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(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Goetze will miss Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich after failing to recover from a hamstring injury, leaving the team without one of its best players.

Dortmund confirmed Wednesday that Goetze will not be fit in time to face his future club at Wembley Stadium in London. It would have been the 20-year-old Goetze's last game for Dortmund before his 37-million euro switch to Bayern next season.

"The final was my main aim and I fought hard for it in the last weeks," Goetze said on Dortmund's website.

Garcia sorry for 'fried chicken' comment
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) Sergio Garcia apologized to Tiger Woods for saying he would have "fried chicken" at dinner with his rival, a comment that Woods described as hurtful and inappropriate. "I want to send an unreserved apology. I did not want to offend anyone," Garcia said Wednesday. "My answer was totally stupid and out of place." (MORE)

Visconti takes solo victory on stage 17

VICENZA, Italy (AP) Giovanni Visconti won the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday to claim another solo victory, while Vincenzo Nibali maintained his grip on the overall lead.

Visconti, who also won Sunday's 15th stage with an impressive solo climb, attacked near the top of the Crosara to triumph in a time of 5 hours, 15 minutes, 34 seconds along the mainly flat 214 kilometers (133 miles) from Caravaggio to Vicenza. (MORE)

Injured Murray out of French Open

LONDON (AP) Andy Murray withdrew from the French Open on Tuesday because of a chronic back injury and will now focus on preparing for the start of the grass-court season next month.

The U.S. Open champion met with specialists this week after being forced to pull out of his second-match against Marcel Granollers of Spain at the Italian Open last Wednesday because of the long-standing complaint. (MORE)

Pulis leaves as Stoke manager
STOKE, England (AP) Stoke says Tony Pulis has left as manager by mutual consent, ending his seven-year tenure at the Premier League club. By guiding Stoke to a 13th-place finish this season, Pulis secured the team's status in England's top division for a fifth straight year but he came under increasing fire for failing to change its direct and physical style of play. (MORE)

Rapid banned from European competition

Clarke confident ahead of Ashes series

F1 returns for Monaco Grand Prix
MONACO (AP) The Monaco Grand Prix should be less about tire degradation and more about pole position, as Formula One returns for its showcase race on a street circuit that is notoriously difficult to overtake on. That will be good news for Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, but less so for Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen. (MORE)

Golf adopts rule to ban anchored putting
Golf's governing bodies approved a new rule Tuesday that outlaws the putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, going against two major golf organizations that argued long putters are not hurting the game. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and U.S. Golf Association said Rule 14-1b would take effect in 2016. (MORE)

McIlroy denies McDowell disagreement
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) Rory McIlroy has dispelled any split in his relationship with longtime friend Graeme McDowell. McDowell confirmed that McIlroy will be leaving Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management after only 18 months, though neither McIlroy nor Conor Ridge at Horizon have commented on the split. (MORE)

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