o wait their time to get to that point, Bowman said. Its just about motivating guys. Ive had several teammates walk up to me and say this is motiva

RICHMOND, Va. -- Bernhard Langer expects to play this week in the Dominion Charity Classic after missing the PGA Tour Champions playoff opener last week because of a left knee injury.The 59-year-old German star played nine practice rounds Monday and Tuesday to prepare for the event that starts Friday at The Country Club of Virginias James River Course. He re-aggravated the injury at home doing routine spinning.Its better. Its right now good enough to hit balls and play, Langer said Wednesday. I havent gone more than nine holes, so well find out how it feels after tomorrow because tomorrows 18, no carts. I hate carts anyways, but when youre hurting like this, it would be a help. Looking forward to it and, hopefully, Ill be getting better every day.He pulled out last week in California before the start of the PowerShares QQQ Championship.It wasnt much fun, Langer said. Just going from one doctor to another and resting, icing, doing this and doing that. Nice thing was I had my wife and my daughter with me, so that was a little bit of a distraction, had some nice dinners together.Langer leads the 50-and-over tour with four victories and has wrapped up the season money title with $2,697,459. He tops the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs standings, 1,038,941 points ahead of second-place Colin Montgomerie.The playoff field was cut from 72 to 54 for the event, and Tom Lehman dropped out because of an elbow injury. The top 36 after the week will qualify for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship next week in Scottsdale, Arizona.Each dollar earned in the first two events is worth two points -- first place is worth $305,000 and 610,000 points this week -- and is added to the regular-season total. At the Charles Schwab Championship, points will be reset so that the top five only have to win to capture the Charles Schwab Cup.The James River Course was designed by William S. Flynn in 1928, renovated by Rees Jones in 1992, and later restored by Lester George.I think its a phenomenal golf course, really in great shape, very traditional, Langer said. You pretty much see what you get, theres no trickery to it. Got to keep it out of the rough, the rough is very punishing. Its that Bermuda grass and may only be 2, 2 1/2, 3 inches long, but that ball sits right down and you cant make decent contact. Get these knuckleballs coming out with no spin, so you dont know how far theyre going to carry or how far theyre going to run, so theres a premium on driving the ball well, hitting the fairways.Tom Pernice Jr. won the playoff opener Sunday at Sherwood. Custom Nike Washington Nationals Jerseys . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Sale . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/341n-custom-nike-atlanta-braves-jerseys-baseball.html . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Custom Nike Minnesota Twins Jerseys . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. Custom Nike New York Yankees Jerseys .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Linebacker NaVorro Bowman said his new extension with the San Francisco 49ers provides a good example for his younger teammates.You basically have to crawl before you can walk and understand that the guys that do make the big money in this league work hard and have to wait their time to get to that point, Bowman said. Its just about motivating guys. Ive had several teammates walk up to me and say this is motivation for them. And thats what you want.The 49ers locker room leader this week signed a $44 million, four-year extension, including $20 million guaranteed, with three seasons left on his prior deal. Hes signed through 2022, when he will be 34.The four-time All-Pro missed all of 2014 after suffering tears in his left anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in the playoffs following the 2013 season. He returned last season to lead the NFL with 154 tackles and was selected for the Pro Bowl.For me, asking for the deal, they understood why. I knew that it wasnt a popular thing to do with three years left. Its basically about being fair, he said. It just shows how good of an organization they are and honorable to their players and the work that Ive put in.When Bowman returned from injury, the 49ers were not the same team that reached three straight conference championship games and playyed in a Super Bowl.dddddddddddd Gone were coach Jim Harbaugh and stalwarts Patrick Willis, running back Frank Gore and defensive lineman Justin Smith.Now, the new-look 49ers are Bowmans team in the first year of coach Chip Kellys tenure.In his second season back from the knee injury, San Francisco expects Bowman to be closer to his pre-injury form.NaVorros been great, defensive coordinator Jim ONeil said. I think hes really started to step into that leadership role and theres a lot of guys in the NFL who are lead-by-example guys. I think NaVorro has kind of taken that next step and hes a `follow me or else guy, which are the kind of leaders you need to have to have a great unit in this league.Bowman said his goal entering the NFL was to last 10 seasons and make it to the Hall of Fame. The length of his extension would run through his 14th year.You never want to leave any money on the table, but you definitely want to leave this game being able to walk, Bowman said. Me for instance, being able to keep up with my kids and things like that. I havent thought that far yet, but just glad to be locked in and finish my career as a 49er.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '