New York ? Even though he came within an 8-foot putt of winning the British Open, Tom Watson didn’t sound terribly interested Tuesday in playing the PGA Championship next month in Minnesota.

First, though, he would need an invitation to the only major he never won.

PGA of America spokesman Julius Mason confirmed that the 59-year-old Watson is not exempt for the PGA Championship, which will be held Aug. 13-16 at Hazeltine.

Speculation arose during Watson’s news conference at Sunningdale for the Senior British Open that his runner-up finish at Turnberry was enough to get into the PGA Championship.

“What week is that?” Watson said. “I’ve got a full schedule coming up.”

Told that it would be nice to see him win the PGA and complete the career Grand Slam, Watson chuckled and said, “Right now I wouldn’t hold my breath that I’m going to be playing the PGA.”

Watson is No. 124 in the PGA points standings, which take the top 70. He moved up to No. 105 in the world ranking, and the PGA Championship tries to get as many players as possible from the top 100.

Mason said Watson would be considered for an invitation.

“He’s being reviewed, along with other players,” Mason said, adding that the PGA would not decide on the rest of its exemptions until Aug. 3.

It already has awarded spots to 17-year-old Ryo Ishikawa of Japan and Tom Lehman, a former Ryder Cup captain and major champion who grew up in Minnesota.

Watson has won more major championships on links courses than anyone — five British Opens and three Senior British Opens — which enabled him to beat some players younger than his own children.

Hazeltine is 7,674 yards and plays as a par 72, with three of the par 5s longer than 600 yards.

“There are certain courses that you can play and that you can compete on and do well,” Watson said. “Not all of them, but there are certain ones. And Turnberry was one for me.”

The PGA Championship is the only major Watson never won.

GOLF

Perry skips title defense

Nashville, Tenn. — Kenny Perry will not be defending his title at the Buick Open next week in Michigan so he can stay near his cancer-stricken mother. Perry’s mother, Mildred, is under hospice care as she battles blood cancer.

He said Tuesday he considered pulling out of the British Open last week until doctors assured him that his mother would be OK while he was in Scotland.

NFL

Roethlisberger accused

Reno, Nev. — A woman has filed a lawsuit accusing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of raping her last summer in his penthouse room at a casino in Lake Tahoe during a celebrity golf tournament.

Roethlisberger’s lawyer adamantly denied the allegations Tuesday.

“Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone. The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct. If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated,” David Cornwell said in a statement.

The claim seeks at least $390,000 in damages from the quarterback, who has won two Super Bowls and is one of the biggest names in sports. The lawsuit also alleges hotel officials for Harrah’s Lake Tahoe went to great lengths to cover up the incident.

Singer a Dolphins owner

New York — Singer Marc Anthony is the latest music star to join forces with the Miami Dolphins.

The team announced Tuesday that he will become a minority owner. Singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, also bought a small stake in the club last month.

New Dolphins owner Stephen Ross also began a partnership in May with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville enterprise, which includes Land Shark Lager. Buffett has yet to accept Ross’ invitation to become a minority owner.

Goodell silent on Vick

New York — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell isn’t revealing when he’ll decide whether to reinstate Michael Vick now that the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback has been released from federal custody.

“The process is ongoing, and I hope to make a decision sometime in the near future,” Goodell said Tuesday, a day after Vick’s home confinement ended.

He wouldn’t define what “near future” means.

Vick served 23 months on a dogfighting conviction.

NFL training camps open for veterans next week. Goodell would not say when he’ll meet with Vick.

“We’re not going to give any details right now,” he said after a news conference announcing singer Marc Anthony’s involvement with the NFL.

The commissioner has said he wants to see remorse and evidence of change from the player he suspended indefinitely. Even if Goodell reinstates Vick, the 29-year-old quarterback would still have to find a team willing to sign him.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Penn State drops receiver

State College, Pa. — Penn State backup receiver James McDonald is off the football team after police charged him with drunken driving. A one-sentence statement Tuesday from the athletic department said the fifth-year senior would not be invited back to the Nittany Lions this fall. The statement did not elaborate. State College police on Monday filed two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence against McDonald after he was pulled over July 9 for an expired registration.

TENNIS

Simon falls at German Open

Hamburg, Germany — Top-seeded Gilles Simon of France was eliminated from the German Open on Tuesday, losing to German wild card Daniel Brands, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, in the second round. Ivan Navarro beat fourth-seeded Tommy Robredo, 7-5, 7-6 (2), in an all-Spanish match. Another Spaniard, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, ousted fifth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, 6-2, 6-4.

NBA

Ex-Grizzlies guard shot

Memphis, Tenn. — Former Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis point guard Antonio Burks remains in critical condition a day after being shot during a robbery.

A spokeswoman for Regional Medical Center in Memphis said Tuesday morning there was no change in the medical condition of Burks, who underwent surgery Monday night after he was shot in the lower torso.

Police said the 29-year-old was returned to the operating room about 10 p.m. Monday because of internal bleeding.

May, Kings reach deal

Sacramento, Calif. — Free-agent forward Sean May has agreed to a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings. The Kings announced the deal Tuesday. May became a free agent when Charlotte declined to make him a one-year qualifying offer of $3.7 million last month.

May was drafted as the 13th pick in 2005 but has been limited because of a knee injury and conditioning.

Yao undergoes surgery

Houston — Rockets center Yao Ming has had surgery to repair a broken bone in his left foot. The team announced the surgery was performed Tuesday morning at Memorial Hermann Hospital by Dr. Tom Clanton, the Rockets’ team physician, along with Dr. Bill McGarvey.

Surgeons grafted bone onto the tarsal navicular bone and realigned his foot to reduce stress on the repair. The seven-time All-Star is slated to remain in the hospital for several days.

He is expected to miss the 2009-10 season, but be ready to go for training camp in 2010.

COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION

Hamrick replaces Marcum

Huntington, W.Va. — Mike Hamrick, a former Kansas University staffer who once was a finalist for a KU athletic director vacancy, is the new AD at Marshall University, his alma mater.

Hamrick, who had been AD at UNLV for the last six years, replaces retiring Bob Marcum, who was KU’s athletic director from 1978-81. Hamrick, 52, was a starting linebacker for the Thundering Herd in 1978 and 1979.

Hamrick, who worked as assistant AD under Monte Johnson at KU from 1982-84, was the AD at East Carolina when he was a finalist for the KU vacancy that eventually was filled by Al Bohl in 2001.

Marcum, 72, retired on June 30 after seven years at Marshall, also his alma mater. Marcum was an assistant AD at Iowa State when he was hired to replace Clyde Walker as KU’s AD in 1978.