez of Los Angeles will defend the WBC super featherweight title against Carlos Hernandez of Bellflower.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf's injured arm will be fine when the Cougars play at Arizona State on Saturday, coach Mike Price said.