KAPALUA, Hawaii, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Being in Maui for the PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship is almost a double bonus for every player in the field, according to Adam Scott.

CHONBURI, Thailand, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Jose Maria Olazabal is confident of a debut victory as captain of Europe at this week's Royal Trophy but said an Asian upset awaits if there are any slip-ups by the twice champions.

Jan 5 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world:

Jan 5 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2009 European Tour Race to Dubai on Monday (British unless stated):

Jan 5 (Reuters) - World rankings on Monday (U.S unless stated, last week's positions in brackets):

LOS ANGELES, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A sizzling run of form in the last six months of 2008 has given former British Open champion Ben Curtis every reason to eye this year with relish.

LOS ANGELES, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Former Masters champion Mike Weir failed to register a single victory on the 2008 PGA Tour but he is banking that a strong finish to the season will spur him on this year.

Jan 1 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world:

Dec 29 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2009 European Tour Race to Dubai on Monday (British unless stated):

Dec 29 (Reuters) - World rankings on Monday (U.S unless stated, last week's positions in brackets):

LOS ANGELES, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Long established as world number one, Tiger Woods runs the risk of being deposed at the top of the rankings in the first quarter of next year.

LOS ANGELES, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The PGA Tour has released its entire schedule for next year, a fully sponsored programme with a slight increase in purses despite the global financial crisis.

Dec 23 (Reuters) - The tournament schedule for the 2009 PGA Tour: Jan. 8-11 Mercedes-Benz Championship, Kapalua, Hawaii Jan. 15-18 Sony Open, Honolulu, Hawaii Jan. 21-25 Bob Hope Classic, Palm Desert, California Jan. 29-Feb. 1 Phoenix Open, Scottsdale, Arizona Feb. 5-8 Buick Invitational, San Diego, California Feb. 12-15 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Pebble Beach, California Feb. 19-22 Northern Trust Open, Pacific Palisades, California Feb. 25-Mar. 1 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championsh

SINGAPORE, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Lin Wen-tang will become the first player from Chinese Taipei to compete at the U.S. Masters for 20 years when he tees up at the season's opening major in April.

BANGKOK, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Captain Jose Maria Olazabal has added Englishmen Nick Dougherty and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal to his European team to play Asia at the Royal Trophy next month.

LOS ANGELES, Dec 22 (Reuters) - While professional golf prepares to confront a bleak economic landscape in 2009, the biggest talking point in the game relates to the timing and immediate impact of Tiger Woods's comeback from injury.

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world.

Dec 22 (Reuters) - World rankings on Monday (U.S unless stated, last week's positions in brackets):

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2009 European Tour Race to Dubai on Monday (British unless stated):

THOUSAND OAKS, California, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Three-times major champion Vijay Singh had no intention of slowing down his pursuit of more titles after winning the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club on Sunday.

THOUSAND OAKS, California, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Ice-cool Vijay Singh took advantage of stumbling finishes by Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim to win the Chevron World Challenge by one shot on Sunday.

THOUSAND OAKS, California (Reuters) - Ice-cool Vijay Singh took advantage of stumbling finishes by Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim to win the Chevron World Challenge by one shot Sunday.

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Winners of the Chevron World Challenge since it was first held in 1999. Fiji's Vijay Singh won this year's tournament by one shot at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California on Sunday (U.S. unless stated):

THOUSAND OAKS, California, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Vijay Singh took advantage of stumbling finishes by Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim to win the Chevron World Challenge by one shot on Sunday.

Dec 21 (Reuters) - Chevron World Challenge final-round scores at the par-72 Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California on Sunday (U.S. unless stated): 277 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 71 72 67 67 278 Steve Stricker 71 71 68 68 281 Hunter Mahan 71 72 70 68